Today, I stopped my new client and kinda staggered him. I asked him to tell me more about a couple of his discovery questions. You see, the first step in the long,lengthy process of becoming BTL is going down the “bunny hole” and answering 80 questions in an essay, narrative kinda way. Many just “check the box” and refuse the opportunity to slow down, reflect, and think for themselves. My job is NOT to let them.
My client sees his teammates more clearly than he sees himself. He is normal. Today, his builder, opened his eyes to his greatest leadership challenge – leading himself. Today, his builder, made him think about why he’s aiming at what he’s aiming. Today, my client woke up a bit. Kinda like when Neo woke up on the Nebuchadnezzar, my client wasn’t sure he liked his newfound clarity. Sleep walking through life has it short term benefits, doesn’t it.
Today, my client discovered that his teammates aren’t the only ones simply “checking the box.” His revelation didn’t feel enlightening or particularly energizing. Reality is kinda like that sometimes, isn’t it. However, at the end of practice he agreed to a couple real, hard PA’s that will move him away from checking the box and toward his aim of a purposeful work and life. We laughed together as we prepared for our practice next week. We laughed about what we’re learning. We laughed. As we laughed a bit longer, I hit him with some truth in LOVE.
Silence told me he was letting it in…
I asked him to write what he was thinking and why. More silence as he wrote and wrote and wrote. A handful of minutes later he read me his writing. Neo is waking up, taking my challenges and making them his own. His transformation has begun. He is embracing his toughest leadership challenge and he’s done with simply checking the boxes. He is on the long, arduous climb to becoming BTL. As we concluded practice, I reminded him why we’re here and it’s not about checking the box, is it.
His smile told me he understood.
Remember, our purpose at BTL answers why we are here. Here it is. Do not miss this. This could be HUGE…
“We Awaken, Challenge, and together we Transform a few individuals, teams, and leaders into ONE. ONE, distinct and deeply connected, that is BTL.”
Why are you here? Why are your aims your aims? Why do you have to do what you have to do? Why do you not have time for what you want? Why is noise the enemy to mastery? Why are you able to see others with 20/20 clarity; yourself, not so much? Why do humans desire deep, meaningful relationships while living on the veneer? Why are you choosing a life aimed at checking the boxes?
Why, why, why…
BUILT TO LEAD 