When I was 12 years old I wrote something on my Dream List that I am not sure other boys my age would have written. I wrote down that I wanted to marry the woman of my dreams. I was able to cross this dream off my list on November 5, 2011.

In between those 13 years, I made the mistake of turning my dream into a goal. This is something that probably should not be done with a dream like marrying the woman of your dreams. Goals have action steps and target dates. A young guy with a goal like that probably isn’t too desirable to young women. While I was in college I found myself working way too hard to find “the one.” I approached this goal like any other goal and it did not work out well. One day my mom in her infinite wisdom gave me some of the best advice I ever received (others gave similar advice but it clicked coming from my mom).

She told me I needed to LET GO of this goal and let God take over. Things would work out the way they were supposed to and I should not have to work this hard. I took what my mom said to heart and I truly believe this led me to marrying Ashley who was and is the woman of my dreams.

I share this story with you to make an important point about being a leader. Sometimes we have to LET GO. As leaders, we cannot force things to happen, even if that may be our style. There are some things in our lives that will just happen the way they are suppose to happen.

We may have to let go of ideas or goals from time to time. Maybe we have worked so hard on something for so long that we are unable to let go because we don’t want to quit. I am never a fan of quitting, but I also dislike banging my head against the wall over and over. The only result of that is that I will get bloody. Letting go is not the same as quitting. It is simply letting things play out. It is not trying to force whatever it is.

It is not just with ideas or goals or thinking where we may have to let go. There may be some relationships that we have let go of because too many things have changed. Maybe the relationship is no longer bringing out the best in you or the other person or both. Maybe there are more differences than there once way. Or perhaps you are moving in different directions. I have experienced this over the past couple years in my life.

The point I am trying to make is that there are times when the right thing to do is to let go. Leaders must make difficult decisions and there may be no more difficult decision to make than this one. This is why being a leader is such an awesome responsibility. Because it really does take courage.

What in your life right now must you let go of? Who in your life do you need to let go? Nothing must get in the way of our growth because it determines the growth of the people we lead. Reflect on what or who you must let go of and find the strength to move on. You absolutely can do it.

I let go of my goal to marry the woman of my dreams and before I knew it there I was saying “I Do.” Let Go and Let God take over. Get out of your own way. LEAD by LETTING GO.