Tag Archives: community

On The Passing Of A True Heroine

by on October 28, 2005 in Creative, Life

This past week marked the passing of Rosa Parks, an individual who knew and embodied courage. I’ve been reflecting on what lessons Rosa left for us and how we’ve gotten off-course in our struggle for social and economic justice. I’ve also been considering the work of all who fight for our civil rights and the fact that I’ve given too much of this work to others. Left to the hands of just a few champions, working for true civil rights for all individuals is a fight and a burden. However, if each of us is dedicated to the spirit of equality and love, it ceases to be a struggle. Instead, it becomes a gift that we give to others and ourselves.

We’re nowhere close to approaching this ideal. And the small, but vocally cynical gremlin sitting on my shoulder shouts that it’s just naive, utopian thinking. That gremlin is very persuasive and I’ve believed him for a little too long. I’m realizing that he’s doing his best to keep me safe and comfortable and small like him. But this is all crap to keep me from the difficult and potentially hazardous work of initiating my own efforts to create a soulfully-connected world around me.

So, I’ve sought out spiritual mentors to serve as a counter-balance to my cynicism. Happily, I’ve found inspiration from Frances Moore Lappé. This week, she implores us to take up Rosa’s example and re-embrace our sense of humanity:

So in this historical epoch I believe we must take our cue from Rosa Parks: Our survival depends on not going along, not cooperating with assumptions that violate our deepest sensibilities. And not going along means generating conflict, or at least surfacing it.

The how-to’s of generating and surfacing conflict creatively, I realized, must become just as exalted a skill-set as is creatively resolving conflict. Rosa Parks didn’t on impulse decide one day to say “no.” She’d been training in this art for some time.

At a recent conference hosted by my association, I was blessed to meet Frances Moore Lappé who was the keynote speaker. Her first
gift to us was Diet for a Small Planet in 1971…her most recent gift
is Democracy’s Edge. To be honest, I had never heard of her up to a
couple of months ago and I had no idea of the work she has done in her
life. Yet, the experience of listening to her on stage and afterward in
a more informal setting was deeply stirring. She has such an authentic
and genuine soul; I hope that I am able to meet her again. Of the many things that Frances left with me, perhaps the most significant was the power that each of us has as a singular being to create change in the world. More on this in a later post…

Remember To Water Your Network

by on July 10, 2005 in Career, Life

Watering_canAs I get a little more distance from my recent job hunting experience, I plan to write deeply about the tactics, strategies, and emotional management issues needed for success in finding Soulful Work.

One of the best things a professional can do is do is cultivate their network. How many times do we hear that? Sorry, it’s still true. The catch is that a solid network takes time to fully cultivate and requires a farmer’s patience toward his crops. It’s not one of those things where we can just say, "Okay, I’ve planted the seed. Now grow dammit!"

Louise at Blue Sky Resumes has very good advice for how to build a professional network. Rather than begging for a handout (or a job prospect), turn it around. Give first and then seek to receive.

The easiest way to nurture your network is to focus on what you can
give, rather than what you can gain. If you make it your business to
offer help, others will be only too willing to help you in return.

Our networks are personal relationships built on trust, common interests and a patient intention to know the other person. Rosa has connected me to her growing Ho’ohana Community. Wayne and David have sparked my re-interest in LinkedIn as a networking tool (here’s my profile). The beauty of these networks is that they are rich in diverse folks from very different backgrounds, industries, perspectives…you name it.

So, look to cultivate your network not as a quick "what can I get from you?" tactic but as a way to connect deeper with other folks who can add to your life. And actively try to add to their lives. With all the violence and senselessness that surrounds us, we can never have too many caring friends and colleagues.

Thanks, Scott

by on May 24, 2005 in Life

Welcome to those visiting from Scott Hodge’s blog. I’ve been blessed to have Scott offer up some really wonderful compliments about me and my writing. Ever since Weebleland, I’ve been impressed by his dedication to his own work and the beauty of taking over his father’s ministry. His post last month on the six month anniversary of his dad’s passing was a stirring and lovely tribute that made me appreciate my own father that much more. Doesn’t he also have the most adorable little girl?

So thanks Scott and someday soon we will have that cup of coffee together.

There’s A Bit Of The Slacker In All Of Us

by on May 23, 2005 in Life

The absolute pleasure of being a part of this whole Ho’ohana Community that Rosa Say has put together is discovering like-minded folks from across this great country of the United States. About the same time that I found Rosa’s Talking Story, I started reading Brendon Connelly’s Slacker Manager. I remember my initial impressions well: I figured with a name like that (as well as a masthead with a guy reclining in his office chair while trying to do some work), this was going to be a goofy, farcical take on management. Oh, how wrong I was. Slacker Manager is a thought-provoking, articulate blog on how to thrive in work by focusing on working smarter rather than working harder.

To get the full, robust flavor of Brendon and his management philosophy, download his Slacker@Work manifesto from ChangeThis. Here’s how he goes on to define the slacker:

We slackers represent the bright side of overachievers. Slackers are as smart, educated, talented and driven as any standard-issue overachiever youʼll find. The core difference is that slackers have the gift of satisficing: we can stop at “good enough” and go home unburdened by what was left undone.

The entire manifesto is brief and has some good ideas on how to be a Slacker@Work. My personal faves are the Four Hour Rule and Mental Health Days. If you do choose to use these techniques in your own work, be very careful about sharing them with colleagues (and particularly your boss…unless you know he or she is a fellow slacker).

Back to the Slacker Manager blog, there are some fascinating finds along the left side which offer further evidence of the kind of colorful character that Brendon is. I encourage you to take a peek at some of his Hot Links like The Art of Napping at Work (an idea that really needs to catch fire in today’s workplace) and NaDa which is one of the simplest product ideas (I really wish I had thought of it first). Then, there are some of his favorite posts. I’m hoping he finds some space to include a recent smackdown series he hosted between Fred Gratzon and Steve Pavlina (check out the March archives for the full series). It was a stroke of genius to see these two guys take on the idea of productivity from very different viewpoints.

Now, seeing that Brendon currently has over 1500 subscribers, I’m hoping that I can get at least a few hundred to make the trek over to visit my blog. While we might pin different names on our concepts of work (his being slacker; mine being soulful), we’re still thinking in similar ways. Perhaps if nothing else he can teach me how to surf.

Also, if you’re not a regular at Brendon’s site, wish him safe travels and warm spirits for his new baby. He’s currently in South Korea this week to pick up Asher Myung Hee. We’re all waiting on pictures of the newest Slacker Baby.

Guest Blogger Today At Talking Story

by on March 24, 2005 in Creative, Life, Work

I talked about reinvention earlier this week. Well, today’s my day to add more to the conversation at Rosa Say’s Talking Story. The title of my post is Let’s Reinvent Professional Development in Our Organizations. Based on my experience, professional development is treated like a job perk, rather
than as a systemic part of the organization’s greater purpose of
growing its business and its people. In my post, I advocate for a new way of thinking and put out a new term to consider.

So, what are you waiting for? Go and visit Talking Story.

If you’ve never been to Talking Story, take some time to explore Rosa’s blog and discover some wonderful ways to reinvent the relationship between manager and employee. Then do yourself a big favor and buy her book, Managing with Aloha. You’ll not find a more soulful and passionate advocate for artful management out there. Mahalo nui Rosa for your friendship and mentoring.