I am just finishing the most physically and mentally intense week of my entire year, which leads into the most stressful week of my year. These two weeks are the last two weeks of the most non-stop and highest activity month of my year. To say that I’m burning the candle at both ends is the understatement of the century. I bring this up not because I regret any of it, since actually, I thrive on it, but because it is in times like this that I am reminded of how privileged I am to be a leader of others, and how much impact a leader can have on the people we lead and the people we reach through our common mission. What my team does together is awesome. It is done with excellence, it brings together a group of people who do extraordinary work together, and it blesses thousands each year who attend our presentation. Did I say awesome?
Something that I’ve learned over the years is that awesome ain’t easy. Every year I have people who see me going through this process and ask me why I don’t just do things in an easier way and why I work so hard and let myself get “so tired.” When I tell them it’s because I want my work to be the very best it can be, the impact great, and for it to be awesome, again I have people who question the effort and let me know that it would be okay to settle for less. Pardon me for choking on my heated up leftovers, but I must disagree. Settling for less is never okay. I realize that there are many individuals and organizations who look for the easier and simpler way to do things, all the time trying to justify their lack of effort with catchy phrases like “less is more” and doing everything under the banner of “simple.” So, if I may vent for a moment, sometimes, less is strategically better, but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking less is more – no, less is less, more is more. And don’t even get me started about the ridiculous notion that simple is better than complex. If that were true we wouldn’t enjoy Disney theme parks, we would never visit a buffet, and we wouldn’t stand in line for the newest smartphone. “Simple” is merely an excuse for those who aren’t willing to give all they have for the good of the mission.
Which brings me to the title of this blog, “Awesome Ain’t Easy.” If you want to achieve excellence, if you want to do things that blow the minds of the people you touch, if you want to do the most good, if you want to make women faint and grown men cry…if you want to be awesome…you’ve got to ignore the easy and simple path and do whatever is necessary. I guarantee it will be hard, it will take a lot of time, and you’ll get tired, but, it will be worth it. Your results will go far beyond your wildest dreams and your legacy will be one of inspiring others to rise to great heights as well.
In a book written by my mentor, Derric Johnson, he states, “Easy doesn’t do it. Never has. Never will.” That’s how I lead the people in my care. They will work hard and get tired, but never without my doing the same and leading the way. The work we will present this coming week will be something each of us will be proud of. It will be unique, complex, excellent, and awesome!
Lead well.