Kairos

The Ancient Greeks have had such an incredible impact our modern American culture.  They introduced lasting ideals and influences such as democracy, The Olympics, dramatic structure, legendary mythology and string music (Although “Yanni, Live at the Acropolis” did set them back a few generations!).  But perhaps the greatest contribution comes in the form of language.  Word such as dogma, eureka, phobia and baklava (delicious!) stem from the Ancient Greeks.  But it the concept of time that truly allows the Ancient Greek language to shine.  The word chronos defined time as a sequential action, much the way we think about it today (hence, chronological).  But the word kairos has a much deeper and powerful interpretation of time.  Kairos is defined as “a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved.”  What a profound definition for the Resilient Worker!

In our work lives, we need to stay sharp and recognize the opportunities that are all around us.  Oftentimes, we do not have a lot of time to seize the moment (small window) and we must dictate the action (drive with force) if we are to be successful.  A client or customer may have an acute need which requires a swift solution.  Unless we act with urgency, that moment could pass and the window could close.   Kairos.  A startup company may be faced with a unique opportunity to exponentially expand their market share.  The leadership team must first recognize the opportunity and then act with urgency to capitalize on the moment.  Kairos.  As a new employee, you may view an old company problem with a fresh lens.  You have a small window to deliver an immediate impact and create a positive impression.  But you must take action on your thoughts in order to be successful.  Kairos.  As important as it is to recognize that you have a small window of time to execute on your vision, it is even more important to actually act upon it.  There are opportunities all around you.  But if you don’t step up in the moment, somebody else will.

These small windows and “passing instants” are even more prevalent in our personal lives.  It is not enough to recognize that a friend or family member is in trouble or going down a wrong path.  You must play an active role in guiding your loved one back on track before it is too late.  Kairos.  You may sense an attraction to someone you meet in a social situation.  But unless you engage that person and act, you may miss your window of opportunity (and someone else will step up!)  Kairos.  Conversely, you may recognize that your relationship is going through turbulent times.  But unless you proactively address the issues, it could wither on the vine.  Kairos.  There is a window of time for everything in your life.  Do not live with the regret of wishing you had acted more decisively.  It is not easy.  But you must seize the opportunity and take advantage of that window while it is still open.

But what happens if you don’t recognize the window until it is too late?  What happens if you want to act but simply don’t have the strength or the courage?  None of us are perfect.  We will all miss opportunities.  We will all have some level of regret.  We will all want to jump back in time and change some decision or action from the past.  But in order to stay resilient, we must recognize that there are additional windows that are still wide open for us.  We must move forward toward them.  And it is never too late to take action.  That is the beauty of kairos!  It is not a single moment.  We will always have an opportunity for redemption.  We will always have an opportunity to make amends.  We always have an opportunity to make our dreams come true!

Action is the foundational key to all success.–Pablo Picasso

With this knowledge comes a dirty little secret that we all must face.  There is no one forcing us to act.  There is no one demanding that we take advantage of our opportunities.  We could live our whole life without seizing the moment.  We could live our whole life without recognizing the incredible windows we have before us.  And it wouldn’t be a bad life.  In fact, it could be downright satisfactory.  But is that the kind of life you want to lead?  Do you want to be a bologna sandwich when you could be a filet mignon?  It’s time live up to the expectations you have set for yourself.  It’s time to strive for greatness!  It’s time to maximize your potential!  It’s time to act on your goals and dreams!  There are windows of windows of opportunity all around you.  The time is now to take action.  Kairos!

Until next week, keep smiling!