Why do we come to witness Mount Madonna’s high schoolers reading their creative writings? I figured it out this year. Yes, on the one hand, we want to honor them with an audience. More importantly though, we like to get to know the students that our kids are engaged with. What better way to get to know them than by listening to them. They have something to say and we should listen. They connect with us emotionally, through laughter and tears. They connect with us through their unique and creative ways to express themselves. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And for the record, I want to come back and listen, even when none of my kids is reading at this event any longer.
How to get young voters and tired voters to engage? The Piraten Partei in Germany seem to have figured out how. They won 7.4% of the votes in the state of Saarland last weekend without significant prior successes. The topics this party is engaging in seems very similar to topics currently discussed in the US. They engage through the internet and in a very collaborative fashion. It will be interesting to watch how their journey to next year’s parliamentary election unfolds.
Last weekend I found myself fascinated by the exhibits in the Newseum in Washington D.C. If you have never seen the gallery of Pulitzer-prize-winning photographs exhibited there, I want to encourage you to witness them on your next stop in our capital. The images, many of them I had seen in the media over the years, became even more alive with the stories behind them. The images will be forever ingrained in my mind. The stories are lessons about humanity that are not to be forgotten.
On the 23rd, Joachim Gauck took the oath as the 11th President of Germany. 72-year-old Lutheran pastor and human rights activist from East Germany held a speech in front of both houses of parliament, which I found very remarkable for its sensitivity to people’s feelings. Here is a man who gets it, he gets the problems faced today and rather than focus on policy and political differences, he spoke from the heart appealing to our humanity. Here is a person who has something to say rather than just talking a lot. I wish some other politicians around the world would take note.
We hosted the third Annual Mount Madonna School Career Forum last week. What a great event for students, parents and the school. A true win/win/win.
To find out more go to: http://mountmadonnaschool.org/node/3098
As part of an 18-month Leadership Development Program I am involved in, the team decided to prepare for an upcoming outdoor adventure with a Saturday of fun. One participant invited his peers and their families to a kayaking expedition in Monterey, California. Meeting outside of work brought everyone closer together.
What can you organize for your team, group or family to enhance the bonding experience? A celebration at the pub? A hike in the woods? A dinner theater experience? Time to get creative…
I am part of a local book club, which has morphed into a group of friends eager to share their lives. What started out years ago as individual book lovers has transformed itself into a different group. Less focused on books and writings, we are loving the conversation about our lives even more. Everyone has a story to tell. At our most recent gathering, at Cellar Door in Santa Cruz, we heard about trips our friends had taken to Argentina, New Zealand and France. What stimulating conversation it was. We didn’t realize when we first started how internationally-minded we all are and yet it has turned out to be something that connects us. We love to get together over a good meal and a glass of wine, sharing where life is taking us. The conversations are inspiring and fun. The company is great. What more could we ask for?
What about you? What kind of people are you surrounding yourself with? What is your community like?
To my clients and prospective clients who are seemingly drowning in email. I love the two case studies provided. Let’s be clear on how we want to be communicated to. Stop Email Overload – Amy Gallo – Best Practices – Harvard Business Review.
