Posts in "leadership"

Life Lessons from "Liberty or Death"

Sep 22, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Every so often in the course of human events, there comes a time to reflect on a memento of an era gone by and try to glean some wisdom. This is one of those times.

I'm talking of course about 1993's "Liberty or Death," for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A lot of credit goes out to a fellow intern, Nick, for bringing this specimen to my attention. Of course, the circumstances to which this historical strategy game refers are extremely different from the efforts of YAL members. "Liberty or Death" refers to the events of the Revolutionary War, whereas YAL focuses on educating our peers about values related to liberty and the Constitution. But we still might find it helpful to gauge our effectiveness through the criteria we find in "Liberty or Death," such as:

Leadership
Tactics
Reputation
Discipline

For a YAL chapter to succeed, it of course ought to have effective leadership. There are a number of proven “tactics,” if you will, that should be learned and implemented. It's helpful to be attentive to the reputation of your group -- the events you put on, the materials you distribute, etc. And it definitely can take a certain level of discipline and persistence to grow a vibrant chapter.

But by drawing inspiration from the Founding Fathers, you can do your part for liberty.

Brandon Cestrone's Tips for Running a Successful Chapter: Members Are Your Most Valuable Resource.

May 14, 2012 at 2:20 PM

By Brandon Cestrone

Running a successful chapter requires many things. For one, you need to know what characteristics good chapters possess so you can build upon their success. Second, you should understand the principles of leadership and apply them to running your chapter. Not only will this increase your ability to take your chapter from point A to point B, having the right skill set will make you much better at spreading the message of liberty on campus, thereby fulfilling your ultimate goal.

If you are running a chapter, or are on a leadership team, I have compiled a list of tips and principles that can help you in your activist adventures. These are the important recommendations I can give you after having the great opportunity and privilege of being the co-founder/president of the Slippery Rock chapter and Pennsylvania State Chair. I want to clarify that though I've practiced some of these principles well, I could have done a better job of following others. I am writing this so that you don’t make the same mistakes and blunders I committed. There are a ton of other handbooks and tips on how to run a chapter, but these are the principles I believe have allowed my chapter to flourish and will hopefully help yours prosper as well.

This is the next chapter in a series of blogs over the next couple months; this is the third installment.

Before going any further, please read and commit to memory the Guide to Build an Effective YAL Chapter to fully understand how to represent your organization on campus. This blog is designed to supplement your master guide, not replace it.

PART THREE: MEMBERS ARE YOUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE.

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." ~ Henry Ford

These suggestions are things that you, as a leadership team member, should practice on a daily bases. The following laws of human relations can help you not just in running a chapter, but in whatever you decide to do in life.

Moreover, it is your responsibility to keep your chapter's tank full. NEVER let that tank dip near empty. Below are ways you can keep your chapter energized and ready for whatever challenges come your way during the semester.

Give honest and sincere appreciation.

Never miss an opportunity to sincerely praise someone—whether it’s a member of your group or a chapter president—for their work. Praise is a strong tool that motivates people to perform better. Do you remember when someone sincerely praised your work? What impact did it have on you? Thinking back, who are the people that have motivated you most in your personal life? They are likely the ones who gave you honest, positive words of encouragement. Praise has changed the course of history. It should never be underestimated as a tool for motivating and encouraging people within your chapter and beyond. Remember, the praise you give should be sincere and honest. Don't praise someone just because. Praise is something to be earned, which makes it that much more powerful.

Non-Aggression and Leadership

Apr 18, 2012 at 1:22 PM

By Eric Sharp

This week Indian mystic, Sadhguru Vasudev has something very libertarian to say about the state of leadership in this world today:

The more powerful are always bullying the less powerful. Whether it is in the form of nations, communities or individual human beings, bullying is happening everywhere, all the time. We have structured the world in such a way that if you do not learn to bully, at least in society’s eyes, you won’t get anywhere. Bullying can either be crude, just on the strength of muscle, or it can be done in subtle ways, but it is happening all over the place. I want you to understand, the world, the international situation, is not any different from the street corner. The strong lean on the weak in so many ways. It is still a caveman’s world of ‘survival of the fittest’ conducted in a more cunning manner. It is not straightforward.

Brandon Cestrone's Tips for Running a Successful Chapter: It Starts from Within

Apr 16, 2012 at 4:00 PM

By Brandon Cestrone

If you are running a chapter, or are on a leadership team, I have compiled a list of tips and principles that can help you in your activist adventures. These are the important recommendations I can give you after having the great opportunity and privilege of being the founder/president of the Slippery Rock chapter and Pennsylvania State Chair. I want to clarify that though I've practiced some of these principles well, I could have done a better job of following others. I am writing this so that you don’t make the same mistakes and blunders I committed. There are a ton of other handbooks and tips on how to run a chapter, but these are the principles I believe have allowed my chapter to flourish and will hopefully help yours prosper as well.

This is going to be a series of blogs over the next couple months; this is the second installment. Click HERE to read the first installment.

Before going any further, please read and commit to memory the Guide to Build an Effective YAL Chapter to fully understand how to represent your organization on campus. This blog is designed to supplement your master guide, not replace it.

PART TWO: IT STARTS FROM WITHIN

"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore." ~Dale Carnegie

These suggestions are things that you, as a leadership team member, should practice on a daily bases. The following laws of success can help you not just in running a chapter, but in whatever you decide to do in life.

Brandon's Tips and Principles for Successful Chapter Building: Define Your Chapter.

Mar 29, 2012 at 2:09 PM

By Brandon Cestrone

This is going to be a series of blogs over the next couple months; this is the first installment.

Part One: Dream big, define your vision, and inspire your troops.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. ~ John Quincy Adams

These three suggestions are things that you, as a leadership team member, should be doing all the time. It is your responsibility to keep chapter's tank full. NEVER let that tank dip near empty. Below are ways you can keep your chapter energized and ready for whatever challenges come your way during the semester.

How to Build a Movement

Jun 10, 2010 at 4:55 PM

By Wesley Messamore

As this video demonstrates, good followership is a crucial form of good leadership. The first person to follow a leader is the one who transforms that leader from a "lone nut" into a leader and shows others how to follow. Hat tip to the Daily Paul.