Thoughts On Thrivability
It Takes a Village to Raise an Entrepreneur
Like the African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, I would also say: it takes a village to raise an entrepreneur. We have this myth of the lone, heroic entrepreneur. And certainly, there is courage and heroism in launching a business. But if you are to...
The Refugee’s Gift
I've been helping a family of Syrian refugees - Omar, Salwa and their 7 children - since they arrived here 3 weeks ago, sponsored by the Unitarian Church of Montreal. After escalating violence, their home was destroyed by bombs 4 days after the youngest child was...
Where Do We Go From Here?
Just as communism fell in Russia, capitalism and Western-style democracy are not immune to the same fate. In fact, the US election, the global rise of nationalism and the worldwide persistence of poverty, social unrest and environmental degradation are all signals...
What Rituals for Modern Times?
[This is Part 1 of a two-part set of articles about ritual and reverence. Part 2 is called A Rite of Passage.] It was a year ago, during a week-long island retreat, that I strongly felt the connection between ritual and reverence and the vital need for both in every...
A Rite of Passage
[This is Part 2 of a two-part series about ritual and reverence. Part 1 is called What Rituals for Modern Times?] I gently touched my daughter’s arm. It was 4:30 in the morning. “I need you to wake up,” I said quietly. “I’d like to invite you on an adventure.” “Does...
Nothing is Worth More than this Day
Nothing is worth more than this day. So says the wall in front of me. Years ago, I posted those words as a constant reminder to myself. But, of course, at some point, they fade into the background, unnoticed. Today, I felt drawn to reflect on them again. This...
A City of Two Tales
Three suitcases. Two stuffed animals. A bag full of typically Canadian gifts. And we were off! My ten-year-old and eleven-year old children and I are traveling along the East Coast of the US on a two-week “epic adventure road trip.” The journey is a response to my...
#ServingLife
This is a story in two parts: the first a few years ago involving a beautiful client organization; the second yesterday involving a convicted felon (also beautiful, it turns out); both related to the concept of “serving life.” It’s a story of the surprising depth of...
Mission Questions, Not Mission Statements
What if companies had mission questions instead of mission statements? How much more engaging and inviting would this be than the typical bland pronouncements about “being number one” or “being the best”? Why do you want to be number one? What learning, discoveries...
