With the risk of coming across boastful….
Yesterday, I was contacted by a leading business media in North America to write an article for them discussing my ideas on what is the best way to become a “thought leader.”

This was in reference to a Harvard Business Review article on “how to become a thought leader in six steps.”

Firstly, I state unequivocally, I am not a “thought leader.”

I don’t pretend to be a “thought leader.”

I am from the old school where there was no such thing as self promoting “thought leaders.”

The world we live in today has become so focused on self promotion, all at the same time craving acceptance from others that selfishness dominates …. pollutes our thought process.

A true “thought leader” does not need to intentionally,  market and hustle his/her “thoughts….”

Like a great leader doesn’t need to command people to follow…

Is “leadership” something which can be taught?

Let’s be honest….

Can someone sitting behind a computer in a cushy office at Harvard teach leadership??

No disrespect.

No matter how great of a leader the person might be or have been ….can the secrets to their success as a leader be summed up on a blog or in a book?

…Is ”thought leadership” something so simple it can be taught in 6 clear steps on a blog?

In reality …

What works “leading” an American employee does not necessarily work “leading” an employee in China, India, Japan, not to mention, “leading” a woman employee in Saudi Arabia…

Moreover, it can be argued that the abundance of media has created an overflow of information.
We are hammered daily by worthless content trying to sell us short cuts ….
“The secret to becoming the ultimate thought leader in just 6 simple steps…”

In my humble opinion – there are no manuals which one can buy that outline the secrets of how to lead to people….whether leading them in action or in thought.

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I must admit — it would be cool to be able to boast to my 109 close friends on facebook that I wrote a post for a major business magazine sharing all the secrets of my brilliance…
however, it would go against everything this blog (I) stand for, thus I turned down the opportunity to discuss my opinion on the secrets to becoming the ultimate thought leader.

….although I am in the south of france …. like nearly all of America, for the past week or so I have been captivated by the sheer force of focus the American media has put on a 25 year old basketball player … as this player decided where he would play next season.

I have been captivated because I don’t understand how & why this commands so much attention and interest.

Like 99.9999% of the people in America, whether he plays in Cleveland or Miami has zero impact on my life, job, family, and overall existence.

Before I continue …consider this:

The guy is 25 years old and went straight from high school to the NBA where within 7 years has become one of the greatest players in NBA history.

He has lived his entire life in Ohio …

Now he has the opportunity to live in New York City, Chicago, Miami, or Cleveland.

Regardless of money, more sponsorship opportunities, incomparable market place and overall life style … lets be completely, honest…. Where would you choose to live?

The Cavs owner called LBJ “spoiled” and “narcissistic” …

Of course Lebron is spoiled and narcissitic… he is 25 years old worth 100s of millions of dollars; the media all over america entirely focuses on him - even the President of United States said 7 times throughout the week “I hope King James goes to Chicago…”

the truth is…

American culture,  the fans and Dan Gilbert are the ones who have created this “spoiled, narcissist …”

… but who am I/who are we to give any input on where a 25 year old NBA star wants to live and play basketball?

Lastly…

Why do so many people live vicariously through celebrities, sports stars, movie stars, etc?

…don’t waste your time and energy living someones elses life — make your own life happen.

Where is John Galt?

As you go through your day today, notice how many times you are aggressed/assaulted and pushed back by senseless negativity from people in our lives- my reference to ”people” includes all types, including the media.

The world markets are struggling not to fall apart …. unemployment in America is climbing in just about every state….
Oil is gushing nonstop in the gulf of mexico ….without question, 10,000′s of people who relied on tourism, fishing, etc have been hugely affected by this oil spill ….  yet american media focuses our attention on Lindsay Lohan.

Each time I post a blog attempting to battle the negatives in the media, naseba’s marketing director tells me with a smile on his face:  the media is just supplying what is demanded…

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I posted this blog 13 months ag0 – but it sets the tone for tomorrow’s post, thus I re-post today.

(repost from May 2009)

Yesterday, I saw on CNN.com a headline, the 4th headline news article (this is no joke) “are some sexual toys harmful to your health?”

Today a few headlines on CNN:

3rd headline: “Hulk Hogan: I totally understand O.J.” a story where he says he understands why OJ killed his ex-wife

5th headline: “unlikely singing sensation eyes date with queen” this story is not worth commenting on

6th headline: “cuddly robot seal impacts the lives of elderly.” I didnt waste my time to read this story

1st headline: North Korea poses real threat to the world (Lets be honest – the reality is that Guam is about as much of a threat to the world as North Korea)

Other headlines: there is a graphic (although entertaining) video of a 911 call where we get to hear a woman screaming on the phone about a drunk man who was trying to break into her home, then we get to hear her husband shoot and kill the drunk man all on the headline video.

There is not one story on the greatness in man.

Yesterday, I saw a small article in the news about Isiah Thomas accepting to become the Head Coach of a tiny, almost non existent college basketball team at FIU in Miami.

Isiah Thomas is a NBA hall of fame player turned coach who had 3 very successful years coaching the Indian Pacers to the playoffs, 3 years in a row during the period he was the head coach.

Then he got hired as the General Manager and Head Coach of the New York Knicks, had a great beginning, but from what I have read, Isiah had a very difficult time managing/coaching mega spoiled baby super star athletes who did not work as hard as he expected them.

He lasted two years before resigning; he was probably forced out.

It is worth noting that when Isaih Thomas was a professional, super star NBA basketball player, he was never in the news for getting into trouble; he is not covered in tatoo’s and never had an asshole haircut.

He just performed.

… many months after he resigned from the Knicks, he recently turns down two other NBA head coaching jobs, but accepts to coach a tiny, almost non existent college basketball team in Miami – FIU.

But it gets better — he announced yesterday, he is donating his 1st years salary back to the University who just hired him.

A great, inspirational story which is not even in the headlines on ESPN.com right now; it is not even mentioned on the first page of the CNN sport site.

HOWEVER….

I guarantee …. IF Isiah had accidently, run over a pit bull puppy with his car while driving, he would be commanding headline news/breaking news coverage for his cruelty to animals.

Furthermore….

Another great story, I never heard about — the Voice of Reason sent me 3 emails telling me to blog about it, but it wasnt until his 3rd email that i finally read the story …

The story of another sports hero, this time in the NFL, James Harrison …

Harrison was drafted in 2003 and made $5,000, but was cut from the Steelers — over his career, he was cut 3 times by the Steelers and once by the Ravens (4 times he was told he was not good enough for the NFL), but he believed in himself and kept fighting.

Last year, Harrison was named the NFL Defensive Player of the year – he also had the longest interception return in super bowl history and starred on the team who won the super bowl.

He recently, signed a new contract worth $51.5 million which guarantees him 20 million dollars.
He earned less than 800,000 dollars a year over the past 4 years – so suddenly, he is extremely, wealthy.

Harrison’s response to his big contract was “I want to make them proud and not let them down ….. this is what is going to drive me.” And the article I read comments that he was back in the weight room training two days after the super bowl victory.

The story I refer to above – it didnt make headline news — in fact, it never came close to being headline news worthy.

Why would we want to hear a story about a man who gets cut 4 times in the NFL, but never quits — ultimately, becoming the best defensive player in the game, wins a super bowl, has the longest interception in the super bowls history – and is back in the gym training two days after the super bowl…he gets rewarded with a $51.5 million contract — and his response is to say how grateful he is the the Steelers – and that he doesnt want to let them down….this story is not interesting …

its much more interesting to read about Madonna trying to adopt a couple of Nigerian babies.

Although Harrison’s greatness did not command headline news last week — the super star Terrel Owens made the headlines for not showing up to practice…

I guarantee, IF Harrison had been pulled over by some white cop in Alabama and discovered to be driving his Ford Explorer with expired registration, it would command headline news.

Seriously …

why don’t we ever hear stories on the greatness in man in the news today?

Who really gives a F…. about “a robot seal helping the elderly?”

How does this news item have any positive impact on anyone?

Although I completely understand Hulk Hogan’s sentiment, in his headline worthy article he discusses that he is not allowed into his 20,000 SQF home (which he paid for) and a 19 year old is driving his $75,000 car (which he paid for) as well as sleeping with his ex-wife whose only claim to fame was marrying the Hulk and riding on his success, thus Hulk mentions in the article he understands why OJ killed his wife.

BUT why does this negativity command the 3rd headline news story on CNN.com today?

What does it say about the world we live in today (or maybe I should say what does it say about America) when what readers are more interested in reading/hearing about are dangerous sex toys; people killing people with guns; teachers having sex with 13 year olds (one story recently was about a 13 year old sleeping with two different teachers in the same school and neither teacher knew about the other); movie star break ups; stories on the failures of man ….. instead of wanting to read/hear about stories on the greatness in man.

Where is John Galt?

To me … it is incredible that the world we live in today, (arguably) the most powerful news media in the world, CNN’s major headline:  “is religion diverting our attention?”

Diverting our attention from what????

buying shit we don’t need?

Why did Tiger Woods apologise to the world for cheating on his wife?

Tiger is not an elected official.  Decisions he makes have zero impact on nearly 99.9999% of the people in the world…………..

Yet, last week Tiger stood in front of the world media and apologised for “his actions letting us down.”

I do not play golf, therefore, I do not follow golf, however, I have great respect for Tiger Woods and his athletic ability.

To me,  its absurd Tiger Woods had to stand in front of the world and apologise for something which has nothing to do with anything, but himself personally.

Medias around the world have spent the past few days dissecting his apology … and CNN has a poll “do you think Tiger’s apology was sincere?”

Another example of American media celebrating the failures of man.

I can only sit back and hope that Tiger Woods comes back and dominates the game of golf even more than he does already.