"A Little Light Dispels Much Darkness."

Last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai were another massive link in the chain of destruction terrorists are using to imprison the world in fear. Over 160 people were killed in the seige on Mumbai; Indians, Israelis, Americans, Japanese and Britains all are among the dead. Those left mourning for loved ones in all parts of the world are united by their grief, brothers and sisters in bereavement. The question on everyone's mind is, "Why?"

Why were a father and his teenage daughter killed as they pursued deeper spirituality? Why did a young rabbi beloved of non-Jews and Jews alike in the Mumbai community have to watch his wife die before he himself was executed? Why were hundreds of innocent tourists murdered on their vacations? Why were scores of innocent Indians murdered in their home city?

While "why?" is a legitimate question, I don't think it's the right question to be asking. Asking "why?" in the ugly face of terrorism leads to much painful speculation and no constructive action. If we want to do justice to those who have fallen, not just in the Mumbai attacks, but in every act of senseless violence throughout history, we must act. The question that leads to action is, "How?"

How do I make sure this can't happen again? How do I channel my fear and anger into action for a better world? How do I gather people together and empower them to heal themselves and others? How do I do my part in fixing our world?

In times of terror, in times of destruction, when the fat layers of complacency are stripped away from everyday life, this is when the darkness of our world is revealed. And the darkness is revealed in order that we bring our light to it. We have seen some black days here on Earth, but in the blackness is an opportunity for the best of ourselves to shine forth. And the best of ourselves is who we really are - wellsprings of strength, of healing, of change, of love. Don't let fear or, worse, complacency, tell you any differently. Do something. Change a mind. Change a life. Change the world.

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Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

I found this quote, by Peter F. Drucker on famous-quotes-and-quotations.com and I thought it was an interesting idea.

In my Management Information Systems class, my professor compared system efficiency and system effectiveness similarly. Efficiency is about doing things right, while effectiveness is about doing the right things. If a system is efficient, it is fast and cheap. It is simple to use and easy to install. Effective systems, on the other hand, do what is right for business. Effective systems attract customers, and enhance productivity. Effective systems are about the long term.

This quote says something similar about leadership. Management is about efficiency. It is about meeting deadlines and delegating and making sure that all the I's are dotted and T's are crossed. It's about doing things correctly, professionally, timely.

Leadership, though, is about something different altogether. Leadership is being a role model. Leadership is about including, and empowering everyone. Leadership is about doing what is right for yourself and for your group.

Nuzhat wrote below about passion. I think that passion is a critical component of leadership which helps it to stand out against management. Managers tell the members of their group what to do to solve a problem. They get the project done. Leaders inspire their peers to feel the same passion that they might feel about a goal. Why would I be a part of a team, if the president is simply barking orders? I’d much rather work with leaders who are driven by passion, and incite that same passion in members of the group. These are the leaders who are not so concerned with the end result of their leading, but are concerned with doing the right things for their group.

-Emily

Be Passionate About Your Purpose...

This week during my Community Council meeting, one of my peer student government leaders came up to me with a most startling question: "How is it that you do everything that you do and still manage to stay alive?". "Stay alive!?" I thought, "What does that even mean?". At first I just kind of smiled at her and laughed a little but she was committed on getting an answer out of me so I actually had to think...

She wanted to know how she too could juggle schoolwork while being involved in the community and in different organizations at the same time. I gave her a textbook answer: you have to have good time management skills, be sure to plot out times for studying and times for doing work outside of schoolwork, and don't put in your mouth more than you can chew! She seemed unconvinced but took my answer just the same and went on her way- but now this started to bother me. I started thinking about the question she had asked me and this time wondered how I really was alive.

Every second of my day is planned and mapped out, but then again my busy hectic schedule is what keeps me going. Although time management skills are very important that was not the reason I was able to juggle all my responsibilities in and outside of school. Then all of a sudden an anvil fell on my head and it hit me. The answer was in an article I wrote just a little while back about passion and purpose working hand in hand. I am able to do everything I am doing because of passion.

The only reason I am able to meet deadlines, go to meetings, go to class, and meet all my responsibilities is because I am extremely passionate about every single thing I do. I am in HCC because I am passionate about my community, I go to my classes because I am passionate about one day becoming a doctor, I am a leader because I am passionate about bringing the leader out in others and helping people get heard. It was just as simple as that. So the answer is Passion.

-Nuzhat

Peer Leadership Dance-Off

These people love leadership... a lot.

XLC Interviews

We've got some really strong candidates interviewing for next semester's XLC positions. We're looking forward to new faces and new ideas, as well as seeing our current XLCs come back re-energized and ready to move this office forward. Spring '09 should bring a lot of novel and exciting things to XCEL - this blog for one!

On a random note, check out Binghamton Alum Arel Moodie's website. He was voted Top Young Motivational Speaker in America. He's also a great guy :O)

- Ani