Where were you when you heard that Obama would be the next American president? I was in bed, it was 6am, and I got a text from my dad with lots of exclamation marks. I almost cried with joy, as I know many did do. On Facebook, my friends’ statuses were jubilant, my clients that day had renewed vigour, women at the gym were beaming. It was literally as if the air had changed, the atmosphere had a different smell, the whole world was a different colour.
As far as I saw it, this wasn’t about a man of mixed-race who represented triumph at the end of a long, hard civil rights battle. I’m not naive enough to believe that all divisions and inequalities had dissolved. Obama is still a middle-class, Christian, heterosexual male and as such has more demographically in common with George Bush than with me. The day he was elected was also the day Californians voted against same-sex marriage.
No, what is new and refreshing and inspirational is this man’s ability to hold a vision and expand it to an ever-increasing slice of the world. To touch more and more people with his realistic idealism, his genuinely-believed “Anything is possible” ideology, his focus on peace, democracy and earth stewardship. He stands in his role as a true leader, someone you can believe in and trust in. How he speaks – no notes, so relaxed, so in his body – inspired me to buy a book on Transformational Speaking, so hungry was I to learn what he does so seemingly effortlessly.
My client summed it up beautifully, saying: “I feel now we can shake off the cynicism”. For a while now, my friend and I have had a familiar faithful conversation where we bemoan the lack of true leaders in the world. Now, we don’t get to play so passive any more. Obama shows that we need to throw away the excuses and say “Yes we can” – and then get on and do it.
If we want leaders like Obama, we need to support them, vote for them, become them. There is no shortage of brilliant, inspirational people in our world. Let’s just make sure they know how significant they are and play the roles they are here to play.
The World Needs Your Passion, So…
1) Make a list of ten people, alive today, who give you hope, who inspire you, who you’re happy to have in charge of their slice of the world, no matter how big or small that piece is. Alongside their name, identify why it matters that they play that role.
2) Share this with each of them – alert that person to their own significance. They might not have a clue. Also, find a way of supporting them.
3) Scan the list you made in the first section and notice which values popped up repeatedly. Allow yourself to realise what’s most important/significant for you – this might help you with the next step…
4) Finally, identify which slice of life you are currently responsible for. How are you doing? What’s next for YOU as a leader in this area? (Hint: It’s probably a step that feels scary) Do it! 
© Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2008
