A writer friend once shared this quote from the Mary Oliver poem “Sometimes:"

Instructions for living a life:
to pay attention,
be astonished,
and tell about it.

These days, many of us find step 1—paying attention—overwhelming. When the world feels at odds with your values, it’s tempting to skip straight to steps 2 and 3. But for marketers and leaders, not paying attention isn't an option. We must intentionally focus on what matters most, especially when the noise around us threatens to distract us from our core purpose.

Those of us responsible for brand identity, brand stewardship and team leadership must be intentional about what we pay attention to. What we focus on speaks to our priorities. Leadership isn’t just about what we see—it’s about how we act on it and who we inspire to join us.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.