Thursday, October 27, 2016

Lessons on our 10-year anniversary. Also: Why I Love and Hate Election Year...

Lessons on our 10-year anniversary.  Also: Why I Love and Hate Election Year...


This past month, my wife and I celebrated 10 years of marriage... which is also how long we've been in our current leadership role!  As I reflected, it struck me that our circumstances have become exponentially more stressful and challenging over the years, and we've had our fair share of fights and failures.  However, we've always grown from our setbacks and mistakes, and grown as a team — and that's made the difference.

It's like Pixar president Ed Catmull wrote in one of the best articles on management and creativity I've read: "Management’s job is not to prevent risk but to build the capability to recover when failures occur."  We can't prevent risk and failure in relationships and leadership, but we can build our capacity to learn and grow from those things.

Here's a conversation I had with my wife about some of our biggest lessons over the past decade.  Hope it encourages you in your relationships and leadership roles! 
 
  On our 10-year anniversary, my wife and I discuss our biggest lessons for longevity in relationships and leadership.

Next... do you have "election exhaustion?"  Whether you're still caught up in the drama of the U.S. political season, or you're ready for it to all be over, here's my take on the invaluable lessons we can learn every 4 years: 
 
 
Despite the nastiness and stereotyping, political season challenges us to care… and to face people who are different from us.
 


Finally, do you ever feel that you just don't have anything left to give, at the end of the day?  Here are some insights I've found helpful from a leadership book on why we might feel drained: 
 
  When are we truly loving people, and when we are just getting “sucked dry?”
 
 
In closing, check out this really interesting article on what some NBA athletes are doing to go beyond ceremonial protests to community action.  
I've been thinking a lot about steps of action I can take, in light of political and racial tensions and debates in the U.S.  It's a great first step to spark discussion, but it's even more constructive to think about what we can put into practice after football season is over, or after Election Day has come and gone. 

Thank you for your passion and dedication in leadership, and God bless the important work you are doing!  I look forward to hearing from you.

Gratefully, Adrian

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