call to courage

“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.” - Winston Churchill

management of the absurd by richard farson

Probably one of the more interesting leadership/management books I have ever read. One that I will definitely re-read once or twice.

“Planning may not be effective at assessing the future, but it can be a good way to assess the present. It also indicates trade-offs that may be necessary, sets boundaries so that possibilities can be carefully assessed, simulates plausible scenarios, integrates ideas, and forces people to think about consequences.” - Richard Farson

seneca on anger

“How much more does he lose by getting angry than he lost from the matter that angered him! Anger brings grief to fathers, divorce to spouses, hatred to officials, defeat to candidates...There’s nothing more grievous than fights, and anger stirs these up. There’s nothing more dire than war, and the anger of the powerful bursts forth into war...Moreover, anger—if we may deal separately with the things that result from it, the suffering, the treachery, the ceaseless worry over interpersonal battles—pays the penalty it demands.” — Seneca

letter from kurt vonnegut to xavier high

Dear Xavier High School, and Ms. Lockwood, and Messrs Perin, McFeely, Batten, Maurer and Congiusta:

I thank you for your friendly letters. You sure know how to cheer up a really old geezer (84) in his sunset years. I don’t make public appearances any more because I now resemble nothing so much as an iguana. 

What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.

Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art and do it for the rest of your lives. Draw a funny or nice picture of Ms. Lockwood, and give it to her. Dance home after school, and sing in the shower and on and on. Make a face in your mashed potatoes. Pretend you’re Count Dracula.

Here’s an assignment for tonight, and I hope Ms. Lockwood will flunk you if you don’t do it: Write a six line poem, about anything, but rhymed. No fair tennis without a net. Make it as good as you possibly can. But don’t tell anybody what you’re doing. Don’t show it or recite it to anybody, not even your girlfriend or parents or whatever, or Ms. Lockwood. OK?

Tear it up into teeny-weeny pieces, and discard them into widely separated trash recepticals [sic]. You will find that you have already been gloriously rewarded for your poem. You have experienced becoming, learned a lot more about what’s inside you, and you have made your soul grow.

God bless you all!

Kurt Vonnegut

the life of cato the younger

I highly encourage everyone to read The Life of Cato the Younger. It is free online and linked here. So many great nuggets. This one stood out to me today.

“Moreover, that to which Cato gave least thought was his in greatest measure, namely, esteem, favour, surpassing honour, and kindness, from his soldiers. For he willingly shared the tasks which he imposed upon others, and in his dress, way of living, and conduct on the march, made himself more like a soldier than a commander, while in character, dignity of purpose, and eloquence, he surpassed all those who bore the titles of Imperator and General. In this way, without knowing it, he produced in his men at the same time the feeling of good will towards himself.”

A good leader doesn’t “own” anything. They are simply a steward of the mission/business/family/etc.