February, 1980- The 1980 Winter Olympics. Lake Placid, NY. I was the Official Custodian for the Winter Games. Yes. You read that. Well… maybe I wasn’t. Here is what happened.
I had moved to Lake Placid, NY in September, 1979. Why would a Kansan move from the heart of the country to upper New York state? A great opportunity became available to be involved in church work – and to be part of history. Being a young 22 year old man, I would have been crazy to pass this up.
The Custodian. I found employment at the Olympic Ice Center where inside hockey and all ice skating took place. Just outside beside the building, all speed skating events took place at the speed skating oval. Talk about an experience. So, what was my job? To support myself, I needed employment. As stated above, I was hired at the Olympic Ice Center – by the by the Olympic Committee. My occupation: custodian. But…regardless of what my job was, I would still have been very excited to have it because my job allowed me complete access to ALL winter game venues. (The picture below is me in Lake Placid wearing my Olympic custodian uniform – a one piece which covered you from the neck down.)
It’s Official. Having put up with all of the commercials on TV about the sponsors of the the Winter Games, I decided that I was going to be the Official Custodian of the XIII Olympic Winter Games. So, I posted a sign on my door to declare to all of my title. Yet, not all took it very seriously. How disappointing.
So,why tell you any of this? There are many lessons I can draw from this short story that I provided to you. However, I am going to list just three.
1. Sometimes a leader needs to step into the unknown. I left my home, my home state, family and the only friends I knew to move to the unknown- in many ways. But, being a man of faith, I believed that doors would continue to open when I got there. And they did.
In the realm of leadership, you will make decisions that will take you into the unknown. You may not know all details or facts, but if you believe it is the right decision then you must learn to rest in that decision once it has been made. Easier said than done? It is in many decisions but not all.
2. A leader needs to rely on more than himself (herself) when making major decisions. “Major” decisions need to be made with input from others. Going outside of yourself shows you do not have all the answers. Nor should you. I talked with friends, family, and my pastor about the opportunity. I did not want to be impulsive and regret it later. I spent time praying for direction. That direction was made clear through wise counsel and feedback received: DO IT. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten Boom
3. A leaders’s decision can create more than any planned expectations. In other words, it creates impact. When I moved to Lake Placid, I had very little expectations – if any – because I was walking into the unknown. However, the decision to go there resulted in more than anyone could hope for. I had no idea what I would do for employment. Nor did I have any idea of what that job would bring. My decision created an incredible impact upon myself, on those who I worked with (the church outreach), and the friends I met. A leaders’s decision will always impact someone else regardless if it is a good decision or a bad decision.
Your thoughts? What do you think about my three points on leadership? Am I off the mark? Can you think of others? Have you experienced anything similar? Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts. I welcome a conversation.