I haven’t felt like writing recently.
If you’ve followed this series for any length of time, you know that I struggle with my relationship with writing. There are a million reasons for that and, rest assured, this entire post won’t be dedicated to unpacking all of them for you.
But, after missing my second week of formal posting, I received more than a few questions about it, all of which amounted to, “Is everything okay?” My responses were generally accepted by everyone and we were able to move on from it quite quickly. But, there was one faithful friend who didn’t let me off the hook.
Instead of allowing me to simply move on using the rationale I shared with her, and that I was telling myself, she pushed back. She reminded me that my writing should not depend on circumstances and how they make me feel, about myself or about education. My writing, she reminded me, isn’t about me; it’s an act of service to others. That, I suppose, is true regardless of how good or bad I believe it is. My writing is for others and when I don’t do it, people who find some measure of value in it miss out. That’s not fair to them, especially if I’ve told them they can rely on it.
It reminded me of a scene from Ted Lasso when Rebecca calls Roy into her office to hold him accountable for skipping a press conference. After a bit of back-and-forth about Roy’s thoughts, intentions, and desires, Rebecca’s entire demeanor changes from anger to unmistakable concern and care for Roy and she says, “Get out of your own way, man, because this whole ‘woe is me’ thing you’ve got going on is just…ponderous.”
Like Roy, I was getting in my own way. My thoughts, and subsequent behavior, were limiting my own effectiveness as a leader. In turn, that made things more difficult for those who were trying to follow.
Leadership, I believe, asks us to look beyond how we feel and remember the people who are counting on us. Oftentimes, great leadership is as simple as keeping your word, giving things your best effort, and trusting that it’s enough to help others, even if it’s only one other person.
For me, today, that means writing to you. For you, it likely means something else.
I wonder, who needs a bit of the greatness you’ve been holding back?
#ChooseToBeGreat
Angelo
P.S. – Thanks, again, Patty. I’m a better leader because of you.
