As professionals, we should decide on our leadership style. It is, in many ways, personal. It is about a belief in one's sense of purpose. It also depends upon what we have faced and committed to creating an atmosphere for creating the ultimate art of the possible. It means embracing the "MEAL Principle," which has translated into an embrace of servant leadership as a creed I have adopted throughout my business and academic career.

I have defined the MEAL Principle to entail the following key principles:

• M:   The "M" in the acronym entails creating a Motivating Outlook for my teams so that they look forward to staying committed to the organization's mission constantly and consistently.

• E: The "E" in the acronym means engaging and empowering all to embrace the true art of the possible. It will also mean a commitment to consistent education.

• A: The "A" in the acronym entails embracing Advocacy. Advocacy entails giving a voice to all, being the conduit for their action, constantly embracing the positive, and working through challenges.

• L: The "L" acronym entails embracing a constant learning environment whereby constant and consistent improvement for the better of the future.

The culmination of the "MEAL Principle" has led me to embrace Servant Leadership as a creed. I realized this when I was serving in a Senior Leadership Position for a Fortune 1000 Business, and overnight, the Board of Directors decided to shut down the Unit. I served as a  consultant to shut down the business, and over one hundred People were given one hour to clear their desks. I had to decide on my mission and position in life and decided to embrace this simple creed: To Teach, to Write, and to Serve.

The simple creed of service (at the heart of Servant Leadership) was my embrace of the privilege to teach, which has been a 20-year Journey of Service to support a community of scholars/learners and infuse a sense of purpose in them. I also embraced the notion of serving by launching engagements within the community. I have served for over 10 years in various community leadership positions to leave a legacy of purpose and serve the next generation as a Scout Leader.

As I have continued my embrace of servant leadership with my journey of service at Purdue Global, my service as a staffer at Orange County Social Services, and my service in the California State Guard while continuing startup development,  it is to embrace and embrace this simple sense of purpose as a Servant Leader. Everyone cares and ensures that, in the end, the lessons learned will continue to be sustainable beyond the immediate challenge at hand.