Have you ever wondered what the greatest leadership challenge of all is? That challenge is choice.
This choice is a challenge of the mind.
As consumers you are overwhelmed by choice.
Have you tried to buy a new television lately? Over thirteen manufactures with more than seven screen sizes to choose from.
On top of all that you must choose between plasma, LCD or projection.
Like most consumers, you immediately become aware of the choices available to you.
You probably go to the internet and start to do some research on picture quality and price.
Next, you iron out how much television you can get and how much you to spend.
You then identify the store that carries the model you want at that price.
Last, you get in your car, drive to the store and make your purchase.
Leadership is no different.
It starts first with the choice of wanting to be a leader.
Your title or position does not make you a leader; it's your personal choice.
Once you make this decision, you must assess the environment.
This includes your skills and abilities, both physically and mentally.
Additionally, you need to assess the opportunities in your work place.
Within the environment, there will be a number of directions you can begin to lead yourself and others.
You must determine a priority and a course of action.
Once you have done this, then you must act! One of the students in my mentor program came to me with this challenge of choice.
She is not in a leadership position nor does she hold a leadership title in her organization.
She new in her heart that she had more to give, but wasn't quite sure how to go about it.
I told her she had already taken the first step.
She and I spent the next six weeks clearing the battlefield of her mind.
During these six weeks she was able to identify five areas of opportunity where she could step into a leadership role.
She evaluated the five areas and identified the one that would have the greatest impact on the organization.
She developed an action plan.
She went to her supervisor, presented the plan and was asked to lead the initiative.
She was so excited when she called to say she was heading the project.
These are the four steps to clear your battlefield:

1. Understand you have a choice
2. Assess your environment
3. Determine the priority and courses of action
4. Take action

Above all other things in life, you have choice.
One year, five years, or 10 years may pass.
Time will pass.
It's what you do with your time that counts.
You can choose to clear the battlefield or step on the mines.