During a layover in Delhi, I observed something striking: at Indian airports, security checks for passengers were conducted not by civilian staff, as in the U.S. or Korea, but by active-duty soldiers in combat uniforms. It was the most intense airport security I had ever experienced. Yet no passenger voiced a complaint. Perhaps, for Indians, this is simply part of everyday life.
I could not stop asking myself: Why must active-duty soldiers perform airport security? Does this reflect the persistent threat of terrorism in India? Who are the perpetrators? Are these uprisings driven by marginalized groups resisting the social inequities created by the caste system? Is it interreligious tension between the majority Hindu population and nearly 180 million Muslims? Or is it the result of extreme wealth inequality and social unrest?
Of course, as an outsider, I could not answer these questions. What became clear to me, however, was this: The best solution to any crisis is prevention. Had the U.S. managed airport security in this manner years earlier, the tragedy of 9/11 might have been averted.
Leadership, like society, evolves over time. Without intentional effort, a leader’s abilities will atrophy rather than grow.
Does aging naturally confer wisdom or maturity? Absolutely not. Aging and becoming a mature human being are entirely separate processes. One grows older by default; one grows in wisdom and leadership only through deliberate reflection, learning from successes and failures, and applying those lessons. The ultimate safeguard against leadership decay is continuous self-development.
Paul, sensing the end of his life, advised his protégé Timothy: “Train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7). The command carries the nuance of repeated, intentional action: cultivate yourself continually and purposefully. Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus did not alone make him one of the greatest leaders of the New Testament era. Excellence is never the product of a single event; it emerges from long, intentional, and repeated processes. Paul’s disciplined life of spiritual practice shaped him into a leader capable of extraordinary impact.
John Maxwell expresses this principle vividly: “Achievement exists only at the summit. If you want to accomplish extraordinary things, you must climb the mountain of self-discipline every day.” Climbing is painful. Yet persistent ascent strengthens the body and mind. The steeper the climb, the more the challenge ignites a dedicated climber’s spirit. The joy of reaching the summit far outweighs the difficulty of the climb. As one observer noted: “Regardless of who you are, if you devote an hour each day to focused, repeated practice in a specific area, within five years you will become an expert in that field.”
To young leaders in their 20s and 30s, I offer this earnest counsel: do not rely solely on innate talent or God-given gifts. Follow Paul’s urgent, repeated exhortation to Timothy: “Train yourself to be godly.” By doing so, when you reach your 50s, you will be recognized as an exemplary leader in your generation.
Our contemporary culture often emphasizes charisma, creativity, and networking skills as prerequisites for exceptional leadership. These are important—but the most reliable quality that cultivates truly outstanding leaders is daily, diligent self-development. Leadership is not a sprint; it is a patient, steady harvest. Just as a farmer’s efforts in spring and summer determine the autumn yield, so too does consistent personal effort determine the richness of a leader’s impact.
A poem by Bon Hoepfer, which stayed with me since my mid-twenties, captures this principle beautifully:
If you wish to journey toward freedom,
Learn first to train your senses and soul
So that desire and hesitation cannot drag you.
Purify mind and body,
Discover your appointed goals,
Obey them, and submit fully—
For no one has discovered the secret of freedom without training.
A leader who does not cultivate themselves cannot cultivate others. Personal growth is the foundation of inspiring and developing those you lead.