Today, during discovery with a new client of mine, we went down a few “whys” and gained some clarity. We did not hit the root nor did we walk out with crystal clarity. We are in discovery and my client is learning that this process of becoming ONE, distinct and deeply connected, is going to take some time. His smile and his willingness to work are both positive signs. Time will tell. A long time…
Nietzsche, the dead German guy that made the famous comment about “he who has a why,” has another famous quote that is worth recalling. As he reflected in his 1878 book Human, All Too Human:
“All great artists and thinkers are great workers, indefatigable not only in inventing, but also in rejecting, sifting, transforming, ordering.”
And, at BTL, we believe that one of the fundamental rejections required if one wants to become BTL, is the notion that our biggest “problem,” as a leader is something in the system, something out there. We believe that your biggest problem is not your disconnected board member. Your biggest problem is not your problem child. Your biggest problem is not your cold hearted spouse. Your biggest problem is not your underperforming CEO, COO, CFO, or CMO. Your biggest problem is not your recent run of bum luck. Your biggest problem is not the fact that Obama is President or the prospect of Mitt as the man.
Your biggest challenge is rejecting this notion and accepting the fact, the undeniable truth, that Y.O.U. are your own worst enemy. Y.O.U. think one thing and do another. Y.O.U. say one thing and do another. Y.O.U. believe one thing and behave another. And because of your divided mind, you take too long to decide, so you sit.
Y.O.U. are a house divided and your challenge is to get busy building on you and getting to the root of your internal conflict, first. As you become stronger within and begin to slowly align yourself, your conflict within lessens. As you reject, sift, transform, and order yourself tirelessly, relentlessly, and indefatigably, your CORE does what it is supposed to do. You stand upright. And as you stand you begin to realize that standing is real strength. Standing when most run. Standing, when most are crawling for cover. Standing, when most are looking for someone to blame. Standing when most sit.
Today, patiently, a client and I made some progress. And, along the way we learned that we share more in common than I thought possible. Funny, huh.
Our biggest challenge in creating and authoring our masterpieces is rejecting. Loss aversion is some powerful kinda shit remember. And rejecting some of our deeply held beliefs feels like the ultimate loss. Rejecting whats working for what might be some kinda magic, isn’t for the weak. Rejecting your tendency to sit, learning to STAND. Rejecting chronic pain and accepting some acute. This will not come easily. You won’t get to the “next expression,” however, without rejecting, FIRST.
Who knew that the creative process is as much about rejecting as it is about inventing? Who knew…
BUILT TO LEAD 