Vote: The Influence of the Example

It’s that time again people. It’s around this time every four years when political junkies like me geek out over political media coverage and reporting about the upcoming presidential election and the surrounding races. Though we may be personally vested in the issues, it’s also big entertainment to us fans. It’s the Olympics, it’s the World Cup; we gobble this stuff up like candy. We can’t get enough.

While it is all fun and compelling, the seriousness of the matter is not lost upon me. This election will be consequential, and I hope we’re all paying attention to the issues. In addition to the issues, I hope that those of us that make up the electorate are also objectively observing the candidates. If there were ever an election in which I’d advise to make party affiliation secondary, this would be the one. This isn’t the typical Democrat vs. Republican presidential election. The statements the candidates make out of their own mouths on the issues and the candidates themselves, I would argue, should be our focus.

I’d like to personally caution us all against ignoring one fundamental factor which I believe to inherently accompany those in positions of power and leadership; the influence of the example. We all, whether we’re aware of it or whether we admit it or not, are influenced by the examples set for us by those we view as leaders. As kids, we observe our parents and other grownups to model the behaviors we’ll take on as adults. As adults, in life and at work, we look to our superiors and those older to serve as blueprints for how we should conduct ourselves to get to or be at the next level or the next stage in life.

If we’re being honest, we all look at these people and say to ourselves, it worked for them, so it should work for me. We also take note of what they do that we don’t like or look at where they aren’t successful and say to ourselves, I won’t make those same mistakes. Let us all be reminded that none of us is exempt from this power of influence; it’s a fact of human nature.

As parents we have to be mindful of the example we set for our kids. They will, after all, grow up to be like us, or they’ll do their best not to be. The chances of them growing up to be anything else are slim to none. The same applies for adulthood. As we progress through it, most of who we become is shaped by a collection of characteristics gathered from those we view as leaders that we try to emulate or try our best not to imitate.

As the electorate, I hope that we’re steadfastly conscious of this concept and fact; I feel that we must be. As we vote, I hope that we consider the effects of the examples that will be set forth by our elected officials, especially the next president; the most powerful and influential position in the world. To what qualities and characteristics do we want our burgeoning leaders to aspire? What type of adults do we want our kids to aspire to be?

Regardless of how you may answer these questions, I’d like to make one huge request to the very small number of people who are reading this…please vote. I know they’re cliches, but your vote does matter and every vote counts. Please do your part to elect the examples you’d like to see followed.