Above is a picture of one of the thousands of apartment buildings in NYC. Hundreds look just like this one…except for one window.

Did they tire of being one more blank window among the millions and assert their individuality? Maybe they wanted emergency providers to be able to quickly get the ladder truck to their window. Could this be a lease-owner dispute gone bad? The graffiti wall of fame is just around the corner, perhaps this is a base coat for more wall art?

I wonder what the neighbors say. You can imagine the possible comments. Judging, disparaging, disgust. Unless …

Unless they know the painter and heard the story firsthand. Then there’s a chance at least for understanding.

When leading, there are times you just have to put it out there. The idea may not be fully formed. It may seem to others to be gaudy, audacious, outlandish or from another planet. But with some it connects, takes shape, spawns questions and conversations, and buy-in. That can be the beginning of great things.

It takes effort, courage and commitment (sometimes thick skin, too) to put it out there for all to see and debate. Sort of like a white spot on a brick wall in a sea of status quo.

Much of leadership takes place in the marketplace of ideas. You can’t L.E.A.D. until you muster the courage to put it out there.