\"Don't Drift: Three Questions Every Leader Must Answer\" - Christine Caine - Global Leadership Summit 2025

Here's a sobering reality: Every year, 7,936 human beings are sold into slavery. Human trafficking has become the fastest-growing crime in our world.

When Christine Caine shared this statistic at the Global Leadership Summit, it wasn't just data—it was a call to action that led her and her husband to found The A21 Campaign, an anti-human trafficking organization that has become a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable.

But Christine's message wasn't just about human trafficking. It was about something every leader faces: the dangerous temptation to drift.

I agree with Christine. That is why I created The Drift Detector Self-Assessment. Take today to see if you are drifting in your leadership!

The Drift Detector Self-Assessment.

The Silent Killer of Vision

"All you have to do to drift is do nothing."

Those words hit me like a lightning bolt. How many times have we found ourselves coasting, staying comfortable in the same spot and mindset, only to wake up one day and realize we've drifted miles away from our original vision?

Drifting isn't dramatic. It's not a catastrophic failure or a moment of moral compromise. It's the gradual erosion that happens when we stop actively pursuing our purpose. We don't choose to drift—we stop choosing to stay anchored.

Christine reminded us of Simeon from Luke 2, a leader who had lost sight of his calling. Instead of bringing hope and help to those around him, he was doing the opposite. He had drifted from his purpose, and it showed in everything he did.

The Anchor of Vision

We need vision. Not just any vision, but a vision that anchors us through storms and keeps us moving forward when the path gets difficult.

Vision isn't a one-time declaration or a motivational poster on the wall. It's a living, breathing commitment that requires constant tending.

It demands that we stay focused on the long haul rather than getting distracted by short-term fixes and quick wins.

When Christine and her husband decided to tackle human trafficking, they didn't expect immediate results.

They committed to patience, persistence, and the hard work of building something that would make a lasting difference. That's what real vision requires—the courage to play the long game.

Three Questions That Will Change Everything

Christine left us with three powerful questions that every leader must wrestle with. These aren't casual considerations—they're diagnostic tools that can reveal whether we're drifting or staying true to our calling.

1. Do you need to re-anchor your vision?

This is the foundational question. When was the last time you took an honest look at where you are versus where you started? Sometimes we get so busy executing that we forget to check our compass.

Re-anchoring isn't about changing direction—it's about getting clear on whether you're still heading where you originally intended to go.

2. What vision did you drift from that needs to be recovered?

This one requires brutal honesty. We all have dreams, goals, and purposes that we once pursued with passion but somehow left behind.

Maybe it was the pressure of daily responsibilities, or perhaps we convinced ourselves those dreams weren't practical. But what if those weren't distractions—what if they were exactly what the world needs from us?

3. What system, structure, or rhythm no longer reflects that vision?

Vision without structure is just wishful thinking. This question forces us to examine whether our daily habits, organizational systems, and life rhythms are actually supporting our stated purpose or working against it.

Sometimes we need to rebuild the scaffolding that holds our vision in place.

Your Next Step

Christine's work with The A21 Campaign didn't happen overnight. It started with a decision not to drift, to stay anchored to a vision bigger than herself, and to build the systems necessary to make that vision a reality.

The same is true for you. Whether you're leading a team of two or two thousand, whether you're fighting human trafficking or transforming your local community, the principles remain the same: Don't drift. Stay anchored. Keep building.

So here's my challenge for you: Set aside some time this week to honestly work through Christine's three questions.

Don't rush through them. Sit with them. Let them reveal what needs to be revealed.

The world needs leaders who refuse to drift—leaders who stay committed to their vision even when the current tries to carry them away. The question isn't whether you'll face the temptation to drift.

The question is: What will you do when you feel it pulling?

Your vision is waiting for you to re-anchor it. Your mission is too important to let drift.

Want to go deeper?

Check out Christine Caine's book "Don't Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward With Passion and Purpose" and explore more resources from the Global Leadership Summit.