{"id":15716,"date":"2024-11-17T07:48:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T13:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/?p=15716"},"modified":"2026-01-30T08:18:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T14:18:19","slug":"the-three-hardest-decisions-leading-you-to-uncommon-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/the-three-hardest-decisions-leading-you-to-uncommon-success\/","title":{"rendered":"The three hardest decisions leading you to uncommon success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A naval officer with uncommon success made the hardest decision late one night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another ship was approaching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The helmsman told the officer, “Sir, there are lights ahead.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The officer said, “Radio that ship and tell them to alter their course ten degrees north.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so he did. “Alter your course ten degrees north.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer came back. “Your order is respected but disregarded. You alter your course ten degrees south.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The officer was incensed, so he got on the radio and said, “I am an Admiral, and this is a battleship. You alter your course ten degrees north.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a long pause, and an answer came back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“With all due respect, Admiral, I disregard your order. You alter your course to ten degrees south, and you better hurry. I am a lighthouse. Any questions?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the Admiral followed suit. Quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe there is a Lighthouse beaming three instructions to all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can ignore them. But those who listen will find uncommon success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hardest
Hardest decisions on the path to uncommon success\/Mihaela Rosu\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Humility<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We are taught by culture that only one boss pilots the ship. You.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, in fact, you have no control over outside forces like . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n