u-turn

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If this week had a catch phrase, it would be "turnabout is fair play…" and now I gotta go Google that phrase because as many times as I've heard it, typing it out just now I realize I don't really know what it means. 

But I know what I think it means. I think it means that the rules by which you win are sometimes the rules by which you lose...and vice versa...and that's fair. What isn't fair is to only want to play the game if it's rigged to our advantage. We are not invincible. Being willing to lose is a show of humanity, and proof that win OR lose, we respect the players and the game. An effective leader is not one who is perfect...a leader who tries to appear perfect only inspires jealousy and spite because they are a walking reminder of what their followers could never become. An effective leader is transparent about their flaws & vulnerabilities so their followers know that failure is not a hindrance to success. 

I'm not sure how this ventured into leadership...but I guess that's a message too.  The best leaders don't know how they even got in that position because they were too busy doing their work to notice a crowd gather. Sort of like Forest Gump who just felt like running…but because he  seemed to know where he was going, the lost followed his footsteps hoping he'd lead them to themselves. Except they didn't realize Forrest wasn't running to or from or for anything, except himself alone. 

​This week, we can't run behind Forrest anymore, ‘cause Forrest wants to slow down and turn around...maybe take the scenic route and enjoy the view. The cool thing is that without Forrest leading the pack, those who keep going can go in any direction they want. Forrest is no longer the north star. And if we are Forrest in this scenario and we feel the people watching, expecting...we can't let their expectations make us afraid to reverse our steps and go the other way, no matter how far we've already gone. At this point, we're running (or resting...or sleeping...or speaking) for ourselves and no one else. 

For better or worse, we are finally free to blaze our own trail. Or not. ❤