A Good Foundation

A house cannot survive with an uneven foundation. A leader cannot lead without followers.  A business cannot survive without the demands of the consumer.  A church is only a steeple without a congregation.  A school is simply a structure when no students are present. A team is only a team when a group of people work together towards a common goal.  A coach can only be a coach when he has a strong team surrounding him.  A CEO can only lead a company when every person underneath him/her is inspired by the same vision and mission of the company.  A husband can only lead his household when he has his wife at his side.

The White House, home to every US president since John Adams, has seen its fair share of attempts to dismantle its foundation.  The War of 1812 destroyed most of the interior and exterior of the White House. Even after years of reconstruction many of the interior rooms were dismantled during the Truman era due to deteriorating internal wood beams. Kennedy also completed minor restoration projects on the residence, as well as other first families, however, no changes have been as vast as that of Truman.  Every first family can suggest modifications to the private quarters; however, changes must be approved by the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.  

Even the most historical homes must be preserved and changes can not alter the integrity of the original foundation. This statement is also true of the person who is nominated to the position of president. This leader may suggest changes; provide the vision, mission, and purpose of his presidency, however, he cannot lead and make decisions on his own. The president is simply the face or the voice. He is the person that represents the vision, articulates the mission and carries out the dream.  In order to be successful, he must have a team behind him, beside him, and underneath him as he stands before the people and receives both negative and positive feedback.

If the physical White House becomes unsteady, if the internal beams begin to give way, the house will fall.  If the skilled leaders, advisers, and analysts that report up to the president are not on the same accord, their disjointed behaviors bleed directly up to the president. 

To further explain my position, here’s an excerpt from John Donne:

“All of mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…As therefore the bell rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness…No man is an island, an entire of itself…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

We cannot thrive as a single person in a single body. We can only be successful when we join together as one; many persons representing one body. 1 Corinthians 12-12 states: The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body.  So it is with the body of Christ. 

This is the case of the President of the United States, the CEO of a major corporation, the conductor of an orchestra, the director of a marching band, the president of a university, or the head coach of a team.

With a strong and sturdy foundation, the President can face the nation, a quarterback can throw the winning touchdown, and the runner can win the race. 

Spend more time uplifting, encouraging, speaking positive life into your leaders. Leaders can only achieve greatness when they are surrounded by a strong and positive support system. 

Still Grambling

I have struggled tirelessly with the words to describe the heartache I feel when I hear negative comments directed towards my great university.  I am further irritated when I hear those words coming from people who call themselves Gramblinites, die hard Grambling fans, supporters that bleed black & gold, or true Tigers.  How can I express these feelings without adding to the noise that is currently polluting so many social media sites? How can I present my opinion in a positive light?  Then I had a thought. What if her walls could talk?  What if GSU, the institution itself, had a voice to speak out on its own behalf?  What if it could address questions and concerns that so many students, faculty, staff, and alumni seek?  What if her walls could talk? What would they say?

If her walls could talk they’d say: 

“Have you forgotten who I am? Do you think that I am a beginner?  I am over one hundred years old.  Three, four, and even five generations have walked through my doors.  I am anything but ordinary. In MY house, everybody is somebody! You need not worry about the color of your skin, the size of your wallet, or the geographic location of your motherland.  I welcome you with arms outstretched knowing that when you leave me you will never be the same.  I have created leader after leader.  These leaders have gone on to represent me at the local, state, and even at national levels.  I have greeted presidents, congressmen, judges, senators, and governors.  I am known throughout the United States and internationally. There is NO other like me.  I have often been imitated but never duplicated.  Even with all of my many accomplishments, I've seen my fair share of disappointments.  The one thing that I must remind you is that there is only one leader, one dictator, one governing body who can determine when my days are done.  HE is the only one who can judge right from wrong.  HE is the only one that can impart real change when my foundation becomes rocky.  So when I see signs of turmoil I simply stand firm and lift my eyes up to the hills where my help comes from.  I remind myself that what I see now is only temporary.  When the enemy approaches my yard in an attempt to break me I again stand firm, unmovable, knowing that this too shall pass. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other supporters remember the words that are written in my Alma Mater. We’re loyal to thee our dear old School. We’ll fight for thee for ever more. Will you fight for me? Will you stand for me again?  Will you join together in unity uplifting one another instead of tearing each other down?  Will you remain loyal even after you've walked across the stage and your time with me is nothing more than a distant memory?  Will you use your talents, resources, and Tiger spirit to educate, encourage, and inspire future leaders of this great institution?  Will you pass on a message for me?  I am STILL Grambling, the place where everybody is somebody."