We think we have had a magnificent journey over the last 10 weeks.
Here is the place for any and all comments that you would like to share with your class mates (plus Julie and Hal).
Going forward, this blog will still be here. You can reread segments, or more importantly post your "further experiences" with the materials we have covered.
Keep it alive.
Thanks,
Julie and Hal
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16 comments:
This course was a fantastic and enriching journey into sometimes hidden yet existing world of our essence also called creativity, which is the FUEL to make leadership work. Leaders use their creativity to proactively introduce CHANGE and productively respond to external sources of change. Creativity is in my eyes your authentic personality, which drives you to manage life. Our essence leads us to see beyond the problem, be courageous, be experimental, be open-minded and be without fears (VOJs included). It does not matter which leadership style we apply in our life, job or environment as long as it is in line with OUR ESSENCE. Unique leaders are the ones who live, think and act with their essence.
Thank you for a great course! It has been a great journey, it really open my mind to how leadership theory can and need to be internalize, in order to be an efficient tool. I came across a book that explains how this can be done and the different levels of internalization. The book is called the fifth discipline, by Peter M. Senge and is announced to the among the five greatest business book of our time (The Finance Times) At the end of the book is there a 20 page appendix about HOW the "five disciplines" can be used. It is very interesting because he explains the internalization in a pyramid structure. On top he put ESSENCE, then PRINCIPLES and lastly PRACTICES. He explains that the highest level of the leadership principles is when it becomes part of one essence. He also describes pitfalls, for e.g. that although that you KNOW the principles of leadership, is not the same as you are able to have them as part of your essence. It made me realizes how important the weekly "live with" has been, in order to internalize the tools or at least bring them into practice. I don't believe that I have managed to internalized all the principles that we have used during the course, but I know that I have understood them and that I can continue to use them and slowly internalize them so that they can became part of a leadership style and ones essence. Thank you all for a great time!
I remember listening to Hal and Julie on the first day of class say that if we let it, we could be transformed by the end of this class. Inside, my unrecognized VOJ, was thinking, 'Really?'.
Well 10 weeks later, the answer is 'YES.' This class has made a huge impact on my life. It has awakened a new awareness, strength and excitement about me and the world, and most importantly, the people around me. There is no book that could have imparted the wisdom and understanding that I received from the rich and varied insights of my fellow classmates. It helped so much to know that my personal challenges, insecurities and struggles were not unique to me as an individual, a woman or even and American. We are truly more alike than we are different. I really do believe, now, that our individual flaws and quirks are what makes us interesting and valuable.
Learning about leadership at so many types of companies has given me a new interest in the decision making process at the companies testifying before Congress and those riding the roller coaster of this tenuous and terrifying economy. I try harder not to stand in judgement of the Big 3, but wonder how they got there. I am also looking at the leadership decisions at my own company with fresh eyes. It has already lead me to ask myself if I am getting what I need from this environment. Am I living with purpose? What would that look like?
I will reluctantly walk out of this class tonight knowing that I now have the tools to breathe deeper, trust my essence, silence my voj, see with my hear, and consider myself a creative being. I am grateful to Hal and Julie and all of you who have taught me so much during these last 10 weeks. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your insights and yourselves. I am better for this experience.
All of you have said so well about what this classes means. For me, initially it was just a curiosity when Regu asked me whether I would like to take this class. However, after the first class and my first reading of the material, my intuition :) tells me that my feelings of the class (and myself) will never be the same. Time has gone by so quickly that it is already ten weeks. Although I have read the text material, it is still a long way from understanding its implications. I will read it again (and maybe many times) to reflect upon how it applies to me and the people I interact with. This class means much more to me than just creativity and leadership in business, it is also a shining beacon to understanding the world, developing personal relationships in life, and much more. And now I am confident that my Essence will guide me through all these.
On specific topics, Deanne, what you mentioned about the big 3 seems very relevant to the article on what causes failed leaderships, which is something we should be alerted to, whichever leadership level we want to attain. Recently, I saw a report on Adobe laying off 600 employees, because of weaker earnings. From the online user comments of that report, you can get a very good sense of why their software is not selling well. I hope Adobe's CEO actually gets a chance to see these user comments, because they may seem harsh to the ears or eyes, but they reflect what the users want. In the end, it's the end users that pay for their products. I think, the same may be said of the big 3.
The global economic situation is severe these days, and I think this is a time when creativity and creative leadership at every level would be helpful. Julie and Hal, we should get more people making important decisions to attend your class! Many thanks and salutations to you from me and I trust, the whole class!
As Wenyu says this course is beyond creativity and leadership in business. I also feel it is applicable in any situation.
For me, of all the Live-withs I have started using the third-tool (asking penetrating questions) more regularly. I can see that this is leading me to new areas in my work and I am enjoying exploring these directions.
For the other tools, I think I will read some of them again and play with them later. This course is just an entry into a life-long journey.
Thanks again to Julie and Hal.
best regards
regu
This course was great! I am very glad I took it, it really changed the way I see several aspects of both professional and personal life. I share the same as Deanne, that I was very intrigued by Hal and Julie saying in the first class: "you'll be changed". As the first classes went by, I realized how true that statement was, and how powerful the course is.
I am still a long way to go, in terms of "live with", but I have most of them very vividly in mind. It is a learning process for a life time. Many times, I experience the difficulties of some of them VOJ control, take action, pay attention, see with your heart...
I also have very present in my mind the exercises: in the ravine and going down the stairs, the boat, and getting out to meet the wise person.
Thanks a lot for such a great course, I sincerely appreciated it.
Monday evenings for the past 10 weeks have been so fun! The course has been a fantastic experience and I am grateful to Hal, Julie and everyone who participated in this class.
I would have loved to continue on Creativity and Leadership II. If there is one, is it? :)
The approach and connection between business and leadership, innovation and self-knowledge and EQ. It is simply beautiful!
I want to share with you how my past week was. Chaos is just the first name. One of our daugthers got pneumonia and the day efter that the whole family got the "evil" flu one by one...
Only one family member, a child, was still standing at the end of the week (and the dog). My experience in the middle of this when I felt the worse, shaking under 3 comforters is that I felt very happy and at peace. I did not worry about the future I was living there and then. I remembered that I thought that was a little odd, but I think I came close to my essence.
My husband told me he got the best idea ever for a start up when his fever spiked and landed on 104.
Anyhow, we are getting better and now there is a lot on that to do list again. But I know what to do and how thanks to the tools we were taught in class.
Ann-Helen,
I am sorry to hear that many of your family members are ill. From your words, I can tell that your Essence is speaking out to keep you calm. Now, I hope I can help by providing some more "mundane" assistance, specifically, on meditation.
I was able to use meditation to cure about half my illness (once was bad cough, another was nose-drips from a cold) after a session of meditation (10-15 minutes). What I did was staying calm, and listen to some slow and soothing music, let the mind be relaxed and as if adrift on the wave of music, and yet focus the mind at the same time to an imaginary, neutral object, such a circle. I hope you will find that useful. Wish you a good and fast recovery!
-Wenyu
Since there is not, yet, a Leadership and Creativity 2, I would love to stay in touch with anyone from the class who would like to continue the conversation either online or in person. My email is deanne.koehn@gmail.com. Please feel free to stay in touch even if it is only occasionally. Thanks again for making a difference in my world.
Hi Hal or Julie,
I have a question, that I would like not to share on the blog. I would like to write you personally. Would you please contact me with your contacts on my e-mail box. madshermann@hotmail.com
For the others of you student at the course, thank you for a great time, feel free to contact me on my e-mail any time.
The experience thus far has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. A class with a blend of various cultures & a synergy of faith and trust made an instant connection from the very first day. I have rediscovered myself more in these 10 weeks than my entire life.
Thank you, Hal and Julie for mentoring this transition. The passion you have for teaching shines through and creates a motivating, positive learning atmosphere that has reflected in our lives. Thank you, friends for being so forthcoming and sharing your deepest fears and secrets so honestly during the sessions.
I think the confidence I seek, will come with time and some acceptable results :) I am enjoying applying what I learnt to evolve. The class was always like a mirror of what is happening in my life - now I understand the people, I know what personality types they are and I can manage relationships much better.
I’m proud to carry a part of each one of you with me…
Joy -
Ruchi Kohar (ruchi_kohar@yahoo.com)
Yesterday I wanted to share my email with many of you but forgot to bring my business card. Here is my email address: regunathanr@gmail.com
I wish we could keep this blog alive by contributing to it as and when we learn more.
best regards
regu
Posted for Garret who had trouble getting it done:
Hi everyone,
I just want to acknowledge Hal and Julie for running a fantastic course. The visualization exercises were very profound for me and I got great insight into issues and situations I have been wrestling with that have been in the "incubation" phase with me.
Further the case studies on Nissan, Whole foods and Home Depot in particular were very relevant for me as I am considering joining my cousin and brother in Ireland with the new company they set up last year. I am looking forward to taking "Building the Lean Organization" hopefully I can catch some of you there.
Thanks everyone
Garret
To everyone in our Creativity and Leadership community,
It has been such a pleasure to work with you all throughout these ten weeks. What we created together has been truly remarkable. As Hal said, we have had a magnificent journey over the last 10 weeks.
Thank you all for your gracious and enthusiastic comments about the course. I love that you are all sharing what you have gained and recognize how much of our growth, both individually and collectively, has come from the willingness to share our experiences and insights in class and here on the blog.
I would also love to take this opportunity to thank Hal for his graciousness as a co-teacher. It is a pleasure to work with you, learn from you and share this work together.
I, too, hope you will continue to post as you move forward. Who knows what you might realize from continuing to work together.
The amount of wisdom that resides in each of you is beyond comprehension. You can only know it if you are willing to look inside and share what you find. We are all better off for having heard your wisdom and received your love.
May you all enjoy true prosperity. ;-)
Julie
dear Friends
I just wanted to wish you all a very happy new year 2009. Hope you all had a relaxing holiday season.
best regards
regu
Thank you, Regu!
Happy New Year to everyone. I hope the Live-withs came in handy over the holidays, and continue to bring you more joy, compassion and creativity in 2009.
Warmly,
Julie
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