THE QUESTION

In our fast-paced, information-driven, opinionated world, we must ask ourselves: “What are we trying to do?”  It is so easy to get caught up in the trite and trivial. We find ourselves locked into conversations we don’t want to be a part of. We get stirred up and think, “I need to voice my opinion on this or that issue.”

It feels like life is one big argument these days. For us as leaders to gain influence and add value, we will have to take a step back and ask, “What am I trying to do?”  We need to ask this question because it proceeds from the question, “If this is what I want to do, is my current attitude, strategy, and action going to get me there?”

If we’re going to get beyond this pressure to please everyone or fall into the current form of average and mediocrity, then we need to be clear about our objectives and strategies. So we ask the question. “What am I trying to do?”

I don’t want to argue all the time. I don’t like to feel like I constantly try to prove myself to others, whether I fit into their pet issue.

I’ve noticed something about true leaders. They are so focused on what they’re trying to do they don’t have time for the trite and trivial. They don’t have time for the storm of information swirling about our heads and the booming opinion-driven mob constantly striking like lightning.

They read purposefully, listen with intent, act with intention, and are not influenced by current opinion. So, let’s ask ourselves again: “What am I trying to do?”

AM I TRYING TO MAKE A POINT or MAKE A DIFFERENCE?  

Making a point does only that. Makes a point. What is the purpose of creating a point? Is it to show that we’re right? Is it to reveal our intelligence? Is it to prove we have the better argument? Is it because we feel competitive? What does it accomplish? It’s hard to answer that question, right? Think hard; what does it perform? NOTHING. It accomplishes nothing. Making a point may impress for a moment, it may stop the conversation, or it may even have you “dropping the mic,”  but in terms of actually accomplishing something, moving the ball down the field, achieving a goal, bringing a solution, changing the world, or making a difference it does nothing.

Making a difference changes things. It is intentional. I know what I am trying to do and put together the strategy to do it; I engage others to help me, and I take action to reap the results. And at the end of the day, whether I accomplish it all or not isn’t the point; one thing is for sure: I will have made a difference. On some level and for someone, I will have made a difference.

So, to our leaders and politicians, on every side of the aisle, on every side of every issue, we’ve heard you make your points, but are you making a difference? We’ve listened to you pontificate and preach your point, but we are waiting to see you move the ball down the field.

Leaders, we can have good ideas all day, but the rubber meets the road when we stop trying to make a point and make a difference.

Let’s shut down the constant opening and vitriolic point-making, bring solutions, and make a difference.

So, What do you want to do?