It’s time to make the critical shift from leading the business by yourself to leading an organization of people. At P2Excellence, we help you navigate the uncharted territories of organizational growth with clarity and confidence.
Last week, like many of you, I grieved the passing of Barbara Bush. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember. Of course she wasn’t perfect, but I learned long ago that if you look for perfect, you will always be disappointed.
Mrs. Bush seemed “real” to me. A woman who knew who she was and wasn’t. A woman who knew how to make her voice heard. A woman who understood choices. A woman who held people to high standards and – more often than not – got what she expected.
Here are my five favorite lessons from Mrs. Bush:
1. Most of the time, not always, but most of the time, you are as happy as you choose to be. When you can, choose happy .
2. Service matters . There are many ways to serve and many good causes to support. Pick yours. Go deep. Count on the fact that others will choose differently and together the important things will get done.
3. Act with kindness and civility. Manners count . You can be a truth teller, you can set high standards, you can be tough…and you can be kind. Make it easy to be kind when you can.
4. Be a fierce defender of your family, and then your friends, and then your community. Fierce. That doesn’t mean you deny mistakes or don’t make course corrections. But it means people have no doubt that while you may be called the Enforcer, in truth you are the Defender.
5. Demonstrate Love, Grace and Ease . Love fully and deeply. With your whole heart. Know “how lucky” you are. Lighten up! Laugh wholeheartedly. And when your work is done, be at peace.
Thanks! Looking forward to our next discussion together!
