Stopping Is Not Optional
A few years ago, I was traveling west from Colorado along I-70 and forgot to stop in Grand Junction for gas. When the warning light came on, I was in the middle of a landscape that could easily pass for Mars. After passing several exits with no services, I started to get worried. I dropped my speed to 55 mph, turned off the A/C and obsessively watched the mileage tick by.
Then in the distance there was a sign for fuel. As I pulled off the Interstate my engine died; I put the car into neutral and coasted into an empty pump. I was ecstatic - jumping up and down. Which looked crazy to the other travelers, but I didn't care. The crisis was averted.?
But the crisis was mine... I failed to stop.
There are times when you are running on fumes. You have been working long hours for a long time. Your warning light is blinking red;
You need a pit stop. This involves pulling off the road and attending to the areas of life that have been sacrificed for work;?relationships, family, health (mental, physical and spiritual). NOTE: This is not a change of direction, but an essential part of reaching your destination. When you stop, refresh and create a better plan for going forward, you experience renewal of energy and alignment with those around you.?
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Emerging leaders tend toward overwork because they struggle to diagnose and triage problems.?Not everything demands immediate attention. Not every challenge must be solved at once. Leadership demands pacing. Pit Stops empower you to go the distance and to enjoy the finish line surrounded by others who are still with you cheering.?
Four Ideas:
Summary:
Regular pit stops make the journey enjoyable. They refresh and give you the ability to approach your work with perspective and energy.?
Social Purpose and Public Benefit consultant, Special Advisor Charity Finance Group, serial board member, passionate about the third sector, animal welfare, conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development
1 年Thanks Sam - most timely - too often the urgent overtakes the important - but the sector we work in is so compelling and sucks you in!!
The BetterYOU Life Integration Journey Equips YOU with the??Tools Needed for Your Comprehensive DEVELOPMENT; My Collaborative Coaching??Empowers YOU to Takeup Your Holistic??Formation & Cultivate Your Growth, AMDG!
1 年Thank you I really needed to hear this! Really appreciate so much of this, now it's time to put it into practice starting right here and right now, today and not tomorrow...
Community Focused Development and Marketing Professional
1 年Excellent! I needed this today. Thank you.
Principal & Brand Strategist at Amenable | Growing Ideas, People, & Partnerships
1 年Read broadly––nailed it. As a leader, it's easy to get stuck in a utility mindset (only what's explicitly useful immediately is good). Reading broadly is not only a way to recharge, but set yourself up for the long run.
Management Consultant with expertise in Development Research, Public Finance Management, Economic & Policy Analysis
1 年Awesome read! Thank you for posting!