Vulnerability

Brené Brown has spent the past ten years studying vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame. The first five years of her study focused on shame and empathy. She is now taking that learning to explore a concept that she calls “wholeheartedness”.

Last year, a friend introduced me to a Ted Talk by researcher professor, Brené Brown. Upon recommendation, my friend told me to “move beyond the title” and just watch the video. That was when I knew I was in trouble. Yep, there was going to be a message for me within the video.

The title of the Ted Talk was “The Power of Vulnerability”. My thoughts went between “um, okay” to ““Really?” to “No chance in …” to “If I get a free moment.” But, I did watch the video and 20 minutes later I understood why she had recommended it to me.

Brown describes herself as a “researcher storyteller” who studies the human connection. In the Ted Talk, Brown talks about her “slugfest” with vulnerability and the journey to understand courage, authenticity and shame in a world that thrives on controlling and predicting. Brown says, “And now my mission to control and predict had turned up the answer that the way to live is with vulnerability and to stop controlling and predicting.” AHHHH! If you have seen my pantry, you know I enjoy a degree of control and predict … so letting go was CRAZY TALK! Or was it?

In our world that focuses on our imperfections, how does one find the courage to embrace vulnerability in order to find authenticity and worthiness? And, how do we build a culture of compassion to connect with others and share the message that we are all worthy. We all belong. And, we all deserve joy.

Now it is your turn.

Get beyond the title.

Watch the video.

There is a message within uniquely for you.

TED Talks: The Power of Vulnerability http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

The Importance of Integrity and Honesty



Are you able to communicate bad news to your boss? Do you confront difficult problems directly and promptly? Are you assertive enough to stand up for what you believe, even if it is not the popular position?

My company's Vision and Values says that our ethics are the sum of all the decisions each of us makes every day. That isn’t just about what you say, but what you do. This is important in our industry because everything we do is built on trust. It doesn’t happen with one transaction, in one day on the job or one quarter. It’s earned relationship by relationship.

In the book, Leadership Challenge, authors James Kouzes and Barry Posner discuss beginning research thirty plus years ago on what team members expect of leaders. They started by surveying thousand of executives using a simple open ended question (“What values, personal traits, or characteristics do you look for and admire in a leader?”). They received several hundred different values, traits and characteristics. Independent judging coupled with empirical analysis enabled the content to be reduced to a list of twenty characteristics.

Characteristics of Admired Leaders

Ambitious
Cooperative
Fair minded
Independent
Mature
Broad Minded
Courageous
Forward Looking
Inspiring
Self Controlled
Caring
Dependable
Honest
Intelligent
Straightforward
Competent
Determined
Imaginative
Loyal
Supportive

This checklist was then distributed and respondents are asked to check the seven qualities that they “most look for and admire in a leader, someone whose direction they would willingly follow.” An interesting result is that since the early 80’s while every characteristic typically gets a vote, there are a handful that lead in votes time after time. They are: Honest, Forward Looking, Inspiring and Competent.

Of the four, honesty is reported as the characteristic that is chosen most. In fact, the study shows that it is the single most important factor in the leader—team member relationship. Not surprising, after all, we don’t want our leader to lie to us or deceive us. We want leaders who tell us the truth, even when the truth is hard to tell. Honesty is tightly bound to integrity. We want leaders who know right from wrong. We want to be led, not misled. We want victory, through hard work not through deceit. In the end, we want to work hard for someone who displays integrity and honesty and we know that through their role modeling, we are motivated to practice integrity and honesty.

Now, go back through the paragraph above and replace “we” with “I” and “us” to “me”. Making it personal affords for self reflection. And, admit it, we all want to work for, work with and be team members who practice integrity and honesty. A reward in doing so is having significant impact in your organization and living by the company’s values.

Here are some ideas that other leaders identified on how to display high integrity and honesty.


Find your voice by clarifying your personal values.
Avoid saying one thing and doing another. Remember to walk the talk!
Follow through on promises and commitments.
Lead by example. Model the core values! Convey an attitude of concern and caring.
Answer questions truthfully!
Don’t over promise.
Create and promote a culture of trust that contributes to the success of individuals, teams and the organization as a whole.
Don’t just act the part. Live YOUR legacy!
Stand up for your beliefs and convictions regardless of consequences.
Apologize when you make a mistake. Bleed integrity.


As you make integrity and honesty a focus, I would love to hear your successes or please share your experience at our next team meeting for shared learning.

Celebrating Our Heroes

In 1954, when November 11th was officially named Veterans Day, President Dwight D. Eisenhower called upon all citizens to join hands in a common purpose – to “solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom.”

With Veteran’s Day a national holiday on November 11, many people don’t know that the United States Marine Corps Birthday is celebrated every year on November 10 (the official found date of the Continental Marines in 1775). This year, “Mother Green” is celebrating her 238 year birthday.

Celebrating the Marine Corps birthday and Veteran’s Day has always been personal to my family. Many of my family members have served in the armed forces (Uncle Mike, Uncle John and Randy) and two of my uncles were U.S. Marines. My Uncle Butch (Harry N. Rea) served in Vietnam and received two purple hearts and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He also was a Marine Corp. Guard at the United States Embassy in Vienna, Austria. My Uncle Bobby (Robert A. Rea) also served as a Marine Combat Correspondent during the Vietnam War with Dale Dye and the Snuffies. They were amazing men and I regret that their lives ended before my boys could meet them and hear their stories.

As you honor our veterans this year, take time to thank a veteran. Also consider joining your local Veteran’s Team Member Network (TMN) or support active military through Soldier’s Angels (soldiersangels.org). As General Colin L. Powel, USA (Ret.) said, remember when you wake up on November 12, “it’s still Veterans Day for our veterans — and it will be every day of their lives.”

Thank you for letting me share,
Stacy

* Celebrating Our Heroes http://www.pbs.org/national-salute-to-veterans/home/
**Snuffies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_weq3yda920

The Great Pumpkin

Pumpkin carving is a popular part of modern America’s Halloween celebration. Come October, pumpkins can be found everywhere in the country from doorsteps to dinner tables. Despite the widespread carving that goes on in this country every autumn, few Americans really know why or when the jack o ’lantern tradition began.

People have been making jack o’lanterns at Halloween for centuries. But what people don’t know is the practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink (hence his name?), so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross to prevent the devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for a year and he would never lay claim to Jack’s soul. A year passed and Jack was up to his trickery again. This time, he tricked the Devil by having him climb a tree for a piece of fruit. At the end, Jack walked away with ten years of not being bothered by the Devil. Unfortunately for Jack, he died. Legend says he was not able to go to Heaven nor Hell, and the Devil was so mad at Jack that he sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming the Earth ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o’lanterns.

Did You Know?

Pumpkins are fruits.

A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family.

The seed is edible and is a good source of protein, magnesium, copper and zinc.

Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.

In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of No. America, he reported finding “gros melons.” The name became “pompions,” which has evolved into the modern name pumpkins.

The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was 2,020 pounds (in 2005*).*Guinness Book of World Records
The story of Stingy Jack was pulled from http://www.history.com/topics/jack-olantern-history

Festival + Family = Mooncake!!

The Chinese have celebrated the harvest during the autumn full moon since the Shang Dynasty. The festival, which falls on September 19 this year, is focused on the moon. Lunar worship, moon watching, lanterns, storytelling and mooncakes are a part of the celebration, as is a love story of a moon beauty (Chang’e), her husband and uber archer (Houyi), ten suns and a Jade Rabbit. But enough about that, let’s talk mooncake!

As the mid-autumn festival is an occasion of reunion, the round moon cake symbolizes the family circle and the flavor brings to mind the sweetness of filial ties. There are records of yuebing (moon cakes in Mandarin) from the Tang dynasty (609-960).

Typical mooncakes are round pastries, measuring about 10cm in diameter and 4–5cm thick. A rich thick filling usually made from white or red lotus seed, orange peel, or red bean paste is surrounded by a thin crust. The most popular include yolks to represent the roundness of the moon. The ornate decoration on the top of mooncake varies between words, the bakeries name, what is in the moon cake to decorations celebrating the festival.

Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges with tea and since I had never tried a mooncake before, I chose the smallest, white lotus paste one and tried it with some green tea. Totally unexpected was the texture and the flavor. Freshly baked moon cakes should be smooth, soft and delicate.

If you would like to learn more about the Mid Autumn Festival or mooncakes, click on either link below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncake

Feeding the Hungry Ghosts

Hungry Ghosts are pitiable creatures.  They have huge, empty stomachs, but their mouths are too small to take in food.  They are doomed to live with incessant craving. 

It is believed for one long lunar month the Gates of Hell are opened and restless spirits released to roam the Earth.

Tracing back to the Ullambana Sutra and the Buddha's disciple Mahamaudgalyayana, Yu Lan (Hungry Ghost) Festival is a traditional Chinese festival and celebrated by Chinese in many countries.  By luck, we just happened to be visiting Hong Kong during this time and were able to participate in giving these poor creatures some relief.

During the seventh moon in the Chinese lunar calendar, the living make efforts to appease these restless spirits/transient ghosts, while feeding their own ancestors - particularly on the 15th day, which is the Yu Lan or Hungry Ghost Festival. 

To celebrate, roadside fires are lit and people burn offerings for ghosts and ancestors to use in the afterlife.  Our celebration included the burning of incense and offering of joss paper which included faux money (Hell Money), gold bars, silver bars, flowers and brightly colored clothes.  In other roadside fires, we saw wine and food also offered.

What an amazing experience, we were honored to learn about this tradition and join in the city's living culture!

What is Your Diversity Story?

Through sharing of personal diversity dimensions (see the wheel in the bottom right corner) people can better understand the plethora of experiences that lead us to live in a diverse environment, even if we don’t always recognize it.

My workplace has launched it’s 3Q Diversity Campaign focused on “Diversity Is Where I Am From”. While the work links won’t work, there are certainly a number of ways all can share their Diversity story.

Here are three ways you can participate:

1) Submit your Diversity Is Who I am Story within the comments below and read comment on other’s submitted stories.

2) Use Tagxedo (http://www.tagxedo.com/) to create a word cloud in the shape you want with words that best describe you.

3) Share your “transportation” vehicle for the Diversity & Inclusion Road. Don’t forget to share why it represents you!

I love this quarter’s campaign theme as it allows each of us to tell our unique story.

What is YOUR Diversity story?

Codebreaker

“A man provided with paper, pencil, and rubber, and subject to strict discipline, is in effect a universal machine.”  - Alan Turing

Alan Turing was “a British mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist. He was highly influential in the development of computer science, giving a formalization of the concepts of “algorithm” and “computation” with the Turing machine, which can be considered a model of a general purpose computer. Turing is widely considered to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence.”


During World War II, Turing worked at Bletchley Park where he devised the method of the bombe, an electromechanical machine that decrypted Germany’s “Enigma” cipher. With Enigma broken, Allied forces knew the position of the enemy and could maneuver strategically. After the war, Turing designed Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) which was the first relatively complete specification of an store program computer. In 1949, Turing went to Manchester University where he assisted in developing the Manchester computers and got deeply involved in mathematical biology. Turing is regarded as a founding father of modern cognitive science and a leading early exponent of the hypothesis that the human brain is in large part a digital computing machine.

Turing was also a victim of prejudice. In 1952, Turing was arrested and tried for homosexuality which was a criminal crime. He avoided prison by entering a hormone treatment program. Shortly after, he took his life.

With the intention of stepping into someone’s shoes...I encourage you to check out the Masterpiece Theatre movie “Breaking the Code” available on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S23yie-779k) or look for a local viewing of the movie “CodeBreaker” (http://turingfilm.com).

Visualize the lives he saved, but also imagine the work he would have continued had he been accepted for who he was.

*Wikipedia http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing

Freedom, Family and BBQ Sauce

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” ~ Erma Bombeck

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared US independence from Great Britain. Every July 4, Americans around the world celebrate with family, picnics and fireworks.

For my Rea family, 4th of July would not be complete without a BBQ with the perfect BBQ sauce. So, I share with you my latest recipe. Created out of utter desperation to find the ultimate homemade BBQ sauce, I found many recipes, tried many, failed many and finally found one and tweaked it to make it my own.

Wishing you a wonderful BBQ (sauce)!

~Stacy

What if you were 1 in 400?

“A player of extraordinary ability renowned for his electrifying style of play. Over 10 seasons hit .311, scored more than 100 runs six times, named to six all-star teams and led Brooklyn to six pennants and its only world series title, in 1955. The 1947 rookie of the year and the 1949 N.L. MVP when he hit a league-best .342 with 37 steals. Led second baseman in double plays four times and stole home 19 times. Displayed tremendous courage and poise in 1947 when he integrated the modern major leagues in the face of intense adversity.”*

It is hard to imagine, but during baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s rookie year there were 399 white players and himself in Major League Baseball (MLB). The movie “42” is his story and it addresses the tremendous challenges Robinson faced as the first African American player during the first years in MLB.

After viewing the movie, I wanted to know more about the man, so I did some research.  I read that Robinson was the first student to letter in four varsity sports at UCLA.  I found it interesting that he pursued professional football before pursuing baseball.  Even more that he served his country in the US Army (1942).  Finally, I was utterly moved after reading his quote, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." 
I entered the movie "42" only knowing the legendary baseball player, Jackie Robinson.  Now, I know the legendary Jackie Robinson whose drive, tenacity, courage and leadership left an amazing legacy for his generation as well mine. 

They say we learn best when stepping into someone's shoes...this weekend I encourage you to see the movie "42" and step into Jackie Robinson’s cleats to experience what it felt like to be 1 in 400.

*Hall of Fame Plaque honoring Jackie Robinson as found in Cooperstown, New York.

Long Drive to Results

Driving execution is someone else's job....right? Nope! What differentiates extraordinary leaders from everyday managers is that the former demonstrate an active role in executing plans — not just in producing them. And in demonstrating execution, they model “drive for results”.

Drive for results is more complex in fluid or fungible organizations. Understanding and learning to leverage people, process and technology is required, but also enabling connections between the three in order to align them with vision and strategy.

With the goal to realize the vision and strategy, it is disheartening to review current statistics that reveal 70% of companies fail to implement their strategy. Shocking number when you think of the investment—time, money, reputation—that goes into strategy implementation.

Architecture was one of the last classes I took for my Masters degree. One of my favorite learnings from the class? Architects bring clarity to chaos. Another lesson was the importance of not only thinking big, deep thoughts, but having the ability to drive them to execution.

Tying this back to The Extraordinary Leader, Zenger and Folkman identify the following behaviors to demonstrate the activities necessary to drive for results:

• Aggressively pursue all assignments and projects until completion.
• Do everything possible to meet goals and deadlines. Identify actions, assign accountability and align communications, people and processes to deliver results.
• Consistently meet or exceed commitments.
• Follow through on assignments to ensure successful completion – don’t lose interest before a project is completed.
• Build commitment in others for their individual and team objectives.
• Hold others accountable for achieving results.
• Lead or champion efforts to increase productivity and goal accomplishment.

The role of Architecture in the organization affords us the ability to see what could be (vision), translate it into strategy and then oversee the tactical execution.

My advice to each of you is to passionately drive your vision through to reality. Recognize that more times than not, that will mean rolling up your sleeves and investing “sweat equity” to see a strategy all the way through!

__________________________________________

Wrapping it Up...

Here are some ideas that other leaders identified on how to improve effectiveness in the Drives for Results competency.

• Recognize and capitalize on opportunities.
• Set and maintain high performance standards for self and others that support our companies strategic plan and holds self and other team members accountable for achieving results.
• Try new things to reach challenging goals and persists until personal and team goals are achieved and commitments met.
• Work to meet individual and company goals with positive regard, acknowledgment of, and cooperation with the achievement of others' goals.
• Motivate others to translate ideas into actions and results.

As you make Drive for Results a focus continue to share your successes with the team for shared learning. Um, sounds like bullet #5 above in action!!

~ Stacy

Extraordinary Women

I recently was asked to join a panel conversation in paying tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society. 

Of the questions I received in advance, I was asked to be ready to discuss a woman who has inspired, motivated and/or encouraged me to reach my full potential. 

How do you choose ONE woman who inspires, motivates and encourages when there are so many?  I start to jot down names...

Sandra Rea
Virginia Woolf
Ann Rand
Wilma Rudolph
Sally Ride
Amelia Airhart
Anais Nin
Eleanor Roosevelt
Susan B. Anthony
Marlo Thomas
Condoleezza Rice
Sarah Palin
Hilary Clinton

...

The realization that I could continue to list women who have left their mark on history is comforting, but I know that I can only pick one.  I go back to the first person who entered my mind when asked.  Sandra Hale Rea.  Yikes, too personal.  Pick another.  But, I can't because she is the one woman on the list and in my life that helped shape me into the woman that I am today.

Introducing my Mom

My mom, Sandra Rea, worked full time and never missed a beat, birthday, speech or basketball game.  When her three kids were old enough, she put herself through collecte at night still working full time during the days.  She received her teaching credential and taught many grades, but found a love for 4/5 grade where she invested in her students each and every day.

What she has in common with the list of women above was a sense of purpose.  And like those women, what she taught me was to be fearless in my dreams.  To be ambitious.  that I could be anything I wanted to be.  She modeled hard work, integrity, passion, loyalty, servitude and the importance of not just leaving, but in LIVING a legacy.

In all the roles we play as women, I leave you with this "Sandra-ism" on living a legacy.  My mom would say, "Do not live anyone's life except your own so that when you look back at the end of your years you will be proud of the unique design you have created. Appreciation that every decision you had made through the years had lead you to this palce.  Serenity that your life was on purpose and by design." 

About Women's History Month
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week." Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as "Women’s History Week." In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month." Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”


From the Law Library of Congress' guide to the legislative history of Women's History Month.

Information about Women's History Month was copied from http://womenshistorymonth.gov/about.html.  Visit year round to be reminded of the amazing women who paved the way for women's rights.