This past week, I found myself surrounded by 14 years’ worth of boxes, memories, and "Why did we keep this?" moments. After living in the same house for over a decade, my family and I were moving... and truth be told, I dreaded it. I spent hours sorting through old belongings, loading things into storage, and debating with my wife (lovingly, of course) about what to keep and what to let go. I like to get rid of things. My wife likes to keep things. It was exhausting... but it was also enlightening. Because what started as a physical move became a meaningful lesson. We all accumulate things... physically, mentally, emotionally. Stuff that served us in one season but now just takes up space. And the truth is, if we don’t make room, we can’t move forward. This applies not just to life, but to leadership too. Here a few thoughts to consider: Take Inventory of What’s Taking Up Space Ask yourself:
Is this still serving me?
Does this mindset, relationship, responsibility, or habit energize me or drain me?
Am I holding onto something just because I always have? Sometimes the greatest breakthroughs come not from adding more… but from letting go. For Life and Leadership, Simplicity Is Power When life is cluttered, we feel stuck. When leadership is cluttered with too many goals, meetings, processes, or unresolved tension we lose clarity. And where there’s no clarity, there’s no momentum.
Whether you're leading a team, a family, or simply leading yourself, clarity creates energy. Declutter your space, your schedule, and your soul and you’ll lead (and live) with greater power.
Compromise with Grace Not everything that drains you will drain others. Some of the things I wanted to toss actually brought joy to my wife. In life and leadership, it’s not just about your preferences, it’s about considering the wants and needs of others. Great relationships often require compromise and common ground.
As you go through this week, I challenge you to do some internal and external spring cleaning. Let go of the unnecessary so you can make room for what matters most. Create space for growth. Choose what energizes you. And lead with clarity, starting with yourself.
Lead Positive,
– Jon
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