Leadership Inspiration From Dr. Seuss
- Feb 12, 2024
- 3 min read
Written by: Santarvis Brown, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Good leadership isn’t rocket science. In fact, if you listen carefully, you might find inspiration in some very unusual places. Television, radio, and even online gaming, for example, all often have leadership tips that be gleaned by those who are truly interested in learning. Personally, I think that Dr. Seuss has some of the best leadership advice I’ve ever come across.
Let’s take a look at “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and some of the valuable insight it has to offer the savvy and flexible leader.
Courage
One of the most important attributes of leadership is courage. As Dr. Seuss so astutely states:
“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
You don’t need to rely on someone else to guide you to your destination. It’s your circus, so get ready to lead it. This isn’t always easy advice to follow, but it is always important advice to hear. Sometimes, forging your own path might seem risky and, ultimately, scary. In these moments, remember that you have everything you need to succeed in your own brain – just put one foot in front of the other and take a leap of faith.
Resiliency
One of the most meaningful quotes I can pull from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is this bit about how triumph and failure are two sides of the same coin: “Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Exception when you don’t. Because sometimes, you won’t.”
It’s important to understand that while success is always the goal, sometimes a failure or two is the boost you need to thrive. You won’t always be the best in the room and sometimes you might not even be the best on the floor – but that’s okay. Sometimes learning from the people around you and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses is the best thing you can do for your overall leadership ability.
Resiliency matters. You must be able to bounce back from failures, even when they are quite unexpected, and jump back into the grind. Being the best is a natural goal for leaders, but it shouldn’t be all-consuming or knock you flat when you miss the mark.
Action
Yet another bit of leadership advice taken from Dr. Seuss is the following:
“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way!”
Sometimes acting is one of the most surprisingly difficult elements of leadership. Similar to having the courage to forge a new path, you must have the follow-through to take concrete steps toward your goal today, not tomorrow. The world is waiting, and your skills are ripe for development, so stop waiting around! Take the first step towards your next chapter and trust that it will be a great one.
Are you ready to become the best leader you can be? Keep the tips Dr. Seuss offers us in mind and get started on that path today.
Santarvis Brown, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Santarvis Brown has spent 15+ years serving as a leader, innovator, and changemaker in education, showcasing in-depth insight as an administrator, educator, and program director. A noted speaker, researcher, and full professor, he has lent his speaking talent to many community and educational forums, serving as a keynote speaker. He has also penned several publications tackling issues in civic service, faith, leadership, and education.
