One of the challenges of good leadership is maintaining priorities. Many things compete for your time, energy, money, and learning to say no to many good things is hard to do.
I read a story recently of a young and successful executive who was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.
As the car passed, no children appeared, instead a brick smashed into the windshield into the Jaguar’s side door. He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.
He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, “What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?” Building up a head of steam, he went on. “That’s a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?”
“Please mister, please, I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do!” pleaded the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop.”
Tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed to the parked car. “It’s my brother,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.” Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.
“Thank you, sir. And God bless you,” the grateful child said to him. The man then watched as the little boy pushed his brother to the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar…a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick to get your attention.
Priorities in leadership have to be guarded like your bottom line. Don’t mistake the bottom line for what really matters. Sometime we need a brick thrown at us (figuratively, of course), to keep us in line.
First, we need a brick when we forget our family. If a leader sacrifices family for the sake of the bottom line, he needs a brick. The benchmark of success is not defined by the bottom line, or by the accolades of the boss.
Frank Sinatra once said, “I would like to be remembered as a man who had a wonderful time living life, a man who had good friends, a fine family, and I don’t think I could ask for anything more than that, actually.” He had a good perspective.
A good leader is one who hasn’t forgotten his family on the ladder to success. Family can be your greatest asset, your best counsel, and biggest cheerleaders. When you brush them aside you snub your biggest ally. Don’t forget your family.
Second, we need a brick when we forget our friends. Your colleagues who work hard and share in the successes along the way need to be remembered. Don’t become so busy that you forget them. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the organization that taking friends there for granted is all too common.
Muhammad Ali said, “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” In your workplace environment, always remember the friends that help you each day and help make your organization strong. They are the lifeblood of your organization. Don’t forget your friends.
Finally, we need a brick when we forget that there are things in life that are bigger than us. The end game is not what we get, but in what we give. It’s not about us. The fulfillment of our dreams and aspirations is found in causes that are greater than us.
Calvin Coolidge said, “No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself but for others; or failing therein, it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist.” When as a leader, you think it’s all about you, and are not focused on things that are of greater importance in life, it’s time for a brick.
We need causes in life that are bigger than us not just to keep us humble, but to cause us to keep our priorities straight. Don’t forget – it’s not about you.
Family, friends, and causes greater than ourselves; these are good priorities to remember.
© 2009 Doug Dickerson
Doug Dickerson is an award winning writer and PR director in Charleston, SC. You can read more of his columns and sign up for his free e-newsletter on his blog at
www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com
