9. Mastery of detail. I'm hopeless on that one. I'm a "grand picture person", who has no idea of number of bolts needed to build my bridge. I would never walk on it after finishing it anyway!

10. Willingness to assume full responsibility for one's decisions - no matter what may go wrong!

11. Co-operation (full) with others in seeing one's plans, grand vision come to fruition.

12. Leaders are PASSIONATE people. Eliminating options will help you find your passion, your niche in life by initially pointing you in right direction. I've been using process of elimination for years and years and I'm slowly getting there. At least I think so!

If you don't know your passion, knowing what you don't want is a step in right direction. I've worked out, that I don't really want to be a "leader" - preferring "to do my own thing" in writing books, that will "reach out, touch and hopefully even inspire" others. That is "me" and what I believe to be my "calling in life".

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So after reading all that, you still want to become a leader. Good! You're a brave person who will go far; because, I believe, there is a definite lack of "quality inspirational leadership" in today's societies - throughout world!

Whether you want to be a follower...or a leader...

Just be YOU and be happy

When our salesman told his customer suit looked good on him, how could he have done so if honesty was in his heart? This was not even a "white lie", but an outright lie. Even store's owner agreed with seeing eye dog --- it was an ugly suit!

In real world of business, a "white lie" could be something as simple as what is considered Standard Operating Practice in car sales industry. If a buyer tells salesman he wants this model in "blue", car salesman is instructed to tell customer that he can get this car in "blue", and proceed to show "white" car as a sample. When all is said and done, car salesman is instructed to sell customer "white" car because that is one in stock. In car sales industry, it is assumed that client does not really care whether car is "blue" or "white". Therefore, it is okay to tell customer a little "white lie" about whether they can get customer a "blue" car or not.

Of course, this is only an example. Hundreds of examples exist in every industry, where little "white lie" is considered okay and just a part of industry's Standard Operating Procedures. I am certain that if you applied just a few minutes of consideration to this question, you could think of dozens of examples within your own business where little "white lie" is a perfectly acceptable means of conducting business.

The desire to be looked upon favorably by your customers and your co-workers is strong. Yet, you must always exercise caution in statements you make, because failure to meet expectation when you have exaggerated your ability to reach it, hurts your status and your business more in long run, than complete honesty up front.

This is back to Business 101 --- "Under Promise and Over Deliver." It is imperative to long-term viability of your business to meet expectations you sell to your customers. Your clients have a strong need in being able to trust in you and your business.

Whether you are a Christian or not, "white lies" and "exaggerations" systematically erode your most valuable asset --- your customers' and co-workers' faith in you. Can you really afford to pay long-term price of this sort of behavior? Each time you find yourself in position to have to make this choice, final decision will be yours to make. Choose wisely.

"I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." --- Acts 24:16