Here’s a video I filmed of a courageous young man, who took a stand last year, publicly refusing orders to deploy in the face of his First Sergeant. Just released publicly on the VisionForce initiative, www.StandWithHonor.com. Watch his story!

For time immemorial, we’ve honored those who are willing to go to war, risk their lives and kill others to fight for their country, for their life and liberty.

At the same time, history honors great soldiers of conscience, who risked their lives to stand for something peacefully: Gandhi, Galileo, King, Jesus, the unknown protestor in Tienanmen Square, Iranian protestor Neda, the list goes on…

Yet every day, soldiers who dare to defy orders from their superiors, when it conflicts with their conscience, are shamed, imprisoned, dishonored and even killed for disobeying orders.

This Saturday, I’m taking a stand to honor soldiers who dare to follow the orders of their conscience first, especially those who are standing for peace, and I invite you to join me and spread the word.

I’ll be speaking at the National Assembly to Honor Freedom of Conscience in Austin, Texas, about an hour outside of Fort Hood in Killeen, TX, the largest US military base in the world. For more information, click here.

We should just trust what our leaders tell us, and everything will be OK.

Or…

Is it time each found the visionary leader in ourselves???

It’s February 5th and many Americans will be heading to the polls today to vote in the primary elections.

If you hadn’t noticed, there’s something very different about this election year. A new era is upon us. How the world chooses its leaders is changing as the power is now shifting back to the hands of the people.

I talk about this power shift in my new book, which I’m very excited about. As I’m sure you’d agree, books can change the world. However, I’m not writing to tell you about my book today.

I’m writing to tell you about another book that every rising visionary and 21st century leader should have.

But first, I’ve got to confess… I rarely read many books these days. It’s true.

Have you ever noticed yourself getting caught in the trap of thinking you need more knowledge, more expertise, more preparation before you take the bold actions that make all the difference? A few years back, I realized that reading was getting in the way of taking the actions I needed to take.

So now, when someone tells me of a “must-read” book, I usually ask them to summarize it for me. Well, not this book. It explains some of the dynamics behind one of the fastest political movements in modern times.

Whether or not you’re up on politics, this is one political movement you’ve probably heard of:

The Ron Paul Revolution.

Now, the book I’m about to share with you says *nothing* about the Ron Paul Revolution, but if you understand the concepts in the book, I believe you can gain insight into building a movement of your own–in society, at work or even at home. So, if you want to inspire people to step forward and take a stand with you, then understanding how Ron Paul is doing it is of critical importance.

The book is called,

The SPEED of TRUST: The One Thing That Changes Everything
by Stephen M.R. Covey

Speaking of the book, Seth Godin said, “Trust drives everything in our non-branded, too fast world. So, trust this: This is an important book. The younger Covey has written a book that matters.” –

Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail and Editor-and-Chief of WIRED magazine, had this to say in an interview with Covey for Speed of Trust Radio: “Money was the currency of the old economy; Trust is the currency of the new, global economy.”

Covey breaks down the key factors that build trust, and when trust is present, results happen fast. In fact, in high trust environments, unimaginable results are often created in record time.

Covey highlights 13 behaviors you should adopt, including: talk straight, create transparency, confront reality, keep commitments and extend trust.

CASE STUDY: The Ron Paul Revolution

It appears Ron Paul has mobilized multitudes of young people as well as people who’ve never been politically active.

However, much of the grassroots campaign, record-breaking fundraising and other bold initiatives have little or nothing to do with the Ron Paul Campaign. Instead, it’s more about what Paul is not doing that is empowering and inspiring people to step forward and take responsibility for the movement.

When asked why they’re now vigorously politically active they talk about the striking difference between Ron Paul and other politicians, and how he has earned their trust:

1) TALK STRAIGHT – Young voters mention his honesty, authenticity and straight talk. YOUtube Paul and watch clips from Republican debates, if you haven’t already.

2) CONFRONT REALITY – Many young voters say Paul is the only one confronting the economic situation we’re facing head on, as well as other key issues.

3) TRANSPARENCY – The Ron Paul campaign is very transparent with real-time statistics, etc., at www.ronpaul2008.com. This has people feel trusted and empowered to take actions that can increase the numbers.

4) KEEP COMMITMENTS – Paul has been consistent and principled in his voting record – even when he’s in the minority, which as a US congressman is quite remarkable.

5) EXTEND TRUST – Another thing that you hear many young people saying about Paul is that he trusts people. His policies, they say, inherently trust human beings to do the right thing, whereas it seems many politicians want to control our lives, which implies a lack of trust in humanity.

I see people becoming more and more conscious, and as we head into the future, I believe it will be more humble, authentic people like Paul stepping into leadership.

All of the speed at which Paul’s support is growing is even more remarkable, given the way the press largely ignores Paul, and the way other presidential hopefuls, who look and sound much more “presidential,” smirk and laugh at him openly (not a very trust-engendering way to behave).

SPEEDING UP YOUR REVOLUTION:

I recommend that as a fellow leader, visionary, activist, entrepreneur–world-changer-in the 21st century that you:

A – become a student of the Ron Paul Revolution and the dynamics behind it.

B – become a student of trust, and how to generate relationships and cultures of high trust,

C – grab a copy of Stephen M.R. Covey’s best-selling book, The SPEED of TRUST: The One Thing That Changes Everything.

You can get it in soft-cover today, here:

At Barnes & Nobles | At Amazon

Standing with you and for you in bringing about a better world,

Michael Skye
VisionForce.com

(Please note: Michael Skye and VisionForce make no commission on this book recommendation.)

Sometimes all it takes is someone to stand up and say what there is to say. Someone faces the fear and criticism that has kept so many people quiet and those same people are inspired to stand also. Then add the power of the Internet, and you just might have a virtually uncontrollable, decentralized movement on your hands, where the few have the power to reach the many and swell their numbers to become an undeniable force for change.

Such is the power of a single person at the dawn of the 21st century!

A few weeks ago I turned 37. And I have a confession to make. I have NEVER voted in my life! I have NEVER been inspired by the political machine here in America, and have believed there are much better uses of my time to make a difference than becoming part of the political game (such as the entrepreneurial endeavor called VisionForce).

Well, now I’m about to register to vote. Say WHAT?

Yup. It’s all Ron Paul‘s fault.

Consider this: Political power is largely the power of force. Here in America, many people have popularized the concept of democracy, and come to hold that as America’s fundamental value that makes us great. A pure democracy is essentially the rule of the majority over the minority. Is that what makes America great? That the majority can force the minority to live by their values? Or that we have a process, whereby everyone can participate and have their voice heard? I think most Americans would agree that what we value in democracy is the later. And the essential value is freedom–the freedom to think, speak and believe as we wish and the freedom to live our lives by our own conscience, values and vision as we please provided we don’t hurt others’ freedom to do the same.

However, notice how elections have become a time when we pit person against person, group against group, fighting for the power to tell others how to live their lives. Notice the ways in which “democracy” is indeed used as a tool for a minority of citizens (who vote and are in the voting majority) to force everyone else in the country (and around the world when the given country has a world-governing foreign policy) to conform to their ideas.

We could have a discussion about whether or not this is what the American founders envisioned, and about whether or not they even considered this a democracy or a constitutional republic.

But let’s look at what it’s going to take now in the 21st century to create a world that really works. Is it going to take some great visionary leader to save us and “make things right?” Or is it going to take us coming together, recognizing that we each have the capacity to be visionary leaders of our own lives who can come together to stand for a political and economic environment where we can truly see, hear and honor the human being on “the other side,” and then sit down with him or her and use the genius of the human mind to create previously impossible-seeming solutions.

Ron Paul. Is he a quack, as so many in the mainstream media and political machine seem to make him out to be? Certainly he’s courageously questioning so many of the long-held assumptions that give the mainstream media and politicians power today. Certainly his ideas would shake the foundations of the political machine as it exists today. If the machine is working well, then I don’t think they have much to fear. Dismiss Ron Paul, if he’s trying to change something that is working incredibly well.

One thing that excites me about Ron Paul is what his policies might do to free the human mind and spirit from an environment of fear and distrust. What would happen to ourselves, each other and the world we live in, if we were free to raise our wings and sour into the wide open skies, where we as visionary beings can breathe fresh air and take it upon ourselves to create a world that works?

When I look at Ron Paul, I see someone who is not trying to force his values on me, but who respects and trusts me as a conscious, creative human being–as an adult–to make my own choices and live my life.

It takes a lot of courage and commitment for anyone to run for president, and I trust that the others who are doing so really care deeply about America.

Still, a big question that faces us now is what kind of political environment is going to free the human mind and spirit to flourish in the 21st century, and create the kind of environment where we can come together to create a world that really works?

What would a top-down positionary leadership style on the part of another American president do what trust is left on the part of the American people and our 6 billion plus neighbors around the world?

Ron Paul or no Ron Paul, my voice and my vote will go for the idea that we as human beings have more power to come together and create than we give ourselves credit for. We can trust each other far more than we do, and we do not need to fear freedom. We do not need some great visionary leader to save us and make the bad guys be good. No, we need to accept the responsibility and the power to create a better world–the responsibility and power that only freedom can bestow upon us.

I say it’s time we stop trying to force our neighbors to be our idea of what’s right, and set them free. Honor them with freedom. Then let’s sit down with them at the table, break bread with them and collaborate as equals.

I say it’s time for YOUR vision to be seen, YOUR voice to be heard, YOUR spirit to be felt, YOUR stand to be taken, YOUR creativity to be unleashed, YOUR life to be lived.

What is YOUR vision? What is YOUR stand? What is YOUR revolution?

How can we help to empower YOUR vision?

Anytime I am in a situation, where I am present that my voice could make a difference… and yet I think my voice is not welcome… my heart starts beating faster. I feel this way right now. I am not sure what form this call to action will take over the ensuing months, but I feel that VisionForce is arriving at a crossroads.

I just wrote the following to the new class of visionaries who will be attending the VisionForce Boot Camp in 2 weeks:

Watching the new film, Lions For Lambs, tonight in the theatre, it hit me. VisionForce is about being in action. This is not a new “revelation,” but a further clarification along the arduous path of learning to articulate what VisionForce offers people.

VisionForce is for those who are willing to BE in action, to LIVE as an uncompromised expression of their vision… especially at this critical time in history, at a time when we get to decide if we perish as a species due to our own choices, or if we acknowledge perhaps the greatest overlooked force for causing change… NOT political force, military force, financial power… put the force of our own individual vision… the power to walk the path less traveled, guided from within. Perhaps one of the greatest illusions of our time is the idea that the power to change the world is in the hands of Big Business, Big Government and Big Religion… and so we waste so much our time thinking, debating, complaining, watching debates, or taking well-intentioned actions that only feed the systems ruled by the big three. We donate our time, donate some money, pay our taxes, vote on election day, sign petitions, join some protests, post signs in our yard, etc. AS IF THESE ARE THE MOST POWERFUL ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE!

We are creators! Entrepreneurship, art, music, poetry, science, technology, … we can CREATE a world that really works! We can create! In the early 21st century, there is no longer much value in the idea of “doing our part,” hoping that it will all work out OK if we do. No, to summarize Werner Erhard, it’s time we each find the visionary leader in ourselves and come together to create a world that works. Those of us, like Erhard, who dare say human beings are capable of so much more, are laughed at and criticized. In Werner, and others in the “human potential movement,” we have people who dare to fail big, because they see there is something worth standing for.

Who are we not to own our power to BE the change now? Who are we to pretend we don’t have the power to create a world that works?

VisionForce – it’s the power in YOU.

When you come to boot camp in 2 weeks… something tells me you’re going to get the next evolution of boot camp! This is a process, an evolution… I am in the SAME game you are. I do not have answers for you, and I will not even think about telling you what to do. I simply invite you further into the game you are ALREADY in as a leader, a creator–by nature. Are you ready to play?

I just returned from the theatre, after having watched Lions For Lambs… forget what the film critics say, as this was not meant to entertain the masses. It’s a clarion call to all those, and especially the young, who feel inside that they can be more, do more at this time of mounting global crises. It’s a call to all those who’ve learned, or are being conditioned, to compromise. It’s a call to all who would have their voice be heard. It’s a call to those who would live the fullest expression of human life with mind, body and spirit. It’s a call to all those, and especially Americans, who would dare to own the title “visionary,” in a day and age when the most “enlightened” of us are so afraid of looking egotistic or narcissistic. Do we dare to be the change now?

The film left me questioning my choice to be so “practical” for the last five years, building VisionForce as a business. Funny, my business advisers would say I’ve been anything but practical, and that I’ve been far too idealistic. It seems that either path might have been much more effective than the middle road. Had I gone for profit, and built the business to be much more financially successful, we might have the muscle to reach many more people now. Had I been in revolutionary action mode at the expense of the finances, we might have already reached so many more people.

So, what, I wonder, does it look like for me to STAND FORWARD and be the change at the next level? And what does it look like for you?