There have been times when I have known exactly what kind of leader I wanted to be. Someday, I will be a leader who is able to draw on the best qualities of Steve Jobs, Barack Obama, and Chris Christie. With more practice, I will lead like a combination of Hillary Clinton, Julia Child, and An San Suu Kyi. When I have learned more, I will be sort of a mixture of Captain Mal and Shepherd Book. I would become... Read more
It is easy for us to let our possibilities carry us away. We each have vast reserves of untapped potential. We can accomplish whatever we set our minds to do. One person can change the world in significant ways. We can make a difference; we can make things better. It is important for us to remember that life is not really about choosing which significant changes we will accomplish. It is not a contest in which we compete to bring... Read more
My friend Rachel Borsch appreciates the value of introspection and reflection, especially for leaders. She is a deep, clear thinker who incorporates introspection into her daily life, and who recognizes the tangible benefits of reflection for leaders. Rachel is a Human Resources advisor who works with people on issues related to healthy spiritual diversity and respect at work. She hosts Religion at Work on BlogTalkRadio, and always gives me something to reflect on in a new way. Thank you, Rachel. What... Read more
Leadership is about making choices. The choices we make in the United States today will decide who will lead and represent us in the near future. Today is a big day for choices. We will elect the President and Vice President for the next four years, the members of the House of Representatives for the next two years, and one-third of the Senators for six-year terms. Many of us will also elect state executive officials and legislators, and some judges.... Read more
The November I have planned is outside the mainstream. We are already deep into the holiday season. The Halloween store in Pasadena opened in July. There were displays of Christmas decorations on sale in September. It is a struggle for some people to get their Halloween decorations up, then taken down, and get their Christmas decorations in place. Thanksgiving tends to get squeezed into a day of watching football and eating as much as possible, washed forward in the relentless... Read more
Mary Ann Reilly is a friend of mine. She is one of those people whose words you want to repeat to everyone else. She sees and hears things that other people miss, which is helpful for her as an artist and educator. Mary Ann has had a very exciting week. Born in Ireland, she lives in New Jersey, where she experienced Hurricane Sandy. You can learn more about Mary Ann and her work at her website and on Twitter at @MaryAnn Reilly.... Read more
Leadership is about dealing with challenges. Some challenges are nearly overwhelming, like a hurricane hundreds of miles across. Some challenges are smaller, like the barking dog next door, the person who really gets on your nerves, the final detail that stands between you and a mutually beneficial agreement. The one thing that all challenges share is that their true significance is how we respond. I know people who take challenges very personally. Whether a hurricane or a barking dog, they... Read more
I believe in the power of connection. We are drawn to connect. Before we realize it, we begin awakening to our deeper selves. We know there is more to us than meets the eye, more to life than existence, and we struggle to connect with this hidden depth. As we recognize and appreciate our authentic selves, we grow and learn to connect with the people around us in new ways. We share more of ourselves, and the people we trust... Read more
I love a good story. The stories I love the most are about security and risk. People leave somewhere safe and secure, taking risks and making new discoveries. Accepting the challenge, leaving where we are comfortable, taking the risk is how we learn and grow. Some of the stories are about physical journeys. People leave the safety of home and cross an ocean or explore wilderness. Some of the stories are about intellectual journeys in which people question the safe... Read more
I used to believe that knowing was much more important than learning, especially for a leader. Learning by Studying I saw leaders as people who had the right answers and shared them with other people. If I wanted to be a leader, I needed to find the answers so I would not be found wanting. I set out to learn as much as I could. I studied leadership and leaders. I read about people who were leaders. I earned degrees... Read more
Strategic Monk
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