"A leader can't lead until he knows where he's going." - John Locke, season 1, episode 5 of LOST
LOST is a great show on many levels, but this scene with Locke and Jack is one of my all-time favorites. It's at the beginning, when characters are still figuring out who they are going to be, and the audience is wondering. Jack, in this particular episode, is struggling, chasing something, and wrestling with identity issues. He is questioning his strength and leadership capabilities. And it is here where John Locke offers him some great advice -the quote above.
And Locke is right. I've been on many trips, and although it is sometimes fun to freely explore the surroundings, wandering spontaneously without a plan, the best leaders always have a map to come back to. What is a building without structure? A school without some rules? A relationship without guidelines? I am convinced that everything in life is working toward a goal, whether we are aware of it or not. This is true for a good leader. No one's going to follow you, unless you first know where you're going and how to get there. So, take a look at the map.
Oh, Locke. What wisdom you have voiced in seasons past, and how hollow you are to me now!
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