Dream, do, or die…

Today, in our band practice, my mind raced back in time.  My mind raced back to my introduction to Sully and to one of our early practices together where he asked me a question about the power of setting up “do or die” situations to drive the team toward a goal, objective, or vision.  His question led to the concept of “dream and do” at BUILT TO LEAD.  Let me explain.

Most leaders, out of fear, set goals for their team and for themselves with a “do or die’ kinda’ vibe.  They just do.  Whether obvious or inferred, there’s a pressure to perform.  This is, after all, why we call it labor.  Like it or not, we’ve got a job to do.

At BTL we believe in “dream and do.”  This word change, we believe, makes a world of difference.  Transformational leaders inspire their teams with the clarity of their big dreams.  Their vision and it’s clarity are energizing.  These same leaders get busy.  They don’t simply dream, they do. They don’t tell us to do or die, instead they model what it means to simply dig in.  They get after bringing their big dream into reality by productively acting their way forward.  They take one PA and then another one.  Baby steps, we like to call them.  They ask us to do the same.

Here’s the funny piece I’ve noticed over the years.  Once the big dream is clear and the team is connected, it’s hardly a topic.  The leader and the team are not focused on the future.  The conversation about where we’re going is mostly gone.  The leader and the team are doing.  And, they’re digging it…

Funny, huh.

The leader and the team, in fact, are doing what they’ve always wanted to do.  The leader and the team are doing whatever it takes to master their craft.  They know where they’re going and have developed a pre-occupation with the present.  They are lost in their work and can’t wait for the next opportunity to practice as a team.  This is, after all, why they call it their OPUS. Their masterpiece, their labor of LOVE.

At BTL, this is what we call “band practice.”  At your place of OPUS, what do you call it?

Very cool, my friend.

Very cool…