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The U.N.’s annual World Happiness Report ranks the happiest people in the world: Finns, Norwegians, and then Danes. The U.S. has dropped to 18th place. What is happening? Surely, we are (or were) a powerful, wealthy nation. That’s the rub. What social psychologists tell us is that happiness flows from our connections to each other, our sense of community, and a shared purpose. It has nothing to do with a never-ending hunt for consumer goods, security, money or status. The bullying and hate speech, the demonizing of groups of people, a distrust of the media, and a political climate that seems bent on its own destruction have pushed us away from the very thing we need: human connection.  Loneliness is epidemic and researchers say, far more dangerous than smoking cigarettes. And loneliness depletes the ability to be resilient because human contact—and therefore help—is diminished. Here’s the challenge I am throwing out to myself, my family, and anyone who wishes to take up the banner: time to create opportunities for gatherings of family, friends and people who are “different.” Time to put away the digital devices that keep our eyes from seeing each other and the beauty of the natural world. Time to count blessings in terms of human connections instead of money in the bank. Time to put away consoling ourselves with unhealthy habits and possible addictions. Author E.M. Forester had it right when he insisted “Just connect.”  And if you have no one to talk to, call me.

Just finished Daniel Pink’s newest book, WHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing . To my great surprise, the revelation of “when” is directly correlated to your energy! In fact, who would know that there are more unsuccessful surgeries, judicial renderings, and financial decisions done in the afternoon. It has everything to do with energy! This highly researched, easy to read book lays out how to determine your personal energy flow AND what are steps you can take to get over the valleys that zap your energy and hamper good decisions and action. Since I know many of you don’t have the TIME to read, please explore the following infographic. My caveat—both Pink and I disagree with the “animal” descriptions presented in this graphic. I am none of those. At the same time, the rest of the information is spot on and very useful. Now, having been at my desk for almost two hours, I am taking a walk outside while I drink 16 oz of water. Just what the “doctor” ordered.

To be sustainable and resilient as an individual or an organization, customers need to know what you stand for. In short—what is your brand? Branding Lesson #1: Your name sets up an expectation. Live up to it or suffer. There is a promise established in what we advertise and name things. Southwest Airlines had thought to create a baggage claim delivery time slogan. Then they realized that due to the configuration in a few of their terminals, to quote such a time was almost impossible. They dropped the campaign even though it would have been true in MOST of their sites. Branding Lesson #2: Your business sets up an expectation. If you don't deliver for yourself - how can you deliver for the customer? If you own a paint store and your store is in sorry need of paint, what does that say? If the waiters in a restaurant cannot tell you about food on the menu because they never get to eat it, what does that say? Look at your business with critical eyes. Would you do business with you? Branding Lesson #3: The past never counts. The present creates the brand. It is the actual in-the-moment experience that creates a brand in a customer's eyes. Brand is a living entity that is re-earned, renewed or revoked with every interaction. Advertising only creates awareness. Branding Lesson #4: Employees are your brand in action. I am convinced the very best, most unique, most competitive maker of a "brand" is the well-trained, empowered employee who can disregard systems and procedures to continue a human interaction. As more organizations substitute technology for people, the company that answers its own phone and get humans connected in short order will win the day. Branding Lesson #5: Facts tell. Emotion sells. People won’t talk about the details of your product or service. They will talk about how they FEEL about the product. For example: the red color and all the on-board gadgets might make the buyer feel high tech, classy, noticed. The Jet Blue agent left me feeling like a valued customer. Same plane as American flies. But a PLAIN difference in results.

Forty-eight years ago, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was disturbed that an issue as important as our environment was not addressed in politics or by the media, so he created the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970. Despite the fact that millions of people have participated over the years, since 2017, our nation has taken gigantic steps to erode any progress toward protecting this planet. Some 67 environmental rules have been overturned including anti-dumping rules for coal companies (forget clean water and air), methane reporting, and a ban on a potentially harmful pesticide that can harm children. Scientists have been replaced by lobbyists for the fossil fuel industry and data related to climate change has been taken off the EPA web site. And much has been made of this Administration's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate accord, making us now the one of only three countries out of 197 nations that isn't signed onto the agreement, with the other two being Nicaragua and Syria. It is said you are known by the company you keep. We are not in good company. But—there is still hope. Individual effort and companies that demonstrate social responsibility for our planet are making headway despite the actions in DC. In 2016, Triple Pundit reported on companies that were working with employees to protect the environment. The outdoor shoe manufacturer, Timberland, gives employees 40 paid volunteer hours per year to work on environmentally-attuned service projects. Timberland also uses recycled paper in its shoe boxes and reports the water and energy usage needed to produce each shoe. Technology start-up, Optoro, reduces landfill waste by helping clients extend the lifecycle of their overstocked, outdated, or returned inventory. While their products create a more sustainable supply chain for retailers, Optoro also does its part to improve local ecosystems by providing employees with plenty of environmental volunteer opportunities. UGE International has deployed renewable energy solutions in over 80 countries around the world. Best-known for putting wind turbines on the Eiffel Tower and installing solar on rooftops in China, the company also encourages its employees to give back to their local community.  Read more about these companies here.  But we don’t have to have a company to do our part in saving Mother Earth. Small steps, when put together one-by-one, can have a large impact. In our house, we recycle everything, flush the toilets using the California mantra, have installed low flow shower heads, and reduced the size of our garden to a minimal plot. We buy locally as much as possible to reduce the carbon footprint from trucks, and reward companies like Patagonia with our buying power. We also try and stay informed about what citizens can do to protect our Mother Earth. Paul Hawken, an environmental activist, has edited a very dense book,DRAWDOWN. Don’t worry about “dense”. It has small chapters that can be selected based upon interest, lots of pictures, and fascinating in its comprehensive nature. ACTIVE HOPE: How to Face the Mess We’re in without Going Crazy, draws on decades of teaching an approach known as Work that Reconnects. Authors Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone show us how to strengthen our capacity to face environmental crisis so we can respond with resilience and creative power. Enough reading! April 20th is a Friday. Go outside wherever you are. Breathe deeply. Walk in nature. Gaze into the eyes of a child—the generation we must protect. Be grateful for what we do have. Thank you for reading.

The good news about technology is that teams can be spread throughout the world, offering a rich background for global enterprises. The difficult news is that time zones and the absence of visual interaction can cause teams to stumble or even fail to start at all. To create a vibrant, resilient virtual team, consider these steps: If at all possible, have the teams meet face-to-face in a single location when the team is formed. Expensive, yes. But - looking into someone’s eyes, breaking bread, and finding commonalities can make huge strides communication and cohesion. Restrict the size of virtual teams to the number of people who can be seen at one time in a medium like Zoom or Goggle Hangout. Insist that video be used and not just audio. Here’s why. Too often, the absence of video lets an attendee multitask instead of paying attention, listening carefully, participating fully.Some members might balk at the request but it is important. Let them know why. Isolation and loneliness are epidemic in our business world.To keep this from happening in a virtual team, devise small interactions that allow participants to begin to see the others as full human beings.Here are some examples: • Ask team members to introduce themselves with this statement “If I could have one last meal to eat, I would choose…” •Ask team members to introduce themselves by sharing a fact that no one except immediate family and/or friends know about them. I’ve literally heard team members reveal everything from swimming with sharks (not the corporate kind) to trekking with Mongolians across the steppes. This latter adventure came from a woman whom most regarded as shy and withdrawn! • Ask team members to explain who the most significant person in their life is and why (restrict all comments to 90 seconds). It can be done. • Ask team members to come up with a NAME for the virtual team and either a mascot or a slogan. You can assign this in pairs. Vote on the best name. • Take turns assigning a person to be the summarizer of the virtual meeting.You are only limited in your imagination. But each request allows virtual team members to get to “know” the others. You can also share the “ask” assignments with different members of the team. Determine short term goals and how the virtual team can celebrate each milestone. If the team is to disassemble and a new team to be formed, create a closure exercise that ask members to state what was most valuable about being part of the virtual team and what could have made it even better. Note that teams that meet face-to-face on a regular basis can also use these techniques. Insist that all digital devices like smart phones be put away whenever the team gathers. Now more than ever, it is the communication we hold with the people in front of us that determines relationships and outcomes.

Well, almost forgotten. I’m referring to the 1074 WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots) who served this country during WWII. They took over all the domestic war time aviation duties so male pilots could fly combat missions. Collectively, they flew some 60 million air miles, towing targets for gunnery practice with live ammunition, ferrying planes, and testing planes just off the factory line. It was not without hazard… 38 of them died in the course of duty. And when the WASP were disbanded, they were forgotten by the Air Force. Women were forbidden to fly military planes again for 30 years! Mom was a WASP and it is through our bi-annual reunions I met so many of these amazing women. Mom took her final flight in January 2012 and March 15, 2018, 95 year-old Florence Shutsy Reynolds left this earth. That leaves only 62 of these incredible women left to tell their story. I write this post to salute Shutsy, who though late to the WASP effort, made up for it in her zeal and artistry to preserve and create all manner of items that can be passed down for generations. She created the WASP store and went on reproducing beautiful silver wings and wing jewelry to help share the history of the WASP. Her 3' x 12' airbrushed banners were each created especially for WASP and visitors to sign at airshows and aviation events across America. During her tenure at Stores, she designed the WASP WWII Flag, which was voted OFFICIAL WASP WWII FLAG by the WASP organization. She also created the WASP SCARF, which is still worn proudly by WASP across the country. In 1994, Shutsy designed the WASP 50th Anniversary commemorative medallion , the WASP WWII collectible pin and in 1998, the logo for the Kids of the WASP, KOWS as I named us! For her service to her country, she was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. She was also awarded an honorable service lapel button and Woman’s Army Corps Service Medal. She was a ground instructor certified in Link training, navigation, meteorology, aircraft, and engines. And like all the WASP, received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010… some 60 years after their service. Shutsy, your spirit, unbridled energy, and determination will long be remembered. Happy landings.

In a war for talent, employee experience has risen as THE critical issue for this year. But make no mistake. It is not: Great onboard and streamlined HR processes (although that is important); Eye-popping salaries (although a competitive wage is critical) Beer busts on Friday and bring your-pet to work days (sounds fun and cozy but that is not it.) Instead, employees come and employees stay for four critical reasons: An opportunity to grow skills and interests and experience career progression in any direction. Remember, a career ladder is now gone. Rather, it is a career climbing wall based upon each individual. Meaningful work that allows employees to feel important and adding to the good of fellow employees and society. Growing on the job without losing at home. A management team that shows respect and consideration for all. Actually, truth be told, I put in the fourth criteria. Sadly, we have an example of how to scare potential talent away and how not to treat people with the turmoil at the White House. I would be derelict in my integrity as a leadership and resiliency consultant if I did not point out that we often learn what NOT to do by watch abhorrent behavior. Think of employee experience as a combination of relationships, opportunities, environment, and—of course benefits. I would bet that everyone has had a time in which they walked into an office and could feel the chill in the air. If you look at the corporate web site, it can tell you much. For example, in one organization. all the people listed has their first names but not the president who was called Mr. So-and-So. Umm. Not a great experience. Consider interaction at meetings. Are all the voices heard or are some voices ignored. Do people have their heads down and hardly glance up or are their smiles and greetings. Ranked as the third Great Place to work in 2018, Ultimate Software has created an environment that emphasizes its mission: People First. From the time you walk into corporate headquarters, you see coffee break rooms designed with specific themes, bicycle racks to encourage riding to work. healthy food that is cheaper in the cafeteria. Employees can be seen smiling and talking with each other. Amazing work gets done but all in an environment that continues to give serious consideration to living its values: At Ultimate Software, we believe that people are the most important ingredient of any business. It's the people who ultimately determine what can be achieved. That's why creating a culture based on trust, respect, and inclusion is our top priority. We encourage our people to always reach higher, learn more, and live up to their potential, delivering our customers the best global human capital management solutions possible. In fact, I would contend that for a resilient, sustainable culture, just study Ultimate Software. Then ask this question: What would it take for my organization to replicate these experiences?

Heavy clouds moved across the sky, blocking out Catalina Island that looms some 26 miles west of my California shore. I was reminded that when I first moved to this area, I had HEARD about Catalina but for the first three months, driving up the coast to my office, I gave it no more thought. And then, one early morning, coming out of Laguna Beach and onto an open stretch of highway, I glanced westward. There, huge and magnificent, was this amazing island with white cliffs pointing south. My brain flew to a National Geographic article I had read about how islands are sometimes born as a result of an undersea volcano.My heart beat quickly and for a fleeting moment, I thought of eruptions, earthquakes and everything else that can accompany the movement of the earth. Thankfully, sanity popped in and I realized I was looking at Catalina.I breathed a sigh of relief. Here is the resiliency lesson: Imagination can be our best and worst enemy.I expended a lot of emotional energy going first to the worst possible scenario. Because I could not clearly see reality, my brain went to the negative place. Perhaps this is a throwback from evolutionary times, a precaution against sabre-tooth tigers and mastodons. The limbic system puts us into a flight or fight response. Yet in today’s business world, such a response can be everything from foolish to foolhardy. When confronted with the unknown, apply the railroad crossing lesson: Stop. Look. Listen. Proceed with caution. Stop! Cease. Desist. Do nothing. Until you gather some information. Obviously, this does not hold true in times of danger and emergency. But the truth is, many business decisions are made without getting all the facts. I am all too often guilty of jumping into something prematurely because I pride myself on action!Many leaders do.Yet in a world of constant, shifting change, my action can be ill-advised. I own this one. Look!  There is great value in a 360 degrees vision. Often others see what we do not see. Ask for their input. Today, there are a number of smart leaders who ask their children what they think. They are the future consumers, the future employees. Listen!  Listening requires courage. Often, we do not want to listen to someone who has a different perspective. We might not value that person’s input. We might disregard whatever they say because of a pre-conceived idea as to their education or position. Yet, their voice can change a negative reaction into one of promise and possibility—all elements of optimism. Proceed!  I do believe in growing through situations. The steps might be small but the return on those steps can be very rewarding. Taking even small actions give a sense of hope. When the fires roared through Northern California and destroyed so many homes, neighborhood children sold lemonade to raise money for families who had lost everything. They collected clothing, housewares, and whatever might be of use and gave them to the Assistance League.Such action speaks of optimism and hope. Remember the railroad!  It can help keep us all on track.

It wasn’t until I got my first pair of glasses in sixth grade that I realized signs had readable letters, leaves weren’t blurry green, and I no longer had to sit in the front row to read the blackboard. Yes. The doctor said that without correction I would be classified as legally blind. That’s a scary thought when you are only 11 years old.  Now, decades later, having gone through thick glasses, contact lenses and Lasik surgery, I look at the world in a far different light. However, there’s another vision that occupies my mind these days: the light of optimism. Given the intense divisions that percolate around us, the degradation of our planet, the cry of the poor, the anguish of the displaced, a fractured global leadership, cyberterrorism and economic whiplash, optimism seems hard to come by. Thankfully, there are individuals whose spirit and actions offer hope that the glass can be seen as half-full.  Optimism is the activating ingredient in resiliency and if we are to grow through (not bounce back) from times like these, it is critical to pay attention to these role models. The February 2018 edition of FAST COMPANY Magazine profiled an amazing array of men and women from all areas of business and industry, profit and non-profit, to glean how we can begin the difficult work of building a better tomorrow.In the next few posts, I will share what lessons I am learning.My hope is that you, too, can decide where is your point of control and begin to use creativity, connection, and compassion to shape the world around us. The first lesson is: Determine your point of control. In the musical Hamilton, Alexander asks Aaron Burr, “If you stand for nothing, what will you fall for?” Tragically, as I write this, the students from Parkland, FL who witnessed the mass murder of 17 of their classmates and teachers, are showing adults what it means “to stand for something.” They are not waiting for adults to make changes to prevent such violence. Instead, they are taking control and using social media and non-violent means to begin organizing marches and campaigns. Take thoughtful action.I have always believed, as I state in my lectures, “action is the antidote for anxiety.”But action is not knee-jerk or rash. In the case of the students from Parkland, they are using tools that they know well (social media) to create a ground swell for change. Indeed, perhaps our greatest teachers for this world will be the younger generation who will carry us forward without being hamstrung by tradition, protocol, or cronyism. Look to your organization as a platform for change. Nike’s Hannah Jones insists that environmental protection and sustainability are possible. She’s the VP of Nike’s innovation and is charged with developing materials and ethical manufacturing so that Nike can reduce its carbon footprint on the world.It matters not whether an organization is as large as Nike or as small as my consultancy practice, all of us can be champions for change. Howard Zinn believed that “to have hope, one does not need certainty. Only possibility.” What a banner for all leaders to carry into the ever-shifting, chaotic world. Practice your vision. Look for what is possible - not impossible. Until the next time…

The front cover of FORTUNE February 2018 blared this headline: “You’re Hired. Companies are fighting for Talent”. Beneath this headline was another story line: “Show Your ‘Grit’ Why Life Experience is the new MBA”. These two headlines intersect with one word: resiliency. Resiliency is about growing through challenge OR opportunity. It is about wanting something enough to stick to it and relishing the work. It is also about staying the course because something has personal meaning. In a January 2018 article published in Harvard Business Review, a recent Facebook engagement survey found that people left their jobs for three reasons:  it wasn’t meaningful, their strengths were not being used, and there was no career growth.  (Of course, a horrid boss would prompt an exit but, contrary to popular myth, this was not the primary reason.) When a job is patterned, the same-old-same-old stuff, and a traditional career ladder is offered, great talent will not accept nor will they stay. Rather, in today’s fast-paced, changing competitive world, resilient people look for creative options, the ability to adapt on the fly, and the excitement of a challenge. Hiring managers should forget old, tired resumes and instead, ask compelling questions that surface life’s experiences and personal qualities like adaptability and agility. Managers need to probe and have real-time conversations (not text messages) to surface an employee’s interests and passions. Then, together with the employees, think creatively about how to bring that interest and passion into the job. Case in point.Years ago, while consulting for an organization, I learned that their highly regarded operations manager loved to write and was keenly interested in travel. After discussing with the powers that be, we created another assignment for her. The sales team were obligated to travel extensively.  She agreed to write an internal newsletter about what employees might learn and encounter in the many geographies. The value of her effort was immediately noted and a number of her operations tasks were off-loaded to other employees who expressed interest in learning operations.It was a win-win all around! Some organizations allow and encourage employees to take a specific amount of time to work on their “art”. I discovered that Malaysian Airlines allows employees time to work on their music, dance or other arts. To my great delight, we were treated to an incredible show put on by Malaysian Airline employees during a conference I addressed in Kuala Lumpur. Bottom line: People who are challenged, creative, and matched with their interests and growth options are resilient AND engaged.  Isn’t that what we all want?

The other day, I drove down the street by the high school.Kids were standing by the fence, sitting on the sidewalk, or lounging on a car. No one was talking. All eyes were glued to their smartphone.All looked so serious. It felt creepy. Dystopian. Today I found out why. A sharp drop in happiness, self-esteem and life satisfaction of American teens parallels ownership in smart phones which has jumped to 73% along with an increasing share of teen time spent on line. According to the journal EMOTION, psychologists from San Diego State and the University of Georgia surveyed 1.1 million U.S. teens to determine why happiness and satisfaction plummeted in 2012 and continues to fall. They found that adolescents who spend more time on electronic communication and screens were less happy, less-satisfied with their lives, and had lower self-esteem.In contrast, those who spent more time with their friends in person, reading printing media, and playing sports, participating in group activities, and exercising were higher in psychological well-being. I have no doubt that if the researchers had studied 1.1 million U.S. adults, they would have found the same results. Some of the smartest managers I know insist on tech-free meetings. Without eyeballs glued to a screen, team members actually—gasp—talk to each other. They freely share ideas, concerns, explore issues, and devise plans.T hey laugh. They ponder. And they become human. Where will you draw the line? Who is the master and who is the slave? It’s a serious and critical question. At the very least, can you be “brave enough” to create a tech-free boundary around yourself for a specific length of time?  Parents, create a tech-free dinner hour. Take the family on a walk, explore a park, visit a museum. BE with each other. We can’t pull together a horribly divided world without starting first in the context of our professional and personal lives. Hanging up now. Turning off. What is your choice?

Rolling over into another year, I found myself making the usual intentions and goals for my professional and personal life. Then it suddenly hit me: I have more years behind me than I do ahead. As fate would have it, my intuitive sister slipped me a book for Christmas: Balancing Act: Strategies for Successful Aging by Sandra Conant Strachan. Reading the book was like listening to my own voice only one step higher. Turns out, Sandy had been influenced by my book, Your Resiliency GPS but her words opened up a new insight into thinking about GPS - growth potential strategy. Read the rest of the article here!