Connecting 4excellence

Evidence

2011-12-13T11:45:00.004-07:00

that working out at work works!
Check out this CBC interview working out at work and see how tread mill desks in the office are transforming work culture...do you have room?

How to WOW

2011-11-30T14:15:00.001-07:00

Recently I was up in Grande Prairie and did a keynote for their WOWposium. It was on how to give exceptional customer service at their new Multiplex (http://www.themultiplex.ca/).

Here's one way to WOW:

http://youtu.be/M0D3jKLz6sA

See another way to include fun and physical activity by viewing Fast Lane's video on their slide:

http://youtu.be/W4o0ZVeixYU

Enjoy!

Karen

How to Start Taking Action: People and Politics

2011-10-09T22:34:00.004-06:00

There are many ways to start taking action. Here's one example:
I was at a gathering this week and we were put into pods, groups of 10 people who met every day to share their learnings and explore ideas that had been presented each day. At our last meeting we started talking about how to access the political system and build political clout. As we talked people seemed interested in tips and timing. One of our group members, Linda, had a wealth of knowledge and experience on the topic, so we started making a list of what the path might look like. I said I'd pull together the information Linda shared, 'Linda's List,' and send it out for all to add to, share and use. That was all good and we went our own ways for lunch.

The CEO of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Brock Carlton, just happened to sit at my table for lunch. What perfect synchronicity. We discussed this notion of accessing the system and creating a stronger voice. At the most opportune time (his mouth full of salad) I told him about our 'Linda's List' and adamantly invited him to share his knowledge and add to it. After he agreed I looked him in the eye, gave him my business building block and said (while using my peace fingers pointing back and forth between our eyes) that I would look forward to his response, we had witnesses and would expect his reply. All in good fun of course.

Later I heard that in his afternoon session Brock mentioned our discussion and was surprized that people on the ground may not know 'how to' access the system. He made note of our message and it was on his radar.
From a small group of people to a 10 minute conversation, a spark ignited.

There is possibility in each one of us to start taking action. How will you?

My Kind of Research

2011-09-29T14:22:00.003-06:00

"Talking explores history. Doing rewrites it."

- National Geographic Magazine

That is a revolutionary perspective. We know so much, we have access to all kinds of information and are bombarded with messages galore on the importance of health, recreation, wellness, and how to live well. Packaging that entices and inspires us to act is important still, unless we DO IT, the chance of changing the world is slim, and doesn't everybody want to change the world?

Okay maybe not.

So I'm working away building "Showgirl Trapped in a Librarian's Body," a resource in my creative connection Snackseries, and BANG! It hit me, all of the work I do IS my research. Not revolutionary in itself but until I connected the dots, I hadn't looked at it this way. It put what I do into new perspective.

As I facilitate workshops, teach courses, speak at conferences, and coach leaders I am actively researching. Now that's MY kind of research! Last year I taught a course at Mount Royal University and together with the students, used the course as an informal applied research study (results will be shared in the Snackseries) on how we as facilitators, instructors, and teachers build more meaningful connections with participants. My work is my research.

The upcoming "Leading with Creative Intention"workshop I'm hosting at the ARPA conference in October (www.arpaonline.ca), is about how we as leaders can use different strategies and techniques to develop new processes, ideas, products, and services that are effective, and how we can facilitate a more creative team/work environment. A big part of this is our mindset, how we look at things. If we believe that we can produce valuable creative solutions we are more likely to do so, and we can teach ourselves to be confidently creative by intentionally focussing on and using techniques to support creative action.

Doing THIS is my research and this informs the evolution of my practice.

What does your research look like?

Thank you!

2011-09-23T12:42:00.001-06:00

Please and Thank you are things we learn to say when we're growing up. Parents remind their kids to thank others and we're expected to thank people who work on events and projects. Oprah's pushed us to start gratitude journals and to recognize all the things we have to be appreciative for. It's a part of our culture.

We sometimes forget. We forget that we are lucky to live in a country where we are safe from war, we forget that we have clean water and support services, we forget all the wonderful things that our community has and offers us on a daily basis.

For the ACE Communities initiative one of the first things we do when gathering in rural communities is to start by asking community members to share the successes that community has had, the places, spaces and activities that residents are happy to have and be a part of. It's a way of saying thank you to community, that big notion of the whole rather than the parts, and to recognize that we have lots to be thankful for. Community offers us great experiences, feelings, relationships and connections. Community is the sum, it's a pervasive atmosphere that surrounds us, embraces us, excites us and nourishes us.

I'd like to thank a community that I was a part of this morning, the Alberta FCSS Directors Network.
Thank you for smiling and laughing, plugging your noses and for creating a strong sense of community that spans geographic boundaries, and especially for taking part in our Spelling B! Your connections are far reaching and your Self-care Evolution Revolution has just begun, HA!

Thank-you!

in my back alley

2011-09-01T00:47:00.002-06:00

When I was a kid I’d put on my rubber boots and head out the door on back alley adventures. I wouldn’t go far, down the backyard path, past our small garden and there I was. No fence separating me from the watchful eye of Mrs. Gerbrandt or the bathroom which I never wanted to visit until the very last second because I might miss a local earthworm or ladybug passing by. The storm drain met me with either a pool of fresh rocks that needed to be cleared and sorted through for gems or with torrents of runoff water that was deliciously dirty. The water was muddy brown the magnificent colour of gravel and oil, it smelled like dirt, felt gritty and tasted similar to the after-taste of freshly picked carrots – the dirt part, sort of. Dirt from the garden tasted better, somehow more nutritious likely because it was attached to the carrot.

My back alley was like a clean white beach waiting for someone to enhance it: build a reservoir and then pile a mound to create a castle, the next obvious development would be a moat and then sturdy sticks and shells washed up by the ocean to adorn the primitive structure. If you were lucky tiny sea creatures would cruise in with the wash, inhabiting the pool for a short time, mostly it was seaweed or broken shells. The tide always washed the site clean to prepare for a fresh engineering feat.

In my back alley I’d find interesting stones that would fill my pockets until they bulged from my muddy, wet, polyester plaid pants. And sticks would appear out of nowhere so that I could carve out new tributaries leading to a waterfall that fell into no man’s land somewhere under the grate. It wasn’t often that a car would pass by because there were no garages that led vehicles to safety behind the bungalow row on my block. Our neighbours didn’t have a fence so we had flowers and trees between our yards. I could see their huge lush garden, corn twice the height of me, rows and rows of peas, potatoes and things I’d never seen before. Our raspberry patch was conveniently located adjacent to our path and just steps away from that storm-water drain so if I needed something to tide me over until my shift was done I didn’t have far to go. I excavated, developed and managed my watershed carefully ensuring the well-being of local flora and fauna. When I retired for the day I was satisfied. Until…

I got shut down

The safety officers (mom and dad) received a complaint, likely from the Big Wigs (those one or two cars who drove by). They were concerned that it wasn’t safe for me to be out there, having no reflective gear, barricades, flashing lights, I may be in danger of getting run over. What, a back alley is a speedway? It wasn’t meant for cars it was for the natural wonders of the world to flourish, so that my engineering prowess could proliferate, my design and development learning would expand and skills mature. There were probably inside informants as well…Mrs. Gerbrandt, Ronny Karasen’s mom. But somehow I don’t think Mrs. Gerbrandt was in cahoots with the Big Wigs because we had a good working relationship, similar engineering interests. We constructed and sailed ships together…in the kitchen sink. I protested the shut down but to no avail. Safety officers can be so difficult to work with, especially when you’re 4. So whenever I could I’d detour down to the alley and check on the streams and waterfall. If caught my reasoning was that a blockage would negatively impact our entire watershed, Big Wigs and all, so it would be negligent on my part not to do spot checks. I had to ensure the block would not suffer a major flood.

Now I walk down back alleys whenever I can, looking at fences and garages, graffiti, garbage bins and gravel. Every once in a while I’m greeted by open yards, trellises, gardens, and a peek into the lush lives that exist behind well-manicured front yards. I don’t eat the dirt anymore. I reminisce about early engineering experiences and enjoy the hidden wonders.

Glad and Well

2011-03-11T16:00:00.001-07:00

How does he do it? Blink, The Tipping Point, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, all Malcolm Gladwell publications. It's a wonderful thing to see and hear and be engaged by a humble and brilliant person who softly commands and engages others on a different level. Malcolm opened the mic for questions during the second half of his presentation and did not disappoint. The first part of his presentation weaved together historical accounts of the US battle between the north and south slavery plight together with the recent financial crisis. Unfolding the fall of overconfident experts leading the way, ones who we put trust and faith in to do the right thing, was the emergent theme, the caution, the view from a journalistic perspective.

Prior to going to this event, we sat for dinner, excited to hear what he would say, interested in what he was about, curious about his underlying motivations, ready to challenge, with high and few expectations.

Assumptions and preconceived notions were turned upside down, challenges were quieted, and minds were inspired. Malcolm explained that he was a journalist, not an expert, not an activist, but one who reports on what he sees, hears, reads, taking fact and circumstance to build connections into meaning. This seemed to quell tension, to sooth hearts and minds to open willingly so that his message could be heard. It made him, his ideas, his knowledge, accessible to the audience. He shared complex ideas in simple, understandable ways.

The question period embraced a transparent and open dialogue with an impact far greater than the questions and answers themselves. It provided interaction and involvement from the masses, us regular people with normal lives who are affected by the big decisions made at levels that we are not a part of. It provided an opportunity for us to nurture and test our assumptions, explore connections, reveal the genius that lurks in coffee houses and at kitchen tables around the country. It provided awareness of what surrounds us on a daily basis, a desire and ability to be heard, a movement of the mind and of the power of story-telling.

Our after event discussion was sharpened and blasted open a plethora of ideas and laughter, thoughtful reflection and satisfaction.

It's our responsibility to keep experts/leaders and ourselves in check by questioning, creating systems that allow for transparency, dialogue and openness to ensure humility. To do this we need diverse opinions, expertise and experiences that affect decision-making so that catastrophic decisions are diverted. If our 'inner circles' are rich in diversity we have a better shot. Paraphrasing Malcolm, ignorance and stupidity from someone who is ignorant is just stupidity that can be dismissed but ignorance and stupidity from experts is catastrophic.

Literacy of any kind

2011-02-22T17:17:00.001-07:00

I'm tickled by the ever-expanding literacy dialogue. It started with reading and language/culture, then engulfed physical and is chomping on leisure. I'm curious about CREATIVE literacy - understanding, enhancing and applying creativity in our lives; at work, play and home. A session that I've had success with, Leading with Creative Intention, encourages leaders to explore and expand their leadership ability using my POPE principle - Prepare, Open, Practice and Experiment.

In one session five groups had the challenge of presenting 'skipping' routines. One group was given a long skipping rope, three were given short ropes and the last had no rope at all. All presented unique routines.

The one with the long rope laid the rope on the floor and jumped over it while reciting a childhood nursery rhyme and falling down on the floor at the end.

The second and third collaborated by tying their ropes together and performed a synchronized swimming/modern dance type of routine, holding onto the rope in a circle.

The fourth with their rope, had two turners and the others skipped through the turning rope in a fluid routine, with only a few missed beats.

The fifth group who had no rope at all used their wild imaginations and focused on 'skipping' as they tossed a pen around their circle, skipping every second person, then expl expla expla explaa ined wh wha wha what they they they were do do do do ing as they ski ski skipped their wor wor wor words.

Now how can that occur more often?
The power of our creative selves far outweighs the limitations we place on ourselves and others. By Preparing ourselves to intentionally look for unusual and creative opportunities, Opening our minds and senses to accept new stimulants and to provide and/or embrace opportunities, Practicing and playing with unique experiences so that we feel comfortable in them, and then continuing to Explore our creativity with intention, we build creative literacy.

It's time we embrace literacy in all aspects of life.
Interested in a creative literacy snackshop? Let's talk!

Karen
www.fourward.ca

Moment to Movement

2011-02-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

A snowflake falls, then another.
They look exactly alike.
On closer inspection they are different.

A leader gives individuals each a single, white piece of paper and asks them to fold it, then fold it again. They are asked to cut the top right corner, then fold it again and cut the bottom right corner. Again and again they are directed to fold and cut. The group opens their papers and all are different.

Each snowflake combines to create a blanket of snow. Piles and whisps, directed by the wind and collected by the land in formations and peaks that glisten.

All papers resemble lacy, white snowflakes that decorate the walls to celebrate winter. Together they collect to invoke an atmosphere of diversity and unity, seasonal change and annual rhythm.

One action, intentionally or not, snowballs reactions that knowingly and unknowingly impact us. The combined actions collectively generate a landscape shaped by ideas, will, experience and need.

We have the present moment; mine, yours, our neighbors, people across the world. Together they build drifts and banks, mountains and swirls of action and silence, space and focus. Our moments culminate into movements when each flake joins the other to create an atmosphere in rhythm, when the the snowplows join the charge to pile and scrape each one, clearing the way for movement.

Watching the Thinker

2011-01-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

"The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not your mind - the thinker. The moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated. You then begin to realize that there is a vast realm of intelligence beyond thought." Eckhart Tolle

When was the last time you were reminded of something that had a profound impact on your life? When I read "A New Earth" by Tolle a few years ago like many, I had a hard time getting through the first 60 pages. Then I became so indulged in it and pushed into a place that I had not before ventured, I couldn't put it down. It was like beams of sunlight penetrating thick cumulonimbus clouds. I had to concentrate, to loosen the reigns of my thinker. There were three stories that resonated so deeply which brought me beyond thought and into that vast realm of which he speaks. I initially likened this realm to intuition, however it is something more. I don't know that there is a word to describe it, spiritual, ecological, illogical, nothing quite captures the essence.

In the past few days I've seen quantum shifts in various sectors. The shifts are not "From - To" rather they are an interesting combination. We 'teach' our 2 year-olds - I listened to an interview with an early education specialist, she discussed a climate of belief: for children to be sucessful they have to gain basic knowledge prior to going to Kindergarten...free play is not desired but rather a push for more structured learning so once they enter school, they can be successful, more able to make decisions, problem solve, think creatively. Less freeplay, more structure earlier on to be better prepared for what lurks ahead.

I'm all for playing; structured, unstructured have equal importance, they combine to provide space for understanding, creativity, inspiration, and motivation.

Our evolution is interesting.
Are children watching the thinker (watching adults)?
As adults if we were to watch the thinker what would evolution look like?
How does building more structure into young childrens' lives in the hopes that it will move them to a more creative, spiritual, ecological and intuitive process, affect evolution and in what way does it tie into a new realm?
Are adults evolving into spiritual, intuitive, child-like beings (with more experience, knowledge, possibly wisdom)?

What does quantum evolution look like?

Is anything quantum just way more complex, simple, misunderstood?

ROAD TRIP

2010-12-17T17:20:00.001-07:00

places to go, things to see

a time to wonder, to be

in the moment

into the future

amazements hidden amongst the trees

of Grasshopper Galleries and Candy Stores

off the main road and into the heart

to see spirited treasures

travel the road

many have passed by

wonder

what would appear

lure or spark

a new beginning

right in front of me

what if fairy tale endings and Once upon a time beginnings

sang and flew

like Peter Pan and Wendy

or Alice

in Wonderland

A Lion or Scarecrow or Tin Man or Lady

of the Lake

in Mists that don’t break

beyond the sea

castles and carvings and Gaudi-like fair

would I have traveled that road over there

What to my wondering eyes should appear

curious caches clustered with shiny

sparkling

water

that costs not a cent

nor a decent cup

my hands can refresh and splash and turn

the wheel of my choice to direct north, east, west or south

a road trip

along

the musical journey

to see

to be

to free

the astonishing

the usual

the fanciful

the me

unfolding, unwrapping, unflapping,

endearing, endangered, engendered

living artfully, actively, intentionally, fully

by foot, plane or boat

automobile, bike or bus

floating, flying, trekking

air, water, under

ground

above, amidst, among

on, in or under

dipping and slipping, sipping, serving and flipping

whipping up a road tripping

Looking for Questions?

2010-11-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

What is this? Looking for an answer?

"Questions bring us together, answers drive us apart."

Roman Koval, President, Ukrainian Centre for Common Ground

What if everything you said was in the form of a question? How would people react and would it be tough for you to do? Especially for more than a minute?
Do you think focusing on questions rather than on answers enhances collaboration, frustration, innovation, sustainability, ludicrosity, adaptability? Is this back-casting, starting with the long term answer and asking questions to the present?
When is enough enough? Ever been around a four year-old, or an adult, who continuously asks why? And why does that get under your skin? Is it meant as a way to look at things in new ways and are we just tired of looking at things in new ways?
How do I formulate insightful questions? And what assumptions do I have to clarify in order to be a catalyst for positive change? Where can I learn about and lead question-based discovery? Would that be useful or would it drive us apart? Do answers drive us apart or is that a place for us to start a conversation, to ask questions?

Absolutely Positive: A 2-4 for positive thinking

2010-09-21T16:29:00.003-06:00

Having a positive attitude towards any situation starts with awareness so when I recently facilitated an inspiring group of people over 55 (www.alberta55plus.ca ) we started by intentionally focusing on our attitudes, devised a positive dictionary and moved from the cerebral to the physical. How? We practiced biting our tongue (which signals the negative talker that something isn’t right) then practiced smiling at one another (ever practice smiling? It’s sure to evoke laughter, eye rolls and a little light-heartedness), then worked on speaking up with language that’s positive and solution focused. I’ve coined it the BS² method: Bite your tongue, Smile, Speak up - stay solution focused/say or turn negative into positive.

While the practice seems rather surface, and it is, the intent and outcome runs deep into how we act and interact with others. The physical manifestation, if turned into a habit in our brain and body, begins a change in thinking, action, process and outcomes. With a positive attitude, opportunities arise out of challenges, encouragement out of fear, strength out of powerlessness. Next time someone bites their tongue listen to what you’re saying and discuss solutions framed with positive language.

Calgary fog...lifting

Check out my website www.fourward.ca for Absolutely Positive: A 2-4 for positive thinking, posting soon.

We've all done it

2010-09-08T15:13:00.000-06:00

F - fun
O - opportunity
U - unity
R - relationships

Taking a word like 'four' and writing down words or phrases that start with the letters - we've all done it.

Today I stumbled on a book called 'nowhere.' When I took a closer look I read the insert and it disected the meaning of its title: nowhere - no where, know where, now here. As I read about the Way of nowhere, I was amazed at how it fit so incredibly with my work. "The Way of nowhere is a living practice designed to unlock the creative and collective potential of organizations and their people."

A few years ago I connected with another entrepreneur, Linda Naiman, whose company, 'Creativity at Work' shares a newsletter that touches all my senses sending shivers up my spine. People like - Cynthia Watson of Soulstar Discovery, Suzanne Evans @ helpmorepeople.com, Stephen Heppell @ heppell.com, magazines -Yes!, movements - TED.com, centres - CSI - Centre for Social Innovators are some of the freshwater drops that fill my bucket and nourish me.

Listening for fresh drops create movement that stirs the 70% or so of my physical body composed of water. The other 30%, muscle and fat, are fed by the wonders of ideas, sectors, people, objects that are foreign to my experiences, education and culture. Equally important, curling my hair, piercing my nose and shading my eyes to see new, I feed with frenzy, love and curiosity.

Keep on doing it!

Revving it up

2010-07-30T11:42:00.000-06:00

Next time you step into your vehicle or hop on your bike rev up the engine. It'll put a smile on your face, remind you of younger years, activate your adrenaline and charge up your engine.

I always wanted a sports car and when I was in high school I purchased an old '69 Cutlass. It still had a great engine, or so I thought until one day when I pulled into a parking lot and turned off the engine, smoke started billowing from the hood, the doors and any orifice that cracked open to the great outdoors. I thought that it was going to blow up! My sweet ride was disintegrating before my eyes. A once hot off the line car was now a piece of junky metal that could barely start. From that I inherited an even older New Yorker that could seat five people comfortably in the front seat, sure it had power windows, but the jump off the line was less than satisfactory for someone who longed to be at the head of the pack. It did come in handy, however, when a load of us wanted to go for ice cream. And I love ice cream!

I learned that in order to 'get what you want' you've got to rev up your own engine and that may come in many forms, often ways you've never thought of.

Drive on,
Karen

How will you spend your DASH?

2010-07-21T20:20:00.000-06:00

Recently a buddy of my husband's suddenly passed away. WAIT, WAIT - it gets better there's high-quality leadership stuff in here, truly - just one more quick bit on death - At the funeral the minister pointed out that on our tombstones our birth year and death year are written with a dash in between, you know like Earhart 1897-1937 and Mead, 1901-1978, and he asked, "How will you spend your dash?"

It got me thinking about a provocative leadership exercise

(not original, pioneering or innovative - unless you actually take the group out to a funeral home or a cemetery or an old cathedral in the heart of Italy and go down into the caverns where only candles burn and the finest wines are stored. Picture the old ministers or priestesses in their robes, the musty smell of damp, dusty stone - and a little liquor on the breath of the ordained - a flicker of light that ends as the next begins. The silence is hollow and the air suffocating. As you pick up a feather pen and dip it in ink you begin... THAT would be incredible!...you could really make this thing into an event. Even if you don't go to Italy it's powerful on its own.)

Ask leaders to write their own obituary (a little morbid but incredibly powerful) so as to reflect on what they want to accomplish in life and be remembered for.

I was also reminded of my reaction to seeing my name in ISBN format,

Driedger, Karen, 1963-

"HOLY COW I'M A PERSON, WOW, wait this is strange, it's unusual to see that dash after my birth year, that's usually for the older people who either are waiting to be buried beside a loved one or...I wonder if anybody hears these weird thoughts I have on a regular basis? Wait this is a little CREEPY! I like my little piece of the world, and I li" Okay you get the drift. I had a spanking new perspective of 'me', yep best before and an expiry date. Nothing changed other than my awareness and attention.

So here's the deal, one little dash - or one little phrase, "Life is a journey, not a destination" or two, "Stop and smell the roses," (both of which were once profound, now cliche) makes all the difference in the world.

What profound cliches will endure as a result of your dash?

In loving memory Shag -

Karen

Celebrating with "RECkless abandon"

2010-07-13T11:56:00.000-06:00

It was a gala affair. 70 people converged at BR& (aka Brand) in Calgary on June 19th, 2010 to launch the newly released snackbook "RECkless abandon." The food was phenomenal, the flowers an explosion of colour and the tallest block tower grew to heights never seen before. "RECkless abandon" has sparked conversation about how people are living their daily lives, inspired others to pursue artistic projects, encouraged new approaches to old ideas and nudged controversy (mulit-tasking beyond 40*?!*!?).One reader thought the poem was the best part, another laughed every time she opened it to read sideways and others wondered how people who don't know me would REACT to it.

Who knows what the second in the snack series, "Showgirl Trapped in a Librarian's Body" will bring.

For a copy of "RECkless abandon" email me at info@fourward.ca

C Ya

Connect with your whole brain first thing in the morning.

2010-04-22T15:17:00.002-06:00

After yawning and stretching, brushing teeth, and pouring coffee, juice or water, how do you start your day? It may be with a run or yoga class, reading the newspaper or opening emails, or diving into your car to get to the office. Take this 7 day challenge to connect with your brain and your creativity. It’s a combination of Morning pages by Julia Cameron and Mind Mapping.

How to:

Get a piece of unlined paper (the bigger the better) and markers or pens of different colours.
Without thinking about it draw or write the first thing that comes to your mind somewhere near the middle. Important that you let this happen without too much thought because the purpose is to spill what’s in your head and open up to your full potential.
Now take another colour of pen with your other hand (your 'non-dominant one) and draw 3 or 4 or 5 images, lines, or shapes extending from the first thing that you put down. It doesn't have to look pretty.
Turn your paper, stand up, and keep choosing different coloured pens and different hands, to put down on paper what’s in your head. Use images, words, shapes (you can experience a paperless version using objects if you’re interested).
This stream of consciousness activity may spill out what you have to do today, what you dreamt of last night, what’s bugging you, goals, ideas, whatever it is that has your attention. You may be surprised or you may be stuck for something to put down. Either way keep going until you fill the page.
If you’re stuck, write stuck or draw a boot in mud, over and over and over until your boot makes that beautiful sucking noise and comes free.
Give yourself approximately ½ an hour.
Repeat for 7 days.

By spilling your brain onto the page in a form that isn’t writing in a ~~straight~~ line, you’ve started to step into your whole brain.

I’m experimenting with Morning Maps so am curious to know if you try it, what could improve it, what impact it had or didn’t have, how you made it work for you.

Contact me here or through my website www.fourward.ca

Fly with the fishes!

Karen

Are you a Mewe or a Weme?

2010-03-16T12:35:00.003-06:00

A Mewe is one who uses their individual ability, charisma, drive, as the place from which energy, drive and passion directs change, action takes place. Seth Godin focuses on the Mewe in his book “Tribes” saying that ‘we need you to lead us’ therefore individuals are at the heart of action and we each have a responsibility in society.

A Weme acts on the basis that it’s something larger than the individual that creates change and impacts lives. Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of Weme in his book “Outliers” saying that systems, situations and outside influences affect success and impact our collective abilities. It is not necessarily individual skill, rather a collection that is responsible in society for our situation.

No matter if you are a Mewe or Weme both are valuable and make change occur. The two collaborate to create the dynamic nature of our actions and interactions. The dance of me and we concepts create magical performances.

Though Mewe’s and Weme’s could be confused as meanies and weenies (and at times may be) not taking ourselves too seriously while seriously living may just be the overarching message.

Don’t Colour Your Roots Embrace them

2010-03-04T14:54:00.002-07:00

For those of you who know my past, all or some of it, you know I’ve had a few ‘home towns’ along the way. I’ve been lucky to find niches and connect with people who embrace me in their community even if just for a short time. Before moving to Alberta I was engulfed in a wonderful small northern Manitoba community, The Pas Manitoba (and no I wasn't in the witness protection program). Now The Pas, and yes it is THE Pas not LE Pas or LES Paz, has had some bad press nationally in the past but the people who live there, the community, is full of salt of the earth people with deep roots, committed to thriving in the north. It is built on social connections that run deep.

My husband grew up there and no matter where we go he has connections with others from home. From the Cook Islands to Calgary, Mexico to Manhattan the six degrees of separation seems to be only one or two degrees for him. I’ve been fortunate to tag along into this world. These close knit community connections bring a sense of looking out for each other when anywhere in the world. It is truly amazing and it is truly at the heart of community.

There’s something about the north, the isolation, the bush, the minus 40 for weeks on end, that builds hearty people and that creates a unique northern hospitality that oozes from every pore. Attending recreation conferences in Winnipeg, our northern consortium of recreation professionals would always host a Northern Hospitality Night which was a big hit and when we hosted the Manitoba 2002 Winter Games the Hospitality Rooms and Events were second to none. I was excited when a friend told me that Rick Mercer was going to The Pas for Trappers Festival, a northern tradition bringing together people, history and friendly competition.

One of our friends sent along the link and I just had to pass it along. Embrace your roots no matter what colour they are!

Check it out: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/ID=1430286385

Sea of Ideas

2010-02-13T18:17:00.003-07:00

Creativity in the way? Turn the tides in 15 minutes a day.

Here’s how to dive into your creativity and find the golden treasure of production.

Day 1. Sea of Ideas.

Take all of your ideas, spread them out on a bulletin board, sticky notes, or cards on the floor, and look them objectively. You may want to take more than 15 minutes so that ALL your ideas are included don’t, you can always add more along the way.

Day 2. Surface Pools.

Chart your ‘Sea of Ideas’ into themes; red fish, blue fish, coral, treasure, and create a log.

Day 3. Submerged Pools.

Re-chart your Surface Pools into new themes; fish, human structure, sea creatures without eyes. Log these pools.

Day 4. Seabed of Substance.

Look at your Surface and Submerged Pools, strengthen them by tying them into knots. Check your Logbook and chart new connections until your 15 minutes is up.

How? Play with them

- Use rope to create a mind chart linking similar ideas.

- Use building blocks to create a ship with cargo holds, levels, decks, connected by hallways, stairs and doorways. Your ideas become the ship.

- Experience your themes. Go outside to your backyard or a park. Move to where themes connect with nature.

- Use an ecosystem (water and evaporation) or physiological system (respiratory system) as a template to work from.

- Use the four corners in your office to represent seasonal connections – the door is spring, fresh new concepts to open and bloom, the north wall is winter for those that are dormant or require a warm fire of people connecting by a cozy fire, the window is summer where ideas activate growth, south wall is fall representing ideas related to change.

It’s tempting to continue to chart until you get it right or get ALL those ideas down, however, this is about moving beyond the idea phase and into action so be sure to move past, you can always go through the process again.

As you chart and re-chart you may find that some ideas walk the gangplank, others that didn’t appear to be strong divers in the first wave will build inertia . Now you’re getting somewhere. Give it time.

Day 5. Focus on the Most Colourful Fish.

As you see deeper currents emerge you will be drawn to certain pools and, of course because you are an idea generator, a whole new set of ideas will splash up on shore. Add those to your Sea of Ideas. Now is the time to pick out the Most Colourful Fish, those ideas that stand out. The others create a sea of black, let those sit.

Choose the Most Colourful Fish that pops and play with it into production. Choose the initiative that you will pursue. It may be plain and elegant like a sea turtle or flashy and flamboyant like a clown fish, choose the one that brings a smile to your face every time.

Day 6. Float.

After all that playing take time to float, snorkeling in full buoyancy.

Day 7. Dive in.

Take 3 strokes away from shore and start swimming.

Killer Workouts

2010-01-28T17:11:00.003-07:00

Try this one if you want to sweat

(Before starting any exercise program be sure to check with your doctor)

Warm up:

30 squats and 1 hill run

20 squats and 1 stair run

10 squats and 1 hill run

5 squats and 1 stair run

Deck of Cards:

Hearts = dumbbell thrusters (Similar to clean and jerk - dumbbells in each hand, start with dumbbells near ground beside ankles with knees bent, as you stand up bring dumbbells up to shoulders , thrust up to arms extended overhead while pushing up on toes)

Diamonds = dumbbell swings (hold one dumbbell in both hands, with feet more than shoulder width apart, swing dumbbell between legs and up over head. Bend knees on the downswing)

Spades = lunges

Clubs = weighted sit-ups

Jokers = 15 burpies (from standing, feet together, put hands on ground, extend legs out together into a push-up position. Pull both legs together into squat position, jump to standing position) These are KILLER!

Workout for 20 minutes

Pick a card, perform exercise according to suit and card number.

Cool down

10 - 20 minutes of stretching

The Canadian guidelines for physical activity presently state that adults need 30 minutes of exercise every day. It's not working. These guidelines need review and revision. In the States they've upgraded theirs to include 60-90 minutes of activity that makes you SWEAT - EVERY DAY.

This workout will make you sweat for about 1 hour. A great place to start.

LEAD the change

Cry COOL!!

2009-12-24T18:31:00.001-07:00

Every time you walk into your workspace do you cry?

Or do you cry COOL!!

Your space affects how you work, what you work on and what you produce.

Play with the design to reflect your organization’s mission and goals, personality and creative nature. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, it doesn’t have to be out of this world, it has to SCREAM you!

Check out some cool spaces at:

http://www.officedesigngallery.com/template_permalink.asp?id=103

An hour before a haircut

2009-12-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

Ever stop to think, one hour before you step into the hair salon/barber, that this hour is the last that you and others will ever see yourself in the same way? If you're a guy you can't wait to go and get your unruly hair taken care of, you just want it to be easy. If you're a gal your hair has never looked better so you think, 'why am I going in to get my hair cut?'

You've got one hour before the transformation. Do you go with the same style (the one you've had for 15 years)? Do you tell the hair dresser to do anything s/he wants? Do you decide on a major change? Do you even think about it beforehand?

It may not be something that you think about. Hair can change lives. Tanis cut off her long ponytail and donated it for cancer patient wigs, Wanda shaved her head for charity, Joan changed her hairstyle to take a risk and build confidence. Lava Hair gathered unused product and gave it to a women's shelter.

Every single act we do, gift we're given, skill we have can have a deep impact. Stop to think one hour before...It could be the last hour that you and others will ever see yourself in the same way.

During this season of gratitude, thank you all for connecting.

Wordle

2009-12-10T15:12:00.014-07:00

You’ve seen them, maybe heard about them, now you can make them and use them to bundle ideas, to sort out information and to spawn new ways of seeing and thinking about data.

Generate your own ‘word cloud’. It’s as easy as:

1. Log on to www.wordle.net

2. Click on ‘create’ and input your ‘data’

3. Voila, you’ve create a wordle. Use it, print it, send it off, bring it to the next meeting or post it on your wall.

You can play with the text font, colours and layout. Have a look at their samples.

There's another cool tool that's free as well, it's called a PersonalBrain where you can create webs of ideas or files. If your mind needs to organize in a different manner check it out at www.thebrain.com

Karen at www.fourward.ca

Adding movement to our meetings

2009-11-05T13:43:00.005-07:00

is more than physically moving our bodies, adding movement to your meetings can be done by moving mentally, socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically. These ideas aren't limited to a traditional meeting, they can be used any time groups get together.

Here are a few ways that I’ve added movement to meetings, experienced and/or seen it done…

Physically

- Different perspectives: stand up and view the mapping chart or flipchart, lie on the ground, on a patient’s bed, meet looking away from each other (back to back to back), change seats for a new view, stand on balance boards, sit on teeter totters at the playground. Constant attention to physical movement engages different physiological responses

- Senseless: close your eyes to ‘see’ differently, use ear plugs and listen with your eyes, wear mittens so you can’t write. Use senses you normally don’t: hold hands or stand shoulder to shoulder to create physically connectedness, heat and energy transference (hugs can work or not, as a greeting, parting, show of support, belonging…)

- Hang out in the kitchen or coffee room: have food and drink, healthy and local of course! Where do great parties always end up?

Mentally

- Assume your assumptions: identify individual and team assumptions and test them as you work together. Share learnings and reflections to provoke new learning

- Tease brains with mental competitions, teasers, puzzles, case studies. Work cooperatively and use a sliding scale to reward the collaborative answer or for individual competition the best get rewards (could be professional development dollars).

- Put yourself in someone else’s shoes: think like a super hero, a politician, a community member, a child, a competitor, a friend, a colleague (channel someone, thanks Barb!). Each person attending could be given or choose a hero/competitor/alter ego to participate as.

Spiritually

- Clear a space for everyone to be present: take 1 minute of silence to start the meeting focusing on personal connection, contribution and commitment to outcomes. Encourage everyone to breath to be mindful in each moment rather than reacting immediately, have breath breaks.

- Value check-up: include individual reflection time on values/beliefs matching. Discuss personal values and organizational values, are values being displayed, are they congruent with the organization's values?

- Encourage the inclusion of spirit: by sharing your own practice, asking about others’.

Socially

- Include group cohesiveness as one of the outcomes for all meetings: all wear the same thing to work. If you’re a virtual community you can still do this and have fun with it, you may all choose to wear pajamas!

- Celebrate every time you meet: there’s always something to commemorate, it could be shared accomplishment or new beginnings. Do it uniquely by writing a poem with words you’ve collected from previous meetings (or the one you’re in), hold a swap and save where everyone brings a gift from home to give (nothing new, great way to re-gift or to share something meaningful), draw a map of your collaborative journey and frame it, everybody gets to keep it for a week/month/year or you cold make copies for everyone if it’s a masterpiece.

- Play quick collaborative games: get people smiling and socializing.

Emotionally

- Include laughter to: break tension, ease pain, enforce ideas, create new perspective

- Come with compassion: check in to see what emotions are being brought to the table (each person one word on how they are feeling, draw it, use emotion cards, act out one emotion and have others guess)

- Use art, culture and heritage to evoke emotion: use pictures to connect emotion with ideas and action. Create a group ‘family tree’ (families draw emotion) to build emotional connection.

These are snippets, more available on my new website coming soon.

“Is arrogance part of your branding?”

2009-10-04T20:36:00.000-06:00

I asked, not so innocently, after about 2 minutes into a BMW test drive. I had been impressed with the make, but now only judgmental of the guy behind the wheel. I was astonished at the attitude of the sales person who was driving me out of the parking lot. I had my mind made up that there was no way I would ever buy something from that guy!

“I’m a janitor at heart!”

I told my sister-in-law, she really appreciated me telling her that. Hmm, the reason? Yes I have been a janitor but, I relate to and appreciate those who are doing the ground work, the ones who hold less power in the big scheme of things, those who get lower pay, less respect… In general, I am more wary of and have less respect for those in power, feel less affiliation to, and many times have disdain for the ones making decisions that affect other lives… depending on their approach. There are amazing people in powerful positions who have full respect for all equally. Overall though you could call me anti-authority or an authority racist.

“I am a simple monk.”

Said the Dalai Lama in his conversation with over 15,000 people at the Saddledome in Calgary last week. Hunh, here is a man who is held in high regard around the world. He says we are all human and THAT is where we start from, connect from. “I am a simple monk.” He continued on to say whether one is a (janitor) or (the head of state), we are all human. His message isn’t astounding, his presence not euphoric…My arrogance is unveiled, it has been part of my branding. I’m no different than that car sales guy. I get it. What do I do to get over it? Hold humility close and smile.

Generation A

2009-09-28T15:10:00.002-06:00

I’ve always felt pretty confident about being in touch with new trends, ideas and generational differences until last week. I had a rude awakening when I co-facilitated a retreat. I was standing in the middle of the circle discussing community development and for some reason said “I’m going to take off my thongs” and proceeded to take off my footwear. I was greeted with a resounding roar of laughter from the group.

With a look of confusion on my face, one in the group said “You obviously don’t have teenagers.” With a shake of my head, a stab to my heart and humble smile I realized what I had just said, flip flops are what you wear on your feet not thongs.

Mac’s are no longer apples that you eat, text is no longer a schoolbook, an icecap isn’t what you find on the north pole, the bomb, not an explosive device, depression not something that took place in the 1930’s and yogi is no longer paired with BooBoo. Intriguing how we move forward in relation to the past. ‘Learn from your mistakes’, ‘history repeats itself’, so do bell bottoms, vegetable gardens and bicycles! What have we learned?

We’ve created a marketing technique to label and target different groups based on demographics. Heard of Generation “A”? It was first coined back in 1994 by Kurt Vonnegut at the Syracuse University commencement address and recently a published book by Douglas Coupland, we do still have books. Those might go by the wayside as well but I’m going to continue to read books about the Great Depression and our melting ice caps, protest nuclear bombs and high school texts that are outdated, reminisce about cartoons while eating Macs from a picnic basket in the park as I flip off my thongs to feel the grass between my toes.

Synchronicity

2009-09-15T15:54:00.001-06:00

Funny isn’t it when things line up and connect people, ideas, thoughts and actions…and we take notice. This got me thinking about synchronicity and so I asked a few people what it means to them:

“My connection with my spouse, you know how we go ‘hmmph’ at the same time? Our thought patterns merge at the same time”

“On the same wave length, more together, more as one but they’re 2 entities”

“Hilarious question because I was going to use synchronicity in an email to … you last night … and looked up the meaning. I didn’t use it because it didn’t fit. So, as you probably looked up, the definition from Encarta Dictionary is 'the coincidence of events that seem related, but are not obviously caused one by the other. The term was first used in this sense in the work of the psychologist Carl Jung.'
Off the top of my head, I thought the meaning of synchronicity was ‘events or occurrences or ideas that occur separately but are related without being planned to be so’. I guess that is close to the official definition.
Is it synchronicity when we are thinking about the same word at the same time, unknown to each other?”

When synchronicity taps you on the shoulder, take more than a note. We are all connected and synchronicity is something that we can build on for individual, group and community growth.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the song by The Police. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iywBJitCnU to watch and hear it.

Looking at the road

2009-09-08T13:15:00.005-06:00

We all have our perceptions of what the world is telling us based on our frame of reference. When I’m at the lake, I get to see the world through nature.

To sit on the dock or the deck and look north to the lake as I go through my day is almost expected. There are days however that it’s much more comfortable and pleasant to look south at the gravel cabin road framed by towering trees and bush. This is when the strong northwest wind blows, howling at life, when the waves scream and pound the shore as if banging at the door. This call from nature cannot go unheard.

Recently I was out at my cousin’s farm. They live along a major north/south route and were always sheltered from the traffic because of space and trees. Over the years the road became much more traveled and there was need to expand it to a divided highway. They agreed to exchange their land and buffer for a lake. Part of the agreement was to use earth as fill for the road construction. On the flat prairie where the summer sun beats down, a lake is treasured, so as a result of highway construction, a lake formed on their property. Beach sand, a dock and an amazing dare-devil ramp stretching 20 feet from lake to sky, hosting the summer trials for many local teen competitions, also took shape.

It could appear that the road brings unwanted noise, traffic and is an intrusion.
It could be that the road provides access and connection.
The road could open new lakes and grant us opportunity for a different perspective.

It may not be the road that is important, but the implications and attitude toward it that are.

Teleconferences that make you SNOOooore - the Italian Smoke Break

2009-08-29T23:53:00.005-06:00

Meeting by phone fantastic, you can work from anywhere, connect across the globe and share ideas with words and voice. But if you’re like me it’s tough to sit through just about any meeting and teleconferences make it that much harder to stay engaged. Sure an amazing facilitator makes a difference but come on, we can do better!

After I facilitated a recent teleconference, I decided it was about time to search out effective, creative techniques. I couldn’t find much other than the usual tips. Here’s our chance to revolutionize this communication tool. Instead of checking emails, eating lunch and playing Sudoku, here are a few of my ideas:

Bingo (to stay focused on outcomes)
Create a bingo card agenda. In each square write an outcome for the meeting.
Write actions to be taken in each square as you address the outcome.
Have participants ‘dab’ their squares along the way with highlighters, pictures or items on their desk (erasers, paperclips).
Once a row or card is complete meeting’s over.
Variation: Visit http://www.keithandcompany.com/fg_telconfbingo.html the idea is to slip in as many words on the card as possible into the conversation, just in case you need a break!

On and Off AKA Interval Training or my favourite The Italian Smoke Break (to explore creatively and creativity)
Brain-based research reports that after 15-20 minutes our minds wander.
So build your agenda in 15 minute intervals.
An idea on how to use this principle:
For a one hour session have 5 intervals.
The first & third are online participation and discussion (15 minutes each).
The second & forth are off (10 minutes each).
The last is a 10 minute wrap up.
15 minutes sharing, 10 minutes off, 15 sharing, 10 minutes off, 10 minutes wrap up.
During the ‘off’ intervals participants stay on the line (difficult to get everyone hooked up if you disconnect) but are not interacting with each other.
People may opt to mute themselves during the ‘off’ time.
Off time may include: Giving participants focused assignments or tasks such as having them surf the net for new information, talk with others in their workplace, go for a walk and clear their heads, read an article, etc.
You may also want to play elevator music for their listening pleasure.

Exer-Size (to get people off their chairs)
Choose one exercise as an analogy for each agenda item.
When you move to each item, have participants DO the exercise together.
For example if you are discussing work/life balance, have participants stand up, close their eyes, lift one foot, hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides. Talk them through the feeling of imbalance, awareness, use of proprioceptors, etc.
Research the exercise or talk to a kinesiologist for more ideas.

I’ve got more, just ask.

Love to hear your revolutionizing tips and techniques that not only will keep everyone awake but stimulate their participation (posting comments should work now). I’ll post our list of creative teleconference techniques on my website at www.4excellence.ca (look for the launch of my new website coming soon).

Conversation, the art.

2009-08-24T22:52:00.003-06:00

Conversation Café – a community I’m involved with hosted a conversation café similar to a world café facilitation technique (www.theworldcafe.com) to engage their community in discussion around important topics to build on in their community. It is a conversational process based on a set of integrated design principles. Conversation being the means to an end.

Conversation and connecting – Socrates never wrote a word down, he lived through conversation. Conversation, when focused on finding the truth, the meaning of life or exploring ideas that have transformed the world, connect and unfold.

Conversation Sparks – Conversations are not the intent of our governments or organizations, usually the purpose is around some other outcome. What if conversations were the desired outcome? One implication is that the process becomes the focus making outcomes really ongoingcomes which lead to unknown endcomes due to the flexibility of the process. Then what about those who want something more concrete in order to know they're on the right track? Perhaps it's time to get more comfortable with unknown. Or, at least, combine ongoingcomes, outcomes and endcomes together with desiredcomes. Changing language sparks conversation.

Unintentional community and conversation – conversation is the intent of some groups. An unintentional community is where fate not choice brought you together such as your neighbourhood. Check out the Oakland EcoVillage whose goals are: self education, self entertainment and conversation. Check one out at www.phinneyecovillage.net. To see more about the EcoVillage movement visit http://gen.ecovillage.org. This is something any community can pick up on and modify in their own neighbourhood, pretty cool.

The art of conversation, the art of travel, the art of war - all books that take a very different approach to their relationship with art. How is it that conversation is transforming before our eyes, or should I say b4 R I’s.

The Violinist

2009-08-16T11:36:00.002-06:00

Ever hear a violinist in the subway station?
Do you stop and throw in a loonie or walk on by?
Along the TransCanada Highway straight through Calgary there's a violin repair and service store. It's a small stucco house with a sign that's faded and peeling. The windows are dark and I only imagine the old, gray-haired man working with fine expensive instruments in the back, testing out the bow and strings, melodic notes soaring and filling the space. It's a romantic thought with soft images like Mona Lisa's smile.

Down the road there's a business painted like a Holstein Cow, black and white splotches. Intriguing sure, a landmark certainly, calling out to eyes of passers by like hungry cows ready to be milked at 5 a.m. No image of dancing divas in colourful boas, or live parrots looking for their pirate perchs surrounded by circus music chiming retards my brain, only that of a lovely meadow with cow chewing cud.

What's down your street?

Back to Real Work

2009-08-06T11:23:00.002-06:00

In January I reflected on real work and lately real work or perhaps more accurately lifework, has emerged again in my readings and reflections. For quite some time I’ve seen my lifework as being the time I spend traveling or at the Lake, away from what society might call work. Leisure, as I see it, is that of traditional work. The reason for this topsy tervy version of leisure and work has been sifting through my brain and draining into a glass like freshly squeezed orange juice, not clear but rich with meaning and interpretation.

So if work is leisure and leisure is work, how can that be? My version is not based on the definitions and meanings of each word, it is based on their purposes, our understanding of what they mean.

Josef Pieper says that ‘leisure is the whole point of life’ in his book Leisure, The Basis of Culture. Glass full!

Leisure then (my lifework as society would have it) is time I spend reflecting, sharing and playing for no other purpose, “an inner absence of preoccupation, a calm, an ability to let things go, to be quiet…Leisure is a form of that stillness that is the necessary preparation for accepting reality; only the person who is still can hear, and whoever is not still cannot hear… Leisure is the disposition of receptive understanding, of contemplative beholding, and immersion – in the real.” Pieper

Purposes: the point of traditional work is a time to refresh for leisure (my lifework), to rekindle spirit for leisure, not the other way around. Leisure is not a time to refresh for work, leisure is the point and work is included in the equation to enable meaningful leisure. This may seem very bourgeoisie, egocentric, and appalling to those of us who grew up with a strong work ethic, especially in a world where we have millions of starving people, communities torn by war and hatred, suffering beyond what we in Canada and the States can even imagine. However, a culture of connectedness, caring, giving and sharing is the leisure I embrace. It’s listening, talking with people, building relationships and understanding, learning about other ways of thinking and doing, as well as sharing experiences, ideas and skills. It’s giving time to nurturing the evolution of something with a focus not on building wealth, or more status, or gaining more of anything.

This is where my ‘real work’ philosophy has had the most profound change. I used to travel to get, now it’s to share and to give. My lifework time has been spent exploring the world, culture, nature as well as just being, with the goal of working myself out of a job. In my mind this is a sustainable way to continue initiatives, continue adaptations necessary in the workforce that creates space for continuous learning, creations and connectedness. My quest is to initiate and build on the conversation around deeper, more meaningful connections. This is my leisure, my lifework, the point.

Short and Sweat

2009-07-20T12:41:00.001-06:00

To be concise takes sweat equity, and it pays off!

The point:
Being able to clearly articulate or capture an idea in 30 seconds will hold attention and make an impact.

Clarity of purpose:
Pictures – using a simple picture or diagram will clearly depict your idea.
Statements – a powerful statement “I have a dream” transcends generations.
Jingles – a short, catchy jingle remains in the subconscious keeping your idea fresh in peoples’ minds.

Create a Sweat Habit:
Give it time – many of us work better under pressure resulting in ideas that may be reactive rather than reflective so use that procrastination bug to your advantage by evolving your idea through the time you’re not spending on developing it.
Depart from it – sleeping on an idea airs out the cobwebs and gets those spider senses tingling.
Channel others - a comrade taught me to ‘channel’ others to broaden perspective.
Use You-isms - It’s intriguing to hear the unordinary. A you-ism is your slang, your analogies, a different spin, others will think and ask questions, or not. A friend of mine is well-known for his ‘Eddie-isms’. He often uses uncommon or big words where they don’t quite fit, not what I’m talking about.

Short and sweet can’t be beat!

Plato, Socrates, Seuss and Zeus,

2009-07-06T00:25:00.000-06:00

pondering,
playful,
powerful.

Ants move the earth, bees the blossoms, trees the air and humans people.
Gods play with energy, animals play with life, humans with words.
Dragons fly, the water calls, waves caution, capture and carry,
pulling Palliated Woodpeckers from trenching deep into the aspens

trembling,
traveling,
time,

Oh The Places You’ll Go!
Gypsies wander, Vikings conquer, grass grows.
The Cat in the Hat, imagine that!
The Grinch stole little Lindy-Lou.
Who? ville.

Green Eggs and Ham, spam and wham
you are now entering The Twilight Zone,

out,
in,
dim,
sum,

sort of break-
fast
slow up, speed down to ponder, play and power your way.

Pontificate

2009-06-20T22:31:00.002-06:00

I looked it up and had to look further. Synonyms used to describe pontificate are: to be dogmatic, officious, to speak pompously, preach, go on, sound off. Pompous hmmm, this got me thinking.

Words in their written form are two dimensional, just like television screens. That flat screen TV you’re watching, where objects are interpreted as three dimensional but are shown on a two dimensional surface are deceiving. Both are wonderful mediums that can be brought to life with our imaginations.

When you read you may visualize the setting and characters as multi-dimensional. The two dimensional world is simple but difficult. Words provoke thoughts and relationships, more often unsullied understanding, curious worlds and effervescent connections emerge. Still, you may have to work at transforming ideas from a flat world by pondering, pontificating.

“The World Is Flat” a book by Thomas Friedman says we’re back to a flat world because of our ability to trade, communicate and live globally. Some contest his praise of this flattened world because it’s destroying our natural, cultural and social resources.

For me the flat form is flat and it can be tough to capture ideas that are multi-dimensional through two dimensional words and pictures. To see them on paper they change form which deceives us. I’m thinking long and hard as to how to transform flat. Here are some ideas to play with:

The next time you

- facilitate a group session – create the agenda with items that represent the process (i.e. your watch for the review of the minutes). To capture ideas, have participants use tools that create a multi-dimensional replica. Send the 3-d creation back to the office as inspiration

- deliver or share an idea with your colleagues - create a model that others can play with, add to, modify, have paint, leggo blocks, balls and string on hand.

- explain and idea over the phone – have the ‘receiver’ gather items and build what you are explaining and have them describe it, who knows what you’ll end up with

- drop off a resume or go to an interview – bring three dimensional samples that highlight your style. Make them reflective of your unique nature, something related to the work you’ll be doing or what you will add to the culture of the organization. For example if you love golfing bring a sleeve of golf balls and explain why during the interview - you’ll set up a fun tournament to build cohesion.

Don’t be deceived, any situation can be transformed from flat into fat, the good kind - the HDL of living multi-dimensionally.

Personal Legend

2009-06-15T14:06:00.003-06:00

This week wasn’t unlike others, day to day routines, constant coming and going, staying up late and getting up early (8 a.m. is early for me), taking for granted the connections that create my life story. The days and weeks and months add up to tell a story of the journey, blasé at times maybe, popping with every moment at others. However, one thing that hit home this week was that there are people who are generous and use their intuition even when they’re not sure why and even when it’s not reciprocated. Here’s what happened.

I want to upgrade my website (www.4excellence.ca), so after being referred to Suitcase Interactive I checked out their website and was immediately taken by one line, they described their business as a company “focused on relationships” (http://www.thinksuitcase.com/). That drew me in. I found out later, little guys like me are not on their radar but they agreed to help me anyway.

When we met, the owner (a young, genuine, flipflop wearing guy who started the business in his house and grew it to a top floor office space in downtown Calgary) said, “I don’t mean to sound arrogant but I don’t know why I’m doing this.” He was a little perplexed. And rightly so, he had just met with an international running shoe/sports wear company, big business bureaucracy and high pressure. What did I have to offer him?

Being a little dumbfounded myself, my brain didn’t kick in until later when my husband suggested that I offer him my services (au gratis) in facilitation or training needs they may have in organizational culture, leadership development, exploring innovation through collaboration and/or wellness. I hadn’t thought that I could offer them anything. No brianer right? Why didn't I think of that? It’s about meaningful connections, what can I do for them, not merely what they can do for me.

I challenge others to think big, break the rules, open spaces by squeezing through pinholes, but I didn’t see that pinhole staring me in the face. It got me thinking about my Personal Legend.

The concept of a Personal Legend is central to the novel ‘The Alchemist’, by Paulo Coelho. "It's what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is...there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth." The importance of following the omens on the journey to realizing one's personal legend is passed along to Santiago, the central character.

I gave the book to a colleague who was searching for her place in the world. After reading it she left an emotional voicemail thanking me for the deep message she received, an omen. She’s now creating her personal legend. She collaborates with artists of various sorts and is “dedicated to empowering our local and global community through the healing powers of human touch, movement, art, and nutrition.” (http://www.wayspa.com/Vintage-Roots-Lifestyle) Very amazing and I am in no way taking credit for her movement towards success, however, each omen along the way, as this one, led her to Vintage Roots Lifestyle (VRL) her venture and the Boutique she embodies.

Omens, I need a boot in the butt every once in a while to pay attention so that I can continue my lifework, and to value it so that I can share through collaboration. I gained insight into my Personal Legend this week, that of creating soulful connections that are meaningful. I’m on the lookout once again because when I get too focused on one thing I need to continue to look further and step back to see. It’s not that there’s more (that’s another topic in itself), there’s deeper.

Disruptive Innovation and New Einsteins: a world of new

2009-06-07T22:40:00.001-06:00

You probably have favourite websites that you visit regularly, use as your homepage and that are saved as bookmarks, so when was the last time you moved outside those familiar sites, search words and patterns?

In the last month I happened upon a whole new world of discussions, information and thought and I’m not quite sure how it happened. I’ll spare you the details, no it’s not Second Life, but that’s a wild world (just spent some time at a Web 2.0 session where they discussed how Second Life is used for education, interesting spin on a virtual world). I came across disruptive innovation and new Einsteins.

Disruptive innovation is the stuff that makes epic change, it’s at the far end of the spectrum, then there’s the other end that’s the stuff of smaller changes. Both have been argued to have the spotlight and both have their obstacles. I’m of the mind that either/or, and all along the innovation spectrum are and need to be supported.

We’ve an opportunity, always will and always have, to move ideas. Think about Harry Potter, nothing had been done like it before. Think about Bugs Bunny, in its time, nothing had been done like it. Einstein, Plato, your dad, my sister, all move ideas. We move these ideas within systems.

A colleague and I were talking about the impact of systems and how we can create systems that open spaces for creation or that confine. As I’ve recently this new-found community, I see new ways, systems, that are opening up for the new Einsteins to emerge. Finding them, starting them and supporting them are within reach. All we have to do is encourage, question, dream, support and play.

If we recognize the systems in place and dig into deeper connections that truly resonate with our values will this lead us to the creation of ideas and systems that will shape a world of new? Maybe it’s disruptive Einsteins that are going to push us to new system innovations in a world of deep values. Or could it be that new world disruptions will connect Einstein innovations based on deeper systems?

The longer you’re out of it the harder it is to get back into it.

2009-06-01T01:07:00.000-06:00

It’s been ten months since I went for a run and yesterday I headed out again. To be perfectly honest it felt absolutely awful, glad I did it, but it was gut wrenching!

This leads to another initiative I’m working on that includes a bit about meaningful connections taking time.

There’s an underlying assumption of insufficiency deeply entrenched in our society. The notion that we don’t have enough (time included), more is better, and that something takes time away rather than giving it time, are common, unconscious messages that surround us. We continue to perpetuate the idea of insufficiency.

By turning an insufficient mindset into one of sufficiency, we can shift from “not enough, need more” to “self-sufficiency, sharing and gratitude.” The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist talks about sufficiency as a way of being. A fund-raiser for The Hunger Project, Twist says that if we continue to give abundant aid to ‘the needy’ rather than coming from a place of believing and knowing that more is not better, that our world is sufficient, and that we are able to make a difference with what we have, world hunger will continue.

The self-fulfilling prophecy of poor, helpless people that need our help, is realized when the focus is on insufficiency. We continue to give more rather than honouring what is and turning the corner on world hunger.

An intentional shift from going after more to nurturing what we have is counter to the competitive nature of business and to what the majority of us have been duped into, more is better. Yep duped! Philanthropic programs and sustainable approaches are building steam, fantastic, so are we turning a corner?

That brings me back to the idea of the longer you’re out of it, the harder it is to get back into it. The longer you stay in the cycle of getting more, more money, gaining more status, producing more, more, more, the harder it is to get back into fulfilling and meaningful lifework.

With regards to meaningful connections, give them time to grow, honour and nurture them. Know that it might be tough at the start just like getting back into running, because you’re no longer part of society’s drive for more. You’re outside the whirlwind norm but when we get back into it we feel better and begin to connect on a more meaningful level.

Thoughts turn into words,
Words into actions,
Actions develop into habits,
Habits contribute to character,
Our character leads us to our destiny.
(source unknown)

What is your destiny?

Safety in Peanuts

2009-05-24T19:17:00.000-06:00

Linus has his security blanket,

Schroeder the piano,

Pig Pen exists in the midst of that wonderful swirling dust and dirty exterior, his security blanket that keeps people from getting too close.

Peppermint Patty is safe in her tough exterior.

Lucy finds her safety in telling others what to do.

Sally finds safety in her yellow curls.

Woodstock is pretty comfortable with just hanging out.

Snoopy, his safety is ripe with adventure and

Charlie Brown’s safety net could be his insecurity,

or maybe it’s his friends, he’s part of the group even though the world seems to be crashing down around him. Snoopy is his trusty dog, Schroeder his friend, Peppermint Patty his motivator, Linus his confident.

Safety is not at the forefront of my mind but I was in Irricana and they handed out emergency preparedness brochures, last year they had 3 hurricane warnings. When I head out on an extended trip I take precautions and I carry a first aid kit when hiking and camping. Fear isn't something that motivates me, being prepared comes naturally after leading numerous wilderness trips. As the leader it's just part of what you do.

Wikipedia defines safety as the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be considered non-desirable.

I wonder about the attention to each of those areas by leaders. Are all of them considered, do we need to protect others? I was talking with some therapeutic recreation colleagues and we talked about the standards of protection in place for their clients. I wondered if they were in place to protect the client or the service provider, it seems like they're for both. I'm thinking that Snoopy's safety net of adventure might just be the way to go, or could it be Charlie Brown's of friends?

Music in the Making ~ Play long and loud

2009-05-19T14:56:00.000-06:00

If you are reading this in a newspaper you’re likely a Boomer who grew up in a computerless world, void of ipods and twittering. Boomers still purchase newspapers, read it sipping their coffee at the kitchen table, then wash the black ink off their hands and nose. If you’re online, then you might be a Gen Xer, Millennial or an early adopter who is more comfortable getting news (if ‘traditional’ news is important to you) from the Net. Have a sip of designer latte, water or natural herb tea and click away.

It is this same technology that is providing new freedoms for many in terms of choosing where they want to live.

Established communities around the world have highly developed rich, creative cultures. They boast live musicians and poetic masters. People snuggle among the intricate architecture, gathering at outdoor cafes and town squares where they dive into ideas, innovate and connect, building strong economies. These are the places people want to live.

Communities with unique character and an authentic nature attract the creative class – young, talented, passionate people. What are they looking for?

- Cultural variety; neighborhood art galleries, eclectic music venues and exciting nightlife
- Opportunity for active, participatory recreation; special events, Frisbee leagues, activity clubs
- Convergent spaces; studios, theatres, social networking sites, blogs, forums
- Authentic, historic neighborhoods; renovated train stations, restored character homes, corner store/cafes
- Natural settings; amphitheatres, natural trails and parks
- High-tech infrastructure; supporting communication, interaction and education

Creative industries are among the fastest growing economic sectors in sustainable communities. Placing value on arts and culture ensures opportunities for participation and expression that fuels the growth of a creative community. What is the political will to support cultural interaction, activity and education? Visionary leadership that encourages creativity, risk-taking, and innovation is vital to kick-start and realize creative projects that result in economic and social benefits.

Rethink the importance of technology to enhance art appreciation and reform education through the arts to craft your home grown creative class. Infuse a culture of creativity by engaging in opportunities that compose the music to distinguish your creative community. Be it a symphony, jam session, or hip hop masterpiece, play long and loud.

Visit me at www.4excellence.ca

Simplicity the KISS of death?

2009-05-11T17:41:00.000-06:00

We’re doing the best that we can but at times may feel overwhelmed with all the things we’re told we should be doing. One of the latest is simplicity but it may feel like the kiss of death adding to the stress so I’ll Keep It Seriously Simple and hopefully add a pinch of pleasure:

1. Consume Less
Keep your wallet in your pocket. If you’re consumed with consuming dig into your inventive tickle trunk and come up with ways to buy less and live more sustainably, it’s time to reduce and reuse. Some ideas to start:

 Volunteer with a friend rather than going shopping.
 Give the gift of home made chutney (what is that stuff anyway?) or baking instead of a something that’ll make the re-gift rounds (it’s very important to test out the baking before handing it over so indulge!)
 Try a free trade party, not Harper and Obama style, share clothes between friends.
 Use a site like http://www.freecycle.org/ (a grassroots, nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns) to give away unwanted stuff.

2. Clear a Space
Have you been Feng Shui-ed? Forbid if you have your back to the door or a mirror facing the entrance! Skeptical or not this way of purposefully arranging an environment so that it positively affects those who live there involves both practical and some pretty cool ideas. Here are a few ideas to open space and live more simply:

 Clear your clutter, ship out the old decreasing all that stagnant energy which will open up your receptivity to new.
 Open the windows to keep it fresh and let the energy flow freely.
 Create your own yoga, meditation or reading room. It’ll be a space for you to take a deep breath, ground yourself and sooth your soul. Pick warm colours, surround yourself with rocks, sand and bamboo and chant your heart out, or just all your books and a cozy chair and blanket.

3. Connect
To simplify life, cherish meaningful connections by:

 Providing opportunities for others and yourself to make meaningful connections. How about a day at the park, barbecue or drop in on new neighbours by foot or bike. Nothing beats the outdoors to inspire connecting.
 Being yourself and smiling…people want to connect.

It’s that simple.

Exploding Cars and Hard Core Action

2009-05-02T20:22:00.000-06:00

OR if you like

Technology to Telepathy

Time Warp a pretty cool show with guys who blow things up and show it back in slow motion, their photography equipment captures high speed events so you can see what’s happening and analyse it. They went a step farther to see the invisible with a Schlieren camera that captures light distorted by air, so you can see shock waves, heat rising, and a whole bunch of disturbances in the air from things like speeding bullets. They shot at a bouquet of balloons and you could see the impact of shot gun pellets striking balloons but better yet the reverberation of the energy passing through the balloons before they were hit. It showed airwaves breaking due to bullets traveling through the air. They had to do more shooting so set up a line of 10 pop cans to see the impact of a bullet, you get the picture. To see some bits and learn more about Schlieren photography visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSFwH0BVd3Q

This got me thinking about communication. From storytelling and tablets, to telephone and snail-mail, to email, voice mail, text messages and twittering…it’s changed so what’s next? Well, Bill (Gates) has predicted that we will have microchips in our heads, no more cell phones, blackberries, but all the information will be stored in a microchip in our brains. Okay if that’s a little removed, how about our intuition and connecting through telepathy?

It seems that we’re moving back. Moving ourselves from that scientific, proven, can see it happening, to the transcendental realm that we knew was there and started with but had to have hard facts to prove. Now because of science and technology we’re starting to prove, something.

Heard of the water crystal guy? Masaru Emoto is a creative and visionary Japanese researcher whose work shows how water structure reflects our consciousness. He freezes water and photographs the crystals from different parts of the world, different types of water, the same water with different words written on the bottles and shows the reaction of the water, to some extent showing that intention has impact. Ya I had to look at some of the crystals and really think about this one too.

With books like “A New Earth” and people like the Dalai Lama drawing crowds to enlightenment where’s our next step as a society? Déjà vu, the coincidence of thinking about someone and then they call you or vise versa, a dream, random thought, all those nudges may just be our own microchips, the one we’re born with, sending a signal that is linked with more than randomness.

If we step back and look at our communication patterns over the years, we’re possibly a little more sophisticated because we have a deeper understanding and some ‘proof’ of why and how things are connected. Maybe we've just come full circle.

The emergence of this spiral force in the larger context of communication and connection is intriguing. A friend of mine is in India and she’s stayed in an Ashram, visited the most sacred of places, and taken horrendous train rides (40 degrees, jam packed, filthy conditions, 28 hours with chickens, goats, people staring…).

As I stood outside one day we connected. Was she meditating with the monks? Or possibly paying homage to the golden (or not so golden) throne on the train, that I don’t know, but I do know the intention of connection was there. I didn’t need a microchip to tell me that.

Etch, Fetch, Stretch. Expanding an idea

2009-04-23T16:30:00.000-06:00

Only $0.01 on Amazon.com! Robert Townsend author.

No this isn’t a sales pitch, it’s what you might pay for “The B2 Chronicles: Uncommon wisdom for un-corporate America OR How not to butt heads with the next generation” B2 stands for Beavis and Butthead, but that’s not what captured my attention, the notion of Fetchwork and Stretchwork did.

Fetchwork is the work we all do that fetches us an income.
Stretchwork is the work we do to move out of our comfort zone or that stretches us to new places.

I like the concept and am expanding it with etch and sketch work.

Etchwork which is the stuff that lets us etch out our path in either fetch or stretch work, it’s the every day stuff that we need to get done in order to function. For example it’s the banking, books, invoicing, it’s also the clearing of the clutter (the voicemail, email and snailmail that has to be sorted out, filed, dealt with in order to keep things flowing). It’s like a river that carves the landscape, changing and meandering based on the elements that it’s affected by; how hard the land is, how much precipitation that year, the human impact and folly. It includes the notion that what we become is based on what we do. It includes our values, actions, beliefs and experiences. It’s the great crevasses and landscapes that are formed, our legacy, how others view us and how we see ourselves, our presence.

Sketchwork is our choice and power, the way we create our path influenced by all of the other three. We can become what we sketch or sketch work can be sketchy, just like when the board is shaken and all the lines disappear. Sketchwork is our ability to lay out a path, the outcome of how we do that is the fetch, stretch and etch work.

So What?

Fetch & Stretch work - If we spend too much of our time in any one of these areas does it matter?
Books, research, individuals, communities all have varying opinions on this, on the one hand balance has been sought after and is seen as the be all end all, on the other, the argument that equilibrium is the least stable state of all is reflected in ecological principles.

Etch & Sketch work - The latest trend for work/life satisfaction is captured on the bookshelf with hoards of books on ways to live your passion, find work that is your life source, following the path that you were meant to, and finding or creating your dream job. Is it a bunch of huey?
Did you hear about the latest dream job advertised by Australia Tourism? The Queensland tourism group is offering a six month contract at a salary of A$150,000 for a person to act as a caretaker on an island in the Great Barrier Reef and they billed it as “The Best Job in the World” In the World, Whoa!

Fetch & Stretch, Let me know how you would expand on it.

Visit me at www.4excellence.ca

a tale of two

2009-04-06T14:41:00.000-06:00

Yoga, gotta go, get there, fill the water bottle, change, stretch, move, hold, breathe, let the chatter dissipate, breathe, move, hold, sweat.

Traffic is roaring, and OH NO another red light. Waiting. Check blackberry, no messages. That meeting, what was he thinking? News, not another shooting, change the channel, advertisement, talking, music, where’s the music? No not love songs, ahh an oldie, nope not in the mood for, more news, where’s that remote? Body language, when did people loose interest? The board room was so stuffy, and how about the looks, the discussion…oop blackberry falls, fumble to recover it, “Hello…yes, I’ll get to that right after lunch, appointments all afternoon but I’ll fit it in…ya no time to waste on those who aren’t on board…have to make this happen by the end of the week.” Finally, just another couple of blocks, hope there’s a parki…I’ll have to run, grab the bag, where’s my water bottle…just leave it, drink from the tap. Better be a spot open, there’s one, no. Aha, here’s one. Grab, run, traffic, stairs, cut across the street. Shoes off, change, gotta go, no toilet paper, wash hands, oooo fresh flowers, scent of the studio, squeeze in here. “Hi”…outta breath, time to start, who’s teaching? Where is she? Want to get started, breathe, focus, stretch, a kink where did that come from? Ahh more people, quiet chatter, smells what is that? Always smells the same, fresh, familiar, breathe. Begin.

Yoga, sun’s shining, can feel it. Mmmm warmth, peace.

Traffic flows like geese on a spring day gliding from south to north, catching drafts and currents unseen by the naked eye, detouring and landing where the terrain guides, contributing to the energy of the community. Breathe. Dialogue around the table, many forces at work reflected in the music of voice. Music, music of choice, what will it be, today a symphony of blackrock blues, is that a ukulele, a fiddle? Funny, ha! there’s always a spot to slide into just a little further away. Mat, water, presence. Outside the church bells ring, listen turn and see the vibration in the air, stop in the midst of a slow thoughtful walk…Oh, oh, she’s running, ahh to class. What is that song? Familiar, chiming bells, the sky is so full of fresh nothingness, it’s complete, smiles, deep breath. Transcend, up the stairs, across the bridge, moving from earth to sky back to earth. Eyes connect, smile, a gentle nod, “Namaste.” Warmth in the air, breathe in the familiar fresh aroma, welcome. Gratitude, prepare, breathe, be. Begin.

Breathe, begin…

One comes naturally, one requires intention. Which is which?

Talk to Yourself Out Loud, Outside and Often

2009-03-23T22:01:00.000-06:00

It all started when I walked outside and saw the murals on the chain link fence across the street. They’re new, big pictures of trees, streams and wildlife. One has a cityscape on it and there are clouds floating in between the panels. They reflect our city and have a larger impact than what the creators may have expected. I’ll likely visit the principal and tell her how much I appreciate the children’s artwork that now decorates our neighbourhood and hearing the kids playing at recess. Our neighbourhood is filled with energy because of the school, children, teachers, activities and creativity they share. I stand outside and talk to myself out loud, smiling and asking questions into the blue sky.

Have a look around, what’s right in front of you that you connect with or may be overlooking? Listen to the landscape and sounds you’re surrounded by. We may all listen to our inside voice; positive, analytical, critical whatever it may be, we most often hear the chatter inside our head. What about your outside voice? Talking out loud to ourselves in public is often linked with mental illness. Call me crazy but talk to yourself out loud and outside because it’s not necessarily due to a chemical imbalance, it’s freeing. We all do it, it gives us another perspective. It adds another dimension to our thoughts.

I find interesting ideas, get unstuck moments, and clarity when I’m outside and talking to myself out loud. Talking out loud helps solve tough problems even, as a fellow out loud talker put it, “it seems like the things I'm most likely to say out loud are the key phrases.” Talking out loud helps in preparation for marketing pitches, difficult discussions, and to decipher complex situations.

You may talk to yourself out loud more when you’re by yourself so why not in public? Social stigma, self-consciousness, many things hold us back from opportunities. Whatever the reason here are a few tips on talking to yourself out loud and outside:

1. First of all the outside part. Start in your own backyard or on your balcony. If you don’t have either open the window, stick your head outside and start talking. It’s similar to stream of consciousness writing that many writers, creativity gurus and reflection specialists tout as being a great way to bolster creativity. Start talking.

2. How long? Start with a minute working your way up to 3-5. You’ll likely find yourself moving from your outside voice to your inside voice, consciously move back again. Talk yourself through the silence, you never know what you’ll come up with.

3. Once you’ve mastered the backyard talk, try it when you’re walking to your destination, could be on the way to your vehicle, on your daily walk or it could be during your daily commute. If you ride transit you may want to start with a cell phone up to your ear so that you won’t get the, well I guess you may still get a funny look because I usually don’t appreciate the loud cell phone talkers in public spaces. Watch your volume.

4. To get the full benefit, build a ritual with your outside, out loud talk. If it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, driving home or in the evening, decide when you’ll integrate this into your daily routine. It’s a talk out loud break. Making it a daily occurrence gives you an opportunity each day to open a space for something new to emerge, solutions to build and creative connections to happen. Ya it might sound a bit nutty but give it a go.

5. Rocket science it is not, after sharing an idea, a piece of artwork, or a plan we ask others what they think. We want their opinion. Continue to ask and continue to share what you think out loud and move to an outside space. Being outside adds another perspective, it may take you to fresh insights. Moving outside expands your sense of space, seeing more than 4 walls or inside places changes your brain patterns helping you to connect and utilize both hemispheres.

6. Be alert to the next person you SEE thinking and ask what they’re thinking. It’s like showing your work on paper, this is your thought process on how you arrive at your idea. Sharing it involves others in the way you develop and arrive at your ideas. It provides others an opportunity to build on what you’re thinking.

7. This open sharing of thought inspires your inner thoughts to be more congruent with your outer actions, it’s a space for creative idea generation, a method to build solutions, it builds connections as well. When you share your process the motivation is exposed and exposing your motivation will build trust. Give it a try.

8. Share your inspiration and celebrate with others you catch talking out loud. Encourage others to grow through talking out loud, outside. You might inspire others who hear your discussion. More than once I’ve relayed a conversation overheard between 2 people or 1 person when in discussion with themselves. Everything we do has impacts that are greater than what we might expect.

Consciously talk to yourself out loud and outside.

On Being a Cat

2009-03-17T11:52:00.000-06:00

Find that slice of sunlight that streams in your window and curl up.
Create a cat bed that captures warmth is surrounded by plants and aches for a warm, purring body to curl up in it. Use it regularly for your cat naps.

5 minutes in the sun does wonders for creating, solving, relaxing and enjoying. Research has shown that our best ideas and solutions come when our brains are relaxed, bodies are in a state of flow, or exhaustion during that great morning run you regularly meditate through.

Follow the sun around your house, office or yard as you create your experiences every day.
Take 5 every day to BE a cat.

Even if you hate cats, try it.

Cats have no lack of self-confidence or personality.
They’re not shy about craving attention
Or about being by themselves.
Cats relish their surroundings, prance proudly.
Play with others, not always so empathetically, especially if you’re the mouse that’s been captured. But they play. They create their own fun and have fun with others.

Cats are simple and complex.

Cat's Eye Nebula (Wikipedia, March 15, 2009)
Structurally, one of the most complex nebulae known, observations reveal remarkable structures such as knots, jets and sinewy arc-like features.
It was discovered by William Herschel on February 15, 1786.
Modern studies reveal several mysteries. The intricacy of the structure may be caused in part by material ejected from a binary central star, but as yet, there is no direct evidence that the central star has a companion. Also, measurements of chemical abundances reveal a large discrepancy between measurements done by two different methods, the cause of which is uncertain.

Connecting with an amazing group of students

2009-03-09T19:45:00.000-06:00

I get to be inspired each and every week in learning more about community development. For three hours a week I take time from working with other professionals, communities and entrepreneurs who are living their dreams or are poking their noses forward to sniff what those dreams might be and work with an amazing group of students. I’m lucky. These people have shared their learning, unease, questions and ideas through our weekly sessions.

At the end of every couple of sessions they reflect on their experience, reveal their concerns and moments of inspiration and I have the privilege of gaining insight into their lives just a touch more.

When I was asked to teach Community Development I thought it to be a great opportunity to explore a new way of building community. We decided to walk through this experience together as a community. Together we developed the outcomes for the course, the assignments and the overall course outline.

First was to open an opportunity to create our learning experience as something that would push beyond understanding community development and move to a place where we were actually living it. Some were onboard from the start, others wanted to be taught. So began the journey of community development.

We started building relationships. From finding out more about each other, to deciding what we wanted our time to look like, we started an evolution of education. I aim to revolutionize learning, to expand understanding of, create opportunities and spaces to heighten wisdom. I strive to develop leadership through innovative collaboration. With that comes framing opportunities and building cohesion together with those I'm with.

These students are entrepreneurs, friends, children, brothers, sisters, sport leaders and team players. Each belong to diverse communities from across the country, belong to golf, karate, mixed martial arts and music groups, dance, volunteering, hockey and many more. There are many ways to thrive and achieve. Resorting to traditional thought, structure and process often builds a great divide between expectations.

Outlining our expectations of each other was important for us to create a base for moving forward. Respect was number one, no surprises/communication and being fully committed in each and every session topped our list. Challenging ideas, information and process as we sculpted our David was encouraged.

Now, more than half way through the term, concerns over marks and projects are at the forefront. We agreed that both students and I would evaluate including comments as to why. We discuss and come to agreement on grades. Sure some may take advantage, others embrace the design as necessary reflection to amplify learning and become exceptional. And exceptional they are. It’s difficult for a number of people because of uncertainty. Sharing self-evaluation means laying your cards on the table, trusting. This discomfort is common.

Some people are more objective than others, some harder on themselves, some defensive, some don’t trust, others just don’t care or have other priorities. Admitting shortcomings, even those that begin with great intentions, is refreshing and thorny. Celebration is rejuvenating nonetheless forgotten. Trust is straightforward, open and exposed, still may be complicated.

I work with an amazing group of students who teach me through their words, written comments, presence, smiles, sighs, chatter, wisdom, challenge and private gatherings. This remarkable group of students has connected with other students, groups, and organizations. They will continue to shape my lifework as I connect, build relationships, community and company. This extraordinary group of people is an anthology of amazing individuals with whom I’ll continue to connect and connect with. I am lucky and humbled by the amazing.

Study Finds Exercise Advertisements Prompt People to Eat

2009-03-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

The following excerpt came in a feed from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It may not be rocket science but definitely provides evidence of what we know intuitively - that there are residual impacts of our actions/words/media, etc.

Study Finds Exercise Advertisements Prompt People to Eat
Mar 3, 2009

A study published online in the journal Obesity suggests that campaigns created to promote exercise might actually cause people to eat more, United Press International reports. According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana, viewers who were exposed to print advertisements featuring messages such as "join a gym" or "take a walk" ate one-third more than people who observed signage featuring messages such as "make friends" or "be in a group." Moreover, individuals who were exposed to subliminal messages about physical activity while completing a simple computer task ate 20 percent more than those exposed to neutral words. The study builds on research conducted by the university that suggested general messages promoting activity can prompt behavior changes, some of which are negative. In light of such findings, the study's lead author suggests that those creating public health campaigns be aware that "whatever they communicate is likely to influence not only the behavior they had in mind but other behaviors that might be somewhat remotely linked." (UPI, 2/27/09; University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana release, 2/27/09; Albarracin et al., Obesity, 2/26/09 [subscription required]

Connections can be made in working with communities, relationship building, public presence and impact:

- the importance of words (sometimes we get hooked on them but they are impactful)
- intentions may be good and directed towards getting people 'moving' but may result in unintended outcomes
- the importance of how media campaigns are presented and perceived
- using research to substantiate and improve our actions/methods
and more

Three ducks

2009-03-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

Standing outside, the church bells chime, three ducks fly by.
Odd to see three ducks fly by, at this time, in the brisk Canadian sky.
March 1st and the Ides of March draw near.

Are they out of their element? Maybe leaders, maybe lost.

Inspiration of what’s to come, reflection on what has been spin, churn, whirl.
Rocking chair, stories shared, bring back the living room, powerful emotion, connection and hope of what’s to come.
Three ducks fly west. Are they going to or coming from, searching for or following the rest?

The Ides Of March ~ SILVERSTEIN
Tie me up with sheets, and hang me from your tree
I'll stay out here all night, it doesn't even matter
As long as I can see, into your room and feel
Like I'm inside your life, I'll follow you forever

Don't cut me down just yet, I'll make things right again
Don't close your blinds on me, on me...

I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
And I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started

The snow won't go away, My nose runs down my face
No one sees me here, It doesn't even matter
And every step I take, I stay in the same place
I can't begin to start again why can't I just be perfect?

I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started

I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started

You see my ghost and you'll never forget it
My face is as white as the snow that haunts me
Your windows my door and nothing can stop me
Sometimes betrayal can make you happy

Don't cut me down just yet, I'll make things right again
Don't close your blinds on me, on me...

I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started

I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started

What do you sit on?

2009-02-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

Have a look at your knees. Drop your drawers, hoist your skirt, lift your pant leg and inspect them. I’ll wait…

Scars, knobby, pointy, pudgy, knock-kneed, fading memories from nasty bike spills when you were a kid, hairy, bald, aching or sore? How many miles on those babies? They carry you up and down the stairs, in and out of the house, across the ice, down the hill, kicking, climbing, twisting, hopping, resting, running, crossing, standing. Had knee surgery (900,000 arthroscopic knee surgeries performed annually in North America are done as treatment for osteoarthritis)? Knees are an often overlooked, hardworking joint. Here’s what knees look like on the inside:

Take a close look at the intricacies of your knee joint. They are kind of like cars from back in the early days when everything was just a little simpler to fix. You could maintain your own car or truck, had the tools in your garage to do just about anything to ensure your ride, basic mechanics. As a joke you could simply unplug the coil wire so your buddy couldn’t start their vehicle (not that I’ve ever done that). Memories of a different time.

Knees, and other human joints, are pretty much the same, yep they may each have their own unique characteristics, just like Chevy’s and Ford’s, but really the mechanics are the same across the board. Just as the systems we house, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, nervous, immune, reproductive, urinary, lymphatic, vehicles too house systems; cooling, electrical, emission, break… you get the picture. We could compare the solar system, operating system, software system, organizational systems, information systems. The real question is, What would chairs look like if our knees bent the other way?

Black Diamonds

2009-02-10T01:40:00.000-07:00

Last year we committed to skiing more and improving. Lake Louise was our most frequented hill so when we hit Fernie for the first time we couldn’t believe all the powder.

If you ski you know skiing powder (the billowy, fluffy stuff that is nice and soft…and really hard to get out of if it’s shoulder deep, especially if you’ve got skis strapped to your feet!) is a lot different than no powder. Feeling more like beginners, we still attempted a couple of black diamonds. I say we, it was Dave who was the adventurous one detouring to the harder runs. Being more tentative than him, I didn’t follow at the start. After he came out alive, I gave them a shot. He introduced me to ‘China Wall’, ‘Tom’s Run’ and ‘KC Chutes’ black and double black diamonds, choke!

This year Panorama was our first ski adventure. Instead of being shoulder deep in powder, we were dodging rocks and faced with more moguls (like the icing on a Sara Lee cake, those bumps that professional skiers effortlessly carve around) than you could imagine. I’d never seen such huge moguls in my life, some 5 feet high and others had such deep grooves around them you had to either carve and turn fast or end up speeding uncontrollably through a grove and over a bump, possibly teetering on the top or sliding back onto rocks and ice or wiping out, over and over and over again. My skis came back with gaping wounds as big as the gullies between those moguls. Dave again was the adventurous one who led me astray, I’d follow figuring I could always slide down the hill and try to side step anything that looked too nutty.

This weekend Fernie. We had a good foot or so of fresh snow, ran a couple of easier runs to start off first thing in the morning but I didn’t feel so comfortable. Then something happened, maybe I woke up (that doesn’t usually happen ‘til about noon). What better way to challenge, build confidence and believe in yourself than to be absolutely humbled by nature. I was outside with Dave, it was warm, great snow conditions and I was physically active, all things I love. I focused on what I was doing, hit some hard runs and laughed as I fell, skidded, and crashed my way down the mountain, smiling the whole way.

Later that day I decided to attack the hill, the more apprehensive approach wasn’t working so well. My confidence grew (my downhill mantras ~ ‘attack the hill’ ‘keep your skis together’ especially when we traversed skinny little turkey trails in the expert and advanced areas). My attitude shifted, frustration and disappointment to enjoyment and acceptance. The second day brought great sunshine and warm weather, I haven’t fallen that much in such a short time.

Failing forward, you do learn the most from failures, but does it carry over to other aspects of life? I’d like to think so but I’m not so sure it always does. I’m a big believer in experiential learning still there are real challenges with transference from one situation to another. It’s kind of like history repeating itself, we pick out elements as to how it’s different this time, is it really different? I’m not convinced that it is.

To connect and transfer learning a conscious effort and an honest evaluation keeping the big picture in mind could work. Shooting for double blacks intentionally challenges both physical and mental capacity. On the other hand aiming to create deeper, more soulful connections that are meaningful, challenge more than the physical and mental. It’s beyond our tangible reality and moves into the realm of what we cannot touch, write or think. The intangible essence, energy or whatever you want to call it appears to be where we need to move to deepen our connectedness.

So are soulful connections any different than double blacks? Are the differences excuses not to transfer learnings to a more complex situation? What can be transferred from double black learnings to soulful connections, beyond talking?

Ski run ratings:
Green Circle - Easiest Runs
Blue Square - Intermediate
Black Diamond - Advanced
Double Black Diamond – Expert

Shooting for Double Blacks!

Klepto-parasitic bees, travel the world thru chocolate... Mediocrity NOT at its finest!

2009-02-02T00:11:00.000-07:00

If Clifford Stoll and Dennis van Engelsdorp can’t get your mojo going then who knows what will. Mediocrity is something that we’re trained to accept, no more! We should expect to have our brains explode, hearts shatter, bodies invigorate and souls rocket with idea after idea after idea when listening to a speaker, attending a workshop, walking our dogs, it’s our duty to rupture the blueprint of, or should I say addiction to, mediocrity.

It starts with our own little pedestrian lives.

Does that mean that every moment is to be an explosion of sensory perceptions? Not quite. It does however mean that every moment counts and every moment leads to and plays a role in creating exemplary practice, thought, connection and movement. We cannot afford to accept what is put before us. We cannot expect to continue along our merry way, we no longer are able to turn away from our global neighbours because we know and see, hear and are fed a smorgasbord of stimulants that provide evidence and misinformation from near and away. Colleges and Universities now focus on critical thinking and problem solving, analysis and evaluation rather than information transference, isn’t that how it all started in the first place?

Information is not power, knowledge may be important but essential for the new future is a new (renewed) way. Our transformation into an information society from an industrial one has taken hold and the emergence of a new future is on its way. That new future includes new (or are they renewed) relationships: with the earth, the others on the planet and the energy around. The new future is a mobius loop of idea generation, realization and existence. We will no longer wait for the go ahead, we’ll go. We’ll no longer wait for someone else to create a solution, we’ll create our own, we’ll take charge and develop interesting viaducts with unfamiliar materials that hold strength with deeper understanding and acceptance. We see it already in our multiracial schools, in our international services, in our supermarkets.

When we decide that mediocre is no longer tolerable, we’ll see that our small and insignificant presence will be forgotten at the same time will have been a part of an evolution of magical proportion. What is insignificant is significant, what is important is unimportant, what we accept or strive to change builds energy towards and within something that we can only imagine. Smiling as the Dalai Lama with openness will expand the space we imagine and create the new future much like the old.

Move to the new future and expect amazing, it’s here so inhabit it.

Visit http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dennis_vanengelsdorp_a_plea_for_bees.html to watch a short clip on “Where have the bees gone? The rise of collaboration”. Dennis van Engelsdorp shares bees. It’s astounding how that community, bees, parallels our communities. Did you know that 1 in 3 bites we eat is pollinated directly or indirectly by bees? At the same site check out Clifford Stoll’s clip, “18 minutes with an agile mind” another one to blow away mediocre. Heard of a Mobius Loop - a one sided, one edged surface? Give a strip of paper a half-twist, then tape the ends together. It's one side and one boundary, the inside is the outside. Clifford shares his Klein bottle and his hand that guides us along his idea map. Not for all but much for many, stroll through TED.com to find something that inspires you.

Could if my brain think like this.

Vanished

2009-01-24T12:55:00.001-07:00

I was going to share my grandiose and well thought out List to Live By, but the last point on my list is all about NOT living by lists so thought it foolish to post, hence a one week hiatus in posting anything and the question, are blogs worthwhile? There’s an index of blogs, whatever you want it’s out there, there are sarcastic bloggers, serious ones, creative, provocative, you name it there’s someone posting something on it…there are no new ideas.

I had a friend who wrote his Masters thesis in philosophy around the idea of just that, no idea is a new one. His wife, my very good friend, was so tired of hearing him talk about his theories and how the great thinkers of the world; Plato, Socrates, surmised that all the ideas and theories were present, had the beginnings, or had been reshaped and revamped, she refused to talk with him until it was finished because it dragged on and on and on. Anything anyone comes up with has already been ‘thought about’ by someone else. Not new!

Today, I captured my innovative, creative self and vanished from the picture. When you’re thinking about something, so are others. Likely what you’ve been incubating, nurturing, creating in your mad scientist lab in the basement, is already being stimulated, actioned, and played with in other circles, parts of the globe, and minds. Ahhh, vanish the ego and create the connections. Is it that simple? First some good food and a little wine to stimulate the brain. Okay a brisk walk in -20 degree weather and sleep. Now back to the dialogue.

Case in point. A couple of years ago I taught a leadership class and used values cards as a way for people to connect with their values and to encourage living and breathing their own personal values. I’ve used the idea numerous times and in various ways. The idea is to write out your top 3 to 5 values on a recipe card, carry it with you, change and update it as you move through your life. On the other side write out 3 to 5 goals and combine the two to refresh and enhance your actions with your inner motivations. I still do this from time to time and have a couple of old values cards kicking around my wallet to remind me, kick start me, challenge what I’m doing on an every day basis. Just this morning I read an article by two friends and colleagues who are using a values card idea to help others connect with their values. For an instant I felt ownership over the idea, but laughed as I sat to write this, that’s exactly it. They’ve got a great spin on the same idea and have generated more thought on my part as to how it can be put into practice. I’m sure there are many of us using a similar exercise.

Sure we’re innovative, creative thinkers who learn from those who have been before us (do we really learn from the past? That’s gotta be another discussion), it’s about highlighting the synergies that are taking place right under our noses. It’s about expanding our view, the playing field, the precision of our ear, our ability to soak in what’s around us, massage it and generate excitement and movement as a result. This is the surface for further thought, pick out the red and mix it with other colors to see a different result each and every moment. Go beyond the emergent colours to analyse, synthesize and embody revolution.

Later my friends,

I didn’t ask

2009-01-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

I went to a faculty development workshop today and was asked what questions I had or wanted answered. I really couldn’t think of anything that I wanted answered. Odd for a couple of reasons, I usually have lots of questions and that’s what I usually do, I ask the questions. Upon reflection, my mind was blocked, I thought, “I know all this stuff” and I wasn’t prepared to ask about something I thought I knew, even though deep down I know I have much to learn.

I reminded myself why I was attending the session; to connect, to learn about connecting, to meet others and connect with faculty development people, see what they were doing to give new instructors resources to be more successful and a better understanding of teaching. I didn’t think my reasons for being there were related to the content of what they were sharing. I struggled and wrote down, “How can I connect better with students?” but didn’t hand it in. Likely because I thought I connect pretty well with students and didn’t need to learn more about it so it wasn’t really something I wanted answered. I figured I knew the answer, it wouldn’t have been authentic for me to ask and I couldn’t think of anything else. Tells me something right there!

Sure I connected with others, made some inroads with the faculty development people and got a better understanding of what they offered. Still, the day fell flat because I wasn’t open to learn and I didn’t ask the question I’m most passionate about, how can we connect more deeply with others. The lessons are reminders for me (ego), myself and I:

1. My Tae Kwon Do Master said that you only start understanding Tae Kwon Do when you get your Black Belt. Similarly, when you think you know something, you likely have just begun to understand and uncover its truth so continue to study and explore, train and listen.

2. If you find yourself in a situation that you usually put others in (i.e. asking the questions), pay attention to how you feel, what you’re thinking and how you react. Walk for awhile in those shoes because they have the potential to create new patterns.

3. Intention can be pure, but actions deliver the outcome. Connect your actions and intentions by consciously preparing upfront for your desired outcome.

Visit www.4Excellence.ca to find out what we are doing to revolutionize learning, develop leadership and explore innovation through collaboration. Continuing to learn!

Real Work

2009-01-04T01:56:00.000-07:00

I came across this great book called “Presence: An exploration of profound change in people, organizations, and society” by Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski and Betty Sue Flowers. Betty Sue, isn’t that a great southern name.

The book I picked up was well-read with corners turned, and a note stuck in page 35. I borrowed it from the public library, it’s amazing the resources you can get for $12 a year. I read the pages that were ear marked from back to front (there are researchers that have studied reading magazines back to front –they’re the ones who’ve have had at least seven jobs in the past four months and drank way too much Red Bull, front to back -accountants, and random readers -randomreadererectus) and was brought to a deeper level of thought. One of the premises is that we go through a pattern of thinking, then reactive learning happens and doing which doesn’t lead to much more than surface iterations of change or continuation of patterns. By continuing in this stream we’re unable to integrate the parts with the whole. Otto talks about the U Theory and how we most often react rather than take the time to step back and really move to a deeper level of learning to process and act differently in similar situations. Not a really new concept.

The authors talk about “presence” where the whole is entirely present in any of its parts. They found that by encouraging deeper levels of learning we are able to see the larger whole and take action to shape future evolution rather than staying in old patterns of seeing and acting. Makes sense right? How many of us are moving beyond and changing patterns, we may try something new and then due to the ‘whole’ stray back into the false patterns that face us due to our circumstance.

I think of my ‘real work’ when out traveling the world, searching for and creating new patterns of being and how that is the future of new. Or perhaps it WAS and now deeper connections are emerging as a result of the whole. How can I truly move beyond what I know?

I checked out the website for the Society for Organizational Learning, www.solonline.org which focuses on building knowledge for systemic change. Senge reflects on his experience with a mentor who continually reminded him of the importance of the culture, “the ethos of the enterprise as a whole.” The Ethos of the organization is “the frontier”. The core purpose, practical know how and results are vital but the deeper learning is in attention to relationships, are people are enjoying learning together? If not, the ‘organization’ will struggle. This is the real work, this is the whole.

The Speed of Light: Fast OR Slow?

2008-12-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

Which one are you more like?

You are a Tortoise if you:
Phone your friends to make arrangements to get together.
Find your best creative solutions after you’ve slept on it.
Rely on gestures to describe something that’s too tough for words alone.
Are a member of the “Slow Movement”.
Only turn the TV on to watch educational shows and the news.
Don’t own a cell phone.
Turn off your Black Berry when you leave work.
Are more like an elder.

You are a Hare if you:
Read “Fast Company Magazine”.
Text or instant message.
Read “Blink” and think without thinking.
Let your left brain bully your right brain.
Use a PVR.
Have call waiting.
Keep a cell phone or Black Berry tied to your hip.
Are more like a kid.

Here’s a thought, it may be that hares are the early adapters, front runners even mavericks. It also may be that hares are shallow, superficial, forgettable, meaningless. The fast pace can detract from serious one on one relationships that demand time, continuity of attention and commitment. We’re close to moving 186,000 miles per second or about 300,000 kilometers per second (the speed of light) and where does that leave us?

How about those tortoises? Maybe they connect through their intuition, are more subjective, holistic. Perhaps they rely on their right brain, take their time building relationships and trust, nurture and reflect on situations and solutions. Walking gives a person a different perspective than flying a jet. When was the last time you walked?

Not so fast…or slow. We’re quick to peg things as opposites. Brain based theory discusses the connections between the two sides of the brain and I’d suggest that there’s much more synchronicity between fast and slow as well. The two extremes seem far apart, however, the relationship is relevant to the situation, scope and time. Speed or idleness is linked with our existence, our perceptions and our lifestyles. So here are my questions for the week:

1. If fast and slow weren’t antonyms how could we link their relationship?
2. If we valued slow over fast what would change?
3. What impact does fast and slow, left brain and right brain, have on your lifestyle at the moment?
4. What if there were no opposites in our vocabulary? How would that change the way we think and act?

And by the way in 1999, a team of scientists led by Lene Hau were able to slow the speed of a light pulse to about 17 metres per second and in 2001, they were able to momentarily stop a beam. Hmmm…

Push your Thinking, Spring for Excellence

2008-12-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

If you’re like me the quest for new ways of doing things better, creating innovative ideas, solutions, and approaches is ongoing. Springs, coils, and helixes, all with similar features, connect to revitalizing, rebooting and refreshing thinking. Push beyond and see what springs up as your thinking moves forward:

1. Start at home
I’ve got a spiral staircase outside at the lake, it adds a whole different dimension to the look and feel of the place. Why would anyone ever create such a thing? The first spiral staircase was built in a convent chapel in France in the late 1800’s. The architect died suddenly and after the builders had completed most of it they realized that there was no stairway to the choir loft. Because it was a small chapel a standard staircase would not fit and a ladder wasn’t appropriate for the Sisters due to their long robes. In true religious form, a miracle took place. A shabby looking stranger straggled in and said he would build a staircase. He asked for total privacy and locked himself in the chapel for three months. As soon as the staircase was finished the carpenter was gone.
It’s not earth shattering, take a look around at where you’re at, what you have, the space you have and create a new space for your thinking. This might be in the form of:
time ~ a specific amount or time of day
head space ~ clearing out your thoughts to make room for different approaches, solutions, ideas through meditation, exercise, hang-gliding, or a different environment
assumptions ~ identify your assumptions by writing them down, test their validity with others, and throw them out or embellish them.
Starting where you’re at seems like a common sense thing to do and it is. Recognizing where you’re at and acknowledging how things are will give you the freedom to push beyond.

2. Go deeper

Create tension in order to get to the soul of the matter. Tension isn’t always wanted or needed for innovation. In order to push down to the next level of thinking it just may push you farther than you’ve every gone. Create tension through:

Physical limitations ~ take away the coffee, the chocolate, the sugar.

Social experiments ~ make the world your lab and smile at the people you walk by on the street, communicate with silence at the dinner table, talk with the person next to you on the bus or in the elevator or at the grocery store. Collect the reactions you receive and reflect on them, with the people you’re smiling at or talking to.

Spiritual intimacy ~ host a salon with people you know from different and conflicting political, sexual, spiritual and value bases. Together explore the tension.

Taking steps to create tension is usually not something we tend to do because it’s uncomfortable. It’s also valuable and important in going deeper.

3. Embrace Nature

When was the last time you got outside and had a look around? This picture is a natural left-handed helix, made by a climber plant. What else have you missed when walking, driving, biking? We’re very removed from nature in our human built environment. A few easy ways to get in touch:

Plant trees every summer ~ dedicate them to friends, family or a cause.

Take a silent walk ~ no talking, no thinking, when your brain starts to chatter quiet it and remind yourself to listen to nature, watch the trees, the sky, the snow, the bugs. Take deep breaths and soak in the sun, wind, fresh air.

Head to the wilderness ~ collect rocks, branches or twigs. Bring them home to use as inspiration and/or to give away or to create a centre piece.

Nature inspires writers, inventors, musicians, architects, lovers. Give yourself the gift of connecting with something that is beyond what we can create. Through the wonders of nature become inspired.

4. Know where you’re going

A slinky always made it to the bottom of the stairs, not always the way that you wanted it to walk down the stairs, in fact most of the time it kinda fell all over the place, rolled half the way and it just wasn’t what we wanted or expected. But it pretty much always made it to the bottom of the stairs (sometimes with a little push or nudge). What’s the bottom of the stairs for you? If you see where you want to go it’s more likely that you’ll end up there. It may not be via the path that you planned but you’ll get there. Staying focused is not always an easy task especially for those of us who are distracted by shiny things. So here are a few things to consider:

Write it down or just know what it is ~ know what your vision is and play with it. Look at it often change the words, find the best words, the most outrageous statement, the kindest thought. Keep it with you in your wallet and/or mind at all times and visit it every day.

Take action ~ if you do nothing, nothing will happen. All those great ideas are wonderful but if you leave it at that you’ll stay at the top of the stairs.

Nudge yourself ~ motivation is a tough nut to crack. Keep your eye on the prize, have fun, turn things upside down and be a slinky. There’s more than one way to get down the stairs. Play seriously, no really seriously play. There’s a whole movement afoot called Serious Play, check it out.

Push yourself to embrace your vision, nobody elses and you’ll Spring to Excellence!

One Question, Eight Answers

2008-12-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

"It is better to answer one question eight different ways than eight different questions one way." – Plato

So I asked: What's the best thing that’s happened to you in the last week?

- Bought a leather couch, bed, chair (Leather bed?)

- Had a party yesterday celebrated being awarded an award. Oh and I went home every day at 3:30 this week (What would happen if this was the norm not the exception?)

- Connecting with the coaches, connecting with other colleagues…the best thing, sitting down with my husband a couple of times this week for an hour and talking (Home is where the heart is)

- A good friend started working after 15 months of shenanigans from employer (Through others’ success comes joy)

- Kinda a sad thing but a happy thing. On December 10th it was the 10 year anniversary of my mom’s death but I had a fantastic day. Out of the blue a friend asked if I could go to Lord of the Dance with her, it was amazing, my mom was Scottish and Irish. Then also played our first volleyball game and had drinks after. It was exactly what I had wanted, to move on in a positive way. (Death frees us for new life)

- I got to go to the gym a few times this week because I had the time. (Having time or taking time?)

- I just had an interview, went quite well...The best thing that happened to me this week was that I caught a glimpse of Karen. (Just a little dash of ego)

- There’s been lots of good things, good moments with each of my kids. And I got to go dancing last night so of course that was a good thing, I blew a hole in my ballet slippers and I found $1.89. (When was the last time you blew a hole in your ballet slipper?)

My Interpretation:
1. Leather bed? What we say and how we say it does make a difference.
2. What would happen if this was the norm not the exception? Balance is different for each one of us, do it your way every day and celebrate it.
3. Home is where the heart is. Connect with family and friends.
4. Through others' success comes joy. Ask about successes.
5. Death frees us for new life. When faced with death, mourn and grieve, reflect and remember, celebrate and move.
6. Having time or taking time? Choose how you spend your time, it will make all the difference in the world.
7. Just a little dash of ego. Recognize that puffy chest and down the nose look, everybody else does.
8. When was the last time you blew a hole in your ballet slipper? Let your hair loose and have some fun!

Your turn:
take one question,
engage 8 others
for answers,
take action.

frAGILE

2008-11-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

Art and Physical Activity are sometimes seen as opposites. The recreation and leisure field see the two as complimentary like yin and yang, black and white, resilience and fragility. This attraction of opposites has me thinking about my experiences with physical activity and the arts. I guess you could call me a jock, even though I really don't like the term, I was on sports teams in school and pick up physical endeavors quite easily. My body 'gets' how to move, it's agile. My artistic self, on the other hand, is something that I have to work at. In school the arts were not on my radar and the skills necessary continue to be tentative at best.

I admire artisans. I long to be a natural artist, be it in the performing arts as an actor or in the visual arts as a sculptor. I dabble in sculpting and focus on the human form, body parts. I had a short stint painting toilet seats, 'custom painted seats to suit your seat' until it was pointed out that I couldn't make a feasible business out of painting toilet seats, which was not really my goal, but I eventually, defiantly and with head hung low, resigned myself to that fact.

This leads to the 'fragile' notion. I'm self-conscious when it comes to my creations. I rarely share the products I create - no sculptures to friends for Christmas, birthdays or as housewarming gifts (a good decision on my part, nothing worse than getting a 'masterpiece' from a friend and having to display it). Kind of like the Friends episode when Feabs gives Monica the scary lady picture who's jumping out of the frame.

My question is how do we honour the fragile nature of individuals, relationships, groups and communities when we naturally protect our Achilles heels? Perhaps when something fragile is staring at you in the face listen closely, act boldly, connect to your own Achilles heel. By listening and presenting it to others rather than shoving it away you can discover deeper connections and freedom from restrictions. Share your fragile nature to increase inner agility. Your thoughts?

Next time some fun, visit me at www.4excellence.ca

Numbers

2008-11-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

13/11/08

Numbers
Ideas do it for me so I was a little surprised when I stumbled on numbers that sparked my interest and that reflect community, family, friends and self.

148.7 is Dunbar’s claim to fame, he came up with the Neocortex Theory (for those of you who aren’t numbers people this may seem a little dry but it gets better) which explains the importance of 148.7 (rounded up to 150). Hutterite colonies, yes Hutterites, pacifists, women wearing long black skirts and polka dot scarves, men in black with beards and hats. You may have bought magnificently fresh eggs or frying chickens, organic veggies or honey from them. So what’s the fit? Once a colony reaches about 150 people they divide into a second colony, because the fabric of the community, connections and support are impacted by larger numbers. A strong community is foundational to their way of life and their experience is that when you have too many people the community breaks down.

What connection does that hold for me? I was brought up in a Mennonite home (there are differences between the two), and have a similar experience. My parents felt the importance of strength in a close, caring and supportive community and so when our Mennonite church grew to be bigger, together with others, they divided and created a new congregation. Interesting how numbers affect relationships and connections.

The ACE (Active Creative Engaged) Communities initiative (under ARPA) has also been growing, more coaches, team members, communities and leaders. With growth comes some discomfort, challenge and change. It’s difficult for some, this is when I’m in my glory! A little chaos, uncertainty, fascinating… I get to explore new relationships, develop bonds, learn from unique and dynamic situations. So I keep asking, how do we continue to grow maintaining strong connections, building a solid and supportive community? My parents’ journey took twists and turns, they built a loving, supportive community that’s diverse and dynamic. ACE Communities is on a similar voyage.

A couple other numbers for your left hemisphere:

I attended a Conference and our goodie bags were full of SWAG (Stuff We All Get) but the one gift that was most meaningful was 2 hours of leisure. A presenter gave us each 2 hours of leisure time to do what with what we wanted, no strings attached, time for enhancing myself, maybe my community, definitely my quality of life. It’s something we all can choose to give and take. Loved it!

86,400 the number of seconds in each day, we’ve got lots of time. My oh so brief philosophical thoughts on time are that the present, NOW is all we have (Plato would definitely roll his eyes). Our traditional definition is limiting, hurried, never have enough, it flies, it’s fleeting, it goes by like the snap of fingers. So live each moment … I’m not one to get up early, I emerge later in the day and it’s the night hours when my creative spirit howls, so when I don’t get up at the crack of dawn I haven’t missed the worm, I’ve soared with the owls. Moments are precious and I keep asking how am I living each one so that my actions reflect my values? Enjoy each one.

Drive to my website in a candy apple red Mustang with the top down, let you hair fly
www.4Excellence.ca (still in development but a few pics to gaze at)

Karen