I had a sense of what leadership meant and what it could do for

In the calm yet powerful words of Vernon Jordan, we hear the voice of a man who has walked through struggle, ascended through perseverance, and reached the summit not by accident but by intention: “I had a sense of what leadership meant and what it could do for you. So am I surprised that I am sitting up here on the 62nd floor of Rockefeller Plaza? No.” Within this simple declaration lies the wisdom of a life shaped by courage and vision. It is a statement not of arrogance, but of destiny recognized — the quiet confidence of one who has learned that leadership is not granted, but forged in the crucible of purpose. Jordan’s words remind us that true leadership is the art of turning vision into elevation, and that greatness, when rooted in service and faith, should never come as a surprise.

To understand the origin of this quote, we must look to the man himself. Vernon E. Jordan Jr. was born in segregated Atlanta, Georgia, in 1935, in a world designed to tell him how far he could go. Yet from an early age, he saw beyond those boundaries. Through education, determination, and the power of relationships, he rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most influential civil rights leaders, lawyers, and business advisors in American history. He counseled presidents, guided corporations, and shaped generations of young leaders. When he spoke of sitting “on the 62nd floor of Rockefeller Plaza,” he was referring to his later role as a senior executive at one of the world’s most powerful financial institutions — a seat once unthinkable for a black man born in the Jim Crow South. That he could look upon that view without surprise was not hubris, but testament: he knew the power of leadership, and he had lived its promise.

When Jordan said he “had a sense of what leadership meant,” he was not speaking merely of authority or command. He spoke of leadership as transformation — the inner awakening that turns obstacles into opportunity. Leadership, to him, was not about the power to rule others, but the power to rule oneself: one’s fear, one’s doubt, one’s anger. It was this discipline that allowed him to climb from the ground of injustice to the heights of influence. His leadership began in the civil rights movement, where he stood alongside greats like Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers, navigating both the brutality of the streets and the subtleties of political power. He learned that true leadership means standing firm when the ground trembles, and speaking truth not when it is easy, but when it is costly.

This journey echoes the ancient stories of the world’s great teachers and warriors. Consider the life of Moses, who was raised in a palace but called to lead his people from bondage to freedom. Like Jordan, Moses understood that leadership is not bestowed by status, but earned through conviction. He too climbed — not to the 62nd floor of a skyscraper, but to the summit of Sinai, where he met the divine. Both men symbolize a truth that transcends time: that those who lead with purpose will inevitably rise, not because the world grants them permission, but because the laws of faith and effort demand it. Leadership, when rooted in service and guided by vision, elevates the soul as surely as it elevates the station.

Jordan’s statement is also a reflection of self-belief, a quality often misunderstood. When he said he was “not surprised” to be where he was, he was not denying the struggle — he was affirming the expectation of triumph. He had always seen the mountaintop in his mind before he stood upon it. This is the secret of every great achiever: they live in the reality of their vision long before the world catches up. The mind of a leader is a builder of unseen futures; it holds a blueprint that even adversity cannot erase. For Jordan, his rise was not a miracle — it was the natural outcome of preparation, courage, and an unwavering belief that leadership is both a calling and a craft.

The meaning of his words, therefore, is deeply spiritual. They remind us that each person must define what leadership means for themselves — not as domination, but as contribution. Leadership is not the privilege of a few; it is the responsibility of all who dare to live consciously. Whether one commands nations, guides a family, or shapes a single heart, leadership begins when one chooses to take ownership of their influence. Jordan’s life teaches that no one is too small to lead, and no summit is too high for the one who walks in purpose. To lead is to see the invisible and to act upon it until it becomes visible.

The lesson of Vernon Jordan’s life and words is clear: greatness does not surprise those who have prepared for it. If you cultivate discipline, seek knowledge, and act with integrity, the heights you reach will be the reflection of the roots you have nourished. Do not be astonished by success when you have sown the seeds of it daily. Leadership, as Jordan knew, is a long ascent — not climbed by force, but by consistency. The world will always test your resolve, but if your purpose is pure and your heart steadfast, even the tallest towers will one day bear witness to your rise.

So let his words be a call to every seeker of purpose: know what leadership truly means, and let it shape you into one worthy of the summit. Do not wait for permission to rise; prepare yourself to lead, and when the time comes, ascend without apology. For the world belongs not to those who stumble upon greatness, but to those who build it — step by step, floor by floor, until they too can look out from their own summit, unshaken and unashamed, saying as Vernon Jordan did: No, I am not surprised.