Work Ethics
We know from research being done on the nature of social entrepreneurship that civic engagements are not easy. These usually come with very few dollars, considerable public misunderstanding or disbelief, and a paucity of human energy and sustained support. Civic engagement that is enacted through social entrepreneurship inevitably involves a lot of persistence and endurance. It is a long-distance marathon rather than a hundred yard dash. Emerging sages talk about admired leaders who accept that small steps must occur while keeping the broad, long-term vision in mind—what a given venture can do for the community.
One of the keys to emerging leader success is the willingness to work hard in order to achieve goals; they’re not afraid to “roll up their sleeves” and do some of the work themselves. They are persistent, a trait that Good to Great’s Jim Collins admires and that some would call stubborn. They work hard on behalf of a vision and don’t easily give-up when confronted by fatigue or discouragement if tangible accomplishments don’t come easily.
Sometimes this work ethic shows-up as a leader being “determined” to identify a problem and stick with it. This determination is often anchored in the passion that admired leaders have for the work they are doing. The admired leader also helps others to stay focused on a vision: a river without dams, a school system that is truly devoted to the welfare of children. And the admired leader doesn’t give-up on people or on an important dream. When confronted by, “It can’t be done. We’ve tried and can’t do it,” the admired leader asks, “Why not? Why can’t we do it?”
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