Well, I for one would never have thought to put Lady Gaga and Mother Teresa side by side in an article about leadership.  Fortunately, someone else did.  Click HERE to read the Shumpeter post, published yesterday in The Economist.

Newslink: Leadership features articles about the development and practice of leadership skills in today’s business world.

A couple things are great about this.  First, I get free books to add to my library.  If you’ve followed any of my posts, you know I love books and love to share them with my team, so adding to my library is a good thing.

Second, there is no pressure to post a “positive” review.  I am simply asked to share my unedited thoughts about the book here on my blog and on at least one commercial site.

Over the next week, I will be posting three such reviews:

This Is The Moment, by Walter Green

On This Day In Christian History, by Robert Morgan

Surviving Your Serengeti, by Stefan Swanepoel

I hope you find these reviews, and others posted here, useful.  Please share, what books have you read lately?  Would you recommend them?  Why or why not?

If you are lucky enough to live in a community with a theater specializing in independent films, you have access to a cultural gem.  One such community is Maitland, near Orlando, Florida, home of the Enzian Theater.  I had the pleasure of enjoying a show there several years ago, and the wonderful experience has stayed with me.  Given the timing of both my trip to Utah and the Sundance Film Festival, the Enzian Theater is a perfect topic for this week’s Sunday Service.

“As Central Florida’s only full-time, not-for-profit alternative cinema, Enzian exists to entertain, inspire, educate, and connect the community through film. For more than 25 years Enzian has championed the belief that “Film Is Art.” Along with first-run independent features, Enzian offers a variety of special events, such the nationally-recognized Florida Film Festival.” (www.enzian.org)

An evening at the Enzian is much more than just watching a movie.   While waiting to be seated, you can enjoy drinks at the Eden Bar, an outdoor delight.  Once inside, guests enjoy full table service; drinks and appetizers or a complete meal as they watch the show.  The menu  reflects the same “creativity and individuality” as the theater’s movie selections.

As mentioned above, the Enzian Theater is also the home of the Florida Film Festival, this year from April 11-17.  Described as “the best regional festival I have ever attended” by Eugene Hernandez, editor-in-chief of indieWIRE.com, it celebrates current cinema, independent films, food and fun.  For local residents and movie stars alike, the festival is an event in filmmaking.

If you would like to support the cinematic arts through the Enzian, you can become a member of the Enzian Film Society.  All members enjoy discounted tickets, a free popcorn at each show, free special screenings, and advance tickets for the Florida Film Festival.  Annual memberships begin at $60 and go up to $2200, with corresponding,  increasing benefit advantages. 

You can also help the theater continue its excellent programming and community arts programs by donating directly to its operation.  For 25 years, Enzian has been a non-profit community-supported organization.  With only a quarter of its operating budget coming from ticket sales, it cannot operate without financial contributions.  If you can help, click HERE and support the theater’s mission to “entertain, inspire, educate, and connect the community through film.”

Even if you don’t have any ties to central Florida, I would urge you to seek out your local indie theater and support it.  The arts community in your area needs your help, too.

Storytellers broaden our minds: engage, provoke, inspire, and ultimately, connect us. -Robert Redford, President and Founder, Sundance Institute

Photos courtesy of www.enzian.org

“A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.”

 “You can’t always sit in your corner of the forest and wait for people to come to you… you have to go to them sometimes.”

 “When late morning rolls around and you’re feeling a bit out of sorts, don’t worry; you’re probably just a little eleven o’clockish.”

“If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together.. there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Such a wise bear… have a wonderful day!

Tuesday Tidbits are weekly messages I have been sending to my leadership team for about five years.  They are generally short & sweet, often focused on leadership or teamwork, always positive and hopefully, motivational.  A co-worker recently suggested the Tuesday Tidbit was blog-worthy.  I hope you find some meaning in them.

Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life – well, valuable, but small – and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven’t been brave?

So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn’t it be the other way around?

I don’t really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void.

- Kathleen Kelly in You’ve Got Mail

I’m a great fan of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movies, probably because I love romantic comedies.  I could watch You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle over and over!  They touch the heart and make the soul smile.  However, if you really pay attention, even the lightest plot can have some very thoughtful moments.

Take the above quote, for example.

Many people aren’t brave.  They choose the safe path, the one with the least risk and the least opportunity for failure.  Failure.  That’s how most of us would view an unsuccessful attempt at something.  Not the brave, though.  They view it as an opportunity for feedback, to learn how to do it better the next time.

In THIS article, Overcoming The Fear of Failure, Arina Nikitina states:  

Fear of failure is one of the greatest fears people have. Fear of failure is closely related to fear of criticism and fear of rejection. Successful people overcome their fear of failure. Fear incapacitates unsuccessful people.

The best thing to do is not to avoid the things we might fail at, but instead, we must learn how to fail.  Martha Beck wrote THIS article for Oprah.com a couple years ago: How To Fail Your Way to Success.  Through her humorous storytelling, Beck reminds us that:

We shouldn’t assign more significance to a failure than it deserves…Sometimes, there just isn’t anything you can do about failure…Some failures pave the way to sucesses…We must accept that failure is a part of life.

The second part of the movie quote above also demands our attention. 

 When we think about our lives, does it remind us of books we’ve read?  Or, has our life been such that we should write a book about it?  Are we sitting back and letting life just happen?  Or, are we bravely charging into life’s possible experiences?  Are we making things happen?

So, why is life the way it is?  Is it because of the path we took or because of the path we didn’t?  It’s an interesting question, isn’t it?

I don’t really want an answer. I just wanted to send this cosmic question out into the void.

My, my, how things have changed.

I don’t think anyone would debate that agreeing to participate in a one hour special to announce his next team was not a good move by LeBron James.  Yes, lots of money was raised for the Boys and Girls Club of America, which is admirable, but it does not excuse the poor judgment used in setting up the plan to begin with.  And, let’s not forget that Jim Gray – who devised the whole plan – and ESPN are just as much to blame as LeBron’s camp for the spectacle that was.

Worst of all, James chose to share the news with the world before telling the team he was leaving, the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Fans of the team feel betrayed, abandoned and once again publicly humiliated by one of their pro sports teams.  Dan Gilbert, the owner of the team, has behaved even worse then LeBron with his classless public rantings denouncing LeBron.  The entire situation was a mess.  As Mitch Albom stated on Sunday morning’s ESPN’s The Sports Reporters, “This is what happens when 25 year olds run the world.”

All that aside, what about the basketball career decision LeBron made?

LeBron James wants to win a championship.  He was close last year in Cleveland, but close isn’t quite the same thing, is it?  In Miami, circumstances evolved to allow him to play on the same team as other superstars in the game, Chris Bosh and Dewayne Wade.  D.Wade already is “the man” in Miami.  Bosh and James are coming in to a situation where they have to share the spotlight. James could be going from being the ”King” to being a just another member of the King’s court.  And, reportedly, all three players are taking pay cuts to make this happen within NBA salary rules.

Some people think this entire situation is all about LeBron’s ego.  In some respects, though, isn’t his ego being put aside in order to win?

All of us have the right to choose opportunities to advance our career, to achieve personal and professonal goals, to live and work where we want to, and to enjoy the benefits that come with hard work and success.  Why should it be any different for atheletes?  Why shouldn’t LeBron be able to play for Miami if that’s what he thinks gives him the best chance to win?  As Wade said on an ESPN interview Saturday, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

I hope it works out.

I hope that the “big three” in Miami are able to keep egos in check and show us all that the team comes first.  I also hope that if they can do that, that they win and show kids that team really is more important – and more rewarding – than individual glory.

I hope Cleveland fans will someday be able to regain their pride in the hometown guy who grew up to be an international superstar.  They should be proud to call him one of their own - admittedly, not right now, though.

I hope someone takes Dan Gilbert aside and tells him his behavior was also pretty bad.  From a management perspective, his public rantings, insults aimed at LeBron, and empty promises for future success demonstrate a lack of leadership skills.  LeBron is right in his comment that Gilbert “needs to look himself in the mirror and understand that what he may have done may have cost him in the long run.”

I hope that LeBron will be able to overcome the fallout of the choices he made in handling his departure.  Perhaps one day he’ll regain public admiration for his athletic skills, team orientation and humble character.  He has an uphill climb, but not an impossible one.

Then again, my husband has often told me that, once in a while, I need to remove my rose-colored glasses.

The show provides an insight to how vertical communications and a corporate vision can break down as the gap between front line employees and executive level employees widens.

I am particularly sensitive to this, as the company that I work for has grown significantly over the last few years.  Two years ago, as my responsibility grew to six departments, I added two Directors to my structure.  This caused quite a stir initially, as some felt that I was removing myself from the day-to-day leadership of our business unit.  On the other hand, I felt that adding these two remarkable people would actually strengthen the leadership team as a whole.

Then, this past weekend, my office was moved from the 4th floor of the building where five of my six departments are housed down to the first floor of our original building with the rest of the executive team.  Some people have again commented that I’m “leaving” my departments.  I have tried explaining that my first priority has to be as a member of the executive team, and that focus will serve all of the departments well.   One’s peer team is the primary relationship and one’s vertical team is secondary (albeit a very close second!).  That is not something easily understood by the people who think that, as their leader, I should be still be constantly among them.

I am glad that our communication is such that people feel comfortable sharing their concerns with me.  Hopefully, my ongoing behaviors will continue to provide the space for that, no matter what floor my office is physically located on.  I know that it is up to me to keep all of those important relationships, with all levels of my team, alive and healthy.

Which brings me to Sunday night’s episode of “Undercover Boss.”  Bill Carstanjen, COO of Churchill Downs, Inc., travelled to some of their lesser known horse track locations.  He helped feed horses, clean banquet rooms, and support jockeys in their race preparation.  Bill learned a very important lesson; if he didn’t really understand the day-to-day challenges of the employees on the front-line, he could not being as effective as he otherwise could be as a leader.

In closing comments to his staff, after the big “reveal” of his true identity, Bill shared the following comment:

The most important things in life start with human interaction.  It starts with talking.  It starts with caring.  That’s something we all need to understand better.

I hope that the viewers of the show stayed tuned in through the very end to hear Bill’s statement.  It was a critical lesson he learned, and an important one for us all to understand.  The one thing I would add is the need to listen, too.

How can we act on this today?  To whom can we demonstrate that we really care?  Starting today, who can we interact with and learn from?

Here in Ohio, over the last couple days, the sun has been shining, the temperature has been slowly creeping upward, the snow is melting, and smiles are quick and easy.  People are tired of the snowy weather and dreary skies.  They are excited about the brightness of the days and that Spring is around the corner.

In my opinion, there is a clear and strong relationship between sunshine, attitude and happiness.  Here’s a little test.  Sit near a window and feel the warmth of the sun.  Or, go outside and walk a path that is void of shade.  Feel the warmth and soak up the natural light.  How do you feel?

Think of songs that reference sunshine and you’re sure to add even more spring to your step.  Just a few excerpts are listed below.  Click the links and enjoy!  I bet your toes will start tapping, you will start humming, and a smile won’t be far behind! 

Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves

Walking on sunshine
Walking on sunshine
I feel alive, I feel a love, I feel a love that’s really real
I feel alive, I feel a love, I feel a love that’s really real
I’m on sunshine baby, oh yeah!
I’m on sunshine baby

Sunny Days – Sesame Street

Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

Come and play
Everything’s A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That’s where we meet 

Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it’s all right

Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it’s all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it’s all right

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What is your favorite musical sunshine?  Here is a list of 100 songs to get you started!