Charlie’s Aunt
More than thirty years after moving away from Chatham, New
Jersey I had the opportunity to facilitate a Leader As Coach workshop for a
client organization in Summit, the town next door to Chatham. For dinner one
evening I chose to go into Chatham for dinner at Charley’s Aunt. This
restaurant was a favorite for my wife and I during the days of our young
married life. Nostalgia drew me back and off I went walking back in time to
have a solo dinner.
A woman, whose name I later discovered was Jill, sat me at a
table for two and I ordered off the menu that looked much like it did over 30
years ago. While casually watching the soccer game on the TV as I waited for my
dinner to arrive I noticed Jill starting to draw a flower on a board that
advertised the new web address for the restaurant. Before she finished drawing
the first leaf I said to myself that this woman was very good and judged that
she likely missed her calling. Instead of working at this restaurant she should
have become an artist. Her natural talent was very easy to see. Jill proceeded
to draw a beautiful picture that surrounded the words about the website.
Thoughts of my own artist son, Casey ran through me as I saw
Jill draw with passion and energy that flowed through her hands to the board.
It was natural and you could see the artist she was just came out of her with
total ease. I have always marveled at the ease Casey shows when he is
completely immersed in his art.
After I finished my dinner I rose to leave the restaurant
and as I got to the door I turned and went back in. I felt I wanted to tell
Jill how much I liked her art and how it brought thoughts of my son as well as
thoughts of the natural gifts we all have, including the gifts we have as
leaders. I think Jill thought I was a little weird having all these thoughts
from just watching her draw and I assured her that I regularly have a myriad of
mixed thoughts going through my head as normal course. And Jill shared with me
that she was an artist and gave me her card. She has spent many years working
at Charley’s Aunt and loves this place like a home. She still works there while
working as a professional artist.
Having been in the middle of a two-day leadership workshop I
thought of the leaders I had in the room and how often I see some leaders that
are naturals, like Jill and Casey are as artists. Other leaders have to work
really hard at it. I have played and coached team sports throughout most of my
life and I always marvel at the natural athletes that seem like they
effortlessly flow through a practice or game with such ease. And I also
remember that I had to work very hard at any of these sports because I was not
a natural. There were many times I wished for the natural talents many of my
teammates seemed to possess.
Artists, athletes and leaders alike all work tirelessly at
their skills and the naturals just seem to have that something extra. The
answer to the age-old question of “are leaders born or made?” is simply yes.
Some leaders will have that seemingly natural ability and others will have to
work harder to achieve leadership success. Whichever one you are, keep working
at it as this world needs more great leaders.
And remember, they won’t care about what you know until they
know that you care.
