The time has come. I’ve known this day was coming for a very long time and I realize that many others have gone before me.
The empty nest.
Over the next two weeks, my three sons will be leaving home, college bound.
In processing through the many different emotions associated with his life change I’ve reflected on three things that I believe not only apply to parenting but to all leaders.
1. We lead for a season. – The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the average tenure of CEO at an S&P 500 company was 6.6 years. While parents have children at home longer, I’ll join the chorus of millions of others who will tell you the time moves by so quickly. Many of the people in our personal and professional lives will be here for just a season. We don’t always know how long our ability to influence will last. Are you capitalizing on every moment?
2. Intentions don’t really matter. – I haven’t run across many parents of newborns who don’t intend to be great parents. Newly promoted managers usually intend to become great leaders, but as in the case with parenting does that always work out? I believe author Andy Stanley put in best in his book the Principle of the Path when he stated; “Your direction, not your intention, determines your destination.” What direction is your leadership or parenting style taking you? Are you on the right path? – The destination is closer than you realize.
3. It’s the small things that matter most. – We’ve had some great family vacations over the last 19 years. However, somehow I think when my guys look back at their time at home it will be a collection of the small things that will ultimately define our family life. Think for a minute about people who have had a great impact on you. Was it something big or was it a simple deed? Henrik Ibsen once said “ A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.”
In this next season of my life I want to number my days making the most of every opportunity and interactions with others, asking myself if my actions are leading me on the right path recognizing that every small deed can have an enormous impact.
