While vigorously opposing the immoral act of abortion, this writer favors the propagation of nationwide family planning through contraceptives and other means in order to control the country’s runaway population growth, which worsens poverty and social injustices, and condemns the Philippines to perpetual economic underdevelopment. We hope that the Philippine Catholic Church will at least be neutral, if a government leader someday can muster the guts and the political wisdom to propagate an aggressive nationwide family planning program.
This writer also disagrees with the Philippine Catholic bishops on their opposition to the development of the 1995 Philippine Mining Act (since mining can be developed in an environment-friendly manner); their opposition of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando’s iron-willed moves to cleanse the streets of vendors and their reported opposition to one of his plans for resolving our national capital region’s garbage disposal problems; their opposition to Philippine agricultural policies on hybrid BT corn; and other non-religious and non-moral, but essentially economic questions.
This writer salutes the moral courage and social idealism of the modern-day Philippine Catholic Church as a bulwark of democracy, but hopes that they move away from commenting or even directly interfering on temporal matters and even major economic issues.
The leadership lessons of Jesus Christ may prove far superior and efficient than management books advocating leadership lessons from barbarians like Attila the Hun or Genghis Khan or other conquerors.
Next year, the country will again search for a leader, a CEO for the Philippines with a term of six years. Whoever wins in May 2004 (whether GMA, Roco, Ping Lacson, FPJ or Noli de Castro), the life and times of Jesus Christ surprisingly can yield priceless leadership secrets as he or she tries to provide the Philippines the most efficient and inspirational leadership.
Author Mike Murdock, who does not seem to be related to the high school dropout American billionaire David Murdock, listed the following leadership secrets of Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of mankind:
1) Jesus was a problem-solver
2) Jesus believed in his product
3) Jesus never misrepresented his product
4) Jesus went where the people were
5) Jesus took time to rest
6) Jesus took time to plan
7) Jesus knew he did not have to close every sale to be a success
8) Jesus had something others needed
9) Jesus was concerned about people’s finances
10) Jesus was willing to go where he had never been before
11) Jesus never allowed what others said about him to change his opinion of himself
12) Jesus understood timing and preparation
13) Jesus developed a passion for his goals
14) Jesus respected authority
15) Jesus never discriminated
16) Jesus offered incentives
17) Jesus overcame the stigma of a questionable background
18) Jesus never wasted time answering critics
19) Jesus knew that there was a right time and a wrong time to approach people
20) Jesus educated those he mentored
21) Jesus refused to be discouraged when others misjudged his motives
22) Jesus refused to be bitter when others were disloyal or betrayed him
23) Jesus networked with people of all backgrounds
24) Jesus resisted temptation
25) Jesus made decisions that created a desired future instead of a desired present
26) Jesus never judged people by their outward appearance
27) Jesus recognized the law of repetition
28) Jesus was a tomorrow-thinker
29) Jesus knew that money alone could not bring contentment
30) Jesus knew the power of words and the power of silence
31) Jesus knew when you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done
32) Jesus permitted others to correct their mistakes
33) Jesus knew his worth
34) Jesus never tried to succeed alone
35) Jesus knew that money is anywhere you really want it to be
36) Jesus set specific goals
37) Jesus knew that every great achievement requires a willingness to begin small
38) Jesus hurt when others hurt
39) Jesus was not afraid to show his feelings
40) Jesus knew the power of habit
41) Jesus finished what he started
42) Jesus was knowledgeable of Scripture
43) Jesus never hurried
44) Jesus went where he was celebrated instead of where he was tolerated
45) Jesus constantly consulted his Heavenly Father
46) Jesus knew that prayer generates results
47) Jesus rose early
48) Jesus never felt he had to prove himself to anyone
49) Jesus avoided unnecessary confrontations
50) Jesus delegated
51) Jesus carefully guarded his personal schedule
52) Jesus asked questions to accurately determine the needs and desires of others
53) Jesus always answered truthfully
54) Jesus stayed in the center of his expertise
55) Jesus accepted the responsibility for the mistakes of those under his authority
56) Jesus pursued the mentorship of more experienced men
57) Jesus did not permit those he led to show disrespect
58) Jesus respected the Law of Sowing and Reaping.
Reading the book and this fascinating list, one belatedly realizes that instead of drowning oneself in the dizzying array of management and leadership books that are now being mass produced, the world’s No. 1 best-selling book, the Bible, is still the best roadmap to true leadership.