As leaders we can sometimes lead our organisations into the candy store for the “undisciplined pursuit of more”. We can become attracted to the bright lights of new ideas, the latest technology and the frequent tendency to expand our activities into areas that are really outside our core expertise, but which seemed like a good idea at the time. This overreach has hurt many companies and nonprofits as it either stretches their resources too far, or leads them too far from their core purpose.

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Have you ever wondered why some companies and organizations just seem to lose the plot? Run out of steam? Or drift off course? They just seem to lose sight of their original passion, purpose or vision.

“When you go to Assisi, you will find many people who talk a great deal about St. Francis, many monuments to him, and many businesses thriving by selling memorabilia of him. But you will not find anyone who carries in himself the fire that Francis carried. No doubt many fine folks are there, but they do not have the character of Francis, nor do they do the deeds of Francis, nor have his effects.”

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Ever since I saw the movie “Dead Poets Society”, the latin phrase “carpé diem” (‘seize the day’) has stayed in my subconscious. It is a call to make the most of our lives and to seize opportunities. Paul, the great Christian leader, also encouraged his followers in Ephesus (Ephesians 5:16) to “make the most of every moment”.

It sounds good, but how do we do this?

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