I RECENTLY ATTENDED A PROGRAM WHERE A CHILDREN’S CHOIR SANG A FEW SONGS.

THE FOCUS OF THE NIGHT WAS ON INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BUILDING COMMUNITY, AND A NUMBER OF  EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD SPOKE TO US ABOUT SIMPLE CHANGES  WE ALL COULD MAKE IN THE WAY WE ALL LIVE OUR LIVES . AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, THE KIDS SANG A SONG THAT SAID IT ALL. IN FACT, IF THE KIDS HAD SUNG FIRST, WE PROBABLY COULD’VE SKIPPED THE TWO HOURS OF SPEAKERS!

THE SONG WAS WRITTEN BY JILL AND SY MILLER IN 1955. IT’S A SIMPLE SONG CALLED, “LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH.”

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME.
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH, THE PEACE THAT WAS MEANT TO BE.

THE CHILDREN WEREN’T ASKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING HARMONY AMONGST THEM, THEY SAID IT WILL BEGIN WITH ME!

 

SO OFTEN IN THIS CURRENT STATE OF THE MARKET, FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY, WE LOOK OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES FOR THE ANSWERS TO OUR CHALLENGES. IT’S EASIER THAT WAY, TO FRAME THE SITUATION IN A WAY THAT SOMEONE ELSE CONTROLS YOUR RESULTS. THE GOVERNMENT, THE ECONOMY, THE WEATHER, THE CUBS LOSING, THE CHANGING OF OUR VALUES, THE CUSTOMER NOT BEING LOYAL TO BRANDS ANYMORE, AND ON AND ON AND ON. YOU KNOW THE REASONS BETTER THAN ME. BUT IN THIS SONG, THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THE CHALLENGE OF LIVING IN HARMONY IS IMMENSE AND DIFFICULT. BUT THESE CHILDREN SANG AND CHALLENGED US; WHATEVER THE SOLUTION TO LIFE’S OBSTACLES AND ISSUES, IT MUST BEGIN WITH ME.

AS SO SHOULD IT BE WITH YOU AS YOU LEAD YOUR TEAM, YOUR COMPANY, YOUR SOCCER TEAM, YOUR FAMILY. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE SITUATION AND RESULTS, THEN LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND MAKE THAT CHANGE.

“YOU” IS REALLY THE ONLY THING WE CONTROL 100%.

LET PEACE BEGIN WITH ME; LET THIS BE THE MOMENT NOW.
WITH EVERY STEP I TAKE, LET THIS BE MY SOLEMN VOW;
TO TAKE EACH MOMENT, AND LIVE EACH MOMENT IN PEACE ETERNALLY!
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH, AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!

YOUR SYSTEM AND ORGANIZATION ARE RUNNING PERFECTLY TO ACHIEVE THE RESULTS YOUR ARE GETTING RIGHT NOW. IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH YOUR RESULTS, YOU MUST CHANGE THE SYSTEMS AND ORGANIZATION THAT ARE GIVING YOU THESE RESULTS.

LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

IF YOU’VE BEEN TO THE MOVIES LATELY, YOU’VE MOST LIKELY SEEN A FILM THAT WAS ADAPTED FROM A POPULAR BOOK OR NOVEL.  AND, IF YOU’VE STUCK AROUND AFTER ANY OF THESE MOVIES, YOU’VE MOST LIKELY HEARD SOMEONE SAY, "I LIKED THE BOOK BETTER THAN THE MOVIE!"  MANY TIMES, I HAVE TO AGREE.

FOR ME, IT’S THAT THE CHARACTERS ARE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP MORE IN THE BOOK VERSIONS, AND  YOU CAN SEE THE PLOT UNFOLD RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU AS YOUR READ. AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU GO TO WATCH THE MOVIE, AND YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW IT WILL END!

 

WE RECENTLY SAW THE MOVIE “OZ.” NOW, THE STORY OF “THE WIZARD OF OZ” IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES OF "UNLOCKING THE GIFTS WITHIN!”  AND, SINCE WE ALREADY KNEW DOROTHY WOULD MAKE IT BACK TO KANSAS WITH TOTO, WE WERE ALLOWED TO SIT BACK AND REALLY ENJOY AND MARVEL AT THE CINEMATOGRAPHY AND THE CREATIVITY OF THE STORYTELLING.

SO, KNOWING HOW THINGS END UP AND KNOWING THAT THE “SURPRISE REVEALS” AT THE ENDING WOULD BE A LITTLE ANTICLIMACTIC, WE WERE ALLOWED TO FOCUS IS ON THE PRESENT. THERE’S NO ANXIETY OF, “WILL THE BAD GUY WIN?” OR “WHO REALLY DUNNIT?”

 

WE WERE ALLOWED TO WATCH THE MOVIE DIFFERENTLY—IN THE PRESENT!

 

AND SO IN LIFE, WHEN WE DON’T HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE GOING OR HOW IT WILL END, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME NOT LIVING IN THE PRESENT, BUT WORRYING ABOUT THE ENDING. WE’RE NOT “HERE, NOW.”

 

BUT HOW CAN WE DO IT? HOW CAN WE CLARIFY OUR DIRECTION TO GIVE US A GLIMPSE OF WHAT’S AROUND THE NEXT CORNER? HOW CAN WE GET OUR TEAM’S TO BE MORE PRESENT?

WE CAN DO SO BY CREATING EMBEDDED OWNERSHIP WITH OUR TEAMS. WHEN THEY FEEL THAT SENSE OF OWNERSHIP, THEY CAN SEE THE VISION OR PURPOSE, AND THEY CAN CREATE VALUE IN THE PRESENT. WHEN SOMEONE CAN SEE HOW ALL OF THEIR ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES FIT TOGETHER WITH THE COMPANY’S OVERALL MISSION, WHEN THEY HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE "WHY” BEHIND THEIR TASKS, THEY’RE GIVEN A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE.

 

SO, AS WE PLAY OUT OUR STORIES AT WORK AND HOME, LET'S PAINT THE WHOLE PICTURE AHEAD OF TIME. LET'S SHARE THE WHOLE PUZZLE, AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN WE'RE DONE. EXPLAIN EACH PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WHOLE.

 

I’M REMINDED OF THE STORY OF THE MAN WALKING BY TWO STONE MASONS HARD AT WORK IN ROME. THE MAN ASKED THE FIRST MASON, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”  HE ANSWERED, "I'M MAKING BRICKS." HE TURNED TO THE SECOND MASON AND INQUIRED, “AND YOU?"  THE SECOND MASON REPLIED, "I AM BUILDING A CATHEDRAL!"

 

CREATE THE VISION AND PURPOSE SO THAT ALL CAN SEE THE BEAUTY OF WHAT WE WILL BUILD TOGETHER.

PEACE

WE LOVE SPRING! IT IS A TIME OF YEAR THAT IS ALWAYS FULL OF HOPE AND ANTICIPATION. AFTER THE LONG, COLD WINTER, EVERYTHING SEEMS POSSIBLE. THE EXCITEMENT OF WHAT'S TO COME EVEN HAS CHICAGO CUBS FANS WONDERING, "...MAYBE THIS COULD BE THE YEAR!" (REALLY?)

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROLES OF LEADERSHIP IS THE ABILITY TO CREATE VISION OR PURPOSE. IN SETTING THIS VISION, YOU GIVE THE ORGANIZATION A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE THAT YOU SEE.  IT SHOULD INSPIRE THE TEAM.  EVEN IF A TEAM OR COMPANY IS GOING THROUGH (OR PREPARING TO GO THROUGH) SOME DIFFICULT TIMES, THE LEADER NEEDS TO SEE A CLEAR PICTURE OF GROWTH- GROWTH FOR EVERY PERSON AND FOR THE BUSINESS.  WITHOUT THIS CLARITY, PEOPLE CAN GET BOGGED DOWN WITH WHAT IS GOING WRONG TODAY OR HOW DIFFICULT THE CURRENT SITUATION IS. ULTIMATELY, THIS LEADS TO EVERYONE LOSING HOPE.

OF COURSE, ONCE A VISION IS DEFINED, IT IS THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP TO BRING IT ALIVE IN EACH PERSON ON THE TEAM.  I'M TALKING ABOUT EVERYONE FROM THE DOOR MAN TO THE GENERAL MANAGER!  EVERY ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STATE THE “WHAT” OR PURPOSE OF WHAT BUSINESS WE REALLY ARE IN.  HAVING THIS EMBEDDED OWNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION WILL BRING THE PURPOSE TO LIFE AT THE POINT OF THE GUEST.

DEFINING THE "WHAT" COMPANY-WIDE IS IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, WITHOUT EMBRACING THE “WHY," YOU'LL NEVER GET THE TEAM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. YOU WILL HAVE CREATED AN "OUTSIDE-IN" UNDERSTANDING. THAT PHRASE IS A GREAT ONE FOR ME TO EXPLAIN- "OUTSIDE-IN." A TEAM OR PERSON THAT IS "OUTSIDE-IN" RELIES ON THE EXTERNAL BENEFITS, THE BELLS AND WHISTLES, TO VALIDATE THEIR INNER GOALS OR PURSUITS. HOWEVER, ONCE THE EXTERNAL MOTIVATION IS GONE, SO TOO IS THE PASSION TO OWN THE PURPOSE. IT'S AN ILLUSION. A SIREN CALLING TO THE SHIPS.

AS AN "INSIDE-OUT" LEADER, YOU ARE INSPIRING YOUR TEAM WITH THE CLARITY OF HOPE. YOU'RE NOT PROMISING PERFECTION OR AN EXPECTATION THAT THERE WON'T BE SOME MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY, BUT YOU'RE BUILDING THE ANTICIPATION THAT THEY WILL BE A PART OF A WINNING TEAM THAT IS UNIFIED BY PURPOSE.

IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, THE FRIDAY BEFORE EASTER IS CALLED “GOOD FRIDAY." CHRISTIANS DON'T REFER TO THAT DAY AS "GOOD" BECAUSE THEY SEE THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY AS PARTICULARLY GOOD OR HAPPY. HOWEVER, BELIEVERS RECOGNIZE THAT THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY WERE PIVOTAL IN SETTING UP THE SUCCESS THAT HAPPENED ON EASTER SUNDAY. THE RISING UP!  THAT IS THE FOCUS. THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

AND, ADMITTEDLY, WHEN YOU'RE LEADING A TEAM, GETTING EVERYONE TO SEE THAT TINY SPECK OF LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS NOT EASY. THERE ARE DAYS WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK AND REST FROM THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CREATING THAT VISION. YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR EYE OFF OF THE PRIZE AND JUST COAST FOR A MINUTE. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY HUMAN! AND MAINTAINING YOUR FOCUS WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO GO ON AUTO-PILOT IS TOUGH! BUT THAT’S WHY SO FEW CAN MAKE THAT JOURNEY FROM GOOD TO GREAT.

JIM COLLINS, IN HIS BOOK “GOOD TO GREAT," TALKS ABOUT "THE STOCKDALE PARADOX"-- THE BATTLE OF KEEPING HOPE ALIVE WHILE TRULY FACING THE REALITY OF THE CURRENT SITUATION.  HE WRITES THAT, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, AN ADMIRAL NAMED STOCKDALE STAYED ALIVE BY FINDING A BALANCE OF HOPE AND REALITY. STOCKDALE REPORTED THAT SOME OF THOSE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT ALIVE OF NORTH VIETNAM DIED OF A BROKEN HEART. THEIR WILL TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY GO HOME WAS OVERTAKEN BY THEIR CURRENT SITUATION AND HORRIBLE CONDITIONS THAT THEY WERE KEPT IN.

SO, AS THE FLOWERS BEGIN TO BLOOM, AS THE TREES SPROUT THEIR LEAVES, AND AS BIRDS GATHER TO SING THEIR SONGS, HOPE DOES SPRING ETERNAL. EACH SPRING WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFRAME “OUR” PICTURE.

WHAT DOES THE PICTURE LOOK LIKE TO THOSE THAT LOOK TO YOU FOR LEADERSHIP? IS IT A PRETTY PICTURE? A "GOOD" PICTURE? IF NOT, OH BOY, IT'S TIME TO HELP EVERYONE SEE JUST HOW "GOOD" IT IS. HOW GREAT IT CAN BE!

AND, WHAT THE HECK, MAYBE THIS IS THE YEAR THE CUBS WIN IT ALL!

SPRING FORWARD!

ONE OF THE MOST POTENTIALLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT MOST LEADERS FACE IS, AS THE POPULAR SONG GOES, “KNOW[ING] WHEN TO HOLD ‘EM, KNOW[ING] WHEN TO FOLD ‘EM,” KNOWING WHEN TO STEP ASIDE, LET GO, AND ALLOW THE BUSINESS TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH NEW LEADERSHIP.  IT’S EASY TO SAY BUT TOUGH TO DO FOR MOST OF US, AND MANY TIMES WE STAY TOO LONG. WE EXIT ON THE DOWN SIDE OF OUR EFFECTIVENESS.

AS A BYSTANDER, I’VE WITNESSED EXAMPLES OF THIS IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

AS A SPORTS FAN, SEEING WILLIE MAYS IN A NEW YORK METS UNIFORM WAS PAINFUL FOR ME.  SURE, THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY HIM, AND HE STILL ENJOYED PLAYING BASEBALL!  BUT, FROM MY SEAT, HE WAS A SHELL OF HIMSELF AS AN ATHLETE, AND HIS RESULTS AT THE END OF HIS CAREER PROVED IT.

ALL THE TIME, YOU SEE SOME ENTERTAINERS THAT CONTINUE TO PERFORM LONG AFTER THEIR SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING.  WE GO TO THEIR SHOWS, WE LISTEN, WE APPLAUD,  AND, OFTENTIMES, WE’RE JUST LEFT REMEMBERING HOW GREAT OF A VOICE THEY ONCE HAD, OR HOW THEY ONCE GLIDED ACROSS THE FLOOR WITH SUCH EASE. BUT, FROM WHERE WE’RE NOW SITTING, WE REALIZE THAT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS NOTHING LIKE THE MAGIC THEY CREATED ONCE UPON A TIME.

AND SO IT IS WITH LEADERSHIP, TOO. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE WITH PRESIDENTS OR LEADERS OF ORGANIZATIONS IS THAT, HEY, IT IS TIME TO FOLD. MANY OF THEM LOOK AT THE COMPANY AS THEIR CREATION OR THEIR BABY, AND IT HAS BECOME VIRTUALLY  IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES ON THE OUTSIDE. AND YET, THE SKILLS THAT HAVE BROUGHT THE COMPANY TO THIS LEVEL WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.  IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR WORTH IS MANIFESTED IN THE COMPANY, YOU CANNOT SEE YOUR REAL WORTH WITHOUT IT.

ANDREW MASON RECENTLY SENT AN EMAIL TO HIS TEAM AT GROUPON:

After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I've decided that I'd like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding — I was fired today. If you're wondering why ... you haven't been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness to two quarters of missing our own expectations and a stock price that's hovering around one quarter of our listing price, the events of the last year and a half speak for themselves. As CEO, I am accountable.

IN ANOTHER SECTOR, POPE BENEDICT XVI RECENTLY RESIGNED.  POPE’S NEVER RETIRE.  IN FACT, NO POPE HAS RETIRED IN THE LAST 600 YEARS! THEY DIE IN OFFICE.  IN HIS LETTER TO THE CARDINALS HE WROTE:

…I don't feel I have the physical capability of carrying on this stewardship in the manner required for the Church and its Parishioners. I have watched as my predecessors declined, yet hold on until death, and I decided it was better for everyone that I allow someone else to continue…

SELFLESS LEADERSHIP!

NOW, REMEMBERING THAT I’M A SPORTS FAN, LET’S TALK ABOUT SANDY KOUFAX. DURING KOUFAX’S LAST YEAR WITH THE DODGERS, HE LEAD THE MAJORS WITH A 27-9 RECORD AND AN ERA OF 1.79.  HE WAS AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME! FOLLOWING AN ARM INJURY, HE COULD HAVE DECIDED TO STAY AROUND, RECOVER, AND KEEP ON PLAYING; HOWEVER, HE MADE THE DECISION TO LEAVE AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME AND BUILD A NEW LIFE FOR HIMSELF. IF ONLY MY MAN, WILLIE MAYS, HAD DONE THE SAME!

SO, AS LEADERS, IT’S ON US TO TRANSITION INTO “WHAT’S NEXT” WHEN WE REALIZE WE CAN NO LONGER LEAD WITH OUR PREVIOUS SET OF SKILL AND STANDARDS.  POWERFUL LEADERS ARE ABLE TO RESIST THE ALLURE OF HANGING ON TO THE SPOTLIGHT AND CELEBRITY OF A POSITION OR JOB WHEN THEY REALIZE THAT IT’S TIME TO GO. WEAKER LEADERS REFUSE TO SEE THAT IT IS TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP AND DIG IN THEIR TALONS.

AS OUR KIDS MOVE OUT AND OUR DOGS PASS AWAY, IT’S ON US TO SEEK THAT NEW FRONTIER, THAT NEW LIFE. THERE IS A NEW LIFE (A FULL LIFE!) WAITING FOR US, IF WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO MOVE ON.

IN HIS FAMOUS SONG “THE GAMBLER” KENNY ROGER’S SANG:

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

WHEN IT’S OUR TIME, LET US PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE US THE GRACE, HUMILITY AND WISDOM TO KNOW WHEN TO FOLD ‘EM!  OUR NEXT PHASE OF LIFE IS WAITING FOR US WITH NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.  BUT WE CAN’T REACH OUT FOR IT UNLESS WE LET GO.