We live in a time of increasing self absorption. Our worlds revolve around us. We are the centers of our own universes. We construct electronic networks of the false selves we want people to see, just as we present the selves we want people to know in person. We manage our virtual lives in the […]
Focused on Ourselves Read More »
Leadership is about learning how to dance. Being a leader is not about making us all be the same. Leaders are not about measuring our efforts and getting rid of whoever does not measure up. Leadership is not about making other people try to be more like me. I have worked with people in positions of
Leadership Teaches Us the Steps Read More »
My friend Hoda Maalouf is amazing. Her life has included struggles and challenges, and she is filled with passion ad enthusiasm. She has worked her way through deep difficulties, and is committed to helping others as they work through theirs. Living a life that could have drained many people, Hoda is a strong, curious, thoughtful
Guest Post: Depth in the Desert Read More »
I have a very persistent focus. People have told me that focus is one of my strengths. When I identify something as important, I can continue to pay attention to it over a long period of time. I can listen to someone tell me their story and stay in touch with their larger themes. Focus
Leadership is full of wonder. Leaders are not machines. Leadership is not about equations, ratios, or formulae. There are no ultimate solutions or final answers. Leadership is caught, not learned in school. The answers are not in the back of the book. The leaders who inspire me believe in the power of the unexpected. They
Leadership Has a Sense of Wonder Read More »
For years, depth was a foreign country I never visited. I had read books about it. I had seen pictures. I listened to other people describe their own visits to the Depth; what they had done, seen, and tasted. I had heard a lot about the Depth, but I was not convinced that I would
Exploring the Depth Read More »
I have a strong ability to focus. I spend a lot of time focusing on things outside myself. I tend to focus on my goals, or on obstacles to achieving them. I focus on what I set out to accomplish, on things I hope to acquire, on taking the steps that I see leading where
Focusing on Inner Life Read More »
Being clear is essential to leadership. Leaders make decisions, which are only as important as a leader’s ability to communicate their decisions to other people. We are constantly reminding people about things, asking questions, motivating people. Leaders translate values and vision into tangible goals and objectives. If we are not clear, people do not know
Leadership is Being Clear Read More »
The ocean makes a deep impression on me. I grew up in a place where there were more fields of productive farmland, as far as the eyes could see, with occasional farm buildings, than oceans. The woods and the lakes were great, and cities were amazing, but there was no ocean. The first time I
As Deep As the Ocean Read More »
There is power in the unexpected. People who have strong focus tend not to appreciate the benefits of the unexpected. We work hard to plan and prepare, to anticipate every eventuality down to the smallest detail. We do not want any surprises. We are more comfortable when our plans become reality. It reinforces our ability
Focus on the Unexpected Read More »
