Memories are built by creating moments that matter. The truth is, however, that we need to quit waiting for these moments to appear. If our goal is to maximize our life, our joy, and the impact we have, then we must live as if every moment matters – because it does.
Too often we spend so much time mindlessly cruising through the day, projecting into the future and consumed with worry, or analyzing the past that we forget that each moment is THE ONE that matters. I was reminded of this when I heard the Tibetan saying:
IF you take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves.
This sentiment was made even more apparent to me when I heard a subsequent saying along the same lines asking what the most important minute in life is, with the answer being the next minute.
After reflecting over the summer, writing a lot, and reading even more, the value of every conversation throughout the course of each day became abundantly clear to me. Each and every interaction we have as a leader either results in the person you are talking to convincing you as to why the progress you desire cannot happen or with you pushing them one step closer to moving in the direction you desire. There is no such thing as a conversation that does not move the needle. It is either moving forward or backwards. There is no idle.
In order for this realization to be impactful for you two things must first be true. First, you must have a deep understanding of what you believe and where you want to go. Without a compass pointing in the desired direction, then by default every conversation serves to either preserve the status quo or push you away from your goals. Second, you must be willing to consistently and relentlessly engage in these conversations. Being in a position of leadership is an awesome opportunity, but also an immense responsibility. It is up to us to make each and every conversation matter, because part of the beauty and the pain of our jobs is that we never know which of those conversations may be the one to turn into a life-altering moment for those we have the courage to engage.
Take care of yourself. Take care of those you serve. Take care of and have faith in the value of each and every minute. If you do so, the success will take care of itself.
REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS TO GUIDE SOME THINKING
- What is one conversation that I absolutely need to engage in that I have been putting off?
- What are the topics of conversation that I typically tend to avoid and what does that ultimately tell me about myself?
- What is one conversation that you never thought would change your life heading into it that you still think about today?
- Do you have enough personal clarity that you know what you are trying to accomplish when you have a conversation with someone you lead?
- How much more could you accomplish if you savored every minute like you had a firm understanding time was a finite resource?
THE BEST THING I READ/WATCHED THIS WEEK
The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink by John Pavolvitz
AA blog that makes me cry every time I read it. Be ready to get into your “feels” with this. I delay-deliver it to myself once per month because perspective matters and this delivers an instant dose of perspective every time.
Teacher educators and preparation-program administrators should not want to propagate a
If only we could know when we were experiencing the last occasions and the last moments with people when we were, so that we could give them the gratitude and reverence and joy they deserve.
We would live differently.
We would be more attentive.
We would be more present.
We would be more alive while we are living.
RECENT PIECES OF MY WORK
PODCAST
Teach Better: Aspire Podcast – Manage Your Time or Time Will Manage You
WRITINGS
Parenting an Athlete – Featured in GenParenting
Leading a Digital Transformation – Ed Tech Magazine