#47 – Readiness

I noticed from my second story window the trees swaying in the following wind of a passing storm. Billowing clouds raced across the sky as the trees bent and shook. I walked outside to get a closer look, to listen more closely and then I decided to get some of that beautiful action on video.

As of today…

This transitional, uncertain, ill-defined space, this space in which you find yourself as a result of a recent change, this space which has you feeling anxious, uncomfortable, longing for “normal,” this is your space, but only as of today. There are two things to remember about this space: It is not a permanent condition. It

“Because it is a big change.”

On the cusp of his retirement from the NBA, future hall of fame player Dwyane Wade gave an interview to ESPN in which he discussed how he intends to adjust to life after basketball: “I’ll be in therapy. Seriously,” Wade said. “I mean it, it is going to be a big change. I told my

It was a very tough year

The year 2005 was the most challenging of my adult life. In March we moved into a larger home to accommodate our growing family. In July we welcomed our third child, and two short weeks later I started a new job that would put me on the path I continue to walk today. About a

The Story of Now

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and the challenges offered by the present moment and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” — Thomas Merton — The Story of Now is the story of what

Picture Day

My daughters had “picture day” last week. They looked great: hair carefully styled, faces clean, teeth brushed and looking good in their chosen outfits. I’ve been working from home for almost three years now so I’m usually around for these happenings. My work is speaking and consulting to organizations on leadership and organizational culture. I work with a

Storyteller

In a small clearing in the woods I discover a pile of rocks and I imagine that each is named for an old story I no longer need to know. I picture myself tossing them into place, a mound slowly forming as gray stone thuds down upon gray stone, dusty paperbacks tumbling from a cardboard

Reinvention

Neil Peart, of the band Rush, is widely considered one of the greatest drummers of all time. In the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage I learned something extraordinary about him. At the height of his prowess; at the height of his band’s power and prestige, he decided to reinvent himself. That is, he decided to reinvent

Small Moves for Big Change

There is a fascinating profile of Pope Francis by James Carroll in the December 23/30, 2013 edition of The New Yorker that I believe is essential reading for anyone who bears responsibility for the leadership of meaningful change. “Who Am I to Judge?: A Radical Pope’s First Year” is a compelling account of Francis’ road to the papacy

The Space Between

Between grief and thankfulness there is a space. That space is today. Yesterday we buried my mother-in-law, committing to the earth a woman who is remembered for her sparkle and her sass, her practical goodness and her deep love of family. My wife, with the strength and composure that are her signature gifts, represented the