I was meeting my good friend and business partner Andy Martiniello at public work space to put the final touches on a workshop.
I could see his big beautiful shiny head from across the room. I made beeline for him. His back was to me and I thought to myself, hmmmm what a great opportunity to startle him 🤭
I simultaneously whipped off my backpack, sending it with a thud on the table, and shouted a “heyyyyyyyy” in his ear.
Boy was he startled!!
He jumped out of his seat and made some kind of noise that sounded like a sea creature. 😱
It was awesome! 😂
Until I realized that it wasn’t Andy! 😳🤦♂️
I unfortunately scared the bejesus out of an unsuspecting bald stranger.
I was sure it was Andy! The truth of the matter is, I saw what I wanted to see.
I wanted that guy to be Andy so bad that I ignored the reality/evidence of the situation:
- Andy wasn’t meant to arrive for another hour.
- I had just gotten off the phone with Andy 20mins earlier.
- Andy doesn’t normally sit at that table.
Funny isn’t. We can always convince ourselves that something is there when it’s not, in order to justify our narrative.
Ever notice our best leaders use reality to inform their narrative, vs using their narrative to create “reality”?
As leaders, are you seeing what needs to be seen or what you what to see?