I often write about things I find interesting. This is one of those times.
In this August 3rd article on Nature.com, Yale researchers attempted to gain insight into what happens when you die. To do so they took an unusual path. They experimented with deceased pigs. I guess the Bible saying in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (ESV)” did not suffice. So they studied dead pigs.
But this story is not about the after-life. It is about what happens with your body’s cells and organs upon death.
The work of Yale neuroscientist Nenad Sestan and his team was described as “stunning”. Fellow Yale neuroscientist Zvonimir Vrselja said, “We made cells (in the dead animals) do something they weren’t able to do.”
The article went on to say, “researchers connected pigs that had been dead for one hour to a system called OrganEx that pumped a blood substitute throughout the animals’ bodies. The solution — containing the animals’ blood and 13 compounds such as anticoagulants — slowed the decomposition of the bodies and quickly restored some organ function, such as heart contraction and activity in the liver and kidneys.”
Dr. Sestan concluded, “We restored some functions of cells across multiple vital organs that should have been dead without our interventions.”
So what can leaders learn from these “zombie pigs”? A lot actually.
Things Die Without Leadership
Without leadership, dreams die. Without leadership, funding for dreams die. Without leadership, teamwork dies. Without leaders, nothing moves forward. Without leadership, people are not served or helped. Without leadership, businesses and non-profits cease to exist. But when competent leaders engage, everything changes for the better. People are given hope for the future.
Uncommon Leaders Think Outside The Box
If you want to get results different from everyone else, you must do things differently than everyone else. To be uncommon you must chase scarcity. You must pursue that which is rare. Studying deceased pigs for how to better utilize human cells and organs is certainly thinking outside the box.
The Best Leaders Bring Life Out Of Dead Things
Everyone loves a redemption story. I love leaders who bring beauty out of ashes, who find diamonds in the ruff. My favorite leaders all have a growth mindset and see possibilities where others see little to no opportunity. And they see all of this in people as well and bring out the best in them. They help them accomplish more than they ever thought possible.
Great Leaders Leave A Lasting Legacy
The hope of the Yale researchers is the OrganEx system could make organ donation more effective by extending the life of the organs. This study could then lead to more lives being saved. That is a legacy.
Are you the type of leader who thinks outside the box and brings life out of dead things? If so, you have an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. Think about that next time you have ham or sausage for breakfast.
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