What Geese Can Teach Us About Leadership

In which Crow thanks everyone who wished him a happy birthday.

Hey Everyone!

This is Crow, founder of Nevermore Media. I’ve been focused on paid work lately, but I wanted to take a few minutes to thank everyone who took the time to wish me happy birthday.

It really does mean a lot to me. I have put a ton of enery into this project and it feels good to get some recognition. Thank you to Rozali for making this come together. It’s no secret that I have been struggling lately, and knowing that my friends believe in me makes me believe in myself more.

So thank you to everyone that contributed to making my birthday special!

By the way, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, I refer you to this piece, which Rozali posted on my birthday (August 30th).

WHAT IS PRAISE CULTURE?

At some point, I’ll write about how Nevermore practices what we call “Praise Culture” as a deliberate inversion of Cancel Culture, but for now I’ll let the medium be the message.

Anyway, some of you are probably wondering how I’m doing, so I thought I’d quickly share a quick update.

As regular readers of this blog will be aware, I stopped posting about two months ago or so, and since that time this Substack has been under the management of Rozali Telbis.

(Gotta hand it to Margaret Anna Alice - she never wastes your time when she sends you to the dictionary!)

Given that our followers and paid subscribers have both continued to climb under Rozali’s capable leadership, I’m happy to report that you folks seem to appreciate what she brings to the table, which makes me happy. I know myself and know that my inspiration tends to come in bursts. Sometimes I’ve got wind the wind beneath me, and sometimes I don’t. When I don’t, I’ve learned that it’s best for me to simply take a break. When I do, I need someone else to take my place at the helm.

Those of who have been wondering how I’m doing will be happy to hear that I’m well. I’ve quit drinking and drugging and am gearing up for the next chapter of my life story, which involves getting married, moving to Michoacan, getting baptized, becoming an English teacher, and waiting for the petrodollar to go bust, among other things.

From the time that I was a child, my father always told me that this day would come, and I’m more convinced than ever that he was right. I would be astonished if it doesn’t happen before the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, 2025. But I digress.

Did I mention that I got engaged?

Anyway, there’s lots more I’d like to say, but I work long hours these days and have very little free time, so this will have to suffice for the time being.

I do have a little meditation that I’d like to share though. Credit is due to my Sun Dance brother Waŋblí Glešká for sharing this teaching with me.

WHAT GEESE CAN TEACH US ABOUT LEADERSHIP

A wise man once told me that we want to learn about leadership, we should look to the geese.

Even you’re from somewhere where there aren’t geese, you probably know that geese fly in a V formation. But do you know why?

If no, watch this!

There you have it, folks - a lesson in leadership from the good old goose! When the goose at the front of the V gets tired, another goose takes its place.

People sometimes believe that anarchism means a rejection of leadership, but such is most definitely not the case.

Leadership is part of human nature, just as it is a part of goose nature.

WHAT IS SPONTANEOUS ORDER?

If you’re interested in the idea of anarchist leadership (also known as organic leadership), I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with the concept of Spontaneous Order.

This video introduces it well:

THERE IS NOTHING INHERENTLY BAD ABOUT LEADERSHIP

If you want to understand why leadership is part of human nature, let me ask you this: If you want to get somewhere you’ve never been before, what’s your best bet?

Following someone who knows the way, right? Well, if you follow them, they’re a leader, aren’t they?

There’s nothing inherently wrong with leadership, but it’s only one part of teamwork.

GEESE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER

If you ever happen to be close enough to geese and pay attention to their honking, you will observe that the geese often cheer their leader on.

As one website puts it:

Geese can be heard honking loudly while they fly. Scientists speculate that this honking is a way to communicate with and encourage the flock on their long flights. The geese in behind honk at the ones in the front, to encourage them to maintain their speed and keep flying towards their goal.

So thank you to Rozali, Margaret Anna Alice, Jordan Henderson, Paul Cudenec, Ratio Bradbornius, and everyone who has encouraged me throughout the craziness of the past few years.

None of us have gotten rich doing this, but that doesn’t mean that we haven’t been successful.

We have weathered one helluva storm, and we’re stronger for it. That alone is a victory.

What’s more, I believe that our influence is growing, and that our day draws nearer and nearer.

They don’t tell you this when you sign up, but being a revolutionary is mostly about waiting. You can be in the right place with the right ideas, but if it’s not the right time, all you can really do is wait for that moment when everything becomes possible.

Who knows what the future holds? I don’t. But I do know that I have the support of such a stellar cast of brilliant, brave, beautiful souls, I must be doing something right.

Thanks for believing in me!