The Phoenix Thinks, Part 8

28 02 2011
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

-Calvin Coolidge

Leaders are born. Leaders are developed. Leaders are necessary. Leaders are different than managers. Leaders provide a vision and direction necessary for companies, teams, departments, individuals to move forward. Hundreds of books are written every years regarding leadership in business. We hear about thought leaders, we refer to them, we listen to them, we engage with them, we ask them to speak at conferences and we often disagree with them.

The purpose of a thought leader may be just that- to inspire thought, to drive discussion, and controversy. It is through debate, it is through argument that change takes place or we work better or relationships become stronger. I have spoken to so many individuals over the last couple of years that have clearly stated how they do not want to be referred to as a thought leader. A Thought Leader versus a Doer – can be controversial in itself.

In our industry, there are certainly thought leaders and influencers that step out on limbs all the time with the goal to start conversations, to keep the industry evolving or innovating. And are they really taken seriously? And is the information dispersed even valid when the disperser is a thought leader, not a doer? Experts and Gurus abound. What is it exactly that creates these experts, is it merely because they are followed, that their words are retweeted, that the halls are packed during their presentations? Is it because they had lengthy, successful careers in the fields we reside? Is it because they can write or say pretty words?

Is it because they are persistent? Does persistence truly pay off? Is it because they are talented or a genius? Is it because they have the alphabet soup after their names that denote years residing in academia or is their determination alone the catalyst that propels them into thought leadership?

I think that thought leaders, more than thinking, like to share, to educate, to write, to talk. They inspire thought. Successful people think before they do. There may be the random, recorded successes that occurred following a gut response or instant decision but was it really instant? Gut responses are developed as a result of experience and education . So, somewhere, at some point, thought took place. What thought leaders pass along actually transmits motivation to do work better, smarter.

And the Phoenix still flies.

© by rayannethorn


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Into the Fray – The Phoenix Infection, Part 7

24 02 2011

Sometimes, the fray comes before the leader is ready.
It isn’t always an easy thing to step up and be the leader everyone needs. But when the need arises and leaders are born, greatness will appear. We live abundant lives. I was going to say simple lives but most of you, including myself, would argue that point. The simplicity of which I speak reveals the fact that many of us usually obtain what we need fairly easily in order to get what we need in this life. I am not included in that “many.”

A colleague of mine, visiting from another country, couldn’t help but notice the abundance in which we live. A Starbucks on every corner, a grocery store with more than we could possibly need lining the shelves and gas stations where the gas is actually affordable. As we discussed the “commerce” that surrounds us daily, I slowly became aware of what he had seen almost instantaneously upon his arrival. That we are generally selfish – not self-absorbed or miserably miserable, as would seem appropriate – but actually selfish, wanting more for ourselves than is necessary or even deserving. The cycle of produce then consume, produce then consume, is a vicious one.

It is not cheap to live comfortably anywhere. It just isn’t. We pay for comfort all along the way. And there are individuals out there that have very little drive for success or even a need to succeed, after all, if this position doesn’t pan out, they can always move on – or they can go home to be bailed out.. Sadly, this is the attitude for many – the “everyone gets a trophy” mentality.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Meaning when we see a need, when we see a wrong that needs fixing, humans will go out of their way to fix it or prepare a work around. The mother of invention system proves itself over and over again and is alive and well. At my office, the number of employees recently grew by 100%. Leaders have emerged from this time of growth & development and this is a good thing. The fray showed up early for some and too late for others.

This organic, unappointed growth sprouts leadership: those that can easily give direction to those in need of direction. It’s kind of like that whole steel sharpens steel concept in that struggle or friction forces the emergence of a Phoenix. The fray strikes again.



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The Phoenix Infection – Seeking the Right Level, Part 6

7 02 2011

I’m sure you have heard the phrase that “water seeks its own level.” While this may be true for water, this expression is most often used to describe people and how we end up with those that are at our same level, be that income, lot in life, intelligence, common interests, class, etc…, And this would seem to be true when we describe friendships orpersonal relationships. However, this is not always the case when describing business relationships and how we end up in a profession or career that challenges us and inspires growth or change.

Each position I have held has typically been more difficult than the one prior. And maybe this is just me, but in order for me to have a full and balanced life, it actually has to be slightly askew. Sounds funny and not quite right, eh? Well, neither am I. I have always gravitated toward leaders and managers (employers) that were excellent at what they did. I never saw their leadership as a way to keep me down or stifled as many might feel. I thrive on the challenge presented by wisdom and intelligence – whether it be core or learned.

This is the reason I believe that finding your own level when it comes to “following a leader” might be just a bit detrimental and a setback when it comes to your own personal progression. The challenge presented by working for someone or with someone that drives excellence, either out of necessity or by their very nature, is infectious but, unfortunately, not for everyone.

When I made the switch from healthcare search to tech, it was a big jump, a huge challenge. There were days when I wondered what the heck was I thinking. Then there were days when I leapt forward in my understanding and development. Those were the days that made it worth my while, when the Phoenix I was following flew just low enough that I could actually touch him and gain strength from that contact.

As humans, when we stop craving growth or stop learning, we fail at the simplest function that sets us apart from all other animals. Our ability to think and alter course because we can strategize, not just blindly follow the pack or the smell of blood, allows for a beneficial erudition, one that causes us to seek a greater level, avoiding stagnation. A Phoenix cannot reside in pond scum, swatting at mosquitoes, so don’t look for one there.


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Categories : Business, Contemplation, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Personal Development, The Phoenix Infection