Reflections from 4 Weeks Away: Part 2
David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer

In my last post I mentioned that I would share more realizations that came out of my four weeks away, so here is part two of what I took away from my sabbatical. Over the past few weeks, I’ve discovered something both humbling and challenging — maintaining the changes I wanted to make isn’t as easy as I thought. Life has a way of creeping back in and the frantic pace I was so determined to leave behind is quietly finding its way back onto my calendar.

When I shared this with my coach the other day, I already knew what his response would be: “So Dave, what are you going to do about it?” In that moment I made a commitment that over the next two weeks I will focus on maintaining the changes I wanted to make.

Slow Down to Move Faster

I need to keep reminding myself that slowing down actually helps me move forward quicker and more effectively. It may sound counterintuitive but when we rush from task to task or meeting to meeting, things slip through the cracks. Our brains never get the space to process what we experienced and by the end of the day, we may have notes, but we lack real clarity. As a result, we’re drained, frustrated, and wondering if we accomplished anything meaningful.

This very post is an example of things slipping through the cracks. It should’ve been written and published last week but I simply forgot; it got lost in the blur of everything else. Pre-sabbatical commitments stacked up, and I hadn’t given myself the margin to process to be able to sit down and write out my thoughts.

The Power of Silence and Reflection

Silence gives us the gift of clarity. In quiet moments, we can think, plan, and evaluate with intention. We can gauge whether our decisions are grounded or if we’re just reacting to emotion. Leaders especially need this kind of space; a time to reflect deeply before moving forward.

This brings me to another realization I had during my time away: thinking cannot be rushed. John Maxwell often says you need to “take your thoughts for a walk.” Just as marinating adds depth of flavor to food, allowing your ideas to sit and simmer brings depth to your thinking. If you rush, your thoughts stay half-baked, but if you give them time, what emerges is something richer, more meaningful—a truly thoughtful thought.

A New Role, A Deeper Level

During my time away, I also gained clarity on my role here at MACNY. While I’ll continue teaching the courses I’ve always taught, I’ll be teaching them at a deeper level. After more than 13 years on this leadership growth journey, I’ve moved beyond just knowing the laws of leadership and am now living them. Not always perfectly, some lessons I’ve lived out well, others I’ve stumbled through. Here’s the truth: I’ve learned more from my failures than I ever have from my successes. I’ve also reached a point in my life where I’m less concerned about whether or not people agree with me. I’ve experienced firsthand the power of servant leadership and the joy of intentional growth. Those who take my classes will get a front row seat into my personal journey.

How You Can Help

Here’s where I need your help: hold me accountable. If you take a class with me or see me at an upcoming MACNY event, ask me how I’m doing with my times of silence and reflection. Nudge me if you see me slipping back into the noise. Together, we can take our leadership mindset and raise it to an even higher level.

Until next time—make space for quiet and take your thoughts for a walk.