I celebrated Christmas with my girlfriend this year, and we had a wonderful day together – exchanging gifts, cooking a turkey together, conversing about how we celebrated Christmas as children, watching “Scrooge” on video, and playing Scrabble (I won). She loves Christmas, and her place is festooned with a tree, ornaments, Christmas dinnerware, Christmas cards, and other decorations. While helping cook dinner I noticed her “Christmas Memory Book.” In it she’s recorded her past Christmases, what she gave and received, who she celebrated with, what she did. What a great thing! Over the years most of my Christmas memories have gotten vague. Sure, once in a while something will spark a memory, but I’ve had no system for holding onto them. So now’s the time to start a new holiday tradition – recording the memories and blessings of the holiday! I feel richer already.
Author Archive
Getting Organized – 1
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 by DanI don’t know about you, but my to do list at work just keeps getting longer. And I have more lists than ever. My organizational systems are at the breaking point. So I ran across a great approach to getting – and staying – organized call Getting Things Done by David Allen. Without going into Allen’s whole system, his first piece of advice I found invaluable is to COLLECT — to capture every task into a single, reliable system. So that’s my focus for the moment – getting it all in one place. I’m interested to know what systems you use to collect and track your To Dos? Paper? Software? Day Planner?
Learning to play from kids and deep sea divers
Monday, December 21st, 2009 by DanI don’t play enough. Even as a kid I had the family reputation of being “the serious one.” Well, I got a great lesson in play and playfulness last night by seeing Redmoon Theater’s “Winter Pageant.” In fact, the theme of the whole performance was adults learning from kids how to play.
When I arrived at the theater the actors were sitting on the floor of the stage with bunches of kids from the audience playing. One group was making paper tulips. Another group was juggling. Already the whole theater (a renovated factory, actually) was abuzz with energy and aliveness.
The performance itself was festooned with images of play – a gardener picking electric lights from his garden and eating them (only to discover they’re alive and want to be free!). A car breaking down and spilling forth a bunch of clowns bearing cakes from the engine compartment. A free-spirited food fight at a banquet. A human-powered car covered with drums. Two deep sea divers trailing soap bubbles. I’ll never forget the joy and wonderment of a dozen kids from the audience chasing their stream of bubbles like a school of excited fish.
I need these reminders to see my world through fresh eyes and engage with it in new, playful ways. If you’re like me and want more play in your life, try attending the More Life Training with Judith Wright at the Wright Leadership Institute.
We Will See You At The Symposium!
Friday, November 20th, 2009 by DanWe are looking forward to the opening ceremony tonight for the Transformational Leadership Symposium. For all of our guests who have registered, here is a brief itinerary of the event. We will see you all this evening!
Friday Evening, November 20th:
5:30-9:00pm: Opening reception and networking followed by dinner with Keynote speech from Brad Anderson former CEO and Vice Chairman of Best Buy.
Saturday, November 21st
7:00am – 5:00pm: Networking breakfast (7-8am) followed by a full-day of speakers and panelists:
- Brad Anderson: Former CEO and Vice Chairman of Best Buy, recipient of the 2009 Transformational Leadership Award
- Dr. Ron Riggio: Co-author of Transformational Leadership and the foremost living expert on transformational leadership
- Dr. Don Beck: Co-author of Spiral Dynamics and one of the leading organizational and international change agents
- Dr. Bob Wright and Dr. Judith Wright: Personal transformation and leadership development experts, co-founders of the Wright Leadership Institute, the Wright Institute—offering masters and doctoral degrees, and the Wright Foundation for Transformational Leadership
Location:
The Transformational Leadership Symposium will be held in the beautiful setting of Ravinia Festival, in the northern suburb of Chicago—Highland Park, Illinois. Ravinia Festival is the oldest outdoor music festival in North America and is lauded for presenting world-class performances. Ravinia Festival provides a new, state of the art, dining, conference, and training center. For directions, visit our website http://www.transformleadership.org.
Contact Person:
If you any question or concerns prior to our during the event please feel free to contact
Serena Pietruszka at 773.595.5200 or contact@transformleadership.org
We look forward to hosting you!
One More Day Until The Transformational Leadership Symposium
Thursday, November 19th, 2009 by DanTransformational Leadership Symposium Friday evening, Nov. 20th – Saturday, Nov. 21st
Do you want to get more out of the people you lead? Do you want your team to be more cohesive, high performing, and appreciative of the opportunity you are providing, as you align your organization’s efforts to your greater mission?
The 2009 Transformational Leadership Symposium: Staying Ahead of the Curve in Transformational Times is a rare opportunity to address the full spectrum of leadership skills with top national and world leaders.
Brad Anderson, former CEO and current Vice-Chair of Best Buy and recipient of the 2009 Transformational Leadership Award, will inspire you with his unique experience in transformational leadership.
Dr. Don Beck, author of Spiral Dynamics and one of the foremost organizational change agents in the world, will teach you to appreciate and leverage the diversity in your organization and the varied needs of employees and clients.
Dr. Ron Riggio, author of Transformational Leadership and one of the foremost experts on the subject, will teach you the critical skills of becoming, or developing yourself further, as a transformational leader.
Dr. Bob Wright and Dr. Judith Wright, experts in personal transformation, will provide you with a powerful look into yourself as a leader in transformation. They will present their revolutionary change model and the neuroscience behind it.
Transform your career, and organization by:
- Learning the behaviors of a transformational leader
- Learning to identify and overcome the barrier to transformation
- Learning the insight to understand and facilitate the transformation of those you lead
Register at: www.transformleadership.org/leadership-symposium.php
November 20-21. Ravinia Festival – Highland Park, IL
Transformational Leadership Symposium – TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO REGISTER
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 by DanTransformational Leadership Symposium Friday evening, Nov. 20th – Saturday, Nov. 21st
An opportunity to learn from global leaders, and meet professional executives from renowned business organizations like: Best Buy, J. P. Morgan, Alberto Culver, Playboy, Buffalo Wild Wings, and many more. This is truly a unique opportunity that you don’t want to miss. There are only a few more seats available.
Do you want to get more out of the people you lead? Do you want your team to be more cohesive, high performing, and appreciative of the opportunity you are providing, as you align your organization’s efforts to your greater mission?
2009 Transformational Leadership Symposium: Staying Ahead of the Curve in Transformational Times, November 20 and 21st.
You will:
- Learn the behaviors of a transformational leader
- Learn to identify and overcome the barrier to transformation
- Learn the insight to understand and facilitate the transformation of those you lead
The 2009 Transformational Leadership Symposium: Staying Ahead of the Curve in Transformational Times is a rare opportunity to address the full spectrum of leadership skills with top national and world leaders.
• Brad Anderson, former CEO and current Vice-Chair of Best Buy and recipient of the 2009 Transformational Leadership Award, will inspire you with his unique experience in transformational leadership.
• Dr. Don Beck, author of Spiral Dynamics and one of the foremost organizational change agents in the world, will teach you to appreciate and leverage the diversity in your organization and the varied needs of employees and clients.
• Dr. Ron Riggio, author of Transformational Leadership and one of the foremost experts on the subject, will teach you the critical skills of becoming, or developing yourself further, as a transformational leader.
• Dr. Bob Wright and Dr. Judith Wright, experts in personal transformation, will provide you with a powerful look into yourself as a leader in transformation. They will present their revolutionary change model and the neuroscience behind it.
Register at: www.transformleadership.org/leadership-symposium.php
November 20-21. Ravinia Festival – Highland Park, IL
Chicken Soup for the CEO – what’s that funny taste?
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 by DanGive me one CEO who is not changing in today’s climate and I will give you a dead or shrinking company. This is the era that all of us as leaders need to step up and make an impact on those around us. We need to influence those around us and make a difference or 2010 will be the “same old soup”!
If we walk into a store, call on a company and it feels flat. It’s like going to a restaurant and getting the soup before dinner that has gone unattended and sat on the burner too long. It just plain tastes funny! Well that is how the companies of today feel when you do business and everyone seems flat. It just leaves a funny taste in your mouth – right?
This is the time that you need to decide how your “Chicken Soup” will turn out, what it will taste like. Are a transformational leader looking to make that change that will impact your company and those around you? Or you going to ride out the “same old soup” that your company or you have always had?
It is no secret that successful leaders will in fact make changes, not just in their company but within themselves so that they can lead by example. I know as the year ends many of us are looking for answers and it makes sense to hang and connect with those other transformational leaders that will give us the inspiration, guidance and tools to help us with that change.
On November 20-21 there is a Transformational Leadership Symposium, coming to Chicago, it has a cast of leaders second to none, many I would say could impact a months worth of revenue for me based on their influence and knowledge. There will be Brad Anderson, an amazing story of working from the sales floor of Best Buy to CEO, Dr. Bob Wright and Dr. Judith Wright who train leaders daily at their Institute, Dr. Ron Riggio, Dr. Don Beck, and this does even count who I will be sitting with at dinner!
I am attending to make a difference in “my soup” for 2010, the only question I have for you is what does your soup taste like and should you be there too?
For information on the Transformational Leadership Symposium mentioned please see
Transformational Leadership Symposium-Begins Friday. Still Time To Register
Sunday, November 15th, 2009 by DanDo you want to get more out of the people you lead? Do you want your team to be more cohesive, high performing, and appreciative of the opportunity you are providing, as you align your organization’s efforts to your greater mission?
Transformational Leadership Symposium
2009 Transformational Leadership Symposium: Staying Ahead of the Curve in Transformational Times, November 20 and 21st.
You will:
- Learn the behaviors of a transformational leader
- Learn to identify and overcome the barrier to transformation
- Learn the insight to understand and facilitate the transformation of those you lead
The 2009 Transformational Leadership Symposium: Staying Ahead of the Curve in Transformational Times is a rare opportunity to address the full spectrum of leadership skills with top national and world leaders. This broad mix includes stellar corporate, academic, international change, and personal transformation expertise:
• Brad Anderson, former CEO and current Vice-Chair of Best Buy and recipient of the 2009 Transformational Leadership Award, will inspire you with his unique experience in transformational leadership.
• Dr. Don Beck, author of Spiral Dynamics and one of the foremost organizational change agents in the world, will teach you to appreciate and leverage the diversity in your organization and the varied needs of employees and clients.
• Dr. Ron Riggio, author of Transformational Leadership and one of the foremost experts on the subject, will teach you the critical skills of becoming, or developing yourself further, as a transformational leader.
• Dr. Bob Wright and Dr. Judith Wright, experts in personal transformation, will provide you with a powerful look into yourself as a leader in transformation. They will present their revolutionary change model and the neuroscience behind it.
Learn more and register at: www.transformleadership.org/leadership-symposium.php
November 20-21. Ravinia Festival – Highland Park, IL
Wright Students Mark and Pam Zastrow Are World-Changers
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 by DanSelect Marketing Solutions, owned by Wright Leadership Institute students Mark and Pam Zastrow, was recently named on Inc. Magazine’s List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies. “If you want to know which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson.
The full article follows:
Inc. Magazine Unveils 28th Annual List of
America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 500
SELECT MARKETING SOLUTIONS, INC. Ranks No. 482 on the 2009 Inc. 500
with Three-Year Sales Growth of 543.2%
NEW YORK, August 12, 2009 — Inc. magazine today ranked SELECT MARKETING SOLUTIONS, INC., NO. 482 on its 28th annual Inc. 500, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Companies such as Microsoft, Zappos, Intuit, GoDaddy, Under Armour, Jamba Juice, American Apparel, Oracle, and hundreds of other powerhouses gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500.
“If you want to know which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. “These are the most dynamic, fast-growth companies in the nation, the ones finding innovative solutions to problems, creating smart systems, and inventing products we soon discover we can’t live without. The Inc. 500 list is Inc. magazine’s tribute to American business ingenuity and ambition.”
About SMS
SMS is a full service point of purchase retail merchandising company that specializes in retail fixtures, point of purchase displays, merchandising, packaging, interior and exterior environments including signage, C Store environments and program management.
Strategy. Solutions. Service.
What exactly does it mean when we say SMS brings Strategy, Solutions, and Service to every project? It means SMS knows the retail merchandising market inside and out. We know how to define, develop and deliver what you want, what the retailers require and what consumers need to make informed purchase decisions.
At SMS, our focus is on creating custom retail solutions that portray your brand and tell your story. We can handle every phase of a project—from concept and engineering to long-term measurement and management. We combine creativity, strategy, engineering, production, assembly, logistics and distribution to reach your program objectives and successfully serve today’s discriminating retail market.
Our philosophy is based on service—simple, old-fashioned, whatever-we-need-to-make-the-project-successful service. We work for you, and we work smart—balancing retail and consumer needs while providing merchandising strategies and solutions that promote your brand in the marketplace.
THE WRIGHT INSTITUTE IS INVESTING IN YOU
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 by Dan“In my conversations with Ron Riggio, author of Transformational Leadership, we noted that few leaders in our country today—or even in history—truly live up to the definition of what a transformational leader is. Without more people growing into transformational leaders we can’t fulfill our mission to support people in unleashing their potential for the advancement of humanity and sustainable living. Your being the most powerful leader you can be helps us to fulfill our mission in the world and we want to give back to you…” – Dr. Robert Wright, Co-Founder of The Wright Foundation.
The Wright Institute and Dr. Robert Wright believe so strongly in the value of this Symposium that they are willing to invest in “you” if you invest in yourself.
The first 100 individuals that register for the Symposium will receive 1 hour of personalized expert coaching from The Wright Institute.*
Do you want to get more out of the people you lead? Do you want your team to be more cohesive, high performing, and appreciative of the opportunity you are providing, as you align your organization’s efforts to your greater mission?
Transformational Leadership Symposium
If you answered yes to either of the questions above, I invite you to join other dynamic, innovative, and forward-thinking leaders to learn new ways to bring about transformation at all levels of your organization at the 2009 Transformational Leadership Symposium: Staying Ahead of the Curve in Transformational Times, November 20 and 21st.
You will:
- Learn the behaviors of a transformational leader
- Learn to identify and overcome the barrier to transformation
- Learn the insight to understand and facilitate the transformation of those you lead
During this unique symposium, you will discover both academic research and practical expertise to guide you in navigating the changes that lie ahead.
The 2009 Transformational Leadership Symposium: Staying Ahead of the Curve in Transformational Times is a rare opportunity to address the full spectrum of leadership skills with top national and world leaders. This broad mix includes stellar corporate, academic, international change, and personal transformation expertise:
• Brad Anderson, former CEO and current Vice-Chair of Best Buy and recipient of the 2009 Transformational Leadership Award, will inspire you with his unique experience in transformational leadership.
• Dr. Don Beck, author of Spiral Dynamics and one of the foremost organizational change agents in the world, will teach you to appreciate and leverage the diversity in your organization and the varied needs of employees and clients.
• Dr. Ron Riggio, author of Transformational Leadership and one of the foremost experts on the subject, will teach you the critical skills of becoming, or developing yourself further, as a transformational leader.
• Dr. Bob Wright and Dr. Judith Wright, experts in personal transformation, will provide you with a powerful look into yourself as a leader in transformation. They will present their revolutionary change model and the neuroscience behind it.
Learn more and register at: www.transformleadership.org/leadership-symposium.php
November 20-21. Ravinia Festival – Highland Park, IL
*To be eligible for the complimentary coaching session you must register, pay, and attend the Symposium. The Wright Institute will contact you within 7 business days after the Symposium to schedule your complimentary session. Offer excludes Wright Learning Institute students. WLI students that register, pay, and attend the Symposium will be awarded a complimentary M.I.T. Night.
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