The highest leverage is not in tasks, but in symbols.

The deepest impact is made by what people carry in their minds, not on their to‑do lists. Symbols outlast actions and guide choices far beyond their origin.

Most organizations spend their energy on tasks—projects, deliverables, measurable actions that consume time and resources. Tasks are necessary, but they are narrow. They complete, they expire, and then they are replaced by new tasks. Symbols, however, do not fade; they scale. They become multipliers of action, shaping how people choose their tasks, how they interpret their roles, and how they decide what is worth pursuing in the first place.