If: 1.a. In the event that: b. Granting that: c. On the condition that. 2. Although possibly, even though. 3. Whether. 4. Used to introduce an exclamatory clause, indicating a wish.
~The American Heritage College Dictionary; Third Edition
One of the most fascinating things about politics is the attempt to make a universal sell on change. For as long as I can remember, every person needing my vote has articulated why the governmental body, system, or agency they were inheriting was broken. Should you accept their opinion as fact, for the last 30 years you would swear that no citizen has ever had a job or health insurance, the educational system has always been a complete disaster, the water has always been polluted, we have always been over taxed, and societal ills were not just a symptom but an incurable disease. Ask a person in the process of leaving office why they couldn't deliver on their promises and they inevitably start with the word 'if'. They say things like, '..If my opponents had only supported more of what I was trying to do..', or '…If I had been given more access to resources..', blah blah blah. Why can't we just deliver on a goal and eliminate the excuse of conditions, possibilities, or wishes? What would be wrong with stating, "…When I am elected, I will spend the first six months trying to understand what has gone wrong with the promises made x years ago. I will then spend the next 6 months offering a measurable and transparent solution for what it will take to fix it.". I'm not sure in today's society that we accept just anyone's word as truth without having had the opportunity to observe their behavior. Politicians aren't the only one's I challenge with this idea. I hold you as everyday leaders to this same standard. Why does delivering on a goal have to be such a painful experience? When you are charged with educating someone, simply deliver on that goal and educate. When you are charged with delivering a quality product then do it! The word 'if' in our vocabulary was like kryptonite to Superman. Avoid the word, or the temptation to use the word, and you avoid the failure to deliver.
My challenge to you this week is to try to go an entire week without using the word if. Speak very matter of factly about what you can deliver without stipulations or 'if's'. This week I am committed to being on time for every meeting on my calendar. What are you willing to commit to that we can hold you accountable? I suppose you can keep using the word 'if' in your vocabulary this week to continue to be comfortable. Please then understand that as a client, customer, student, patient, or someone that relies your service, I may not be interested in growing our relationship. After all, I can only commit to you when you decide to commit to me.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
What do you lack?
People do not lack strength, they lack will. ~ Victor Hugo
I spent this past week doing what I suspect (or hope) many of you did. I listened to stories about Dr. Martin Luther King and reflected on the impact of his legacy on my life. We celebrated the anniversary of his assassination this past week and meditated on how far we've come since his untimely death. Dr. King spoke to each of us in his own way and his message called us to our own course of action. I will always be in awe at his courage to refuse to be distracted from his dream. If you pay close attention to the many speeches that conveniently air between late January and early April, there was one thing Dr. King said that sums up his character for me. Less than 24 hours before he was shot, he gave a speech where within the text he said, "…I have seen the promise land. I might not get there with you but we will get there…". I've often said that many of our great African American leaders were no different than you or I or anyone else in our community. What set them apart was their will. Victor Hugo points out that its not a matter of strength but a matter of will that makes us great. I don’t know if Dr. King had the ability to foresee his death or it was just a terrible coincidence that made him say out loud, for the first time, that he may not be able to see that which he spent his entire life trying to achieve. All he knew was that what he believed in and was fighting for was right. It wasn't solely his strength that kept him in harms way but the will to overcome the resistance towards achieving a desired goal. Many of us say that we would dedicate our lives to a purpose which ensures a better life for our children. I doubt many of us mean it as much as Dr. King did.
My challenge to you this week is to thank Dr. Martin Luther King. Thank him not for what he did but what he challenged us to be. Then apologize for reaping the fruits of his labor and taking for granted the cost he paid for our future. We dishonor him by not voting during election seasons. We add insult to injury by not ensuring our neighbor voted as well. We dishonor him by simply rolling our eyes at deplorable graduation and pregnancy rates within our community but still do nothing about it. We dishonor him by believing it is our own backyards that are most important and not our neighbors as well. At Dr. King's funeral, it was his own words and no one else's, that provided the eulogy. They played an audio tape for the 30,000+ that gathered during his funeral service to listen to his demand that we not remember him for winning a Nobel Peace Prize but for being a drum major beating the drum for which we march towards a better life for all men and women. This week, more than any other, I challenge you to be a leader and let your will be the strongest part of your identity. Honor Dr. King by honoring your responsibility as a leader.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
I spent this past week doing what I suspect (or hope) many of you did. I listened to stories about Dr. Martin Luther King and reflected on the impact of his legacy on my life. We celebrated the anniversary of his assassination this past week and meditated on how far we've come since his untimely death. Dr. King spoke to each of us in his own way and his message called us to our own course of action. I will always be in awe at his courage to refuse to be distracted from his dream. If you pay close attention to the many speeches that conveniently air between late January and early April, there was one thing Dr. King said that sums up his character for me. Less than 24 hours before he was shot, he gave a speech where within the text he said, "…I have seen the promise land. I might not get there with you but we will get there…". I've often said that many of our great African American leaders were no different than you or I or anyone else in our community. What set them apart was their will. Victor Hugo points out that its not a matter of strength but a matter of will that makes us great. I don’t know if Dr. King had the ability to foresee his death or it was just a terrible coincidence that made him say out loud, for the first time, that he may not be able to see that which he spent his entire life trying to achieve. All he knew was that what he believed in and was fighting for was right. It wasn't solely his strength that kept him in harms way but the will to overcome the resistance towards achieving a desired goal. Many of us say that we would dedicate our lives to a purpose which ensures a better life for our children. I doubt many of us mean it as much as Dr. King did.
My challenge to you this week is to thank Dr. Martin Luther King. Thank him not for what he did but what he challenged us to be. Then apologize for reaping the fruits of his labor and taking for granted the cost he paid for our future. We dishonor him by not voting during election seasons. We add insult to injury by not ensuring our neighbor voted as well. We dishonor him by simply rolling our eyes at deplorable graduation and pregnancy rates within our community but still do nothing about it. We dishonor him by believing it is our own backyards that are most important and not our neighbors as well. At Dr. King's funeral, it was his own words and no one else's, that provided the eulogy. They played an audio tape for the 30,000+ that gathered during his funeral service to listen to his demand that we not remember him for winning a Nobel Peace Prize but for being a drum major beating the drum for which we march towards a better life for all men and women. This week, more than any other, I challenge you to be a leader and let your will be the strongest part of your identity. Honor Dr. King by honoring your responsibility as a leader.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Pride and Memory
'I have done that', says my memory. 'I cannot have done that!', says my pride, and remains adamant. At last, memory yields. ~ Nietzsche
When I was in 8th grade, I teased a girl relentlessly for not being able to make a basket during gym class. She was always dribbling the ball off her feet and couldn't put the ball in the hoop if her life depended on it. The class knew I would have something to say as soon as it was her turn to shoot and braced themselves for the hilarious 'venom' I would spew the second the ball left her hands. Two days ago I played a pick-up game of basketball. After 6+ surgeries on both knees, it was very apparent I had no business being out there. I couldn't run, I couldn't dribble, I couldn't shoot, and I definitely couldn't make a basket. The guys on the sidelines had a field day with my comedy show! It wasn't enough that I was trying as hard as I could. To them, I was a clown in street clothes hanging on to hoop dreams I should have abandoned long ago. My memory takes me back to 8th grade when I was the one doing the teasing. Over time I have matured but my pride still won't allow me to believe that I was really as bad as the guys at the gym over the weekend. Alas, I convince myself that they were worse and should be ashamed of themselves for teasing me. Instantly I feel better about myself, dismiss my embarrasing behavior as a child, and set the record straight on why my memory can't be trusted. I tell you this story because I'm sure after three sentences you realized I was no better than the guys at the gym. I'm happy to report I realize that too. What's sad about this whole situation is that I have no way of going back to my classmate from 20 years ago and apologizing. I accept that fact that I must make peace with myself and account for my behavior. The only way to do that is to move forward and pledge to not engage in that type of behavior again.
My challenge to you this week is to settle the dispute between your pride and memory. In my opinion, pride is what should motivate us to push ourselves for better results. Our memory should be what keeps us on track. The two are in constant battle trying to determine which should influence our behavior. Spend this week addressing a particular issue for which pride has silenced your memory. Whether it’s a compromise on a team project, or a concession on an individual goal, let your memory guide your next move. Take advantage of first hand experience from similar situations in the past. I suspect it was your memory that propelled you into the leadership role you have. You learned through experience and utilized that experience to drive results. Your pride kept you hungry but is waiting for the opportunity steal the credit for your success. There is a phrase that goes something like, 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result'. Perhaps its not insanity but pride that blinds us to the barriers that keeps us from being great.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
When I was in 8th grade, I teased a girl relentlessly for not being able to make a basket during gym class. She was always dribbling the ball off her feet and couldn't put the ball in the hoop if her life depended on it. The class knew I would have something to say as soon as it was her turn to shoot and braced themselves for the hilarious 'venom' I would spew the second the ball left her hands. Two days ago I played a pick-up game of basketball. After 6+ surgeries on both knees, it was very apparent I had no business being out there. I couldn't run, I couldn't dribble, I couldn't shoot, and I definitely couldn't make a basket. The guys on the sidelines had a field day with my comedy show! It wasn't enough that I was trying as hard as I could. To them, I was a clown in street clothes hanging on to hoop dreams I should have abandoned long ago. My memory takes me back to 8th grade when I was the one doing the teasing. Over time I have matured but my pride still won't allow me to believe that I was really as bad as the guys at the gym over the weekend. Alas, I convince myself that they were worse and should be ashamed of themselves for teasing me. Instantly I feel better about myself, dismiss my embarrasing behavior as a child, and set the record straight on why my memory can't be trusted. I tell you this story because I'm sure after three sentences you realized I was no better than the guys at the gym. I'm happy to report I realize that too. What's sad about this whole situation is that I have no way of going back to my classmate from 20 years ago and apologizing. I accept that fact that I must make peace with myself and account for my behavior. The only way to do that is to move forward and pledge to not engage in that type of behavior again.
My challenge to you this week is to settle the dispute between your pride and memory. In my opinion, pride is what should motivate us to push ourselves for better results. Our memory should be what keeps us on track. The two are in constant battle trying to determine which should influence our behavior. Spend this week addressing a particular issue for which pride has silenced your memory. Whether it’s a compromise on a team project, or a concession on an individual goal, let your memory guide your next move. Take advantage of first hand experience from similar situations in the past. I suspect it was your memory that propelled you into the leadership role you have. You learned through experience and utilized that experience to drive results. Your pride kept you hungry but is waiting for the opportunity steal the credit for your success. There is a phrase that goes something like, 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result'. Perhaps its not insanity but pride that blinds us to the barriers that keeps us from being great.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Get Over It
….Well, crying isn't gonna bring him back, unless your tears smell like dog food. ~ Homer Simpson
When I was younger I had a favorite cat named P.C., short for Pussy Cat. (I know, real original). Anyway, our cat had to be returned to the animal shelter for behavioral issues. One day the cat is hissing me goodbye when I leave for school and that afternoon when I returned she was gone. Later on in life I had a dog that I loved dearly. He too needed to be removed from my home and all I could think about was PC. This past week I didn't pass a very important test necessary for my job. I get to take the test again, but that's not the point. For some odd reason, I reflected on my pets during this time of disappointment. I suppose it's because I spent more time thinking about after the test rather than the time at hand. I did the same thing with my pets. I was so busy thinking about tomorrow that I failed to accept the reality of today. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from the most unlikely of sources. Homer Simpson very matter of factly demands that we either let our disappointment go or do something about it. Simply wallowing in our own sorrow does nothing but distract us and those around us. My tears certainly didn't smell like dog or cat food so I suppose that's why neither of my pets came back. I suppose my tears don't smell like right answers either so I must either learn from my mistakes and do whatever is necessary to pass the exam next time, or retreat to a dark corner and feel sorry for myself. Clearly, feeling sorry for myself is not an option.
My challenge to you this week is to pick your head up from a recent disappointment and get over it. If you're thinking 'that's easy for him to say' you would be exactly correct. It is easy for me to say. I'm separating my ability to say it and your ability to actually do it. While I won't pretend to understand the depth of your disappointment from a recent challenge, project, or goal, I will say the fact that you're reading this email means that I need you to snap out of it. As a part of my circle of influence, I hold you accountable for being as strong as the person next to you. Like a computer virus, your inability to snap out of it will find the path of least resistance to infect us all with something we don't want and don't understand. I need you, we need you, at your best. Leaders don't have the luxury of self pity for a prolonged period of time. Accepting the fact that disappointment is part of the human experience, doesn't mean it has to be permanent.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
When I was younger I had a favorite cat named P.C., short for Pussy Cat. (I know, real original). Anyway, our cat had to be returned to the animal shelter for behavioral issues. One day the cat is hissing me goodbye when I leave for school and that afternoon when I returned she was gone. Later on in life I had a dog that I loved dearly. He too needed to be removed from my home and all I could think about was PC. This past week I didn't pass a very important test necessary for my job. I get to take the test again, but that's not the point. For some odd reason, I reflected on my pets during this time of disappointment. I suppose it's because I spent more time thinking about after the test rather than the time at hand. I did the same thing with my pets. I was so busy thinking about tomorrow that I failed to accept the reality of today. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from the most unlikely of sources. Homer Simpson very matter of factly demands that we either let our disappointment go or do something about it. Simply wallowing in our own sorrow does nothing but distract us and those around us. My tears certainly didn't smell like dog or cat food so I suppose that's why neither of my pets came back. I suppose my tears don't smell like right answers either so I must either learn from my mistakes and do whatever is necessary to pass the exam next time, or retreat to a dark corner and feel sorry for myself. Clearly, feeling sorry for myself is not an option.
My challenge to you this week is to pick your head up from a recent disappointment and get over it. If you're thinking 'that's easy for him to say' you would be exactly correct. It is easy for me to say. I'm separating my ability to say it and your ability to actually do it. While I won't pretend to understand the depth of your disappointment from a recent challenge, project, or goal, I will say the fact that you're reading this email means that I need you to snap out of it. As a part of my circle of influence, I hold you accountable for being as strong as the person next to you. Like a computer virus, your inability to snap out of it will find the path of least resistance to infect us all with something we don't want and don't understand. I need you, we need you, at your best. Leaders don't have the luxury of self pity for a prolonged period of time. Accepting the fact that disappointment is part of the human experience, doesn't mean it has to be permanent.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Start the Race!
It's the 'start' that 'stops' most people. ~ Author Unknown
I have a simple question for you; how are you doing on your New Year's resolution(s)? Yep, me too. In fact, I think I've managed to actually gain more weight than I've lost! I was speaking with a friend about his progress and he said, "I think about it everyday so that's a start right?". Actually it's not. I use my own results as proof that thinking about something isn't exactly a 'start' worth bragging about. Many of us think about poverty, homelessness, violence, and education, but don't do anything about it. We also think about improved sales results, more engaged classrooms, completing assignments on time, and social action. Thinking about something just isn't enough. As I watch my son trying to take his first steps, it's clear that he's tired of thinking about walking and spends every waking second trying to master it. I suppose he's tired of getting through his days on his hands and knees and realizes he too must walk to make it easier to get to where he's going. Our children teach us the most valuable lessons if we would just pause and listen to them. Children hardly ever resist starting something new and seldom ever accept defeat if rejected the first time.
My challenge to you this week is to go back to your roots and 'start' something without hesitation. Don't give yourself a clever excuse as to why tomorrow is better than today to start doing what you need to do. My son teaches me on a daily basis what it takes to accomplish a task. Lock onto your target, make every effort to achieve your goal, and don't allow yourself to stay seated when you stumble. Get back up and try again! You can of course continue to allow the 'start' to impede your progress, but at the risk of my 9 month old son asking you how the view is down there on your hands and knees!
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
I have a simple question for you; how are you doing on your New Year's resolution(s)? Yep, me too. In fact, I think I've managed to actually gain more weight than I've lost! I was speaking with a friend about his progress and he said, "I think about it everyday so that's a start right?". Actually it's not. I use my own results as proof that thinking about something isn't exactly a 'start' worth bragging about. Many of us think about poverty, homelessness, violence, and education, but don't do anything about it. We also think about improved sales results, more engaged classrooms, completing assignments on time, and social action. Thinking about something just isn't enough. As I watch my son trying to take his first steps, it's clear that he's tired of thinking about walking and spends every waking second trying to master it. I suppose he's tired of getting through his days on his hands and knees and realizes he too must walk to make it easier to get to where he's going. Our children teach us the most valuable lessons if we would just pause and listen to them. Children hardly ever resist starting something new and seldom ever accept defeat if rejected the first time.
My challenge to you this week is to go back to your roots and 'start' something without hesitation. Don't give yourself a clever excuse as to why tomorrow is better than today to start doing what you need to do. My son teaches me on a daily basis what it takes to accomplish a task. Lock onto your target, make every effort to achieve your goal, and don't allow yourself to stay seated when you stumble. Get back up and try again! You can of course continue to allow the 'start' to impede your progress, but at the risk of my 9 month old son asking you how the view is down there on your hands and knees!
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
"By 20, know something. By 30, be something. By 40 have something. By 50 share something…."
"By 20, know something. By 30, be something. By 40 have something. By 50 share something…."
Bennie Fowler, Vice President for Global Quality at Ford Motor Co.
I found this quote over the weekend while reading the Detroit Free Press. It caused me to pause and think if I had actually met Mr. Fowler's blue print for a happy and productive life. It turned out to be a pretty funny reflection because by 20 I realized I didn't know as much as I had hoped, in my 30's I'm still discovering what I am capable of doing, I'm nervous for my 40's because everything I'll have will still be on loan at the bank, and my 50's, well, I try not to think that far ahead. I don't know if Mr. Fowler's advice is appropriate for everyone or not, but I do know that the fact he appeared to have a plan puts him well ahead of the game. It seems that the only thing which causes human beings to actually take themselves seriously is a true sense of urgency. We don't change our diet until we have a stroke or can't fit into our favorite clothes. We don't stop playing with a ball in the house until our parents reached for a belt, branch, shoe or other disciplinary weapon of choice. We don't change our attitude or mind set until we receive feedback that our attitude is precisely the reason we can't get ahead. We don't even change our behavior at home until we're at the brink of being alone. Why does it take us so long to take ourselves seriously? Most people have a person they go to when they need answers to life's most difficult questions. In the Star Wars episodes, Luke Skywalker and the Jedi had Yoda. Bo and Luke Duke had Uncle Jesse. For me, I have my 6 year old daughter Trinity. I asked her what motivates people to change their behavior and she said, "…daddy, I'm not sure. What does motivate mean?". And just like that, I had the answer. Its not that we don't know what we need to do that causes us to delay necessary action, but the fact that we honestly don’t know what motivation is. In my opinion, we confuse motivation with self preservation all the time. If we are standing in the middle of the road and a car is headed for us, its self preservation not true motivation that causes us to move.
My challenge to you this week is simple. Dust off your dictionary and look up the words 'motivate' and 'preserve'. Reflect on your professional journey and see which word applies to your pattern of behavior. Meditate on the opportunities that exist for you to alter your behavior and rediscover a life plan for yourself. There is no magic to the numbers that Mr. Fowler uses in his quote. We don't achieve instant wisdom during every decade of our lives. We do however risk the future of our children if we continue to demonstrate that life without plan and corresponding action will still turn out ok.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Bennie Fowler, Vice President for Global Quality at Ford Motor Co.
I found this quote over the weekend while reading the Detroit Free Press. It caused me to pause and think if I had actually met Mr. Fowler's blue print for a happy and productive life. It turned out to be a pretty funny reflection because by 20 I realized I didn't know as much as I had hoped, in my 30's I'm still discovering what I am capable of doing, I'm nervous for my 40's because everything I'll have will still be on loan at the bank, and my 50's, well, I try not to think that far ahead. I don't know if Mr. Fowler's advice is appropriate for everyone or not, but I do know that the fact he appeared to have a plan puts him well ahead of the game. It seems that the only thing which causes human beings to actually take themselves seriously is a true sense of urgency. We don't change our diet until we have a stroke or can't fit into our favorite clothes. We don't stop playing with a ball in the house until our parents reached for a belt, branch, shoe or other disciplinary weapon of choice. We don't change our attitude or mind set until we receive feedback that our attitude is precisely the reason we can't get ahead. We don't even change our behavior at home until we're at the brink of being alone. Why does it take us so long to take ourselves seriously? Most people have a person they go to when they need answers to life's most difficult questions. In the Star Wars episodes, Luke Skywalker and the Jedi had Yoda. Bo and Luke Duke had Uncle Jesse. For me, I have my 6 year old daughter Trinity. I asked her what motivates people to change their behavior and she said, "…daddy, I'm not sure. What does motivate mean?". And just like that, I had the answer. Its not that we don't know what we need to do that causes us to delay necessary action, but the fact that we honestly don’t know what motivation is. In my opinion, we confuse motivation with self preservation all the time. If we are standing in the middle of the road and a car is headed for us, its self preservation not true motivation that causes us to move.
My challenge to you this week is simple. Dust off your dictionary and look up the words 'motivate' and 'preserve'. Reflect on your professional journey and see which word applies to your pattern of behavior. Meditate on the opportunities that exist for you to alter your behavior and rediscover a life plan for yourself. There is no magic to the numbers that Mr. Fowler uses in his quote. We don't achieve instant wisdom during every decade of our lives. We do however risk the future of our children if we continue to demonstrate that life without plan and corresponding action will still turn out ok.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Purpose
Purpose: 1. The object towards which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal. 4. The matter at hand; the point at issue.
The American Heritage College Dictionary; Third Edition
This weekend my wife and I decided to go for a walk but were not sure exactly where to go. We settled on a stroll through the mall, which under most circumstances would have been painful for me, but I'm working on my patience so I agreed. It's amazing what your senses are able to take in when you're not really focused on anything. I'm sure the mall has always been under siege by teenagers with nothing else to do, and I'm sure I was one of them at some point, but wow have times changed. What I observed was eerily similar to a bowling ball slowly making its way down the lane hitting bumper pads along the way to avoid a gutter. Of course the ball eventually finds a pin, just like the kids found a deal, but neither would admit that it certainly helped to be guided along the way. These kids bounced around from store to store with no clear sense of direction or purpose. I decided to look up the word purpose in the dictionary and share two of its meanings with you. Majority of the youth I observed clearly had no goal in mind and definitely did not convey to me that there was any matter at hand worth attending to. Of course I immediately went to my own place of thought and wondered if my professional sphere is any different. I've observed on many occasions my peers in the classroom and in the workplace wandering aimlessly through the halls. Worse yet, I have friends to this day that are wandering aimlessly through life. I wondered if I had become a bumper pad for their journey and protected them from the occasionally painful but sometimes necessary gutter. How had my behavior unintentionally encouraged them to embrace a purposeless life? I guess when I point the finger at myself, I was certainly in no position to be making fun of the kids in the mall. Funny how things aren't so funny when you identify yourself as a source of the problem.
My challenge to you this week is simple. During the work day I would like for you to walk with a purpose. When you get up from your chair after reading this email, declare from that moment on that you will only remove your rear from the seat if you have a specific matter at hand to attend to. Walk tall, shoulders back, mind sharp, and eyes focused. Let the world around you know that aside from lunch or an occasional break, you are on a mission. Let your body language suggest that you are indeed progressing toward a goal and the matter at hand is of importance. Don't participate in aimless wandering or pointless strolls. This week it’s about the physical act of walking. Next week you may want to challenge your mind the same way. Aimless thinking is just as bad, if not worse, than aimless walking. Perhaps our frustration with kids in the mall isn't that they overtake the isles with their aimless strolls, but with the fact that it conflicts with when we take ours.
Alonzo M Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
The American Heritage College Dictionary; Third Edition
This weekend my wife and I decided to go for a walk but were not sure exactly where to go. We settled on a stroll through the mall, which under most circumstances would have been painful for me, but I'm working on my patience so I agreed. It's amazing what your senses are able to take in when you're not really focused on anything. I'm sure the mall has always been under siege by teenagers with nothing else to do, and I'm sure I was one of them at some point, but wow have times changed. What I observed was eerily similar to a bowling ball slowly making its way down the lane hitting bumper pads along the way to avoid a gutter. Of course the ball eventually finds a pin, just like the kids found a deal, but neither would admit that it certainly helped to be guided along the way. These kids bounced around from store to store with no clear sense of direction or purpose. I decided to look up the word purpose in the dictionary and share two of its meanings with you. Majority of the youth I observed clearly had no goal in mind and definitely did not convey to me that there was any matter at hand worth attending to. Of course I immediately went to my own place of thought and wondered if my professional sphere is any different. I've observed on many occasions my peers in the classroom and in the workplace wandering aimlessly through the halls. Worse yet, I have friends to this day that are wandering aimlessly through life. I wondered if I had become a bumper pad for their journey and protected them from the occasionally painful but sometimes necessary gutter. How had my behavior unintentionally encouraged them to embrace a purposeless life? I guess when I point the finger at myself, I was certainly in no position to be making fun of the kids in the mall. Funny how things aren't so funny when you identify yourself as a source of the problem.
My challenge to you this week is simple. During the work day I would like for you to walk with a purpose. When you get up from your chair after reading this email, declare from that moment on that you will only remove your rear from the seat if you have a specific matter at hand to attend to. Walk tall, shoulders back, mind sharp, and eyes focused. Let the world around you know that aside from lunch or an occasional break, you are on a mission. Let your body language suggest that you are indeed progressing toward a goal and the matter at hand is of importance. Don't participate in aimless wandering or pointless strolls. This week it’s about the physical act of walking. Next week you may want to challenge your mind the same way. Aimless thinking is just as bad, if not worse, than aimless walking. Perhaps our frustration with kids in the mall isn't that they overtake the isles with their aimless strolls, but with the fact that it conflicts with when we take ours.
Alonzo M Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Imagination Without Learning
He who has imagination without learning, has wings and no feet.
~Joseph Joubert
Sometimes I wonder if our ancestors invented some of our greatest inventions by accident or through tireless effort and thought. Take the wheel for example. How did they know that by carving a jagged stone into a smooth oval, they could accomplish twice as much and travel twice as far? This weekend my wife made a comment about our daughter having such an incredible imagination. Without letting her know I was listening, I took note of my daughter's fantasy land. I concur that my daughter is quite the visionary. While playing with stuffed animals she made all the animals with wings walk and all the reptiles fly. I asked her about that and she told me that no one told the alligator he couldn't fly so he likes it better in the sky than in the water. I interpret Mr. Joubert's quote to mean that our imagination is only as good as our ability to put thought into action. I suppose this where we get some of our fancy clichés like 'where the rubber meets the road' or 'where our pen meets the paper'. What good is imagination if we aren't willing to risk the possible? I've been writing these weekly messages for well over a year now and after taking a quick scan of the weekly challenges, I discovered that in some ways too I am challenging you to use your imagination. The challenge isn't so much thinking about what you are capable of doing but actually doing it!
My challenge to you this week is to have a discussion about Mr. Joubert's quote. My interpretation of his message is just that; mine. What do his words mean to you? Having the conversation with a family member, colleague, or friend may provide a unique learning opportunity. Mindful meditation on his words may challenge you to deeply reflect on how we as leaders can take our ideas and strategically implement them to accomplish our team or company goals. You may want to discuss how our limited imagination gets in the way of progress (did you know there are 293 ways to make change for a dollar?). Or how those with imagination and fear are their own worse enemy (recall that it has only been a little over 500 years that we learned the Earth isn't flat!). Either way, how Alonzo interprets Joubert's message is irrelevant to how it may speak to you. I suppose it's not as important for me to know whether the wheel was invented by accident or on purpose. What's most important is that after the first attempts to make the idea a reality, he or she didn't quit.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
~Joseph Joubert
Sometimes I wonder if our ancestors invented some of our greatest inventions by accident or through tireless effort and thought. Take the wheel for example. How did they know that by carving a jagged stone into a smooth oval, they could accomplish twice as much and travel twice as far? This weekend my wife made a comment about our daughter having such an incredible imagination. Without letting her know I was listening, I took note of my daughter's fantasy land. I concur that my daughter is quite the visionary. While playing with stuffed animals she made all the animals with wings walk and all the reptiles fly. I asked her about that and she told me that no one told the alligator he couldn't fly so he likes it better in the sky than in the water. I interpret Mr. Joubert's quote to mean that our imagination is only as good as our ability to put thought into action. I suppose this where we get some of our fancy clichés like 'where the rubber meets the road' or 'where our pen meets the paper'. What good is imagination if we aren't willing to risk the possible? I've been writing these weekly messages for well over a year now and after taking a quick scan of the weekly challenges, I discovered that in some ways too I am challenging you to use your imagination. The challenge isn't so much thinking about what you are capable of doing but actually doing it!
My challenge to you this week is to have a discussion about Mr. Joubert's quote. My interpretation of his message is just that; mine. What do his words mean to you? Having the conversation with a family member, colleague, or friend may provide a unique learning opportunity. Mindful meditation on his words may challenge you to deeply reflect on how we as leaders can take our ideas and strategically implement them to accomplish our team or company goals. You may want to discuss how our limited imagination gets in the way of progress (did you know there are 293 ways to make change for a dollar?). Or how those with imagination and fear are their own worse enemy (recall that it has only been a little over 500 years that we learned the Earth isn't flat!). Either way, how Alonzo interprets Joubert's message is irrelevant to how it may speak to you. I suppose it's not as important for me to know whether the wheel was invented by accident or on purpose. What's most important is that after the first attempts to make the idea a reality, he or she didn't quit.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Are You Present?
If you were really present with your moments as they were unfolding, no matter what was happening, you would discover that each moment is unique and novel and therefore, momentous.
Excerpt from the book; Coming To Our Senses; Healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn
This past weekend I sat in an auto repair shop for nearly 3 hours. I dreaded the thought of hearing what was wrong with my truck, how much it would cost, and admitting to myself that no matter what the mechanic said I would have to take his word for it. Knowledge is responsibility and I've purposely chosen not to be responsible for auto repairs. I suppose you could say that I've chosen ignorance over sensibility on this issue but I digress. I had options for dropping my vehicle off and just coming back later but I opted to sit there the entire time and take in all the repair shop had to offer. After I was handed my keys and headed for home, I was embarrassed to admit to myself that I actually enjoyed the experience. I was also ashamed at the truth of why I convinced myself I wouldn't enjoy the trip in the first place. My experience has been that auto repair shops are dirty, most of the employees smoke, and they forget they have oil on their hands when they grab your steering wheel. I felt sorry for them and wondered how they ended up with this particular life profession. Today my opinion has completely changed. Something happened to me during that experience that caused me to deeply reflect on my outlook on things. What a pleasure it is to get paid to do something you absolutely love. What a sense of pride they must feel to know that what they do literally keeps the world moving. Why do some of us have the opinion that if we aren't in a suit or carry a brief case that our work isn't as meaningful? Why can't I change the world by fixing one wheel at a time? I work for a great organization that does outstanding things for customers, employees and the community. I also believe that I could do a better job of championing how momentous this time in our life is and how wonderful the experience will be when we reflect on it many years from now.
My challenge to you this week is do something that you otherwise would avoid at all cost. Maybe its going to the mall and pausing rather than rushing to get in and out. Perhaps its standing in the longest checkout line at the grocery store. As painful as either of these options may sound, think for a moment about the experience that could possibly be awaiting you. There are many other ridiculous opinions I have about other professions that I need to set myself straight on. Truth is, I'm pretty exciting about facing my own biases and fears head on. Part of our leadership development includes the ability to gain incredible patience and keen peripheral vision. If we are constantly in a rush, we stand to miss out on not only meaningful data but absolutely necessary experiences.
Excerpt from the book; Coming To Our Senses; Healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn
This past weekend I sat in an auto repair shop for nearly 3 hours. I dreaded the thought of hearing what was wrong with my truck, how much it would cost, and admitting to myself that no matter what the mechanic said I would have to take his word for it. Knowledge is responsibility and I've purposely chosen not to be responsible for auto repairs. I suppose you could say that I've chosen ignorance over sensibility on this issue but I digress. I had options for dropping my vehicle off and just coming back later but I opted to sit there the entire time and take in all the repair shop had to offer. After I was handed my keys and headed for home, I was embarrassed to admit to myself that I actually enjoyed the experience. I was also ashamed at the truth of why I convinced myself I wouldn't enjoy the trip in the first place. My experience has been that auto repair shops are dirty, most of the employees smoke, and they forget they have oil on their hands when they grab your steering wheel. I felt sorry for them and wondered how they ended up with this particular life profession. Today my opinion has completely changed. Something happened to me during that experience that caused me to deeply reflect on my outlook on things. What a pleasure it is to get paid to do something you absolutely love. What a sense of pride they must feel to know that what they do literally keeps the world moving. Why do some of us have the opinion that if we aren't in a suit or carry a brief case that our work isn't as meaningful? Why can't I change the world by fixing one wheel at a time? I work for a great organization that does outstanding things for customers, employees and the community. I also believe that I could do a better job of championing how momentous this time in our life is and how wonderful the experience will be when we reflect on it many years from now.
My challenge to you this week is do something that you otherwise would avoid at all cost. Maybe its going to the mall and pausing rather than rushing to get in and out. Perhaps its standing in the longest checkout line at the grocery store. As painful as either of these options may sound, think for a moment about the experience that could possibly be awaiting you. There are many other ridiculous opinions I have about other professions that I need to set myself straight on. Truth is, I'm pretty exciting about facing my own biases and fears head on. Part of our leadership development includes the ability to gain incredible patience and keen peripheral vision. If we are constantly in a rush, we stand to miss out on not only meaningful data but absolutely necessary experiences.
Prevention is better than the cure.
Prevention is better than cure.
-Erasmus
There was a phrase that my mom would say at the end of some sentences that would instantly tell you I was in trouble. Anything she said that ended with, "…in the first place!", was a clear indication that I was learning something the hard way. These telling sentences started with something like, 'if you had only listened to me', or 'had you just done what I asked you to do', and my all time favorite, 'you wouldn't be in this mess'. So had I listened, done what she asked, or had the gift of foresight like she had, does this mean my childhood would have been painless? Of course not. I definitely could have avoided the sting of some growing pains however. Erasmus points out that preventing something from happening in the first place is better than trying to figure out how to fix it. When my mom was addressing my burn wound because I touched a hot pot on the stove, she was lecturing, "…this wouldn't have happened if you stayed out of the kitchen in the first place!". While she was driving me to the hospital to get stitches in my head, in her best comfort voice she was still yelling, "… we wouldn't be going to the doctor if you had stayed out of the garage like I asked you to in the first place!". And so the story goes, I was more interested in the cure than the prevention of pain.
My challenge to you this week is to become more curious about prevention than cure. As leaders we are constantly challenged to design alternative plans if our original ideas falls short. We spend incredible amounts of time and energy diagnosing what went wrong and less time discussing what went right. Imagine the strength of our leadership and influence if we were able to anticipate the needs of our customers and employees from the very beginning rather than after they've pointed out a disconnect. There will be plenty of people out there focused on the cure. Cures are important, no doubt about it. Pharmaceutical commercials are in the business of the cure. They have a pill for everything that’s wrong. The problem is I'm still holding my breath for the commercials that tell you how to prevent needing to take the pill in the first place! No surprise here, the commercials I'm waiting for, just like the leadership I'm working on, starts with my own accountability.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
-Erasmus
There was a phrase that my mom would say at the end of some sentences that would instantly tell you I was in trouble. Anything she said that ended with, "…in the first place!", was a clear indication that I was learning something the hard way. These telling sentences started with something like, 'if you had only listened to me', or 'had you just done what I asked you to do', and my all time favorite, 'you wouldn't be in this mess'. So had I listened, done what she asked, or had the gift of foresight like she had, does this mean my childhood would have been painless? Of course not. I definitely could have avoided the sting of some growing pains however. Erasmus points out that preventing something from happening in the first place is better than trying to figure out how to fix it. When my mom was addressing my burn wound because I touched a hot pot on the stove, she was lecturing, "…this wouldn't have happened if you stayed out of the kitchen in the first place!". While she was driving me to the hospital to get stitches in my head, in her best comfort voice she was still yelling, "… we wouldn't be going to the doctor if you had stayed out of the garage like I asked you to in the first place!". And so the story goes, I was more interested in the cure than the prevention of pain.
My challenge to you this week is to become more curious about prevention than cure. As leaders we are constantly challenged to design alternative plans if our original ideas falls short. We spend incredible amounts of time and energy diagnosing what went wrong and less time discussing what went right. Imagine the strength of our leadership and influence if we were able to anticipate the needs of our customers and employees from the very beginning rather than after they've pointed out a disconnect. There will be plenty of people out there focused on the cure. Cures are important, no doubt about it. Pharmaceutical commercials are in the business of the cure. They have a pill for everything that’s wrong. The problem is I'm still holding my breath for the commercials that tell you how to prevent needing to take the pill in the first place! No surprise here, the commercials I'm waiting for, just like the leadership I'm working on, starts with my own accountability.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Don't Get Left With Only Leftovers
Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle!
~ Abe Lincoln
If there is one weakness I have yet to overcome, it's patience. I can't stand it when people driving in the fast lane on the freeway do the speed limit. I get irritated with people who completely ignore the "15 items or less" sign in grocery stores. Be honest, how many fast food drive-thru windows have caused your blood pressure to reach seriously dangerous heights? So what are we to do with Abe Lincoln's words of not waiting for things to come to us but rather aggressively going after them? This one gives me pause because it requires that one know when to be patient and when to make your own reality. In the competitive world we live in today, it appears on the surface that only the ones who hustle come out ahead. They are the ones studying harder, working longer, and driving faster. After mindful meditation on the matter, it is slowly becoming a little clearer for me. What happens if I replace the words harder, longer and faster with smarter? With this reframe of the issue, I am comfortable with accepting that those who come out ahead study smarter, work smarter, and drive smarter. I believe that if I tried the latter, I would end up exactly where it was I was in a hurry to get to in the first place. If I tackle a complex issue one piece at a time, I wouldn't have to pull all night study sessions like in college. If I am better organized and improve my communication, I wouldn't have to consistently work 11 hour days. Finally, if I actually leave my house at a reasonable time, there is no place I can't get to without it being necessary to speed. Of course for a person with no patience, this is easier said than done. However, recognizing a solution to a problem makes it impossible for me to use an excuse to explain away a bad habit.
My challenge to you this week is to reflect on balance. What are those things that you seem to be hustling for, and where can adding the word smarter add value to your life. In the famous children's story, The Tortoise and The Hare, the tortoise proceeding along the path smarter and therefore won the race. Isn't it interesting that the lessons we teach our children are indeed the answers to our lives as we get older? I'm not sure the context of what prompted Abe Lincoln to give us these words of wisdom, but I can assure you he was in a hurry while delivering them. Sometimes the things left behind by those who hustle are a mess and leaders like you and I have no choice but to fix them. The more people you get to slow down and add some brain power to their will power, the more efficient and effective we become.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
~ Abe Lincoln
If there is one weakness I have yet to overcome, it's patience. I can't stand it when people driving in the fast lane on the freeway do the speed limit. I get irritated with people who completely ignore the "15 items or less" sign in grocery stores. Be honest, how many fast food drive-thru windows have caused your blood pressure to reach seriously dangerous heights? So what are we to do with Abe Lincoln's words of not waiting for things to come to us but rather aggressively going after them? This one gives me pause because it requires that one know when to be patient and when to make your own reality. In the competitive world we live in today, it appears on the surface that only the ones who hustle come out ahead. They are the ones studying harder, working longer, and driving faster. After mindful meditation on the matter, it is slowly becoming a little clearer for me. What happens if I replace the words harder, longer and faster with smarter? With this reframe of the issue, I am comfortable with accepting that those who come out ahead study smarter, work smarter, and drive smarter. I believe that if I tried the latter, I would end up exactly where it was I was in a hurry to get to in the first place. If I tackle a complex issue one piece at a time, I wouldn't have to pull all night study sessions like in college. If I am better organized and improve my communication, I wouldn't have to consistently work 11 hour days. Finally, if I actually leave my house at a reasonable time, there is no place I can't get to without it being necessary to speed. Of course for a person with no patience, this is easier said than done. However, recognizing a solution to a problem makes it impossible for me to use an excuse to explain away a bad habit.
My challenge to you this week is to reflect on balance. What are those things that you seem to be hustling for, and where can adding the word smarter add value to your life. In the famous children's story, The Tortoise and The Hare, the tortoise proceeding along the path smarter and therefore won the race. Isn't it interesting that the lessons we teach our children are indeed the answers to our lives as we get older? I'm not sure the context of what prompted Abe Lincoln to give us these words of wisdom, but I can assure you he was in a hurry while delivering them. Sometimes the things left behind by those who hustle are a mess and leaders like you and I have no choice but to fix them. The more people you get to slow down and add some brain power to their will power, the more efficient and effective we become.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Never Be Afraid To Try Something New
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.~ Unknown
On this day of celebration for the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in anticipation of celebrations for Black History Month, let us reflect on why their actions and words are considered legendary. In the midst of the incredible history and inspiration that we will read and hear about regarding our diverse leaders over the next 5 weeks or so, the one consistent distinguishing trait they possessed is the ability to conquer fear. Dr. King was tired of being afraid to deliver a message of tolerance when the times called for retaliation. Rosa Parks didn't refuse to give up her seat on the bus because she wanted to spark a nation wide movement, she remained seated because she was tired of being afraid to give her body a break. For all that is great about our past great leaders, there is something tragic about the apology they have not received from ALL of us for not properly recognizing their efforts. We dishonor them when we complain about the banks and post offices being closed today without truly understanding why. We dishonor them by failing to do something as simple as grabbing a neighbor and helping them register to vote. Worst of all, we dishonor their memories by being afraid to step up and be leaders. For every drop of blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed on our behalf, today we run the risk of presenting ourselves as ungrateful and uappreciative. Until we grasp an understanding of why it is we celebrate what we celebrate, our fear of being knowledgeable keeps us in the grasp of ignorance.
My challenge to you this week is identify a fear you have and declare yourself no longer afraid! If we are to truly show our appreciation for those that are directly responsible for the liberties we have today, then we have to honor them by conquering our fears. As the 2008 season of diverse celebrations begins, let us not be afraid to gain an understanding of what and who it is we celebrate throughout the year, and our personal role in honoring those that have shown us the way. Lets us not be afraid to build an Ark in our community or for our teams because we aren't considered by the masses to be experts. Not all experts are right and not all visionaries are wrong.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
On this day of celebration for the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in anticipation of celebrations for Black History Month, let us reflect on why their actions and words are considered legendary. In the midst of the incredible history and inspiration that we will read and hear about regarding our diverse leaders over the next 5 weeks or so, the one consistent distinguishing trait they possessed is the ability to conquer fear. Dr. King was tired of being afraid to deliver a message of tolerance when the times called for retaliation. Rosa Parks didn't refuse to give up her seat on the bus because she wanted to spark a nation wide movement, she remained seated because she was tired of being afraid to give her body a break. For all that is great about our past great leaders, there is something tragic about the apology they have not received from ALL of us for not properly recognizing their efforts. We dishonor them when we complain about the banks and post offices being closed today without truly understanding why. We dishonor them by failing to do something as simple as grabbing a neighbor and helping them register to vote. Worst of all, we dishonor their memories by being afraid to step up and be leaders. For every drop of blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed on our behalf, today we run the risk of presenting ourselves as ungrateful and uappreciative. Until we grasp an understanding of why it is we celebrate what we celebrate, our fear of being knowledgeable keeps us in the grasp of ignorance.
My challenge to you this week is identify a fear you have and declare yourself no longer afraid! If we are to truly show our appreciation for those that are directly responsible for the liberties we have today, then we have to honor them by conquering our fears. As the 2008 season of diverse celebrations begins, let us not be afraid to gain an understanding of what and who it is we celebrate throughout the year, and our personal role in honoring those that have shown us the way. Lets us not be afraid to build an Ark in our community or for our teams because we aren't considered by the masses to be experts. Not all experts are right and not all visionaries are wrong.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.
Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.
-Karen Kaiser Clark
I've been asked why none of my leadership thoughts focus on politics. The first reason is because I don't want my thoughts to be accidently confused with a Milwaukee Urban League Young Professional endorsement. The second reason is because these thoughts are a personal leadership journey I invite you to participate with me. But in the spirit of change, lets talk about it. Every candidate has the word 'change' in their campaign literature. All of them boast of being able to ingite it and sustain it. All of them declare that change is necessary and we will be the better for it. Neither the slogan nor the change speeches impress me. Ms. Clark's words echo loudly during this election season. No single candidate can claim to be the best to spark something that will naturally happen anyway. I'm more interested in growth since this is indeed a choice and more importantly what we need. All of us adapt to change whether it be a new house, new job, or new school. Since change is inevitable, why do politicians preach to it? Growth in this context is more of the mental, spiritual, and emotional state; not necessarily the physical. My mind, spirit, and soul will suffer if I'm allowed to believe that change is actually the choice I have to make rather than growth.
My challenge to you this week is to listen. Listen to yourself, your family, your friends, and I suppose your soon to be elected officials, for growth. Examine if you have sacrificed your own growth by erroneously believing that you have a choice in change. Yes leadership is about the ability to influence change but don't think for one second it wouldn't happen anyway. Perhaps the change will result in increasingly poor performance. As undersirable an outcome that may be, it is nonetheless a change. Spend some time this week listening. Has your circle of influence changed over the years but hasn't really grown? Does your professional team seem to want to change processes without demonstrating how growth will actually take place? If the answer is yes, then step up and be a leader. Begin to inject growth into the conversations. Your family, friends, and yes our country, will be the wiser for it. That's real leadership and that's what we need. Let's leave the politricks to everyone else.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
-Karen Kaiser Clark
I've been asked why none of my leadership thoughts focus on politics. The first reason is because I don't want my thoughts to be accidently confused with a Milwaukee Urban League Young Professional endorsement. The second reason is because these thoughts are a personal leadership journey I invite you to participate with me. But in the spirit of change, lets talk about it. Every candidate has the word 'change' in their campaign literature. All of them boast of being able to ingite it and sustain it. All of them declare that change is necessary and we will be the better for it. Neither the slogan nor the change speeches impress me. Ms. Clark's words echo loudly during this election season. No single candidate can claim to be the best to spark something that will naturally happen anyway. I'm more interested in growth since this is indeed a choice and more importantly what we need. All of us adapt to change whether it be a new house, new job, or new school. Since change is inevitable, why do politicians preach to it? Growth in this context is more of the mental, spiritual, and emotional state; not necessarily the physical. My mind, spirit, and soul will suffer if I'm allowed to believe that change is actually the choice I have to make rather than growth.
My challenge to you this week is to listen. Listen to yourself, your family, your friends, and I suppose your soon to be elected officials, for growth. Examine if you have sacrificed your own growth by erroneously believing that you have a choice in change. Yes leadership is about the ability to influence change but don't think for one second it wouldn't happen anyway. Perhaps the change will result in increasingly poor performance. As undersirable an outcome that may be, it is nonetheless a change. Spend some time this week listening. Has your circle of influence changed over the years but hasn't really grown? Does your professional team seem to want to change processes without demonstrating how growth will actually take place? If the answer is yes, then step up and be a leader. Begin to inject growth into the conversations. Your family, friends, and yes our country, will be the wiser for it. That's real leadership and that's what we need. Let's leave the politricks to everyone else.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Walk With Purpose
"Life is not worth living without principles. It's not worth living without a backbone. If you don't have a backbone, you slither. You don't walk upright."
Excerpt from the book Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas by K. Merida and M.A. Fletcher
I can recall when I was a child always adjusting my posture if my grandmother was around. She was very quick to pop me upside the head and demand that I sit up straight and pull my shoulders back. She would say that I looked silly with my back hunched and my shoulders slouched and that people wouldn't respect me presenting myself that way. When I reached my 30's, I assumed that I had out grown this type of strong hand lesson but as it turns out this was not the case. During my wedding reception, arguably one of the most grown up events of my life, my 5 foot 4 inch grandmother made her way to the front of the room, graciously slipped past the wedding party and 'pop' I was being told to sit up straight. Figures. What my mom has been teaching me for over 30 years has finally started to make sense. Good posture is about physical health and principle. I let the excitement of my wedding day cause me to forget that it was also the day that my principle was on display. I spent December 31st giving some thought to a New Years resolution. This year I'm strengthening my backbone. I will tighten up on my principles while minding my posture. Sometimes the most meaningful of lessons come from the most unlikely of sources. Clarence Thomas hit me right between the eyes with his quote about leadership.
My challenge to you this week is to mind your posture. Everything about the way you sit, stand, walk, and present yourself is a reflection of principle. Make a mindful effort to make your presentations to the public powerful. As leaders, we are always on display. I can't loan you my grandmother to sneak behind you for daily reminders but we can hold one another accountable. Make a declaration through your principles that your backbone is strong and you have no intentions of slithering. While those around you are still in the clouds on their New Years resolutions, make your statement early about what we can expect from you for the rest of the year.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Excerpt from the book Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas by K. Merida and M.A. Fletcher
I can recall when I was a child always adjusting my posture if my grandmother was around. She was very quick to pop me upside the head and demand that I sit up straight and pull my shoulders back. She would say that I looked silly with my back hunched and my shoulders slouched and that people wouldn't respect me presenting myself that way. When I reached my 30's, I assumed that I had out grown this type of strong hand lesson but as it turns out this was not the case. During my wedding reception, arguably one of the most grown up events of my life, my 5 foot 4 inch grandmother made her way to the front of the room, graciously slipped past the wedding party and 'pop' I was being told to sit up straight. Figures. What my mom has been teaching me for over 30 years has finally started to make sense. Good posture is about physical health and principle. I let the excitement of my wedding day cause me to forget that it was also the day that my principle was on display. I spent December 31st giving some thought to a New Years resolution. This year I'm strengthening my backbone. I will tighten up on my principles while minding my posture. Sometimes the most meaningful of lessons come from the most unlikely of sources. Clarence Thomas hit me right between the eyes with his quote about leadership.
My challenge to you this week is to mind your posture. Everything about the way you sit, stand, walk, and present yourself is a reflection of principle. Make a mindful effort to make your presentations to the public powerful. As leaders, we are always on display. I can't loan you my grandmother to sneak behind you for daily reminders but we can hold one another accountable. Make a declaration through your principles that your backbone is strong and you have no intentions of slithering. While those around you are still in the clouds on their New Years resolutions, make your statement early about what we can expect from you for the rest of the year.
Alonzo Kelly
President
Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)