We live in an amazing world filled with wonders. It is easy for us to be captivated by the beauty and intricacy all around us. We are dazzled by the stars in the night sky, the distant horizon of the ocean, the clouds on the mountains. We can be overwhelmed by the warmth of the sun on our faces, the aroma of baking bread. The music of the spheres plays in our hearing. Each of us finds our own ways to... Read more
There was a long time when I believed that I chose the work I did. One of my deepest, lifelong values is justice. I went to school, deciding what to study to move in the direction I had set for myself. After school, I submitted resumes and interviewed for positions. Each job was a revelation. Each one taught me significant truths. Some were delightful, some were difficult, some were jobs I loved doing even within dysfunctional organizations. I gained experience.... Read more
Happy April Fools’ Day! It is important, before we each launch our elaborately planned practical jokes, to makes sure we remember the importance of fools. Fools have a long history as privileged people of responsibility. Throughout their history, fools have held a protected position in royal and noble households. They had license not only to amuse but also to criticize people in power. Fools were empowered to give bad news to a ruler or head of a house which no... Read more
It is the fourth weekend of Lent. Easter morning is only three weeks away. We notice we are leaning forward. We want to put Lent behind us and celebrate. We begin to long for familiar symbols of new life and Spring. We want to feel comfortable again. It tells us a great deal about ourselves and our culture that Easter draws so much of our attention while Lent draws so little of it. Part of it is that Easter is more... Read more
It is easy for us to think in terms of finding the balance between our work and the rest of our lives. We want to use our time well. We do not want to waste a minute, or miss a moment. We believe that every day is important, and we want to fill them with actions worthy of that importance. We are certain there is meaning hidden deep in the crevices of our lives. We want to squeeze it out... Read more
Our understanding of leadership is based on what our senses tell us is important. When we look at leadership, we tend to see external qualities. We believe that a leader who makes more money is a better leader than one who makes less. We assume that someone who leads a large organization is a better leader than someone who leads in a small group. We are attracted to leaders who are influential or powerful, dynamic or vibrant. It is easy... Read more
The one thing most people know about Lent is that you choose to stop doing something. Some people take a break from social media, some people stop drinking coffee or alcohol. The big question is What are you giving up? Many of us are not very clear about why we are depriving ourselves. There have been years when my approach to Lent has been focused and organized. Like a basketball team in a tournament, I have analyzed my options and decided... Read more
I was told that work was supposed to be hard. You knew it was “work” because you would not be doing it unless someone was paying you for it. Work was not intended to feel good; it was intended to be productive. I was told that the reward for working was financial. Work was very individual. It was about me doing my work. Work hard today. You can rest later. You work hard five or six days a week for... Read more
We expect leaders to help us get where we want to go. We want leaders to keep us moving in the right direction. There are times when we get turned around, when we forget what we are trying to accomplish. Sometimes we get stuck, unable to move forward. Sometimes it is very difficult for us to understand how what we need to do helps us make progress. Leaders help us sort things out. They help us remember where we want... Read more
I belong to a liturgical church, which divides the year into liturgical seasons. Our season of Lent began ten days ago. Lent was still fresh last weekend. Just a few days after Ash Wednesday, Lent still had our attention. The week since then has been filled with distractions. In just seven days we have sprung forward to lose an hour and celebrated Pi Day. Today we beware the Ides of March. We anticipate the imminence of Saint Patrick’s Day and... Read more
Strategic Monk
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