Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call

Hear, O seekers of truth and bearers of responsibility, the words of J. Donald Walters, the philosopher and spiritual guide who spoke with the calm fire of wisdom: “Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance.” In this saying lies one of the highest lessons known to humankind — that to lead is not to rise above others, but to kneel for their sake; that the purpose of power is not exaltation, but service. The one who wears the crown of authority must first wear the cloak of humility. For leadership, in its purest form, is an act of giving — of time, of energy, of spirit — that others may grow stronger.

Walters, also known as Swami Kriyananda, was a disciple of the great Paramhansa Yogananda, whose teachings of compassion and harmony touched countless souls. He saw how easily men and women in positions of power fall prey to self-importance, mistaking their title for greatness and their command for wisdom. Thus, he spoke these words as a reminder — that true leadership is sacred stewardship, not personal conquest. To lead is to carry the weight of others’ hopes with reverence, not to trumpet one’s own glory. The greatest leaders do not seek recognition; they seek results born of love, service, and purpose.

The ancients, too, understood this holy paradox. When King Solomon prayed for wisdom, he did not ask for riches or victory, but for understanding — that he might serve his people justly. And the heavens granted his wish, for humility precedes greatness. Leadership, as Solomon showed, is not about ruling over others but guiding them toward harmony. The leader is not the sun, commanding light; he is the lamp that helps others find their way in darkness. The proud ruler burns quickly and is forgotten; the humble servant endures, for his flame is sustained by compassion.

Consider the example of Mahatma Gandhi, who led millions without an army, without wealth, without a throne. His leadership was born of service. He washed the feet of his followers, spun his own cloth, and bore pain so that others might live in peace. When people called him great, he shook his head and said, “I am but a servant of the people.” And yet, his humble service moved an empire and awakened the conscience of the world. This is the power of service — that it transforms not through fear or pride, but through love and example.

To see leadership as service requires the death of ego — that restless force that hungers for praise and fears criticism. The leader who serves must learn to quiet the trumpet of self-importance and listen instead to the song of the people’s needs. This path is not easy. It demands sacrifice, patience, and the strength to stand firm when gratitude is absent. But in the silence of selflessness, the soul grows vast. For every act of service purifies the heart, and every humble decision builds the unseen foundations of greatness.

Too many, alas, mistake leadership for privilege — a throne to be guarded, a title to be proclaimed. They trumpet their names across the land, seeking to be admired rather than to uplift. Such leaders, like fading stars, burn brightly for a moment but vanish when the dawn of truth arrives. The world remembers not their words, but their vanity. Yet those who lead through service, whose humility anchors their strength, become immortal in memory and influence. Their legacy is not in monuments, but in the lives they touched and the souls they inspired.

So, O listeners, take this truth into your hearts: to lead is to serve. When destiny grants you the chance to guide others — in family, in work, in life — see it not as a reward, but as a responsibility. Ask not, “How can I be seen?” but “How can I help?” The hands that serve with sincerity build bridges of trust that no power can destroy. Seek no trumpet, no crown, no applause — for the music of true leadership is quiet and eternal.

And remember, as J. Donald Walters taught: Leadership is not a throne, but a calling — not an ascent, but a surrender. Those who see it as an opportunity to serve shall lift others and, in doing so, lift themselves. But those who see it as a trumpet call to self-importance will find their power hollow and their influence fleeting. Therefore, lead with humility, act with compassion, and live as one who serves — for in service lies greatness, and in humility lies the strength that never fades.