I don’t have time for that.
The response that many people give when asked to slow down, contemplate who they are and what they want to create with their work. Projects and problems are flying at you at 100 miles per hour and you don’t have time to worry about what you want to create. I get it, I did the same thing until being too busy meant I didn’t even like what I was left with.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Tell ourselves that taking a moment to breathe just isn’t important or maybe it’s important but only after we put out this fire first, which is quickly followed by the next fire and the next. We get so wound up in plugging holes we forget what we set out to do in the first place and then in the middle of the night, we are left asking ourselves why we are doing what we are doing and what the purpose is anymore.
This week, I want to challenge you to stop for a moment and breathe. Hush all the self talk that is causing you not to focus on creating your future and label it for what it is…resistance, fear, or anxiety. Bring yourself out of your head and into the present. Notice the world around you, the shapes, colors, and sounds.
Now ask yourself:
What is a leader to you?
Why are you called to do this work in the world?
What is the legacy you want to leave?
What expectations do you live your life by?
What qualities do you use to screen who you let in and who you don’t?
Without criticism, look at how you are performing against what you want to create. Remember, there are no “shoulds” when looking at this from a discerning view. It’s a simple evaluation of what you are doing against what you want to create, that’s it.
Now start holding yourself accountable for what you’ve defined as your legacy and the characteristics by which you choose to live. When will you see progress? How will you integrate them into your daily working, even when you are busy? How will you know whether you are on track or off?
Leadership isn’t a title, nor is it words on a page that get put on a task list you will get to at some unknown point in the future that never seems to materialize. It’s how you show up every single day and if you don’t define that in such a way that gives your brain direction, it’s going to find another job. That job usually entails creating a laundry list of things you aren’t doing right or things people around you aren’t doing right.
While you are busy running from fire to fire, life is happening around you. Your leadership style is being defined without you actively involved and it doesn’t reflect the entirety of your capabilities. At best, most people are operating at 40% capacity. I bet with a little focus and not a lot of effort, you could turn that dial up even 10% and surprise even yourself. It’s time to stop putting it off and step into that vision of who you want to be and what you want to create. I’m here for you when you are ready.