Have you ever asked yourself “why am I here?” I have! During a Caribbean vacation, I found myself walking around an iguana farm. Yes, an iguana farm!

Photo by James Moore

I know you are asking yourself “why was I at an iguana farm?” Before I answer that question, let me tell how it all started…

When we arrived at Roatan it was a typical Caribbean day. The sun was bright against the ice blue sky, and I could see small tropical fish swimming through the crystal-clear water. As we walked towards the port of Mahogany Bay, we stopped to gaze at the luscious plants.

Roatan is a beautiful island located 40 miles off the coast of Honduras. It is the largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands. Located on the second largest barrier reef in the world, Roatan is a favorite location for scuba divers. Eco-tourism is also very popular on Roatan.

This was my first time in Honduras, and I was excited to visit Roatan.

When we boarded our tour bus, I was excited to learn the history of island. As we explored the local attractions, our guide shared the history of the island.

When we arrived at our first stop, an iguana farm, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Our guide explained the iguana farm was established to create a safe environment for iguana’s.

As we walked around the farm, it was fascinating to watch the iguana. They seemed to be oblivious to our presence. My husband and I stopped to listen to one of the caregivers share information about the iguanas. We learned the goal of the conservation farm is to minimize the impact of predators, habitat destruction and hunting of the species.

As the caregiver spoke, I asked myself “why am I here?” You see, I am not an animal person and I really don’t care for reptiles. After walking around for 30 minutes, we boarded the bus headed to our next stop. Over the next four hours we explored several other local attractions.

As our cruise ship left the port, I wondered what leadership lesson did I learned during my visit of Roatan? The environment of the iguana farm kept coming to the forefront of my reflections. The farm provided a nurturing environment for the iguanas to not only grow, but to thrive.

[shareable cite=”Dr. Kim Moore”]If we want to reach our full potential, then we must invest in ourselves.”[/shareable]

Our growth as leaders is not automatic. According to John C. Maxwell, “Growth is the great separator between those who succeed and those who do not. When I see a person beginning to separate themselves from the pack, it’s almost always due to personal growth.”

[callout]To achieve our dreams, we must make a choice to grow.[/callout]

Our environment has an impact on our ability to grow. In his book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John Maxwell provides an environmental road map to help us reach our potential.

The Law of Environment states, “Growth thrives in conducive surroundings” (Maxwell).

Is your environment conducive to growth?

Your friend,
Kim

Dr. Kim Moore, your guide to leading with confidence!

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Dr. Kim Moore

About the author

I'm Kim, your Educational Leadership Guide. I equip educational leaders with research-based and experientially learned educational leadership principles and best practices to promote student success.


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