“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own.  You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president.  You realize that you control your own destiny.” – Albert Ellis

Everyone faces challenges and barriers in their lives, both personally and professionally.  Life isn’t easy, and it isn’t supposed to be, and that’s just something we need to deal with.

Leaders know this as well as anyone.  Between customers, employees, vendors, regulators, and who knows how many others, it sometimes feels like all we do is deal with barriers.  We get past one and another appears.

For all the barriers we deal with, there is one that most of us avoid.  Ourselves.  Our own beliefs, our own habits, our own fears – all of these things create a giant “me” barrier.  We often don’t even acknowledge that barrier exists, and if we do, it can seem insurmountable.

Our beliefs about ourselves and our organizations drive everything we do.  If we believe that we have the ability to positively impact something, we’ll do it.  If we believe that no matter what we do we can’t change something, we won’t.  It’s that simple.

Take time to focus on your beliefs.  Make time daily to think about what you believe about your people, your products, your customers, even your career.  Listen to the things you tell yourself.  Does it sound like you’re talking about things you intend to change?  Or does it sound like you’re talking about things you have no control over?

You are in a position to decide what happens in your organization and in your career.  The choices you make and the actions you take absolutely impact your outcomes.  You have the power to change the path you’re on. 

Make the most of that power.  As a leader, you’re facing more challenges than you can count.  Deal with yourself first, and then get to work on the rest.