Mugged!

Colleagues,

Almost every morning I drink coffee from the same mug. I have been using that mug since 1982, when I talked my college roommate, who made it, into giving it to me instead of his girlfriend. (Four years later they were split up, but he and I were still roommates! =;^})
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The mug’s handle broke off many years ago, but I glued it back together and haven’t had any problems. However, I know that someday the mug will break. It is inevitable. 

The funny thing is that in some ways, my understanding of the mug’s imminent demise helps me to appreciate it all the more.

What if the relationships we leaders had with people at work were the same way? What if we recognized the transient nature of many of our work relationships, and that understanding motivated us to see the other as being more valuable, such that we both appreciated them more and invested more into their growth?

And here is the kicker: after almost 40 years, that mug is still around! Mindful of the fact that it will some day break, I take much better care of it. Consequently, it has survived.
 
If I take special care of the people I lead, understanding that we won’t always be together, maybe more of them will stay for longer.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick