The Paradox of Impact: The Ripple Effect

Last week’s lesson came from Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler, one of those songs that feels like entertainment on the surface, but the lesson underneath is timeless. "If you’re gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right….Know when to walk away, and know when to run."

Now let’s shift to this week’s focus – impact.

“Ripple in still water, When there is no pebble tossed, Nor wind to blow….There is a road, no simple highway, Between the dawn and the dark of night. And if you go, no one may follow — That path is for your steps alone.”

We’ve all been there — those moments when something small ends up meaning so much more. Maybe it was a conversation you almost skipped, a risk you nearly talked yourself out of, a simple thank you, or a choice that felt ordinary at the time. And then later, you realize — that was the moment that set something bigger in motion.

That’s the paradox of impact: it often doesn’t announce itself. You may never know how far the ripple travels, or how many lives it touches. And yet, those ripples can quietly alter someone else’s course entirely.

At the same time, each of us walks a road that is uniquely ours. No matter how much advice or guidance we get, the most defining steps are ones no one else can take for us. That’s where curiosity, courage and boldness matter most — not waiting for certainty, not needing permission, not clinging to guarantees.

The Lesson:

Your journey is yours alone — but the ripples you create along the way can inspire, guide, and strengthen others on theirs. This is where leadership thrives.

The Invitation:

• Act with intention, even when the outcome is unseen.

• Be bold enough to walk your road, even when it feels uncertain.

• Trust that your ripple might be exactly what someone else needs.

The real measure of leadership isn’t just the path you walk — it’s the quiet ripple you leave behind.

(Next week: the melody continues.)