An institution's future is fragile. What ensures it? A number of things, each of them fragile - every promotion, every decision related to changes in leadership, the degree to which leaders balance the forces of change and continuity. Annual plans or strategic initiatives do not guarantee an institution's future; they may even betray it by blinding the organization to other goals. Every job assignment, every missed opportunity for development, every person inspired by a true leader - these are the things that actually shape the future. I'm talking about the quality of relationships and the enabling of other people.