Consistent Force - The Big 8

Jordan's First Trip - See Yesterday's Blog“The economic indicator is only an indicator if over time it successfully comes before an economic trend (consistent force).”

Economic indicator is one of the definitions of leader from American Heritage. A widely accepted economic indicator becomes such by consistently coming before (predicting) an economic trend. There are many fringe economic indicators that are not widely accepted, border of “old wives tales”, or are a part of con games. However, the widely accepted indicator has proven its merit – again and again – consistently predicting a coming trend with a low margin of error.

This principle of indicators – that they are only valid once they are proven in consistency - could be applied to any indicator or predictor. The wise person does not count on the inconsistent unless what they gamble they can lose without damaging themselves.

In the realm of leaders, consistency is incredibly important. A widely accepted leader of people becomes such by consistently going before the people and getting them successfully to the goal – whatever the goal might be for that group. The widely accepted leader has proven his or her merit – again and again – consistently delivering people or companies to the goal line. Even if the leader is delivering the people to a bad goal, a goal for his own selfish gain, a goal that is not good for the people, he is still a leader if he successfully does it again and again.

Consistent force is seen in three ways in the leader.

• Consistent force is the ability to affect those around them and the power to affect, to cause change in the physical, the mind or behavior as seen over an extended period of time.
• Consistent force is the “moral strength” – a leading requirement of a Christian Leader – that endures challenges, leadership journeys and success.
• Consistent force is the ability to repetitively organize a body of persons or resources for a certain purpose.

It is important to remember that many can organize people for short periods of times (like the event planner), many can affect those around them for a period of time (like the evangelist), and many can excel in moral fortitude for a season (like the young Rocky in boxing): however; only the leader does this again and again and again. In other words, a true leader is a leader in character and the entirety of life. The leader will lead while following, while packing boxes or while being the CEO. The leader is consistently and over a long period of time a person of tremendous character, who affects everyone around them to gather together and achieve a common goal even if it is a goal they are helping someone else accomplish.

Just like the economic indicator which predicts a poor economic trend or is used for ill purposes, a leader can be a selfish, ‘evil’ leader that takes from the very people that he organizes. It must be remembered that there are no good and bad leaders for by definition if someone has followers, he is a leader. There are leaders who lead people for wrong and ill reasons to bad places but they are still leaders. A leader could have tremendously ‘evil’ character consistently and lead people again and again to achieve his self-serving goals that in the end exhausted them and still successfully exhibit Consistent Force.

The forces of leadership can be used for good and for that which is not good. The leader who accomplishes good – or desires to – must remember that it is man’s earthly makeup to fight selfishness. The leader who desires to accomplish only good must pick the destination of leadership well and wisely. This same leader will be wise if he checks and rechecks his motives and course on a daily basis. The truths and examples of leaders of good and evil found in the Bible are an excellent resource along with prayer.

Can consistency be lost or is consistency only consistency because it is consistently there? Tune in tomorrow for part two of Consistent Force.