This week, I have noticed that I have been letting myself get pulled in whatever direction happens to be pulling at a particular moment. I love to be available and to have time for people and issues that need attention. The trouble with this, is that it isn’t strategic in any way. When I am living this way, I am not really leading, but I am being led by immediate events around me. I being mildly effective.

Getting involved in events around me isn’t a bad thing, but is it the best thing? I have been working on where to lead the production team and instead I have been responding to events and not leading the way I would if there were no external factors.

I love history, and I read a great biography of Eisenhower by Steven Ambrose.  When Eisenhower was president, he led the world when it came to defense issues; the world looked to him, he set the course and the tone.  When it came to civil right issues, he only reacted to what was going on.  Instead of leading the way toward desegregation, he was only sending out the National Guard to respond to the issues of the day.

I don’t want to spend all my time putting out fires.  I want to be strategic with my time and with the opportunity to lead.  I don’t want to be dragged around by circumstances, I want to choose the circumstances to engage with and to lead with all diligence.