Let It Go - One Thing Great Leaders Don’t Hold On To
To start the summer, we took our kids on a Disney cruise. It was incredibly memorable for the entire family. Disney is masterful at entertainment, quality, and curating exceptional experiences. One of our dinners took place in “Arendelle,” the kingdom where Frozen’s Anna and Elsa reside. While dining on delicious dishes, my daughter was in awe as we were treated to character visits and performances, which of course included Elsa’s famous “Let it go.” The group sing-along at the end left our whole family singing that song for the rest of the evening. While Elsa sings about letting go of the confines in her life and accepting her powers to become who she is meant to be, the lyrics made me think about something else great leaders are able to let go of.
As leaders, we are often in positions where we must attempt something that is not a guaranteed success. We must be willing to try new things, test possibilities, and venture into uncharted territory. In this process, despite how much we calculate, it is inevitable that at times we will encounter failure. Not everything will go as planned, there will be disappointments, and we are bound to have tough days. How we handle those days is something that differentiates great leaders. Great leaders don’t dwell on their setbacks or worry tirelessly about their failures. They don’t obsess over what went wrong or stew about the mistakes they made. Instead, they learn from them, move on, and let them go. I love this passage from Ralph Waldo Emerson on making each day a masterpiece that speaks to this exact point:
"Finish every day and be done with it. For manners and for wise living it is a vice to remember. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well and serenely, and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day for all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the rotten yesterdays."
Source: Letter to his daughter Ellen, reprinted in The Letters of Ralph Waldo Emerson
We must continue to put ourselves out there, to be vulnerable, and to take chances in the pursuit of greatness. Those who don’t, ultimately limit their potential by playing it safe. While we strive for success and work hard to meet our goals, we must be mindful of what happens when things don’t work out. I’m not suggesting we should expect or accept failure, but rather we need to prevent these situations from holding us back. Each day is a gift, and we owe it to ourselves to make the most of it. And that starts with letting go of where we came up short the day before.
Know what Elsa you should let go of? Not registering for the workshop yesterday. Today is your day ;)
Join us at our upcoming Heart Leadership Workshop August 5-6th. If you enjoy our weekly messages and anecdotes, then this is like seeing the Disney character at the castle, not just in the movie!
