These are not my words but those of Michael J. Fox who wrote them in response to an Oprah Winfrey magazine request to some celebrities to write a letter to their younger selves…what lessons has life taught you?

What does this have to do with Leadership?

•We all face challenges as human beings and leadership roles are typically more public, more scrutinized and carry a higher volume of challenges that usually affect a larger number of people.

•It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the volume of challenges, whether it’s personal, professional or family-oriented.

•The expectation of multi-tasking in this day and age can get misconstrued to mean you should be able to deal with multiple life challenges all at the same time.

The poignant six word phrase from someone who has been dealing with a celebrity existence and Parkinson’s Disease strikes a chord.  It echoes what several mentors and coaches in my life tried to tell me as I wrestled with simultaneous inflection points in my career and family life and impacted personal well-being.  Not heeding this advice has lead to extended pain and suffering I’ve just been able to manage within the past year.

When work, family and life throw you a challenge

-Don’t put it off

-Don’t assume it will get better on its own

-Don’t allow ”it” to become “them“ so that the compounded challenge becomes so wickedly difficult that the process of unraveling consumes all of your resources…and leaves you tired with multiple hard issues separated…but still unresolved.

Have a blessed weekend!