As we celebrate Veteran’s Day 2013, those of us that served in the Armed Forces, most did it with honor.  We were recruited, drafted and volunteered.  Giving of ourselves was something that brought forth gratitude all these years later.

What is that we all can learn from those who served with honor?  By the way, these principles can be applied to all areas of life, especially as leaders.  Serving should be part of our vocabulary.  The best leaders are the ones who know how to serve others.  We think of the greatest business leaders and they have a dedication of service.

Robert Greenleaf, in his book Servant Leadership, pointed that the the great leaders were first servants.  Leaders has to understand their followers and the only way to do that is have been one first.  You can’t truly lead anyone until you’ve “walked a mile in their shoes.”  Marine General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller started out as private and worked his way through the ranks.  He knew what it was like to be led and to subsequently lead.  His troops followed him because he understood them.

The thing about serving others, it takes more than a slogan.  It takes the wanting to do it attitude.  And doing with joy.  How have heard the slogan, “Service with a smile”?  While it’s all well and good, it has no meaning.  True service means taking action it the service of others.  A parent may think they are serving their children (though many parents believe their children should be serving them), until there is dedicated action to do so, their thoughts are meaningless.  As far as serving one’s children, I’m not talking about catering to them.  Serving means to help them become fully functional as adults that are happy, healthy (emotionally and physically) and secure in themselves.  Catering has just the opposite effect.

In each area of your life, get dedicated to serving others.  I don’t care if you’re a leader or follower.  Service begins in your heart in wanting to do so and doing it with gratitude.  If you truly want to honor those who served in our armed forces, then serve in the best way possible yourself. I’m not saying to join the military.  There are a multitudes of ways to serve and it begins at home, then at your work and to your friends.  Again, don’t cater.  That is not serving.

When you serve others, give it your best effort.  And also learn to serve yourself.  And as John F. Kennedy once said, “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Our brave men and women of our Armed Forces have done that throughout history and continue to serve with honor today.

Cheers,

Bob Choat
America’s #1 Mind-Body Transformation Expert and author of Mind Your Own Fitness