Reflections on Life and Leadership
Let’s start with an object lesson. Hold an object in your hand—like a pencil, book, or napkin—extend your arm full-length, and drop the object on the floor. It’s a very visceral experience. Now metaphorically place in your hand something that you’re frustrated about but don’t have any control over, or something you’re needlessly upset about. …
At my work at the church, we always pursue excellence, but sometimes we make mistakes. There was a typo on one of the worship slides; I brought the choir in a measure early; we missed a deadline. When boo-boos happen we thoughtfully say, “We made a mistake, but no one died.” The phrase helps put …
Sometimes, I trip over inconsequential issues. I obsess about issues that won’t matter six months from now, or even six hours from now. When this happens, I need to take a “chill-pill” and drop it. Figuratively or literally, carry some “chill pills” with you. Figuratively, when you need to settle down, just imagine putting a …
Writer Sarah Lyall tells of a man’s outburst in a supermarket when he couldn’t get a certain type of cheese—a blue cheese called Cambozola. The man was obnoxious and belligerent. A store employee observed, “I don’t think this is about the cheese.” We’re all guilty of this unfair, unproductive, immature, hurtful, and wrong behavior. We’re …