2012 in Review: The Fate of Hope

Last New Year's Eve, I wrote a post called 2012: A Year of Hope, and as the year comes to an end it’s time to take stock of where we are.

Hope is a funny thing.  It seems to shine the brightest when we can see and feel nothing but darkness.  

This year, December 14th became a day that will stand out for many.  From some it will forever be the anniversary of great tragedy and loss.  The tremendous amount of pain and senseless suffering associated with the Sandy Brook Elementary school shooting will remain a scar on our national psyche for many years to come.  In the wake of this massacre it might be easy to believe that darkness has won. 

But just hours after the tragic events of the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, two friends welcomed theirdaughter into the world.  Two people who are kind and generous and loving experienced, in an instant, their family, their love, their joy expand beyond comprehension. 

And so, hope enters the world.

If we widen the scope, 2012 has not been an easy year by any account.  There is plenty to be upset about.  Our hurts seem to have multiplied.  We are weary from extreme acts of senseless violence and a nasty campaign season.  We are bitter from loss at the hands of hurricane Sandy and our in ability to recover fast enough.  We are heartbroken, as good people who want to work remain unemployed or under-employed.   We are plugged in, but seem to be farther from the people in our lives.  We are surrounded by information and entertainment, and often feel isolated, alone, and bored.

And yet, we are still here. 

AmeriCorps members, National Guard, and many others are still serving in the aftermath of Sandy. Teachers, parents, administrators, and local law enforcement across the country are working like never before to keep our kids safe.  Children are being born, and growing up, and being loved by their families.  People everywhere are starting to talk about being tired of the anger and violence that seems to be everywhere.  Many of us are lucky to have family and friends close at hand, which is a bigger blessing than we regularly acknowledge.  

Despite the frustration and pain, the disappointment and loss – the great experiment continues.  

Like the phoenix hope often seems to rise out of the ashes of disappointment, sorrow and suffering.  St. Augustine believed this when he penned the lines: “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”

This year may not have turned out like any of us expected, but if we embrace anger towards that which is wrong in the world and the courage to become an agent of change, then we will get things done in 2013.  

Thus, hope lives on. 

Sad, because of what happened today in CT. 

Lucky to know so many who dedicate their lives to helping kids learn and making schools safe. 

Proud that despite fears, concerns, frustrations and anger most of them will be back on the job on Monday. 

Heroes, one and all.

Zen and Fire Sirens

It's been said that, "God writes straight with crooked lines," and the older I get the more I embrace this statement as truth.  My path has seemed random and disjointed at some points, but then makes perfect sense at others.  

A while ago I was sitting in a seminar focused on introducing people to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation.   As the group shuffled into the room a fire truck flew past running full lights and sirens (Signal 10) and filling the entire space with noise.  No sooner had the truck passed than a guy from the back row piped up, "I think that siren just messed up my meditation."  We all chuckled, along with our presenter.

And then, the unexpected happened.  

Our presenter, a man claiming to help us calm our minds and cultivate peace told us that the siren can become part of our meditation.  He introduced to the group and reminded me of the Buddhist idea of impermanence.  Like the passing siren, which comes in loud often disrupting our focus, life happens without our consent.  We can either be annoyed by these events, or embrace them as part of a temporary state.

There is a line from "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" that puts this all into perspective for me.

"All things are ok in the end, if they are not ok, then it is not the end."  

I think this quote coupled with the idea of impermanence are two ideas that can help us navigate the small (and perhaps larger) struggles and frustrations of our day.  The lesson of the siren happened on the fly, and yet it's impact was significant.  Instances like this are great reminders that great things can be learned throughout the course of our everyday lives -- if we have the patience to pause and awareness to see.

Discipline: Back in the Saddle Again

Yesterday marked week three of my return to serious bike riding.  I’ve missed riding and between a crazy schedule and the ridiculous heat that has plagued us this summer, I just hadn’t been out much.  In the wake of the Olympics there are no shortage of reminders of the need for physical and mental discipline – so I decided it was time to get back in the saddle again. 

Human beings are very adept at making excuses, and justifying those excuses.  It happens to all of us at one point or another.  The trick is recognizing those times and really trying to push ourselves, either mentally or physically.  Sure we all have real limits, but how often to we actually reach them?  Like everything we must be aware of ourselves and our own real limitations, pushing through the imagined ones.

Discipline, especially the self-imposed variety, is not easy, it’s the very opposite in fact.  Paulo Coelho recognizes and embraces this difficulty in The Alchemist as he reminds readers that whether life, experience, or growth, "It’s real and true, precisely because it’s difficult."

Each of us approaches unique personal challenges along the road, most of which require us to tap previously unrealized levels of discipline. 

“If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do.  The body will always give up.  It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night.  The body is never tired if the mind is not tired."
-General George S. Patton, U.S. Army and 1912 Olympian

I have not written much here about my journey to a healthier lifestyle, but the short version is this:  In 2009 I realized I had reached an all time low, with respect to my body weight.  Out of shape and unhealthy, I decided a changes was no longer a goal, but a necessity.  With the tremendous support of my wife and coach, Katie, our friends and work out buddies Todd and Jenn Huff, Daniel Cook, and the encouragement of many family and friends, I was able to change my diet and begin a work out regimen that ultimately resulted in the loss of 95lbs.  Yes, ultimately I had to be the one to embrace the discipline of working out regularly and eating right -- but it would have been infinitely harder without a great support system.  (Many Thanks.)

There is still a long way to go, and I struggle with temptations to slack, but it gets a little easier every day.  The mental struggle to commit, often must fought in order for the physical to battle to be won.  I recently realized that such wars are never really won, as they are ongoing.  

But I also realized some encouraging things:  We all struggle.  We all try, and fail.   But in the trial and error we learn.  Through the exercise of the struggle, our endurance improves.   We should celebrate these things, because they are indicators of progress and growth.  By fighting the good fight, we ultimately win, even though a blue ribbon is never awarded. 

I leave you with a soundtrack for this post, one of my favorites Back in the Saddle Again, by Aerosmith.

Olympic Fever 2012: Wrap Up

The concluding events of the 30th Olympiad have taken place, and it's worth a moment to stop and reflect on some of the great moments of the last several weeks.

Gabby Douglas - Gold medal winner, both as part of Team USA Gymnastics and as the individual All Around Champion.  I don't claim to understand gymnastics, or the rules that govern the age of these talented competitors, but I hope to see her with Team USA in Rio.

Missy Franklin - The beginning of a very promising career, and a very humble--down to earth young woman.  Several gold medals and a world of possibilities.  She has the potential to be as successful as Phelps, with half the attitude.


Oscar Pistorius - made history as the first physically impaired athlete to compete against able-bodied athletes in an Olympic event.  Given Pistorius' performance, perhaps we all ought to reevaluate the term able-bodied, that man can move.

David Boudia - fellow Hoosier and Boilermaker, won both bronze and gold in the syncro and individual platform diving events respectively.

I would be remiss for not acknowledging Michael Phelps as the all time most decorated Olympic Athlete.  Like him or not, Phelps is talented beyond belief.

Another important acknowledgement belongs to our Hometown Hero, Morgan Uceny - finalist in the 1500m race.  There are a lot of critics of Morgan's performance in the final race, the harshest of which is likely Morgan herself.  After what can only be described as a heartbreaking outcome, she collected herself and left the stadium.  No blame was directed toward the Russian runner who clipped her.  No criticism of her fellow runners who didn't so much as attempt to console her or see if she was injured after the race.  She picked herself up, and moved on.  Regardless of the outcome she remains a world class athlete and a class act.

Despite the tragic results of that race, Morgan has heart.  Following the tragic incidents of the 2011 World Championships, Morgan went on to become the highest ranked woman in the world in the 1500m.  The talent is there.  The heart is there.  Watch out Rio, Morgan's gunning for you.

All in all, the games of the 30th Olympiad left us with great stories of victory and defeat, sweet triumph and the biter reality of loss.  For a few days we witnessed a sense of global unity rarely seen outside of the Olympics.

Finally, on a lighter note a Gold goes to the Team USA Swim Team for their debut in the musical spoof genera.

Discipline: Tuesdays at 10

Even on a team of superheroes there is a weak link.  We know this to be true in many aspects of our modern life.  The idea that, “a chain is no stronger than its weakest link” seems to permeate our cultural psyche.  The Olympics provide a wonderful illustration of this concept, when announcers talk about the weak runners in the 1500m (a metric mile).  Keeping in mind that the weakest time for the Olympic 1500m run averages around 4 min and change.  Even amongst the worlds greatest runners we, as human beings, assign rank and value to performance. 

We do this, consciously and unconsciously, at work and home, in public and private -- all in order to make sense of the world.  People naturally focus on the areas where we perceive the greatest weaknesses in order to build those areas up.  In many circles this practice is seen as improvement or progress. 

At an earlier point in my career I worked with a group that was in the process of becoming a “dream team” of sorts.  As the group shifted and changed over time I won the title of ‘weakest link’ in the eyes of the boss.  It was made pretty clear that while I was doing “a good job,” I could always “do better.”  In her effort to help me we started meeting every Tuesday at 10 a.m.  

I resented these meetings for several of the first weekly sessions.  I saw the sessions as discipline = punishment.  After a time, I realized that my supervisor also saw the sessions as discipline, but she defined discipline as something more.  Discipline has many definitions, here are some of the most common:

1.  punishment
2. a field of study
3. a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
4. A.)  control gained by enforcing obedience or order; B.) self-control
5. training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. 

As it turns out my boss viewed our sessions as a training opportunity.  Once this came to my attention, I realized I had a choice to make.  I could either see our meetings as a punishment, or embrace them as an opportunity to learn.  I chose to check my pride and embrace the chance to gain knowledge.  It turned out that I learned a great deal, and became a better professional (and perhaps person) for the experience.   On another team, I would have been one of the top performers, but my boss felt that on that particular team I fell back in the pack.

At the end of the day, the fundamental truth stands: you can learn something from every situation.

Sometimes it takes a little longer to see the lesson.  Sometimes extenuating circumstances muddy the water.  Sometimes we’re too emotionally invested in the situation and therefore cannot see the lesson.  But most of the time, a little kernel of truth is floating around in our experiences that can make us better, stronger, faster, smarter -- if we let it.  

Continuing to Learn About Service

Last week I ran across a quote from entertainer, Andy Griffith, that has stuck with me ever since first reading it.  In his characteristically straightforward style Griffith summed up a delightfully compact worldview, in a few short words: "Well, do a good day's work and act like somebody."

That's a pretty simple and yet fundamentally difficult charge, but one that many of us (AmeriCorps Alums, Pumas, and in general people of good will) can easily embrace.  Hard work, service, integrity -- it's all there.

My wife Katie, a fellow AmeriCorps Alum, honorary Puma, wild land firefighter, and all around superhero articulates the benefits of a service mentality in a blog post which first appeared on the AmeriCorps Alums Blog this morning.  Like so many Katie talks about service as journey, not a destination.  Whether formal service or local volunteerism, whether serving family, friends, strangers, pets, or the environment, service matters.

Katie sums the common thread of journey up like this, "no matter where you started out when you joined AmeriCorps, you end up in a similar mindset after serving.  Service becomes a part of your life."

Check out Katie's post and join the conversation (whether your an Alum or not)...How do you serve?

Click here to open original post

Olympic Fever: 2012

The 30^th Olympiad is well underway and I must confess, I’m hooked.  Over the past year I can count the number of times I’ve watched TV after work, and it isn’t that many.  But this week every evening has been ended with rebroadcasted viewings of swimming, gymnastics, and other highlights.

Missy Franklin winning gold, Michael Phelps setting a new record for most decorated Olympian, and hopefully a stellar performance from Morgan Ucney in the 1500m later this week – now that’s reality television. 

I’m not an avid sports fanatic, but when it comes to the Olympics I’m hooked.  There is something magical and pure about these athletes competing for the honor of their country. In a way Olympic teams are the non-profits of the athletic world – which has some appeal to me.  Sure it probably doesn’t hurt their careers to be Olympians, but this contest seems to avoid the showboating seen in the “televised league” sports.  (Please note, that I specifically choose not to call the show-boaters “professionals” for a reason.)

Regardless of the outcomes, watching the Olympics has the power to make one believe that it’s possible to be just a little bit better.  It's not logical, but logic can sometimes get in the way.  Our logic is often limited by our own limited experience so growth often requires some elements of belief.  

"If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down."  Ray Bradbury

I’m not usually a fan of Nike, but their video campaign hits the nail on the head with this one.  The kid in this video (whom I can identify and sympathize with) is working hard.  He's working against logic, and what's easy.  He's working on faith, determination, and the belief that he can be more than he is.  He's digging deep and finding his own greatness.

When was the last time you felt that watching LeBron James?

Olympic 2012 Big Kid Running Video:

http://www.getstoried.com/storytelling-big-hit-olympics/?utm_source=Get+Storied+-+Story+Mojo+E-Newsletter&utm_campaign=9141979000-071612&utm_medium=email

Power of a Good Story

I don't do this often, but it's a good one.

Reposted from Presentationzen by Guy Reynolds

http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2012/07/ken-burns-on-the-power-of-story.html#trackback

Ken Burns on the power of story

Legendary documentary Ken Burns says that the best stories are about "One plus one equals three." A good story is more than simply the sum of its parts. There is something beyond the words and the data and the images. In this short film below by Tom Mason and Sarah Klein, Ken Burns givens a very candid and brief look into what he thinks story is all about. There is not just one way — one formula if you will — for describing what good story and good storytelling is. It's complicated and professional storytellers will give you different answers. However, there is a lot of good stuff in this very short film that should inspire you to think deeper about your own storytelling ideas and techniques in your own work. For example, Burns touches on the idea of truth in documentary storytelling. But as he says, there are many truths. This is a sentiment echoed by the work of Robert Mckee as well who has said “What happens is fact, not truth. Truth is what we think about what happens.” The film itself is a good example of what is possible with just first-person interview footage and positive manipulation of the material.

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b64669e2017743351617970d
http://vimeo.com/40972394

"We all think that an exception is going to be made in our case and we're going to live forever. Being a human is actually arriving at the understanding that that's not going to be. Story is there to remind us that it's just OK."  — Ken Burns

Wha'cha Readin'?

The other day I ate lunch at an odd time, and ended up sitting with a co-worker whom I had never shared a meal with before.  Following the unwritten rule of Library socialization, my co-worker started the conversation by asking, “So, what kind of things do you read.” 

I love working in an environment where it’s just assumed that everyone is reading something. 

No matter how a person answers the above question, the power of reading never ceases to amaze me.  Whether a person reads for entertainment, enrichment, formal education, to escape or simply to pass the time, there are tremendous benefits gained.  Reflecting on my own childhood, experiences with my younger siblings, godchildren, and various adopted-nieces and nephews – the value of reading seems to become a fundamental to our development.

I am reminded of two of my favorite Einstein quotes:

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Which leads to this natural conclusion.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

By reading we enter a world where we are able to push the boundaries of our experience.  In books (digital or print) we find knowledge, wisdom, and perspective.  There is danger there too, and risk.  But that's part of life.  Part of growing up.

I guess, this image says it all…

Impact of Service

For nearly two decades civilian national service programs have ridden the ebb and flow of unsteady political sea, which governs both Washington D.C. and the federal budget.  The debate over the value of AmeriCorps and its sister programs have been argued by party leaders on both sides of the aisle since founding of AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). 

Questions of the necessity of civilian service programs come from many in Washington, many of which who have never served along side an AmeriCorps Member (CM) to see the impact of their service.  Where the program’s value has rarely been questioned is in the field. 

•      In the classrooms where AmeriCorps Members provide much needed 1 to 1 literacy coaching for students who have fallen behind their classmates  - the value is real. 

•      In homeless shelters where teams arrive to provide much needed facility improvements, working alongside shelter guests to provide a safe and secure place for those in need – the value is real.  

•      In state and national parks where trails are blazed, controlled burns are conducted, and camp areas made safe – the value is real. 

•      When disasters strike and trained, dedicated, committed NCCC teams are deployed within hours to help victims respond to, recover from, and rebuild after disasters – the value is real. 

AmeriCorps programs throughout the country bring young people together in a way that is fundamentally American.  Not driven by greed, advancement, or personal benefit, but through a common bond of service do these Corps Members stand up every day and say, “Yes, I’ll help.” 

They are not volunteers. 

They do not serve at their convenience, on the weekends or in their spare time.  They do not accept projects which are fun, convenient, or within their comfort zone.

They are AmeriCorps Members.

As AmeriCorps Members, they dedicate their lives to the cause of serving communities in need.  They serve where needed, often accepting the most challenging and least glamorous assignments – because they need to be done.   They serve long hours for terms of service ranging from several months to multiple years in some cases.   

Post Script:  This post was inspired after a text from my wife (an AmeriCorps*Indiana Alum) who ran into around 20 AmeriCorps Alums at a presentation, and reading fellow AmeriCorps*NCCC Alum Ken Tran’s blog post about disaster relief in Joplin, MO, listed here.

http://americorpsalums.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/nccc-alum-remembers-how-americorps-works-in-joplin/#comment-2194

Technofiles Beware

I don't know where I fall in the generational spectrum. Depending on the definition of generational identification I'm somewhere between a GenX-er and Millennial. Some element of my experience/personality clearly drop me into the GenX camp, others plop me square in with the millennials, but mostly I am a walking anomaly. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if later historians identify my contemporaries and I as an independent or transitional group outside of the currently conceived groupings.

This most recent inspiration for these feelings is a recent series of discussions both at work and in my personal life about the role of technology. Given my current age, it's often assumed that I will always push for the newest, fastest, shiniest tech available. Surprisingly to some, however, I lean toward the responsible use of technology, which means in many cases objecting to the investment of time, money, and energy in techno fads. This discerning approach to tech has been a source of frustration for some in the 'older' generations. Their assumptions are that I've grown up with advancing technology and therefore, should be a supporter of all things tech.

Truth - I have grown up in a world increasingly dominated by technology.

Truth - My contemporaries and I are used to learning new technology (hardware and software) by experimentation and exploration. (Basically, we click on sh*t until it works, to quote Matt Frankowski).

Truth - Those who have grown up with emerging technology as a way of life are adaptable and flexible with new technology.

Truth - The pendulum has begun to swing the other way.

Techno-lust and instant access to information has led to a surge of returning to a simpler time with clear answers. 24/7 news at our fingertips overwhelms (whether consciously or not) a persons ability to process, reflect and make decisions.

• Technology can help us organize our lives.
• Technology can help us communicate better, faster, and with more people.
• Technology can assist in the organization and distribution of information and resources.

But...

• Technology can eliminate the need for people to communicate with one another.
• Technology can teach us not to plan ahead, because we can fix, finish, and file our report, reservation, etc. at the last minute.
• Technology can create an unhealthy reliance on instant information causing a negative impact on 'fundamental skills' development. (Why learn to spell when spell-check or autocorrect will catch the error.)

I'm not saying technology is bad...that would be hypocritical coming from one who uses so much technology on a daily basis. It's not the silver bullet, however, and the thing that we love can still kill us. This is just the beginning and the role of technology in our lives is an issue which is not going away. While I was struggling with this reoccurring topic in my life, I've found several others who are addressing the very same concerns.

Mitch Joel, author of the blog Six Pixels of Seperation wrote a post about this very topic called The Other Side Of Our Digital Selves, which featured the TED video below. I don't push videos a lot, but this one got me thinking. I may not agree with everything that Professor Turkle says, but it's worth a view, you should check it out.

The Older I Get, the Smarter My Father Becomes

It was pretty clear that by the age of 16, I knew just about everything there was to know. My Dad, by contrast simply didn't understand the world. My music, sense of humor, taste in movies, all out of his reach. It was ok, he was old, old people just didn't get it.

By the time I was 18 I realized that there might be some things I hadn't learned or experienced yet. My Dad, by comparison had really picked up his game and became a good sounding board and source of advice. He helped me avoid a few mistakes and had some really decent ideas the paid off for me.

By the age of 22 it dawned on me that in the scale of human knowledge (which is itself only a fraction of all knowledge) I know practically nothing. Dad, by this point, had become a varitable sage, my consigliere, the man who has to this day helped me navigate some of the greatest challenges of my life.

It's funny how much our parents learn in those years when we're growing up. With all that's going on in the world, and the nosiness of our modern lives, we don't stop to acknowledge those who have been a positive influence, source of support, and genuine friends nearly as often as we should.

So for those who have been a great, positive influence in my life (there are far too many to list):

THANK YOU.

Seeing the Whole Board

In the famous treatise on military tactics The Art of War, Sun Tzu (or Sunzi, or Sun Wu depending on your preference) lays out a conception of the fundamental nature of war and warfare. Out of the 13 chapters of this timeless work the concept of "Know thy enemy" emerges as one of the most broadly applied and frequently quoted sentiments. I would like to say that I came to an understanding of this lesson by reading Sun Tzu, or by the closely modeled teaching from my communication professors "Know your audience." In reality I learned this lesson in far less formal ways from my cousin Luke. In our youth Luke systematically destroyed me in every strategy game known to humanity. Now, some 15 years since our last match up, the skill which began as a byproduct of a board game has become a crucial part of my professional life.

Starting around age 12, I spent a week every summer visiting my cousins Luke and Sarah in Ohio. At that point in my life this was an adventure I looked forward to all year long. Away from home, feeling grown up. In reality, I traded a summer in the middle of nowhere Indiana for a summer in the middle of nowhere Ohio. But that doesn't matter when you're 12, it's about the adventure. During those summer days we spent time swimming, building lego cities, engineering improvements on Luke's tree house, interrupted only by occasional trips to Cedar Point, tormenting Sarah, and playing board games. It was playing board games where Luke (consciously or not) taught me some fundamental lessons about life.

My Dad taught me to play chess when I was pretty young, but it was Luke who taught me how to lose. Unlike my Dad, who occasionally threw a game to let me win, Luke played for keeps. Whether chess, Stratego, Risk, Monopoly, The Game of Life, or any number of card games he won. In fact, I don't know that I've ever beat Luke. Don't get me wrong, I've seen Luke lose. My Uncle Dave could smoke us both without speaking a word and little more than a chuckle when he won. Luke, however, always managed to beat me.

The ultimate secret to his victories remains with him - truth is that he's very clever and I'm notoriously bad at games. But one element he had on his side was a presence in the moment, which comes so naturally to some, and at the time completely escaped me. He didn't worry about playing an imperfect game, he didn't over-analyze the game, he worried simply about beating his opponent. He was able to choose a strategy, identify my habits and trends, adapt his strategy, and emerge the quiet victor. Being the great extrovert that I am, I often spent several minutes explaining what I had tried to do and why -- inadvertently offering him more insights into my thinking -- but really who thinks about that when they are 12?

This entire memory was triggered a while back when Katie and I helped her friend Leslie move. On our way home Katie reminisced about fun times growing up with Leslie and shared that they used to play Stratego. That got me thinking about playing with Luke, which in turn led me to thinking about chess, strategy games, and my cousin's uncanny ability to win.

It's been said, that I'm a touch competitive. There is probably no surprise then that each summer before heading out to Ohio, I'd play as many rounds of chess as possible. I practiced and was determined to gain the upper hand. And every summer, Luke found new ways to beat me. After the distance of time and a discernment that comes with age, a though occurred to me on a recent run. Luke wasn't magic, and he didn't know a secret way to pull one over one me.

The secret is this, Luke was able to see the whole board, while I was trapped in the endless cycle of reactionary motion. When we played I was worried about my next move based on his last move: reactionary. Luke, on the other hand, saw the interconnectedness of the entire game, every piece, every move, every non-move and he adapted accordingly: visionary.

If we accept that impermanence is a reality, and therefore change is inevitable, then it's not a far jump to understand the value in the ability to shift between the immediate (the current move) and big picture (the whole board). In the professional world this skill is a fundamental trait of leaders. To balance execution and vision takes skill and time.

For those who have a vision, it's not always easy to maintain that visionary perspective. Our tendency is to be sucked into the seemingly urgent details required to achieve, achieve, achieve -- to get things done. It's surly not popular to be the one who sees 16 moves ahead and due to numerous extenuating circumstances are unable to share that knowledge with everyone around you. It's easy to become frustrated, and its even easier to frustrate those who may not see or buy into the vision.

But to lead, to usher a vision into reality, one must take risks. One must seek input. One must exercise discretion and patience.

These are all characteristics of a strong leader with a sound vision. A good idea will stand up to questions, concerns, delays, and resistance. A good leader addresses concerns and garners support for their vision. A leader must have faith in the quality and necessity of that vision, above all else. A leader must be able to keep hold of the vision, trust the vision, and share that vision.

A leader must be able to see the whole board.

After all of the education I've paid for, this most crucial of lessons didn't come to me from an ancient Chinese text, a sage family elder, or a tenured professor of communication. I learned it at age 12 from my cousin while sitting on the living room floor.

Life sure is funny.

Post Script: Writing this post reminds me of a scene from The West Wing. Season 3. Episode Heartsford Landing.

Sam and President Bartlet are engaged in discussion, and Bartlet encourages Sam to "see the whole board." When Sam finally does, this exchange takes place.

Sam: I...don't know how you do it.

Bartlet: You have a lot of help. You listen to everybody and then you call the play. Sam,

You're gonna run for President one day. Don't be scared. You can do it. I believe in you.

Dangerous Assumptions: Part 2

Wednesday, I posted about a conversation I had with a gentleman who assumed that young people (40 and under) do not serve. This didn't sit well with me, and still doesn't. The crux of his argument hinged on lack of membership in “traditional” service organizations such as Lions, Rotary, etc. I have been a part of several traditional

organizations for quite some time. In most I am the youngest member, in one my father was the next youngest member. Prior to my relocation I had several speaking engagements on the very topic of engaging young people in community groups (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, etc.) So this topic is obviously near and dear to me.

In a nutshell it’s about adaptability. It’s about change.

As a member of the “young people” demographic as well as Rotary, and other groups viewed as “traditional” community service organizations – I’m hear to tell you that if the groups don’t adapt they will not survive beyond this current generation. Younger generations (as defined above) don’t operate the same way as older more geographically centered generations.

Observations:

1. Time limitations – The structure, nature, and culture of the contemporary work environment has shifted to a 24/7 global focus resulting in business that doesn’t sleep. On a personal level this shift has allowed for floating holidays, non-traditional scheduling of days off, and flexible shifts, to rise. This means that the Society for the Preservation of Judy Garland Movies which meets on Tuesday nights at 7:30, must content with a membership who can make some meetings, but not others as shifts change, meetings are rescheduled, and travel is required. This has always been the case, with some membership, but now it is closer to the norm for younger would be members.

2. Travel/Mobility – The younger demographic identified above is more mobile as a group than any of their predecessors throughout history. Young professionals often relocate for work, establish strong relationships with people across the nation and world while at College, and spend considerable time travelling to visit those friends and family. This means that in order to volunteer they must schedule in events and service opportunities.

3. Monetary contributions – Most traditional service clubs, sororities and fraternal organizations operate on a dues system. While it is true that generations of college students have had loans. Today’s college graduates incur unparalleled amounts of student loan debt which is so out of proportion with income generated that many young professionals find it difficult to establish themselves. Adding an additional monthly/annual dues as well as the cost of meals before, after, or during meetings each month are superfluous expenses for many young people.

4. Dated Models: Many established organizations adhere to dated models of operation and engagement. The common sentiment from younger generations is: “That’s for my grandparents”

Examples of this are both broad and specific:

Fundraisers – Bingo, fish frys, trinket sales, etc. do not draw younger members. In most communities the numbers of people under the age of 40 who willingly want (or are able ) to eat deep fried fish, with deep fried fries, garnished with an iceburg lettace salad are dwindling. Bingo halls don't hold the same flash when competing with casinos and Vegas. We are a more health conscious nation with different financial priorities, and yet groups like American Legion, VFW, Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge, and countless churches continually hang their proverbial fundraising hats on these vehicle.

Gender Separation – Separation of the genders in service organizations is not as popular today as it once was. The days of men’s and women’s clubs are dwindling. Most of the younger generations have grown up in a world of co-ed everything in schools (including co-ed residence halls on most college and university campuses) young people are not so interested in having the genders separated. While groups like Rotary and Kiwanis are working to invite more women into their ranks, the reality remains that a stigma of separation exists. Young people want to serve as families, as couples, even as dates. Sounds crazy, but its true. The days when men built houses with Christmas in April and women baked cookies for the family are over. Everyone is on the job site working side by side.

Misconceptions – Misconceptions run rampant about any organization. Clubs need to reach out to potential members and help them understand that the groups do more than wear funny hats, call each other by odd titles, and do more than rub elbows.

All of the groups I’ve identified here do good work. My point is that a group can be true to its mission, while adapting to the needs of the community as well as prospective members. Because despite all of the obstacles I've identified above, young people still find ways to s

erve.

Right now there are 700,000 young Americans who are AmeriCorps Alums. Add to that number all of the PeaceCorps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and other service program alumni. Add to that number those who are independently volunteering at non-profits every day.

The interest is there.

The mentality is there.

The desire is there.

The service is there.

Young people aren’t waiting around for clubs to get their acts together. Young people are driven to act. If the traditional service groups don’t want to become the historic service groups (meaning just a blip in a text book), they need to adapt. It doesn’t have to be fundamental in most cases, but show some ability to change and grow. Adapt to your audience. Do that and younger members will come. They will serve…because they are already doing it.

Don't believe me, check out these performance and impact reports:

Full Report Listing

http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/role_impact/performance_research.asp

National Service Report (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/volunteer_study_09.pdf

Find ways to serve in your community and beyond:

www.serve.gov

www.volunteer.gov

www.americorps.gov

www.peacecorps.org

www.cncs.gov

www.tnc.org

Dangerous Assumptions: Part 1

Yesterday, I got into it with a well meaning, all be it miss informed, septuagenarian who made the mistake of saying, “These young people (40 and under) just don’t do service.” This statement was met with a collective intake of breath from those in the room. I began by listening, and asking a few questions. His evidence for the opinion, when pressed, was that young people aren’t involved in service clubs like the Lions, Rotary, etc.

I politely disagreed, which earned me a scowl and rebuttal of, “What do they do?”

I proceeded to list the ways the current AmeriCorps and Peace Corps members serve both during their terms of service as well as beyond. This is not to mention those who serve neighborhood, environmental, and church groups. I mentioned the Corporation for National and Community Service study which offers statistical support that young Americans are one of the most engaged and service oriented generations in recent historical memory.

Members of this generation are driven by a desire to see the world a better place, a desire that many work hard to make a reality in formal and informal ways. The number of non-profits rise each year, staffed largely by young energetic visionary people. Whether volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, your local library, alma matre, church, Nature Conservancy Chapter, or any of the thousands of active and important non-profits in their area – young people are involved.

Stay tuned for Dangerous Assumptions: Part 2

Courage Under Imagined Fire

As I begin another year of life, I am afforded yet another opportunity for reflection. In that reflection, I go back to Harvey. As any regular reader of this blog will know, I am a huge fan of this story -- in particular the Jimmy Stewart film version. The painting (And How Are You, Mr. Schafer) featured here is yet another tribute to the film, which was brought to life by my sister and oh so talented artist, Becca.

One of the many lessons that I take away from Harvey each time is the challenge to not get so caught up in the details of life that you fail to appreciate the beauty all around us. We see the near misses throughout the film from Dr. Conners absorption in his work; to the romantic plight of the beautiful Nurse Kelley; and even the difficulty many have in acknowledging Harvey's presence.

So, I've decided to take a few moments and think about some observations so far.

Things I am thankful for:

• I have the most wonderful wife.
• I have a great family and wonderful friends.
• I have a new god-son and a niece/nephew on the way in August.
• I am honored to have serve my country in AmeriCorps -- and have a wonderful teams that I count as another part of my family.
• I have a job that I love.
• I have a team of co-workers who are passionate about their craft.
• Running in a new pair of warm weather tights.
• The fact that I am able to run...something I never thought would happen.
• I am generally in good health.

That said, the world isn't perfect. There is never enough time to keep in touch with those I love. Work constantly demands more of my team and myself. The economy remains practically unstable and unknown.

So, we have a choice.

A. Focus on the positive, while working to overcome the negative.

Or

B. Be consumed by the details, and lash out accordingly in a survivalist mode.

I know which choice I'd prefer (A). I know which choice I talk about when it's calm and I have time to breath and think. This is the choice that most rational and sane human beings would choose. Choice A allows for clear and honest communication, which facilitates better relationships in the personal and work life. These both have an impact on our ability to reconcile with each other and the world. Choice A allows for dialogue and healing. But this is not an easy choice. Accepting Choice A and acknowledging its difficulty is a step.

The next step is to choose the first option in our actions. Amidst the chaos and drama of the urgent, do you take a moment to focus in order to overcome? Or are you consumed under the avalanche of insignificant details? Now I'm not talking about true emergencies, because a lot of people rise to the occasion in those situations. My focus is on the everyday urgencies. Those things that don't add up in the grand scheme of things, but seem to demand a disproportionate amount of our attention.

I know what I want to be the case, and what ends up really happening. Choice B plays a larger roll in my life than I'd like to admit. In 2012, in my 31st year, I commit to working on this issue of courage under imagined fire.

There are things that matter in life: family, faith, friends, finding one's vocation, etc. The list goes on. There are many things that bog us down, and it is these imagined fires which I hope to learn to fight better...even if the fight is to accept their insignificance.

Like Elwood P. Dowd, we must embrace those beautiful and precious things of the world. We must hang on to our own Harvey's, especially if we are the only ones who see them, lest they slip away.

Don't Forget to Water the Roses

A co-worker once resigned in a huff over the relocation of her workspace. This individual felt that her multiple degrees precluded her from desk space that implied that she was (in her words) “merely support staff.”

In another instance our Marketing Director was asked by the President of the company’s wife to make sure that the rose bushes outside the main offices were watered because she didn’t believe that the grounds crew was doing an adequate job.

At one point or another we are all asked to do more than our job description. This, in my experience, is an inevitability of the modern workforce. What makes the difference between the exceptional and the ordinary is the wisdom to determine when one is called to go above and beyond verses when one is being manipulated.

The two examples that started out this piece embody opposing ends of the spectrum. In the first case limited staff in a small shop requires everyone to pitch in from time to time including working from the “front desk.” In the second instance asking a senior member of the marketing team to water the roses (and this was a serious request) was a touch out of line.

The difference is perspective. In both cases individuals were put in situations in which they were not comfortable. One secretly cleaned out her desk, returned after a fictional “meeting” to hand over her keys and depart without a word to her supervisor. The second individual, the true professional, who was actually slighted respectfully helped find an alternative to her personally watering the roses.

I think at the end of the day, we’re all occasionally asked to water the roses. The successful either help or find an alternative; the short-sided get caught up in their perceived reputation, often over react and burn bridges.

May we all approach the roses with a sense of patience and perspective.