Today, I had an unplanned one-on-one with a colleague, who wanted to share his plans for the new year, and get my input.
I asked him to tell me how the plans he had last year were going? He said covid-19 took them away. I asked if covid-19 was now over. He said, “No.” “So why will your plans this year work?” I asked. “Oh this year is my year”, he replied.
I told him rather frankly, “What you desire from me is not advice, but validation. Your plans are valid. They just need a different version of you to run with. Allow that version to lead for a while. The version that gets shit done.”
I am thankful for the mentors that refuse to accept a lesser version of me, even as a temporary state.
Day: January 5, 2021
The Protector
The General does not lead the line in battle. If he did, he would not be able to see the territory from a vantage point, and adjust the plans to assure victory.
The protector is the most protected if protection is to be assured.
To have skin in the game, the General must have led the line as part of his development. He must have been at the highest point of risk to understand the tradeoffs in his choices. He must know the people on that field, and love them. His choices cannot only be hinged on winning the battle, it must also be on reducing the cost. He must understand that one life lost is a great cost, many times greater than what the battle is usually for. A life saved in battle is just as important as a life protected at home. When the front-line know, and they always innately know, that they are rightly valued, the battle becomes a victory dance.
– Osasu Oviawe