Seize Pivotal Moments
Pivotal moments disrupt life. Running from them shrinks your future.
Pivotal moments are interventions that expand potential.
Marcus Aurelius said, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Pivotal Moments…
#1. Arrive Unexpectedly
The most important moments surprise you. They sneak up behind you.
#2. Involve Others
Circumstances impact your journey. But the thing that changes you most is people.
Someone will…
- See strengths in you that you don’t see.
- Call you to take on new responsibilities.
- Confront your attitudes or behaviors.
- Challenge your assumptions.
#3. Feel Awkward
Pivotal moments feel dangerous. Growth feels awkward.
#4. Require Reflection
Don’t close your eyes and press forward. Practice structured self-reflection. Ask:
- What does this situation ask of me?
- Who does this disruption call me to become?
- What does this person see that I don’t?
- What is making me feel awkward? Why?
#5. Call for Change
Growth requires you to release the known and grasp the untested.
Create Pivotal Moments
Ask a leader:
- What do you see in me that I’m missing?
- What do you suggest I start, stop, or continue?
- Where am I wasting effort?
- What danger signs do you see on my path?
Embrace disruption. Expand impact.
Who made you stronger by disrupting your life?
How can you create growth moments for others? (See #2 above.)
You have played a role in many pivotal moments for me. Thank you!
As you have for me. Thank you, John.
An incredible mentor that I look up to shared this phrase that I find myself repeating, “Never waste a crisis”. There is so much to be learned after a situation that does not go as planned, or cannot be controlled, that can be used for future application and learning. It’s helped to shift a mindset from complaining/venting about who did/did not do something in the crisis to “how do we improve our response, next time?”. The conversation shifts to solution-focused. Thanks for today’s (and every day’s) message!
We have to do a little bit of “last time” thinking. But, “Next Time” thinking is transformative.
Great thoughts, thank you. Recognizing pivotal moments in real time is such a valuable gift. Too often the momentum of an event or circumstance overcomes us, or as you say – they sneak up.
… I’m asking myself, how can I be better at recognizing these moments coming?
Good point, Ken. Frankly, I’ve squandered opportunities because I couldn’t see them.
Dan, you write: Someone will…
See strengths in you that you don’t see.
Call you to take on new responsibilities.
Confront your attitudes or behaviors.
Challenge your assumptions.
The proper response to any of these is humility. Humility acknowledges I don’t see everything and I have blind spots, even of my strengths. Humility doesn’t put itself forward, however reluctance might NOT be humility but fear. Humility listens when attitudes or behaviors are confronted and assumptions challenged. And I am learning to wait and reflect before responding. When I react, I almost always regret it. Thank you for allowing me to learn from you!
Thanks, Pete. This is golden, “reluctance might not be humility, but fear.” I appreciate you sharing.