Dan Duggan
Who’s Life Are You Living?
As I’m sure you already know, Steve Jobs, creative genius behind Apple, passed away recently. I was certainly aware of the results of his work having been an Apple user for many years now. What I wasn’t aware of was who Jobs was; what drove him; how his experiences shaped him. I’m curious by nature so I purchased a copy of his just published biography by Walter Issacson. I’m not very far into it yet, but the sense I have of Steve Jobs was that he was special and knew it. This both helped and hindered him. He did not compromise on what he passionately believed in , although sometimes not very gracefully or respectfully. One of those passionate beliefs …continue reading…
Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall
Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I’m startled to see my dad looking at me. When did that happen? He was a great guy, but I’m my own man or so I think. The truth is, I’m still uncovering who I really am. It’s not always a pleasant discovery. Some days I’ll see an angry or haggard or hard-hearted person peering back at me from the reflection in the mirror. Other days that guy is looking scared or sad. What’s his story? What happened to him to bring on this state? If I’m willing to look deeper, the answers are there in my heart, along with the compassion to ease the impact of the lesson I need to learn. …continue reading…
If You Want to Get the Best Out of Others, Get Your Eyes Checked
I was working with a client recently who was struggling with the performance of one his supervisors. He came to the session with an elaborate plan for reorganizing the entire work flow in an effort to simultaneously train a replacement and move the supervisor over where his performance would have less impact. After a few questions about how direct the client had been with the supervisor regarding his performance and the natural consequences of continuing that behavior, it became clear to both of us that the reorganization was a work-around not a solution. I asked him if he thought the supervisor would be successful after clearly understanding what was expected and how soon his performance needed to improve. His answer …continue reading…
There’s a Better Way
This blog is about finding and bringing your soul into business. That includes the business of running the country. I am frustrated and dismayed by the apparent lack of soul in what I witnessed out of Washington over the last few weeks. What happened to the constitutional ideal of government providing for the well-being of all its citizens? That ideal seems to be lost in the race to “win” at all cost. The outcome is everyone losing at great cost. Effective organizations focus on what they can contribute, not what they can get. The key to effectiveness is heart-centered leadership building an environment of trust and collaboration in its decision making. Trust and collaboration leads to differing gracefully and honestly. …continue reading…
It’s the Small Things
I’ve been sick for over a week now and while feeling better today, I’m not yet 100%. My usual M.O. when I’m ill, is to power through and continue with my pre-planned schedule expecting the discomfort will pass. I find I’m not a very “patient” patient. What’s different this time is a bit of compassion for myself. My level of competence hasn’t been up to my usual standards and I’m OK with that. The other awareness is my compassion for other people who may succumb to this sickness too, if I don’t deliberately avoid contagious contact; a common polite consideration for most people, but a blind spot for me as my wife likes to point out. It’s a small thing… …continue reading…
In Memoriam
In my last post, I wrote about how inspirational the memorials in and around Washington, D.C. are. With Memorial Day just past, it reminded me again of the ultimate sacrifice so many on all sides of armed conflicts have given. These fallen soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen deserve our honor, respect and gratitude. In this country, hundreds of thousands of service men and women were lost in our history from the Revolutionary War up to the present missions in the Middle East. WWII ended with the second most Americans killed in combat at 405,000, next to our own Civil War, but in total over 11 million lost their lives in that global conflict. A staggering statistic. The sad fact is …continue reading…
All That Glitters…..
My wife Claudia and I just returned from our first ever visit to Washington, D.C. I can only say – WOW! Don’t wait as long as we did to experience our nation’s capitol. From our first stop at the Lincoln Memorial on Monday to our last stop at the National Cathedral on Saturday, I was in awe of the beauty and grandeur of all the sites we visited. Especially inspirational and moving were the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon Memorial, the Kennedy Center for the Arts, and the commitment to ecumenism we found at the Cathedral. The various Smithsonian Museums are a tribute to the incredible history and innovation of Americans over the last 250+ years. At the same …continue reading…
Your Inner Mother
Remember the old litmus test: “would you do it if your mother was watching?” Well, she is. You have an inner mother. It’s the voice inside that reminds you of your values and values you. It is caring, compassionate and wise. You can count on it for support, for strength. It’s your moral compass and always knows what is best for you. Leaders in business often ignore this side of themselves judging it as soft or too emotional. “Never let them see you sweat” is the mantra. Being vulnerable is being weak. In fact, the opposite is true; being vulnerable is being strong and authentic. Showing compassion attracts followers. Acting with compassion heals relationships. Strong, trusting, authentic relationships are the …continue reading…
Honor Thy Mother
Today is Mother’s Day. The day we all honor our mothers living and dead who brought us into the world. I lost my mom on tax day 27 years ago. My most enduring memory of her was her fierce protection of the family. Everything else came second in her life including her own comfort and aspirations. Her decisions were not always popular, but always came from a commitment to what was best for us individually and the family as a whole. Her five children inherited that sense of loyalty and commitment. I am extremely grateful for the lessons that strong woman taught me. In every healthy organization there is at least one “Mom”. It’s the person who everyone turns to …continue reading…
Our Best Hope
Writing about hope lately in the face of all the catastrophes and disturbances at home and abroad has awakened something inside me. I realize we have a choice to make. Now. We can wring our hands, shake our heads, and run away from all this or we can choose to look for, engage with, and emulate the best in the human species. If we inquire about the best and the highest possible in all our seeking for a glimmer of light to follow, we will find it. If we allow ourselves to believe there is only darkness followed by more darkness, we will find that instead. Both are out there. One leads to life and freedom. The other to despair. …continue reading…
