Brief Moments

     Last night in my organizational behavior class in between chapter discussions on values, motivation, job satisfaction and attitude watched a Tony Robbins speech from TED (below).  I for one never expect to have the Supreme Court on my side of anything (watch the video). To be honest I've never been a Robbins subscriber, bought his products or attended a seminar.  I know plenty of folks who have, almost all of whom are highly successful financially, and most before they started watching or listening to Tony. I also have to admit that if the organization I was teaching for allowed access to YouTube we'd have never gotten to this video in class.  They don't, even though they've promised over four weeks of classes every week that it will be available.  Thus the somewhat tired statement depending on one's beliefs that God has a Plan.  No YouTube with planned multiple video presentations to finding something to break up PowerPoints and prof...

http://www.leadwithgiants.com/leadership/the-best-of-lead-with-giants-june-2013-2/ Well worth checking out weekly from a wonderfully collaborative, practical and informative collection of leaders. Enjoy, learn, grow and do.

     A case study I was asked to analyze recently points to the over utilization of testing, the lack of common sense and the value society has placed on numbers (from tests) over face to face engagement.  The scenario is this: Lydia, 58 years old, is a 12 year employee of a 250 member small business and highly successful as the assistant to the personnel director.  She integrates all new employees into the culture, solves HR issues for all staff, and negotiates on their behalf with management, often working after hours and weekends. She is well liked and respected within the organization. A widow with a large insurance settlement, her children are grown and onto their own lives. The CEO decides to give Lydia a promotion/raise to payroll manager with brief training where she has a team of five accountants.  Within weeks the unit is dysfunctional and missing deadlines while Lydia is often late to work and having migraines.  What tests would you...

     After a 4 1/2 year hiatus from the finance industry which I filled with multiple degrees, international conference presentations, numerous sub-contract and part-time positions (mostly adjunct faculty and media work) I accepted a position almost two months ago at a smaller bank at their invitation. As I tell friends I feel slightly like Jonah, having prayed for years for a full time position with health benefits but swearing I'd never go back into finance.  The volume of sales in the first 30 days exceeded the contract 5 month goal, so I think He had plans I wasn't willing to accept.  Meanwhile the consulting, poverty discussions, media and adjunct teaching work for two institutions continues while I finish the PhD. In part because I am a confessed workaholic with limited time on earth to make a positive impact, and in part because I honor commitments.      It doesn't take much reading of my prior posts to see the anger over Wal...

     America in some senses is finally demonstrating that maybe, just maybe, it's capable of leading again. In ways that are significant, meaningful and lead to a better future for humanity than the global financial crisis and "our way or the highway" that has caused financial, physical and psychological damage to billions of global citizens.     Given the "scandals" in the news coming out of Washington currently and the root cause (too many folks don't like a Black and Democratic President who is really a Muslim, Socialist, Communist who wasn't even born in the United States; wants to seize all guns, give hand outs so people never have to work, and who's economic policies more closer reflect the first 200 years of the country that made us a global leader . . .).  Surely you can add to that just by paying attention to whatever media you prefer.     What makes me proud is that maybe something actually gets done to solve the pro...

     Shared by Lead with Giants! Thank you.      As the semester's ending and both my undergraduate and graduate students move on to their next opportunities I'm struck by hope.  Even in a global economy filled with uncertainty and modest job opportunities for most.  In part that stems from having spent more than a year with the graduate students, and the progress in the undergraduate students not of understanding theory, but of understanding self and how to apply theory to personal, professional and public life.      The level of connectivity continues to grow exponentially in our societies.  The pace of change so rapid that boxing paradigms leaves one in quicksand rather than a firm foundation our grandparents and parents could build their lives upon generations ago.  The continuity with which one can survive, achieve, and contribute is rooted in the attitude we start with, the ability to observe ...

     Wednesday afternoon I received an email regarding a client from an underwriter.  She had one accurate point, which required a change to program but didn't impact what the client had been offered or will receive.  She then went on to belabor a couple of points in documentation that would be required.  Unfortunately for her, the documentation she wanted was already there. After making her first decision, she never looked at the rest of the file.  I responded directly and not as kindly as I should have and a third party kindly alleviated the stress in the morning.  In part, both of us had been right but not willing to give ground on our points.      On Tuesday as an instructor for Cornerstone Alliance's Women's Business Center entrepreneurship classes I'd attended graduation for several women whose businesses are about to start and will do very well.  The keynote address was from Joan Smith of Smith-Dahmer As...