I heard a story on NPR the other day about how the title “president” was chosen for the leader of the United States.
It seems that the House of Representatives was concerned to keep the holder of this position from getting too impressed with himself. (I say “himself” since at that time, of course, there was no inkling that we might ever have women in office.) They apparently debated for weeks with the Senate about an appropriately insignificant title – one that would keep the officeholder properly humble and in his place.
At that time, “president” was simply a term for, as the NPR story relates, “somebody who presides over a meeting…[or] the foreman of the jury…”
While there were those in the Senate who objected, wondering how anyone with the “silly little title” of President of the United States could be taken seriously by the heads of other nations, it was – obviously – the final choice.
President of the United States. A “silly little title.”
There are now 147 countries whose leaders are called “president.”
The President of the United States is arguably the most powerful person in the world.
The view from our “now” is considerably different from the view from their “now” in 1776.
What does this have to do with you and your business?
Your view of your business is now. It’s not what your business will be in six months, a year, ten years. You don’t know what it will be in six months, a year, or ten years.
The view from now is all we’re allowed to have.
Don’t let it limit your vision of what you might achieve.