Associating with leadership expert Orrin Woodward reminds me of the great navigators who graduated from the class of Henry the Navigator.
Like leadership those great adventurers who graduated from Henry’s school of navigation explored the world with a passion to make a difference. Their rewards were a magnificent new bounty, which we now know to be the spice trade. They were not afraid of an adventure, in fact they signed up for one. Some times their adventures led to acquire unexpected booty. You see, a pirate or an adventurer is always on the edge of the main stream of society. The new book from Orrin Woodward and Oliver DeMille, ‘Leadershift' is a call for action. The very title 'Leadershift: A Call for Americans to Finally Stand Up and Lead' reminds me of some of the early adventurers planning a voyage. Instead of being prepared with compass and sextants, leaders prepare by acquiring qualities that make a difference in their personal, professional, and business lives.
Leaders like Orrin Woodward are compelled by a big vision of what is possible.
At only the age of nineteen Prince Henry’s vision was stretched when he got a glimpse of the treasures that lay beyond the safe ports of Portugal. There were basics like salt, wheat, and rice but he also discovered a vast wealth of spices like cinnamon, cloves, peppers, nutmeg, and ginger. In addition, much of the cargo that returned back to the ports included gold, copper, and silver. Magnificent tapestries and oriental carpets were discovered and were a rarity in that day. Prince Henry’s vision was stretched with the possibilities.
Henry the Navigator’s school prepared his navel students for exploration. Orrin Woodward’s use of the LIFE business training system has become the bench – mark, developing communities of leaders.
Prince Henry the Navigator attracted experts in geography, navigation, cartography, and research. They developed the imagination and intelligence to build the most extensive navel exploration because of the ability to train sailors and build ships. Adventurers were attracted from all ends of the earth to attend his navel academy. Muslims, Jews, Arabs, Italians, Germans, and Scandinavians were attracted to the vision and knew they would be prepared in the competencies necessary to achieve their goal. Ultimately, this changed the known world. When developing communities of leaders it important to have a system in place to develop a leaders competency necessary to make a difference. This system is attracting people from all social and economic circles.
The book ‘Leadershift’ written by Orrin Woodward has a compelling vision about making a difference.
Henry the Navigator provided those who attended his navel academy with the most extensive scientific training of the day in order dominate the seas. He created experts from everywhere. Henry's vision was fueled by an underlying passion to stop the slave trade and spread Christianity. This passion and purpose drove him to influence the government and politicians to do the right thing with the tools that made it possible to discover the entire West African coast. Today, leaders are compelled to come together and 'Finally Stand Up and Lead' for the sake of making a difference. They choose to work with their strengths knowing that leadership development is the single most important task of our day. Join us and go on a great adventure. Explore the possibilities of leadership. God Bless, George Guzzardo
