there is hope for these people and the hope will come from you.”
“How will the hope come from me?” Julian asked. “I’m here to learn from you.”
“Don’t worry,” replied the sage. “While you are with us, here in these mystical mountains, you will discover a remarkable system for true leadership. We will show you a formula that any leader in the business world can immediately apply to transform the effectiveness of his of her company, raising it to far greater levels of prosperity and contribution. We will also teach you timeless truths for personal leadership so that you can get your own life back together and start making a real difference in the way you live. Few in this world have the privilege of learning the leadership wisdom you are about to acquire. And yet it is so important that it be made available to all. So, before I take you into our culture and introduce you to my brothers and sisters, I must place one requirement on you.”
The sage then requested that Julian share the lessons he would learn at the feet of the Great Sages of Sivana with all those in the West who needed to hear them. It would be his duty to be the human conduit of the ancient wisdom of the sages, spreading it throughout this part of the world and transforming many lives in the process. Julian instantly accepted the sage’s terms and promised he would carry their message to the West with sincerity and dedication.
“Don’t tell me,” I interjected with foresight. “I’m one of the people who needs to hear the message of the sages.”
“Believe me, Peter, you will be glad you did. Neither you nor your company will ever be the same.”
Brushing aside my usual skepticism, I replied with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, “When can we start?”
I guess I was simply fed up with the lack of progress we were making and hoped that Julian really could deliver the blueprint for renewal and transformation that were desperately needed. In spite of his many failings, there was one thing all who knew Julian Mantle could agree upon: he always told the truth.
“How about tomorrow afternoon? Is 5:00 P.M. okay?” Julian asked as he reached into his robe with his right hand.
“I had a meeting scheduled with one of our strategic partners but I’ll change it. Of course 5:00 P.M. is fine, Your Holiness,” I replied mockingly. “Should we meet here? You seem to have a fondness for my rose garden. And security already knows you.”
“Actually I had another place in mind. Let’s meet at our old golf club. There’s something I need to show you and that place will be perfect.”
He then pulled out from his robe what appeared to be a small wooden piece of a jigsaw puzzle and, as he had done with the gold ball that had emerged from it earlier, he tossed it into the air for me to catch.
After giving me a quick smile, he turned around and walked past the security guards who had been sipping coffee in the hallway outside my door. “See you tomorrow,” I heard, Julian’s voice trailing off.
As I watched the long red robe of my former golf partner swing from side to side as he moved farther down the long corridor that led to the exit, I shook my head in disbelief. I felt a sense of excitement I had not had in a long time. Perhaps there was hope for GlobalView after all. Perhaps I would be able to get my troops inspired and rejuvenated again. Perhaps I could actually regain a clear sense of vision for the future of this once-great organization. Maybe this special leadership system Julian had discovered in the Himalayas would allow us to seize the opportunities the new marketplace presented and experience far greater achievement than we had ever known. And maybe I’d finally learn how Julian had transformed himself.
As I caught myself staring at the foot-high pile of paperwork on my desk, I turned away to study the wooden jigsaw piece that Julian had tossed to me. I noticed it had a design on it. Though I looked closely, I could not figure out what it was. But I did notice that there were also words carved into the wood. ‘How strange,’ I thought. The words were almost illegible, having worn down with the passage of time. I quickly reached into the drawer of my desk and pulled out a magnifying glass. Finally, I could read the words. They read simply, Ritual 1: Link Paycheck to Purpose.
CHAPTER FOUR The Wisdom of Leadership Vision
Of all of the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this – that you are the master of your thought, the molder of your character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment and destiny.
James Allen
My heart was racing as I turned onto the tree-lined country road that would eventually lead me to my golf club, a club widely recognized as one of the most prestigious in the entire country. Judges, senators, financiers and celebrities were well represented among the membership and a ten-year waiting list ensured this would remain the case for the foreseeable future. I felt lucky to be able to belong to such an establishment. I would have felt even luckier if I’d had the time to enjoy the facility on a more regular basis. With all the turmoil GlobalView was facing, a round of golf was nothing more than a fantasy.
As I approached the clubhouse, a massive wooden structure with majestic pillars and a breathtaking view of the beautifully manicured golf course and the lush gardens that surrounded it, I spotted Julian. He was sitting up on the verandah, his table shaded by an umbrella to protect him from the late afternoon sun. He appeared to be reading a book as he sipped his drink. And, in violation of the club’s rigid dress code, he still had on his ruby red robe. I couldn’t help but smile. Julian always did things his own way. And you had to love him for it.
“Julian,” I called out, as I got out of my car and walked up the stairs that led to the verandah.
As he saw me approaching, he stood up and extended his hand. “Thanks for coming, Peter. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
As we settled in, I ordered a martini. It had been another rough day at the office and I felt the drink would help me unwind. I had been under such pressure over the past few months that anything that would calm my nerves was welcome. “What are you reading?” I asked, looking down at the leather-bound book Julian held in his hand.
“It’s a book on the life of Gandhi.”
“I didn’t know you were into Gandhi. As a matter of fact, I can’t recall seeing you carry around a book in all the years I’ve known you.”
“I have nothing in common with the time-starved, overstressed Julian Mantle that you once knew. I’ve changed in so many ways you cannot imagine. One of the many lessons I learned in the Himalayas is that with the twin elements of knowledge and courage, all things are possible. So I now make sure that I read from a good book every single day. Doing so connects me to the intelligence I need and keeps me focused on where I’m going. And inspired by the knowledge of where I’m going, I maintain the courage to keep moving forward.”
“Interesting. But why Gandhi?”
“Since my time with the sages, I’ve become a serious student of leadership. When most people hear the word ‘leadership,’ they think of it only in the business context. They imagine leaders of companies, inspiring their followers to be more productive and committing themselves to their grand visions of the future. But the sages taught me that leadership is really much broader than that. Leadership is really a philosophy for life. While
