Fighting Monsters and the Trader Joe's Parking Lot: Self-Awareness in Leadership
I have an embarrassing story to share.
After a wonderful and relaxing morning at the botanical gardens, I made the mistake of going to Trader Joe's at noon on a Saturday.
As you may know if you've ever visited a Trader Joe's, their parking lots are often a hot mess.
The parking lot was packed.
Unfortunately, one driver decided to be “the guy in the parking lot.”
Similar to our previous guy in the parking lot, this driver waited in the front of the Trader Joe's parking lot for a “good” spot to open up, creating a backup all the way out of the parking lot, and into a busy road for about a quarter of a mile.
Meanwhile, traffic was backing up from the opposite direction, as well, since the entrance was completely blocked by this single driver.
After grabbing groceries and taking a few deep breaths, I escaped the Trader Joe's parking lot, only to find myself behind a massive white truck which was driving in the bike lane. I watched the truck, horrified, hoping that there were no bikers nearby.
Finally, this massive white truck decided to turn left . . . from the center lane.
My inner dialogue went something like this:
How are people such bad drivers?
What is wrong with people?
What the heck is going on today?
As I sat in my car feeling exasperated by the terrible drivers all around me, I didn't notice when the light changed.
I was so caught up in judging other people's driving that I became the very thing I was frustrated with—a distracted driver.
It was a humbling reminder that while we can't control others, we can always control ourselves.
To use language from Expansive Impact, I was looking out the window when I should have been looking in the mirror.
As Nietzche said:
“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”
The next time frustration creeps in, let’s try to pause, reflect, and shift our focus inward. After all, the real work begins with ourselves.
In leadership and in life, it’s easy to focus on what others are doing wrong. True leadership, however, starts with self-awareness and a commitment to personal growth. Let’s work together to cultivate your ability to lead from within, strengthen your self-reflection skills, and navigate challenges with clarity and grace. Together, we can empower you to create a lasting impact — one that inspires others to follow your example of thoughtful and authentic leadership.
This post was originally shared via Friday Favorites —a free weekly curation of resources, reflections, and inquiries on leadership and life. Join us here, and join the weekly conversation, if you’d like.
Self-Reflection in Leadership: True leadership begins with looking inward. By practicing self-awareness and focusing on what we can control, we create a foundation for thoughtful, authentic, and impactful leadership.
