“Perspective: The Hidden Currency of Leadership”

“Perspective: The Hidden Currency of Leadership”

At a recent celebration in a friend’s new home—complete with luxury cars, club memberships, and the comforts that come with years of success—I found myself reflecting on how easy it is to measure life by comparisons. As a professional artist of 50 years, I’ve been privileged to sit at both ends of the table: dining with billionaires one day and breaking bread with the homeless the next.

That same evening, while watching the Ryder Cup, I received a call from James, a long-time friend I once helped during his time in a shelter. His voice carried joy: a man he’d been praying for, a double amputee, had just landed a job. Suddenly, the glitter of luxury and the grit of resilience stood side by side—and my perspective shifted.

Three Lessons for Leaders & Planners

1. Comparison Drains Energy, Perspective Creates Impact
   Audiences don’t need another success checklist; they need stories that remind them that true leadership comes from seeing life through a lens of gratitude and resilience.

2. Contentment is Contagious
   James’s joy over his friend's employment was more inspiring than the finest champagne toast. Leaders who celebrate the “small wins” create cultures where people thrive.

3. Your Audience Craves Authentic Perspective
   When leaders and speakers share stories that bridge contrasting worlds—luxury and humility, triumph and trial—they give their audiences something far greater than information: they give them hope and meaning.

As planners, you’re not just filling a program slot—you’re curating moments that leave people changed. The right story, the right perspective, can remind attendees that success isn’t about comparing outcomes but embracing the unique ways each of us can make a difference.