Questioning Leadership, Life, and Luck

 

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why does no one want to be a follower in life?

Because there are no selfless leaders. Take racism, please. People play at being perpetually offended and they choose to stoke the fires of racism. They do this because they make a very good living doing it. Ask any of them if they have refused funds or notoriety that come their way from the media or those who buy into their bullshit. Ask the congressmen, senators, the “reverends,” et al, and I’ll bet the answer is either no, or they’re lying. The “selfless” among us continue to look for a better way, and leading seems to be the only option.

What do you think about the following quote, "Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit"?

Probably true. In my day we learned about having a good work ethic and working to get ahead. This seems to have been lost on many in the new workforce.

What is the meaning of the following quote, "Successful people make money. It's not that people who make money become successful, but that successful people attract money. They bring success to what they do"?

If your "goal" for success is to make money, then this quote immediately sucks.

"Success isn't measured by money or power or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace."

-- Mike Ditka

Does anyone agree with me that hard work doesn’t guarantee success? People say that if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything. There are sometimes people who want what you want and work harder than you. Sometimes your best isn’t good enough.

I think you’re confusing the issues, here. The question is whether hard work guarantees success. It doesn't. But, if you work hard toward a goal, you can probably achieve it. There are those who want you to work harder than you’d prefer, and if you don’t prefer to work harder, success will elude you. In this case, your “best” isn’t going to be good enough to succeed. Life is all about you making good choices, and being happy regardless of your successes or failures.

What modest advice would you rather give to a 30-year-old struggling buddy who is about to quit working on his or her dream?

Success requires sacrifice. Quitting is simply what you do. For some, success takes a bit longer. For these, the success is so much sweeter.

Is the saying "you never know" true in all cases or do we sometimes know?

I sometimes know. I usually make this statement to make others think about whether they really know, or not. It is easier for others to find out what they really know than to argue with them about it.

“You never know what you will find in your pants!”

-- Ken Poirot

How do you choose between which is your real passion?

I can’t. I just admit that I’m a quasi-renaissance man, and leave it at that. I’m kind of a “jack of all trades, master of none.”

Am I responsible for what I'm not aware of?

One might say it is our “responsibility” to be aware of those things we should be aware of. The question then becomes, “Why weren’t you aware of it?”

What are your hopes, dreams, and goals knowing that the future is uncertain?

What they are is not as important as why they are. We all need to have hopes, dreams, and goals, in life. It makes life interesting and worth living. Without them, life would simply be birth, death, and taxes. How sad would that be?

“I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything and there are many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here. I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is as far as I can tell.”

-- Richard P. Feynman

What's important in life? Why are we here? Why should I want anything?

People who follow me know that I’m big on asking “why” rather than “what” when it comes to anything. If you can answer your “whys” you will probably answer your “what.”

Why we are here is a question for the ages. Personally, I think we’re here to learn what we need to know in order to move forward in this life and into the next, and so on. Why you should want, is a question only you can answer. For me, wanting is proof of life. It is a reason to be and, at this point in life, I strive to be happy always.

I wish I’d been told the importance of being happy always when I was younger. Parents forget to hammer this home while they’re wanting the “best” for us. Maybe the “best” is simply being happy always, regardless of our circumstances. 

Why are some people so lucky and have lucrative fulfilling careers that set them for life, while others work hard but cannot get a lucky break and are taken advantage of by person after person. Both sides work equally hard. Why is life so unfair?

Luck has less to do with "fulfilling careers" than education and hard work. Pay attention to education and hard work, for the sake of getting educated and working hard, and stop expecting a “lucky” break to change your circumstances. It is your life, and it is up to you to make things happen in it.

Being taken advantage of is an admission of gullibility. Gullibility is a choice, so choose not to be and learn when things sound too good to be true.

Life is unfair. It’s unfair so we learn lessons about life, attaining goals, and happiness. Having said all of this, both sides may be working equally hard, but there are subtle differences that make all the difference to attaining a goal.

Success is not about attaining a goal. Success is about being happy at all times, regardless of adversity.

How can I become an important and fit and role in someone’s life? Not every person, no matter how amazing they are, fits in your life. It’s your own recipe, I want to work to be a part of that recipe for a specific someone. How do I do it?

Be “selfless” in what you are trying to do. Don’t expect them to accept you as part of their life. Develop a "personal code of moral ethics" and never abandon them for any reason. Your "code of ethics" defines who you are to people. Mentor, but don’t push your “opinions.” Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one… and it usually isn’t as perfect as they’d like others to think.

“When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.”

-- Confucius

What are some clever tactics that an authoritarian regime uses to fool the people?

Own the media and take away access to outside information. The media spins the lies of the “authoritarian” regime into the truth the regime wants the people to believe. There are organizations that try to offset the propaganda these regimes force-feed their populations. A bit of history would be to research “Radio Free Europe.” I’ve added a link to make it easier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Europe/Radio_Liberty

What is the difference between these two phrases, “I failed” and “ I am a failure”?

The first phrase admits you’re only human. The second phrase admits you’re truly an idiot for not recognizing you’re only human.  The first can be viewed as temporary, and the second as permanent.

For an aspirant, how to rule the world?

Selflessly, and with great understanding and tolerance.

“In framing a government, which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty is this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”

-- James Madison

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com