I have learned over the years that the best way to get to where one wishes to go is to understand and believe in the value of this statement, “I need help.” It consists of only three words, but when put together in that fashion great things can happen. And quite honestly, “I need your help.”

It has to do with giving people in need the tools they can use to create a life that mattes and the belief that they can create their own futures. It has to do with empowerment. It has to do with creating opportunities for change and for hope.

There is a training that is going to take place in Kenya that will be powerful and will create opportunties for change within those that want it. It is a training that will create empowerment and a belief that one matters and that one can create change. It is a training that will point to the bridge within each that can connect everyone to God, the divine, or the Universe. It is a training that will create hope and a knowing that they are not powerless and individuals can make a difference.

I want you to be a part of what is about to happen. I want you to choose to be a part of something bigger, that in the end will create the seeds of change in the world. I wish for you to choose to join me so together we can experience something that reaffirms in each of us a knowing that we too made a difference. If this is something that resonates within you, please go to:

http://www.leaderdevelopmentgroup.com/special-kenyan-project/

If you choose to help, we will be in partnership as I will find a way to get there and do the training for free. You will give the participants the ability to get to the training site. And together, we will make a difference.

Blessings to each of you this day,
David

UPDATE!!! Dollars are coming in and so far 22… make that now 45 women will be able to attend the 5 days of training…and with your help that number will continue to grow! I am deeply humbled and thankful that so many are choosing to be a part of what is going to be created with this project. Together we truly are going to make a difference. And once again I humbly thank each of you… David

I was reading a dialogue string within a wonderful group of leaders this morning on LinkedIn (LCF or the Leaders Foundation Café). There was a comment by Kwai Yu of the United Kingdom that I responded to there, and I write of here. The overall issue was the world’s economic crisis and that maybe the best way to learn and to create better systems is to, when they crash, let them crash so they can be rebuilt in a better way. Yet it was acknowledged that this would be very painful to millions so in the end, maybe it is best not to let those systems crash when they are in trouble and to do what we can to keep them going while fixing what we can. So it was within that context of “pain” and of our trying to minimize the pain our systems create at times for people that the following comment was made:

“…Perhaps … we should embrace Jugaad: A New Growth Formula … one that accepts pain as part of growth?”

What came to mind with the above quote was that the natural systems that surround us DO accept pain and joy, suffering and excitement… all of it for as natural systems they can be no more that they are… complete and whole. I suspect it is only in the systems we create within the natural systems surrounding us that we naively attempt to control all that is within. Don’t want to feel pain? No problem, we can manage and control that. Don’t want people to bring the emotions of home into the work place? Not a problem… we can control that through policies! Yet there is pain and because it has been ignored it can come back with a vengeance… as the pressure pot explodes when the pressures within wishing to expand cannot be held back any longer. But wait… it exploded? No problem, we can handle that! Let’s create a new policy that….

The point that came to me this morning was that the answers may again lie within us… that we first as leaders need to see, understand, and truly know who we are… and then be all that we truly are. We are pain and joy. We are suffering and excitement. We are passion, hate, fierceness, creative, compassionate, loving and a whole lot more. That maybe, if we begin to create systems that reflect all of the knowledge and balance found deep within each of us, we will be able to create systems for the benefit of all that are also in sync with the natural systems that have always surrounded us. I make up that if we can do this, then instead of fighting nature to make it what we wish it to be, we will be a part of nature (the universe) and from there become creators of what we were always meant to be. Then again, that is probably just a dream. I’m sure there is a policy or concept that can control that…

That’s my share for this morning or afternoon or evening depending upon where you are at this moment! As always, my best wishes to you all!

David

A few days ago there was a “Summit-9″ held in Suriname. The Summit was intended to focus on the “findings” from a recently completed study to meet the challenges of the 9 million youth within the Caribbean. Many of the Caribbean leaders who often spoke of their commitment to the youth of the Caribbean were “no shows”. During the Summit a few days ago, 24 Youth Delegates and two National Youth Directors stood for 9 minutes to bring awareness to that lack of attention. It was a courageous thing to do and it has already had impact.

I believe that those 24 Youth Delegates are leaders not because they did something dramatic, but because they stood for what they believe in. They stood for the 9 million youth they were representing and working tirelessly to help… to make a difference. I believe that because of their actions, and the support they received from two National Youth Directors, they will know that they can stand their ground and as such the next stance will be even more powerful. I suspect they have already begun to inspire others to also stand firm to demand the attention that the issues facing the youth of the world need… a demand for action that stands apart from political rhetoric.

And I also know that there can in these cases be repercussions… that leaders of state and people holding positions of authority do not like to “look bad” or to be publically criticized. Yet I sense the die is now cast. That people around the world are finding within themselves what they truly care about (core values) and are beginning to draw their own line in the sand. I sense a shift taking place where people are beginning to believe in their power to truly make a difference in not in their life, but in the lives of others… in this case 9 million others.

I sense that there is an awakening within hearts and spirits of people all over the world. I sense what has been referred to as a “Spiritual Conspiracy” beginning to take place. And though this “standing firm for change” will not be easy, nor will it be a quick journey, the end results will be amazing.

I know one of those Directors who stood with those 24 Youth Delegates. I wish for each of you to know her too and to remember her and those with her, as they stand firm for the needs of youth not only in Jamaica and the Caribbean, but the world. Her name is Roberta Brown-Ellis and in her heart is love, courage, and a passion to make a difference. AND, she is a servant of God.

So if any of you have an urge to say something, or offer encouragement, here would be a place to do so. I promise you they will see it… and it will have impact.

Blessings to each of you this day…. David

The phrase that comes to my mind when reading all of the ideas about leadership, each with their own set of merits and demerits, is: When things seem too complex and life seems almost overwhelming, just focus on the next step, and then the next. Soon you will look back and see how for you’ve come not how far you have to go.

I say this as I think of the magical complexity of the universe and the extent how little we know compared to the vastness of what we do not know. And yet, we will all discuss, and thrust, and parry, boldly exclaim, or quietly speculate what we believe to be true from our own world views. And we base our beliefs on bits of information or facts that are neither true or false, just bits of information, thus our beliefs are shaky at best again due to the vastness of what we do not know.

And yet, there is simplicity of things, like seeing the fractals of an object. It is like looking at the form of chaos from afar and seeing that there is indeed a pattern, a form, a design. Maybe, when we step away from the chaos and complexities of the moment, we can actually see a commonality; a pattern if you will that flows and connects all. Maybe it is as simple as seeing that the essence of leadership is simply (although not easy by any means) the knowing of one’s true self, one’s core values and purpose if you will, and to be aligned with who one is throughout every decision within every moment of one’s life. Maybe that is all leadership is when all the complexity is stripped away.

For though it may be true that an action by one may not have achieved any measureable signs of being successful, yet their action will have had impact. And that that impact as it passes from one person to another is never really measurable but it will always continue on. I also suspect that the action which was deemed by all to be a failure, could impact another in such a way that as a consequence, their next action will impact another to the point where an unknown person far removed from the original “failed action” will changed a world. In the end, who is to say what action is successful or not?

I think we tend to think in too linear of terms… cause and effect. When on steps away and observes, it may be that the only thing essential about leadership is that people choose to act in ways that are in alignment with who they are at their core… in alignment with their core values and purpose. And by simply choosing to act from that place or reference point, the summation of the cumulative impacts from those actions will create something good even if it is not seen or known at that time or moment. That maybe the essence of leadership is clear and simple. Maybe what is really needed rather than focusing on the complexities of measuring success and leadership is a clearer understanding of the relationship between essential core leadership and faith. But that I think is a topic for another time.

I am in the international city of Jerusalem at this time and am experiencing events that have truly shaped me…. changed me if you will… as to my understanding of the bridge to the divine that is within each individual no matter what belief system they may embrace. For it is when we travel deep within ourselves to find our core values and purpose that we begin to understand the power and great possibilities that can come from our learning to lead from our true selves. And I would like throw out for all, the concept that it does not matter whether an individual seeks to find God, Heaven, the Universe, the divine, or enlightenment… it all starts by taking the most powerful and lasting leadership journey one can take… the journey of self discovery.

For it is from the fertilization of these roots deep within us that we become the types of leaders that the world needs and is so desperate for. For when an individual finds their true self, makes choices, acts in alignment with their authentic self, and believes that their thoughts and action can create things AND have great impact; then a leader is born that can change a life, a family, an organization, a friend, a community, a nation, and potentially the world. I am learning that it is from that place that the power of leadership exists.

May each of us strive to find and to be in alignment with who we are at our core. May each of us in this New Year become the leader within that we were born to be. I suspect if we can do that, the rest… the outcomes if you will… will take care of themselves.

With respect to each of you this holiday season,
David

I was reading through a particularly interesting thread within the site of leadership group called “Leaders Café Foundation”. The thread dealt with the simple concept of the sincerity of people when asking others the question, “How are you?” I began to think about my own life and the countless times I asked the “How are you?” question while having no real interest but pretending to care. This may sound harsh, but as I think back on my nine year legislative career, the mind set was image and spin…. image and spin. This ended up being the main reason I finally resigned as I was becoming someone that, deep down in my spirit, I knew I could not become without losing myself… forever.

So what does that have to do with this thread you ask? Well, as I began to find myself again and go through the difficult yet rewarding journey of self-leadership, I discovered that one of my core values was “respect” or at least that is the word I chose that explained what I was trying to express from my spirit. To me “respect” is that I give each person I meet my absolute attention not because it is the right thing to do or it is culturally considered to be good manners, but because I truly WANT to know and to understand who they are, to get a sense of what is behind their beliefs and world view, and to experience another individual created by the same Universe or God that created my spirit. To me, if I do this, then it is paying each person I meet with the utmost of respect… that I truly care and wish to hear their voice. For if I truly wish for my voice to be heard, the first step is to hear the voices of others and the rest will follow.

So now, when I say, “How are you?” to someone, I look them squarely in their eyes and take the time to truly hear their response. To me it is now a matter of being in alignment with one of my core values… and I must say, the tenor and quality of my relationships have changed dramatically. People have noted the change in my behaviour and they have responded in kind. The impact of my being true to this core value I call “respect” has been nothing short of amazing… and yet not.

May your voice be heard this day…
David

I was recently interviewed by Andrea Bahamondes for a radio blog cast she was putting together. It was an amazing experience. And if you have not yet taken the opportunity to connect with her, I would recommend doing so AND to check out her blog at: www.thenakedelephant.net

There was one topic that Andrea brought up that created within me an urge to follow up here, today, with you. Her question was, “When we are in business, we have so many tools at our disposal to be successful, but what do we do when we are alone… when we start something from scratch that is just ‘us’ in the initial stages?” It was a marvelous question… and though I could do an entire seminar on that question, let me try to put some of the most critical pieces in this post to begin what might be the beginning of a longer dialogue.

It seems to me, that business success is to achieve goals. To become better than the competition and that the successful business man or woman knows how to manage and/or administer the many tools available to them. These tools can be a sales staff, an HR department, marketing, technology specialists, budget guru’s, logistics and data collectors… all are potentially there to create the outcomes or goals set by whomever to keep the business sustained, growing, and profitable. But what happens to the business person who begins to sense that this is not enough for them? That what they are doing is sometimes exciting and clearly challenging, but there is a sense deep within them that there is something “more” that they need. What if they begin to sense and know deep within their spirit that their lives are not giving them the meaning they most want … when they begin to understand that when their “run” is over that, overall, their lives did not make the kind of difference in the world they deep down wished and still want to make? What happens then and how many people today find themselves EXACTLY in that position? Sadly, my experience tells me the answer is in the millions… and it is world-wide. It very well might be you…. and I will tell you quite openly that until only a few years ago, that person was me.
When one finds themselves in that place of wanting “more” and not receiving the kind of value from their efforts as their spirit truly desires, many turn away and strike out on their own to create something that is meaningful if you will. And yet, when they do so, many turn to the same tools that helped them be a success before in business and they end up creating EXACTLY what they had before… a sense of knowing that the harder they work, the less value they receive and they once again “know” that something is indeed wrong. So what is it? What is it that they have missed? What key ingredient or formula was missed in their business education? The answer, I believe, lies in the true concept of being a leader of self.
It is quite simple in concept, yet one of the most challenging yet worthwhile action we will ever do for it deals with creating lives that matter and make a difference… the kind of difference that resonates deep within our spirit as being right… at least right for us. It is a concept that says before one can lead anyone, they must first learn to lead themselves AND the only way to do that is to go deep within ourselves to find our true core values and eventually our purpose in life. This in itself is not an easy journey as many times we are afraid of what we might find as we challenge each of our assumptions/beliefs, identify and understand our own mental modes, and begin to see how we have created our own reality and thus the lens by which we see the entire world. But in the end… we find who we really are. We find what our true, authentic core values are AND we find what it is that when we do it, we become energized, joyful, passionate, commitment, and we KNOW that our actions matter deeply to us and to those we encounter along the way. In short we find our purpose. And it is when we are on purpose AND our choices everyday become aligned with that purpose and our core values that the totality of the power within us is finally unleashed… and it brings us great joy as wonderful, seemingly magical, things begin to happen.
Now just suppose that an individual who wanted more for their life knew that he/she needed to start something new… to go a different direction…. began to create from the place of their core values and purpose? Imagine the powerful energy that would come from their choices, intentions, and actions? Imagine the kind of energy and people they would begin to attract and imagine what all of that together will create since it is all aligned to something of great value and of deep meaning to everyone who was attracted to and impacted by the actions taken. Most of all, imagine the sense of joy, fulfillment, energy, passion, commitment, and value each day would bring to that individual and to those they have encountered along the way. Imagine that person was you…

And therein lies the difference when one is alone and creating from the simple tool of the leading of self. The difference is from where our willingness to create, to build, to organize, to expand, to innovate comes from. The difference is that what we are creating comes from what we were meant to “be” or to do. And, wouldn’t it be interesting if businesses, organizations, families, indeed nations today truly began to see the value that the leading of self can create for everyone. Wouldn’t it be interesting if each employee that came to work felt that, at the end of the day, they had received something of great value to their spirit and that they were making a difference that mattered? Now would THAT create a competitive advantage and increased potential for ROI?

You know it is not often that we truly have one of those moments that really stand out…. the moment in time that separates one from the crowd. It has taken me 58 years, but my time finally came last week. Yep, I ran over my own laptop with my own car. I know, what can I say… there are few people that can pull off that kind of event and still remain composed enough to tell of that memorable if not horrific tragedy on the bricks in Nebraska….

It seems like only yesterday that I and my best friend, my laptop, were laughing through the universe of cyberspace together. My fingers were so alive that day, they were literally dancing on the keyboard and my little guy was supertop that day… he was faster than ever and outgiging even the most modern of computers. It was as if we were one. It was one of those days where my joy knew no bounds as when one believes for the first time, they are truly deeply in love and have actually met the person of their dreams. It was that kind of day.

But as in all things, coffee shops close and it was time to pack it up and go home. We had a few giggles before leaving and out we went to the car where I sat my best friend down next as I opened the door and took off my jacket as it was warmer in the late afternoon sun. There was a slight breeze, the kind that smells of autumn but has a hint of danger as if some great change was impending. I happily got into the car, turned on the radio, and… then it happened. I will never forget that sound of that soft “thump” and I’ll swear to you there was a muffled cry of terror and pain. And the change that was in the breeze became an explosion of shattering glass and megabits of information hanging on for dear life with only the padding of the case and a prayer keeping the semblance of life clinging within my laptop… my friend.

But this story has a good ending for I came to find out that my best friend, my laptop, has courage, and heart, and a fierce passion for life… and he hung on through CPR, energy transfusions, and surgery… and he survived and is almost as good as new. And I am glad he has forgiven me and we are still best of friends.

And now you may be waiting for the leadership lesson in all of this… that special something that all people seem to “get” while in the midst of tragedy. I’m not sure I have anything, yet I do want to tell you what my reaction was when I knew what I had just done. I laughed. I couldn’t believe that I was laughing and the more I thought about what I had actually done, the funnier it got! And then it came to me… as in all things in every moment we have a choice. WE get to choose how we feel and we get to choose how we wish to respond. I chose not to be mad, but to remain joyful. I chose not to be worried about what would happen choosing instead to just respond and do the next step to assess the damage and to repair if feasible. I chose not to get down on myself, angry, or frustrated and instead chose to be calm and to be in the moment and to find the joy even if the circumstances were a bit “unusual”. And there was my lesson… that we are always at choice in each and every moment and we get to choose how we wish to see the world. WE get to choose the perception of reality that will serve us the most. The power to “be” whatever we wish is within us and knowing that makes each of us very powerful indeed.

Dr. Jane Chin and I decided to do a series of podcasts that resonates within us… that being of the challenges of families and how the concepts of persoanal leadership can help create dynamic families rather than dysfuntional ones.  So to start, we are offering you a free download of a portion of our first recording, AND, if you have an interest and think this may have some value for you or someone you know to give you an opportunity to learn more as the series continues.  And yes, in this one there is a tinty sound to my voice, but we felt the information found within the podcast was still worth posting.  So, from Jane and I to you… enjoy and let us know what you think!  Let us know what you think by contacting me on the “contact us” page of this blog, or by E-mailing me at: dbs03@q.com. 

To go to the free download, go to:  http://janechin.com/personal-leadership-podcast-leadership-in-the-family

We all have our own unique ways of viewing the world.  Our minds have a peculiar way of making relationships between what our senses tell us and what our brain remembers.  Although it should give each of us a reason pause when one considers that our brain process over 4 billion bits of information a second, yet we are only consciously aware of 2,000 of them.  Makes one wonder what we are really seeing doesn’t it… or more to the point, what we are not noticing or comprehending.

I think this is more important than people may realize… for it seems that our brains do not know the difference between what it sees and what it remembers.  Think about it… when one smells something one of three possibilities could occur: (1) that our brain relates the smell to something in the past that we liked, (2) that the smell is related to something in our past that we did not like, or (3) the brain cannot find a memory of a smell and as a consequence does not recognize it as a smell of consequence.  So think of what happens to each of us on a daily basis when we experience something… our brain searches for a memory that may be linked to a bunch of memories and in a nanosecond conjures up a determination as to whether we like it or not.  At some point in time, if we are not careful, we become locked into repeating our past and our life experiences become the same as they were the day before, and the day before that.  We become reactors to events rather than creators or responders.

So what do we do?  First of all it is possible to re-wire our brains… in essence changing an event that the brain remembers as something bad, to a new experience of creating a new memory of something that is indeed good.  I give examples of this in my book “A Leader Within” that you can find as an E-book on this site or through Amazon.com, but suffice it to say that we can create new experiences to create safety from fear, joy from pain, and excitement from being afraid… we can create our own reality through our actual thoughts in any way we wish.  AND, this is important, for once we realize this, we begin to understand that each of us have a different reality and world view, that in order to truly communicate and understand each other we must first not let our brain interpret their words and ideas into what we assume them to mean, but to be totally open and curious to understand what their words and ideas mean to THEM.  It is from that point where true dialogue and understanding may begin.

So what do you want your reality to be?  Do you want one that does not serve you well such as believing that you are a victim or that you are not “good enough”, or do you wish to have one that serves you and allows for you to be all you can be?  The choice is yours…. it really is.  And once one knows and believes they can create their own reality, the personal power one that comes from this knowledge is infinite in its possibilities.