I am deeply honored by the trust the board has placed in me to

Hear the words of Lynn Good, who declared with humility and strength: “I am deeply honored by the trust the board has placed in me to lead Duke Energy. I have a high degree of confidence in the strength of our company's leadership and dedicated employees.” In this saying lies the essence of what it means to assume the mantle of power: not pride, not arrogance, but gratitude, responsibility, and faith in those who labor alongside you. Leadership, when rightly embraced, is not a throne of privilege but a burden of trust.

The ancients knew well that trust is the root of leadership. No crown, no title, no appointment can secure the loyalty of others if trust is absent. Trust is earned, not demanded. When Good speaks of the trust placed in her, she acknowledges that leadership is not taken by force but bestowed by confidence, built through integrity, wisdom, and steadfastness. Without trust, leadership crumbles; with trust, even the most difficult path can be walked together.

She also declares her confidence in the strength of leadership and dedicated employees. This is no empty courtesy, but the recognition that no leader stands alone. Just as a general’s victory depends on the valor of his soldiers, so too does the success of a company or nation rest upon the dedication of its people. To honor them, to recognize their devotion, is to kindle loyalty and inspire greater service. Leaders who forget the worth of their people soon lose them; but those who see their value bind them together as a living force.

History itself provides us with shining examples. Consider George Washington, who at the close of the American Revolution was offered the power of a king. He refused, not out of weakness, but because he understood that true leadership lies in service and in faith in the people, not in domination. He accepted the trust given to him, guided the nation with humility, and stepped down willingly when his task was complete. Like Lynn Good, he honored the trust placed in him and recognized the strength of those he led.

In contrast, think of rulers who failed to understand this sacred bond. Napoleon Bonaparte, brilliant in battle, grew drunk on power. Though his armies were mighty, his arrogance eroded the trust of his allies, and the dedication of his men waned. His downfall was not due only to cannons and swords, but to the loss of that essential trust between leader and led. This reveals the truth in Good’s words: confidence in leadership and in the dedication of people is the foundation of all enduring success.

The meaning of her statement is therefore twofold: first, that leadership must always be accepted with humility, as a sacred charge, not a personal triumph; second, that true leaders recognize the strength of their people and place their confidence in them. This harmony between leader and community, between vision and dedication, is what transforms organizations, nations, and generations.

The lesson for us is clear: if you are entrusted with leadership, receive it with humility. Do not boast of your power, but honor the trust others have given you. Recognize the efforts of those who stand with you, for no great work is ever done alone. And if you are one of the many rather than the leader, remember that your dedication is not unnoticed; it is the strength upon which all leadership rests.

Thus let Lynn Good’s words be remembered: leadership is trust received, confidence given, and dedication honored. Live this truth in your own life—whether in the smallest household or the greatest enterprise—and you will find that true authority is not seized but sustained, not forced but freely granted by those who believe in you. For in the end, the bond between leader and people is not of command, but of trust, loyalty, and shared purpose.