Defining Moments, Pivotal Decisions

One of the leaders who comes to mind when I (Cindy) think of defining moments from history is Winston Churchill, England’s Prime Minister who refused to back down from the Nazis during World War II.  He once said, “In every age there comes a time when a leader must come forward to meet the needs of the hour.  Therefore, there is no potential leader who does not have the opportunity to make a positive difference in society.  Tragically, there are times when a leader does not rise to the hour.”

Think of leaders throughout history who met the moment and positively changed the trajectory of their life and the people following them.   How about the leaders you admire most and the pivotal decisions they have made on their journey?  You know, those defining moments every leader faces in their life and career that informs the world who they are.  And I get it, some of these moments we'll know about and some we won’t.  But, it's critical to know ahead of time how we will show up in our own defining moments!

What determines whether a leader will meet these intersections in life with decisions that create an upward path rather than a downward trajectory? Or maybe just creating more opportunity rather than a missed opportunity. Since the choices we make in defining moments form us, I believe what is already inside us will be revealed and who we are at each defining moment will be on full display! 

In John Maxwell’s Leadership Gold, he reminds us that “defining moments put the spotlight on us…Our character isn’t made during these times - it is displayed!”

The Law of Process says, Leadership develops daily, not in a day.  Since our character is the foundation of who we are and the leadership we offer, we should each be doing the hard work of becoming better versions of ourselves everyday! Our character and values will be revealed as we continue to meet defining moments and make pivotal decisions that shape the future of our leadership and those counting on us.