Organizational Courage

"You Got a Pen?"

Don't you just love those energetic and inspiring beings who see the best of who you are? When I'm around these people the "JP" they see is smarter, funnier, bolder and more courageous than the "JP" I'm familiar with. It's not that I'm not my authentic self around them: I am. But somehow what they see and reflect back to me is the best of me.

I was lucky enough to have dinner with one of those people tonight. Hours after the table is cleared I'm still smiling.

My colleague and friend John Nielson is a brilliant creative writer. He was recently at a conference talking about his new book "Toe Jam and the Toenail Fairies".  John talked about how kids would get so excited - a real live author! - and ask him for his autograph. Now John's a modest guy. His reaction was "Um, sure...got a pen?"

Who are the inspiring people in your world - home, work, wherever - who see you with that lense? The lense that holds you as bolder, brighter, smarter, wittier, more lovable than you normally see yourself?

Energy Management

A mentor of mine once said "energy flows where attention goes". It's an interesting concept. A recent Wall Street Journal article seems to echo this concept, tracking corporate performance to CEO life events. When the CEO suffered a personal loss, such as a death in the immediate family, corporate financial returns also suffered.

I found it fascinating that the WSJ quoted at least one CEO as saying that the link between personal and professional life was 'ridiculous'. Such (at least in his mind) is the separation of the two.

And yet as humans we each only have so much attention, so much energy. We each get 24 hours in a day. We each get so much personal energy. Even with willpower, drive and focus. While I can certainly compartmentalize my life (an argument with my husband can be put on hold until after a work presentation), as a human I can't help but pay attention and 'spend' some energy when a personal loss occurs.

Today, on 9/11, this makes me question where I'm focusing my energy: on the death and destruction that occurred six years ago today? On the clouds scudding across the sky outside? On the work in front of me?  Just for today my commitment is to pay more attention to where my thoughts are focused, and to notice if I'm managing my energy well, or squandering it.

Where's your energy today?

iPods on the Job

Very cool! According to CLO Magazine, Homewood Suites has incorporated iPods into employee development, offering two-minute learning modules on the job via iPod video. Fast, relevant, to-the-point, embedded on the job...perfect! 

Measure Authentic Happiness

A fun follow-up to last post: Dr. Seligman at the University of PA has set as his mission "the promotion of the field of Positive Psychology. This discipline includes the study of positive emotion, positive character traits, and positive institutions." Love that! Plus, his web site has all sorts of fun (free!) self-assessments for testing your own strengths and happiness levels. Cool stuff!

a daily dose of inspiration

This is the coolest little thing since ShoutWipes. Go to Totally Unique Thoughts and sign up for a daily email. You'll receive a reminder each day of the basic laws of attraction, with a little humor thrown in. Cool stuff!