I’m not a numerologist. But I do find it ironic that the year 2020 seems to be marked by a general lack of vision and clarity. There is so much noise, confusion, and free-floating angst – it’s been easy for leaders to lose track of where they are and where they are trying to end up.

One of the most concerning elements of confusion – to my mind – is the incredible tendency to insist that someone, anyone, everyone else is responsible for what I experience or choose.

But not me. I’m not responsible.

Few perspectives are more defeating and disempowering than the insistence that my sense of significance, safety, or satisfaction depends on the choices or attitudes of others.

Leaders: Choose to own 2020

You can’t own it for everyone or everything. You can’t even own it for others. But for your sphere of influence, for the arena of impact that you are in – how are you leading and what are you leading towards?

What are you going to do to make 2020 what you want it to be?

It’s kind of fun to read the 2020 memes. I recently saw one that showed a group of Port-A-Potties burning. It was labeled, “If 2020 were a scented candle.”

I laughed. I get it.

It’s easy to follow the rabbit down the hole of whatever gripe or frustration I have about the economy, or politics, or society, or whatever.

But, you know what? If I don’t watch the news or look at social media and only reflect on my actual experiences: 2020 has been a weird year – but overall a pretty good one. My family is healthy and we’ve had lots of fun experiences together. My business is doing well, my second book is about to debut, I’m getting into a new hobby, I’ve been able to have meaningful connections with friends.

Now – I could also run out a list of the challenges this year has presented to me. And there have been some big ones. But I get to choose how to define this year. And you just read it above.

And how will 2020 end up for you and for what you lead? It is largely up to you.

Some people will get angry reading this. If that’s you – before you unsubscribe – ask yourself, “Who do I want at the steering wheel of my life?”

Do we actually control everything? No. Not at all. It’s ludicrous to think that anyone has complete control and that we aren’t impacted by what happens around us. But it is extremely sensible to recognize that the questions “Where am I/are we trying to go?” and, “What will I/we do next?” can always and only be answered by ourselves.

What do you want 2020 to have been about for you?

As we are nearing the final quarter of 2020 – I encourage you – take ownership of it. Don’t let this year be one that is defined by externals. Don’t let it be defined by someone else. It’s even more important for leaders. Here are some questions to think about for 2020:

• What character traits are the most important for me to live out?
• By what attitude do I want to carry and remember this year?
• Who do I want to serve?
• Who can I forgive?
• Who can I work harder at listening to?
• What regrets do I want to avoid?
• What do I want to accomplish?
• What do I want this year to have been about?

Only we can answer these questions for ourselves. And we are defined by our answers. Who do you want to be this year? What do you want 2020 to be about?

Take good care,

Christian

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