Pat Williams, senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic, told students in last Friday's Convocation that they are not at Liberty University to simply earn a degree, but they are preparing for a "life of leadership."
"Everything rises and falls on leadership," Williams said. "It always has, and it always will." As one of America's top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers, Williams addresses thousands of executives and individuals from a number of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, national associations, universities, and nonprofits.
Williams began by telling students that vision is one of the most important qualities in a leader. Without vision, he reminded the crowd, Liberty's founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, would not have been able to build Liberty into the university that it is today. He also named other great leaders, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr., and said vision was a driving force in their successes.
Williams also pointed out that leaders must be lifelong learners.
"When you graduate from Liberty, probably within the week your résumé will be outdated because the world is changing," he said. "If you are not learning every day, you are going to be flunking out of the parade called life."
Anybody can commit to personal learning, he said, but surrounding oneself with wise people increases the well of knowledge from which they can draw.
"Hang with really smart people," he said. "Have mentors and coaches. You need a good team."
He added that since "we do not have enough time to make mistakes in the world," it is important to have those good influences.
As he concluded, Williams pointed to the model of Jesus as the greatest recipe for success, which begins with having a "serving heart mentality."
"If you want to be great and live your life to your full potential, then start serving others."
For Charisma Media's interview on leadership and Extreme Winning with Pat Williams, click here. 
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
