LEADERSHIP INCITES BLOG
Archive for the ‘Motivation’ Category
In case you haven’t seen this video yet http://www.girleffect.org/#/video/, I found it extremely powerful and touching. In today’s world - as reflected by daily headlines proclaiming despair and panic - it’s empowering to know that some of us ARE thinking about making a difference in the world. Even if we begin with helping one child.
Great news! This month’s Smart CEO Magazine- both the DC and the Baltimore issues - have published my quote on CEO burnouts. Of course, the part of the interview they chose to publish was about my own burnout (rather than all the brilliant insights I’ve given clients over the years to battle theirs). The good news is that it might inspire other smart CEOs to follow my lead and take their own rejuvenating, refocusing vacations! Can you tell, I believe in leading (and vacationing) by example ;)
Did you notice that September was a bit of an odd month? I don’t think it was just me as most of my associates and clients reported strange glitches – from technology meltdowns to interpersonal miscommunications to professional missteps. Whether it was coincidental, astrological or imaginary, I found that along with the challenges emerged some fascinating insights. Most enlighteningly, I may have finally learned how to process “constructive feedback” in a balanced, healthy, non-self-kicking manner. At first I thought it was a fluke, but of course then I got multiple opportunities to validate this newfound skill (aren’t I lucky!)
Somehow I got my beach and in-town weekends mixed up and unexpectedly ended up at the Inc. 500 conference on Saturday. Fate was clearly working its magic – of course, it was the perfect place for me to be! Inc. magazine annually recognizes the fastest growing private companies - this conference is intended to celebrate, meet like-minded innovators and learn from gurus like Jim Collins, Seth Godin, Tom Peters and Michael Gerber. Surrounded by other bright, visionary business owners I couldn’t have been more inspired and energized!
A few years ago I was asked in a Washington Business Journal interview about the best and worst aspects of networking in D.C. The answer was the same, “It’s a really small town.” So if you’re well-liked, it’s great because the word gets around. And if you’ve messed up, guess what! I constantly meet people who know me (or of me) in the most unlikely places – metro, airports, even the Lion King-the-musical (and yes, those hyenas are just as scary on stage as on the big screen!) A few weeks ago a business friend generously invited me his law firm’s company event at the Kennedy Center, where I promptly ran into someone who knew me as a teenager! And if the fact that he instantly recognized me (decades later!) wasn’t startling enough, he promptly reacquainted me with my former boss who is now a client at his firm! The fabulous news is that I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see them both, but the thought of how small this town is rivals the scariness of the hyenas! I walked away from this experience even more convinced that you have to be nice to everyone you meet since… birth!
