What is leadership? - working with young leaders in India

I have just returned from Kotdwara, and one of many highlights was the opportunity to work with a group of university students. These young men and women were an enthusiastic and energetic group, full of determination to study hard as they aim for a bright future. I was asked to speak to them about leadership, and I was inspired by their commitment to serve in their community. Keep studying hard, make some sacrifices, and you are sure to make a difference.

I have been asked to publish my notes - so here they are.

• So what is this about leadership?
• Each one of you has the promise of inspiring leadership in your heart and in your destiny. You have a gift, a talent, strength and passion that has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of other people, and in your community, in business or in whatever career you are aiming for.
• Leadership is not selfish, it is sacrificial. You are investing your life into other people, seeking to make a difference.
• Leadership starts with your eyes, hands and your feet. You don’t wait until an opportunity comes your way. You look for opportunities and you make opportunities. You see someone in need and you do something about it.
• You see an opportunity to serve - you use your hands and to feet to change something that needs to be fixed.
• When I first came to Kotdwara in 2012, we had about 30 children in Project Help schools, now we have 250 just 6 years later. I have used my heart, hands and feet.
• Your life is filled with promise for success. I believe that each one of you has significant opportunity. You will be more successful if you take your eyes off serving yourself, and focus on others in need, and focus on problems that need to be solved. Focus on what you can do to make things right. If you see injustice or one thing is no fair, if it makes you angry...go and be a leader. Be part of the solution don’t jus think it’s someone else’s problem. Go and solve it. This is how I feel about child labour and human trafficking. This is how I feel about drugs and pornography ruining people’s lives. I am not going to just sit and do nothing. I am going to get angry and use my leadership to make a difference.
• This week we celebrated Gandhi’s birthday. He was a selfless leader, who made many sacrifices and looked at the need around him, he was not selfish.
• Each one of you has the door to the rest of your life that is about to open. If you look at a door, you only see this much. If you walk through that door, you have wide horizon of possibilities. I want each of you to believe that you have a wide horizon of possibility. Study hard and develop a vision or your life. When I was your age I knew I would help children in need. I never expected my passion would bring me to INDIA. I never expected to become a leader who would speak to to others in a big arena.
• Your lives have wide horizons and full of amazing possibility. But you have to seek out your opportunity. You have to use your brains, and energy and be guided by your heart. Don’t sit and become fat and stay on your phone, obsessed with social media and expect things to just happen for you. Social media makes you keep your eyes on yourself. It makes you feel unsatisfied with life always comparing yourself to others. Everyone seems to have a better life than you do, when you focus on social media.
• Be a leader. There is a saying that says 'you reap what you sow in life'.
• If you water a seed, it will grow, your leadership is like this.
• If you plant a seed in bad soil and I will produce poor and unhealthy fruit. But if your plant your seed in healthy soil, it will grow into something big and wonderful. Plant your life in the healthy soil of leadership, selflessness, giving to your community and helping others. When you are generous you will have a plentiful life and many successes in your life, your careers and business will come your way. If you are leaders who serve others, your lives will be fuller and more wonderful than you can ever imagine or think possible.
• INDIA needs leaders like you. Young people who want to make this community and this country healthier, stronger and better. I am looking at the next generation of leaders that INDIA needs. Serve your country and serve your people.
• Stay strong to your values and true to your convictions, have integrity and people will see your character and your heart and your life will be rewarded with respect and trust. When people trust and respect you, they will want you to lead them.
• There are many needs in our community. Take the first step and reach out to others. 
• I thank you for listening and I look forward to hearing of your success in life in the future.