Leadership Knows No Age
A day jumping cliffs in Winslow, Arizona, brings an unexpected surprise and moment of fatherly pride
Two days ago, I took my two oldest children to visit what has become one of our favorite spots. This spot is a best-kept-secret along Clear Creek, just south of Winslow, Arizona - the place made famous by Don Henley and The Eagles. It has gently flowing water that stays brisk all year long, even when those cliffs compel a scared jumper to take a leap due to the sheer intensity of heat emitted.
I found this spot in 2020 on a business trip in an otherwise dreadful year and went back twice that year while it was still hot to have additional cracks at those cliffs. I took the same two oldest children, Eden and Eli, that summer - when they were just 8 and 5 years old, respectively. I have jumped off several of the cliffs, with the highest being approximately 44’ above the surface.
Cliff jumping is a niche sport with a following of adrenaline junkies. I would not call myself a pro by any means, and I don’t consider it wise to jump from much higher than 45’. At some point, that water turns to concrete, and even though my weight is substantially stretched out, it’s still 245 pounds hitting that surface at a high rate of speed. For everything below that height, it’s a matter of form, and much harder to get hurt if you know what you’re doing and are a strong swimmer.
Both children enjoy the spot, and have jumped there and elsewhere, including Hawaii. My daughter, Eden, likes to jump from a low ledge that is perhaps 12-14’ above the surface of the water. Eli is a daredevil and likes to go higher, throwing his 58-pound frame off cliffs like a natural, and landing like a pro:
He’s been begging me to go to these cliffs for a month. I have pushed it off, partly because of the drive time required to get there, but also so we don’t get stuck with 80-ish degree weather and a hypothermic experience in the water. Our afternoon there was pushing 100 degrees, and the water was just right, filled with people “taking it easy” and leaping from the surrounding walls. Eli climbed, jump, climbed, and jumped again - all the way until it was time to go get ice cream in town.
I won’t be disclosing just how high that boy jumped from here. You never know who is going to take something and run with it to cause issues - but it’s a lot higher than most adults are willing to go. That kid has no fear. Once he conquered his highest point of the day, he came back down to where the mere mortals were sitting to enjoy the view. On one of those cliffs sat some children who appeared to be older than Eli, but younger than Eden. Maybe 10 or 11. Several of the boys were afraid to jump off this intermediate position. Taking a tool from my tool kit and something I had shown him, Eli went up to one of the boys standing over the edge contemplating his fate, and tossed some of the pebbles he had collected into the water and explained how the rocks break the surface tension of the water, and that he should jump as soon as they make contact.
Sure enough, one boy went, and after doing the same drill with the next, both fearful boys had made the jump. Later, when we had gone to town to eat, I asked Eli what he thought I was most proud of him for. Predictably, he said “for jumping off that huge cliff!”
I said, “I am proud of your jumping, but I am most proud of your leadership.” I explained to Eli that it is easy for someone fresh off a major accomplishment to look down upon those who are fearful to do something he may consider simple. We’ve all known more capable boys or girls when we were younger who made us feel terrible for not being able to measure up in a particular contest. In fact, I am reminded of my good friend Wes Burleson, who left this Earth almost three years ago. Wes was good at every sport there was - baseball, basketball, football, tennis - yet he was a friend to all, and never ordered his respect or regard for his classmates on their abilities to be good at sports or other personal competitions.
Leadership knows no age. I relayed his grandfather’s quote - “10% lead the way, and 90% are along for the ride.” Eli is a kinesthetic kid who is fearless in the face of obstacles. Sometimes it comes off as pridefulness, but on this day under the sun, he showed the traits of a young leader wanting to enhance the capabilities of those around him.
Leadership is getting people to do things that they don’t want to do.
Harry Truman
Great picture! And I hope you have the best Father’s Day 🥰
Savor these moments! They grow up way too fast. This will be over in a heartbeat. Make more moments like this!
Enjoy!