Read Leadership Wisdom From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: The 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders Online
Authors: Robin Sharma
Leadership Wisdom From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: The 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders (29 page)
But, as Ivan Ilych came to appreciate, it was never too late to do what is right and live life fully. That moment I vowed to change the very person I was. I would become the kind of leader my heart told me I was capable of being. I promised myself I would be the kind of husband and father I knew I had the capacity to become. And I would live with the kind of soaring intensity I knew I deserved. At that moment, I looked over at Julian. Tears filled his eyes as well.
“I think you now understand what I’ve been saying, my friend. To be the kind of person that you are destined to be and to leave something special behind for all those who follow you is what life’s all about. It is the essence of leaving a legacy. As Yogi Raman put it,
‘What makes greatness is beginning something that does not end with you.’ “
“You know, Julian,” I said as I wiped my eyes, “my dad used to say that ‘the first fifty years of life are spent building one’s legitimacy while the last fifty are to be devoted to building one’s legacy’ I never quite understood what he meant until now.”
“The sages had a saying that captures the essence of the point that your father in all his wisdom was trying to make.” “What was it?”
“They used to tell me that ‘when you were born, the world rejoiced while you cried. Your mission must be to live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries while you rejoice.’ Only then will your life have made the difference it was intended to make.”
“Just so I am perfectly clear, Julian, will my legacy then be the goals that I will have achieved over my life as a leader?”
“Your legacy must be so much more than that. Your legacy will ultimately be a manifestation of the deepest and the best that you had to give in life. It will be a reflection of the person you now are and the person you aim to be. Leaving a legacy is not about impressing your friends or reaching the top. It’s not about looking good but about doing good. It’s more about fulfilling your duty and actualizing your humanity. Legacy-Based Leadership is the most powerful type of leadership. Practicing it will allow you to do what few leaders in the world today can do.”
“Which is?”
“To
create a successful present while building a brilliant future.
And if I may say so, Peter, every leader in every field of endeavor should aspire to no less.”
Julian then walked me back to the entrance of the observatory. Under the steps was a little wooden box that had been covered by a clean white cloth. Julian reached down and picked the box up, carefully making sure that the precious contents were given their due respect.
“Here, this is for you. The time has finally come for me to leave and for you to explore the full magnificence of the 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders on your own. I could not have asked for a better
student and a more receptive friend. From the day I first exposed you to the leadership wisdom of the sages at our golf club, to this evening here at the observatory, you have embraced what I have come to share with an open mind and an honest heart.
“And so, as a token of my thanks for allowing me to fulfill my promise to Yogi Raman and spread the lessons I learned throughout our part of the world, I humbly offer you this gift. It has great meaning to me and has been my constant companion since I left the Himalayas. I couldn’t think of a better home for it than with you. All I ask is that you sincerely continue to apply the knowledge that I have delivered to you and spread The 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders throughout your organization for all to discover. In this way, not only will you transform your leadership, you will bless the lives of all those around you.”
And with those final words, Julian reached over and embraced me as only a dear friend could, then dashed off into the darkness, his richly embroidered robe trailing behind him. As I opened the box, I saw that the gift was beautifully wrapped in some type of homemade covering. I immediately removed it, eager to find the special present Julian had placed within.
As I looked deeper, I saw that the box held a shiny object. A smile came to my face as I recognized what it was. It was the small telescope that Julian had been clinging to the night of the basketball game. I could not believe that he would have parted with such a prized possession. I knew how much his stargazing had meant to him.
Picking it up, I noticed that an inscription had been engraved on the telescope in elegant lettering. It said simply:
To my now wise friend, Peter, a man who I know will touch many lives. May your spark of leadership turn fear into power and darkness into light. With love, your fan, Julian.
Chapter 12 Knowledge Summary • Julian’s Wisdom in a Nutshell
| The Ritual |  |
| The Essence | The Ritual of Contribution and Significance |
| The Wisdom | • The purpose of life is a life of purpose |
| • Focus on leaving a footprint and making a difference | |
| • Leadership greatness comes by beginning something that does not end with you | |
| The Practices | • Create a successful present while building a brilliant future |
| • Legacy-Based Leadership™ | |
| Quotable Quote | Your legacy will ultimately be a manifestation of the deepest and the best that you had to give in life. It will be a reflection of the person you now are and the person you aim to be. Leaving a legacy is not about impressing your friends or reaching the top. It’s not about looking good but about doing good. It’s about fulfilling your duty and actualizing your humanity. |
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSTo the many thousands of people who read
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
, were inspired by its lessons and shared its wisdom with their families and friends. Thank you for helping me spread this message for life improvement.To all who attended my public and corporate seminars across the United States and Canada. Special thanks to Sharma Leadership International’s corporate clients who sponsored personal and organizational leadership programs for their employees. I feel privileged to be able to contribute to your success.
To the entire team at HarperCollins. You folks have made this a most joyful and satisfying experience. Special thanks to Claude Primeau for your guidance, Iris Tupholme for your faith in me, Judy Brunsek, Tom Best, Marie Campbell, David Millar, Lloyd Kelly, Doré Potter, Valerie Applebee, Neil Erickson and Nicole Langlois, my insightful and highly competent editor.
To my valued team at Sharma Leadership International for your energy, support and for managing my nonstop corporate seminar and media schedule.
To my mom and dad. I have so very much respect, appreciation and love for you. To my dear brother, Sanjay, my tireless supporter and confidant, to his wife, Susan.
And to my young son, Colby, for keeping me playful amid the writing of the manuscript (partly with your Curious George stories) and to my daughter, Bianca, for being a light.
Robin Sharma is one of the world’s premier experts on leadership, elite performance and self-discovery. He is the author of numerous bestsellers, including the #1 international bestseller
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari,
its popular sequels
Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
and
Family Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Who Will Cry When You Die?
and
The Saint, The Surfer & The CEO,
a #1 bestseller at amazon.com. A frequent guest of the national media, Robin has starred in his own PBS special and appeared on over 1,000 television and radio shows. He is also in high demand across the globe as a keynote speaker and frequently shares the stage with such individuals as Jack Welch, Bill Clinton, Christopher Reeve, Dr. Phil, Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer.
A former lawyer who holds two law degrees, one of them a masters, Robin is the visionary CEO of Sharma Leadership International (SLI), a widely respected learning services firm that helps employees and entrepreneurs realize their highest professional and personal potential. SLI also runs the highly acclaimed
Elite Performers Series™,
a strikingly effective 2-day coaching process that helps individuals show excellence in all they do, and
The Monthly Coach™
program, Robin’s Book and CD of the Month club. As well, Robin is a top executive/life coach to CEOs, entrepreneurs and some of the planet’s most successful people.
Robin’s personal mission is to help people rediscover who they truly are and live in a way that creates value for others. Through
The Robin Sharma Foundation for Children,
he helps underprivileged children stand up for their dreams.
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PRAISE FOR
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari“Nothing less than sensational. This book will bless your life.” Mark Victor Hansen, co-author,
Chicken Soup for the Soul“A great book, from an inspirational point of view.” Carlos Delgado, Major League baseball superstar
“This is a fun, fascinating, fanciful adventure into the realms of personal development, personal effectiveness and individual happiness. It contains treasures of wisdom that can enrich and enhance the life of every single person.” Brian Tracy, author of
Maximum Achievement“Robin S. Sharma has an important message for all of us—one that can change our lives. He’s written a one-of-a-kind handbook for personal fulfillment in a hectic age.” Scott DeGarmo, past publisher,
Success Magazine“The book is about finding out what is truly important to your real spiritual self, rather than being inundated with material possessions.” Michelle Yeoh, lead actress of
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,
in
TIME Magazine“Robin Sharma has created an enchanting tale that incorporates the classic tools of transformation into a simple philosophy of living. A delightful book that will change your life.” Elaine St. James, author of
Simplify Your Life
and
Inner Simplicity“Sheds light on life’s big questions.”
The Edmonton Journal“The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
is coherent, useful and definitely worth reading…. It can truly help readers cope with the rat race.”
The Kingston Whig-Standard“A magnificent book. Robin S. Sharma is the next Og Mandino.” Dottie Walters, author of
Speak & Grow Rich“Simple wisdom that anyone can benefit from.”
The Calgary Herald“This book could be classified as
The Wealthy Barber
of personal development…. [It contains] insightful messages on the key concepts which help bring greater balance, control and effectiveness in our daily lives.”
Investment Executive“A treasure—an elegant and powerful formula for true success and happiness. Robin S. Sharma has captured the wisdom of the ages and made it relevant for these turbulent times. I couldn’t put it down.” Joe Tye, author of
Never Fear, Never Quit“Simple rules for reaching one’s potential.”
The Halifax Daily News“Sharma guides readers toward enlightenment.”
The Chronicle-Herald“A wonderfully crafted parable revealing a set of simple yet surprisingly potent ideas for improving the quality of anyone’s life. I’m recommending this gem of a book to all of my clients.” George Williams, president, Karat Consulting International
“Robin Sharma offers personal fulfillment along the spiritual highroad.”
Ottawa Citizen
Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
“One of the year’s best business books.”
PROFIT Magazine
“Very informative, easy to read and extremely helpful…. We have distributed copies to all our management team as well as to store operators. The feedback has been very positive.” David Bloom, CEO, Shoppers Drug Mart
“Robin Sharma has a neat, down-to-earth way of expressing his powerful solutions for today’s most pressing leadership issues. This is so refreshing in a period when businesspeople are faced with so much jargon.” Ian Turner, manager, Celestica Learning Centre
“This book is a gold mine of wisdom and common sense.” Dean Larry Tapp, Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario
“A terrific book that will help any businessperson lead and live more effectively.” Jim O’Neill, director of operations, District Sales Division, London Life
“Monk points the way to balance in business…. The books work.”
The Toronto Star
