It's hard for me to convey all of the different thoughts that are in my mind...
But, sometimes, a single sentence or paragraph captures an absolute truth that quiets everything around me. Those are moments of harmony... of "absolute truth" where I pause.
I was reading the book, "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown. It was highly recommended by my 13 year old. And, his recommendation, I sincerely take to heart. Not because he is my son, but because he is an avid reader and he knows what I like.
I had a hard time getting into the book, but he persisted, so I persisted.
It is an amazing retelling of history in the 1930's centered around the 8 man rowing team that went to the olympics from the University of Washington. And, it colorfully and interestingly weaves in a close-up understanding of how the depression affected American lives, and the coordinated and deliberate events in Germany as they prepared for one of the darkest periods in modern times.
Often in the books - they speak of harmony... harmony between people, between teammates, between athlete and boat... And, every time I hear the word "harmony" used... my ears perk up ;-)
So, why am I telling you this?
1. Because the book is worth the read... I recommend it highly (as does my son).
2. And, because the following passage struck a very deep chord with me...
"In the last desperate few hundred meters of the race, in the searing pain and bewildering noise of that final furious sprint. There had come a singular MOMENT when I realized with startling clarity that there was nothing more that I could do to win the race, beyond what I was already doing. Except for ONE thing. I could FINALLY ABANDON ALL DOUBT, TRUST ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT RESERVATION that I, and the boy in front of me, and the boys behind me would do precisely what they needed to do at precisely the instant they needed to do it. I had known in that instance that there could be no hesitation, no shred of indecision. I had no choice but to throw myself into each stroke as if I were throwing myself off of a cliff into a void, with unquestioned faith that the others would be there to save me from catching the whole weight of the shell on my blade."
I read this and my heart and mind filled...
THIS IS GREAT CULTURE. THIS IS WHAT I MUST TRY TO CREATE WITHIN ANY TEAM or COMPANY THAT I LEAD. And, as strong a culture as we have built... we have a long way to go.
AND...
AND...
Perhaps even more importantly...
Maybe that is the realization, the leap, the step that I must take personally....
Maybe the thing that I need to do now, at this point in my life, is trust those closest to me... trust myself, TRUST... that the whole weight of the world of everything I know is not on my shoulders alone... that I must continue to work hard, to learn, to apply and do...
And, I need to trust that everyone else around me will do their part... personally.... professionally.
I need to stop holding myself solely responsible for every aspect of my life and my company as it moves forward.
Maybe, all I need to do is FINALLY ABANDON ALL DOUBT...
I am fairly sure there is magic in those words...
Now I just have to figure out how... how to simply do that.
Feels powerful...
Feels peaceful...
Feels right...
Feels like harmony...
Nestor