Do you “wonder how you” tame or flame your ego?

Ego has a lot to do with identity, being right, and survival.

First, let’s look at identity. According to my 1991 Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, identity is a noun defined as:

1. the state or fact of remaining the same one, as under varying aspects or conditions.
2. the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another.
3. condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is
4. the state or fact of being the same one as described
5. the sense of self, providing sameness and continuity in personality over time

Using any one of these definitions, if your ego is attached your job, position, or title it gives you a false sense of identity and security. No one was born a teacher, politician, CEO, or coach. Too often, we use these roles to distinguish ourselves from others, rather than who we are inside. When these roles change we lose our grounding and sense of self.

Do you "wonder how you" don your “survival armor” in life?

But wait “What are you talking about?” you ask. “I don’t have any survival armor.”

The instinct to survive is innate in every human being. At times, we all encase our heart, mind, or spirit with some kind of protective armor. Why?

The Big WHY (Wonder How You . . . .) is series of questions and insights from an organic (Leadership Garden) view of leadership designed to unearth how you lead your life to thrive, or just merely survive.

I’ll pose questions for you to answer and share insights from growing my own Leadership Garden. My insights may ring true or not to you. Either way works, since there is no truth, except the truth you use to lead (guide and direct) your life.

I quote in my book: Like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, thought is in the mind, love is in the heart, and truth is in the spirit of a leader.

How come you don’t see yourself as a Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Gandhi, or Mother Teresa? You were born, you grew, and you are a leader. Has your leadership greatness blossomed yet?

Unfortunately, the traditional view of leadership as a title, job, or position has failed the planet.

To lead simply means to guide and direct. Leadership is the action you take. You have say in how you convey your leadership from the moment of your birth.

On Monday 4/7/08, my new granddaughter was born. No doubt she was a leader at birth. She determined the exact moment she would arrive and her family and team at the hospital were there to support her.

Makenna was born as pure possibility to be, do, and have anything she wants. Whether she fulfills upon what she came here do will have everything to do with her, as well as those around her. Her environment will either stem or nurture her greatness. Little Makenna is no different than any other child born - except she has one advantage. She arrived into a nurturing and loving environment.

The day after her birth, I received a newsletter update from my good friend Laura Peterson, founder of Hands to Hearts International (HHI). Laura was sharing how HHI’s approach to provide nanny type care to children in orphanages has saved lives. She included a New York Times article about orphaned children in Sudan. . . .

You are the one and only true leader of your life.
How you lead your life is an expression of you.
But the real you may be buried deep inside.
It’s now time to let your leader voice be heard.

“Expression” is the last piece of the Leadership Conundrum Series.

I have shared before that my purpose grew from deep inside on the day that my mother died by suicide. For more than 30 years, my career has centered on teaching, training, and empowering leaders. No matter how much I thought I knew or focused on helping others, I would not escape the lessons I convey.

Therefore, I chose to complete this series with insights into my journey to learn how to grow a thriving on-line Leadership Garden community. . . .

Surfing the Internet is like going on a treasure hunt of information; yet, you can waste precious time and energy finding just what you want and need.

To help solve this issue, 10 experts in a cross-section industries (which includes me) have joined together in a 30 day free e-product offering. It's "first of its kind" Internet joint venture campaign.

Why is it unique?