Because of this, there is a lack of vision in today’s young leaders, he said. “That’s why I actually think that most leaders cannot create a vision any more,” he said. “Because what is actually the vision? What is the vision of a big financial institution like a bank? How many business leaders have been able to articulate that now? Most of them can't. If you look at our annual reports most of them can’t articulate a business vision.”

This also makes identifying leaders a bit more difficult today, he said. Planning out and following a vision takes a certain amount of risk. However, it seems that in today’s business world, too many are afraid to take the risks that would allow them to stand out.

“Trying to find a leader means you got to find somebody of character, who is willing to take a risk, and taking a risk is creating a vision and selling your vision and being able to articulate a vision and to ride the difficulty out of the goals of that vision,” said Farrow. Now it seems like it is not worth the risk of being a visionary leader. “Think about it, how many teams can actually create a vision? A vision has to manifest itself to an individual.”

Part of that risk entails going against the grain and not bowing down to the group mentality. It often means having the courage to challenge peers or even supervisors. Often times management likes to have their hands in everything and constantly pulls the strings in order to make the team stronger, but instead it makes them dependent and weak, Farrow said. “The best thing you can do is ask a question and get the facts out on the table,” he said. “You can’t fulfill your responsibilities as a leader if you cannot question your peers.”

Another important aspect of being a leader is leading a balanced existence, rather than excelling at only one thing, he said. Farrow believes that someone who cannot relate to having a family and doesn’t understand that there is a balance between community and business, could be detrimental to a business. It is important to a business that its employees are involved in the community, he said.

But most importantly, it all goes back to the time tested advice of finding what you love to do and doing it, he said.

“Try to find something that you love to do because if you love it, you make money and if you hate it, you probably won't make money as you won't be inspired,” said Farrow. “Just be receptive to change and be receptive to working hard and find who you are as a person, because if you are looking for the world or business environment to validate you it’s not going to happen. You have to validate yourself.”