Today's Leadership Insight - Let Go of the Past

August 3rd, 2009

It's the start of a brand new month and a brand new week. We are halfway through 2009 and are charging hard at a brand new decade in just five short months.

With the spirit of change in mind, today's Leadership Insight is focused on your ability to let go of the past.

One trait leaders possess is the ability to move forward and not become consumed with what happened yesterday, last week, last month, or last year. A leader does not look at the shortcomings of yesterday and wonder why things unfolded the way they did. Instead, a leader looks at both successes and failures and treats them as experience.

Experience is the lifeblood of development. Without it, you'll be stuck at square one for the rest of your days. A positive experience will make you smile today, while a negative experience will give you the ability to make a mistake, learn from it, and smile tomorrow when positive results come from the lessons you've learned.

This can best be exemplified in the world of sports. If an NFL quarterback throws an interception in overtime and the opposing defense returns it for a touchdown to win the game, the QB has two choices. He can A) Let the experience stay with him the entire week and carry it into the next game, or B) Wipe the slate clean and prepare to do battle the next week, a little bit wiser and a lot more knowledgable.

If the QB chooses A, how effective do you think his game will be? He might as well stay at home.

As a leader, you're faced with similar choices. You can let the past dictate what you do going forward, meaning there will be no change or growth in your life and you'll remain on a steady course down the path of least resistance.

Or, you can wipe the slate clean and leave the past in the past. Instead of dwelling on what you THINK should've happened, focus your attention on the present and what WILL happen.

I always hear legendary NFL coach Mike Ditka say the following, and the more I hear him say it, the more it resonates with me:

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That's why it's called the 'present.'"

Today, make a conscious effort to put the past behind you and focus on what good things today can bring. Chalk up everything that's happened to you as experience, and use it to forge a new path. Then, and only then, will you start to see how strong of a leader you can be.