We like to believe systems change the world.

They don’t.

Ideas do.

Organizations, committees, titles, and structures don’t create momentum.
They respond to it.

And whoever controls the ideas controls the direction.

That’s why effective doesn’t automatically mean ethical.
And why something can “work” while still doing damage.

I’ve always been suspicious of authority that demands compliance without conscience.

Rigid rule-followers with no personal ethics have caused more harm than creative thinkers who occasionally break the rules for the right reasons.

The question isn’t:
“Does this work?”

It’s:
“What does this produce over time and at what cost?”

Questions worth engaging:

Which ideas are shaping your behavior right now?

Did you choose them or inherit them?

Are you following rules, or exercising judgment?

Leadership isn’t about enforcing systems.
It’s about stewarding ideas responsibly.