Exploring the Possibilities

VisionWhen vision becomes a cliché (President Bush-the-first once famously referred to it in an off-the-cuff remark as “the vision thing”), it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When yesterday’s vision no longer aligns with today’s brutal facts or tomorrow’s possibilities, it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When vision becomes first and foremost an act of congratulating ourselves for what we or our predecessors have accomplished, it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When “vision” becomes the mandates of mountaintop or ivory-tower elitists who have no clue what life in the cubicle, the pew, the kitchen or the stew is like, it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When vision becomes the stuff of detached, bored, or mechanical position holders, it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When vision is no longer met with resistance from the mediocre majority or the limits of human ability or imagination, it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When “vision” is presumed to emerge from the latest committee meeting, conference, book or fad, it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When vision no longer bridges the gap between what is and what should be, it’s time for a new vision – or a new leader.

When “vision” is here today and gone tomorrow, it time for a new (true) vision – or a new leader capable of seeing beyond his/her own attention deficit.

When “vision” no longer needs the God who holds the future in order to create the future, it’s time for a new (true) vision – or a new leader.

Exceptional leaders are first led themselves.  By their vision – and by the source of their vision.

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LeaderLast month Penelope Trunk, writer for the Boston Globe and the Brazen Careerest blog, wrote about her relationship with her favorite mentor, Chris Yeh.  It’s a great read (here) about the importance and cultivation of mentoring relationships.  When Penelope started her company, she asked Chris to be an advisor.  He agreed and told her the best way to use advisors:

  • Call at times you know are easy for them to talk, 

  • Keep them up to date, and 

  • Ask them what you should be asking them about.

Read that last one again.  Chris understands something about leadership, productivity, and guiding people toward personal and professional excellence:  Exceptional leaders aren’t the ones with all the right answers; they’re the ones who ask the right questions.

Want an interesting study?  Check out the lives of great leaders, past and present.  Find their guiding questions.  Go beyond what Churchill, Ghandi, Dr. King, Golda Meir, Jack Welch, Lincoln, Margaret Thatcher, Colonel Sanders, or General Patton said or did. (How’s that for an eclectic bunch?)  Look at the questions they asked.

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Spring 1“The winter is over.  The rain and snow have gone.  Come away with me, my love, come away.

“I miss our time together.  How long has it been since I heard the sound of your voice in the morning?  Come away with me, my love, come away.

“I have seen you struggling, and I’ve heard your cries in the night.  I have been with you, even when you felt alone.  I have been faithful, even when you were losing faith in Me.  I have been patient, even when you were impatient with Me.  Now the flowers are budding, and the time of singing has come.  Come away with me, my love, come away!

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DandelionTake a look at this exquisite photo. It was taken by a guy in the UK named Wez Smith. I found it yesterday, and remembered again what an amazingly beautiful world is that we live in.

Know what it is?

I’ll tell you in a minute.

Don’t you love how even the seeming imperfections of each petal all come together to form a beautiful whole?

How even the “rough edges” all come together in a symphony of striking color?

How whatever that seed part in the middle is called (I’m no botanist) suggests the amazing reproducible wonder of future life? Future potential? Even more beauty?

Figured out what it is yet, Mr. Green Jeans?

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car-overload.jpgNobody gets anywhere without ideas. And nobody gets it right 100% of the time. So sometimes we take risks, try things, and hindsight tells us we were geniuses. Sometimes, things just don’t work. But sometimes we score a Hanukkah Ham – one of those choice decisions that qualify us for the Blooper Reel of Life.

This edition of Hanukkah Hams is devoted to life behind the wheel – the things you see, the things you say, and the things you do. Yeah, we’ve all been there. And it seemed like a good idea at the time.

A couple of weeks ago I got to my local teaching assignment at Wayland Baptist University a bit early, and proud to get a close parking place. Just before class was to start, one of the staff members comes in saying he couldn’t find the owner of “that truck.”

Has your sinkin’ heart ever told on you?

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Hanukkah HamSeth Godin shared this head-turning picture taken at a market in Greenwich Village. Here’s an idea sure to get somebody a promotion – Hanukkah ham! Seth’s comment: “Sometimes a little knowledge isn’t such a good thing.”

Where would we be without ideas? And where would the good ideas be without a few Hanukkah hams thrown in for good measure? Pets.com, New Coke, Volkswagon’s “Thing” and ketchup-flavored potato chips come to mind. Seemed like good ideas to somebody at the time.

Years ago Mad Magazine did a list of ad slogans that never quite made it to TV. Things like: [click to continue…]

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first-weekend.JPG“What road are we on?” Frank asked.

“1585,” I replied.

“Wrong!” he said triumphantly. Look at the sign.”

“Whoa! When did they do that?” [click to continue…]

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