Question

THE PENALTY OF LEADERSHIP

"In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man’s work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be mediocre, he will be left severely alone – if he achieves a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues a-wagging. Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue at the artist who produces a commonplace painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass or to slander you unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius. Long, long after a great work or a good work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious, continue to cry out that it cannot be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler as a mountback, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest artistic genius. Multitudes flocked to Bayreuth to worship at the musical shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could never build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the riverbanks to see his boat steam by. The leader is assailed because he is a leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy – but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this. It is as old as the world and as old as human passions – envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains – the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live – lives.”

questions:

(1)​ What is meant by "penalty" in "The Penalty of Leadership"? explain in depth

(2)​ Do you believe there is a penalty of leadership in the Recreation profession? Why, or why not? Be specific.

Answer 1

1) The dictionary meaning of penalty means being punished for doing something wrong.

Penalty in penalty of leadership means a punishment that a person has to bear if he is not excelling in his work. In that situation, his competitors will take over and he will never be able to make a name in the market.

Penalty that a person will have to bear if he is work is nothing special will be that he will be left alone and he will have to face denial.

2) Every profession has penalty of leadership even if it is recreation profession. If the artist in this profession has nothing extraordinary and is mediocre, he will not be able to succeed and will never be able to attract people towards himself.

On the other hand, person with great skills and a master in this profession will be recognised by everyone.