January 2022

Last month seems like a decade ago

In case you’ve missed the updates on Medium, I’ve got a roundup of essays worth your time from January.

As a reminder, these are available first via my Substack newsletter. If you’d prefer to subscribe there, feel free.

Accountability Redux

“A gentleman accepts the responsibility of his actions and bears the burden of their consequences, even when he did not himself instigate them but only acquiesced to them, didn’t say ‘No’ even though he knew he should.” — William Faulkner, 1962

We began the month with a look at why accountability matters and a lesson from William Faulkner a year on from January 6, 2021.

Leadership Lessons from the Four Freedoms

“Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights and keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1941

January 6 also marked the anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech in 1941.

The Choices We Make

“The measure of choosing well, is, whether a man likes and finds good in what he has chosen.” — Charles Lamb, 1833

Sometimes we face choices we’d rather not make. That’s why it’s important to understand what you stand for. Leadership means knowing yourself, your values, and the values of the institution you lead. So that when it’s time to make a decision, you don’t waver.

The Road Not Taken

We think Robert Frost’s classic poem is about the power of individuality and deciding to do something others avoid. But a closer reading of the poem made me realize, it really isn’t about that at all.

The Secret to Changing a Habit

“First we make our habits, then our habits make us.” — Charles C. Noble

Amid all of the advice you get every January — all of the resolutions and pledges — there is one thing that will ensure you change whatever habit is you wish to change.

I hope you found this roundup helpful. If any of these essays resonated with you, please consider sharing them with people in your orbit.

Thanks, and I’ll see you on the internet.