In the End, it is the Journey that Matters Most

‘It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.’

There is a reason Ernest Hemingway felt compelled to comment on the value of the journey.

Too often we are so wrapped up in attaining our goals, reaching our summits, finishing what we started, that we let some of the most valuable life experiences pass us by.

As I complete my year as Entrepreneurs' Organization 's Global Chair and my three years in service to its Board of Directors, I am moved by the challenges of savouring the sometimes surreal and often enriching moments of my journey in real-time. I lost track of the number of passport stamps these past two years (Covid before that…), but vividly remember each of the welcoming handshakes, the culturally distinctive joint meals, and the insightful experiences shared.

While I know I will cherish this period for years to come, I am ready to step back to focus more on my family and own business ventures, and I am?profoundly grateful to EO in the here and now.?I relish how much I have learned, the meaningful new connections I have made all over the world, and the trust and respect of peers whose journeys have intersected with my own. You have challenged me to dig deep, think big, and be even bolder than I was before, and I have grown as a result of it. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, my fellow EOers!

Leadership roles are transient. We learn, adapt, fumble, improve, deliver, and support others as best we can. Then we step aside. But leadership is more than a title or set of perks and privileges. It is a mindset of wanting to serve, wanting to solve problems, and wanting to help others achieve their full potential. Our goal as leaders is not to craft a personal legacy but to leave a business or organization in better shape than we found it.

This perspective has taught me about the power of responsibility.

My friend Dina Reit put it well in a recent post: “feeling that purpose bubbling up inside you is gold… so today, stand up and do something difficult”.

I could not agree more. Learning to lead other leaders – fellow entrepreneurs at that – can be difficult. It is a journey in humility. We are all leaders who are energized by a desire to set a course and somehow harness the wind toward the direction of our vision. None of us would be in EO if we were not effective dreamers and doers. And while some may joke that we are entrepreneurs because we do not like being told what to do, what I see is a shared drive to deliver a better way.

We all seek that better way and when we find it, we work like hell to make it effective and make it available to others. So, leading this community of visionaries and leaders takes a unique set of skills that draws upon the art of influence, rather than edict. Like Dina wrote, it takes a willingness to do something difficult and honour the purpose and responsibility that speak to you.

There is nothing quite like a step change to help underline the rewards that come with hard work. My life over the last 12 months has been incredibly intense in its learnings and extremely rich in experience.

At EO, we strive to help our members unlock their full potential and reach their pinnacle, wherever that might lead. Then we try to unleash that fuller potential into the world in service to our companies, our communities, our families, and each other. I spoke about this ‘unleashing’ on stage at our Global Leadership Conference last year, just as I was preparing to unleash more of my individual potential as EO’s Global Chair. That message was both a challenge to myself and a clarion call for all of my fellow business owners and leaders to go for it – and not hold back. After 15 years in rewarding leadership positions for EO throughout its Path of Leadership, serving at the chapter level for EO?Zürich, and then functionally at global levels, this year, I did my best to unleash my full potential.

Unleashing often calls for us to leave our comfort zones to achieve our aims. I would be dishonest if I said there were no moments of discomfort this past year as I sought to influence and then follow the leads of others. ?But in that discomfort, and in this community of leaders whose talents, passions and ambitions I admire so much, I found a sense of fulfillment that might have otherwise evaded me. By cherishing the challenge, I was able to savour the journey. ?

That is my wish for you in your own path of leadership: that you see EO or whatever community you belong to as not just a support network, but a challenge network that helps you unlock and unleash more of your potential into the world so that you may also create better ways forward. Because when we choose to belong, we can be more, together.

#eo #entrepreneursorganization #leadership #thejourney