Spine - everyone has it, some dont use it !

Spine is that part of our body's anatomy that determines who we truly are ! Anatomically speaking, the purpose of a spine is to hold us up, help us stand straight, walk straight and lift many a weight while doing so. 

Well, looks like psychologically speaking also, it is meant for the exact same purpose hence the question " do you have a spine". Wait let me answer that - Of course you do ! We all generally do possess a spine so maybe the right question is " do you use your spine" and maybe also, " how often do you use it " . 

a) always
b) sometimes 
c) never


A number of CXOs actually fall under c) and occasionally under b) and yet they remain safely perched at the top of the corporate food chain with a fat paycheck, great perks and am enviable position in society.

But deep within their large corner offices, without the big chair, the perks, the authority that comes with the position, who are they ? would you trust them as a friend ? would you have played with them in school or ignored them because they were the ones that chose to keep quiet even when they saw something wrong going on, they were the ones who chose to take the side of the winning team when they saw it was likely to win - they are the ones who never had any individuality - they were a nobody yet all those years of that same irrelevance led them to always be in a safe zone, always in the right place at the right time likely speaking with the right people about the things they wanted to hear, which made them the right guy or gal for the job ! 

Ah how naive we can be in the corporate world. All the jargon and the BS, all those fancy appraisals, still rewarding so many spineless nobodys, to make them somebody that matters. And now their lack of courage starts impacting the whole organization and its culture -- and the one person that can usually see through this facade is the HR person -- even if they have spine, there is not much they can do to build spine in another -- they can coach, guide, motivate and eventually leave to work for a more courageous leader or become that leader themselves. 

The question you must be asking is - so should i have a spine or not have one - because not having one seems to be working for a number of leaders -- the answer lies within you -- you may still be successful without one but can you look at yourself in the mirror and admire that spineless person day in and day out, will you justify your weak actions day in and day out to yourself, your team and your family or will you hold yourself accountable to a higher standard and strive to really live the life you have been given with authenticity, honesty and courage. If you look around you, at the role models that changed the world - from MK Gandhi to Martin Luther King to Steve Jobs -- what choice do you think they made above ? In your choice of how you use your spine, you determine who you truly are ! I choose to strive for a) ; do you ?