Archive for March, 2009
And One More Thing… March 6 2009 2 responses
In my morning reading today, I came across this passage from the Tao Te Ching. It’s from the translation written by Stephen Mitchell and provides a nice grace note to what I was writing about in my previous post. Some words of wisdom for recessionary times. The fact that it was written more than 2,000 years ago gives it even more credibility – an antidote to short term thinking!
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
You will never be truly fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
You will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
Rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize that there is nothing lacking,
The whole world belongs to you.”
Finally, I recommend to you an article called “Opening Night” by Katherine Boo in a recent issue of the New Yorker. It’s a first person account of a boy named Sunil who lives in Mumbai. It will broaden your perspective, make you think and touch your heart.
What Are You In It For? March 6 2009 no responses
If you’re looking for the outrage of the week, look no further than the front page story in yesterday’s New York Times about how top executives of the former subprime mortgage lender, Countrywide, are back in business collecting on the delinquent home loans that the government has been buying from other banks. The new company, Penny Mac, keeps 20 cents of every dollar they collect. You’ll no doubt be happy to know that John Lawrence, their head of loan servicing, says that business is “off the charts good.”
Sure, we absolutely need a process for working through bad assets, but isn’t it just a little bit troubling that the very leaders who personally pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars selling loans that people couldn’t afford are now making additional millions on the back end of the deal? Bear with me while my blood pressure recalibrates to 120 over 80.
Turn Off the Shouters March 4 2009 one response
I’m back today from a quick trip to Toronto, Canada where I gave a speech on supporting next level leaders to the Strategic Capability Network. While the trip was brief, I learned a lot on a couple of fronts. First, it really helps broaden your perspective to get out of your normal environment. Second, we are subjected to way too much shouting here in the States.
Three and a Half Minute Coaching Session March 2 2009 4 responses
Last Friday, I joined in with about 120 colleagues at the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Program alumni reunion. I thought it was a great opportunity to collect some wisdom so I took my trusty Flip video camera and asked a bunch of great executive coaches what their most important question is for leaders in this challenging time. The result is this three and a half minute coaching session. Check it out. I practically guarantee that you’ll hear at least one question that will provoke some fresh thinking and creative action on your part.
So, which question made you stop and think? Leave a comment by clicking on the link. What question would you add to the list?
Thanks to the following terrific coaches for sharing their most important question:
Neil Stroul, Rae Ringel, Steve Heller, Don Blohowiak, Roz Kay, Ellen Fulton, Lew Rumford, Bea Fields, Frank Ball, Ray Francis, LeeAnnWurster-Naefe, Barry Goldberg, Brad Sterl and Lori Ermi.
Most of these folks have their own website. I encourage you to Google them to learn more about what they do.
Scott Eblin is an executive coach, speaker and author of 
Recent Comments