Sometimes the countless things outside of our control lead us forget the many things that are within our control.

As a colleague once advised, “Keep your house clean.”

What he meant was: just because other departments are chaotic or disorganized doesn’t mean you have to operate that way. Recognize the areas where you can create beauty and order, and make it so.

Whether a tiny footprint or a vast empire, where you have influence, create the world in which you seek to live.