Last fall, I decided that I would sign up for a two-day bicycle ride that would cover 240 kilometers. The ride would take place on the one-year anniversary of my cancer operation. This, by itself, wouldn’t appear all that significant, except for the fact that I am not a hardcore bicycle rider and therefore I would have to take some very disciplined measures to get myself ready for the long two day ride.
As I began to strategize and map out my training regimen, I was focused on endurance and establishing a routine of physical activity that would become my lifestyle long after the two day ride was done.
As I began my training, bicycling, jogging, and walking, I had an epiphany: my success in the long term would be correlate to relationships. In simple terms, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to achieve or sustain this goal alone; that I would need to partner with other similarly minded people.
So I decided to invite people to join me on my journey. I enrolled them by telling the story behind my choice to take on this challenge. I enrolled them by explaining my quest. And I asked them to join me, by sharing their own personal quest. I asked, what unreasonable stretch goal did they desire? What haunting need did they want to achieve?
Not everyone wanted to join my new community of questers, but those who did, did so with full individual commitment. We agreed that we would share and support each other regardless of our divergent quests: no judgment, just purpose.
We became Leaders on a QUEST, together.
My original goal went from being “all about me” to being “all about us”. It wasn’t about being a hero, because what leaders can accomplish together, goes way beyond what a hero can accomplish; I realized that before real significant change can happen, leadership needs to become “tribal”.
If you’d like to support my quest in helping others conquer cancer, please visit my Ride to Conquer Cancer page. Your contribution is also in support of a tribal community of leaders, “QUESTERS” who are up to something significant and are creating a bond of stewardship and passion. All in pursuit of a deeper purpose.
Photo Credit
Image from The Microsoft Office Clipart Collection
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