I’ll Do Whatever You Say
Daily patterns fit like well-worn jeans.
Some turn into ruts.
I’ll Do Whatever You Say
Sunday afternoon, I looked my wife in the eye and said, “What could I do to live a more meaningful life this week? I’ll do whatever you say.”
She said, “I need some time to think about it.”
Monday morning, before I left to visit a client in Philadelphia, she said, “I’m ready to answer your question. Are you going to do whatever I say?”
I tried to sound casual, “Yes, I’ll do whatever you say.” It felt humbling. I confess that my pulse raised a little.
“I want you to make a list of everything you do that someone else could do.”
I expected her to add something to my life. Instead, she encouraged me to subtract.
Humility
Blind spots persist when ego is in charge.
Growth begins when you trust another person’s perspective.
Change begins with humility.
The Competency Trap
Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should.
Her encouragement isn’t about delegation. It’s about making room for high-value work.
Competence is dangerous when it blocks your most valuable work.
Reflection
- Are you trapped by competence?
- Which of your strengths hold you back?
- How can you create margin for meaning?
Patterns turn to ruts unless you challenge them.
Who do you trust enough to say, “I’ll do whatever you say?” Growth often begins there.
Note: “I’ll do whatever you say,” was limited to a week.
This post is adapted from an original: Patterns That Served You Well in the Past
Added resource: Help! I’m in a Rut and I Like It
Dan, What’s the rest of the story? Did you make the list? What did you learn? What changes have you made?
Curious.
Hi Paul, I’m glad to say that my life, since then, has distilled down to the essentials. The things I love doing. Taking care of family. Church. Writing. Teaching. Coaching. And a little taking care of our property.
I tell people I live a boring life. And I’m delighted to do so. I don’t even mow the grass. My wife loves the riding mower!
Thanks for asking.
Dan–nothing boring about taking care of your family. Church. Writing. Teaching. Coaching. Those are very exciting and engaging activities.
Thanks Paul. So true. I like to say boring because on most days I know what I’m going to do at least until noon.
Also, perhaps I say boring because it’s not flashy or glamorous.
It was fun thinking about what I mean when I saw boring.
I love this. On a backpacking trip with John Mackey, he said he asks himself the question “Am I the only one who can do this?”
Such n important question. We have to let others shine in order to ask it honestly.