We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Declaration of Independence

Today we celebrate America’s 236^th birthday! The Fourth of July is honored with celebrations, parades, carnivals, and fireworks. However, today is not just about a day off from work or backyard BBQ’s. July 4^th marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence back in 1776. Today we celebrate the thirteen original American colonies becoming independent states and no longer a part of the British Empire.  This statement was drafted and approved in what is known as the Declaration of Independence.

Independence of our nation was initiated by a publication written by Thomas Paine entitled, Common Sense. In Paine’s writings, he advocated for colonial independence and set forth of flurry of public debate on the topic. Several leaders followed Paine’s vocation of communicating the importance and need of moving our nation towards independence. Finally, on June 11, 1776, the committee of five consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were appointed to draft the declaration. After some final editing, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Paine, Adams, Franklin, and the many other leaders that had a hand in our nation’s independence were empowered individuals that realized a need for our country. As self-leaders, they took the necessary steps to make their goal a reality. Even 236 years later, companies today rely on empowered individuals to get the job done. Self leaders take the initiative to get what they need to succeed and their leaders respond to those needs. This is when a self leader is truly empowered! Authors of Self Leadership and The One Minute Manager teach three skills of self leadership:

Challenge Assumed Constraints – An assumed constraint is a belief, based on past experience, which limits current and future experiences.

Celebrate Your Points of Power – Every individual holds points of power, they just aren’t aware of them. The five points of power are

     Position power – authority of your position

     Personal power – personal traits such as strong interpersonal skills or passion

     Task power – ability to help or block others in getting a task completed

     Relationship power – association with others

     Knowledge power – expertise associated with degrees or certifications

Collaborate for Success – The initiatives self leaders take in order to get the direction and support they need to achieve their goals.

So whether you hold a manager role or not, everyone can be a leader. How are you creating your independence and self leading yourself to successfully achieve your goals?

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Read more http://howgovleads.com/2012/07/04/declaring-your-independence/