In Umesh Ramakrishnan's book, There's No Elevator to the Top, he tells
us that vertical ascents in organizations can result in untold, missed
opportunities that broaden and enrich the individual in their career
journey. While Ramakrishnan's focus is on business and the leader's
most beneficial and growth-oriented career trajectory, when we broaden
our mind's perspective, we also see its applicability to the
individual's life journey. He relates John Kealy' story - the owner
of iDirect which he sold to Singapore Technologies - and his journey
into unknown territory.
"He (Kealy) used a climbing analogy to describe business careers. In
the early twentieth century, a career trajectory was like hiking up a
mountain. You saw the summit and worked your way up, with your eye on
the top the entire time. You knew where you were going. 'Now we're
rock climbing…. We're just kind of working our way up the side, not
quite sure where we're going or where that next turn is. But if
you're smart and aggressive and opportunistic you find your way to the
top.' While it may not seem to be the fastest way, the most
intelligent path between two points may not be a straight line."
Kealy's analogy is familiar to all of us in our leadership and life's
journey. The side-paths we have taken and explored are the ones
filled with the greatest learnings and most beautiful memories because
they have served to broaden and deepen our view of life and ourselves.
In this new year may you look to the words of American poet, Robert
Frost, who wrote: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one
less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Live to your
life's fullest potential; dream and see things than never were and
say: Why not?
Dare to dream this year - of the possibilities in the world around you
and in the people you touch. Dream of and then realize your own
possibilities. And have fun doing it and enjoy the journey. May it
be your best year ever!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Work & Life
"I can't wait to wake up and get to work!" Those are the words we
hear from the great leaders who have found their love in life -
whether it is in business, public, community or simply their life's
love and ambition to do a certain thing. They just can't get enough
of it, because their work is not work to them, but pure joy.
I with students at a meeting recently listening to a senior executive
share his life-long learnings and experiences in leadership. He, too,
shared with the students the same statement about wanting to get up in
the morning and go to work. One of the bright students (they were all
very bright), a college Freshman, asked him: "How do we find that
sort of job for ourselves?" Every student in the room straightened
with the question, as it was obviously a critical one for those who
were looking for their career path.
The executive said to her: "That's a profound question.
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you." But he didn't let it
drop with that response. He said that although he didn't have an
answer to her question, he had a question that would help her find the
answer: "What job would you do that you wouldn't ask to be paid for?"
Reflecting on the question, great leaders understand the simplicity
of the key to a successful career - find something that gives value
and purpose to one's life, something that matters and into which one
throws oneself completely.
George C. Hubbs, author, wrote: "Work is an inanimate thing and can be
made lively and interesting only by injecting yourself into it. Your
job is only as big as you are." It is the person and their passion
who brings meaning, joy and excitement to work. Ask yourself this
week: "What job would I do that I wouldn't ask to be paid for?" Let
your week be filled with great purpose and great passion for those
things that bring value to your life. And have fun doing it.
hear from the great leaders who have found their love in life -
whether it is in business, public, community or simply their life's
love and ambition to do a certain thing. They just can't get enough
of it, because their work is not work to them, but pure joy.
I with students at a meeting recently listening to a senior executive
share his life-long learnings and experiences in leadership. He, too,
shared with the students the same statement about wanting to get up in
the morning and go to work. One of the bright students (they were all
very bright), a college Freshman, asked him: "How do we find that
sort of job for ourselves?" Every student in the room straightened
with the question, as it was obviously a critical one for those who
were looking for their career path.
The executive said to her: "That's a profound question.
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you." But he didn't let it
drop with that response. He said that although he didn't have an
answer to her question, he had a question that would help her find the
answer: "What job would you do that you wouldn't ask to be paid for?"
Reflecting on the question, great leaders understand the simplicity
of the key to a successful career - find something that gives value
and purpose to one's life, something that matters and into which one
throws oneself completely.
George C. Hubbs, author, wrote: "Work is an inanimate thing and can be
made lively and interesting only by injecting yourself into it. Your
job is only as big as you are." It is the person and their passion
who brings meaning, joy and excitement to work. Ask yourself this
week: "What job would I do that I wouldn't ask to be paid for?" Let
your week be filled with great purpose and great passion for those
things that bring value to your life. And have fun doing it.
Step Back and Reflect on the true purpose of our life
In a recent article, a Life That Counts, by Dr. John C. Maxwell, we
are invited to step back and reflect on the true purpose of our life.
The article begins with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, American
political theorist, author and inventor, who wrote: "I would rather
have it said 'he lived usefully' than 'he did rich.'" Franklin wanted
a life in which his success would be counted not in the amount of
money he could amass, but rather in terms of how much of himself he
could give in helping people. Maxwell's own reflection tells us a
similar story:
"As I age, I gain perspective on the illusion of wealth and status as
forms of fulfillment. I don't want my life to be measured by dollars
and cents, or the number of books I've authored. Rather, I want to be
remembered by the lives that I've touched. I want to live a life that
counts. With each day that passes, I feel a greater sense of urgency
to make sure my time and energy are invested in developing leaders."
He shares with us his insights on how a life that counts is determined:
The relationships that I form - "Relationships help us to define who
we are and what we can become." It is surrounding ourselves with
people who enrich and enliven our lives and spirit, help us to see new
possibilities within ourselves and inspire us to our greatest
potential. His Relationship Rules are beautifully simple:
1. "Get along with yourself - The one relationship you will have
until you die is yourself.
2. Value people - You cannot make another person feel important if
you secretly feel that he or she is a nobody.
3. Make the effort to form relationships - The result of a person who
has never served others? Loneliness.
4. Understand the Reciprocity Rule - Over time, people come to share
reciprocal, similar attitudes towards each other.
5. Follow the Golden Rule - The timeless principle: Treat others the
way you want to be treated."
The decisions that I make - Our decisions reflect the person we are.
To have meaningful and positive impact in life, our life must be
values-based, guided by principles.
The experiences that I encounter - Our lives are influenced by so many
experiences that give breadth, depth and form to them: the birth of a
child, a personal or professional accomplishment, a relationship with
a life's partner or friend, the death of a loved one. These
experiences, and our response to them, help us grow and, in some
cases, give greater purpose and focus to our life. One of the
pointers that Maxwell shares on gaining the best from experiences is:
"Evaluate experience - Experience isn't the best teach. Evaluated
experience is the best teacher. Learn from mistakes and victories
alike. Draw upon experience to grow and gain wisdom."
Great leaders, I would suggest, do want to be rich in life, but not in
the monetary sense. Their richness is in their love of life and their
servant leadership - in first understanding themselves, and then
enabling others to achieve their greatest potential. This week and
always may you live a life that counts - one filled with purpose,
passion and joy, that all may say of you: You lived your life
usefully.
are invited to step back and reflect on the true purpose of our life.
The article begins with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, American
political theorist, author and inventor, who wrote: "I would rather
have it said 'he lived usefully' than 'he did rich.'" Franklin wanted
a life in which his success would be counted not in the amount of
money he could amass, but rather in terms of how much of himself he
could give in helping people. Maxwell's own reflection tells us a
similar story:
"As I age, I gain perspective on the illusion of wealth and status as
forms of fulfillment. I don't want my life to be measured by dollars
and cents, or the number of books I've authored. Rather, I want to be
remembered by the lives that I've touched. I want to live a life that
counts. With each day that passes, I feel a greater sense of urgency
to make sure my time and energy are invested in developing leaders."
He shares with us his insights on how a life that counts is determined:
The relationships that I form - "Relationships help us to define who
we are and what we can become." It is surrounding ourselves with
people who enrich and enliven our lives and spirit, help us to see new
possibilities within ourselves and inspire us to our greatest
potential. His Relationship Rules are beautifully simple:
1. "Get along with yourself - The one relationship you will have
until you die is yourself.
2. Value people - You cannot make another person feel important if
you secretly feel that he or she is a nobody.
3. Make the effort to form relationships - The result of a person who
has never served others? Loneliness.
4. Understand the Reciprocity Rule - Over time, people come to share
reciprocal, similar attitudes towards each other.
5. Follow the Golden Rule - The timeless principle: Treat others the
way you want to be treated."
The decisions that I make - Our decisions reflect the person we are.
To have meaningful and positive impact in life, our life must be
values-based, guided by principles.
The experiences that I encounter - Our lives are influenced by so many
experiences that give breadth, depth and form to them: the birth of a
child, a personal or professional accomplishment, a relationship with
a life's partner or friend, the death of a loved one. These
experiences, and our response to them, help us grow and, in some
cases, give greater purpose and focus to our life. One of the
pointers that Maxwell shares on gaining the best from experiences is:
"Evaluate experience - Experience isn't the best teach. Evaluated
experience is the best teacher. Learn from mistakes and victories
alike. Draw upon experience to grow and gain wisdom."
Great leaders, I would suggest, do want to be rich in life, but not in
the monetary sense. Their richness is in their love of life and their
servant leadership - in first understanding themselves, and then
enabling others to achieve their greatest potential. This week and
always may you live a life that counts - one filled with purpose,
passion and joy, that all may say of you: You lived your life
usefully.
Friday, January 2, 2009
2008 Reminds...
- January - Rita Pang / Najiba Jemai (Portugal - Paris)
- February - Eleonore Mezeau / Alex Cabon / Eva Madeira (Paris - Natco Reims - Stockholm - Bordeaux - Toulouse)
- March - Antonio Jovanovski / Csenge Fazekas & Petra Patty (Paris - Budapest)
- April - Miroslav Ilijevski / David Pires (Paris - Grenoble NTMS)
- May - Aurelie Coeffic / José Nogueira (Paris - Portugal - Paris STEP - Bordeaux - Toulouse)
- June - Manon Wakkach / Sneha Menon/ Abdo Assem / Carlos Sanchez Ruivo (Paris)
- July - Luis Costa / Ewa Davidovicz (Eurotrip - Krakow)
- August - Walid Tiiki / Andrea Vincze (Krakow - Zakopana)
- September - António Correia / Rita Loia (Krakow - Portugal)
- October - Inês Vieira / Ricardo Vargas (Portugal)
- November - Ana Seiroco / Hugo Pereira (Portugal - Barcelona)
- December - Adriana Gouveia / Fábio Rodrigues (Portugal)
Special ones:
- Great to see you again!:
Ana Catarina / Ivy & Selda
- Crazy: Noémie Levieux / Maria Himmich / Najiba Jemai
- Motivation: Ana Seiroco / Guillaume Le Nezet / Fábio Rodrigues
- Hosting: Gustavo Salles / Filipe Vidi / Paulo Silva / Jenniffer Pang / Agnieszka (2) / Ewa Dawidovicz / Bandi / Miroslav Illjevski
- Collegue: Alex Cabon / Grzegorz Szczepanik
- Sister: Rita Pang
- Brother: Alex Cabon
- Leader: Antonio Jovanovski
Music:
-Music of the year 2008: Brandi Carlile - The Story / Beyoncé - If I Were A Boy
- February - Eleonore Mezeau / Alex Cabon / Eva Madeira (Paris - Natco Reims - Stockholm - Bordeaux - Toulouse)
- March - Antonio Jovanovski / Csenge Fazekas & Petra Patty (Paris - Budapest)
- April - Miroslav Ilijevski / David Pires (Paris - Grenoble NTMS)
- May - Aurelie Coeffic / José Nogueira (Paris - Portugal - Paris STEP - Bordeaux - Toulouse)
- June - Manon Wakkach / Sneha Menon/ Abdo Assem / Carlos Sanchez Ruivo (Paris)
- July - Luis Costa / Ewa Davidovicz (Eurotrip - Krakow)
- August - Walid Tiiki / Andrea Vincze (Krakow - Zakopana)
- September - António Correia / Rita Loia (Krakow - Portugal)
- October - Inês Vieira / Ricardo Vargas (Portugal)
- November - Ana Seiroco / Hugo Pereira (Portugal - Barcelona)
- December - Adriana Gouveia / Fábio Rodrigues (Portugal)
Special ones:
- Great to see you again!:
Ana Catarina / Ivy & Selda
- Crazy: Noémie Levieux / Maria Himmich / Najiba Jemai
- Motivation: Ana Seiroco / Guillaume Le Nezet / Fábio Rodrigues
- Hosting: Gustavo Salles / Filipe Vidi / Paulo Silva / Jenniffer Pang / Agnieszka (2) / Ewa Dawidovicz / Bandi / Miroslav Illjevski
- Collegue: Alex Cabon / Grzegorz Szczepanik
- Sister: Rita Pang
- Brother: Alex Cabon
- Leader: Antonio Jovanovski
Music:
-Music of the year 2008: Brandi Carlile - The Story / Beyoncé - If I Were A Boy
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2008 was the best year EVER! 2009 has to be better!
More than words, we have to take our intentions in ACTION.
This was the secret of 2008!
This was the secret of 2008!
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