I find it hard to believe that it is already 12 years since that fateful day on 9/11. I remember it as clearly as it was yesterday. I remember that it was a warm day and so one of my summer suits was getting its last wearing of the season. I was chatting with someone in my office when one of my team came to the door and said that a plane had hit one of the twin towers.
"What kind of plane? A small plane?"
"No, looks like a large plane."
I quickly turned to my computer and pulled up CNN to see the horror that is now imprinted on many in the world, and it was just about this time that the second plane hit.
My brain and I'm sure that of many others couldn't fathom what was taking place. The reporting talked about hijacking and the reality of this being a coordinated terrorist attack came quickly to the fore.
I received a call from my team in Herndon, Virginia just after a plane hit the Pentagon. The ask from the leader there was "We are under attack. Can we go home?" I said yes, and she hadn't needed to call for permission. The terror in her voice was evident.
We all watched as the South Tower collapsed. It was like watching something from a Hollywood movie. How could this be real? Then the report of Flight 93 crashing, shortly followed by the collapse of the North Tower.
Shock, paralysis, disbelief, fear. A flood of emotions coursed through me that in my lifetime I had never experienced and quite honestly hope that I do not live to experience again.
It became quickly apparent to me that on this day, no one was safe It didn't matter where you were or who you were, there was a possibility that anyone could die that day. We were given a front row seat to the mass murder of thousands of people as the Towers went down. We realized that any of us could have just come to work and then "poof," just like that, be snuffed out. During that those years, I flew to Dulles Airport often, and recognized that I easily could have been on one of those planes. An innocent, who for these terrorists I was not.
That was the terror inflicted. Any day, any time, just a normal day and any one of us could become "collateral" damage.
I was responsible for teams in Toronto, Troy (near Detroit) and of course my team in Herndon. The team in Herndon were on their way home, yet there was no safety anywhere. The Detroit area could be a target because the iconic symbols of the America -- GM, Chrysler, Ford -- were housed there. Planes enroute to airports in the US, were being diverted to Canada and particularly Toronto's International Airport. And let's not forget that Toronto being the hub of the Financial Industry in Canada, and Canada being a strong supporter of the US, could also be on these terrorists bucket-list.
As a leader I did the only thing that I felt was appropriate, which was as much as possible get my people out of harm's way. I called my leader in Troy and told him to round up his folk and tell them to go home. In Toronto, I personally told my team to leave and get home to their loved ones. This was not a day about getting your work done. This was a day to be safe and protect your loved ones.
I saw a lot of my colleagues going to meetings and acting like this was a normal day. I told them that I was sending all my teams home, and there was some eye-rolling from them and I was told by several that I was "overreacting." I guess they didn't realize yet, that on that day, the world had tilted on its axis.
I believe that as a leader your primary responsibility is to protect your team. They need to believe that first and foremost that you have their best interests at heart. You have been charged with keeping them safe and thankfully most of the time the conditions aren't as extreme as they were on 9/11.
I am not ashamed to say that I consider my teams my family. And for better or worse, I was the matriarch of that family. And I would protect them at all costs.
Once I was sure that everyone was on their way, I went home too. I wanted to see and hold my son in my arms and know that he was safe and that regardless of what was to come we would be together.
9/11 changed the perspective of many in this world about what's important, at least for a period of time.
I hope that everyone today takes time to reflect on what's important. Is it putting in that extra hour at work, and sacrificing time with those that matter just to be able to have those few extra dollars to spend on something that doesn't truly add anything to your life. We spend too much time focused on NEXT as opposed to NOW.
If you ask a child or other loved ones what they remember most about you, they will never say that you bought them a great shiny toy, or that you worked so hard that you could buy a bigger house, or about the fancy car. They will talk about the time and the memories that they have about you. Those shining moments of joy and laughter that you shared with them.
Use your time wisely. You never know when God will chose to blow out your candle. In honour of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and will never have a second chance, take today and reflect on all aspects of your life. If you are not fulfilled, either professionally or personally (or both) change it. And most importantly leave a legacy of love, hugs, joy and laughter. You will be happier and it is something you will never regret!
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