It was a team scavenger hunt. My wife, Jamie Leddin, EdD, and I, paired with another couple, were dominating. We weren’t just leading; we were miles ahead. The final clue led us to a room with a rack of keys. A sign above them read:
“Congratulations, you have found the final piece of the puzzle. Grab a key and unlock your prize.”
The rack held six or seven keys. Most were the size of a house key, but one was massively different.
In the center of the rack, a key ten times larger than the others stood out. It was impossible to miss. Above it, an arrow pointed directly at it, practically yelling, “Take this key!”
At first, we thought the answer was obvious. The big key had to be the right choice—it was centered, highlighted, and seemed to be the grand finale. But then, we started to overthink.
“It’s too obvious,” someone said.
“Maybe they’re trying to trick us,” another suggested.
The group debate escalated, and in the end, we convinced ourselves to pick one of the smaller keys.
We unlocked our prize…only to discover a goofy gag gift.
Meanwhile, the second-place team—the ones we had been crushing—grabbed the big key. It opened the jackpot: a collection of gift certificates and other valuable prizes. Even though they finished second, they walked away as the real winners.
The person running the hunt was dumbfounded. “Why didn’t you take the big key?” they asked.
The answer? We let doubt, fear, and hesitation disrupt our confidence at the worst possible moment.
How often do we encounter moments when the “big key” is right before us? It’s obvious, calling us to disrupt the status quo, take a bold step, and claim something meaningful. Yet, we hesitate:
– We don’t speak up because we worry about what others might think.
– We avoid taking action because we convince ourselves it’s too risky.
– We shy away from opportunities because we assume it’s too easy or too good to be true.
In these moments, we lose sight of the fact that opportunities aren’t always hidden, that they don’t require complex calculations or extraordinary effort, and that, often, the best chance to disrupt positively is the one staring us in the face, daring us to leap.
Life offers us opportunities to disrupt our routines, take bold steps, and create breakthroughs. The big key—your big key—is likely already in front of you. Will you grab it, or will you let second-guessing rob you of your moment to shine?
The next time a chance arises to disrupt for the better, lean in. The answer might be easier than you think.
Make it a great day!
Patrick
#disruption #inspiration #motivation #success
