What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Leadership happens today. This is the moment of leadership – the here and now. It’s really the only time you have to make an impact.
Leadership doesn’t happen yesterday. The past is fixed history, the back-story of how you and everyone else got here. It’s only important for how it formed the people and circumstances you face in the present moment. Focus too much on the past and you’ll miss the present–and the chance to lead.
Will your past not leave you alone? Have you screwed up, gotten off track? You don’t have to “get back on track.” That track is gone. A new one starts right where your feet are. Get your bearings and take a step. It starts here and now.
Leadership doesn’t happen tomorrow. The future is just a series of unwritten chapters or sequels. It’s critical to have a vision to work toward, but if you spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on what will happen some day, you’ll miss what’s happening right now. The present moment is where the future is made, that’s where you can influence the things to come.
Are you so fixated on what you want in the future that you’re missing out on today? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of daydreaming (just ask my wife), but not at the expense of missing the here and now. To build a bridge to a better tomorrow, you’ve got to start with today.
How will you seize the Leadership Moment today?
