Leadership is in Every One of Us
Leadership is in Every One of Us Some CEOs have it and others do not. Office managers and plumbers express leadership better than their bosses at times. If it isn’t a function of title or hierarchical position, what is the key to leadership? It is a way of being. Sometimes we experience this way of being and sometimes we don’t. But we know that it is in every one of us. And we can intentionally develop a leadership way of being – if we are willing to acknowledge our unique talents and risk expressing them. Our yearlong leadership program involves a process of self-selection that invites those who are willing to uncover their potential as leaders to step up…to explore …continue reading…
Struggle is Unnecessary…..Part I
When they hear me say struggle is unnecessary most people look at me skeptically. “What about ‘no pain, no gain’ and ‘adversity builds character’? There is truth in those maxims, but that’s not the struggle I’m talking about. When you experience an event or thought that you don’t like, don’t want, or don’t know what to do with, you are automatically struggling on the inside with that uncomfortable feeling. That thought or event evoked a connection to something in your past that you (mostly unconsciously) believe points to something unpleasant in your future. Then the emotion hits – dread, shame, anger, confusion, sadness, loneliness, for example. If you’re human like me, your first reaction is “get me out of here; …continue reading…
How Old Are You?
With many of us in my 60 something generation facing the retirement questions that our new economy never anticipated, we need to look at things from a new perspective. Financial security on the High Road has always been a function of contributing to society in a way that adds real value to the quality of people’s lives. It’s never been, for many of us, a function of how much money we have stashed away for the time “we no longer need to work for our living.” We love our work and don’t want to stop contributing. The challenging new economy may now be supporting you to keep contributing as a necessity, in addition to the opportunity it has always been. …continue reading…
Anyone Remember Highest Intentions?
As we’ve been exploring different questions around the idea of being a peaceful warrior who is waging the right wars, our country has been ensnarled in a political quagmire around our national debt. I have been a lifelong Independent as I believe in a “meritocracy decision making model,” so I have no interest in advocating for who’s right or who’s wrong here. Let’s consider all points of view and let the best ideas prevail in the spirit of unity, is where I always come from. Reports out of Washington DC these days range from disappointing to disgusting: another meeting with no progress… to … I will not let you win or look good. All activity and behavior is based on …continue reading…
The Wounded Peaceful Warrior
Sometimes the best of us go through times of difficulty. We find ourselves being criticized. We are not producing the results we need. We stress ourselves out with thoughts of limitation. We get sick or injured. We forget what we are about for a moment and lose heart. This is all to be expected as part of the natural course of our journey. We don’t like these times, but we can learn to love the opportunities they present. During times of ease it is “easy” to be at our best and make our contribution to the world in a heartfelt manner. But how well do we do when it seems we are under attack? During these moments we have the …continue reading…
At Your Best in the Future: Recommending Flash Foresight
If you’ve read our last couple of posts you can’t escape the idea that our best guidance comes from our hearts. But our minds are not to be ignored. We are analytical as well as values driven beings – and our minds are phenomenal tools when they are directed by the heart. Flash Foresight is a newly published book by a very credible futurist named Daniel Burrus. He “sees” what’s coming by tracking trends and technology advancements – great work for the mind. However, he is also full of hope for humanity. His track record and examples are peppered with technological possibilities that could solve some of society’s toughest problems, like the impending shortages in energy, food, and even water …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…
Hope in Action
I became aware of a movement in business launched in June 2004 called The Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit. Director David Cooperrider from Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio, is renowned for his breakthrough work in progressive business practices. The Center’s stated mission: Through research, education, and advanced projects with industry leaders and policy makers, the Center was created to advance extraordinary business and society innovation, helping to revolutionize the ways business will eradicate poverty, replenish and restore nature, and build foundations for peace through commerce. Wow! Now that’s a mission I can definitely get behind. In the years since its launch, BAWB, as it’s known, convenes an annual forum of global business leaders dedicated to sharing …continue reading…
More Hope
In my last post on 3/28, I promised to share stories of positive actions people and companies are taking that foster hope. I expect some interesting feedback on this one. How about WalMart… Yes, I mean that WalMart. They are in the news this week with the story of the class action suit for sex discrimination that has been wandering through the judicial system for the last decade or so. WalMart is a company I have loved to point to as an example of all that is wrong in corporate America for the complaint above and the way they come in to small communities and attract the customers away from the small retailers in those areas. But I have to …continue reading…
