The Compass Came First


06.17.2026

IGNITE

Where Dr. Tom Webb sparks your curiosity and inspires action!

Friends,

I learned something this week that created a connection for me.

The compass was invented nearly 1,500 years before the first mechanical clock.

Think about that.

For over a thousand years, people could answer the question, "Which way should we go?" long before they could answer, "How long will it take?"

There's a lesson in that.

Too often, we become obsessed with the clock.

How long until I reach my goal?

How long until things get easier?

How long until I see results?

But the clock tells you how long.

The compass tells you where.

And where you're headed is far more important than how quickly you arrive.

Winning the day isn't about reaching the destination today. It's about checking your compass and making sure today's actions are pointed toward the person, leader, parent, spouse, or organization you want to become.

One workout.

One conversation.

One system.

One step.

Keep moving in the right direction and trust that time will do its job.

Because if your compass is right, your clock will eventually catch up.

Onward >>>,

Tom

P.S. August and September keynote dates are filling quickly as schools kick off a new year. If you'd like to ignite the BOOM within your school, district, or organization, hit reply and let's start the conversation.

Tom

#TeamBOOM

If this weekly spark fuels you, share it with someone who needs it. Forward this email or send them here to join us on Team BOOM: 👉 Send me IGNITE.


Meet me at www.boomleader.com!

PO Box 534, Carterville, IL 62918
Unsubscribe · Preferences

IGNITE Newsletter

IGNITE is your free weekly spark for practical leadership. Every Wednesday, get one clear insight to solve problems, simplify systems, and take action that gets results—at work, at home, and in life.

Read more from IGNITE Newsletter
Starting Line

09.09.2026 IGNITE Where Dr. Tom Webb sparks your curiosity and inspires action! Reader, This past weekend, my son Mason ran in the Twilight XC Classic in Memphis, Tennessee. What a cool event. Junior high, high school, and college races. All at night. Lights, music, energy, and hundreds of runners packed together waiting for the gun. Mason’s race had 434 boys on the starting line. Watch the clip and FEEL the start ----- And they were off. I stood there thinking, I cannot imagine standing on a...

Important Logo

09.02.2026 IGNITE Where Dr. Tom Webb sparks your curiosity and inspires action! Reader, The first four weeks of school have been a lot. We started August 5. Crazy, right? We’re short-staffed, covering multiple areas, solving the normal beginning-of-school problems, and then my daughter slid into second base and broke her leg. There have been moments when my brain has simply said: I cannot take on one more thing. When I get there, I have to bring myself back to the present. I may not be able...

winning work team

08.19.2026 IGNITE Where Dr. Tom Webb sparks your curiosity and inspires action! Reader, Here’s a phrase I’ve been thinking about lately: Own what you notice. It may be one of the simplest definitions of leadership I know. As humans, we are incredibly good at noticing things. We notice the broken process. The meeting that wastes everyone’s time. The student who keeps slipping through the cracks. The customer experience that could be better. The recurring task nobody has figured out. The little...