“Say what?”
Today is Dictionary day and my finger again fell on something I was totally unaware of.  It was the term “Subclinical”.  It is medical and refers to “relating to or denoting a disease which is not severe enough to present definite or readily observable symptoms.”
A bit better but not much then what my finger fell on in the first instance. LSE.  I did not pursue it as it was an abbreviation for an organization called the London School of Economics.
“Subclinical actually reminded me of something I said to my doctor and low and behold he agreed with me.  I said I thought my system always had a mild infection.  For me it has meant I have often been resistant to serious outbreaks of flu.
For sure it is not always the case but the last time I had a serious fu was in the 90’s.  It stands out to me big time as I knew exactly who I got it from.  I was on the train going north to visit my mum.  The guy in the seat opposite was as sick as a dog.
When I arrived at my mums place, I got as sick as a dog and remember being in bed with it.  Not the ideal way to spend a holiday.  Anyway, it ran its course and normal programming resumed.
That was like 30 years ago.  I have had the mumps since.  I never got them as a kid but that was made up for later.  Again, I remember who I got them off.  A friend had just had them, and I remember him giving me a drink of water.  It’s funny how that stands out.  We were all a part of a band and due to play at an air show.  It was touch and go but we did it.
Of course I have had the stoke due to the cutting of an artery to get to a malignant mass in my brain. That was a lifesaving procedure, but I put the effects of that down to human intervention.  Definitely not a good look, but I reckon a lot of good has come from that series of events.
So I sort of relate to “subclinical.”  I reckon I am not 100% most of the time but it is so mild it cannot even be identified.  Life is good.  No complaints here.

It is my conviction that the best followers make the best leaders.
Though not everyone who is a good follower is a good leader.  Sometimes some are, and always will be, a great example of followers.  In one sense stealth leaders.  That is, there is not the desire to lead or the seen potential leadership, but the quality of their following is exemplary. It is done in such a way that others see and want to emulate.
I suppose it goes with what I think about all of us being leaders of ourselves.  I know I need to get that right in the first place.  If I can lead myself, I can lead others.  Not necessarily in a recognised leadership capacity, but based on just the way I inspire others to follow well.
Also not necessarily in a “I’ve got it all together” sense, as in my view no leadership could emerge as that is no ones experience.  But in the sense that I demonstrate the required skills in the necessary field.  In some things I can help, while in others I need help.
A good leader is to me a “company man (or woman)” but can think outside the box.  To me that is a bonus.  I do not feel innovation is achieved without the ability to see the way things are, and how they could be better.
Success builds on success and refuses to listen to voices that keep down or make the same as all others in the pack.  There was a reason for the success enjoyed.  What worked was implemented, while what did not work was at best learned from and discarded.
Good leadership to me at least maintains, and at best takes to the next level of success.  What is good is not measured by achieving good numbers only but also achieving good people.  It is not a case of either/or, but of both.  I heard of one company that exploited others to the max and people left in droves.  Eventually they got it, and people flocked to the organization.  Its success changed history.
To me leaders are born. Much can be done to “make” a leader but “making” makes a born leader better while making a “made” leader only, insecure.  I have often seen leaders given a title due to passing what is desired.  Yet followers followed because they had to rather than wanted to.
To me the best leaders also are not afraid to take others with them.  The success of ones under their authority is their success, while made leaders tend to want to hold their position and resent (and can be threatened by) the success of those under their authority.
Leadership is not something to be grasped at.  It often pays well but the responsibility can break even those born to it.  Often it seems to be to be a case of knowing what I ask for.

One of the biggest things I look out for is thought bubbles as opposed to passion.  I have considered it often and know I am just as capable of confusing a thought bubble with a passion as the next person.  I got some new thoughts about it today I wanted to write down.
The reason I have thought about it is, often others come to me with an idea.  Often it is a good idea and worth pursuing by the one who suggests it (not by me though – as I am not the one who has been motivated by it in the first place.  I will “support” all I can, but will not “initiate”).  When it is in my power to see it happen or not, I will mostly wait.
It is my contention that if something is a passion it will be there in a week or months’ time.  If it is a thought bubble it is like “it seemed like a good idea at the time” but it is as quickly forgotten as it did arise.
To me a thought bubble is like a wave in the open sea.  Sometimes the sea is a mill pond and at other times it has mountainous waves.  It is driven by a number of factors including wind. 
Passion to me on the other hand is like the breakers along the shoreline.  They may be rolling in now and in a weeks’ time if I go back, they are still rolling in.  Certainly external factors affect their size and power.  But fare weather or foul the breakers keep coming.
Several times I have had others suggest something to me and waiting saw it as a forgotten thing.  Often too I find thought bubbles are not thought through, or if they are, problems can be seen to be insurmountable.  Passions to me though thinks things through and endeavours to find a way around or through a problem.
Passion is a biggy for me.  Often it is what keeps me going when it would be easier to give up.  Passion is an ongoing driving force while thought bubbles at best are crossed off a “to do” list.