Are you a leader or a follower?

“Either lead, follow, or get out of the way,” was the guiding idea of Ted Turner, the founder of CNN. I remember reading his interview as a youngster in Time Magazine. I liked this man, especially after he was forced to sell CNN and his famous statement :

“I am going to stick with my billboard business that I am familiar with, and when I shake hands, it counts. All these assholes calling themselves news men got the best of me. As far as I am concerned, they can go to hell-every single one of those bad characters. They are nothing but prostitutes in a cat house. Don’t let your children go to a school of journalism.“

According to the above proverb, both the leader and follower are keeping you alive and active in the game of life. However, that is valid only if life is a game! But life is not a game?! What if the LIFE  is a stance we all take, the deeds we all make, with the idea for some of these to stay after us? Long after us. Then, the equation does not work!

Now, another man, the founder of Star Bucks, said in his interview with Harvard Business Review that he never fired any of his employees who were caught wondering in their seats instead of concentrating doing their job! When asked why, he replied that he left them wondering as you never know what idea can come from people’s minds. Only one great idea would be enough to add extra value to the company and the way it is doing business!

Could be that the idea that Star Bucks were not in the business of coffee serving people, but in the business of people serving coffee, came from some of those employees who were neither the leaders nor the followers! And they were not taken away by the establishment. They were “just”  normal, ordinary human beings with an open, clean mind, and pure beautiful common sense that do not want either to lead or to follow but contribute to our human race!

Everything is a “matter of choice.” However, now that this ‘matter of choice’ exists, and it is interwoven into the UN chapter, what happens? They cunningly try to influence you by manipulating and brainwashing. They want you to choose what they want. Like not tested, “new technology” vaccines that are made “fashionable” instead of just and only SAFE!

After years of reading Ted Turner’s quote, I realized something important. Whatever one chooses, even “getting out of the way,” is valid if it is genuine. It is acceptable! Why?

Because you will never be able to accuse anyone but yourself for any misfortunes that might arise. That is also great. It will provoke powers within you. This will force you to change and become an even better person!

May 10, 2025

Darko Richard Lancelot

Philosophyofgoodnews.com

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