I've been listening to Andy Frisella's MFCEO podcast after hearing him being interviewed on Ed Mylett's podcast several months ago. Yesterday, I got to Episode 30 during which his guest, Sean Whalen, recounted an interaction with a close friend of his.

The friend told a parable about a lighthouse and a tugboat and today I share that parable with you....

"LIGHTHOUSE & TUGBOAT

They both do the same thing, they help and many times save ships.

But they go about that work VERY differently.

A TUG BOAT pushes and pulls ships. It attaches to them and pulls them, bangs against them, pushes them, and often times bangs itself up, dents itself and runs itself ragged in effort to “save” or “move” a ship.

The TUG BOAT gets worn down. Banged up and needs to be replaced many times after the wear and tear it endures.

A LIGHTHOUSE has one job.

SHINE.

It doesn’t move. It doesn’t stop shining. No matter how dark the night or deadly the storm, the LIGHTHOUSE stands in one spot and shines its light. If the ships see the light and find safety so be it. If the ships ignore the light, crash and sink, so be it.

But the LIGHTHOUSE never moves.

It doesn’t stop shining and run after one boat just to save it. It doesn’t come off it’s foundation chasing this boat or that boat. A LIGHTHOUSE doesn’t shine brighter for one ship than another, and it doesn’t much care who does or doesn’t heed its light.

A LIGHTHOUSE stands firm and SHINES.

Storm after storm, it’s there SHINING. Entire towns get decimated after storms, yet the LIGHTHOUSE always ends up standing and shining. Day after day. Storm after storm.

When I finally understood this parable it became my life’s mission, to be as the LIGHTHOUSE.

Standing firm and shining.

Never chasing. Never pushing or pulling or dealing with running myself ragged in effort to “save” people.

A peaceful night or a deadly storm, I simply intend to SHINE.

This story shared by my dear friend Jesse changed my life. I put a tattoo on my arm so I’d see it every day and remind myself that I have one job and one objective every day.

Stand fast in my own truth and firmly planted on my own foundation, and SHINE.

Every day I work to make the foundation stronger and the light brighter.

Every day I wake up knowing it’s not my job to chase him or her, save this person or that person. No matter the storm, I have one job and one responsibility.

STAND FIRM.

SHINE.