Wisdom to Ignite Imagination

The only thing constant is change.

Most of us, if we are honest, feel conflicted about change, especially when we mark the New Year. Some things we wanted to see change in 2022 did so. Some things changed that we wish hadn't. In 2023 we hope for breakthroughs in some arenas and simultaneously hold tight in hope of not losing something dear in another.

Let us resolve to make the most of what comes our way, and be gracious through the inevitable challenges.

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A goal without a plan is just a wish.

Leaders almost instinctively set the goal, the destination, the target we are trying to hit. We build the resolve, the alignment, and the commitment we need to hit it. But with all of our ability to create alignment, goals are ineffectual without an actionable plan. We need a course of action. We need to do the hard work of understanding the what, when, where, how, who that is required to get there in real life.

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What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.

I grew up in Arizona, and I can attest to the beauty of the desert wilderness. It's in the shocking vacancy, the deprivation, the vast expanse of nothingness. But there is another level of beauty when the vast expanse hides a treasure. The anticipation, hunger, and desire for a life-giving resource beneath the sands changes how we see the barren desert.

Even in times of hardship and struggle, there is always hope and beauty to be found. The challenge ever before us, especially as we look to the new year, is to stay hungry and hopeful for treasure, no matter what we see on the surface.

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A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.

It is in the God-given power of our imagination that we find the ability to envision the world in new ways, which allows us to create, achieve, overcome, and move past what is currently in front of us. The imagination does not come from what we see, but allows us to conceptualize something different, something better.

A rock is a rock is a rock. That can be depressing, until you are able to envision what it could be. May we be ever-vigilant to spark an imagination for the rocks around us and cast cathedral-like visions to reshape our world.

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Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.

Love can be a lot of things, but love that looks outwardly together unites and empowers us to attempt great things. Big vision requires big love. We have the opportunity this year to abandon our bouts of self-absorption and risk going in with others for something greater.

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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

We tend to solve problems through addition. Be honest: as you contemplate the new year, are you thinking about what more could be added to your life? We are all hoarders in our own way, so we believe the solution for every situation is something more. In the end, however, our lives get overly complicated, bogged down, and bloated, and we are left to wonder why we are losing momentum.

As you build your plan for growth in 2023, do not forsake the necessary, healthy, and life-giving work of updating your Quit List, as well. It may well be the more fruitful work.

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The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.

It is okay that we are not in control. Leader, I know how hard that sentence is to read, but it is both true and good. In fact, we have no choice in the matter. No matter what our budget, sales forecast, or calendar may say, it is the unknown and the uncertainty of life that keeps us moving forward and striving to improve.

In 2023, embrace the uncertainty and let its open adventure inspire your drive and determination.

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What is essential is invisible to the eye, for it is only with the heart that one can see rightly.

It is important to remember that the most important things in life cannot be seen or measured. So be careful of the lists you write, the metrics you assign, and the inventories you count. Your eyes can lie to you about what is truly meaningful and lasting.