I attended a weekend workshop on Intuitive Painting last week. My purpose was to open up more creativity in my business. Chris Zydel, the workshop leader, demonstrated the principles of creative process by having each one of us focus on a blank canvas and just start anywhere. My logical brain, the one that wanted to end up with a pretty picture, was flummoxed. As Chris says, “you cannot rely upon the accomplished, well-trained and ultimately well-behaved aspect of yourself to lead you anywhere new”. How many of us in business are willing to explore the wild and unfamiliar paths that could either end up a mess or a breakthrough to some new way of thinking? How many of us expect a product breakthrough sandwiched in between meetings? After two days and six paintings, I began to see that the process of creation has a voice that calls out what it needs and I can trust it. How many of you need a Creativity Boost? Contact Chris Zydel at chriszydel@creativejuicesarts.com for more information.
Leadership and Creativity
A CEO’s Perspective
Once a year, I take a vacation at Rancho La Puerta, a SPA in Mexico. It is a hikers paradise, lots of exercise classes, organic food, etc. Imagine my surprise to find myself hiking next to an unassuming man who described his “real life” job as an Interim CEO for a private Equity company. John said his company was not a “churn and burn” but instead bought undervalued companies and grew them for some time before finding the right buyer. I asked him what his first 90 days as a Leader in the new organization looked like. He quickly focused on his philosophy of picking 3 high potentials and providing them with an Executive Coach. He said they could be Managers, but sometimes were not. He saw his job as “growing great leaders” who had never had much leadership development before. “Our best ideas and knowledge walk out the door each night” and I want them to come back”. When I complimented him on being a rare enlightened leader, John replied “that’s because of my mentor”. He described a former boss who always said “we all shine in each other’s reflection”. It convinced this CEO early on to invest in his best people, for their light ignites others.
Boardroom Changes
Did you know that in a recent study, Fortune 500 companies with the highest representation of women on their boards performed significantly better financially? A 53% higher return on equity, a 42% higher return on sales, etc. consistent across industries. Why?
In 2 words: Talent Management. Women now earn over 50% of bachelor and master’s degrees and nearly half of all doctorates, law and medical degrees. Women account for nearly half the workforce and will control over half of America’s wealth by the year 2010. So, by including women in this case, but in reality all diverse talent pools in our corporate strategy, we stand to gain a stronger economy and more effective Boardroom practices.
Meditation Mornings
Are you clever? Do you think very fast, a lot on y;our mind? If you are like me, I have a million thoughts, ideas, reminders, etc going on in my head too much of the time. So—when you need to really focus what do you do? So many of my clients find it hard to focus, they are busy, busy, busy. Here’s what’s working for me: I read a book called A Path With Heart by Jack Kornfield to understand why people meditate. I know some really successful people that meditate, including all the people you saw on the movie The Secret. Two years ago I started with 10 minutes every morning, a timer at my side. My only goal was to clear my mind. It looks easy but believe me, it’s not!
Two years later, I meditate by choice at least 20 minutes every morning. When I can’t, because of an early flight or some interruption, I feel it all day. When I can, I am centered and peaceful, so peaceful that my cat loves to sit in my lap and “help” me meditate. The feeling of bigger perspective is luscious. At the beginning of meditation, I ask the Universe “tell me the essence of what I need to do today, I am listening”. The trick is to be a Listener…and sometimes when I’m very lucky, I hear a still, small voice that offers just the right direction! I smile and somehow know what to take off my to do list that doesn’t really matter.
Leadership in action
My friends who are volunteering with the Obama campaign say that all volunteers are trained to use 3 words that sum up Obama’s leadership vision. The 3 words are: Respect, Empower and Include.
Watch the video to see if he is walking his talk in this video.
