Potential Interview Questions

* What kinds of jobs can you find in leadership today?
* What kinds of degrees/experience do you need to become a leader in the professional sense?
* What tricks do you think a leader should have up their sleeves at all times?
* What does leadership mean to you?
* What are the perks of being a leader? The disadvantages?
* Who are your role models?
* Who did you lead/ who do you lead currently (groups, people, etc.)?
* How did you discover that you wanted to be a leader?
* Why does the world need leaders? What makes them important? In your opinion would we be better off in a state of nature?
* Who are some historical leaders that you have learned from?
* Is the ability to speak in front of a crowd important? Why or why not?
* What obstacles have you encountered on your journey to become the best leader possible?
* Describe your leadership style.
* What are your keys to success?
* What advice to you have for me as an aspiring leader?

Prior to the interview I am going to :
* Take a picture of the person
* Put together a brief bio on them
* And get a brief description of their current job

Updates as of 5/2/13

While reading "On Leadership" by Donald J. Palmisano I have often found that it is above my reading level...
New Vocabulary Words:
Sepsis - a medical disease in which the body has a severe response to bacteria or other germs
Anaphora - the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Jargon - special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand
Gripe - a complaint
Careening - to tilt, lean over
Derelict - in a very poor position as a result of disuse and neglect
Omnipotent - having unlimited power, able to do anything
Beget - to give rise to, bring about
Appositive - relating to or being in apposition
Totalitarianism - a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
There have been recent references to...
*Nineteen Eighty Four (I am picking this up now because I own it and I have neglected to ever read it... though Mr. Cortes, my history teacher, did say it was creepy and not great... still...)
* Creative Think
* New Think
* A Whack on the Side of the Head
* The Lively Art of Writing
*And many more!!!
Apparently there are whole schools, degrees, libraries... on leadership according to my parents... I am going to research these things!

On Leadership ~ Chapter 4

A Primer on "Homework"
Doing your homework and research to be prepared and informed is essential to success during an event or really any type of meeting with people. (I should go into my Zoo Corps involvement, FPSI, Music Club, testing... etc but I shall save this for another time). The informative part is extremely important as one must be informed and up to date with technology and facts to provide a good argument for pretty much anything and everything. The same goes for events in the past. This part also speaks on never leaving anything to chance as bad things can happen. So, you should always attempt to stay one step ahead of the opposition. My top two "Lessons Learned" were: Observation and logical pursuit of of the evidence lead to truth. I was also fond of the one that talked about how the pursuit of excellence and leadership can be a lonely one, but success is worth the potholes en route. THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THUS FAR OhhMmmGee IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE STORY OF MY LIFE!

On Leadership ~ Chapter 3

The Essentials of Leadership: Success Cornerstones and More

Learn how to identify the essentials of leadership (does not become rattled in a crisis, understands that division leads to failure, does their homework, is decisive, is ethical, etc.). The idea that crisis creates leaders is critical; in a crisis leaders emerge. Two examples of great leaders were explained in this chapter that really exemplified all of the traits listed above and even more. My top two "Lessons Learned" were: Sometimes a crisis tests a leader's ability to really "deal" and really LEAD. I was also fond of the cornerstones that included doing your homework, courage, persistence... and much MORE. 

On Leadership ~ Chapter 2

Advice From the Past: Foundation of Success
In this chapter, the author, Donald J. Palmisiano gives examples of past leaders and some things that can be learned from them. For example, his dad, an officer that acted as a true leader should and risked his own life to save others by handling a situation calmly and being decisive. My top two "Lessons Learned" were: A crisis frequently tests one's courage and The commmitment to "Do your homework, have courafe - and don't five up" is vital to anyone seeking success.

On Leadership ~ 1st Chapter

The Antithesis of Leadership
In this chapter several important points were made by the author. These included how people substitute excuses for leadership, leadership as opposed ti opportunism, and how decisiveness is critical. I noted in the reading of these 14 pages that there are some extraordinary academic language that was used. For example: parishes, pander, abdicate, interoperable, and levee. I really liked how the author, Donald J. Palmisano used hurricane Katrina as an extreme lack of leadership and how he then proceeded to analyze the event with excerpts from news sources during the actual event. I also liked how he laid out his lessons that he learned. My favorite was... okay, I couldn't decide between two. "False leaders are everywhere during times of calm, and then are inept and indecisive in an emergency," and "To prevent future failures, past failures must be studied. Lessons must be learned and implemented." That's all for now. Chapter 2 here I come!:)

Updates

Hey guys, sorry it's been so long since my last post, but I am doing stuff;) First of all, I have generated a list of potential interview questions and I am in the process of wheedling them down. Second, my dad convinced Bill Freeman (retired army Colonel and current president of San Diego Education Association) to have a future interview with me so I'm trying to set one up. And third, I found a book called "On Leadership" and I have begun to read it and will give an update on the first chapter as soon as I complete it.
REMINDER: The 'Cool Question' contest is still going on... to enter just leave a comment. Thanks!:)