Autumn is my most favorite time of year. It’s a dramatic shift from the thick green of summer and cloying heat, mosquitoes and puddles of sweat into cool, crisp days, brilliant leaves and harvest. Perhaps that is why in the Jewish tradition, their New Year (Rosh Hashanah) almost always falls in September or October. It makes perfect sense to me, regardless of your religious background, that the season of Autumn is a better time for the one thing we do on December 31: make resolutions. First, think about it: by the time a year closes, chances are we are exhausted by all that has transpired. The holidays have pushed us to scramble for everything from gifting, cooking, cleaning, closing out budgets and more. It makes more sense to me that Autumn is a better time to be reflective, quiet, and take stock of what ARE we harvesting? What seeds were planted earlier and what is now ready to be put on the proverbial table of life? Where do we need to begin to draw inward and begin to hunker down to gather strength for what we might grow in Spring? What intentions (versus resolutions) can be made now while we are not so worn out? Something to think about.

My granddaughter called the other day. Her voice quivered with excitement. As a newly minted graduate with a master’s in public administration and an emphasis on non-profits, the Covid 19 world had not made it easy to locate work. “I’ve got the second interview with a non-profit that uses aviation as an outreach tool for under-served children. I told them my Nana was a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot WWII (a WASP) and the folks nearly jumped over me in delight.” “A WASP? Why those were kick-ass, amazing women,” proclaimed the head interviewer. “You’ve got aviation in your blood!” I smiled in delight to think that Mom’s great granddaughter spontaneously brought up a service Mom had performed many decades before. Thinking of Mom and her tenacity, courage and willingness to do what many would not do, I began to wonder what kind of legacy am I leaving for my grandchildren? I won’t be a maker of aviation history. And I certainly will not be an astronaut, or the first woman president BUT, I believe we all are leaving traces behind in our actions that influence another generation. Today, we are swirled in a stew of hatred, lies, bullying, and threats to the very legacy that Lincoln espoused in his Gettysburg address—“that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Lincoln didn't propose a nation of people who looked alike, sounded alike, and thought alike. He didn’t say that only the 1% will inherit the earth. He didn’t say a nation that created laws only to advance certain people over others. In fact, if Lincoln were to appear today, I believe his heart would be broken. As trite as this might sound, the legacy I am working on is to be known as a decent human being. So I decided to write actions that hallmark a decent human being. See what you think. Add to it. And let me know what you add. I think that together, we can get to that government Lincoln wanted. A decent human being, is kind and compassionate to others, tells the truth, refuses to name-call, bully, demean, or degrade, seeks to help others and not just herself, admits mistakes, seeks to improve, and shares knowledge and seeks it from others, a decent human being is one who doesn’t agree with her strongest opponent but figures how to work with them, a decent human being has integrity and respect for others and a decent human being cares for this planet in all its many varieties. And to this you would add……..

Around the age of three, children seem programmed to ask “WHY?” for just about anything: “Why is the sky blue?” “Why do doggies go around in circles?” “Why do bubbles float?” You get the idea. Our first adventure with the word “WHY” is for seeking answers to what seems so mysterious about the world around us. In our teens, “WHY” seems to be the question for challenging rules and authority: “Why do I have to be home at 11pm?” “Why can’t I wear this? Everybody does!” “Why can’t I go out on a school night?” But once we enter the adult world of work, “WHY” can often be encumbered with the outward signs of success. Here is the story of Dan Dominguez: "I was the Western US Director of Sales for one of the most successful medical device companies in the world. A big shot but at a cost. I was spending 2-3 weeks a month on the road and sleeping in hotel rooms instead of my own bed. I was at corporate headquarters for entire weeks of leadership meetings and visiting key clients on the other weeks. And despite all that, we were trending to miss our quota number for the first time in my sales leadership career. I remember spending late nights in my home office trying to figure out the latest excel formula that our leader had developed, thinking that the solution was somewhere in a spreadsheet. So, I worked harder. I spent valuable time analyzing numbers and trends, forecasts and funnels, and sales processes but something wasn’t right. I made the tough decision to leave my job and find something that was fulfilling and provided me the meaning and lifestyle for which I was searching. But what could that be? I realized that I had forgotten that for 25 years, I’d been a successful sales producer and sales leader by doing one thing – taking care of people! I had always helped my teams achieve their goals by listening to them and ensuring they had the tools to do their job successfully. I remember trying to help as many people as I could, and to be there for everyone at work and in my community – though often neglecting the most important people in my life - my wife and daughters. That had to change, too. In short, I was not living up to my purpose in life. Dr. Gary Sanchez, founder of The WHY Institute, helped me discover my purpose. When I learned that my WHY was to contribute to the success of others, to make a positive impact in their lives and make a difference, it changed my life. This newfound self-awareness made it clear that my old position was not right for me because it was no longer in line with my WHY. When I lost the ability to lead by helping others succeed, when numbers became more important than people, and when I didn’t feel I could make a difference in the lives of others via my leadership, I was no longer living within my WHY." The good news for Dan—he is now the Chief Growth Officer for The WHY Institute! He is contributing to the success of others by helping folks discover their WHY and gain the life-changing clarity he found. Serendipity to be sure. Full disclosure: I met Dan because my research has convinced me that a lack of purpose contributes to burnout. I became certified in their Discovery process so I could help clients clarify not only their WHY but how it shows up in the world with what they do. Perhaps I can help you. PS I believe that inspiring people to unleash the energy that brings their best selves forward is my calling in life. How I do this is by offering a better way to craft work and life by design and not default. What I bring is a simple way to build resilience, inspire hope, and find joy in the process.

The doorbell rang at 7:30 pm last night. Startled from my reading, I jumped up and opened the door. Here stood a man with a big grin, holding a plate of brownies. “I’m John. We live above you on Cockleshell. My wife Julie and I wanted to thank you for your palm trees.“ To say I was confused would be an understatement. We’ve lived here for 30 years. No one has ever commented about our palm trees other than decades ago I had to convince the view blockage committee that palm trees well over 30 feet tall would only block the view of God himself. We were instantly exonerated. John went on to explain. “We have guests over often and watching the sun set with your palm trees in the horizon just makes such a beautiful picture.” I nodded my head in agreement. “Then”, added John, “when your trees were trimmed a few weeks ago, it was an acrobatic amazing feet. A neighbor down the street called all of us on this side to come watch.” John was right. The trees now are reaching some 75 feet in height, healthy and a landmark from all corners of our neighborhood. He held out the brownies and asked if some time we’d come up and share some wine with them and watch the sunset. “Why John, we’d love to. Here’s my business card. Thanks to Covid, we’re here all the time so just let us know what works.” “Perfect. Julie will call you.” Once in the house, I immediately open the note his wife had written and read about how much they have enjoyed our trees and are so grateful we didn’t cut them down as they grew. “Then lo and behold,” Julie wrote, “the tree trimmers arrived and we were treated to a show of bravery and suspense. As I was watching the three guys, my phone kept buzzing and messages kept arriving, alerting everyone to watch. We’re thankful you have kept up your trees that over the years have provided us with beauty on a nightly basis. With appreciation- John and Julie.” It just blew me away. Trees. An unexpected verbalization of gratitude about something I probably have taken for granted. And, from someone I did not know although we’ve lived in this house for 30 years. It made my night. Actually, it made my week. No—even more than that: it was a kick in the pants. When was the last time I surprised a stranger with a gift to say thank you for what others might take for granted? I’m baking lemon cakes tomorrow and taking them down to the post office. We might say thank you to our mail carrier but how about the people behind the counters? What unexpected gratitude can you extend?

I find it fascinating how organizations can spend significant marketing dollars on their branding statements to potential clients but often give short shrift to the communication methods and content with employees. With workers spread across remote locations and platforms like Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams holding the place of in-face meetings, it is even more imperative that communication be clear, engaging, transparent, and honest. Please take time to read these 18 best practices for internal communications. You’ll notice that the author calls these strategies. Well-planned internal communication is actually very strategic, taking into account the context in which workers find themselves. Uncertainty, anxiety, and mixed messages can well play out without a careful strategy. I must add one final thought. Be real in communication. Stop the puffery in words. Use language of inclusion. And—best of all—ask for candid feedback in all communication. Remember, message sent is not always the message received. Enjoy. 18 Internal Communication Strategies for 2020 How you communicate a message is as important as the message itself. When it comes to internal communications, this certainly holds true. Company culture can give your organization a major strategic advantage in these changing times. But what your culture consists of – goals, values, and practices – must be effectively transmitted according to best practices if employees are going to understand and act upon it. Therefore, it’s essential to focus not just on what you’re communicating but also how you’re communicating it. Read the entire post at Enplug here.

Friday, September 18 my phone went crazy with texts. E-mails began flooding my in-box. Shock, Sorrow, Dismay, Pain, and Anxiety echoed in all of them. Even in the press reports that came in rapid fire, not one person expressed satisfaction that this lioness of gender equity and fairness was gone. She was a warrior for justice, equality, and democracy. I’d say that’s a pretty heady legacy. I cried when I heard the news. So did my neighbor Steve. So did my sister and my twin brother. Forgetting the politics of this moment and that some factions are not-so-quietly gloating that they can stack the court and influence outcomes for years to come, RBG’s legacy of consistency and integrity superseded differences. Her friendship with Justice Anthonin Scalia until his death in February 2016 brought together two people of vastly different ideologies. He was a gregarious conservative, she a soft-spoken, self-described “flaming feminist litigator.” "As annoyed as you might be about his zinging dissent, he's so utterly charming, so amusing, so sometimes outrageous you can't help but say, 'I'm glad that he's my friend and colleague," she said of their relationship in 2008 and reported again in The Hill. Here are three lessons we can learn from Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Lesson #1: Friendship does not depend upon agreement but rather respect. Bullying, name-calling and demeaning an individual only fuels animosity and partisanship. Ginsburg mirrored the ability to be brilliant in her court rulings and writings but then could turn to a so-called adversary and look for what was good in that person. Imagine if more people did that today! Lesson #2: Tenacity, resilience and clear values triumph in the end. Ginsburg never wavered from her belief that women have a place at all tables. It took her 30 years to finally be approved for the Supreme Court. But along the way, RBG was consistent in her actions to open the world of work and education for women. Imagine entering Harvard Law school, the only woman among 500 men, and being asked why she took the place of a man? I am guessing that comment was one of many she endured in her path to seek equality for women. Lesson #3: Humor is ALWAYS a good wild card. Soft-spoken and tiny, RBG could come up with a twinkle in her eye, laugh over being compared to the rapper RBG (Notorious) and find herself riding an elephant in India with fellow judge Scalia. In later years, as her writing became sharper and caustic, she nevertheless found time to be a regular character of Kate McKinnon's on Saturday Night Live; the subject of the biopic On the Basis of Sex, starring Rogue One's Felicity Jones; and perhaps most recognizably, the inspiration for a wellspring of T-shirts, tattoos, Halloween costumes and Internet memes. In keeping with the lessons from RBG and the idea of legacy, I believe I need to be better at modeling her 3 lessons. What about you?

While I’ve written extensively about burnout and the attendant exhaustion, a colleague gave me a different viewpoint that I think should be explored. Specifically, he is bored. He’s exhausted from trying NOT to be bored. He’s not using his talents. Lockdown has him locked out of physically being with people who are stimulating. Libraries are closed and bookstore and Amazon purchases add up. He lives alone in a lovely house and rarely sees his neighbors. Got the picture? Until Tom brought it up, I had not given a thought to the very real trigger that comes from boredom. Let me be more specific—when the head and the heart aren’t engaged in meaningful ways, it’s exhausting to try and find what will jump start our emotions and our intellect. Here’s what we came up with to help Tom begin to move from burnout to breakthrough. Intellect: Watch one TED talk a day. Subscribe to Blinkist—an app which gives you synopsis of books. Watch Dry Bar Comedy on You Tube—(Tom has a not-so-secret wish to be a stand-up performer). Learn and/or try one new thing he has never done every month. Emotional: Call and/or go see a mutual friend who is 90 years-old and in Assisted Living. Now we can only talk to her by sitting outside through a window. But hey—that’s a connection. Reach out to some of the young men and women who are part of Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Orange County. Tom has been a supporter and on the Board. Calls on Facetime or Zoom let them know an adult cares about them. What suggestions do you have to quench the burnout flames of boredom? I’d love to know. You can purchase my new book today at Amazon.com

What a difference a year makes! Last year this time, we were with daughter Holly and her family in the mountains of Washington.  This year, we watched the same family at virtual graduations: Clare from So. Oregon U with a degree in Environmental Science and Alicia with a Master’s in Public Administration. Our hugs are but a distant memory from Thanksgiving. Last year this time, I signed a contract with Berrett Koehler Publishers for my next book (see below). This year, the book was born on August 4 and the desperate need for moving from burnout to balance and building resilience has never felt more critical or complicated. Last year, speaking and consulting dates packed my calendar. This year, emptiness abounds and “virtual” is the password. Here’s the point. The unprecedented convergence of a global pandemic, severe social unrest, and a dramatic economic downturn can prompt feelings of anxiety, confusion, depression and even despair.  We want “yesterday” to come back.  It will not. Instead, our ability to grow through these times rests on three key things: Seek multiple alternatives and possibilities for what you confront TODAY… not yesterday or tomorrow… TODAY!  A virtual graduation was surprisingly intimate, personal, and more special than a crowded auditorium. I’m discovering “found-time” to give podcast interviews, write guests blogs, and reach out to past clients. Control the controllable. I can’t control Covid-19 but I can follow the advice of medical professionals.  I can’t control the anger and hatred that bursts across screen and newspaper. But I can control how I reach out to others, how I invite conversations to understand, and how I choose to learn more of a history I know little about. Laugh. Laughter is truly perspective. It tells you what is extraneous and what is truly serious. Laughter was Abe Lincoln’s escape valve in the middle of the Civil War. Small steps? Yes. But remember, a rain drop over time can take down a mountain. Purchase now at https://amzn.to/3eiPRJl

Traditional titles in organizations offer little insight into what research says today's workers and the incoming generation are seeking. A salary and good health care benefits are givens. But here is what else a Deloitte Millennial survey reported: workers want purposeful work, the ability to blend work and life, and an opportunity for growth and advancement. My data also says they want a place where laughter and fun are not forbidden. Furthermore, the term "leader" doesn't just belong in a C-suite. Rather, a resilient organization that will attract and retain talent works diligently to make sure that a culture is created in which everyone has a title. After all, engagement is a two-way street. Just as a marriage doesn't work if only one partner is doing the heavy lifting, so too in business. Go beyond the titles of CEO, COO, CIO and CTO. In fact, these titles only use three of the available vowels. Look what happens if an organization gives everyone a few other titles. The CAO is the Chief Accountability Officer. The questions that all would be asked to consider are these: · What are you holding yourself accountable for? · At the end of the day, what did you achieve? · What are you doing to develop your personal and professional skills? · How have you leveraged your network? · Have you asked for feedback to assess your performance? · How are you integrating your work with your life and controlling what you can? · How could you benefit from 360 feedback? Note that these questions also apply to the CEO, COO, CIO and CTO. The CUO is the Chief Understanding Officer. The softest skills are also the hardest skills to master. Without understanding the needs and values of others, it is difficult to effectively communicate and solve challenges as well as look for opportunities - all hallmarks of a resilient organization. This is why I always start every management offsite with a segment that allows participants to understand each other better. Consider these questions: How well do you understand the customer or client? What does he or she really need from you? What value can you add? How well do you understand your colleagues? Remember the platinum rule: treat others as they wish to be treated - not as you wish to be treated. Are you listening to yourself with understanding? What will help you feel a sense of purpose and pleasure? Without understanding, which is a function of deep listening, it is hard to move forward. The book of Proverbs was right: seek first to understand rather than to be understood. Lastly, to varying degrees – even for the sternest is the CYO: Chief Yippee Officer. No one wants to work with or buy from people whose faces are carved in stone or people who can barely grunt a greeting much less smile with genuine delight. To be sure, some will grab this title with gusto, making themselves in charge of merriment, fun, and finding the humor that creates a spark for creativity. For others, a "yippee" might be couched in feeling the joy of accomplishment. When you laugh at "it", you can live with it. If everyone held this title of CYO, there would be no room for the person who casts a black cloud over others, who complains constantly, who moans about every assignment. Some people develop eye strain just looking for trouble. A CYO does NOT seek trouble. Consider adopting these three additional vowels in the Romance languages: A, U, and Y when crafting and keeping a resilient organization. Best of all, there is no cost, no board approval, or statute of limitations. Begin today with accountability, understanding, and laughter. Tomorrow is too late. The future for leaders starts now.

As Covid-19 swept across the globe in early 2020, whole workforce's left offices and began working from home. Reports indicate that two-thirds of workers are more productive working at home than in an office. Sounds good! But there’s a downside. Now that people are working remotely, the evidence suggests that people are starting earlier and finishing later as they try and juggle everything from home-schooling kids to wanting to prove to an absent management that they are tip-top employees. Burnout is surging along with mental health issues. Here’s where resiliency enters the picture. Resiliency is all about energy management. An exhausted employee has squandered his energy quotient. The well-being of employees needs to be top-of-mind for leaders. As workers navigate changes in personal and work lives, smart leaders must invite answers to these critical questions: What are you doing that you now question its value, its purpose, and its efficiency? Are there meetings you feel compelled to attend that in retrospect, were a waste of time (and energy) ? If you could design your perfect work-at-home-day, what would it look like? Where should we invest in technology to help and where is technology a hindrance? Where do you think we’ve prioritized efficiency over everything else and thus zapped your energy/resiliency? Do you feel listened to by management? Remember that prioritizing resilience presents an opportunity to declutter organizations. It can also result in agile work practices PLUS increase employee engagement.

I recently read a report of the research from Stanford GSB professors, Jennifer Aaker and Szu-chi Huang. It spoke of the power of seeing the current ravages of Covid-19 and subsequent economic breakdown through the lens of an ongoing journey rather than a destination. As a writer, hiker, and a lover of adventure travel, I am captured by the thought of seeing these events as an unfolding journey. In my journeys, we’ve encountered obstacles that ranged from dangerous snow-covered passes, altitude sickness, and bruised knees to fried worms, lost trails, and rationed water. Each incident managed to scare me and also show me what I could get through even when I didn’t think I could do it. Of course, at the time, I was terrified, uncertain and anxious. However, looking back at each experience, I can see how I grew through each event. What fascinated me about the work of Huang and Aaker is that their conclusion urges us to see each phase as a place of growth, particularly as one looks back. If this is indeed a journey and not a destination, then the events that are so unsettling can be transformed into opportunities for growth. You’ve done it before. I know you have. Events you didn't think you could make through ended up as memories and not as monsters… IF you will focus on the strengths you used to get through them. As a friend recently said, “I’m thankful for my struggles as it helped my stumble upon my strength.” Something to think about.

Everyone can itemize just how these times are awful: rising number of COVID-19 cases, over 130,000 deaths in the U.S. alone, job losses, businesses closing, social unrest, fear and anxiety, depression, anger and violence… the list goes on. Awful to be sure. Dwelling on all this overwhelming awfulness results in deepening the emotional burdens of negativity but I found some good news in a research abstract published by the Association for Psychological Sciences. In three very different experiments, the researchers discovered that finding moments of awe (amazement and wonder) expanded people’s feelings of well-being, altered decision making in positive ways, and reduced the stress of feeling compressed by time. The more awe moments participants experienced; life felt more satisfying that it had been otherwise. The experience of awe leaves one feeling humbled, interconnected with others, and everyday concerns feel less overwhelming. Plus, people who experience awe show lower tissue levels of an inflammatory cytokine associated with the risk of heart disease. Consider these practices that can bring awe into your life: Become a student of nature, watching for all the moments that remind you of the complexity, beauty, and abundance of the natural world. For example, right now, dozens of monarch butterflies are twirling above my head. The females have already placed eggs on the milkweed plants which the caterpillars will devour. In due time, the caterpillar will be turning upside down, splitting its skin, nestling inside the chrysalis to form wings, thorax, antennae and then emerge. Over the years, I’ve managed to video tape each stage of this incredible metamorphosis. It is AWESOME and humbling. Keep an AWE journal. There’s magic indeed in even recalling a moment of awe and bringing it to life on a page. Remember when you held your child for the first time? Or how about watching a comet blaze across the sky? Perhaps it was standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon or looking up at the moon rising over the High Sierras. My latest moment of awe was having a little 3 year-old run, grab my legs, and hug them enthusiastically. She was stark naked too! Her innocence in that gesture touched my heart—particularly when her mom said that Olivia didn’t do that often to others! Take an AWE walk. Between computers and cellphones, the world of technology surrounds us with noise, demands, social media posts, and press bulletins which speed across our eyes. Leave all that behind and get out. Even if you think there’s not much to see in your neighborhood, pretend you are from outer space. See what catches your eye, perhaps pulls you into a reverie, or offers a familiar sight that is suddenly changed. Perhaps a flower growing in the sidewalk crack? The elderly woman who is walking slowly without her portable oxygen? (I saw her today, shouted a “good to see you out” and gave her two thumbs up. The smile she offered just made my heart happy.) Watch an awe-inspiring video. We’re into watching—for the third time—the National Geographic film on the courtship of birds. I also play the video we took when in San Ignacio Lagoon in the Baja with the birthing gray whales. There’s nothing more awe-inspiring than being able to bend over and kiss the head of a 40-ton California Grey whale. It is said that we should not count the number of breaths in our life but rather the number of times something took our breath away. Try any of these and watch how—even for a short period—you are surrounded by present moment awareness and grateful.