Comments: I wrote this post because I saw many great people and learned of a few spectacular people after I had been reading numerous books researching other topics. I wanted to share my discovery with everyone, so they may look for spectacular people and may even begin to emulate them.
Spectacular People
By
James T. Bogden, PMP
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” John F Kennedy, Jan 20, 1961
“Never, never, never ever give up,” Winston Churchill, Oct 29, 1941
Most people have heard the axioms and colloquialisms of great people remarking about their causes. Unfortunately, most people know little about these great people for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they have little time to study the great ones or the schools they attended failed them. Whatever the reason, most people do not know what makes some people great. Moreover, most of those great people are usually famous but spectacular people such as Abraham Lincoln are most humble. Lincoln was confronted with a civil war General who refused to speak with him. Lincoln could have fired the General but instead humbled himself then said he would wait for him in the General's living room. Most spectacular people are not even famous. We may come across spectacular people every day without any awareness of their presence. You may know one not out some egotistical proclamation but instead because of their humble nature. Spectacular people hide in plain sight.
Over the years, I have met spectacular people. During the 1990's I was on a cruise ship spinning a giant globe around in the center of the ship's library. An elder gentleman stepped up and struck up a conversation with me. He told me he exported chickens to the Bahamas for most of his life, putting his finger on the globe at locations he was discussing. I learned he was from Texas and knew of my Great Grandfather, Henry Hiram (Pipi) Johnson, who had a large cattle farm outside of Tyler, Texas, before the 1950s. We parted ways after talking for a little while. Later, I learned that this man was a generational family owner of Purina Corporation, where my great grandfather bought his cattle feed. He never made mention of the fact he was a leader of a great American Company, Purina Corporation.
In the workplace, I have dealt with and observed innumerable people's conduct. Unfortunately, some of the people I have had to deal with were corporate maniacs such as Mayberry Machiavellians or other narcissistic, psychopathic forms. The good news is that we are not going to explore those harmful personality types in this article. Our focus is on the rare breed of spectacular people. I discovered this unique breed of people after reading Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men, Millionaire’s Mind, the works of Dale Carnegie, and many more resources. The best I can discern about being spectacular comes down to a few character traits. Spectacular people:
- Demonstrate exceptional love.
- Exude charisma that they adjust per situation.
- Possess self-learning skills.
- Develop or hold attractive visions that are principle-based.
Cycle of charity love is apparent in spectacular people who have an exceptional love for others and the humanities. They make those The cycle of charity love is apparent in spectacular people who have an exceptional love for others and the humanities. Spectacular people make those around them feel important and accepted. Spectacular people love the arts and embrace the enduring messages purveyed. Spectacular people embrace Dale Carnegie. Spectacular People demonstrate patience and are humble. The love that flows from spectacular people is returned to them by those people who come in contact with them.
Another quality of spectacular people is they exude the appropriate charismatic balance at the right time. Charisma is a balance between warmth, presence, and power. President Bush demonstrated this ability while leading the nation at war using high presence and power then shifted to high warmth to embrace a grieving mother. Spectacular people possess the charismatic ability to attract people, then love and lead them.
Self-learning is a powerful tool and a skill that involves many abilities and character qualities. A fundamental error too many people make when learning is condemnation without investigation, which is rooted in a belief that one already possesses the knowledge. Leonardo Da Vinci was aware of this problem and had his principle of ‘sfumato' or to throw everything up in smoke and look anew. Spectacular people have an insatiable desire for learning and possess this ability to look anew in order to see the epistemic truth from other claims of truth. Spectacular people share their knowledge with others without selling a particular view or position. Their knowledge stands on its merit alone.
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| Figure 1: Simon Sinek, successful people move from WHY to WHAT. Source: www.advance-performance.co.uk |
While there are many great people, spectacular people are rarer. Spectacular people are loving, charismatic, self-learners, and have visions attractive to most people. Spectacular people love and lead people having humble and patient character qualities. Spectacular people are most likely around you. You may even know one without awareness of who they are. Look around and see if you can spot one! Model yourself after them. After-all being a copycat is the sincerest form of flattery.
References:
Carnegie, Dale;. (1936). How To Win Friends and Influence People (1981 ed.). New York: Diamond Pocket Books Pvt, Ltd.
Gelb, M. (1998). How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci. New York: Dell Publishing.
Mansfield, S. (2013). Mansfield's Book of Manly Men: An Utterly Invigorating Guide to Being Your Most Masculine Self. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Sinek, S. (2009). Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action. New York: Penguin Group.
Stanley, T. J. (2001). The Millionaire Mind. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC.