I look for people who write with honesty and depth, especially about spirituality and leadership. They become trusted friends as we share the journey. Jim Palmer is one of those people. Though we have never met in real life, I read what he writes. Jim is a spiritual director and teacher who lives in Nashville. Our journeys share similarities as well as differences. I always find food for reflection, food for my soul, when I read his work. Notes From... Read more
Tennis is interesting. It may be because there is so much about tennis that I do not understand. I did not grow up playing tennis, so I have quite a few questions. I do not understand how to keep score. There is a seemingly arbitrary way to count points, and each tournament apparently has its own way to decide who wins a tie game, set, or match. I have no idea why tennis refers to “zero” as “love.” Tennis is... Read more
I have worked with people who seemed to think their authority came from keeping the rest of us in the dark. They told us only what they thought we needed to know. They withheld information that would have helped us do a better job. I think they expected us to do exactly what they wanted without being distracted by things like leadership vision. The people who keep us in the dark do not bring out the best in us. It... Read more
This holiday is not about having a three-day weekend in January. This is not a holiday exclusively for African-Americans, or people who grew up in the 1960s. This holiday is not about dreamers, or about smoothing over differences between people. It is not a holiday about being nice to people no matter what they look like. “I know where we can store that food free of charge — in the wrinkled stomachs of the millions of God’s children in Asia,... Read more
We believe in the power and value of hard work. We have expectations and goals, and are convinced that our hard work will meet them. While we may not always be the smartest person in the room, we make up for it by working harder. Working hard will get us what we want. We take pride in the results of our efforts. Sometimes we do not even choose the focus of our own work. We are asked to do something,... Read more
People tell me about the amazing experiences they have; the places they visit, the work they do, the books they read, the people they know, the music they love, the craft beers they taste. Some experiences are physical, some emotional, some spiritual, some intellectual. They tell me what happens to them, and they say, “It changed my life.” I know that if we pay careful attention, each experience has the power to change our lives. Each person, each place, each... Read more
One of my assignments in high school was to keep a journal for several months about a “significant relationship” in my life. I was, in some ways, a typical high school guy. “Significant relationships” may have been the last thing I wanted to write about. It took me a long time to realize the one relationship that really was significant enough to inspire me. I created a journal of my relationship to my hair. I wrote entries about getting a... Read more
My most significant experiences so far this year have been losses. On New Year’s Day I watched the Wisconsin Badgers lose a football bowl game which was not the Rose Bowl. A few days later, I watched the Green Bay Packers lose a playoff game in the cold and snow. It is true that I have witnessed both teams lose before. It is also true, as people have reminded me, that both teams are likely to improve next season. There... Read more
Reflection is the key that opens the door of other people skills. What is Reflection? Reflection is a way of thinking which is different from the way I usually think. Thinking rationally and analytically tends to be focused on solving problems or reaching conclusions and decisions. Rational, analytical thinking feels more linear, as if our minds are moving from point to point toward a goal. Reflection is different. Reflection is a way of thinking about things that is more interested... Read more
I was born and raised in the country. There was an annual cycle of cultivation and growing. Each season played its own role in that cycle. The year begins in winter. Winter may appear to be a time of year when nothing really happens. It is, though, a truly important season. Winter sets the tone for the rest of the year. Winter comes after the land has produced its crops for the year. The land, and the people who work... Read more
Strategic Monk
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