Peter & Mary Peter & Mary on their on their fellow fellow

humanshumans

Drucker on Drucker on his fellow his fellow humanshumans

Source: Interview, Management Today (Australia); 01-02.2006

““The purpose of The purpose of professional professional schools is to schools is to

educateeducate competent competent mediocritiesmediocrities.”.”* —PD

*Warren Bennis & Peter Drucker: On Organizing Genius, Drucker communication to Bennis:“It should have been ‘organizing idiots.’”It should have been ‘organizing idiots.’”

Source: Management Today (Australia); 01-02.2006

Mary oliver+Mary oliver+ on her/their on her/their

fellow humansfellow humans

““Tell me, what is Tell me, what is it you plan to do it you plan to do

with your one with your one wild and wild and

precious life?”precious life?” —Mary Oliver

““Every child is Every child is born an artist. The born an artist. The trick is to remain trick is to remain

an artist.”an artist.” —Picasso

“[The novel] traced the very ordinary life of a very ordinary woman—a life with few moments of high drama, but which was also remarkable. The extraordinary in the

ordinary. It was a theme I often It was a theme I often discussed with my students—discussed with my students—how we can never consider how we can never consider

anybody’s life ‘ordinary,’ how anybody’s life ‘ordinary,’ how every human existence is a every human existence is a

novel with its own compelling novel with its own compelling narrativenarrative.. Even if, on the surface, it seems prosaic, the fact remains that each individual life is

charged with contradictions and complexities. And no matter much we wish to keep things simple and

uneventful, we cannot help but collide mess. It is our destiny—because mess, the drama we create for

ourselves, is an intrinsic part of being alive.”

—Hannah, from State of the Union by Douglas Kennedy

““Make each day Make each day a Masterpiece!”a Masterpiece!”

—John Wooden

““Make your life Make your life itself a creative itself a creative work of art.”work of art.” —Mike

Ray, The Highest Goal

““Nobody can Nobody can prevent prevent you from you from choosing choosing

to be to be exceptional.”exceptional.”

—Mark Sanborn, The Fred Factor

“Self-reliance never comes ‘naturally’ to adults because

they have been so conditioned to think non-authentically that

it feels wrenching to do otherwise. … Self Reliance is a Self Reliance is a last resort to which a person is last resort to which a person is

driven in desperation only driven in desperation only when he or she realizes ‘that when he or she realizes ‘that imitationimitation isis suicidesuicide, that he , that he must take himself for better, must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion.’ ”for worse, as his portion.’ ” —

Lawrence Buell, Emerson

“For Marx, the path to social betterment was through collective resistance of the proletariat to the

economic injustices of the capitalist system that

produced such misshapenness and fragmentation. For Emerson, the key was to For Emerson, the key was to jjolt olt

individuals into realizinindividuals into realizingg the the untauntapppped ed ppower of enerower of energygy, ,

knowledknowledgge and creativite and creativityy of which all of which all people, at least in principeople, at least in principple, are le, are

cacappable. He too hated all sable. He too hated all syystems of stems of human ohuman oppppression; but his central ression; but his central

pprorojject, and the basis of his leect, and the basis of his leggacacyy, , was to unchain individual mindswas to unchain individual minds.”.”

—Lawrence Buell, Emerson

“We make our own traps.”

“We construct our own cage.”

“We build our own roadblocks.”

Source: Douglas Kennedy, State of the Union

“If you ask me what I have come to do in this

world, I who am an

artist, I will reply: I I am here to am here to live mlive myy life life

out loudout loud.”.” — Émile Zola

The Work MattersThe Work Matters!!

“What we do matters to us. “What we do matters to us. Work may not be the most Work may not be the most

important thing in our lives or important thing in our lives or the only thing. We may work the only thing. We may work because we must, because we must, but we still but we still want to love, to feel want to love, to feel ppride in, ride in, to resto resppect ourselves for what ect ourselves for what

we do and to make a we do and to make a differencedifference.”.” —Sara Ann Friedman, Work

Matters: Women Talk About Their Jobs and Their Lives

“… “… the delithe deligght of beinht of beingg totall totallyy within one’s own elementwithin one’s own element——of of

identifidentifyyiningg full fullyy with one’s work with one’s work and seeinand seeingg it as an ex it as an exppression of ression of one’s characterone’s character … this affection … this affection

must be so strong that it persists must be so strong that it persists during leisure hours and even during leisure hours and even

makes its way into dreams … the makes its way into dreams … the mind knows no deadlines or mind knows no deadlines or

constraints and is open to its inner constraints and is open to its inner

energies …”energies …” —Robert Grudin/ The Grace of Great Things: Creativity and Innovation

““To have a firm To have a firm persuasion in our work—to persuasion in our work—to

feel that what we do is feel that what we do is right for ourselves and right for ourselves and good for the world at good for the world at

exactly the same time—is exactly the same time—is one of the great triumphs one of the great triumphs of human existence.”of human existence.” —David

Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity

““This is the true joy of Life, This is the true joy of Life, the being used for a purpose the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a recognized by yourself as a mighty one … the being a mighty one … the being a

force of Nature instead of a force of Nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of feverish, selfish little clod of

ailments and grievances ailments and grievances complaining that the world complaining that the world

will not devote itself to will not devote itself to making you happy.”making you happy.” —GB Shaw/

Man and Superman

““If I can reduce my work If I can reduce my work to just a job I have to do, to just a job I have to do, then I keep myself safely then I keep myself safely away from the losses to away from the losses to

be endured in putting my be endured in putting my heart’s desires at stake.”heart’s desires at stake.”

—David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity

“When was the last time you

asked, ‘‘What What do I want to do I want to bebe?’ ”?’ ” —Sara Ann Friedman,

Work Matters

“Happiness” & “Leisure” per ARISTOTLE

HAPPINESS:HAPPINESS: EudaimoniaEudaimonia … well-doing, living … well-doing, living flourishingly. flourishingly. MegalopsychosMegalopsychos … “great-souled,” … “great-souled,” “magnanimous.” More: respect and concern for “magnanimous.” More: respect and concern for

others; duty to improve oneself; using one’s gifts others; duty to improve oneself; using one’s gifts to the fullest extent possible; fully aware; making to the fullest extent possible; fully aware; making

one’s own choices.one’s own choices.

LEISURE:LEISURE: pursue excellence; reflect; deepen pursue excellence; reflect; deepen understanding; opportunity to work for higher understanding; opportunity to work for higher

ends. [“Rest” vs. “leisure.”]ends. [“Rest” vs. “leisure.”]

Source: A.C. Grayling, The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life

““The antidote to The antidote to exhaustion is not exhaustion is not

rest, it is rest, it is wholeheartedness.”wholeheartedness.”

—David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity

“It’s no longer enough It’s no longer enough to be a ‘change agent.’ to be a ‘change agent.’ You must be a You must be a chanchanggee insurinsurggentent—provoking, —provoking,

prodding, warning prodding, warning everyone in sight that everyone in sight that

complacency is complacency is death.”death.”

—Bob Reich

“Nobody gives Nobody gives you power. you power.

You just take You just take it.”it.” —Roseanne

““Well-Well-behaved behaved women women

rarely make rarely make history.”history.”

—Anita Borg, Institute for Women and Technology

““To Hell With Well To Hell With Well BehavedBehaved … … Recently a Recently a

young mother asked for advice. young mother asked for advice. What, she wanted to know, was she What, she wanted to know, was she

to do with a to do with a 7-year-old who was obstreperous, 7-year-old who was obstreperous,

outspoken, and inconveniently outspoken, and inconveniently willful? willful? ‘‘KeeKeepp her,’ I re her,’ I reppliedlied.. … The … The suffragettes refused to be polite in suffragettes refused to be polite in

demanding what they wanted or demanding what they wanted or grateful for getting what they grateful for getting what they

deserved. Works for me.”deserved. Works for me.” —Anna Quindlen/Newsweek

““You are the You are the storyteller of your storyteller of your own life, and you own life, and you can create your can create your own legend or own legend or

not.”not.” —Isabel Allende

Characteristics of the “Also rans”*

“Minimize risk”“Respect the chain

of command”“Support the boss”

“Make budget”*Fortune, on “Most Admired Global Corporations”

“My wife and I went to a [kindergarten] parent-teacher conference and were informed that our budding

refrigerator artist, Christopher, would be receiving a grade of Unsatisfactory in art. We were shocked. How

could any child—let alone our child—receive a poor grade

in art at such a young age? His teacher His teacher informed us that he had informed us that he had

refused to color within the refused to color within the lines, which was a state lines, which was a state

requirement for requirement for demonstrating ‘grade-level demonstrating ‘grade-level

motor skillsmotor skills.’ ” —Jordan Ayan, AHA!

“How many artists are there in the room? Would you please raise your hands. FIRST GRADE: En mass the children leapt from their seats, arms waving. Every child was an artist. SECOND GRADE:

About half the kids raised their hands, shoulder high, no higher. The hands were still. THIRD GRADE: At best, 10 kids out of 30 would raise a hand, tentatively, self-consciously. By the time I reached

SIXTH GRADE, no more than one or two kids raised their hands, and then ever so slightly, betraying a fear of being identified by the

group as a ‘closet artist.’ The point is:

Every school I visitedEvery school I visited was participating in was participating in

the systematic suppression the systematic suppression of creative genius of creative genius.”

Source: Gordon MacKenzie, Orbiting the Giant Hairball

““The key question isn’t ‘What fosters The key question isn’t ‘What fosters creativity?’ But it is why in God’s creativity?’ But it is why in God’s

name isn’t name isn’t evereveryyoneone creative? creative? Where Where was the human potential lost? How was the human potential lost? How was it crippled?was it crippled? I think therefore a I think therefore a

good question might be good question might be notnot why do people create? But why do why do people create? But why do people people notnot create or innovate? We create or innovate? We have got to abandon that sense of have got to abandon that sense of

amazement in theamazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a face of creativity, as if it were a

miracle if anybody created anything.”miracle if anybody created anything.” —Abe Maslow

Ye gads: ““Thomas Stanley has not only found Thomas Stanley has not only found no correlation between success in school and no correlation between success in school and an ability to accumulate wealth, he’s actually an ability to accumulate wealth, he’s actually found a nefound a neggative correlationative correlation. ‘It seems that . ‘It seems that

school-related evaluations are poor school-related evaluations are poor predictors of economic success,’ Stanley predictors of economic success,’ Stanley

concluded. What did predict success was a concluded. What did predict success was a willingness to take risks. Yet the success-willingness to take risks. Yet the success-

failure standards of most schools penalized failure standards of most schools penalized risk takers. risk takers. Most educational systems reward Most educational systems reward those who play it safe. As a result, those who those who play it safe. As a result, those who

do well in school find it hard to take risks do well in school find it hard to take risks

later onlater on.”.” —Richard Farson & Ralph Keyes,

Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins

DistinctDistinct … or

…

ExtincExtinctt

Joe J. Jones Joe J. Jones 1942 – 2006 1942 – 2006

HE WOULDA DONE SOME HE WOULDA DONE SOME

REALLY COOL STUFF REALLY COOL STUFF

BUT …BUT …

HIS BOSS WOULDN’T LET HIM! HIS BOSS WOULDN’T LET HIM!

EXCELLENCE.EXCELLENCE.ENTHUSIASM.ENTHUSIASM.

ENERGY. ENERGY. PASSION.PASSION.

EXUBERANCE.EXUBERANCE.

Exuberance: The Passion for Life, by Kay Redfield Jamison+

““I believe exuberance is incomparably more important I believe exuberance is incomparably more important than we acknowledge. If, as has been claimed, than we acknowledge. If, as has been claimed,

enthusiasm finds the opportunities and energy makes enthusiasm finds the opportunities and energy makes the most of them, a mood of mind that yokes the two of the most of them, a mood of mind that yokes the two of

them is formidable indeed.”them is formidable indeed.”

“ “The Greeks bequeathed to us one of the most The Greeks bequeathed to us one of the most beautiful words in our language—the word beautiful words in our language—the word

‘enthusiasm’—‘enthusiasm’—en theosen theos—a god within. The grandeur of —a god within. The grandeur of human actions is measured by the inspiration from human actions is measured by the inspiration from

which they spring. Happy is he who bears a god within, which they spring. Happy is he who bears a god within, and who obeys it.”—Louis Pasteurand who obeys it.”—Louis Pasteur

“ “Exuberance is, at its quick, contagious. As it spreads Exuberance is, at its quick, contagious. As it spreads pell-mell through a group, exuberance excites, it pell-mell through a group, exuberance excites, it

delights, and it dispels tension. It alerts the group to delights, and it dispels tension. It alerts the group to change and possibility.”change and possibility.”

Exuberance: The Passion for Life, by Kay Redfield Jamison+

““A leader is someone who creates infectious A leader is someone who creates infectious enthusiasm.”—Ted Turnerenthusiasm.”—Ted Turner

“‘“‘Glorious’ was a term [John] Muir would invoke time Glorious’ was a term [John] Muir would invoke time and again … despite his conscious attempts to and again … despite his conscious attempts to

eradicate it from his writing. ‘Glorious’ and ‘joy’ and eradicate it from his writing. ‘Glorious’ and ‘joy’ and ‘exhilaration’: no matter how often he scratched out ‘exhilaration’: no matter how often he scratched out these words once he had written them, they sprangthese words once he had written them, they sprang

up time and again …”up time and again …”

““To meet Roosevelt, said Churchill, ‘with all his To meet Roosevelt, said Churchill, ‘with all his buoyant sparkle, his iridescence,’ was like ‘opening a buoyant sparkle, his iridescence,’ was like ‘opening a

bottle of champagne.’ Churchill, who knew both bottle of champagne.’ Churchill, who knew both champagne and human nature, recognized ebullient champagne and human nature, recognized ebullient

leadership when he saw it.”leadership when he saw it.”

Exuberance: The Passion for Life, by Kay Redfield Jamison+

““At a time of weakness and mounting despair inAt a time of weakness and mounting despair in the the democratic world, Roosevelt stood out by his democratic world, Roosevelt stood out by his

astonishing appetite for life and by his apparently astonishing appetite for life and by his apparently complete freedom from fear of the future; as a man who complete freedom from fear of the future; as a man who welcomed the future eagerly as such, and conveyed the welcomed the future eagerly as such, and conveyed the feeling that whatever the times might bring, all would feeling that whatever the times might bring, all would be grist to his mill, nothing would be too formidable or be grist to his mill, nothing would be too formidable or crushing to be subdued. He had unheard of energy and crushing to be subdued. He had unheard of energy and gusto … and was a spontaneous, optimistic, pleasure-gusto … and was a spontaneous, optimistic, pleasure-

loving ruler with unparalleled capacity for creating loving ruler with unparalleled capacity for creating confidence.”—Isaiah Berlin on FDRconfidence.”—Isaiah Berlin on FDR

Exuberance: The Passion for Life, by Kay Redfield Jamison+

“Churchill had a very powerful mind, but a romantic and unquantitative one. If he thought about a course and unquantitative one. If he thought about a course of action long enough, if he achieved it alone in his of action long enough, if he achieved it alone in his

own inner consciousness and desired it passionately, own inner consciousness and desired it passionately, he convinced himself it must be possible. Then, with he convinced himself it must be possible. Then, with incomparable invention, eloquence and high spirits,incomparable invention, eloquence and high spirits,

he set out to convince everyone else that it was he set out to convince everyone else that it was not only possible, but the only course of action not only possible, but the only course of action

open to man.”—C.P. Snowopen to man.”—C.P. Snow

““We are all worms. But I do believe that I am aWe are all worms. But I do believe that I am a glow-worm.”—Churchill on Churchillglow-worm.”—Churchill on Churchill

““The multitudes were swept forward till their pace was The multitudes were swept forward till their pace was

the same as his.”—Churchill on T.E. Lawrencethe same as his.”—Churchill on T.E. Lawrence

““He brought back a real joy to music.”—Wynton He brought back a real joy to music.”—Wynton Marsalis on Louis ArmstrongMarsalis on Louis Armstrong

Geronimo!Geronimo!

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the

intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body—but

rather a skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and

loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow, Wow, what a ride!’what a ride!’ ” —anon.

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty

and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line

broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil,

shouting ‘GERONIMO!’GERONIMO!’ ” —Bill McKenna, professional motorcycle racer

(Cycle magazine 02.1982)

"The object of life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well

preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'Holy 'Holy Shit, What a Ride!!!’Shit, What a Ride!!!’ ”

—Mavis Leyrer (feisty OCTOGENARIAN, living in Seattle)

"The object of life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well

preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'Holy 'Holy S*%#, What a Ride!!!’S*%#, What a Ride!!!’

” —Mavis Leyrer

(feisty OCTOGENARIAN, living in Seattle)

HANDS THAT HANDS THAT

SHAPESHAPE HUMANITY. HUMANITY.

HTSH/Hands That Shape Humanity: Engage!*

Commit! Engage! Try! Fail! Get up! Try Commit! Engage! Try! Fail! Get up! Try again! Fail again! Try again! But never, again! Fail again! Try again! But never,

ever stop moving on! Progress for ever stop moving on! Progress for humanity is engendered by those in any humanity is engendered by those in any station who join and savor the fray by station who join and savor the fray by

giving giving one hundred percentone hundred percent of of themselves to their modest or immodest themselves to their modest or immodest dreams! Not by those fearful souls who dreams! Not by those fearful souls who

remainremain glued to the sidelines, stifled by glued to the sidelines, stifled by tradition, awash in cynicism and tradition, awash in cynicism and

petrified of losing face or giving offense petrified of losing face or giving offense to the reigning authorities.to the reigning authorities.

Key words: Commit! Engage! Try! Fail! Persist!Commit! Engage! Try! Fail! Persist!*HTST/Hands That Shape Humanity, Tom Peters’ contribution of

“most important advice”—for a Bishop Tutu exhibit in South Africa

““In Tom’s world, it’s In Tom’s world, it’s always better to try always better to try

a swan dive and a swan dive and deliver a colossal deliver a colossal belly flop than to belly flop than to

step timidly off the step timidly off the board while holding board while holding your nose.”your nose.” —Fast Company

““It’s It’s alwaalwayyss

showtime.”showtime.” —David D’Alessandro, Career Warfare