Callan…Coffee…Contemplation for the Week of March 16th
A Journey I Didn’t Even Know I Was Taking
Throughout my life I’ve left home a lot. Home, understood as our comfort zone, can be a comfortable place even if it limits us. In small, often subtle ways, we are all called to leave home, often aided by trusted friends, mentors, or just a good kick in the rear end. These mentors see our potential, and so they urge us to move, leave our comfort zones, and get onto the path of growth. For me, these times occurred when I had to leave the “glory days” of High School; the comfort of College and campus life; separate myself from friends every three years from military postings; and recently, saying farewell to a transformational 3-decade crucible as a US Marine. When I look back across this expanse of experience I see so many people, places, and events that were in fact mile markers on my path, and signposts crucial to a journey I didn’t even know I was taking. And the point of this reflection? Everything belongs, even the smallest things. Sometimes we have to leave home, to come home, to our better selves.
The Moral of the Story
I recently re-read Homer’s The Odyssey. Like re-heated stew, sometimes the second reading of epic stories reveals deeper insights after some simmering time. So I thought: What is the moral of the story? When I first read the book years ago I though the points of the story were the imbedded morals; quotes I could somehow condense, commit to a 3 X 5 card, and place on my desk. But now I realize the moral of the story is, well, the story itself. Think of it; what is the point of The Odyssey, or Hamlet, or The Iliad? Is the point to pluck some truth and then slip it into our pocket for future reference to guide our moral decisions? Don’t think so. The story itself is the point of the story. The point of epic stories like The Odyssey, understood correctly, is that they actually point to truths about ourselves. We are both the one being called to the slippery slope by the Sirens and the one lashing ourselves to the mast to protect our honor. As leaders, mythic Ithaca may be our destination, but the journey is our destiny.
Inside-Out
In pursuit of heroic leadership I constantly remind myself that attaining excellence, for the most part, is an inside-out affair. To cultivate external influence, we first need to develop a rich inner life, and equally, inner authority. We must first move inward before we can influence outward. And if we try to break this immutable law of self-mastery (for example, by trying superficial self-help gimmicks), true excellence will remain illusive. The hard truth is, we must first go inside the labyrinth, to its very center, and learn to navigate the maze ourselves. But if we remain true to this Hero path; if we accept the labyrinth as a necessary element of our growth and transformation, then we find ourselves breaking through barriers and moving across growth thresholds. We have to trust that crucibles of growth, though daunting, when endured with tenacity, are the necessary handmaidens of our destiny. And what do we gain when we accept this heroic paradigm? A new way of understanding leadership, and a new way of living it.
The Courage to Lead
Let’s be honest; it is easier to go through life not leading than leading. And like it or not; not everyone is called to be a great leader. Why? Because everyone is not equally endowed with the same basic building blocks of leadership. We do a disservice to ourselves when we make it appear as fact that, with a little study and a bit of application, yes—everyone can be a great leader. Not true. Here’s the real truth: Great leadership requires really, really rare and unusual qualities. Which means: great leaders are very rare. Yes, potential is dormant in all of us; the issue is whether or not we’ll heed the call to lead and whether or not we’ll harness the incredible conviction to tap our potential. Most do not, because great leadership requires a wholehearted commitment of heart and soul; an investment most find prohibitive. This is why I believe courage is the cardinal virtue, because courage enables all other leadership virtues. Without the courage to live and lead by a higher code, we simply won’t have the fortitude to reach the high ground. But if we do, oh my! This is when magic happens.
Put Yourself on Trial
Each day I do an hour of exercise. I use this time of exertion not simply to engage my body, but more so, to release my mind from the busyness of the day. During these times of solitude I find my mind wandering into playback mode; a time to recount my thoughts, actions, and behaviors from the past day. I like to think of this as a time of purposeful self-indictment where I put myself on trial. I force myself to look at my inner motives, intentions, and moods and work to bring fresh insight to my leadership lens. This is no feel-good gimmick; rather, this is hard, brutally honest reflection which, I would argue, is the necessary precursor to growth as a leader. I don’t always like what I see, but I find the more courageous I am in this endeavor, the more authentic I become as a man and the more resonant I become as a leader. So I commend this action to all: Put yourself on trial and avail yourself to regular sessions of purposeful self-indictment. For as classic wisdom teaches us, this is the only true path to “Know Thyself.”
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