Note from Art: I read Mark Raymo’s inspirational e-Newsletter, Light4theWeek, every Monday morning and enjoy it so much that I asked him if I could share it with my blog readers. Mark agreed and what follows below is one of my favorite shorts in his great and motivational weekly anecdotes and stories.

I first read this “Power-Washed” piece after coming off of a weekend of doing just that at my lake house. The annual rite of bleaching and power-washing combats the natural forces of mildew and pollen stains and restores the deck and cedar siding to pristine condition.

One of the challenge that many leaders face in their seemingly endless string of days of teaching, leading, motivating, supporting, challenging and guiding their colleagues is how to refresh and recharge. It’s an important topic and one that is under-represented (in my opinion) in the leadership literature, including my own.

It’s difficult to be “on” all of the time, and for leaders, the stress fractures show through usually in the form of snapping or growling at someone. While never good form, the momentary break from behavior is indicative of the need to take a few deep breaths or to even look towards tomorrow as a chance to start over and get things right.

Sometimes what’s needed is a good Power-Washing for the leader’s attitude and soul.

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Power-Washed by Mark Raymo

“Each morning, at the start of the business day, I see the same sight.  Everyday.  One worker outside of a storefront with a power washer, spraying down the sidewalks with a powerful stream of water.  The motor is loud as it generates the water pressure needed to strip the sidewalk of all grime and mud from the day before.  With one powerful spray, all of the dirt is washed away, down the street into the drain.  With one powerful spray, the sidewalk is cleaned…like new.

It may sound silly, but that one routine scene always motivates me to start my day.  In a way, I feel like the sidewalk has a fresh start, a new chance…washed clean.  It reminds me of the newness and fresh start that I have before me…that I have a new day, a blank slate…a day that I can shape and mold in whatever way I wish.  Sure, there will undoubtedly be challenges and things that don’t go according to plan.  But each morning, the power washer comes out, and I get a fresh start to make it right.

This day, this week, was power-washed for you.  It’s a fresh start, to make whatever you want.  You can choose what you want to accomplish, who you want to spend time with, how you will react to each challenge.  And, don’t worry.  If today you get some grime and mud and dirt, the power washer will come out tomorrow.  And you’ll get a fresh start to make it right.  Each day, each week, we get a fresh start.  Make it count.

Keep shining.  And use your fresh start to be the light for your week.”

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About Mark Raymo and Light4theWeek

Note from Art: Mark was a student of mine and a survivor of the first class that I taught at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. I am eternally grateful for his patience with my initial and mercifully now much more polished approach to graduate school instruction. Mark’s bio and information about his e-newsletter follow below. I’ve politely nudged Mark to turn this into a blog and hope that he will sometime soon.

Mark Raymo launched Light4theWeek in March 2009 as a small project to encourage those in his social network. Noticing many struggling with business and personal transitions, Mark saw opportunity to provide an encouraging quote, story, or learning lesson. What started as a small list of recipients has exploded to include many from all walks of life, industries, and states across the country. The purpose, however, has always remained the same – to encourage others to live their best life. A weekly email designed to be received each Monday morning, Light4theWeek has inspired many to do just that.

Mark has exciting plans for Light4theWeek moving forward. Plans to launch a website and blog feed are in motion, and Mark aims to formerly publish some of the issues. To join the Light4theWeek network and receive the FREE weekly emails, please send your contact information to [email protected]. Also, please feel free to contact Mark simply to network or connect. Be the Light for your week…

Mark Raymo received an MDiv in Ethics and Non-Profit Leadership from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and a MBA from DePaul University. He resides in the Chicago, Illinois area.