Strategic Leadership Learnings: What Stones Are You Picking?

As Leaders, we often find ourselves juggling endless thoughts, decisions, and challenges. Like Hiroshi, a young man in Japan who felt overwhelmed by the constant noise in his mind, we too can feel weighed down by the demands of leadership.

In search of peace, Hiroshi visited a monk who tossed a stone into a calm river and asked him what he observed. “The ripples will fade if you stop adding stones,” said the monk. Our minds work the same way—peace and clarity return when we stop letting unnecessary thoughts disrupt our focus.

On a walk with the monk, Hiroshi was asked to pick up stones along the way, each one representing a thought. Before long, he felt burdened by their weight. The monk explained, "Not every stone (thought) needs to be picked up. As a leader, ask yourself: does this challenge help me move forward or is it just adding noise?"

Leadership is about more than solving every problem—it’s about making thoughtful choices. When we learn to focus only on what truly matters, we not only lead with clarity but with a sense of calm that impacts those around us.

As leaders, we are human too. We experience doubt, overwhelm, and pressure. But just like Hiroshi, we can find peace in understanding that not every thought or challenge deserves our energy.

"Be thoughtful in choosing the stones you pick today and every day moving forward."

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the message shared