Page 15 - Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows

PREFACE

leaders develop their skills most effectively through practice, perseverance,
and guidance from caring mentors. While I believe that studying these
leadership lessons will certainly help you become a better leader, there’s just
no substitute for getting out there, taking charge, and receiving some hard
knocks along the way. Whether you’re leading a family, a local community
group, a military unit, a sales team, a sports franchise, or a Fortune 500
company, my hope is that you’ll turn to these leadership lessons for guid-
ance whenever you need a dose of inspiration.
Many of the Fellows I interviewed experienced great triumphs in their
careers following their year in Washington, but some have suffered glaring
setbacks. Several made deep personal and professional sacrifices for what
they believed was right. But all of them say they learned and grew from
every experience they had, whether it was positive or negative. Reading
their stories can help aspiring leaders learn and grow as well. The White
House Fellows understand—and I hope you will come to recognize too—
that leadership is not heralded by a sudden bolt of lightning and a great
thunderclap from on high. It’s certainly not the natural outcome of spend-
ing a remarkable year in Washington, D.C. Rather, genuine leadership is
measured by the individual moral choices one makes every day. I believe
the anecdotes in the following pages clearly illustrate that truth and will
also shed light, not only on the benefits of authentic leadership, but also
the costs.
At this time in our nation’s history, as we face enormous political and
economic challenges due to overwhelming failures by leaders at all levels
in public and private enterprise, the time has come for statesmanlike lead-
ership in every sector of our great society. I sincerely hope this book will
serve as an encouraging guide to all who aspire to offer the capable, bold
leadership our country—and indeed, our world—so desperately needs
right now. If it does, then Lyndon Johnson’s vision of a genuinely free soci-
ety populated by zestful, knowledgable, and active participants will be one
step closer to reality.

Charles P. Garcia
Boca Raton, Florida

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