Class without Feinberg

I liked class today without Dr. Feinberg. No because I don't like lecture because I do, but because we made a step in the right direction. Our group had great discussion with our leader, Sarah Pasini. We have a sound foundation for what she expects and I believe she has a better ideas of what us followers expect.
Sarah broke us into three sub groups with three sub leaders. As appointed a sub leader I have been working to keep in close contact and hold my subgroup accountable for our responsibilities.
This should have been done at the very beginning as opposed to near the end.
When is the class President going to spend time and organize the class? We really do not know him or his expectations.

Personal Leadership Expirience at Conference

This past weekend I attended a leadership conference titled Something of Value held by the dean of students and Panhellenic. Part of the conference included breaking everyone in into small discussion groups by position held within your sorority.
As President, I attended a conversation with the other fourteen presidents of large chapter sororities here on campus. What I experienced was motivating and eye opening. The level of conversation and opportunity was extremely high. I felt empowered by the group around me. We had tough discussions that were honest. During these discussions we made accomplishments and brainstormed new ideas otherwise ignored when brought up amongst other groups.
The lesson I learned this weekend is when the best and most motivated are together change can occur successfully. When Feinberg mentions leaders picked the wrong team I now understand what he means. If the best students had been selected to create one group they could blow away everyone else. Unfortunately each group is stuck with week links.
Is the saying true, 'you are only as strong as your weakest link'

Is there a top to the mountain?

Life is an adventure. We work to create a mission to achieve goals and full fill dreams. The question I ask myself is there an ultimate prize at the end of the road? Is there a specific moment in time when it all clicks and we feel self full filled?
This clip shares an example of a successful character looking for the final prize. In the clip he doesn't find the prize and wants to know if at the end there really is no real dramatic ending or if he missed it and should continue looking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4

This same puzzle relates to our journey as a leader. Does one ever know when they become an exceptional leader? If so, how? Leadership is learned and can be taught, (purpose of Feinberg's class) but is there a climax? Can you only go so far in leadership or is there always room for improvement? This is a lot of rhetorical questions but can they be answered?

President Obama's Lack of Leadership

While watching President Obama on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno I knew immediately he had dug himself a hole. Obama makes fun at his ability to bowl well. He says he could qualify for 'the special Olympics or something'.

Obama... I am a fan, but really, you are representing America as a whole. Shouldn't you avoid labeling and poking fun at different groups. To redeem yourself I suggest you take this opportunity to support the special Olympics organization. Perhaps be a spokesperson or make a finical donation out of your own pocket.
Be a leader, not an opressor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaCcsp1D1yM

NBC's moral tactic

Every night on the evening news Brian Williams, news anchor for NBC shares the worlds news. Many of his recent broadcasts have revolved around the war in Iraq, the lack of economic stability, unemployment, natural disaster, and other stories we would define as negative news.
To boost moral and recognize the good in individual citizens they close the nightly news with a segment called "making a difference". In these segments they have ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Most are acts of kindness. They are people putting strangers ahead of themselves. Watch any of the segments and you will find a story of leadership.

Here is one of my favorites. A women that flies around the world to help a child with special needs just like her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woeMZhpsNYE&feature=related

Oprah says its called ' having IT'

Oprah's grandmother was a great advocate of Education. Oprah embraced this thought and worked hard to create opportunity for not only herself but now hundreds of African girls. She has opened a leadership academy in South Africa that has provided young girls raised in poverty the ultimate chance. The question each girl asks herself is ... "am I good enough"? The answer Oprah answered to those who asked was yes. To believe in themselves and their abilities qualified candidates.
The most memorable story shared was of a young girl named Lesego. Lesego's mother left her at the age of four. With just her father she has grown up in a very run down hut with no running water or electricity. With very little, Lesego lives each day to learn. She says she believes she has the spunk, a flame. To recognize such a special gift is leadership. She shares her abilities to benefit and teach those around her. For Lesego I imagine it would be easy to be selfish, but she is far from it. She shares her thoughts:

"You are an individual, act like an individual, blend out".

Lesego is a true leader and I wish she knew the impact she has had on me. In my leadership journey I use Lesego's story as motivation.

This link connects to Lesego's story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THM2K3tWIzE&NR=1

My Time Management

Time Management is something I would say I am experienced in, not good, but experienced. With such a demanding schedule I feel forced to prioritize, delegate, and focus. I rely heavily on the fact that I have a very comfortable routine which prevents procrastination. I set aside Sunday evening and plan for the week. I start on important tasks that can not be left till the end.
The following ideas made by Covey's in regards to time management.

You can't make time, only yourself, goals, and vision

Your strength is being productive and your weaknesses will be irrelevant

Empower people

This week I will challenge myself to think about how I use my time. I will concentrate on the urgent and important tasks. I will be productive and empower those around me. Will eliminating the small (and fun) tasks be difficult?

The Present

I just finished a short book title The Present by Spencer Johnson. This book discusses being in the here and now. How can be better ourselves in the current moment? John's suggests three pieces of advice.

1. Be in the Present - When you want to be happier and more successful focus on what is right now. Respond to what is important this very moment.

2. Learn from the Past - When you wan to make the present better than the past look at what happened in the past. Learn something valuable from it. do things differently in the present.

3. Plan for the Future - When you want to make the future better than the present see what a wonderful future would look like. Make plans to help it happen. Put your plan into action in the present.

Looking into the future is a problem I often encounter. As a student I write everything i could possibly have to do in my agenda and look at it almost 100 times a day. I don't want to miss anything important which could in turn make me fail. I spend a great deal of time preparing what I am going to do, how I am going to act, and what impression I would like to make rather than just being spur of the moment allowing others to judge me from my natural abilities.

A personal goal I have created is not just to phyisically be here, but be present.

Locker Room Speeches

The locker room is a fascinating idea. It is a place where players expect coaches to motivate and share emotion that is not shared on the court or on the field. It is a moment of deep concentration. After watching several locker room speeches (Friday night lights, giants vs. eagles, miracle) I came up with a list of common discussion. These topics are topics of motivation and leadership. They are words that are carried in a players heart. They are words that bring a group together.

- Time is always discussed, a short period in which everything else should be put aside.
- Fate, the idea of a greater power supporting and carrying each individual.
- Personal determination, without it your letting the team down. Without effort the ultimate goal can not be reached, winning.
- Relationship with yourself and teammates, a team is in it together. The outcome affects everyone. A special bond that can be understood from the outside is formed.
- Being perfect is about looking at friends in eye and know you didn't let them down
- Joy in your heart - makes you perfect
- Working for something other than yourself, put the best interest of everyone else before yourself. Work with others to succeed to the best of your abilities.

This link is of my favorite locker room speech, Friday Night Lights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M76lMUEX0fo&NR=1

What is IT?

I just read a book titled Fish Sticks. It is short story of a nurse trying to influence her floor to adopt and change. To create an atmosphere that is welcoming to patients and motivating for employees the author asks us to think about this idea:

If we move the source of energy inside and take more personal responsibility for regenerating our lighthearted and service oriented workplace, then we are more immune to some of the crazy things that can and will happen without warning.

Much of our motivation comes from the external forces around us. We are only motivated by quotes, pictures, tag lines when really it is the heart that is the most influential change agent. These items should be used as reminders rather than the main source of energy. To work from the inside out we must do three things.
Find It, Live It, Coach It

Hold ourselves, team, and entire organization accountable. Spark a fire inside that will keep the organization moving in a positive direction. Fish (Change) does stick if done correctly.

Who Moved My Cheese

A book on change, Who Moved My Cheese has four characters resembling four possible personalities during organizational/ group change. Two characters are mice, two are little people. This is an analysis of change within the "cheese" organization.

Two Mice - Use the trail and error method. Have little fear and are willing to move on. They enter the transition period easily.

Two Little People - Get very comfortable in their shoes. They stop looking around they do not look for signs of change. They believe they are entitled and absolutely assume someone or something else is the problem.

Hem, one of the little people consistently returns to the old organization expecting things to return to their original state. Making the personal decision to suffer rather than move on, the only transition he makes is from happy to miserable.

Haw, the second little person is hesitant. He starts following Hem and doesn't think outside the box. He conforms to the organization. After a long period of time he realizes he is wrong. With no one following him breaks from the pack and goes off on his own. With disapproval he must make his own way.

These four characters represent the successful vs. unsuccessful organizations. There are pluses and minuses to both. One must have some fear in them to provoke thought and communication. Without thought you might move on but there will be lack of organization and the end result may not be as effective. However, no thought move you nowhere but backward.