All leaders focus on something. There are leaders who pay attention to details, examining the smallest factors that might possibly affect their performance and the performance of their teams. There are leaders who only see the big picture, visionaries who paint with broad strokes and set sail for the far horizon. There are leaders who […]
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I work with a spiritual director because I cannot appreciate everything on my own. For a long time, I stayed in the shallows of my spiritual life. I accepted what I had been taught, even when it did not fit very well with my own experiences of spiritual depth. I was motivated to find and
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I open my eyes at least once every day. Sometimes it happens over time, and things come into focus gradually. If I start moving before my eyes are really open I can bump into things, which encourages me to pay closer attention. Sometimes I open my eyes immediately. One moment I am asleep and the
It began, like all movements, with a vision. It has spread through social media and began to shape the perception of the more traditional news sources. It even changes the way wine lovers understand craft brewing. Once each month a group of thirsty pilgrims visits a craft brewery in Southern California. Together we enjoy great
Crafting a Movement 2012 Read More »
Leadership is about understanding Why. We tend to think that leaders can tell us Where we are going or How to get there. Some of them are very good at appreciating Who can help us move toward our goals, or When is the right time to make changes. We tend not to recognize the essential
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I was talking with someone recently about something very painful and very difficult they had experienced. They paused as they came to a particularly challenging moment in the story and said to me, “Saying it out loud makes it more real.” We depend on our stories. We believe the stories we tell ourselves; we understand
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I spend a lot of time face to face with people. Sometimes it is working with someone as a spiritual director or a leadership coach. Sometimes is is over breakfast, or coffee, or a great craft brew. Sometimes it is on a retreat, in a meeting, or in church. Sometimes it is in person, and
I talk with a wide variety of people. They come from different places and backgrounds. Men and women, at various points in their lives; we talk about many different questions and subjects. One thing that almost all of these people share is a sense about their lives. Many of the people I work with are
Leadership is not about knowing the right answer. In many ways, I was brought up to be a person who finds the right answer and gives it to other people. At school, at home, at church, life was a puzzle to be solved and I was shaped to seek the answers that would solve it. Knowing
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I believe in the spark, the moment of flash that ignites the flame. The spark is born out of friction, things grinding against each other and releasing energy. An unseen spark can ignite a fire that changes everything. My life is a series of sparks. Many of my sparks are completely unexpected, surprises that flare
