The Pilot Car

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I was thinking about something the other day. As I drove through various parts of the country with 50 States, I was introduced to a new concept, “the pilot car.” Honestly, I had never really heard of it before, as silly as that may seem. Sure, I had seen a car lead an “oversize” truck down a busy highway but this was leading traffic in a different way. The pilot car I came to know led a line of traffic on a 2-way street, where construction had left only one open lane to drive.

More specifically, I think of when we were in Alaska and the road was shut down entirely for over 12 hours due to a growing and extremely serious forest fire. I stayed up all night, surviving on caffeine in an effort to be ready to drive as soon as the road was open; I had an event to get to and really didn’t want to miss it. The road didn’t open until around 3:30 or 4 o’clock in the morning and when it did, a pilot car led only a small line of traffic at a time.

Aside from just being exhausted, I remember it being very difficult to see. While it was very early in the morning, it was summer in Alaska which meant it didn’t really get all that dark. Instead, we were driving through thick clouds of smoke and dirt left from the fire. I drove with my shirt over my mouth as it was also very difficult to breathe. We drove slowly through that thick air and kept sight of the pilot car and it’s flashing orange lights until he pulled off to the side, showing that we were now out on our own.

This story is to prove a point; a point on leadership.

When I got back from 50 States last year, I started reading ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ by John C Maxwell. Whether we lead a big or small team or maybe dream of leading someday, we can all learn from this pilot car…

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. – John C Maxwell

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I truly believe in my heart that I have a story to share with the world and that I have a drive within me to lead others to share their own inspiring, motivating, and honest stories. I have lived and loved and lost, but I have also learned and grown and become a bigger and better person for it all. Leadership for me means being truly honest about my journey, about not holding back, and about inspiring those around me to be their best selves while living their best lives.

I look forward to the weeks ahead, as I am able to give more information about the work that is happening behind the scenes over here. For now, I ask you once again if you have been inspired by a woman in your life, please share her story with me here. All information shared is confidential until I am granted permissions to share it. It can even be your own story, seriously. I have already received a handful of stories that have left my heart so full, excited and inspired.

Do you know an inspiring woman?

Have you read a book recently that inspired you?