Lead off!

You can smell the dirt, hear the crunch of it under your cleat.  You slide to your right, inching, creeping along the path.  Waiting, watching, eyes darting back and forth.  And then in one smooth motion you find yourself diving head first, arm outstretched, grasping for the bag.  “Safe!”  yells the umpire.  Standing up, you dust yourself off.  Atop first base you breathe a sigh of relief.  His back is turned again, you step out, hopping, bouncing a bit this time, teasing him just to step off that mound.  But no, he winds up and you are off!  Digging in for all you’ve got you can see the second baseman’s eyes get wide as he is following the ball from home plate to his glove.  You drop your left knee and jump forward all at the same time, slide in under his tag and again, “Safe!”  yells the umpire. 

In order to meet our goals, sometimes we have to “take a lead”.  Taking a lead means stepping off what is safe and predictable and inching close to what we desire.  Always watching, always ready to retreat as needed and take off like the wind when it is time.  But, if you aren’t taking your lead you aren’t ready.   Be ready, have a plan, know your options and watch the outside influences so that you will know when it is not just time to take a lead, but to take a leap!