All too often when we say we want our family to change, or our organization to change, what we really want is for other people to do the changing. We are like the captain in this story —
Through the pitch-black night the captain sees a light ahead on a collision course with his ship. He sends a signal, “Change your course 10 degrees east.”
The light signals back, “Change yours, 10 degrees west.”
Angry, the captain sends, “I’m a navy captain! Change your course, sir!
“I’m a seaman, second class,” comes the reply. “Change your course, sir.
Now the captain is furious. “I’m a battleship! I’m not changing course!”
There’s one last reply, “I’m a lighthouse, your call.”
Perhaps when we really want change, we need to be a bit more self-reflective.
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