Leadership in Haiti: Haitians on Small Steps

I’m sure, like me, many of you have been listening daily to interviews with the many tragic victims of Haiti. Just yesterday I was listening to a gentleman who had lost his leg, his home, his son, and his livelihood. How could things get any worse? His greatest fear as he hobbled along with his new crutches was that after years of having a successful living in construction – he would now have to depend on other people to survive.

How absolutely terrifying. In a land where tens of thousands are trying to survive as we speak – to be in a position where you have to depend on others. Yet, he could still laugh in this interview while he mentioned his philosophy of ‘one day at a time’ – get through this day, tomorrow will be another. A philosophy I’ve heard from many Haitians while sharing with the world their personal tragedy.

It never fails – one small step at a time – seems to be the global strategy for dealing with any kind of hardship – or personal challenge. Focus on the ‘here and now’ when looking ahead is just way too overwhelming. That way hopefully when you look forward again – all those small steps will have taken you to a peak.