The Unity Guy™ Blog

pur·pose

noun

1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, or used.

2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.

3. determination; resoluteness.

Quite recently, I found myself facilitating a powerful, purposeful, and joyful session with a small company going through positive transition in ownership and style.  It was a great time of exploring capacities and vision.  For me, those pieces are integral to collective leadership and strategic unity building.  That being said, at one point in the day, I referenced the fact that I share with my college HR students that, with so much talk about the challenges of impending retirements, we really need to direct our attention, as companies and organizations, towards matching and moving people into roles and positions for which they have great and natural passion and purpose.

It is no secret that I do not believe in the 20^th century notion of retirement.  The commonly accepted or understood (but changing) age of retirement (65) was chosen at the time due to the fact that the average life span was, at that time, 65.  It was only intended to be a “thank you” for the last few years of life… a well deserved and intended one at that.  That all being said, we have subsequently been sold an idea that the purpose of work is to make enough to retire; and now retirement is supposedly 30-40 years prior to passing!  This makes no sense economically or emotionally.

Purpose, passionate purpose, brings joy to our lives.  Those I know who love their work are not counting the days to retirement and are, in fact and fun, continuing on beyond their time, joyfully.  My own definition of retirement now is to re-tire, placing new tires on my life’s career, for the next leg of the journey.  I propose that, as we seek out talent for our companies and organizations attempting to build truly unified and successful teams, we invest time, money and energy into finding people of particular passion and purpose, who love the work.

If one’s purpose of work is to make a living, in order to eventually retire… this is a purpose, but somehow lacking real purpose.  It is perpetuating a nonsensical cycle.  On the other hand, if one’s purpose is to bring excellence and love to one’s work and to not even imagine not doing it… well that is what I call WEALTH… when excellence and love take hold.

What is your purpose as a company or organization?  What do you do?  For whom do you do it best?  How do you do it best?  What is the deep passion you have for that work?  These are the questions we need ask ourselves or we will always be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.  These are the questions we need to ask the talent we are considering to hire and employ.  Answering these questions connects the dots, builds amazing teams and advances us in reaching our goals in myriad ways.

Is your purpose to retire; or it is about making the world, or your part of it, a better place?  This does not negate or diminish the desire to profit.  It enhances it; financially and emotionally.  We make a living by doing what we do best and with passion and purpose.  We, in turn, go from making a living to making a life.  We are better at what we do when we know that level of purpose.  It truly is about moving from the motions to the mission; and that builds the coolest unity.

I contend that the ultimate purpose of purpose is really to give meaning and connection in ways that bring sustainable and sustaining joy and prosperity to our work and lives.  Finishing that recent session, I had  a crystal clear moment to realize that I have found my path of purpose.  I hope you have found yours.  Either way, my suggestion is to look at what you do, find where and when you lose yourself in what you are doing and see how you can marry that with building your organization, from the heart out.

Have a purposeful, passionate, and prosperous week.

Peace and prosperity.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

Jamel:  I am here for a reason….

Jamel now, and still in service…

William Penn once said “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”  This is my 100th blog post under The Unity Guy™ Blog banner.  It has been, for me at least, time well spent.  It has been quite an interesting year or so. Time has flown; or has it?

My core message is all about collective leadership and strategic unity building, for a reason.  Together, we can make more of our work, our school, our communities, and our lives.  Together, moving forward together… we are stronger.  We can build sustainable prosperity, and peace… with passion.  That being said, time, and our best use of it, is precious.

I find we are constantly sold the notion that time flies, whether we are having fun or not. It seems to fly when we are having fun because we lose ourselves in whatever we are enjoying. I am cool with that.  It flies when we are not having so much fun because we are wishing it away and counting the days.  As Farley Flex of Canadian Idol fame once said in a keynote at a student leadership conference at which I was also speaking … “If you are counting the days to Friday, you are wishing 5/7 of your life way.”

On this “May the 4th be with You” International Star Wars Day, I might suggest that there is a scene in Star Wars where Yoda refers to Luke’s apparent inability to be “in the moment”… and is alluding to the fact that Luke was angry about the past and worried about the future.

Sound familiar? Know anyone like this?

• Employees?
• Colleagues?
• Co-workers?
• Educators?
• Students?
• Clients?
• Friends?
• Family?
• Ourselves?

It has almost become cliché, but we have heard the wisdom to “live now”.  I ask you, what other time can we live, or work, or study? Now is all there is, despite our mind’s intent to live some other time in the past or future. With great teams, I am sure that you will find they take one game at a time. It is the deepest mantra of great coaches.  That is a huge part of what makes great teams, and great businesses, organizations, schools, communities, families, and lives. All we can do is “right now”. No cliché. True. Truth. Period.

Last post, I suggested that we need to build a better C.A.R. for ourselves and our teams… to consult, to act, and to reflect in real time in a real world for real results. So, here is my challenge to me and to you, for this month. Find your focus to live one moment at a time. Be “in the game” each day. Consult within yourself and/or with others on what it will take for you to do so and what the benefits will be. Then, decide to do it. Act upon it.  At the end of the month, reflect back on the experience.  And, fell free to share here.

Have a great, peaceful and prosperous week and month, one moment and day at a time.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

Right NOW…

No more….

Tap your toes….

A shining example….

Peace, passion and prosperity…. 

We keep hearing about the necessity for speed in business. I understand it. Business, like life itself, is at life’s speed. Change is not something to be “accepted” or “tolerated”. Life and business is change. It is constant.  The danger with this notion is that we somehow fall prey to it being all about speed. I contend that it is not.  It is about the quality of the C.A.R..

In real time, in the real world, to achieve real results, I suggest we need to dynamically consult, act and reflect. Consultation may be as simple as taking time to discern within ourselves, to bring thoughtfulness to our consideration; or it may be with others in real time. Once consulted, a decision to act is required. So often we wonder “well what if we are wrong”… if we have effectively consulted, it reduces that danger but does not eliminate it. Enter reflection… the capacity to observe, evaluate, and change.

This month, we are creating our annual Runner and Production Team for The Janeway Telethon. Some 50 diverse but passionate individuals are brought together to manage phone banks and handle switch off and more. It is an amazing process. Through this process of building and implementing a team (this is my 25th joyous year), we are challenged to consult, act and reflect… consistently. The results are that The Janeway Telethon consistently raises $2,000,000 -$2,500,000 in funds for the local children’s hospital in a Province with a little more than 500,000 people… and we get to play a part in that. It is an experience of excellence on the move; on the fly… and it works. We have a great C.A.R.!

Yes, it is about speed; but it is really about living life, work, play and business with a healthy C.A.R..

This week, consult on this, take some action, and see what you reflect.

Peace, passion and prosperity.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

This morning, upon my drive to College, I heard yet another news report that included something to the effect of “aging populations” and “retirement and pension fund liability”. It got me thinking.

First, let’s consider the circumstances we seem to be living under. We are living longer. Our life span is increasing. Some reports have the boomers living to 115-125. It has even been claimed that the child who will live to 150 has already been born. The generally accepted retirement age of 65 is “under attack” and being questioned. The age of 65 was chosen when men typically lived until 65. Any years past that, and they were considered to be “due” that time, as a bonus if you will. Now, we are witnessing many people living 25 and 30 or more years beyond the “retirement” age.

Second, retirement is a mid twentieth century concept. Yet, we have “sold” so many millions of us on the notion that we will retire at 65 or younger and be able to support ourselves and a growing number of boomers for years to come. Pension funds are in distress or it is predicted they will be. It all can seem so dire.

Here is my point.

When did we start presuming that the aim of life was to learn, to work, and to rest… in that linear order? Richard Nelson Bolles spoke to this in his wonderful book, The Three Boxes of Life and How to Get Out of Them. His point was that we have been sold this idea that we spend our early years getting an education so we can spend our middle years working hard so that we can take our remaining years and, finally, rest. His contention is that learning, working and resting have to be patterns throughout our lives; not in boxes. I agree.

Now, we have millions counting the days until retirement. We have worries whether our pensions will support us. Yet, we still live with the premise that we will be able to retire at 65 or younger and be able to live for 25-30 or more years supported by a pension. I am no economist, but that math just does not add up. How can we work for 35-45 years and then expect a pension to cover us another 30+ years? It just does not add up.

My contention is that it shouldn’t.

We were not built that way. I have heard it said that the average person dies some 6 years after retirement. I believe that purposefulness not only gives us reason to live but brings us joy. Deep down, we need to learn, work and rest throughout our lives. Purpose and passion matter throughout life.

Now, this may sound a bit of a “downer” if we have bought into the myth of retirement.

So, let me propose another model and suggest its impact on organizations for the future. What if we placed our energies into better matching people to careers? What if we perfected our capacity to guide young people into professions and occupations that best suited them and provided lifelong and effective career counseling that would help people move through their best progression? Would we have more passionate people in place? Would we have less calendar watching? Would we not be so much counting the days but counting the ways; the ways we love our work?

What if we had a model of career that encouraged lifelong education and work that fit our passions and allowed rest throughout life to maintain a pace of grace? I propose that the intelligent, wise companies and organizations of the future will better engage people and not create workplaces of “dread and apathy”. They will understand that people deeply want to matter and that work, our best work, can bring joy and relaxation to our weary past selves. They will truly understand the connection between personality / job fit and productivity that is sustainable and extraordinary.

What if we saw the ages of 65 and beyond to be another form of retirement; a kind that meant we are simply re-tiring our careers… putting on new tires for the new leg of the journey?  What would be the impact on purposefulness and joyfulness in those years?  How might purpose and passion address the seemingly epidemic diseases of the mind… boredom, depression, dementia and Alzheimer Disease?  What would lifelong engagement in work or business that we loved and cared about look like?  What would be its impact for our companies and organizations… and our communities?

This is NOT a pipe dream. This is a model that can significantly impact concerns over retirement and pensions, issues around aging and health care, and so much more. Passionate, productive employees are naturally healthier. Employees who love their work tend to love their lives.  Funny how that works.  Stress is reduced. Conflict and apathy are reduced. It is not “pie in the sky”. It is building one damn good pie; and a pie that gives us competitive advantage.

My suggestion? Focus your energies on finding the best people for the right work. Let them do what they do best and do it for you. Encourage, engage, and model the way… but create an environment where people are loving the days not counting them.  Great companies and organizations move from the motions to the mission. They are about knowing who we are, what we do best and for whom we do it best. When we do that, we can find, keep and build strong, united and better teams to achieve our greatest missions.

So, create your culture around learning, working and resting, all throughout. Then hold on loosely, but don’t let go. The ride will be worth it.

Peace, passion and prosperity.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

Words from Steve Jobs

and from Sir Ken Robinson….

and, finally and for now, Jane Fonda….

and for the music lovers….

It’s Not My or Our Time

As a college educator in strategic management, a global Master Facilitator for The Virtues Project™, and a relentless voice for collective leadership and unity building, I propose that the future, our future, demands the cultivation of what I am affectionately calling the Wholly COW.

First, ponder the changes over the last 40+ years.  I remember the coming of Star Trek and the wish to be around to witness communicators and more.  Yes, that was me in the 60′s.  I remember the wish so well.  Now, have a look and listen to a little bit of what we “know” of the present and the future.  Indeed, within education at school and at work I suggest we need:

• The Courage to move forward with strength and confidence amidst the change, challenge, and opportunity…  quickly and massively unfolding in ever non-linear ways.
• The Openness to foster creativity and resourcefulness to seize hold of both challenges and opportunities.
• The Wisdom to practice both wonder and discernment and discretion in making the best choices and learning from the lesser ones.

Our education on campus and off really has to help develop these qualities within our students and teams, ever going forward.  We have no idea what is really coming.  As companies, campuses and communities, we need to foster these virtues, these strengths of character, to best ride and hold the reins.  These are times unlike any in history.  What a challenge and joy to be alive in these times!

That being said, we need each other.  We need to work together, moving forward together and stronger.  We need some more Wholly COW.

How will you foster this in your classroom, company or community?

This is the great beauty of education.  We empower the best future, if we do it now.

Peace, passion and prosperity.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

Maybe this is part of the call to Wholly COW

A wondrous resource for thought….

For more on strengths of character on campus, in companies and throughout communities

In my last blog post, I suggested that you have a revealing week, reflecting on some specific and deeper questions. I remember David Swanson (the first speaker I ever experienced way back in 1982) speaking on LIFE/work Planning and saying that his sessions were typically Friday night and all day Saturday… and that some student participants had suggested that that was quite a bit of time… and his response was “Yeah, 10 hours is a huge amount of time to give up in figuring out what you want to do with your life”.  His humbling humor was inspiring to me at 22.

It does take time, and I hope you were able to afford some time on these foundational questions. Getting certain and confident in the direction we truly want to head is even more important than getting confident in walking our path. We can walk confidently in the lesser direction too.  It doesn’t truly serve us or anyone else.

That being said, I had a revealing week indeed. Beyond being a busy time of the year as a college business educator (exam time) and my training and development work in collective leadership and unity building, my best bud little dog Panda became very ill. We have since determined that she has a long road ahead and while “not serious”, she and we have some adjustments to make, for the foreseeable future anyway. That being said, I came face to face with Gandhi’s words of “being the change”.

I think we have almost made these words cliché now, but they are so very real, and important. We feel strongly about things and will tend to complain and/or make comments about what “should” be done. Often times, it stops there. I remember the story of The Virtues Project™ and how the Founders (Linda, Dan and John) had a conversation in Victoria, British Columbia about the state of the world circa 1990). They decided to “be the change” and now are global in their reach.

So, this morning, while meeting with colleagues and friends on some ideas about work and service forward, we decided to create an online space called Wholly Now, addressing practical matters of healthy living mind, body and spirit. We wanted to create a space on Facebook to share thoughts on these three elements, learn from one another, and share with the world. On another and parallel path, we commenced building our work around the capaCITIES Course of Action™, a project around community building on campus, in companies and in the greater community.

I do not offer this to “promote” their existence; though I see no harm (and only benefit) in doing so. I do share this to suggest that we let “deeds, not words, be our adorning“. Futility is the breeding ground of apathy. We can marry our work and business with our passions. Indeed, we should. Indeed, at the best of levels, we must.

Make your work supportive of, at least in part, how you want to change the world or your corner of it. Contribute. Engage. Be the change. Make it part of your work culture; your community culture.  This is not theory. It is not cliché. Right here, right now, we have the power. It only exists in the now. The worlds (and our corners of it) need us. Now. Engaged. Contributing.

What will be your contribution?  As you contribute, watch how it makes you and your team feel.

Have an engaging week.  Peace, passion and prosperity.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

Take your pick or take it all… for inspiration…

So, did you know, and what will you do with it?

Right here, right now, 2012….

Why wait ’til tomorrow?

Engage, take action…..

I believe there comes a time….

and…

Fire EVERYTHING!

Powerful collective leadership and unity is born of us understanding our own role in the bigger picture. Whether as individuals or organizations, having a better sense of who we are and what we do is crucial for building local and global communities at work, that work.

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Amidst the “celebrations and commemorations” I think we must not lose sight of the notion that endings happen, however large and mighty we might see ourselves.  My favourite (though fictional) part of James Cameron’s movie Titanic was the promise made by Rose to Jack in the cold North Atlantic; and how she committed to honouring that promise.  Indeed, this past week, I have come face to face with my own personal reminders of the need to make such commitments, directly and indirectly. In fact, I have heard it powerfully said that pondering the reality of the ending brings us face to face with a better understanding of the importance of meaning, whether we are talking work, business, or life.  A greater and healthier sense of mortality brings potent meaningfulness, if we understand that our journey is just that precious and priceless.

In my last blog, I suggested that we need to explore and define who we are and move forward with courage to be it, authentically. This is true of our business, our work, our schooling, and our lives. They are all journeys and they all come to an end at some point. If they indeed do, I believe and contend that we must fully understand that finality without dwelling on it, and make that the cause of answering some very important questions.

• What is my/our ultimate goal, mission and/or purpose on this path?
• With what core qualities will I or we walk the journey?
• How do I or we wish to be known upon completing the trek?
• How will I or we enjoy the ride, the journey?

These are questions around purpose, passion, legacy and joy.  These are questions around meaning. These questions deal with the “why” of what we are doing, and the “how”. They force us to get to core and understand what will sustain us through the challenges and reward us in our championships.  They are not the “soft” stuff.  They are not easy questions. Actually, they are. The answers may be difficult, but not so much if we apply the virtues of honesty and courage.  Truly, these are the questions that get us to more; the best kind of more.

So, this week, I challenge you to look at your work, at your business, at your schooling, and/or your life… and start asking yourself these questions.  Be brazenly honest with yourself and your team.  See what answers arise amidst the honesty and courage.

Have a revealing week.  I intend the same.

Peace, passion and prosperity,

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

And in related news….

Lose youself to find yourself….

In my last blog post, I noted that we need to have courage in the face of the fears between the ears. This morning, I found myself out at Cape Spear, my sacred place.

Cape Spear is the most easterly point in North America and it stands out amidst the North Atlantic with the bluest waters and white surf, and wind and land and more. Its spirit is ancient. As usual, I found myself pondering present and path forward with my little buddy and dog Panda. As we walked, I wandered and wondered… really WONDERed with the emphasis on wonder.

This fears between the ears thing is an important notion, me thinks. The difference between sacred and scared is a juxtaposition of the “c” and the “a”. I am thinking the difference between scared and sacred is the difference in practicing acceptance before courage. Both are virtues. Still, let me suggest that when we practice acceptance, it is not about excuses and giving up. It is about being so very honest with ourselves about our place in the world. I suggest that, in business and in life, we need to go deeper and view who we are and what that means… and accept it. Once accepted, we can practice courage to follow through on what is expected… to move forward.

If we accept who we really are as a business or person and we practice courage to be it, we move from the scared to the sacred. Great enterprises in business and service do this. Great initiatives and movements do this.  Consider the words of Marianne Williamson, quoted in the inaugural Presidential Speech of Nelson Mandela. These, I increasingly try to live by in my work with campuses, companies and communities… and in my life.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Our fears between the ears are imaginary.  They do not truly exist but within our heads.  It is within our hearts, as entrepreneurs and leaders, where we need to go to ask who we are and what we are doing here… and to accept the best answers that come forth and have the courage to move forward.  When we do that, we move from scared to sacred, we build success in times of trial and triumph, and we become the story others will share when we follow our passion fully accepted and have the courage to realize it.

Lawrence Pearsall Jacks once said… “A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.”

What is that space for you?  As Martha Beck infers, “What is your career, your life’s body of work?”  It seems to me that my one true and only fear in life would be to have regrets upon its conclusion in this world.  What does that imply for me?  What does that imply for you?  This is no easy question, but it is probably the most important.  I do not want to approach the end of this wondrous and cool life wishing I had taken action and, yet, not tried.  That applies to my business and my work as much as any bucket list idea.

The question is what might be your regrets in work and in life if you do not follow your passion.  Accept that that truth is your truth.  Accept that those imagined regrets are signposts for your path.  Accept them as so.  Then practice courage to move your business or your work and your life in that direction.  It is in doing so, we move from the fears between the ears and being scared to living a life with but one fear (of regret) and one that is personally sacred.

For me, my work and life are about building unity, through my work in collective leadership… through my passions for speaking, writing, dancing, singing, and more.  I am The Unity Guy™.  I am a global voice and activist for practical, powerful unity.  I am a catalyst for moving forward together, stronger.  I am about being a champion for our differences and commonalities both being our strengths.  I am a globalist and mission specialist, believing in our big picture and our own roles in building it.  I am. 

How about you and your work… and your life?

Have a sacred path forward in business, work, play and life.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

My Anthem, accepted with courage….

Courage.

As part of my College life, I get the wondrous opportunity to coach business students in developing business plans.  These past few weeks, I have been witnessing teams of these business students present their respective business plans to judging panels made up of professional bankers. These students, in teams of 5-7, have spent the last 8 months working on business plans ranging from doggie day cares to wine bars to wedding events planning and gyms… and more. Over these months, the students are expected to complete a feasibility study with secondary research and 400 market surveys… and a full blown business plan; and are expected to make a formal presentation of the plan to bankers and a live audience.

My point?

They do it. They do it despite the inevitable clashes of chemistry that are born of a creative process over 8 months with 5-7 people. They do it despite the fact that they have never done a business plan before. They do it despite the notion that they are working with students from accounting, marketing and HRM streams. They do it in the face of marks and stress.

How do they do it?

Courage. The courage needed to come together, united. They display courage throughout the year by continuously bouncing back. They display courage to face their own fears, anxieties and concerns… and the conflicts that arise.  Today, I witnessed it yet again. After coming in with “nerves”, these young people did it. The bankers had their constructive comments but, to a person, were wholly impressed with their poise and professionalism; born of courage.

The lesson? When the swords flash, go forward. Be purposeful and be courageous. There is no time to entertain the fears between the ears; to indulge the flights of worse than idle fancy,.. that are born of doubt.

Be of purpose. Press onward, with courage.

Peace, passion and prosperity.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

I tremble… they’re going to eat me alive….

A-ha comments are cool. They seem random, but, somehow, I think not. I have observed that they are truly a direct result of how well we connect with our intuition and empathy.

Last night I was MC for the Provincial Skills Canada Competition at College of the North Atlantic.  Imagine a room filled with talented youth and loved ones, with high powered music, guests, and awards.  We had a blast; but my experience with being MC at such events is that it really is all about intuition and empathy, connecting with your audience and rolling with the moments.

At school, at work, in business and in life; we need to connect within and without. As entrepreneurs and organizations, campuses, companies and communities, we need to give greater credence to our still, small inner voice. In the face of the “speed” of life, I suggest we need, more than ever, to do so; and let’s face it… life has not sped up. Life is life and it has always happened at life’s speed. From prehistoric times we never knew what might happen at any given moment and the consequences of our actions or inactions could be just as dangerous, if not more.

What has changed is that we believe that we do not have time. We have it. We just need to better use it. I contend that we do that through intuition and empathy. Consider this news report.

A Call for Intuition and Empathy?

I do not judge here. What I do suggest is that listening within is a huge piece to making better decisions. This is not about deliberating and delaying. It is about daring and doing; doing our best with all of our senses, including the true sixth.. that realm of intuition and empathy.

• In business, we need this. It is the best and saving grace of entrepreneurial creation and leadership.
• In community development, we need this. It is the path to revitalization.
• On campus, we need this. It is the trigger for empowering youth and education to advance our world.
• At home, we need this. It is our connection to one another beyond simple roles.

Yes, an a-ha moment is cool.

It is a simple equation.

Intuition + Empathy = Excellence.

A-haaaa!

Have an excellent day.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

PS

My most recent a-ha was that my blogs will be shorter, more instinctive and frequent in an inspired and random sort of way.  Hoping you join me on the wild ride.  Peace and prosperity.