As leaders, we are constantly making decisions, big ones, small ones, strategic ones, and sometimes hurried ones. But there’s a deeper decision beneath all of them, a quiet question that shapes the course of our lives and leadership: What do you want most, more than what you want now?
If I’m honest, what I want now is often pretty simple: to sleep a bit longer, eat whatever I want, or choose the path of least resistance. The “now” wants are easy. They’re convenient. They’re comfortable.
But the “most” wants? Those are different. Those require clarity, courage, and discipline.
A few weeks ago, I was training leaders in Malawi, Africa, and I asked this same question: “What do you want most, more than what you want now?”
Their answers stopped me. They didn’t talk about comfort, convenience, or personal preference. They said things like:
“I want my children to survive.”
“I want them to get an education.”
“I want to provide for my family.”
“I want good health for the people I love.”
What they wanted most were things many of us rarely stop to appreciate. Their answers were rooted in responsibility, legacy, and love. They were anchored in what truly matters. It made me pause, and it reminded me how easily leaders can drift into focusing on the urgent rather than the essential.
So let me ask you the same question:
“What do you want most, more than what you want now?”
Because the moment you answer that question, your direction becomes clearer. Your decisions become simpler. And your disciplines become purposeful rather than painful.
So, take a moment. Reflect. Get honest. Write your answer. Share it with someone. Let it guide your next choice, your next step, your next discipline.
Because when you choose what you want most, you become the kind of leader worth following.
