When I can learn something about myself, it's worth the time and effort it takes. It's especially valuable when I can do it, just by watching a short video. Videos worth sharing.....
Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, talks about why we have too few women leaders. She points out the unconscious behavior that we are all susceptible to in the workplace, in a clear, no nonsense way.
Benjamin Zander, conductor, speaker and author of the book, The Art of Possibility, talks about the stories that classical music tells, if we know how to listen. He ends with some wonderful wisdom about showing up, when he says, "Who are we being, that our children's eyes are not shining?"
And finally, take a look at this new feature from LinkedIn that allows you to visualize and analyze your network.
It was an eye opener for me, as I could see that I have not kept my network up to date with the direction of my business. A major portion of revenue for me these days is from universities, through my startup, My Alumni Link. Yet my network of alumni directors, at least on LinkedIn, is amazingly small.
What videos have you seen recently that are teaching you about yourself?
Sometimes, people think of doing good in the world as a big splashy project with lofty goals and wide visibility. Photo by teamstickergiant.
In reality, doing good, and having an impact, has more to do with a consistent effort over time, and staying true to your mission.
I was reminded of this by two recent email interactions.
In a recent newsletter from Northwestern, I read a story about a graduate engineering student, Bryce Meredig, who started an improv group at the university. (BTW--how cool is that?) In the following video, Meredig talks about his experience in doing improv at Stanford as an undergrad and wanting something similar in grad school. The video also includes an interview one of the advisers for the group, a mechanical engineering professor at Northwestern, about the benefits for researchers in applying improv to their work.
I emailed Patricia Ryan Madson, author of the book, Improv Wisdom, and a retired teacher of theatre and improv at Stanford. I first met Patricia when I interviewed her for my blog, A Bigger Voice, and we've since become friends. I asked whether the graduate student at Northwestern is someone she had trained.
Her reply was quick and joyful, confirming that both the graduate student and the faculty adviser were both improv students of hers at Stanford. She went on to say that it was fun to see their involvement in improv at Northwestern, which she had no knowledge of until my email.
As a theatre and improv teacher over the course of decades, Patricia has done a lot of good in the world, even if it's not fully visible to her.
The second reminder of the nature of doing good in the world came a day later. (Funny how things happen like that.) I received an email from an art therapist in Florida. She wrote to thank me for writing about navigating change and the power of commitment, in a piece titled, "The Trapeze". She had seen the metaphor used in "Art Therapy Techniques and Applications", whose author had contacted me over two years ago for permission to include in her book. Photo by kevin.j
The art therapist went on to talk about using the book and the trapeze metaphor with a group of individuals dealing with substance abuse. She built off of what I had done, extending the metaphor of a trapeze with drawing exercises and small group discussion. Her gift to me was not only a description of how she had used the metaphor, but also the results:
"The group really responded to the metaphor of the trapeze, gained a lot of insight, and had very meaningful responses."
All of this, from an article I wrote over four years ago, nearly forgotten except for an author who felt it worthy to include in her book. I felt pretty good for the rest of the day.
Like Patricia, the good I've done in the world isn't fully visible to me. I feel blessed when someone lets me know the ripple effect.
I hope this inspires you to do two things:
Do more good in the world, even if it seems like a small gesture.
Tell others when something they did really helped you.
I would love to hear your stories of doing good in the world. What have been your surprises and delights in hearing about the ripple effect of doing good in the world?
Not yet ready to retire but not sure what's next? I'm moderating a webinar on Encore Careers for the Northwestern Club of Colorado on Jan 18 at 5pm MT. Open to the public. For details and registration: http://bit.ly/hmqDeM
If you've never visited the blog, PostSecret, do. It gives a glimpse into our humanity that is rarely seen or felt, in such a visceral way. Photo by Foxtongue
My friend, Sally Spencer-Thomas, recently saw the founder of PostSecret, Frank Warren, speak at a conference and blogged about what she learned. It's a brilliant post. I was especially captivated by the quotes from Warren on the nature of secrets, including these:
“We keep our secrets in a box. Sometimes we bury them deep like a coffin. Sometimes they are like a gift that we open up and share with others.”
“When we think we are carrying a secret, sometimes it is actually carrying us. Blocking us from what we might otherwise be.”
“At the center of these secrets there is a kernel of wisdom we can grow from.”
Great food for thought at the start of a new year. My thanks to Sally for capturing Frank Warren's wisdom.
I love the start of things, including a new year. The feeling of a clean slate and a sense of possibility are exciting. Photo by Robotclaw666.
Here are my top 5 tips for starting off on the right foot:
Set your intentions for the new year. Several years ago, I came up with Six Questions for the New Year. I use this with my coaching clients and for myself, as a way to close out the previous year, and prepare for the coming year. It's not about goal-setting nor is it declaring a New Year's resolution. It's about being purposeful on the experience you want to create in the coming year.
Get inspired by seeing what others did last year. Read Pam Slim's blog post on great things her clients did in 2010. (I was one of them--look for me in the list under "C" for Carol.) The diversity and creativity alone will get you thinking about what you can accomplish in one year.
Create a clear physical space in which to do your best work. I did this before Thanksgiving in my office--moved piles of papers out of my line of sight--and it made a huge difference in how I felt. It doesn't mean that everything is sorted and filed the way you would like. It means that visually and energetically, you have an environment that is conducive to creativity and productivity. Photo Clarkston SCAMP
Take stock of where you are today, without judgment. This can often be the hardest, because it means seeing reality clearly. Some things I can assess on my own (e.g., my fitness level, where I am in my career.) And then it's easy to be grateful for where I am today. Other areas need some help. My husband helps me do this with finances. When I had some regrets on spending money last year unwisely (e.g., training I paid for but didn't use), he gently reminded me that what is important is using that information for better decisions going forward.
Nourish your mind, body, and spirit. For me, that looks like doing a jigsaw puzzle, reading an interesting book (I'm currently reading, Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson), taking a walk in the winter landscape, going skiing, and doing yoga. For you, it could look completely different. Photo by Alice Popkorn.
Happy New Year! I hope that 2011 is your brightest yet.....
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