Chess Not Checkers

The Decision

If you miss the “opportunity of a lifetime,” do you ever get another one?

Blake wrote these words in his journal, put down his pen, and stared out the kitchen window. He had gotten up early; he couldn’t sleep, anyway. His mind was racing as he reflected on his life and career up until this point.

The last decade had been a whirlwind. After his father died, Blake had invested five years trying to live up to his dad’s expectations. Jeff had always believed his son could lead. Blake had never been sure, but he pushed through his doubts and dedicated himself to learning the skills of leadership.

Blake’s leadership journey had been frustrating. After learning to cast vision, build teams, get results, and more, he had been passed over ...