The Puzzle Metaphor

 I had a puzzle sitting on our dining room table for weeks. I imagined we’d do it as a family, but life kept happening.

Yesterday, I finally started it—while chatting on the phone, without my glasses, struggling to see the pieces clearly. I “cheated” by doing the edges first. By bedtime, the border was done, and I was proud of the small progress.

This morning? Someone else had completed the entire bottom third.

My first reaction? “𝘏𝘦𝘺—𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦?”

But then it hit me.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

The puzzle was there the whole time.

Everyone had access.

But it wasn’t until someone took initiative—however imperfectly—that progress happened.

I set the edge.

Someone else built on it.

That’s how influence works.

You don’t have to have a title or a plan.

You just have to start.

Even blurry. Even busy. Even late.

Start anyway.

You never know who’s watching… or who’s waiting for the green light your courage gives them.