Leading on the Road Less Traveled: My First 90 Days at Wharton
“Consider that we don’t generally take the time to interview the fire captain before she sends a crew to put out a house fire, nor do we ask to see the aviation records of a pilot before we buckle-up for takeoff. Likewise, as a new leader, we are often called upon to make game-time decisions based on information provided by people whose trustworthiness we are still assessing — and who are also actively evaluating their willingness to trust us. Getting comfortable with developing swift trust can be crucial in times of crisis. Then, over time our initial beliefs and assumptions can be verified (or modified) by additional data, without sacrificing urgent trust-building when it’s needed.” – Erika James
Day: October 18, 2020
Unacceptable
What is unacceptable to you defines your standard.
High expectations
Having high expectations about the past is a one-way street to unhappiness.
The past is fixed.
There is nothing that can be done when the head is cut off, except to bury the body. Leaving the body out in the open will only lead to swelling and decay.
Having high expectations about the present is delusional. It is what it is, yet it keeps going.
The present is fluid.
The air that you breathe is the air that is available to you, not the one you wish was available to you. If you stop breathing until you get your preferrred air, you will die needlessly.
Having high expectations about the future is fit for purpose. Expectations are designed to model what you want from what has not yet come.
The future is illusionary.
Given the choice between feeling upbeat or feeling downcast about the future, it is wiser to be upbeat, as there is no favourable reason to suffer for what is illusionary.
– Osasu Oviawe
Be on guard
Matthew 22:15-21
Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero’di-ans, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax.” And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Homily:
A deadly hook is always covered with a desirable bait.
Malicious intent is always masked with desirable praise.
Be on guard.