Leadership During the Holidays

It was Christmas Eve 1818, in a small village in the Austrian Empire. A young priest named Father Joseph Mohr faced a difficult situation. Scheduled to lead that evening's church service, he found the church’s organ inoperable, having been damaged in a recent flood. Facing the daunting challenge of leading a mass without music, he stepped back and asked himself how to make the best out of this disappointing situation.

​With or without an organ, he was determined to create a service that evening that would inspire and touch the hearts of all who attended. With some divine guidance, he was led to take what he had in his hands and seek partnership with a talented associate — and together they created something special.

You see, a few years prior, Father Mohr had written a poem, titled “Stille Nacht". He believed that if he could have someone create music that was performed only with a guitar, he could use the words in his poem to bring music to the Christmas Eve service. With the help of a local schoolmaster and organist named Franz Xaver Gruber, the melody for a song we now sing every year was created: Silent Night.

Oberndorf's Silent Night Chapel

That evening’s Christmas Eve service was unforgettable and everyone who participated was deeply moved. It's now been over two hundred years since this song was created and it is still moving all those who hear it.

What is it that you have created that is just one partnership away from moving others?

What dreams do you have that, if you would just take one step forward, would blossom into something with significant impact?

In these coming days, as you hear Silent Night (or another one of your holiday favorites), I hope that you’ll remember Father Mohr, that his story will inspire you to THINK BIG, and that you’ll step forward without fear to bring to fruition the dreams that are inside of you.

Enjoy the season, but never miss an opportunity to make an impact. The world awaits the full impact of who you are — and the talents that you have. Happy Holidays!

​~ Arthur