⏳The Words "Too Late" is the Death of Leadership

Don't fool yourself into believing a falsehood. Uncover the truth and live the truth!

September 20, 2019

“Changing your mind is one of the most difficult things we do. It is far easier to fool yourself into believing a falsehood than admit a mistake.” - Morgan Housel

The two most offensive words in the English language when put together are: "Too Late." Place those two words in front of anything we do, and the results are never good. Too late to recognize the problem, too late to react, to enhance, to support, to stop and too late as Housel says to admit a mistake. Being too late is the death of leadership. It's much like someone once said: "We're lost, but making great time." 

Why is it that we can find time in being experts and critics when it comes to other teams, organizations, families, and classrooms, yet the ones we are leading might be in disorder? Why does it take us so long to dismiss a toxic employee, or move in another direction? Why does the self-scouting of our organization never reflect on the words too late? Because we are not looking in the right areas. 

In the 1950's I Love Lucy was a hit show watched by millions who had a television. Lucy was a red hair domino, always getting in good trouble, and Ricky, her band leading husband, was the voice of reason. One episode Lucy is in her bedroom, and her wedding ring accidentally slips off her finger. She immediately drops on the floor and starts looking for it, but to no avail. The very next scene, Ricky comes through the front door to find Lucy on the floor in the living room. Naturally, Ricky causally asks:

What are you doing? Lucy replies, looking for my wedding ring—this goes back and forth until Lucy confesses to Ricky, she lost the ring in the bedroom. So why are you looking out here? Ricky asks. Lucy blurts out: Because the light is much better out here. The light is better out here. 

Classic right? The story is fiction. The reality is not.   

The reason we are often "too late" is because we spend most of our time looking in the wrong places. We are much like Lucy. We want the answers to come easy. We want the problems solved quickly, and most of all, we never want to admit we might be wrong, not know something or seem vulnerable. Like, Lucy, many of us fall into a fixed mindset trap of only wanting to spend time where the light shines the brightest, and the answers are the clearest. 

As you head into the weekend, delegate some time thinking and reflecting deeply about areas in your leadership, your professional development, and personal growth where you have become comfortable with this "too late" mindset. As you honestly step out of your comfort zone and examine these growth spots where the light is not the brightest, remember the theme of the great Morgan Housel, don't fool yourself into believing a falsehood. Uncover the truth and live the truth!

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