Where some seem to take great pride in wearing their brand (school, job, etc.) visibly, I am equally proud to wear mine invisibly. As an example, I am a proud alum of the United States Naval Academy, yet I was deliberate in not rushing to share that fact throughout my […]
Category: Communication
Authentic Humility
The COVID-19 stay-at-home guidelines certainly have provided many of us with the opportunity to reflect on what we value most. We are missing our friends, our extended family, and the comfort that accompanies normalcy. The company that I am fortunate enough to be a part of recently used this situation […]
Experiencing Memories
It’s fun to reminisce with family and friends about shared experiences. At the same time, I find it extremely enjoyable to listen to people tell stories of events past, reliving memories, sharing laughs, and catching up on what has happened over time. Without fail, there is a part in every […]
Just…
I think we should [insert well articulated opinion here], “just a thought.” I’d love to give [insert new experience here] a try, but I’m “just [insert self-limitation here].” I recommend we [insert well thought out recommendation here], “just an idea.” I didn’t mean to [insert unfortunate effect here], I was […]
Divide and Partner
Like many, I most certainly enjoy being entertained. My wife finds it funny that one of the quickest ways to grab my attention and inspire a genuine laugh is to show me a video with talking animals. Works every time…simple things. Another guilty pleasure of mine is listening to others […]
Explaining Inaction
Hello, my name is Sean and I am a Progress-aholic… I am addicted to progress. I am not interested in being busy, but I have an insatiable desire to see forward movement. Properly applied, this addiction can inspire others to deliver outcomes at a steady pace and holds me accountable […]
Howdy, Partner!
Though far from an exhaustive list, the word Partner can be used to describe a relationship between spouses, significant others, parents, friends, teammates, businesses, governmental organizations, or nations. The word speaks to an alliance where two or more partners agree to cooperate in order to advance mutual interests. Those interests […]
Blurred Lines
In most organizations and especially in the military, clearly articulated roles and responsibilities are critical to enabling mission accomplishment. Authority, responsibility, and accountability are easy for all to see based on little more than an organizational chart. In fact, when trying to familiarize another with our team or an upcoming […]
Lenses
I am not a photographer, but I appreciate a well-framed picture. I am not a painter, but I hang art that inspires me in places that matter. I am not an artist in a traditional sense, but I very much enjoy that act of creating. In fact, I believe we […]
Lift Operators
In a world of scarcity, we often speak of trade-offs, a tit for a tat, a quid for a quo, and finding the right balance. In a world of abundance, we don’t think in terms of or; we look for and. I’ve long cringed when I hear the term, “Work-Life balance”, […]
Dialoguers and Debaters
I enjoy thoughtful conversations on a wide range of topics and I am fortunate enough to have them with some extremely knowledgeable and passionate people. Because I have a rather diverse set of friends and colleagues, rarely a day goes by without at least one extremely thought-provoking conversation. And if […]
Get Even Better Tours
I heard it again recently, two relatively senior Naval Officers talking about their personal involvement in helping someone be given the benefit of a “Get Well Tour.” Now those of us who have served or are serving in the Navy (and maybe other services have the same term) know exactly what this […]
Declaration of Interdependence
We recently celebrated our Nation’s independence last week on the 4th of July. It was a glorious celebration that should remind even the unpatriotic of how fortunate we are to enjoy the freedoms that we do. I took the opportunity to re-read the document that was ratified on the same date […]
Walking Mentorship
I am continually looking for opportunities to learn from others, put ideas into action, and experiment with things that may not work. One of the many ideas I have explored of late is that of the walking meeting, or in my case walking mentorship. Many high profile leaders, thinkers, and […]
Questions
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” – Eugene Ionesco Many of us like solving problems, pride ourselves in finding the “right” answers and are quick to share our insights with others. I say “us” because I enjoy doing all three. What I enjoy doing, even more, […]
Means of Communication
Like many others, I look around me for inspiration. Fortunately, with the company I keep, the books I read, and the environment in which I live, I don’t have to look too hard. One of the forums I frequent offered the following quote attributed to Joseph Priestley: “The more we […]
Boundaries
Early this month I had the pleasure of sharing lunch with a prized friend and mentor. We talked of many things including family, our individual efforts focused on inspiring others, the future of our ongoing personal experiments, updates on some of our respective proteges, and finished with a philosophical conversation […]
It’s Too Hard
I hear it just about every day, “It’s too hard.” The phrase remains the same, yet the context and sentiment varies. One day it’s my son trying to convince himself that his most recent challenge is insurmountable (e.g. “It’s too hard, I’ll never be able to swim 500 yards.”), the […]
Genuine Conversations
The basis for this post is an e-mail I sent to the team with whom I currently lead. Until recently, we had not made team-building a deliberate focus; we had not made standard enforcement a priority; we had not allowed our strategic objectives to shape our day and instead have […]
The “M” Word
I am often careful of the words I choose to use and one of the many words that I dislike hearing as much as saying is the word “Mandatory”. In fact, I just call it “The “M” Word”. In the military it is used daily and I must admit that […]