Centered Leadership: Posnanski: The rise and fall of A-Rod

 No discussion on innovation is complete without leadership. Conversely, one cannot properly discuss leadership without authentic i.e. centered leadership (see Stephen Covey if in doubt).  

Which is all the more reason why this morning's story by Joe Posnanski captured my attention; the word, "ANYTHING." What will you do to obtain niche supremacy? Are you willing to sell your soul? In the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou," the famed guitarist Tommy Johnson is blasted for selling his soul to the devil. He replies, "I wasn't using it anyway."  

There is a wonderful quote by Tom Peters I have used often in presentations, "There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity." In the long run what one does echoes through an organization as well as ourselves removing a little more of our once treasured veneer a little here and little there. I highly encourage the reading of this magnificent article on a once great man who happened to be a baseball player. See any similarities in yourself or other leaders? Here are several notable failures. But don’t be misled. Such falls from grace are in businesses of all sizes in all niches. I'd like to hear your thoughts below. If you'd like me to speak for you contact me here at my website or call 719-266-6703. Thanks. Jim

Leon Halip / Getty Images

 Allard Baird would say he was literally shaking. Baird is not a demonstrative person — he’s the sort of man who would call the best meal of his life “good” or, perhaps, if he was feeling especially forthcoming, “really good” — and this is why the word “literally” matters. He would remember “literally” shaking as he sent in his report on a high school baseball player named Alex Rodriguez.

 Baird was a young scout — this was before he became general manager of the Kansas City Royals, long before he became vice president of player personnel for the Boston Red Sox. It was 20 years ago. He had been coaching baseball — “on the field,” as baseball people like to say. He grew used to locating players’ weaknesses and working on them.

 With Alex Rodriguez … Baird could see no weaknesses. The kid was perfect.

Read more of the story via nbcsports.msnbc.com