When Jeff starts the Iditarod race, he starts with sixteen dogs and rotates the lead dog frequently to give all the dogs a chance to lead since every one of them wants to be the lead dog. Eventually, he finds the dog that's the real leader because it is a dog that is energetic and persistent in leading, and that dog becomes the leader of the pack. It is chosen as the leader because it leads; it is able to motivate the other dogs to follow by its own energy and enthusiasm.

In 1996, the lead dog was a two-and-half-year-old female named Jenna. That was very unusual since there were only two females in the pack, she was so young, and she was smaller than all the male dogs. But Jeff said with emotion, "She was our leader; when a blizzard came, she didn't give up. She kept running even when the snow was over her head and inspired us all to keep going. Even at her young age, she has the mental maturity of a leader." When Jeff was congratulated for winning the 1998 Iditarod, he lifted up his lead dog and said, "Here is the leader who won the race for us."

Leaders.h.i.+p is important no matter who you are or where you lead, even in a group of animals… A true leader is someone or rather a living organism who guides through a path (physically, spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and psychologically) especially by going in advance; he/she knows the way, shows the way and goes the way. As teens, we've got that urge in us to be heard, to be seen, to be the captain of the crew. Leaders.h.i.+p entails courage and strength. True leaders:

Are Determined towards achieving their goals;

Exhibit firm adherence to a code of moral or artistic values – Integrity;

They are steadfast with their Visions;

Take Action despite the obstacles;

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Sacrifice a lot for the achievement of the set goals;

True leaders are DIVAS! #wink# yep yep!

As told by a church growth consultant Jim Wideman, to be an effective leader as a teen, you've gotta:

Put the goals of your followers first. You are a part, not the whole enchilada; it's less of you and more of them as a matter of fact.

Help your followers win. Let others take a slam-dunk while you take an a.s.sist; adopt the motto, 'it doesn't matter who gets the credit.' Be willing to accept blame and reluctant to a.s.sign it.

Over-communicate. A good communicator is a good listener. Spend time with your peers, invest in your team mates and admit when you need help. Be open to correction and advice.

Don't take things personally. Leaders.h.i.+p is about others, when you start thinking about yourself, you lose perspective.

Give it all you've got! Paul, Timothy's mentor, said to him: 'concentrate on doing…work you won't be ashamed of…' (2 Timothy 2:15 TM). Good leaders empower, nurture, listen to, understand, navigate, connect and enlarge followers, also reproducing more leaders. Lao-Tzu said, 'at the end of the days of truly great leaders, the people (followers) will say about them, "We did it ourselves."

Don't ever seek to be the greatest because it will die with you, pursue great things, and your footsteps would be seen on the sands of time. Lead by serving. (Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26-28 NIV)

FIND YOURSELF AND BE YOURSELF

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,

Be a scrub in the valley-

But be the best little scrub by the side of the rill

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush, be a bit of the gra.s.s

And some highway happier make;

If you can't be a ba.s.s, then be a Muskie;

But the best little Muskie in the sea.

We can't all be captains; we've got to be the crew,

There's something for all of us here.

There's big work to do and there's lesser to do

And the task we must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway, then just be a trail,

If you can't be the sun, be a star

It isn't by size that you win or fail

You can be the best of whatever you are

Only just find yourself and be yourself!

~Anonymous