Ever read the book “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway? He demured in Paris in the 1920’s, with the likes of Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound and F.Scott Fitzgerald. This group of literary geniuses was also known as La génération perdue = The Lost Generation. Similar to Gertrude Stein’s self proclamation during a depressed time after […]
Archive | Riffs & Ideas
According to wiki, “In jazz and R&B, riffs are often used as the starting point for longer compositions”. In our case, we’d like to think of them as the starting point for random stories. This could be the random section where even whining is allowed. Heck, it could eventually turn into a song.
Better Human, Better Leader
Ever since a Syfy Network T.V. series came out, “Being Human”, I’ve thought a lot about that theme in life, at work and in leadership (without ever watching the series, sorry Syfy!) Those two words together are poetry to me, synchronous with kindness and humility in the world today, and something in its meaning is lost in the way […]
Vulnerability and Leadership
I am a strong believer that, as a leader, part of rebuilding or newly bridging trust with workers, peers, or all employees is to share some sense of being human – your vulnerability. I am not talking about confessing to epic mistakes, or admitting failure daily, or even lacking confidence. In fact, it takes confidence to […]
The Critical Class
I want to rename the 99% from middle class to “critical class”. There is this perception out there that we need the 1%. That they are critical to us. Among the 1%, those that own corporations such as GM, Toyota or Tesla, generate jobs for the rest of us in the “lower middle”. Yet, there are plenty out […]
Mr. Mom
By Agent M1 on September 8, 2015 in Entrepreneurism, Fireside Chats, Riffs & Ideas, Work Life Balance
After reading several articles about flexibility in the workplace, a more common topic is bubbling to the surface of many respectable publications. Here’s one that states: Bottom Line: Working fathers are placing more importance on their familial obligations, and companies must react to this societal shift. My first thought, what will that mean for many companies who rely on fathers being […]
Are you Trying to Better Yourself, or Better the World?
When I was on a start up board, I was working with folks who had pretty much found their way. They weren’t trying to prove themselves –they had peaked in their careers. They were fairly well off. My boss at the time said they were either single, double or triple jet rich. Not something I […]
Embracing Discomfort
Fear, uncertainty, and discomfort are your compasses toward growth. Joseph Cambell
New Beginnings
It’s spring. The almonds, the first of the fruit trees of the season, are in full glorious bloom. Buds and shoots are forming on other trees. The first phase of a work assignment just ended and the next phase is slowly beginning. Several new projects start this week. The girls’ term at school ends on […]
The Straight and Narrow
By Agent N1 on March 3, 2015 in Fireside Chats, Riffs & Ideas, Tip of the Day, Weekly Survival, Work Life Balance
Sometimes, the way forward is clear. Sometimes it is not. The only advice I can give is to follow your compass. This means following your own values, even if it means you have to rewrite the script or define new rules for your tribe or wait for a different path to show its way. Have […]
The Negation of Why
By Agent N1 on February 10, 2015 in Fireside Chats, Riffs & Ideas, Tip of the Day, Unplugged Letters, Weekly Survival, Work Life Balance
There’s a lot of hype these days about the need for a purpose, that to achieve we have to have a why. And it’s true. Having a mission does give us motivation. Knowing the why helps us inspire our teams. Developing a purpose provides the roadmap. I recently read a passage, however, in a novel: […]
