A Personal Guide To Leoism

​LEOism encompasses various facets of life. You will not realize how this movement and the things you learn from them will blend into your daily life.
For 3 years it was driving me to be a better individual behind the scenes. I am having a myriad of emotions, both of joy and sadness while I write this.
Here are some things I want to share with you. It’s not an exact guide, it’s a set of tips, shared with an open heart, which will hopefully help you go a long way.

1. You should have a very compelling reason as to WHY are you joining this movement. It’s your responsibility to gather as much information as you can beforehand to make a very conscious decision.
I was always interested in doing social service, for the sake of gaining exposure of the world, knowing the life of the unfortunate, developing empathy.
I believe that the biggest religion is humanity, and this service is my offering to God. This was my primary reason to join the club.
If you just want to join for attending parties, which is great, it’s ultimately your loss because you are losing out on so much more.
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​​2. Never be shy to approach people because this is an amazing platform to network.
You never know how a ‘Hi, how are you?’ or a ‘See you soon’ can create great relationships.
I was initially anxious to speak up, but you have to muster courage and do it. There are others who even might be waiting for you to break the ice. There are certain people who will like you and some won’t, but make your presence
felt in a good way. Be polite and humble.
Ask for help when you have to. The head committee( the micro) will go an extra mile if you are willing to take their help. They are amazing friends and mentors.
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3. Leverage your strengths to improve yourself in weaker aspects.
​If you are someone who is great at fellowship, use that skill to interact with members and the team to demonstrate your knowledge and gain opportunities to head a service project. Vice versa, if you are good at service, share and receive opinions to create a good interaction. Knowledge is key.

LEO is the acronym for Leadership, Experience, Opportunity. I have adhered to these 3 words throughout my journey, grasping every Opportunity, gaining Experience, tweaking myself every now and then to become an effective leader.
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4. I have an acronym for myself which I always followed.
Learn, Envision, Orchestrate.
I have had the opportunity to be part of the Board Of Directors, who formulate the strategy and decide on the plans for execution.
I have learned and observed plenty from every senior, equivalent and junior member, all the events and projects from the club. I have headed some amazing service projects during my time. I always set my eye on some things
I wanted to do, make a clear plan for the same, which requires meticulous preparation and then execute it to perfection.
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5. Be an asset, not a liability. Leave your mark.
Shoulder responsibility, do enough work to make yourself credible. Set aside time.
Nobody appreciates your antics, they appreciate your grit, determination, effort and dedication. Whether it’s a service project or a board meeting, your decisions, opinions, commitment matters. You need to take some load off others and help them out. Stand out and be unique, don’t just try to blend in.
As a board member, I worked hard to bring in unique, new projects, solve existing problems and grind for finishing projects. We have stayed up for nights for what not.
I have taken opportunities of anchoring just out of love for public speaking, and I did a decent job. There are certain projects which are my babies and I am known for that.
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Being associated with a club like Leo Club Of Juhu, and in general with the Lions movement, fills me with immense pride, and I will sign off with my head held high.

I probably might have missed a couple of points here and there. I am open to any discussion or answering any questions regarding Leoism with whatever slight knowledge I have (Leoism is really deep) in the comments section below.

Leo Ruchir Shah,
Tail Twister,
Leo Club Of Juhu and Leo District 323 A3.