I just put my exuberant grandson to bed. He is excited to be spending the night at my home. Like his spectacular older sister, he is bright and independent and endearingly shiny and good. He is learning to be six, to be a gymnast, to be polite and well behaved, to use every available bathroom and wash his hands each time, to read, to share generously, to ride his bicycle sans training wheels… and to not leave his crayons in the sun. He is learning to Be, and he is a daily inspiration.

I hustled him through his bedtime rituals, and soon, fresh from a bath and with clean teeth and a smile, he lay in bed. I held a book and he proudly practiced reading to me. Then: lights out, snuggle up, you are so great, you’re so very loved, sleep well…and he is off to dream about tomorrow. In the morning, we will go to his favorite place, a grand new art museum with a kids’ space for creative play. He fell asleep, a happy boy expecting a happy day.

Children ground us, remind us of our eternal purpose, and renew our lives. He is one of the reasons I feel like Benjamin Buttons. He plays with me, in my heart.

Contemplations, with uncanny timing, inhabit us in open-hearted moments. Thus, not long after kissing him good night and gently closing his bedroom door, I found myself reflecting on the families of children who were lost in horrible tragedies in recent days. Of children in Afghanistan, bluntly executed near their beds in the night, by an American soldier. Of a boy in Florida walking home and chatting up his girl friend on his cell phone, shot to death by a neighborhood watch volunteer who had been warned to not pursue the boy.

Life is, indeed, a series of divine training rooms, and we do not graduate from one without absorbing the lesson there, and demonstrating the requisite know how and skill. Some of the curricula is completely puzzling.

Why do children die so? Nothing can justify such aggression. They were conscious acts, the deliberate shooting of these children by adults. Were the killings the result of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Clearly, severe stress was way too present in those fateful, horrible last moments.

I imagine the boy in Florida had a nighttime ritual that included affectionate goodnight blessings with family, and hopes of a happy day to follow. I visualize the murdered Afghan kids being tucked lovingly into bed by parents, and told to sleep well…that tomorrow will be here soon.

Indeed, we are shocked by contrasts of our relatively peaceful lives and the tragedies we behold. And then — we’ve all seen it — the tragic story is no longer “news” and it fades into oblivion. There is a part of me that wants to move on to the “new news,” too. But, these stories keep arising in my awareness, in my thoughts, in my gut. I really don’t want to forget these children who were so brutally stopped, so savagely and so very, very soon.

In the morning, at the new Mint Museum in Charlotte, I will watch my grandson with greater sensitivity, more alert to the nuance of his experience. I will hold his hand with new respect for who he is, not just for who he is becoming. I will take the witnessing of children as a privilege. I will learn from them in present moments, not casting my gaze to their older days. Now is the time of intrinsic blessings, like silence in a stand of Redwoods. You may have known that. I will live more consciously, now. I am so looking forward to his smile in the morning!

What is the presence of PTSD in your life? In your family? In your midst? I see most people are unaware of their trauma, and what they acknowledge goes untreated. Personally, it is something I am dealing with very seriously. It can only be treated consciously, with skill and sensitivity. 

Proper treatment of PTSD works miracles. Let me know if you’d like to learn more.

[Fritch Consulting facilitates business growth by collaborating with leaders who are striving with core-values to insightfully "do the right thing."  I write and speak out of my deep concern for the current crisis of integrity in leadership, with the hope of creating a more discerning conversation and promoting effective action. I encourage you to Comment (below) or contact me directly: bruce@fritchconsulting.com.  — Bruce W. Fritch]

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Think about it: How many products have we completely forgotten about? Hard to say…because, we’ve forgotten them, right? I’m guessing it is an extraordinarily large number. So many products are lazy knockoffs of other products, and others don’t even merit that description.

Now, what are the most remarkable products? That’s a list we can name with specific goods or services that surge to the front of our experience. They are probably recently used and nearby, truly distinctive, solidly competent, work exceptionally well with flares of insight about what pleases me, and are viserally rewarding to use. They might be expensive, but are so wonderful they are relatively value-priced.

My list might include the Suunto Core sports watch, Audi automobiles, uni-ball Impact RT Retractable Bold Point Gel Pens, Tumi luggage, Nikon D7000 DSLR camera with Nikon 50mm f1:1.4G lens, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, BlenderBottles, and Pandora.com. Then, again, Apple has its own product lineup on my “best” list: MacBook Air computer and Thunderbolt Display, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and AppleTV (the best value in fun tech/gadgetwear for $100!). [No, I was not paid to mention any of these products. I am delighted to do so.]

Each of these products was designed specifically for me — or, so it seems! Let me put it this way: None of these products was designed by innovators who passionately believe the stockholder is more important than the customer — I’m sure of that!

A revealing article appeared in the New York Times today, written by Greg Smith, entitled “Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs.” Mr. Smith appears to be an example of someone who retained perspective about customers and stockholders, long after the erosion of  core values in his midst.

Such is the stuff of greatness when applied to product development and leadership. Powerfully resolving the three key buyer questions and designing absurdly great may look naive to business cynics, but this is the cutlass-in-the-teeth commitment of those who know how to reap robust referrals in the marketplace.

When it comes to product development, the delight, loyalty and robust referrals of customers must be the focus!  Is your product development team sufficiently clear about that? 

[Fritch Consulting facilitates business growth by collaborating with leaders who are striving with core-values to insightfully "do the right thing."  I write and speak out of my deep concern for the current crisis of integrity in leadership, with the hope of creating a more discerning conversation and promoting effective action. I encourage you to Comment (below) or contact me directly: bruce@fritchconsulting.com.  — Bruce W. Fritch]

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Recently, I visited one of the sensational special towns in America: Sausalito, California, is a beautiful place on the North side of the Golden Gate Bridge, toes in the San Francisco Bay, forehead in the quirky bedroom-hills that rise mystically in a tribute to can-do residential construction and inventive street design. To live there is to enjoy Life in civil liberty, close to the Natural World.

The main drag, Bridgeway, parallels the sailboat festooned marina. On a conspicuous street corner is the popular Taste of Rome café. There, on a morning, one orders breakfast or coffee served by Brittany, the most remarkable barista de café on the planet. She is strikingly, humanly, an attraction! She delivers excellent food and beverages, but it is her attitude that attracts people — draws them magnetically — into the place.

If smiles, gestures and talk were luminous threads of gold, she weaves experiences of heart-filled distinction for each customer. No one is ignored her grace. The woman is a dynamo of cheer that triggers reciprocity. I ordered a medium very chocolate mocha (“You got it!” she said, like I owned the place) and it triggered a relational appreciation that was infectious long into my day.

Later, I spoke with my host — a dear friend who lives in architectural splendor on hillside stilts — about the woman who serves at the café, and before I could finish my friend extolled recollection and appreciation about the Paragon of Attitude. Clearly, I’d discovered a known treasure.

The next day, my host and I took a morning stroll on the boardwalk by the marina, and intent on stopping for coffees, we burst into appreciation for the treasured woman at the café. We could have spent the time otherwise.

On entering the café, I saw the woman was being of service, balancing lattes and bagels, and so I greeted her. She’d served me only once before, and in the same sentence convinced me I was recognized and told my friend that she’d start “her favorite” — a medium extra wet latte — and the woman was quick, and accurate. As we chatted with The Most Remarkable Barista on the Planet, a burly Russian Sausalitan witnessed the scene appreciatively, and said he was allergic to caffeine and the only reason he comes there each morning is the woman who serves black coffee and new possibilities.

She told us it flows from her choice of awareness at the start of every day. She chooses indomitable heartfulness. Really large, with extra foam! “You got it!!!”

Inside us all is a pulse like her’s…this being of service heart that transforms days and visions. 

How do you influence such possibilities in people? What is your strategy for generative action?

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One of our innate tests of effective leadership is reverence.

Sadly, reverence is somewhere off-stage today, jammed into a box in some civic storage facility for a social fee. There, we keep the nostalgic things, and stuff we are just too lazy to handle but we suspect still have value. Like reverence.

You remember reverence, don’t you? It’s about deep respect for someone or something. Somehow, we’ve lost respect for the word, and “reverence” makes us feel uncomfortable outside of a religious context. We live in a world lacking respect. Respect is due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others: respect for human rights.

“Leaders” who cause trauma are partly to blame. Yet, if we aren’t practicing a strong set of core social values (like fairness and reciprocity) that preempt gregarious greed, we play a role in this, too. When people imitate arrogant, selfish leaders, they get what they deserve, and this is very difficult to reverse.

We must be discerning about the company we keep and where we place our reverence. Lofty aspirations are less important than attending to worthy and virtuous actions. The company we keep and the discernment we bring to our attention and attendance is of primary and disproportionate importance.

Feeling deep reverence for your politicians or corporate executives, lately?

If so, write and tell me who they are and what supports your reverence. I’d like to feature them appreciatively.

[Fritch Consulting facilitates business growth by collaborating with leaders who are striving with core-values to insightfully "do the right thing."  I write and speak out of my deep concern for the current crisis of integrity in leadership, with the hope of creating a more discerning conversation and promoting effective action.  Your viewpoints are appreciated and I would be happy to continue the conversation — so I encourage you to Comment (below) or contact me directly: bruce@fritchconsulting.com.  — Bruce W. Fritch]

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It’s that time of year to reflect on personal effectiveness and to navigate the course forward. Newton informed us that speed is measured relative to some relevant object. Similarly, strategic effectiveness is evaluated relative to one’s mission.

Mission – be it organizational or personal – is mystifying to many. And yet, a mission that is well conceived and well executed can be purposeful, differentiating and profitable. When mission powerfully informs action, it is a vital tool for success.

Most people favor mission statements that are brief, to the point, and memorable. I agree, yet every mission statement regardless of length should trigger curiosity and prompt conversation.

My mission is to support extraordinary leadership. Since you are reading this, my guess is: we are well matched.

A simple test of mission-orientation is congruence over the course of time.

What is your mission?

Consider this: Mission is the difference one intends to make in the lives of those one serves. If you wish, you can write me about your mission. My email address is bruce@fritchconsulting.com.

 

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Bob Schieffer is one of the grand masters of television news journalism. He is easily irritated by flack politicians, and impatient to get to the truth. In his job as anchor of the venerable “Face The Nation” on CBS, he appears to regard many of his guests as leadership impostures.

So, his commentary on the December 18th broadcast was an arrow to the heart of the matter, a bullseye shot, well earned and well delivered. You can view it here — all one minute and 45 seconds of it.

It begins: “After watching Congress flounder around for an entire year and manage to accomplish nothing, I’ve come up with my own reform plan: Just create a Second Congress…”

Realizing how the self-justification of personal greed and status grandiosity corrupts, Schieffer gets rid of these motivations entirely. His highly focused and functional Second Congress would do the work that desperately needs to be done, while the current Congress — stripped of all authority — would continue to devote itself to ”finding ways to avoid doing anything that actually mattered to anyone but them.”

Do you presume your “constituents” appreciate your leadership? Do you know? How can you be sure? 

Have a competent, incorruptible, third-party researcher conduct a “leadership 360 study.” The feedback you receive from this data obtained confidentially from your boss, peers and direct reports will give you the truth and the consequences, with recommendations for improving your leadership effectiveness.

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Isn’t the world a very silly place right now? What a funny stage the United States of America presents for watching the play of “leaders.” Come laugh with me at just a few of the jokers:

• ”Stunned Disbelief Jon Corzine” — ex-chief executive of defunct MF Global, accused of disappearing up to $1.2 billion of customer funds — testified before the Congress of the United States on December 8th, declaring, “I simply do not know where the money is, or why the accounts have not been reconciled to date.” That’s too hilarious for the work of professional gag writers. He was the CEO! It is very complicated to disappear $.5 billion to $1.2 billion. You don’t do it alone. Yet no other adults on the planet stopped it before it completely disappeared. Who’s laughing now? Do you suspect that Mr. Corzine, who had been U.S. Senator Corzine and Governor Corzine of the State of New Jersey, left the Congressional hearing and proceeded into the rest of his life with a sense of entitlement?

• Ah! The U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch is so full of jokers today that despite oaths to work for the public good, these jokers bend noise and light to make their corruption sound and look attractive…but, only to themselves! Wait! Hark, what goes there? Isn’t that America going around in circles, headed down the drain? What a riot!

• Recently, a well-known assistant college football coach and a well-known assistant college basketball coach were accused of molesting minors countless times, without any other adult stopping their pedophile practices. Isn’t it uproariously funny to consider these guys may have qualified for the priesthood.

• Of the eight major banks that did receive TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) Funds, including Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. (including Merrill Lynch), Citigroup Inc., Wells Fargo & Co., Bank of New York Mellon and State Street Corp., governments have not brought indictments against any of the executives or board members. What a practical joke! Just ask the investigative team at “60 Minutes,” who must be slaphappy after researching this bizarre blockage for nine months.

• Kooky practitioners in the fields of organizational effectiveness (OE), organizational development (OD), and leadership development (LD) can receive masters and doctorate degrees in their “profession” without the commitment or know how to sustain core values in organizations. Rather than being champions of core social values in the face of arrogant executive superficiality and greed, they are happy with the intriguing fun of intervention processes aimed at tactical change.

• The EPA, after months of inaction and more months of “studying the problem” finally declared that hydraulic fracturing (commonly called fracking) by pressure injecting caustic chemicals deep underground to obtain natural gas, is probably harmful to health. In Wyoming, ground water in proximity to fracking operations was found to contain dangerous quantities of some funny stuff potable water must not contain: benzene, methane and the chemicals that comprise household bleach. EPA stands for Environmental Protection Agency. Citizens of Wyoming are still looking for environmental protection from their state government.

• And then there are those fruit loop funsters, the troopers at record-setting Goldman Sachs, which recently announced mega end-of-year bonuses, rivaling the prior record for bonuses, set in the years those hilarious humanitarians were receiving TARP funds. Emmett Kelly, eat your heart out!

How do you deal with these zany pranksters many call “leaders”? Do you read the news each day near a toilet, afraid the violent laughter that ensues might make you pee in your pants? Essentially, my question is: How do you contain yourself?!!!

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