making sense out of the ruins of our noble country

I am not an alarmist. I tend to be very optimistic and in the case of America I am exceedingly positive about the way we are capable of changing when we see fit even if it is in a direction I don't like. We are copers- we adapt.
But what does disturb me and alarm me is the loss of noble aspiration at the leadership levels of government, business and the media.
I value civility. I think respecting people is a good way to converse and that discourse that is rigorous but vigorous is a delight.
I do not find the public debate on almost any topic to be of any benefit to anyone except those interested in their own selfish gains or who are stoking fears in the public.
40 years as a psychotherapist, management consultant and close observer of organizational life has taught me to appreciate the fact that human beings are motivated either by the basest of rationale- fear and hatred on one side and desire and greed on the other. Or at our best we can be truly inspired by altruism and love for others.
Altruism seems to be a natural instinct along with fight, flight and freeze but it must be cultivated. Especially in these times when the norm we see and experience thrown at us in multimedia display are the worst traits in human nature.
So, how does one cultivate altruism?
Starting with a recognition that caring about others well being as much as our own is a good start.
Exchanging an act of generosity for self indulgence is a great way to enhance your sense of heart-felt concern.
In my social enterprise http://www.poundsforpoverty.com/ I advocate for people who are suffering with obesity to donate the money they might have spent on something that is self sabotaging instead. Give the $5.00 for that scone and latte to any charity fighting hunger like a local food bank. See for yourself if it does not warm your heart more than give you heart burn that overeating causes.

Is 2010 the year that we realize how important being good is?

There is a truth that seems to be forgotten over and over: that what you do and the motivation behind what you do is critical to how you feel about yourself.

It benefits the giver as much as the receiver to be engaged in doing something that is "noble".

Noble means to me something inspiring or uplifting. To be inspired comes from the root to breathe in and when you are inspired it feels like taking a good great big breath of fresh air.

If what we do does not inspire us then we are stuck with persevering and holding on to something that we don't believe in and therefore cannot completely commit to with our full energy.

Take a small step to discover what will spark your sense of connection to goodness.

Try starting with something really small that seems doable and yet it is in the direction of the feeling you want to have in your heart and mind.

To get to where I am today I had to first realize that I required doing good and then looking for awhile at what could qualify- it was not until I stated emphatically to myself that I was committed to this path that I began to find steppingstones leading to my life now which feels 80% good and 20% work for the sake of making a living.

Why I launched a social enterprise?

Because of them.

Healing obesity and hunger at the same time- that’s Pounds for Poverty’s mission
It may seem strange to consider these two epidemic and catastrophic disasters in the same breath or same category. Really isn’t obesity and over eating just a matter of will power and determination to resolve? But then many feel that the poor and the hungry through their own efforts could rectify their situation also. From many perspectives they share a cultural belief that the problem is personal, individual and a matter of intention and effort to solve.
We don’t look at both that way. We assert that hunger and obesity or simply over consuming anything are cultural phenomena and that we can solve both in tandem. It is a curious paradox- that on one hand it is up to the individual to do their part in helping themselves and on the other hand it is also a much bigger problem than any individual can solve.
Our assertion is that hunger can be healed by the very same forces that are contributing significantly to the cause. In one big way, hunger is a redistribution problem- some have too much while many have too little. I know it is not that simple. Our insight is that by exchanging our tendency to over do (food, spending, alcohol, sugar) for converting the money to a donation to a charity fighting hunger like Second Harvest (our featured charity this quarter) the donor builds a foundation to change for the better. In a very real way everyone is better for the exchange and how often does that happen?
Our insight about the relationship between hunger and over consuming came out of personal experience. In my case, I have had a sincere desire to be of service to others for my whole lifetime. I have learned that one of the quickest ways to improve my positive feelings about myself is to give to something of value to the recipient. It makes me feel more self worth and improves my reputation with myself which has suffered mightily with over eating and weight gain.

Powerful courses for Project, team leaders and new managers

Project and Team Leadership for time-starved technical companies and the new managers program- Management essentials for the time -starved technical company are huge successes everywhere they have been implemented.
Based upon the question: "what is the absolute essence of causing and implementing results in a technically driven and time-hungry company?" I have designed a program that answers the question with integration of:

• Influencing conversations for results for the person with little formal authority.
• Creating the environment for speaking and listening that leads to problem-solving and sound decision making.
• Leading conversations one on one and one to many.
• Constructing clear , sharply focused and SMART desired outcomes.
• Using tools to move meetings forward to an intended outcome.
• Enrolling others in decision making whenever possible in the right way- not too much and not too little.

I invite you to have a dialogue about your companies needs with me soon.

It is never too early or too late to develop the right skills to cause the right results

Inaugration day and a new beginning

It is January 20th, 2009. Barack Obama who is a Noble person with a noble vision for America is now my president. I am moved beyond belief, tears stream down as I watch the mix of faces from all over the country and I am once again restored to faith in our wondrous country.
It is a time when the word noble can be used without fear that it will be misunderstood as there is no one on the countries leadership who exemplifies it at least at the top posts.
I am ready, willing and able to be one of the ones that Barack spoke to regarding being a responsible member of the countries' effort to put back together in a brand new way a place for hope, vision and fortitude.
I have been working for the last year on launching my own Noble Purpose Social Enterprise. Please look over the link www.poundsforpoverty.com and see what I have been up to with my co-founder Maryann Marks.

Transform Excess Weight Into an Answer to Poverty and Hunger - wikiHow

Transform Excess Weight Into an Answer to Poverty and Hunger - wikiHow

You can find inspiration anywhere-what are you looking for?

I was watching Brett Favre retire last week.
Here I am sweating up a storm on the elliptical trainer in an effort to save this 61 yr old body from rack and ruin and one of my nemesis- well really the 49ers antihero, is talking in a way that was inspiring and uplifting. It is not what he said so much as the way he said it- I was moved by his genuineness, his emotions flowing because what he loved he no longer had passion and willingness to endure to experience. And he was getting out when it didn't have the same meaning for him.

I loved his trueness- he is what he is and nothing less or more. I am inspired by people who are genuine even if I hated his ability to decimate what used to be my team that I gave blood for on Sundays.
I look for things to be inspired by- he is just one small example but I am puzzled and appalled by how few also look to be moved, touched and inspired.
I think we live in an era of commonality and lowest standards for human decency and respect that I have witnessed in my six decades.
I encourage you to consider this:
Inspiration means to breathe in- we take in oxygen- we inspire. Breath- the source of life- inspiration is a source of life too.
How does one become inspirable?
By committing to looking for what is good and kind and wholesome and beautiful and making note of it in your mind and out loud. Watch what happens to a conversation when you say what you are awed by or moved by or care deeply about. Notice how different it feels to watch for what is right and true and authentic in the world.
Pollyanna? maybe but it feels better than to watch for what is wrong and bad and harmful.
Maybe Brett is not a good person really- maybe some day I will find out that he is an Elliot Spitzer kind of guy but for that moment and in his glorious career he showed me what it is like to be completely passionate about a game that he gave his all to with no reservations.