Hey there! Here’s one leadership idea and one resource I’ve found beneficial this week:
1 idea: It’s just a phase
At 5:45 a few mornings ago, I heard one of my least-favorite sounds emanating from a few rooms away--a word that is normally delightful to hear except when it is screamed. “DAAAAA-DEE!” I was jarred from my quiet writing time by what sounded like a wounded sheep bleating into a staticky bullhorn. I entered my three-year old’s room to find him full of questions. How long until it was time to wake up? Could he take off his diaper? Would I snuggle with him?
As I addressed his questions one by one and prepared to slip away for my final fleeting moments of alone time, a quote from Reggie Joiner floated back to my consciousness:
It’s just a phase—so don’t miss it.
It’s so easy to wish away the phase our kids are in. The recurring problems get so monotonous and draining that we find solace in escaping to a future world where this season is over. The same is true for our lives and our businesses. It’s so natural to think Life will be so much better when I can change jobs or Once my business hits the next level, I’ll enjoy it so much more.
But Joiner brilliantly pulls us back to the moment by reminding us that this moment is just a glimmer and will be gone in a flash. You’ll never get to work with this exact same team again. You may never have the flexibility that you have right now. And who knows how many more mornings your little guy will want to snuggle?
You can try to fast-forward time, but you can never rewind it.
That quote nudged me to slide into bed with him for a few moments of pillow talk and snuggles. It was easily the best two minutes of my morning—all because I chose to be present in the moment and soak up this passing phase.
***
What phase of life have you been wishing away?
What’s something unique to this phase that you could cherish more?
How can you enjoy this phase while still working toward the next one?
1 resource: Parenting with love and logic
While every phase has its joys, some of life's stages are especially challenging. When my wife and I couldn’t figure out how to solve some discipline challenges a few years ago, my desperation led me to seek out some parenting resources.
Fortunately, I found Parenting with Love and Logic. I loved the core idea that my job as a parent is not to be the enforcer of rules but the coach who helps his kids navigate the natural consequences of their decisions. This idea has forced us to be more creative in our parenting (which is hard), but it has also reduced our stress and produced better results with our kids. If you still have kids at home, you might find this book helpful, too.
You can find the book on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Note: If you purchase a book via the link above, we may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you).