Personal Leadership Lesson For February: Resiliency
On Friday night I hit a pot hole heading home from work and got an almost instant flat tire. On Friday night I had to drive my car to the service center where I thought I’d simply need a new tire. Now, this is the 4th tire I’ll be replacing this winter but I thought, it’s ok, im safe and no one was hurt so it’s all good. I knew that I had a busy morning the next day. The business and entrepreneurship program I teach at UIC, Pathways To Success, was set to start in the morning morning and I had a speaking engagement for more young people in Evanston that I’d committed to so being without a car wasn’t optimal. Well when I woke up I got an email from the dealer that my rim was severely bent and that the rim and tire would cost 1600.00 bucks plus I need an alignment which was another 300 dollars. Wow, right! Needless to say, that altered my mood completely.
I wanted to be upset, I was tired to begin with, and I now I’d have to figure out how to make a way to get all over the city and suburbs. However i decided that I had to check that attitude and energy at that at the door because I had commitments to many teens and young adults. I had to bring my best self to these individuals. So, I got up earlier, ubered to UIC, picked up breakfast for the kids, taught my class even after we were locked out of our room for 15 minutes, ubered to Evanston, moderated a panel on wealth and entrepreneurship, and my wonderful mother was gracious enough to give me a ride to the dealer where I spent my Saturday waiting patiently on my car. It wasn’t exactly how I’d planned to spend my Saturday but it’s ok.
Faithfully I know these challenges come to distract us. I pray I made impact on the lives of some young people yesterday . The younger version of me would have been thrown off by this for a week, now I recognize that these things only happen when I’m getting close to another level or breakthrough. Well I’m thankful that i had the means and opportunity to serve yesterday and I’m looking forward to that next level.
#faith
#leadership
#pushforward
#pathwaystosuccess
#chicagoscholars
#leadershipdeveloper
#nextlevelliving
