Keep Your Leading Edge

One of the most valuable habits of an effective leader, is Stephen Covey’s famed number 7, “Sharpen the Saw”! Sharpening the saw is in effect, to refresh your mind and body. For some people it’s a game of golf, for others it may be attending church on a Sunday. Pressure and stress account for countless burn outs and in some very sad and tragic cases, death. Breaking the mundane and redirecting your mind is essential for health and effectiveness.

The below is an excerpt from Kevin Lawrence’s book, Your Oxygen Mask First.

 “People rarely talk about the dark side of leadership. The harsh truth is, leadership can crush people made of steel. You experience moments so intense you seriously wonder if you will make it out alive—much less with your business intact. The pressure can seem so unbearable you question why you chose this life in the first place. At times, the weight of your company feels like it’s bearing down on you. You need to make gut-wrenching decisions that affect people’s lives and careers. In these moments you wonder if you have the stomach for it all. You question your intelligence, your capacity—and, in the very darkest hours– even your sanity”.

Lawrence, Kevin N.. Your Oxygen Mask First: 17 Habits to Help High Achievers Survive & Thrive in Leadership & Life (pp. 18-19). Lioncrest Publishing. Kindle Edition.

I’m getting better at picking my pressure points now, if my vision (strategic) is blocked or narrowed, if I over analyse finances and look for answers that I can’t see, or if I just feel trapped, I know it’s time to hit the beach. I jump out of bed early, grab my paddle board and renew my mind and body. The ocean or a crystal-clear lake has for me quite literally, the power to wash all the stress away.

It is so important for us to take a step back from pressure, live in a moment that can give us clarity and peace. Stay in the moment when you are there, don’t let thoughts or troubles creep into your personal time. Breathe deeply and appreciate that you’re alive “Your Oxygen Mask First”!

If you haven’t found a way to refresh your soul, maybe it’s time for you to search today.