Create or Allow

I have been reading a great book from Dr. Henry Cloud called Boundaries for Leaders.

There is a lot of great insight in this book, but early on in the first few chapters is nugget of truth that is worth the price of the book.  Dr. Cloud points out that as a leader we either get what we create or what we allow.

It is easy to breeze by a statement like that.  But if you stop and think about it for a moment, that statement pretty much sums up our entire life, not just our leadership.

You get what you create or what you allow.

One side of that statement requires an active role of participation.  You have to have a goal in mind, a plan in place.  You have to know what you want and be willing to do what it takes to make it happen.

The other side of that statement is more passive in nature.  The old "whatever will be will be" mindset.

Creating puts you in the driver's seat and forces you to take responsibility.  You become "ridiculously in charge" as Dr. Cloud points out.  The alternative is take whatever comes your way and always play the victim.

Are you going to create or are you going to allow?  The choice is yours.