Carpe diem

The comedian and actor, Robin Williams was really not known as a serious dramatic actor until after his performance as the teacher-philosopher-mentor in the 1989 movie, Dead Poets Society.  Williams' character, an English teacher named John Keating, inspired his pupils at an all-boys prep school by teaching poetry.  In one of the film's most recognizable quotes, Keating tells his students to "Carpe diem.  Seize the day, boys.  Make your lives extraordinary."  I love this quote for all its symbolism and meaning.  The quote actually comes from the ancient Roman poet, Horace, in Book 1 of his work, Odes, published in 23 BC.  The original text of the poem is in Latin, of course, but translated to English reads as follows:

Ask not ('tis forbidden knowledge), what our destined term of years,
Mine and yours; nor scan the tables of your Babylonish seers.
Better far to bear the future, my Leuconoe, like the past,
Whether Jove has many winters yet to give, or this our last;
This, that makes the Tyrrhene billows spend their strength against the shore.
Strain your wine and prove your wisdom; life is short; should hope be more?
In the moment of our talking, envious time has ebb'd away.
Seize the present; trust tomorrow e'en as little as you may.

In other words, don't focus so much on the future, but instead live for today.  There is a story involving the Chicago Cubs from a few years ago, before they won the World Series last year.  Remember that the Cubs had not won a World Series baseball championship for over 100 years (until the 2016 season, they had not won the World Series since 1908).  The Cubs were widely known as the "Loveable Losers" - failure, and losing, had grown to be a part of their culture.  The team had fallen into a cycle of failure - the more the team focused on trying to break the cycle and just get to play in the World Series (let alone win it), the worse they did.  During the 2011 season, Cubs blogger Carrie Muskrat reported that someone had written a quote on the message board in the clubhouse:

You can't see the rising sun if your eyes are fixed on the setting one.  Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. Conquer the now.

Again, "Seize the day" - forget the past, don't focus on the future, and live for the present.  The quote is a famous one, even though the author is not known.  Unfortunately, the quote didn't provide much in the way of inspiration, as the Cubs would go on to have another losing season.  At the end of the season, the Cubs would hire Theo Epstein, and just a few seasons later, they would win the World Series for the first time in 108 years.  However, the message is still an important one.  You can learn from the past, but you can't change the past.  So don't try to do so.  You can make sure that you are prepared for the future, but not at the expense of living for the present day.  Seize the day.

As I have mentioned a few times, I recently started reading a lot of Stoic philosophy.  As it turns out, the Stoics have a lot to say about "Carpe diem."  The Stoic philosopher, Seneca, wrote:

As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of all, and make it your own possession.  We must seize what flees.

Here we have something even deeper than just simply living for the present - make the most of the present.  Don't focus on the negatives - focus on the positives.  Be happy and content with what you have, and only then will you find peace and contentment.  Only then can you find success.  Seize the day.

The Stoic philosopher (and Roman emperor), Marcus Aurelius wrote:

You could leave right now.  Let that determine what you do and say and think.

In other words, make the most of today, because, you never know, you may not be alive tomorrow (Memento mori)!  Don't put off until tomorrow, the things that you should be doing today.  Seize the day.

As leaders, it is our job to learn from the past and prepare for the future - but not at the expense of making the most of the present!  Please don't misunderstand me, I do think that there are times when leaders have to take a longer term focus in order to prepare their teams or organizations for the future.  I would even argue that some leaders focus too much on the short-term goals at the expense of failing to achieve the long-term ones.  What I am saying here, and I think Mr. Keating (from the Dead Poets Society), the unknown Cubs player who wrote a quotation on the team's dry erase message board, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius would all agree is that we can't lose sight of the present.  A leader should do their best to achieve the most for their teams today.  Make the most of what you have and do what you do best to achieve your goals.  Do your best - give it your best, today and every day.

Learn from the past.  Prepare for the future.  But live for today.  Seize the day.  Carpe diem.