“Adventure isn’t hanging off a rope on the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life.”— John Amat
The temperature was below 30-degrees Fahrenheit. The winds were fast and sharp, filled with bits of icy rain. The lake was blown into nearly frozen whitecaps.
Those that know me to know that I much prefer the 80-degree Fahrenheit kind of weather. This was not that! But the cold did not stop me from having a spectacular energizing hike beside our local lake.
Where I live, we don’t know precisely which days will bring challenging weather to our skies, but we do know those icy days will come. So we are prepared. We make the most of the experience.
Every year has unexpected twists and turns; last year more than any that I remember. This new year will also have its own complexities and revelations.
As exceptional leaders, I suggest that we be prepared.
Today I offer one exceptional leadership preparation rule: embrace the adventure.
We do our work not because it is easy, but because the work is important. We do the work to help us hone our own skills. We do the work because it is valuable to others who benefit from our sweat and expertise.
Toward the end of our hike, we stood at the end of a pier stretching out into a sheltered cove. The ice had a perfect reflection of the sky. We went on that cold, icy hike to enjoy the experience. We were given a reward equal to the journey.
May everyone have a year with adventures that help your spirits soar accompanied by gratifying rewards throughout.
Yours in the calm pursuit of excellence,
Alan Willett
Photo by Alan Willett