By Alex Bolotovsky, CEO of J Leaders
Parsha in a Nutshell
Joseph is pulled from a dungeon to stand before the most powerful man on earth. Pharaoh has a problem: a recurring nightmare he can’t explain. Joseph provides the “consultancy.” He interprets the dreams as seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
But Joseph doesn’t stop at the “why.”
Before Pharaoh can even process the news, Joseph pivots to the “how.” He outlines a national infrastructure project: grain storage, taxation systems, and regional management. He doesn’t just tell Pharaoh what will happen; he tells Pharaoh how to survive it. In that moment, Joseph moves from Prisoner to Prime Minister, not because of a title, but because he took ownership of the outcome.
Diving Deeper
Joseph’s rise highlights a fundamental truth: Leadership often precedes the title.
- Joseph was asked for an interpretation (the answer), but he provided a strategy (the ownership). High-impact leaders always provide the “plus-one” (the next logical step that moves the needle.)
- Miketz teaches us that you don’t need a seat at the table to start leading. You lead by identifying a gap and filling it so effectively that the people in power realize they can’t succeed without you.
- The world is full of critics and observers. It is starving for architects. Real leadership begins the moment you stop saying “Someone should really do something about this” and start saying “Here is how we are going to fix this.”
Weekly Leadership Challenge
- Audit the “Observation”: Identify a recurring problem in your work or life that people (including you) love to complain about but haven’t solved.
- Draft the “Plus-One”: Instead of just flagging the issue this week, draft a three-step plan to address it.
- Cross the Line: Present that plan to a stakeholder. Don’t wait for them to ask; take the “Miketz” leap and offer the solution before they’ve even finished worrying about the problem.