March 2026 | Beyond Working Hard | Leadership, Action Plans, and the Shoulders We Offer

March 2026

www.SOGiants.com

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Sir Isaac Newton 1643-1727

People in leadership roles spend a lot of time thinking about vision, mission statements, long range planning and short-range planning. All are, of course, good things and worthy of our efforts. While I do not claim to be an expert in the areas mentioned above, I do make observations.

One time, while I was conducting a “year-end session” for several business owners and managers, we talked a lot about the topics listed above. The conversation kind of leaned into a subject that would move everyone forward concerning short term goals. I thought the meeting went well as we broke for lunch. A particular general manager came up to me during the break and thanked me for the information. I asked him what his vision was for the immediate future while still considering longer range goals. He said he had worked on this for a long time and that he decided that his company would increase sales by 20%. I was surprised as it was a very aggressive goal, but I had no reason to question his goal. His answer to my next question was very interesting. I asked him what kind of “action plan” he had if he was to attain such an aggressive growth. His said, “We are going to work real hard and make it happen.” That was where he lost me. I continued the conversation inquiring about any specific plan, training, marketing and so on. He quickly answered, raising his voice a bit, “We are going to work very hard and make it happen.” I was quite young in those days and asked one last question: (unfortunately) “What is your action plan to get from where you are to where you’re going? Where is your “road map”? Well, that was it! He told me I didn’t understand, they were going to work extra hard, and that was their plan, as he walked off very frustrated with me.

 I think back now, and I see two problems here. One was him; he did not have a plan. The other problem was me as I did not sit down with him and show him what planning incurred and help him to build a marketing and training program that would perhaps help him to be successful in reaching his goal. I always felt bad about that situation. He lasted about two more years and then left the business. I don’t think he was ever happy in his position and certainly did not like the circumstance in which he found himself at that time.

I have often wondered how he could have changed his circumstances and brought a more realistic effort to his job. I have also learned that if we find ourselves in unhappy circumstances, often the first step in finding resolution is to “change ourselves.” Not an easy task, but still doable. This is where we need leadership, someone on whose shoulders we can stand. In this circumstance I failed to invite him to “stand on my shoulders.”

As leaders it is ultimately our choice, and it often involves setting goals and vision statements.  We need to aggressively seek out those who need shoulders to stand on. If you are the agent of change in your group or company, listen, learn, think and lead. Seek out those that can benefit from standing on your shoulders. Take a few moments now to look around you!

Rosalyn Carter once said, “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”  I wish I had known that years ago, but now I do. Years and wisdom!

"The man so bravely played the man, he made the fiend fly away.” It’s a line that Theodore Roosevelt knew perfectly and lived by. “Acting as if I was not afraid, I generally ceased to be afraid,” he writes of facing grizzly bears, and bucking horses, and armies in battle.

| From Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyon |

Michael M. Carney mr.mikecarney@gmail.com

A special thank you to my support team!

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