“Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.”

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“Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.”

—Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States

Image from Unsplash by Marten Newhall

Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, and Founding Father who served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the principle author of the Declaration of Independence and a significant proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights.

Today’s quote points to the importance of personal character, honesty, and integrity in holding each other to the highest standards of personal conduct.

What might Jefferson think about our world today, where, for all intents and purposes, the world really is watching our every move?

EXERCISE:

How pleased and proud are you regarding your personal and professional conduct? Where is there room for higher standards you wish to live by and show the world?

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”

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“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”

—Richard Bach, American 1970s Author

Image from Unsplash by Leonardo Yip

During a recent trip out of the country for two weeks, my wife Wendy and I had very limited contact with our family. We did, however, travel with two good friends and a little over 700 other shipmates to explore Greece and Israel.

In addition to our fellow passengers, we were served and supported by over 400 staff and crew from over 40 countries.

To our delight and joy, we both experienced a new level of friendship and a genuine sense of a global family.

EXERCISE:

Where and how can you experience far greater respect and joy within your extended communities beyond your immediate family? What would be the value and impact of this expanded family bond in your life?

Friday Review: Compassion

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FRIDAY REVIEW: COMPASSION

Compassion is a virtue we should all develop. Here are a few compassion-related quotes you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full post.

 

“True compassion means not only feeling another’s pain, but being moved to help relieve it.”

 

 

 

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

 

 

 

“Time is one of the most loving and compassionate gifts you can give someone, including yourself!”

 

 

 

 

“The future has already arrived. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”

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“The future has already arrived. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”

—William Gibson, American/Canadian speculative fiction writer

Image from Unsplash by Joshua Sortino

In his book, BOLD, Peter Diamonadis shares many interesting aspects of our global community, including a variety of new technologies creating exponential changes in our world.

His Six D’s of Exponential Organizations, detailed HERE are:

  • Digitization
  • Deception
  • Disruption
  • Demonetization
  • Dematerialization
  • Democratization

The Six D’s help us look at technologies and perhaps why they can lead to both upheaval and opportunity.

EXERCISE:

Consider picking up a copy of Peter’s book to increase your own awareness of the future that has already arrived. See where and how you can participate in the distribution process, to better your personal world and the world in general.

“There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.”

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“There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.”

—Morpheus, portrayed by Lawrence Fishburne in The Matrix

Image of Morpheus from Wikipedia

Morpheus was the Greek god of dreams. The Greek work “morphe” translates to “form” in English. Morpheus is, according to legend, the god who shapes and forms our dreams.

Although most people dream, for some reason many of us seem to forget them, including the insights they may provide, when we wake.

One strategy to consider is to keep a notepad near your bedside to fully capture the ideas and insights you wish to act upon.

EXERCISE:

What insight, dream, or priority matters are you still “in the think” about? When will you begin taking action to walk the path to realize your dream?

“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”

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“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”

Alan Turing, 20th Century English computer scientist

Image from Unsplash by The New York Public Library

The world recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of man’s landing on the moon.

It is interesting to note that many of the first pioneers into space pointed to the fragility of the earth and how vital it is for all of us to be better stewards of our precious planet.

We are so often enthralled by the big picture that we can fail to pay attention to what is right before us, as today’s quote implies.

Did you know that the human eye is so sensitive that if you were standing on a mountain top on a dark night, you could see a candle flame flickering up to 30 miles away? The height of the mountain would remove the impact of the earth’s curvature.

We can also sense the light from the Andromeda Galaxy, composed of about a trillion stars and located an amazing 2.6 million light-years from Earth.

Yet how often do we not see what is right in front of us?

EXERCISE:

Regardless of how far you can see, what are some of your top personal, professional, and even global priorities that need your best efforts?

“It is better to prevent than to cure.”

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“It is better to prevent than to cure.”

—Hippocrates, 3rd Century BC Greek Father of Medicine

image from Google

I live and work in Southeast Michigan, where Detroit—also know by its legendary title of The Motor City—is at the hub.

Over the years, car manufacturers have added all kinds of technological safety features to our vehicles. Perhaps one of the most useful and least celebrated is that little yellow maintenance light that alerts us to the need for preventive care. An ounce of prevention eliminates our need for a pound of cure.

We love our cars and celebrate them each year with a multi-week party called The North American Auto Show, drawing participation and car buffs from around the world.

Please join us June 20, 2020, for the great vehicles, and our terrific summer weather!

EXERCISE:

What areas of your daily life would benefit most from far more rigorous prevention strategies?

What actions will you take today to install a few more yellow lights in your world, as a reminder to yourself?

Friday Review: Career

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FRIDAY REVIEW: CAREER

Consider your career thus far.  Here are a few career-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full messages.

 

“I do not believe you can do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow.”

 

 

 

 

“Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder.”

 

 

 

 

 

“To set the world on fire, warm up to your job.”

 

 

 

 

“Being able to think about how you think, is a sign of higher intelligence.”

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“Being able to think about how you think, is a sign of higher intelligence.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Jordan Whitfield

When was the last time you changed your mind and reconsidered your point of view?

How often do you find yourself frustrated by others because of their stubbornness or being set in their ways of thinking?

If you are brutally honest, you may quickly see that our paradigms, mental models, and biases run deep. We rarely stray from the path worn by many years of experience.

Today’s quote suggests that we can all exercise our thinking muscle and think about thinking to build the important capacity to improve our lives and better our world. We may also add a few more IQ and EQ points by doing so.

EXERCISE:

Feel free to respond to this post with tools or strategies you use to exercise your own thinking muscle. Consider picking up a copy of my book, The Quotable Coach – Daily Nuggets of Practical Wisdom, to explore 365 thinking exercises to use over the next 12 months.

“We don’t find soul mates like some shell on the beach. We become them.”

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“We don’t find soul mates like some shell on the beach. We become them.”

Gretchen Rubin, American author/blogger

Image from Unsplash by Olga Latiy

Are you a fan of reality TV shows like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette?

These shows, and dozens more, are artificially forced scenarios in which men and women are placed together with the hope—and the desire of their viewers—of finding true love and living happily ever after.

Despite the exotic locations, extravagant dating scenarios, and roller-coasters of passion, the vast majority of these couples do not succeed. The percentages are even lower than the 50% divorce rate often described in general conversation and the media.

EXERCISE:

To what degree are you doing your part to give 100% to your relationship, in order to become the soulmates you desire?

Consider studying and practicing the work of John Grey – Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus, or The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, for steps to take to realize the more soulful relationships you desire.