What Does "The Secret" Have To Do With Great Leadership?
| posted by Denise CorcoranIt's hard to imagine that just about a year ago everywhere you went the latest buzz on the internet, TV and personal conversations was Rhonda Byrne's movie "The Secret." So much so, that Rhonda Byrnes was named one of the most influential people in 2007.
Regardless of what you thought about the movie, there is one benefit you can't deny. It "woke up" millions of people to becoming more conscious and responsible for the outcomes in their lives. The key difference between mediocrity and greatness is consciousness. Mediocre people live their lives in stupor from the "outside in," often looking at external events as the driver of their results. Great leaders and individuals are "awake" -- operating from the "inside out" -- and see themselves as the architects of their destiny.
In the last year, I have been amazed at how many of my CEO and executive clients have sheepishly admitted that they not only watched the movie "The Secret." They also started to apply the principles in the movie and many experienced profound change and/or breakthroughs. One CEO claimed that on a daily basis, as a result of the movie, he affirmed success in a very tough, stuck negotiation with a key investor in his company. He was convinced it was his daily ritual of claiming success that eventually brought this stalemate to a happy ending for his company.
Another CEO told me that the executive team watched the movie to kickoff their annual planning session. As a result, the team set much more aggressive company growth goals thus shifting the consciousness and thinking of the leadership team to a "can do" attitude ever since.
While I would be the first one to admit, based on my background and training, that "The Secret" treats the topics of personal breakthrough, greatness and achievement very superficially, its fundamental premise still provides a powerful message. The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary achievers are their minds, their thinking, their focus.
Extraordinary individuals are ordinary people who make extraordinary decisions. I remember hearing Anthony Robbins about 15 years ago say in a weekend intensive "it is the decisions in our lives that shape our destiny." The word "decision" comes from the latin word 'decidare" which means "to cut off all other possibilities." Great leaders go beyond hoping and dreaming to claiming and deciding what their destiny and that of their company will be.
So what does "The Secret" have to do with great leadership? Everything. If you have not seen the movie, I recommend watching it and keeping an open mind. If you have, I recommend watching it again since it is human nature to go back to old habits and thinking.
In future posts, I will address how to drive true change in you and your organization from the "cause" -- rather than the "effect" -- side of your results equation. the real "secret" to awaken your own potential and those you are leading. How to upgrade your own "inner game," thus, driving you and your organization to a winning future.
