Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Leadership and Creativity

“There are two ways of being creative. One can sing and dance. Or one can create an environment in which singers and dancers flourish.”

Warren Bennis


Professor Bennis is one of my favorite authorities on leadership—I’ve stolen material from him unashamedly which I consider to be the highest compliment I can pay to a thought leader.

I’ve founded and led two training industry success stories: Lifespring and ARC International. Looking back, I feel a lot of pride and a little regret. Regret that I was not able to build companies that last, that continue to serve people and employ great staff. Pride that our seminars positively impacted the lives of over one million graduates.

It’s a longer story than what fits in this format however one leadership strength that played out in my companies was that I did everything I could to “create an environment” wherein our trainers, consultants, enrollment staff and administrators could flourish—and they did.

In your family, your company, your community, you have that opportunity. Are the people around you dancing? Your thoughts are encouraged--share them by commenting below.

With love and respect,

Robert

P. S. To celebrate the many thoughtful responses to my recent reader survey, there's a special offer until July 30th on my "Eight Principles" home study program. Eight CDs plus an Owner's Manual, this powerful program normally sells for $195, for the next ten days just $95 including shipping and handling. Just e mail sales@extraordinarypeople.com and we'll send you a PayPal invoice you can pay with any credit or debit card.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

'Pie in the Sky' ... or Reality?

“Once we have experienced the unity and interconnectedness of all things, love is no longer the commandment, but the natural expression of our own essence. It will no longer appear as an action required of us, but as the way of being of transpersonal existence. I’m aware that this might sound a bit pie-in-the-sky for some people. Nevertheless, coexistence worthy of our humanity will remain impossible as long as we fail to experience this reality.”

Willigis Jaeger


The best comment I can make about this quote is to suggest that you read it again … and perhaps a third time. In the busy-ness of life it is of value to simply sit with some thoughts and consider that beyond our jobs, our families and trips to the market, we are here on this planet for a higher purpose.

There! I said it! Let the comments flow!

With love and respect,

Robert

P. S. To celebrate the many thoughtful responses to my recent reader survey, there's a special offer until July 30th on my "Eight Principles" home study program. Eight CDs plus an Owner's Manual, this powerful program normally sells for $195, for the next ten days just $95 including shipping and handling. Just e mail sales@extraordinarypeople.com and we'll send you a PayPal invoice you can pay with any credit or debit card.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Truth and Consequences

”The truth will set you free. But first it will piss you off.”

Gloria Steinem


The language is a little “raw” however the woman knows how to make a point.

About a million years ago a formative experience in my life was attending the Mind Dynamics seminar and eventually becoming President of the company. One of many learnings from MDI founder and my teacher, the late Alexander Everett, was that “awareness is a bitch.”

I know, I know …. more inappropriate language.

One of our many choices in life is whether we are willing, on a moment to moment basis, to tell the truth about our current reality. After any possible irritating moment, the truth will, in fact, set you free.

When coaching leaders, I notice that one of the ways I best serve them is when I help them see their truth, their organization’s current reality. It is, as daughter Alicia says, “way fun.”

What’s your truth for the moment? Let us know with your comments below!

With love and respect,

Robert

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Perspective is Everything!

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, The young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean", she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, The young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."


This unattributed little story is a departure from my “quote plus comment” pattern. I really liked the story and thought you’d enjoy it.

It points out that our perspective is just that—our perspective. What we see when watching others is dependent on the clarity of the window through which we look.

Comments are welcome below!

With love and respect,

Robert