Muhammad Ali
Everyone has their own prototypes to follow such as idols, parents, friends or neighbors with motivating and inspiring life experience. World history has various examples of the famous persons’ biographies and after its reading people are inspired for accomplishing any goals. It can be people who lived a century ago or our contemporaries. Someone considers sportsmen to be successful, others find politicians, entrepreneur or singers more inspiring. However, they are united by the common trait, which is leadership. Nowadays, when the world is changing rapidly, the ideas of those leaders continue to be relevant and contribute to the people cohesion that is the supreme leadership goal.
It is commonly stated that the contribution of leaders to the generation development cannot be underestimated. There are a great number of opinions concerning the leadership conceptions. According to John Maxwell, author of the book “The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership”, true leaders distinguished by the ability to have an influence on the other people, letting them raise their potential. The personal habits and attitude of leaders should be different from common people behavior. As Maxwell said, leaders have to provide the “plan for growth” and stick to it regardless of any obstacles (“The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”). Priorities of leadership, following Maxwell’s opinion, are to learn something by heart, listen to the people and lead them to their dreams both personally and through shining examples. Leaders believe in thinking differently from others, with an inner power to be brave and courage for letting people in their lives. The ultimate leaders’ feature is providing the feelings of safety and reliability. The wisdom and outstanding life experience allow leaders to lead people and maintain their trust and respect. Overcoming life obstacles and difficult circumstances such as serious illnesses or financial troubles make leaders conquerors in people minds. The more difficulties person overcomes the more credit and favor he or she can receive. Leaders share a commitment to improving themselves included specific life perception as a demonstration of the strong volition and solid views.
Muhammad Ali is the greatest leader by his professional and personal success. He was one of the most significant persons in sporting and boxing world. Ali was born as Cassius Clay. However, after adoption the Islam, he changed his name in 1964. Muhammad Ali was born on in 1942 in a small city Louisville near the Kentucky State. Growing with the drinker father and caring mother under unfavorable conditions of ration segregation and discrimination, he was the eldest son. The straitened circumstances taught Ali to be stronger, struggle for his rights and not to succumb to despair. His family was not poor, however, Muhammad often mentioned that his mother gift – the own bicycle was the greatest treasure for him. The story of the “red-and-white Schwinn” demonstrates Ali’s ambitions and striving for justice that cultivated in his character from the childhood. Muhammad Ali was 12 years old when his bicycle was stolen. He was upset by the loss and reported to the police about the incident. Coincidentally, the police officer occurred to be the boxing trainer who decided to direct Ali’s energies to the right place. He told youth Muhammad the significant thing, which changed his life: “You better learn how to fight before you start challenging people” (“The MAN”). Ali went to the boxing class with his brother who helped him with sparring later. After six weeks of diligent training, Muhammad won the first fight. Regardless of it happened accidently, the situation afforded him an opportunity to attend the Golden Gloves tournament as a beginner in the heavyweight class, when he was 14 years old. Once, he won the bound with another youth boxer from Louisiana. After that, Muhammad was invited on the local TV and acted in the famous program. According to his trainer, Ali was “sassy”, however, he demonstrated the most hardworking skills among other young boxers (“The MAN”).
The boxing career has lasted for 21 years and brought Muhammad 56 triumphs at the ring. The Olympic gold medal winner confirmed his heavyweight champion title tree times. According to the BBC, Muhammad Ali is the sporting person of the century. He is one of the most famous boxers of the “Golding Era”. The fighting style Ali demonstrated was unique. He won fights after fights, tournaments after tournaments during his amateur career at the school. The beginning of his successful professional mature career was in 1960 when Muhammad Ali won the golden medal in Rome due to his outstanding stature, speed reaction and “fancy footwork” (“Muhammad Ali Biography”). His controversial behavior provoked indignation in his ring rivals. However, specific attitude to the training process and the fights at ring brought him fame and success. Heavyweight world champion followed the well-known among modern boxers rule “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” that allowed him to beat the heavyweight champion from British in 1963. The year after, Muhammad knocked out famous boxer at that time Sonny Liston and won the heavyweight champion of the world title. Muhammad Ali distinguished by his passion, contempt against white boxers and expressive behavior before and during the fights. After the suspension of boxing career for three years due to conflicts with government connected with his religion and war perceptions, in 1970 Ali backed to the fights and won the bout with Jerry Quarry. The “Fight of the Century” with Joe Frazer brought Muhammad the first loss among 31 successfully won fights (“Muhammad Ali”). The next bout was disastrous for Muhammad as well; however, he could reclaim the title after winning George Forman in 1974. Four years later, Muhammad became the first boxer in the heavyweight league won the champion title for tree times. The outstanding boxing career ended for Muhammad Ali after the final loss in 1981. The sporting background of Ali included 61 fights, 57 wins with 37 knocked outs and five losses (“Muhammad Ali”).
Everyone who is aware of Muhammad Ali personal attributes and had a chance to meet him considers him as a helpful, selfless, positive, humorous and committed person. He had the life principles and always tried to help other people and stand up for his community. The kindness and humor of Muhammad Ali are apparent through his quotes that have become the priceless heritage for young boxers and modern generation. The attitude to his career and the strength he demonstrated during the fighting against the Vietnam War and struggling against Parkinson's disease. Besides the successful sporting career, Ali engaged in religious projects. The features he demonstrated on ring such as fearlessness, daring, fighting spirit and aspiration for being a winner in every situation were reflected in his personal life. American boxer was not afraid of losing his winner titles and boxing license due to refusing to join the army in 1967 (“Muhammad Ali Biography”). He had a strong belief that his Islam perceptions did not permit to participate in military operations. Due to that, he was arrested and suspended from boxing career. The Parkinson’s disease was diagnosed to Muhammad in 1984 when he was only 42 years old. The affection of coordination of movements and breathing indicated the completion of career; however, it was the beginning of his philanthropy activities. The self-confidence in the finest sense of the word Ali owned allowed him to conquer most of the life peaks. He strongly believed that success was conceived in people minds and after that occurred in their lives as a visible evidence of thinking processes. In the boxing ring, Ali always notified an adversary about his future loss. He practiced the affirmation of the win. Muhammad Ali was a good friend. His friendship perception was outstanding because he found friendship as an ultimate personal feature. In addition, his striving to build the new model of relationships in a black community, with other people and in the whole world demonstrates the kind side of Ali’s personality. He noticed that had a wish of other people could love and cherish someone as deep as they loved and cherished him (“What made Muhammad Ali 'The Greatest'?”).
Muhammad Ali as a leader demonstrated the best personal attributes. The boxer called himself “The greatest” not only for his career accomplishing, indeed for the vision of life, leading great number of people, caring of their rights through his courage and resoluteness. The type of leadership style he possessed can be described as transformational due to his persistent belief in his own inner power and the ability of other people to success, grow in wisdom and experience. The striking sense of humor, self-irony and respectful attitude to his own person are the great example for other people how to treat themselves and built the stories of their success. Ali had ambitious to be remarkable by his leadership. The understanding was beyond just leadership. The boxer had a brave to characterize himself as the leader and champion due to contributions as a leader he made. The quote from the book Muhammad Ali’s daughter wrote demonstrates that his vision of leadership achievements was simple and significant at the same time – “I would like to be remembered as a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him, and who helped as many people as he could. As a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what. As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and champion of his people. And I wouldn’t even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.” (“The remarkable quote that captures how Muhammad Ali defined leadership”). He propagated supreme Muslim ideas, helped people all over the world to overcome their troubles. The Muhammad Ali’s belief in nation’s development and unity brought him the title of United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1998 (“Muhammad Ali Biography”). He supported black community and struggled for its rights. Regardless of disease progression, Muhammad continued with his philanthropy projects supported talented children and encouraging indigents.
Muhammad Ali is undoubtedly outstanding individual of the century. He died in 2016 after 74 years of amazing life. The boxer story is an inspiration for me. The deep and open look, the sincere heart, the strength and confidence he possessed distinguish hum among the variety of successful persons. If I had to describe Muhammad Ali in a one word, it would be “fighter” not only because of his boxing background, but also because of his fearlessness to speak for yourself and be yourself regardless of social mind.
Work cited
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McGregor J. “The remarkable quote that captures how Muhammad Ali defined leadership”. 2016. The Washington Post. Web. 01 July 2016.
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“Muhammad Ali”. 2016. Histori.com Staff. Web. 01 July 2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/muhammad-ali>
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“The MAN”. (n.d.). Muhammad Ali web site. Web. 01 July 2016.
<http://muhammadali.com/man/>
