Debt
Gratitude
is not an expression
of indebtedness.
It is an acknowledgmenet
of value.
We need not wait
to be personally indebted to someone
to express gratitude toward them.
No Need to Believe
Often times
we merely need
to suspend
disbelief
and imagine.
And yet
we sometimes assume
we have to believe
what we cannot yet
believe,
which is much harder.
Coaching Employees
“Can you coach
one of our team members?”
asked the CEO.
“Only
if you’re willing to accept
the consequences.”
I responded.
“Consequences?”
he asked.
“That they may become
so empowered
that they finally work up
the courage
required to leave
your company.”
I answered.
Handle vs Solve
There is handling
between handling a situation
and attempting to solve it.
The latter judges
Anxiety
Sometimes
telling someone
to calm down
while theyre experiencing anxiety
is like telling someone
who has to go to the bathroom
to focus on something else.
Being, Having, and Doing
Not being ill
does not always equal
being healthy.
Having abundance
does not always equal
having wholeness.
Not doing wrong
does not always equal
doing good.
Partnership – Part 2
Many partnerships
be it co-founders,
spouses,
or others,
end
in not so amicable terms
due a deterioration
of trust
and respect.
Before that happens,
it’s worth asking ourselves
do we even trust
and respect each other
now?
By trust,
I don’t mean considering their competence
reliable.
I mean do we trust
that they’ll be by our side
to support us
when we
are at our worst?
By respect,
I don’t mean
appreciating their competence.
I mean can we see value in them
over
and over
and over again,
at will.
So much so
that we can see this
even when they’re at
their worst.
Enough to remind them
of their own self-worth
that they themselves
have forgotten.
Contribution
Just as
an olympic athlete
is not an altruist
for contributing a gold medal
for the country they represent.
We need not be altruistic
to make significant contributions
to others
or the world at large.
To Those Who Carry the Burden
To those
who carry the burden.
The small business CEOs,
responsible for paying their employees’
salaries.
The parents,
responsible for their children’s
well-being.
The operating room doctors,
responsible for their patients’
lives.
To all those
who have experienced the weight
of responsibility on their shoulders.
You may be feeling the pressure
to meet expectations.
You may be blaming yourself
day after day
for failing to meet
expectations.
But may you never lose
the certainty
and confidence in yourself.
May you never doubt
your self-worth
or whether you’re working hard enough.
Because your life
is worthy of respect
exactly as they are.
While others may see you
challenged,
I see greatness.
Just
as the great mountains and valleys
are mere residues
of nature
under pressure and weight.
Great lives
are mere residues
of our will to sustain life
under pressure and weight.
p.s: This was inspired by my wife’s work and her comparison of nature’s work under pressure and weight and an artist’s work under pressure and weight.
p.p.s: I also made a video version of this narrated by AI.
In our fourth episode of the season, we host Chris Prange-Morgan, Author of “Broken, Brave and Bittersweet.”
Chris wants to tell her story in way that does not make her feel selfish. While she is not our typical Founder guest, I know many Founders who go through the same struggle when sharing their story. So in this episode, we explore Chris’ inquiry into this challenge of telling our story.