Sitting in a restaurant the other night I wondered if our food was ever going to come to the table after having waited an unreasonable amount for a server to take our order before remembering to bring water. As a business owner, I know there is an employment challenge right now, and as those in my party complained of the service, all while we sat there parched, we also discussed The Great Resignation. As a business owner and leader, I don’t want any customers to have this experience with me. Even though I have struggled to survive the past 19 months of pandemic life as a public speaker switching to virtual and back to in-person again, we are still serving the client and keeping The Promise the best we possibly can. As a customer waiting on his food, I can also sit and complain about leadership in the place I chose to frequent. Perhaps I won’t come back due to “slower service” even if the food is decent? However, from my perspective, I felt it more important that day, in that moment, instead of becoming The Critic to choose my perspective and reaction to the situation with my Promise to Lead: Compassion. Understanding. Empathy.