We cannot touch and feel ‘leadership’, though we can see and often hear the results of it when it is effective or ineffective, of good character or poor ethics. There are literally hundreds of leadership programs available for executives, mid-level and new leaders. But beyond fundamental academic or technical skills, people need to learn how to identify their strengths and combine those with their passions in ways that empower them to establish and achieve a vision for their lives. They need to learn how to manage their time and to set, pursue and reassess their progress toward achieving goals that empower them to realize their potential. Equipping people with the tools they need to seize control of their futures is a powerful step toward securing a strong future for these individuals, and also our nations as a whole. The best solution to our countries’ problems lies in helping people, especially our future leaders, to learn to live reflective, purposeful lives.

In my book,You Can Make It Happen – A Nine Step Plan for Success, I share a systematic approach to organizing and advancing life goals and aspirations.

The Nine-Step Success Process helps you to clearly understand who you are, and on the basis of this identity and understanding, you become equipped to create a vision for your life that encompasses your passions and strengths. The Nine-step Success Process then guides you, step-bystep, in creating a plan for how to go about achieving your life’s vision.

Through the resulting self-knowledge, you are more accountable for their lives and are able to position yourself to capitalize on new opportunities and relationships and maximize your potential.

The earlier we initiate this process of self-discovery, the better. Our new hires often become the leaders of corporations, organizations, communities and government, and in serving as executives and managers in businesses, these leaders are expected to serve as community influencers and corporate representatives who heed the needs of those in poverty, experiencing health crisis or who lack education. Giving them self-knowledge and a vision at the onset of their careers gives them the freedom now to ensure they are choosing the direction they truly desire and that they focus on the environments in which they want to work and live. It helps them from stumbling into the quicksand of life’s disappointments.

At S. Graham & Associates, we believe that leadership abilities and characteristics must be well developed in order to lead effectively. Yet, we believe there is a fundamental dimension missing from this equation. It encompasses leaders discovering the core of who they are…and who they can become. There is a constant in leadership. It is the freedom of the individual to know precisely who he is and what drives him, and on this platform become clear on how he must lead, exercise his abilities, display his character, make his choices, and serve his constituents. Exceptional leaders are able to adapt to new tasks, to new roles, to new environments – and still be productive. They realize that with the management and growth of their ‘internal’ strength’, they can and must positively respond to the external environment, which is often outside of individual control.

A leader’s depth of internal knowledge and strength stands the test of time, congruently, consistently, and no matter the nature of the circumstances.

This leadership foundation can be one of the most elusive to discover, unless the process and tools for doing so are made accessible. Once accessed, the ensuing discoveries are keys to opening doors for developing new abilities and characteristics, as well as creating or recognizing new opportunities.

Our philosophy is that leadership is everything - whether you are leading a life, a community, an organization or a business or whether you are in school. If you want ownership of your life, business and its privileges - then progress and transformation begins with you.