Leadership...

Leadership is a sticky proposition. There are times when you want to respond to criticisms that are unfair in a way that adds sort of an exclamation point to your point! Rarely are the masses correct about your intentions or reasons for the decisions you make. We tend to be easier on ourselves than others and our society has become one that wants to be able to say "I told you so" as so many leaders around us fail. In fact we almost will people to fail. We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions thus we are incapable of an unbiased look at the hearts of others.

The Chicago bears have always been my team since my younger days when I grew up as a fatherless boy in Decorah. My world was small. In fact I was never outside of the state until I was in the 8th grade. A young man from Luther college who was part of the local Big Brother chapter became my Big Brother. Even though I only knew him for a year he left a mark on my future both visible and invisible. The Visible part I became a Chicago Bears Fan. I still am to this day. The Likes of Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary and now Jay Cutler have always been my sports heroes. The invisible part of my Big Brothers influence on me was that he taught me to dream. With him I was no longer a part of a small town but he caused me to realize I was part of an incredible world that was bigger than me and a world that was worth taking part in. I could be anything I put my heart to.

Back to the Bears. That list of all of those Chicago Bears players included one new one. Jay Cutler. This year it seemed the Bears had made the trade of the century getting Cutler would surely result in the return to the Superbowl. Now we finally had a franchise QB in Cutler. Well, the story and the season did not quite turn out that way. It seemed with all the injuries and scattered play that the real Bears rarely showed up to play. With that. Jay Cutler went from Hero,Savior to goat. The media trashed him at every turn and fans bailed from there once sure position that Cutler was the leader they had been hoping for.

What I found so great about Jay Cutler this year was the way he always calmly responded to all the criticism and hatred he received from so many. How do you go from being the needed piece on a team that was sure to return to the big game. To the guy who was responsible for global warming and the lack of a cure for Acne? Anyway, through all of that he kept his composure with the media and fans. He kept looking for a way to win. Then on a very cold Monday night football evening in Chicago he took it to the Minnesota vikings in an overtime win 36-30.

Jay Cutler finished the season with eight touchdown passes, one interception and 549 passing yards in the final two games. Causing all of those who bailed on him to suddenly exclaim. "I knew he would come around!" You gotta like support like that.

What is the value of believing when no one else does?
What is the value of giving your best effort when others tell you your best is not good enough?

Critics need not be answered in words. They only need to be answered with confidence, consistency, determination and Calm assertive leadership.

If we as Leaders don't give that we will be asking the same questions as everyone else tomorrow.



Where ya gonna be tomorrow?
How ya gonna face the sorrow?
Where ya gonna be when you die?
'Cause nothing's gonna last forever
And things they change like the weather
They're gone in the blink of an eye

Just look at yourself, can you see where you are?
Look at yourself, now you can't hide the scars
Just look at yourself 'cause there's nowhere to go
And you know

Tomorrow
You're gonna have to live with the things you say
Tomorrow
You'll have to cross bridges that you burned today
Tomorrow...
And everything you do, it's coming back for you
You'll never outrun what waits for you
Tomorrow.

And are you terrified by sadness
And have you given into madness
You're running out of places to hide
'Cause everybody's got a reason
To justify how they're feelin'
Maybe you should open your eyes

Just look at yourself, do you like what you see?
Look at yourself, is this how it should be?
Just look at yourself, 'cause there's nowhere to go
And you'll know

Tomorrow
You're gonna have to live with the things you say
Tomorrow
You'll have to cross bridges that you burned today
Tomorrow...
And everything you do, it's coming back for you
You'll never outrun what waits for you
Tomorrow.

Are you waiting for the reason to change?
Are you waiting for the end, has it came?
Nothing's gonna stand in your way...

Just look at yourself, do you like what you see?
Look at yourself, is this how it should be?

Tomorrow
You're gonna have to live with the things you say
Tomorrow
You'll have to cross bridges that you burned today
Tomorrow...
And everything you do, it's coming back for you
You'll never outrun what waits for you
Tomorrow.