Stay Grounded When Power Distorts Reality

A note to young leaders.

Power is a reality distortion field. The greater the power, the greater the distortion.

Power allows you to define your own reality. Your jokes become funnier, your mistakes smaller and fewer, your calls more prescient.

If you’re not careful, you can begin to inhabit a world entirely of your own creation – disconnected from what the people around you actually think and feel.

Ancient Romans understood this. That’s why they mandated that victorious generals returning to triumphant parades had someone standing next to them whispering: “Memento mori” (Remember, you are mortal).

So as you become more powerful, make sure you have at least one person in your team who can speak the unvarnished truth to you. And if they’re not calling bull$&#@ on something you’ve said at least once a month, you haven’t yet found your “slap in the face” friend.