Last night reminded me that even leaders need someone to call.
Around the middle of the night, I woke up to a noise that jolted me out of my sleep.
I screamed.
Then I checked every camera.
Nothing.
No movement.
No alerts.
No evidence that anyone had been there.
But my nervous system hadn't gotten the message.
Every creak became a threat.
Every sound had a story.
After lying awake for hours, I finally got up, found a hammer, and kept it beside me. I even called a guy friend, hoping he could come over and make sure everything was okay. He couldn't.
As I lay there, one question kept running through my mind:
Who do you call when you're the one who usually has the answers?
It made me think about leadership.
People often assume leaders have everything under control.
They don't.
They simply have different problems.
Sometimes the hardest part of leadership isn't making the decision.
It's admitting that you're outside your area of expertise.
It's knowing when to ask for help.
It's recognizing that strength isn't self-sufficiency.
It's community.
Last night also made me realize something practical: I need a safety plan. I need to know who my people are, what resources are available, and what I would do if something really did happen.
That realization extends far beyond home security.
The strongest leaders I know don't just build skills.
They build systems.
They build relationships.
They build communities before the crisis ever comes.
Leadership Lesson: Peace isn't just the absence of danger. It's the presence of preparation, trusted relationships, and a community you can call when life catches you off guard.
Now I'm curious...
Who's in your "2:00 a.m. circle"? The people you could call without hesitation, not because they have all the answers, but because you know you don't have to face hard moments alone.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.