I am the master of my fate?
I have always found the last lines of William Henley's 'Invictus" powerful and moving:
"I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul"
Is that true?
Perhaps we are collaborators in our fate - it is a complex production of effort, relationships. beliefs and circumstance.
Our soul however, that's maybe a different matter. That is ours, to understand, shape and determine. It is our responsibility.
We cannot be called to account for our fate, but we can for our soul.
So, enough of the existential angst. How does that relate to what we are doing today?
Because whether it's our career, our business or our cause, purpose matters. A commitment to something we believe important, which is about more than our individual self.
It is what gives meaning to what we do. If we aspire to lead, then it is what those who choose to follow us look for. It is what creates the bonds that tie under pressure.
Management can shape our fate. Leadership requires our soul.
Fate and Soul. One we can influence, the …
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