Creating Sunrises
Sunrise or sunset? It’s a question that often comes up when people are discussing their preferences. I appreciate the beauty of both, but for me, the sunrise has always struck me differently.
I remember when I coached swimming. Many summer days started with a dark drive to the pool for practice or a swim meet. The roads were empty, everything was quiet, and although I was often a little sleepy, I always felt good about being up early.
There is something special about a sunrise. The darkness is pierced by the first rays of light, signaling the start of a new day. The stillness before the world wakes up provides a rare moment free from distractions. And the beauty of it all never fails to leave me with a sense of awe.
I don’t always get up early enough to catch the sunrise, but I’ve always been energized by what it represents. A new beginning. Maybe it’s a chance to start over after a difficult day. Maybe it’s an opportunity to build on momentum that’s already in motion. Maybe it’s the chance to repair something that isn’t working or pursue a new direction that excites us.
Catching the sunrise on a recent early morning walk
As leaders, I think we have an opportunity to create that same feeling for the people around us. Every day, someone on our team needs a sunrise. Someone made a mistake yesterday. Someone is struggling with confidence. Someone had a difficult conversation. Someone is trying something new and wondering if they’re capable of succeeding.
The best leaders don’t keep people trapped in yesterday. They help them focus on what is possible tomorrow. That’s one of the reasons I love the symbolism of a sunrise so much. It doesn’t matter how dark the night was. The sun still comes up tomorrow.
If people don’t feel like they can recover from a bad day, a bad decision, or a difficult season, eventually they stop taking risks. They stop growing and they start playing it safe.
Great cultures find a balance between accountability and hope. They acknowledge what happened yesterday while keeping their eyes fixed on tomorrow. As leaders, we have the opportunity every morning to set the tone.
We can carry forward frustration, mistakes, and negativity from the day before. Or we can create a sunrise by providing clarity, encouragement and helping people see opportunity. We can remind our teams that every day is a chance to learn, improve, and start again.
Maybe that’s why I love sunrises so much. They remind me that no matter what happened yesterday, today is full of possibility.
