This week, I celebrated my 57th birthday. I have to say—birthdays have grown on me. I enjoy them now more than ever. My 50s have easily been my favorite decade, and each year seems to get a little better than the one before. For this birthday, I told my wife all I...
Yesterday, I attended a customer meeting with one of our customer success managers, and it turned into a real eye-opener about what leadership should be. My colleague shared on LinkedIn that instead of needing more oversight, Individual Contributors just want ownership and support. When leaders show up, they’re not just a title; they create trust and momentum. It’s key for leaders to champion decisions and support their teams without judgment. Leaders should empower rather than evaluate. The goal is to fuse the roles of leaders and ICs, promoting shared ownership and respect, so everyone wins together. It’s all about partnership, not hierarchy.
The story of a pink rhododendron that took six years to bloom serves as a metaphor for personal growth. Despite consistent care, it initially showed no visible signs of progress. This spring, it burst into beautiful blossoms, prompting reflections on life’s invisible growth periods. Just as the rhododendron established its roots before blooming, we too can spend long periods working hard without immediate results. This emphasizes that patience and continued effort are essential, as many projects and goals develop quietly beneath the surface. The waiting time is not wasted, and eventually, each person’s ‘moment of blooming’ will arrive.