contributed photo
One of the exercises in CLP is about identifying and clarifying our own personal values. We each identify our top 5 values, writing one each on 5 index cards. Then we have to drop one… and another… until we are forced to choose our number 1, top value. What is your current One right now and why?
Family is my top value. It’s the base of my life, my actions, my aspirations, and more. When everything else is said and done, my family will be there. Everything begins and ends with them.
What is one big, burning leadership question you are wrestling with these days?
What are common characteristics of successful leaders? And what are the behaviors that derail leaders from being successful? As someone who is young in their field and embarking on more leadership opportunities, I am interested in learning from experienced leaders what they feel has consistently helped or motivated them to get to where they are today. I am also interested in hearing what led to some of their failures or failures of leadership around them over the years.
What inspires you, gives you hope these days?
My mother’s sacrifices for me. I grew up most of my life in a single-parent home with my two brothers and third later on. By the time my mother was my age (29) she had a 9, 7 and 6 year old. I used to watch my mother come home from a double shift, cook, then do hair for extra money, barely keeping her eyes open. She was also active in community work as well. She did all of this while trying her best to keep us on the right track, despite the lack of positive male role models in our immediate surroundings. I always remind myself of the sacrifices she made to put me in a decent position and that motivates me to work hard and assist in empowering people. She gave her all to make sure my brothers and I could be all that we could possibly be. My brothers and I are all college graduates now and building in our selected fields. My mother is my greatest inspiration.
This work of transformational change is hard. Stepping in, stepping up, over time, can be draining – physically, intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually. How do you recharge, restore, take care of yourself, rekindle your fire?
Spending quality time with my family is always a great way to take off the work hat. Traveling with my family and friends through the country. I also try to read often to detach and recharge. I like to read about history, mental health and entrepreneurship.
Introduce us to someone you are/were close with personally (e.g., family, teacher, friend, mentor), who shaped (or shapes) you and how you view leadership and possibility for a better community/world?
My daughter Mina continuously shapes the way I approach leadership and this world. Before she was born, I was working a lot, trying to deliver as much as physically possible, in as many hours as I could work. Over time, with my daughter in the picture, I have become more reflective, patient and understanding of the power in presence, and the quality of time spent rather than quantity. She has made me a better man, partner and social worker.
What do you recommend to us, in each of these categories:
- Reading – Every day! Suggestions: To Die for the People, The Deepest Well, The Go-Giver, How Democracies Die, etc. Most importantly, find something you like to read.
- Listening – To understand, not just to respond.
- Eating – To live. Enjoy great food, but don’t forget to manage your health.
- Watching – Less TV and social media, more of the world and its developments.
- Laughing – Is the best medicine. Take time to enjoy life. We weren’t born to only work.
- Wildcard – Love more, Live free, Learn everyday.
To get in touch with Landon directly: LandonOsborn1@gmail.com