Ok, I have very recently used this story in order to prove a point regarding human relationships, but I think I can really apply it here as well, so -for what it’s worth – here it goes:

{ All characters in this story are fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental, by the way… }

Once upon a time, in a continent far far away from yours, (let’s say Europe for fun…) there was a very poor student named Winston. He was studying very hard to get his degree in Business, and had a single dream…To get the chance -at some point in his life- to meet in person with the guy who literally inspired his life and made him want to study economics in the first place, the all-mighty head of the European Central Bank at the time; Sir Vim. After many years of endless attempts to arrange a meeting with his idol -and just before his graduation- he finally received a call from Vim’s secretary informing him that he would be granted a 5 minute hearing from “the Man”.

Our Winston flew to Brussels the next day, and after a while he found himself sitting in the lobby of Europe’s most prominent man. He waited there all trembling from excitement for over two hours, before he was asked to walk inside and nearly fainted as soon as he first viewed the man…

-“Hello, sir…” Winston whispered.

-“Young man, the only reason for accepting to see you was your persistence”.

“I only have 5 minutes for you, so here you go, ask me whatever you want…”  Sir Vim replied, cutting to the chase.

-“OK sir” . “My question is, how did you manage to be in this position – virtually ruling the future of the European Union?”

-“My boy, the answer to your question is very simple!”. “I MAKE NO MISTAKES.”

Winston stood silent for a while:

-“But Sir, how on earth is it possible for you NOT to be making any mistakes?” he cried in hesitation.

-“That answer is easy as well, young man, and it’s only one word: EXPERIENCE“. “Now please, my time is very valuable, you can ask me one last question, and then I will have to ask you to leave”

Our young Winston gathered all his remaining courage, and mouthed his last inevitable question :

-” Ok, sir, I am really sorry for insisting on this, but how again did you gain THAT KIND of experience??”

-“That is the easiest question of them all.” Vim replied immediately, with a steady voice.

-“BY MAKING MISTAKES...”

In my humble opinion, the Single Most Important Quality that a promising leader should possess -apart from integrity, vision and diathesis to constantly upgrade- is undoubtedly the ability to INSPIRE.

Don’t you agree?

I do think that at least, our young Winston -who is not that young anymore, to be honest- does.

A.