A Cherokee elder was teaching his children about life.
He said to them, “A terrible fight is going on inside me.
“It is a fight between two wolves. One is the wolf of joy, love, hope, kindness and compassion; the other is the wolf of fear, anger, cynicism, indifference and greed.
“The same fight is going on inside of you—and every other person, too.”
The children thought about it for a moment and then one child asked, “Which wolf will win?”
The elder replied, “Whichever one you feed.”
Think about your leadership. Which wolf are you feeding? Which wolf do you need to subside?
Leadership is a choice between
joy and fear
greed and kindness
love and indifference and control and compassion.
In the space between our choices— there’s a lifetime.
It’s the difference between the path you walk and the one you leave behind; it’s the gap between who you thought you could be and who you really are.
To say you have no choice is to relieve yourself of responsibility.
Leadership is being accountable and feeding your soul.
We make our choices, and our choices make us.
Lead From Within: Leadership is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution, wise choices and feeding our soul.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.
Panteli Tritchew
06. Jan, 2015
About 25 years ago, I was conducting a meeting which wasn’t my finest hour. After the meeting, my mentor pulled me aside and debriefed the entire debacle.
I can’t remember much of what he said, except for the following: “Panteli, you want to ride the horse, not let the horse ride you.”
Somehow, the insights in your post triggered that memory.
“In the space between our choices- there’s a life time.” << LOVE THAT!
LaRae Quy
06. Jan, 2015
I love this sentence, Lolly:
“In the space between our choices— there’s a lifetime.”
So true, and what a great message to start off this new year.
Wishing you all the best 🙂
Sunil Jogdeo
06. Jan, 2015
Good morning Lolly, sweet one. If people understand `science of choices` the world will be very beautiful. Unfortunately, people fall in trap of attractions around and start having wrong choices. Keep inspiring..
Chery Gegelman
07. Jan, 2015
Happy New Year Lolly!
I love that reminder.
May we all have the wisdom and courage to push past the fear, the greed the indifference to become who we could be!
Garren Fagaragan
07. Jan, 2015
Aloha Lolly…
What a great metaphor and as always… it is accompanied by a compelling and congruent image. Love it.
Like Panteli and La Rae…this sentence jolted me in the most wonderful way.
“In the space between our choices- there’s a lifetime.”
Thank you,
Garren
Jo Miller, GPC, CSMS
09. Jan, 2015
Lolly, this post fed my soul. I have been struggling to put this concept into an easily understandable post/story. As you always seem to do, your post came to my inbox just when I need it. And, like the others stated above, I paused, reread and fully embraced the sentence, “In the space between our choices- there’s a lifetime.” In leadership, and in life, we are constantly choosing what ‘feeds’ us. This is why I choose you and Leadfromwithin, you feed the world and my soul with joy, love, hope, kindness and compassion.
bikihamza
10. Jan, 2015
Thank you in advance lolly on this great effort for human happiness to want to say that wolves exist inside ourselves and because of the weakness of his speed, wolves resort to self-term way we should be driving on the same Her long that patience which generates wisdom Thank mandate wise
john_paul
20. Jan, 2015
“In the space between our choices— there’s a lifetime.” That is where i prefer to live in that space of peace, without fear. It is what feeds me! Thank you Lolly for such an insightful and point on expression of the truth. We do have a choice!
Trisha
23. Jan, 2015
Verry good post. I absolutely love this website.
Stick with it!
Dawood Chishti
08. Jun, 2015
“We make our choices, and our choices make us.” It’s a prophetic call for those who want to make a difference in their real life and a guide for those whose have the courage to stand for the truth even if nothing goes in their way.
Lolly, I love this post. It’s really inspiring.
Dawood Chishti
Muhammad Khalid
18. Mar, 2016
A motivating and inspiring post.
Haroon Rasheed
22. Feb, 2017
Every one has ability to lead but we have to struggle hard. Our heart feels happiness when we think for other means, this is a correct way for our life. Great post Lolly. I always like your post due to welfare idea for the other.