Focus on Speaking and Book Recommendations
/Originally written in December 2014
I Am So Happy, Kind, and Generous!
If this headline is our headline (one example) in life, how are we doing? How did we do in 2014? What changes will we make in 2015 to help us get closer to who we want to be? If we are one person at home with our family and are judging, criticizing, and bullying people at work, are we authentic? How do you want to be remembered tomorrow and in five years? How do we show up? How many people have 500 Facebook friends or 1500 LinkedIn connections, but never make a date for lunch or coffee?
We often are so busy: driven to get our work done; our children to their sports games and fed, bathed and to bed; errands run; and trip plans booked, etc. We may not have much time to ourselves, to reflect: are we living the life we want? Or do we have too much stuff, too many commitments, too many meaningless Power Point slides, and do we take ourselves too seriously?
But what is the headline you would write for yourself? Here’s your chance!
I AM SO ________________, _______________, AND _________________!
Who are you? Do your thoughts match your behaviors?
Some people may write:
I AM POWERFUL, INFLUENTIAL, AND WEALTHY. (billionaire Koch brothers)
I AM VERY COMPETITIVE, CALM, AND HARD-WORKING. (student athlete)
I AM THE BOSS, DECISION-MAKER, AND POLITE. (VP, Fortune 50 corporation)
Whoever you are, are you serving other people (beyond yourself and your family) and making a difference in society? If not, what a great opportunity to transform yourself. You get to live your life.
Watch others around you. How can you help them discover who they want to be and support them in developing and experiencing their values? Do this to jump start 2015.
THANKS, to who?
It’s that time of year when we get an opportunity to say thank you more consciously to those who you admire and help you. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and think about the year. How will you reach out to those who deserve your appreciation? Make your list and be creative (or a thank you card, txt, flowers may work well too!)
MY COFFEE TABLE
Today I wondered how many pounds of books my glass coffee table can hold. It looks pretty sturdy, but it might have a breaking point. Its breaking point doesn’t match mine! Besides the beautiful coffee table books (now buried on the bottom) and one of my favorite gifts, HUMANS OF NEW YORK (thank you Brian Henry), the piles are my “next to read or re-skim good, helpful books.” (I know, I can save my table and read my books on the iPad.)
I wanted to share my list with you (please share your list with me, too):
REWORK by Fried and Hansson
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS by Patterson et al.
HOW THE POOR CAN SAVE CAPITALISM by Bryant
THE ESSENTIAL DEMING edited by Orsini
THE LEAN STARTUP by Ries
FINISH BIG by Burlingham
ELEVEN RINGS by Phil Jackson
THE HOMEWORK MYTH by Kohn
HOUSE OF OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE (thank you for the gift, Barbara Gruen)
SPEAK MORE by National Speakers Association
THE HARD THING ABOUT HARD THINGS by Ben Horowitz
SPEAKING OF BOOKS, A NEW ONE EVOLVES . . .
A few years ago, I began writing a book about leadership. When I moved to NYC in 2012 and began to experience all the city has to offer, I “temporarily” set the manuscript on the bookshelf, periodically thought about its content, and then moved it back to CA with me last year. Over a breakfast meeting with Stanford Professor John Krumboltz in June, where we explored ideas, careers, and what’s next, I told him about the manuscript. At the end of our 2-hour chat, he said, “You don’t need a PhD. Just put 3 letters behnd your name and be done with it. But you do need to get your book published. Your messages are important. Get them out there.” I wasn’t so sure I wanted to do the solitary writing and mentioned “I don’t know about getting it done.” He said, “Maybe it’s already done.” That comment was the impetus to embark on completing the manuscript. Four months later, it is in the hands of my preferred publisher. Cross your fingers, and I’ll keep you posted. SURVIVAL IS OPTIONAL: Leadership Takes Guts will be published in 2015. A special thanks goes to Joseph Chedid, my assistant; his aptitude and patience with my new (and very frustrating) PC has made the delivery to the publisher possible!!
CAREER TRANSITION: Speaking at Executive meetings, off-sites, and conferences
In 2015, my focus and attention will be spent less on consulting and more on speaking about the leadership topic, SURVIVAL IS OPTIONAL (based on the book—what executives need to Stop doing and Start doing to be effective leaders) and my second topic I have addressed for 20+ years: Fear Erodes Profits (and also People and Productivity.)
When your organization (or industry conference) needs new thinking to accelerate its progress, profitability or success, call me at 408-398-7220 to schedule a speaking engagement.