I was flying across the country when Mount Rainier came into view. Rising above everything around it, unmistakable. You don’t have to know its name to recognize its presence. It commands the landscape simply by being fully what it is.
It reminded me of something I’ve learned about leaders who make an out-sized impact on the world.
The ones who truly change systems are not just skilled or ambitious. They are called.
They feel a deep sense of purpose that animates their work. Not everyone feels this, but those who do know it unmistakably. There is a challenge that matters so much to them that effort becomes fuel, not sacrifice. They bring intense discretionary energy because the work itself is rewarding.
That sense of being called is what gives rise to passion. Persistence follows naturally. When obstacles appear, they don’t drain energy. They sharpen it.
And then there is capability.
These leaders also stand in the right place. They lead organizations whose missions are aligned with the challenge. They are part of an ecosystem that can be mobilized. They are credible, trusted, and seen as legitimate conveners who can coordinate across boundaries.
Purpose without position struggles to scale.
Position without purpose struggles to inspire.
But when one is both called and capable, something rare becomes possible. The effort lifts others. Momentum gathers. What once felt impossible begins to feel inevitable.
As you step into this week, here’s a question worth sitting with, Where are you already called, and more capable than you may realize?
That intersection is powerful. And like a mountain seen from above the clouds, it may be clearer than you think.
