By Alex Bolotovsky, CEO of J Leaders
Parsha in a Nutshell
The pressure is peaking. The final three plagues (locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn) hit Egypt. Pharaoh is finally broken, but he keeps trying to negotiate partial deals (like “leave the kids behind” or “leave the cattle”). Moses refuses to compromise. Finally, at midnight, the order comes to go. The Israelites don’t even have time to let their bread rise; they pack their bags, grab their unleavened dough, and head into the unknown. This is the “Bo” moment: the transition from being a slave to being responsible for your own future.
Diving Deeper
The most famous part of this story is the Matzah (the bread that didn’t have time to rise). It’s a symbol of “haste,” but in a leadership sense, it’s about decisiveness. Sometimes, waiting for the “dough to rise” (waiting for the perfect plan, the perfect resume, or the perfect mood) is actually just a form of procrastination. Moses teaches us that when the door finally opens, you don’t wait; you walk through it as you are. Leadership is often about recognizing the “window of opportunity” and having the guts to move before it slams shut again. If you wait until you’re 100% comfortable, you’re probably already too late.
Weekly Leadership Challenge
- Pack Your “Go Bag”: What is one goal you’ve been “waiting for the right time” to start? Write down the three bare-minimum things you’d need to start it today if you had to.
- The Midnight Move: Pick one task you’ve been over-thinking. Set a timer for 15 minutes and finish it as fast as possible; the “Matzah” version. Don’t worry about it being perfect; just get it out the door.