Articles

Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am.
I asked, Jim Kouzes, bestselling author of, The Leadership Challenge, why he left the Tom Peter’s Company. He said, “I just wanted to be me.”
Connecting:
It was February of 1983 when Tom Peters, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner connected at a business conference. Peters spoke on excellent organizations. Kouzes and Posner spoke on excellent management. They began a relationship that led to Jim becoming the President, CEO, and Chairman of the Tom Peters Company (1988 to 1999).
Himself:
During our conversation, Kouzes recalled meeting Regis McKenna, first marketing consultant hired by Steve Jobs.
McKenna’s business card read, “Regis McKenna — Himself.” Jim said, “I want to be that.”
Jim Kouzes came to a place where he wanted to sing his own song.
Along with his inner search, life tipped in early 2000. Jim’s first wife died. “It was a time to ask what’s next.”
Progression:
Jim said, “When I was young, I wanted to change the world so I joined the Peace Corps. After two years, I realized it was too big a bite. I set out to change the country (USA). I joined the war on poverty. After a while, I realized that was too big a bite so I got into organizational development. But, that was too big, too. Eventually, I started working with leaders.”
“Ultimately, I decided to just be me and work on myself.” — Jim Kouzes.
I laughed at Jim’s narrowing progression and said, “It seems like you’re changing the world, now.”
“In the end we realized that leadership development is self-development.” — Kouzes and Posner.
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How can leaders help others become themselves?