New perspective

Always Forward is the new motto around these parts. So I opened up at the text message again, stared at the photo and mindfully asked myself these questions:

Are you having fun?
So. Much. Fun.

Are you making the right choices to reach your goal?
Absolutely.

Can you see and feel positive changes?

Yes. I’m losing weight + becoming stronger.

Are you pushing yourself?
Most definitely.

Are you happy?
I am really happy.

The only thing that was left to change was my perspective of myself.

How to be a leader without having the title

What does micro-leadership look like? Here are a few examples:

• It's asking a reticent teammate for their opinion when they have been quiet the whole meeting.
• It's responding with kindness when someone greets you with anger or fear.
• It's accepting responsibility even when it wasn't your fault.
• It's sharing praise that was directed at you, with your teammates.
• It's being willing to say no when everyone else is saying yes, and being willing to say yes when everyone else is saying no.
• It's taking the time to thoughtfully share constructive feedback.
• It's asking the questions no one else will ask.
• It's arriving early to help set up, and staying late to help clean up.
• A world filled with acts of micro-leadership is one where it's possible for everyone to be a leader even without being the leader. It's one where rather than the exceptional few, leaders are the exceptional many.