When Goodness Matters Most

Vivid Sorrow

The wildfires in California are a stark reminder of how quickly life can be upended. What haunts me the most today, is the image of the fresh green grass in front of the white picket fence left untouched. One of the readers of this Friday Chief Executive Insights email lost their family home in the LA fires. Absolutely obliterated in less than 20 minutes. Gone before one drop of water was available on scene. In the photo that was shared: The white fence and the green grass on the front yard are completely untouched. Only two fireplaces left standing.  No caption for the photo was required.

Since then, the Good Leadership coaching team knows nearly a dozen leaders who lost their homes in these fires as well. And several others whose homes are in active fire zones that may be gone by the time this blog posts.

In a coaching call yesterday, I asked a client if they know anyone who lives in true fire zones in the LA area. The reply: “yes, and I can’t talk about it right now. When I think about this later today, I’m going to break down.” 

Requesting Our Collective Goodness

These are moments when goodness matters most—when leaders are called to step forward with empathy, generosity, and a steadfast commitment to helping others. It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of such overwhelming loss. But goodness grows when people lift each other up.

Today, I write this with a heavy heart. As I sit in my office, I can hear the somber notes of the funeral service for President Jimmy Carter playing on the television. The words “A Day of Mourning” scroll across the screen. A choral requiem, accompanied by a bell choir and a marvelous soprano, fills the air and sends chills through my whole being. It feels fitting for the grief we hold—a collective sorrow not just for one leader, but for so many families whose worlds have been turned upside down.

You all know that executives can handle stressors in amazing ways. We’ve seen an endless stream of natural disasters through the news – seems like every month or so.  Some grab us with sharp images like the picket fence. Now, one week since the impact became vivid, I’m wondering how half a million people are answering the question: “Where do you live?”

What I take away from this is simple: even powerful, wealthy executives are people too. Moms, dads, daughters, sons, and neighbors to someone. Losing my home and entire neighborhood is beyond my comprehension. My heart aches for those families.

I beg your goodness and sympathy today for them – leaders whom you are only connected to through Good Leadership. They know the Seven Fs Wheel differently today. The “finances” score probably doesn’t mean as much. “Family” likely means more.

Being a leader means standing tall in times of crisis. It means offering kindness when it’s needed most. And it means remembering that leadership is ultimately about people. Today, let’s commit to lifting each other up and letting goodness grow.

If you know someone in the LA area, reach out. Their world is going to be broken for a long time to come. And we will likely have several more days of mourning.