Leaderly Quotations: Which One Speaks to You?

The following three quotations may appear to be very different, but a common thread running through them deals with change.

The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them. (Albert Einstein)

The journey in between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place. (Barbara De Angelis)

A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world. (John Le Caré)

Einstein’s well-known quote is very apt in today’s turbulent environment, when governments and business are struggling to respond to a wide variety of forces, ranging from climate change to emerging economies (eg, India, China, Brazil and South Korera) to technology adoption. Yet the traditional response is one of looking in the rearview mirror for solutions.

De Angelis’ quote is beautifully composed and speaks to our inherent need for continuous personal growth, for that is where we obtain our energy.

And Le Caré’s quotation is one that resonates with me, as a longtime cubicle dweller. Indeed, it’s essential that we extract ourselves regularly from our cubby holes to connect with what is happening in the outside world, especially when our work deals with helping our organizations position themselves for new competitive realities.

However, these are my interpretations of these quotations. What do they say to you?