IS YOUR QUEUE LOCKED UP?

As a leader, do you ever feel like you just have too much to do?

A couple months ago I ran into an old shipmate (now Coast Guard Rear Admiral Wayne Arguin Jr), and we talked briefly about the massive changes happening in the Coast Guard and the challenges that come with them.

Our conversation reminded me of what happens in my own head when I face massive change. It feels like the “spinning pinwheel of death” on your computer; the screen freezes, nothing moves, and you’re stuck waiting.

When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to freeze. We’ve all been there. Mountains of tasks, responsibilities, and decisions pile up, and it’s hard to know where to start.

But here’s the truth: the worst thing you can do is nothing.

The best way forward is to decide.

Pick a place to start, take action, and begin moving. Once you move, the world responds, you get feedback. Maybe it was the right decision, maybe it wasn’t, but either way, you now have momentum.

Life, leadership, and business aren’t about making the perfect decision. They’re about making the next decision and having the courage to adjust as reality unfolds.