Yesterday, my sister-in-law and her husband, decided to remove a liquidambar styraciflua tree from her backyard. This tree, commonly referred to as the American Sweetgum, is known for its beautiful leaves and fall colors. This particular specimen was fairly large, and I was surprised that they were removing it. I could tell that it provided good shade for the house and so I inquired about the purpose for its demise.
Ankle Breakers
While the tree is known for its beauty, it is also known for its spiked fruit. These “gumball” shaped droppings are very unpleasant to walk on, and they do not decompose. If left on the lawn, they turn it into an uneven surface full of lumpy pock marks. Here in North Carolina, they call the the fruit “ankle breakers” because both the fruit, and the holes they create in the lawn, are known to cause many ankle injuries.
As a newcomer, it was hard for me to understand why this tree was being removed. Continue reading » »
Yesterday, I lunched with a client on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in Los Angeles. It was a beautiful day and the view was incredible. Even more incredible was our conversation. It was one of our first meetings and so we spent our time sharing what makes each of us unique.
I looked out the window, and there, far below I noticed a field where some youth were playing soccer. They looked so incredibly tiny. I could not really distinguish the ball. I am sure it was there, but it was too small for me to see. All I could make out were the colors of the uniforms moving on dark green grass.
I drifted for a moment and wondered about the emotion and noises that must have been occurring on the ground. I imagined that a great competition was occurring. I knew that there was a different feeling down there than what was being evoked from my vantage point. Continue reading » »
I am enjoying the olympics. It is inspiring to watch others reach for greatness. I always find the stories of those who are giving their life to pursue an audacious goal so encouraging. My own desire to reach for greatness is always increased during Olympic season.
The Champion
This week, we witnessed a remarkable story in the world of Snow Boarding. America’s Shaun White successfully defended his crown as the reigning Gold Medalist. The fact that he is a double Gold Medal winner, in and of itself, is a significant accomplishment, but Shaun showed us the difference between a winner and a champion. Continue reading » »
While I was pursuing my MBA, I was assigned to give a 30 minute presentation on my business. I remember feeling an internal conflict brewing as I prepared my remarks. I was just becoming aware of how annoyed I feel when I am defined by what I do. I wanted people to know who I am, and it frustrated me to think that my identity was so firmly connected with what I did for a living. This assignment would only add to that definition so I decided to break the mold.
Instead of sharing the normal statistics of our company, i.e., number of employees, gross and net revenues, years in business and our plan to achieve global domination in our marketplace, I decided to relate the defining moments of my professional life and how they molded and shaped my career. I wanted my cohorts to see me as a person, so I shared the highs and lows that contributed to my successes and failures.
MBA classrooms are not known for their warm and fuzzy experiences. They are generally associated with hard facts, controlled emotions and crisp conversations. My presentation was shaping up to be an emotionally intelligent, but soft skilled approach. I felt exposed and vulnerable as I began my talk. Despite my hesitation, I shared my story, hoping it would some how resonate with my classmates. Continue reading » »
When I was growing up, my mother was often asked to speak at major events in our local community. She was known for her creative presentations. She always wrote a poem or a song to accompany the theme of the event. She was always prepared, regardless of the size of the audience or the significance of the event. .
Few people ever knew how much time she invested in preparing for those events. Many, just thought she was naturally talented, but she was always rehearsing and refining her skill. I will never forget her intense desire to prepare. It was something she did all day long. She rehearsed in the kitchen while she was preparing the family meals. She rehearsed while she was caring for our home. We even heard her in the bathroom polishing her routine. It was non-stop, and we usually knew it as well as she did by the time she gave the actual presentation. Continue reading » »
