The Two Wolves and Your "But Then"
PS on progressing when it's challenging
"I want to teach you something important about life," said the elderly man to his grandson.
"What is it?" asked the young man.
"There is a war going on inside you, inside all of us. It is a fight between two wolves. One wolf is evil - he is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other wolf is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”
The elderly man placed a hand on his shoulder.
“This same war is going on inside you, and also within the heart of every other man, woman and child," explained the elderly man.
The young man was silent in thought for a moment and then asked.
"Which wolf will win?"
The elderly man’s reply was simple.
"The one you feed.”
Good morning to you, on this Sunday.
On Sunday’s I tell a personal story in hopes it will inspire you to overcome challenges and get stuff done. Today is more encouragement than story.
Personal reflection, humility, and bravery all play into these personal stories as they always include the tension of my inadequacies and imperfections while dancing with faith and belief there is a way forward that is better than current state.
Today, I’m not reflecting on the past for this story as much as I’m in the present. With you.
Today. I’m looking through a personal lens on persevering and growing in character through challenge. As leaders what is in our heart, in our character all come out in what we say and do, how we lead, how we help and so much more.
The story of the two wolves is a way to see that dynamic clearly.
Today, my heart is heavy for hope and peace and this prayer for Israel – which resonated with me deeply on our humanity, the “two wolves” and how we move forward in the hardest of times.
In this space, my story can’t compare but to you I can simply say this…
Where ever you are, whatever you face, you must move forward.
A leader opens the heavy doors.
A leader goes first.
A leader leads.
Last week I admitted I was hindered by not reading books. But Then…
Before that, I admitted that my delays in acknowledging repeated slipping deadlines forced me and another co-worker to basically work 48 hours straight to deliver on a critical project. But Then…
Before that, I admitted I was clueless about how to do my job in a role where I was expected to execute a basic project with no support. But Then…
Before that, I admitted my poor account management, insufficient project planning and overly ambitious product development compromised me and my whole team to the point of several of us moving into the office of a client for about a month. But Then…
If I would have let all those stories stop right there – before the But Then… all I would have is a long list of failures. Those failures would be my story.
It’s the BUT THEN… that matters.
This is the moment where you activate your grit, when you double down, when you commit to move forward through the hard work, the big challenge, the obstacle before you.
The BUT THEN is your heavy door to push open. It is your moment to go first, to lead.
On those four personal stories from weeks prior, they were the product of leadership and belief in creating a future that did not yet exist. To bring that future I desired was not possible without my commitment and action. It was not possible without vision, intention and means all working together.
This is the GSD way that we keep talking about.
It’s the But Then…That led me to being a lifelong learner and reader.
It’s the But Then… That led me to accept the problem and solutioning a better way to tackle the problem and get agreement that just the two of us could in fact still get the job done if we made changes and didn’t give up.
It’s the But Then… That led me to assess the problem and find the opportunity to see an even better outcome that we could deliver above and beyond what was expected.
It’s the But Then… That led to the successful launch and the innovation of a feature in the platform that produced outsized financial results for the client.
BUT THEN…
When you are at a place like this, at the moment before your BUT THEN, this is where you recalibrate everything.
This is where you apply vision, intention, and means.
This is where you dial up focus and dial down distraction.
This is where you narrow on what is valued and what is valuable.
This is where you “don’t major in minor things” as Jim Rohn once said.
Maybe for you…
It’s the end of the year, you’re behind. But Then…
It’s the start of a new job, you’re not sure. But Then…
It’s time to do annual planning and the numbers look bad. But Then…
It’s a season of low revenue and layoffs. But Then…
It’s your team, they don’t seem to get it. But Then…
It’s your market, you’re not getting deals. But Then…
Please, fill in your own statement.
Please consider your own But Then…
We are all going through something. The two wolves are always in play. There is a part that only you can do. There are other parts that only an aligned and committed team can do. And sometimes when the friction is high and you are in a rut, you need another pair of eyes with different filters running to look and offer suggestions, clarity, or simply hope. These and many other possibilities exist at the edge of your But Then…
I’m here if you need it, just reach out.
I can’t wait to hear your But Then…
#GSD
I appreciate you,
Justin
The story of the two wolves origin is unknown, but typically attributed to the Cherokee or the Lenape people.