Circle of Trust

Three things I shared with the PAX today:

1. I shared with the PAX how much can change in just one year. Look back a year ago, where were you? Some of you were not even here, now look where you are. Now where do you want to be a year from now? 8 years ago today, I got married to my ex wife. Yesterday, I just got back from vacation with my new girlfriend of 2 years and our blending families. While a lot can change in a year, a heck of a lot can change in 8!
2. There’s a lot of responsibility that can be put on HIM’s when we travel with our family. I welcomed this and felt this during this last vacation. Especially when we all got thru security at the airport to our gate at the terminal to head home. After a full week of leading many things, I reach down into my pocket and pulled out the keys to the rental car I was supposed to return PRIOR to going thru security and to our terminal gate. There was a chance I either A) Miss the flight B) Pay the fee for keeping the keys or C) Run em back. So I sprinted back as fast as I could to return the keys knowing I might miss my flight. As I was about to cross the point of no return back thru security, and a long ass security line, a pilot saw my situation and said to me right there, “Hey, I’ll return those keys for you…” Man, I owe that HIM a major thank you. My point, even when we think we are leading, we are capable of making mistakes, it’s ok to let others help. At the same time, look to be the person who WILL help too, like that pilot.
3. Lastly, when I got back to the gate my girlfriend and our kids were still sitting at their chairs. Southwest airlines requires you to board in a certain order so we missed our opportunity to sit together. My expectation while I was sprinting to return the keys was for her to line up an board…but I never told her that. I was wrong to ask her why she didn’t line up simply because if that was my expectation, I should have communicated it. This is extreme ownership, an element of leadership, and I caught myself in the wrong here. My point, as leaders it’s super important we don’t look to blame or expect others to do things if we don’t communicate what those things are…much being the QIC…it’s super important at all times, we take extreme ownership for our actions or lack of actions. Put simply, don’t blame it, own it. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil, just own it and look for these opportunities to lead.

Prayers.