Previously I talked about vision not being enough to succeed, and that you also must have good processes. So let's take the paradigm a little further, and look at it form the process angle. The fact is, you can actually flunk vision-101, and still succeed if you have good processes. So if you are one of those who perhaps is not the great visionary, perhaps you are one of those that has a very hard time imagining what the future can be, if you have, follow, measure, adjust, and persist in the application of good processes, you can land in the dream world you could not previously imagine.

I once told a group that a leader was someone who could paint a picture of what can be on the hearts of those who can make it happen. I still believe that is a very good definition, but I don't think it is necessarily the only valid definition. I think there are plenty of leaders out there who could not inspire a fire to burn, yet they lead every day by setting a great example of applying good processes.

Don't get me wrong. Inspiration has its place. I would not for a moment diminish how important it is to have those charismatic leaders who can inspire us to greater heights, who can challenge us beyond our normal capacities, who can convince us to reach for the stars even when they hidden behind cloudy skies. But it would be an equal injustice to assume that charismatic inspiration was the only form of leadership. Consider the New Testament passages that talk about different offices and talents within the church. Are all pastors? Is everyone called to teach? Think of the simple, down to earth example "If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?" (I Corinthians 12:17)

So, what is the point? Simply this.  As we consider leadership skills in others, or in ourselves, it is good to remember that there are different kinds of leadership, and that each of us has the capacity to succeed even if we don't measure up to those who are more generally looked to as leaders because of their charisma. For everyone of those, it takes hundreds who simply buckle down, roll up their sleeves, and go to work.

So if you are striving for success and it seems to have eluded you thus far, and if you have worn off the sheen of all those inspirational CD's, maybe it is time to take a closer look at your processes. Because everyone of those charismatic leaders who succeed do more than dream great dreams and they do more than just inspire others to action. They follow tried and true processes. The inspiration is simply the "spoon full of sugar that makes the [processes more palatable]".