Burning Point Blog

I know most of you are walking around feeling like you haven’t done enough, accomplished enough, finished enough, started enough… That you are somehow not enough. I know that because that’s how I feel a lot of the time.  I get caught up in the day to day grind and I feel like I’m spinning my wheels and not really making an impact.  But that is not true. 

When I’m working with emerging leaders, we’re always doing two things at once: 1. Working through the specific situation they’re in right now.  Obviously…that’s what they came to coaching for. 2. Building their Philosophy of Leadership. That one is less obvious. But a lot more valuable. 

I’ve spent just about $10K on coaching since I started my business. (Yes, my business is coaching...The irony is not lost on me.) It’s a lot of money. Especially for a single mom. There are a hundred places I could have spent that money. But, last week, I remembered why.

If you’ve never seen it, you’re missing out. The struggle and vulnerability of these little insects, wrapping themselves in vessels of transformation, allowing their bodies to disintegrate into goo and be completely remade.  He released over 100 monarchs this year.  It’s breathtaking every time.  It reminds me that things are emerging.

This woman walked into my kitchen, put her hands on her hips, and declared: “Okay! Now, whatever the family narrative is about how Dana keeps house or doesn’t - all of that is done right now. You do not ever need to feel embarrassed about anything around me. I’ve got you. This is your home and it’s beautiful.” Listen. I am not exaggerating, I very nearly cried. 

All the professional advice is that I should choose focus. “Niche down,” it’s called. Choosing a specialty so you can focus your offerings to people who want just that thing. I love the simplicity of it. I’ve tried to do it so many times, and I just can’t!

Leadership isn’t about position or title or how many people report to you. It’s about who you are when it really matters.