Last week I asked, "If you could give me the top three challenges you have each day, what would they be?" Several responded with some really tough challenges and I will do my best to respond to them.

The first response wrote the top 3 challenges were:

1. Isolation

2. Depression and lack of satisfaction (possibly caused by #1)

3. Content with Status Quo or lack of desire for growth (Funny how all three correlate).

Personally, my heart goes out to those of you called to lead. It is tough and lonely at the top. I remember reading years ago that "leadership stalks where the buck stops". Or a favorite quote of mine from A.W. Tozer:

"Most of the world's great souls have been lonely."

Like many presidents before and after him, Abraham Lincoln struggled with loneliness and not believing he was making a difference. On the night he was assassinated, he carried a box in his pocket. Inside the box were five items: A handkerchief, which was embroidered with, "A. Lincoln", a country boy's pen knife, a spectacles case repaired with string, a purse containing a $5 confederate bill, and some old worn out newspaper clippings. The clippings were primarily about the great deeds of Abraham Lincoln with one stating that he was "one of the greatest men of all times."

If you're leading, being isolated at times, feeling depressed and unsatisfied are unfortunately part of the territory. By its very nature if you're leading and feeling isolated, depressed and unsatisfied, it's normal.

Now more specifically, because I don't know who sent these particular challenges, I will need clarification if more ideas are desired. Specifically, where does isolation, depression and feeling unsatisfied come from? It would be important to specifically identify where the feelings come from. 

1. Being tired or overwhelmed?

2. Being opposed? Not meeting expectations?

3. Being tested by the business, circumstances, personal life, or people?

4. All of the above?

Once you identify the patterns of thinking or actions you keep doing over and over again that invite you to feel the way you do, either change the pattern(s) of the problem and/or try new actions. Ask yourself, "What would be one noticeable change you could make to solve or change things that you can repeat successfully?"

Feeling isolated, depressed and feeling unsatisfied for a brief period of time is normal. What's not normal is for this to be more common and ongoing for a long period of time. If that's the case, let's visit by phone. Email me and let me know.

What is leadership? Enjoy this 4 minute video.

rb