Anton J. Gunn

Some people think when you get promoted to a new position and have a big title that makes you a leader. It doesn't. Titles don't make you a leader, it just means you have a leadership position. Being an actual leader is about the impact you have on the people you serve. Having an impact on the lives you serve doesn't require you to have the highest title. It just requires you to have the highest influence. As John Maxwell teaches, "Leadership is influence, nothing more nothing less".

In 1989, a 16 year old rapper from Brooklyn, NY released his debut album called, Youngest in Charge. Special Ed came on the Hip Hop scene in the same year a flurry of other artists and albums were released. Among all of these competing artists and albums released, Special Ed became the youngest Hip Hop artist to sell 500,000 copies. He was not the biggest named artist. He was not the most famous artist but he was one of the most influential artists because of his lyrical content, character and personal style. He inspired millions of young people in Hip Hop, yours truly included. Special Ed's lyrics have meant so much to me. He has helped to build my belief system about what I could achieve and obtain. I knew that I could be "magnificent" because of Special Ed. For me and lots of others, Special Ed had INFLUENCE.

Don't just look to have a title to make you a leader, figure out how you can have influence in people's lives. If you have influence, you don't need a title. #TheLeadersDailyBriefing