No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation.  ~Horace

Posing the question Are Professions Taught or Born?, I’ve shared some of my theories and examples on the subject.  Now I have more examples that are worth noting.

Before the building of the Legos Star Wars Death Star

Kyle recently had to make his Egg Sandwich Spectacular and he had to do a practice run first.  While he was doing his practice run, I had to take pictures of him, so he could make a storyboard to present to the class while he gave his presentation.  Meanwhile, I’m not overt to taking direction or constructive criticism from anyone, even from a 10-year-old.  But I have done photography for clients.  In college I took black and white and color photography, and I must say my photography is not too shabby, having an artsy eye.  However, through the process, Kyle instructed me on which pictures to take and how to take them.  He did this while making the Egg Sandwich Spectacular.  Once his task was completed and we began to view the pictures, Kyle proceeded to tell me which ones were good and which to delete.  I did manage to say, “Kyle, I appreciate your input, but I’ve had a bit more photography experience than you.”  As he looked at my black and white compositions of him as a two year old, enlarged, matted and framed on my walls, he gave me an ornery smile.

Ryan held by his godparents, Paula & Joe c. 1977

So that was my most recent example of Kyle’s authoritative demeanor.  O but wait there more that I can think of off the top of my head.  A few months ago, Kyle was watching the movie Beethoven.  You know, the movie about the St. Bernard who has a series of adventures?  During the movie, a couple characters were talking about putting this air freshener in the car but they didn’t want to hang it from the rear-view mirror.  In the movie, they concluded by choosing to stick the air freshener under the dashboard.  Kyle leaned over to my mom and said, “Actually they should put it by the air conditioner so it circulates throughout the car.”  That’s Kyle always thinking.

Dad butchered a snapping turtle while Kyle watched 7/10/09

Now this brings me to the recent past, Santa’s Workshop to be exact, one of the Year’s of Santa’s Workshop.  Some parents help the kids shop and others help wrap the gifts.  To move things along, the parents and the children group the gifts going to the same person in one bag to be wrapped.  While Kyle was getting his gifts wrapped, he pulled out of the shopping bag a gift for someone, which had already been wrapped.  So the original bag containing the gift, that was already wrapped, might I add, needed to be reopened.  At that moment, Kyle sorted the piles of gifts, and politely, but directly instructed the parent who was helping him, “Now let’s get everything organized, so they’re all together,”  almost in an accusing tone, like the parent was the one who messed up.  It was too comical!  The parent was taken aback slightly and already knew that’s how it should be done, but was not upset by the accusation.  Being such a great guy, having four boys of his own, the parent simply said, “O Ok, yes sir, you got it, let’s do this again.”  What a trooper. Naturally I did mention to Kyle to watch how he talks to adults.  He smiled, not meaning to be disrespectful, but it was a direct thought that left his head and out his mouth instantly.

I’m not sure if Kyle’s a natural leader or just a bossy kid.  I guess, as I’ve said it before, only time will tell.  But I think Kyle has the makings to be a innovative thinker and a great leader.  If I’m right, he’s on the right track.  God Speed Buddy!

Here is a link to a neat article I read on leadership.  Enjoy!