This is your IdeaShape newsletter, January 12, 2001,
with ideas on leadership and life.
From Pam Fox Rollin, IdeaShape Coaching & Consulting
http://www.ideashape.com

Table of Contents

A. The Big Idea
B. Ideas in Action
C. Resources
D. Note from Pam

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A. The Big Idea: What do you stand for?

"My life is my message." 
~ Gandhi

That's true for all of us, isn't it?  It's just that Gandhi knew what message he wanted to send and organized his life accordingly.

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B. Ideas in Action: OK, so what do YOU stand for?

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." 
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you want to stand for something that matters to you, take these four basic, yet powerful, steps:

1. Figure out what you stand for now.

Consider:
a. You can email 5-8 people you know from various parts of your life and ask them what you stand for, e.g., "If you were to describe what's most important to me, my most central values, what would those be?" and "What do you see as my legacy to the people and organizations I've been a part of?" This may sound bizarre, but I bet the people you ask will respond warmly and accurately (at least on the "good" stuff).

b. You can notice the values by which you make decisions. Just keep a running list... or even mini post-it notes that you can move up and down a page as you notice the relative weight you place on that value.  For example, you decide to spend a vacation with relatives rather than an independent trip. Are you choosing connection rather than reflection? Comfort instead of adventure? Duty before fun? Clearly, there's no right or wrong answers, only what's true for you.

c. You can be alert to your passions, habits, and whims.  Do you stand for... "meetings that are worth people's time?" "kindness to people who are struggling?" "truth in all things unless it makes me look bad?"

2. Figure out what you want to stand for.

"Do not ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have
come alive." 
~ Howard Thurman

Some people feel "called" to a destiny. Others believe that we just "make it up" (see Fritz, below). Others choose to align with a universal code, whether offered by a specific religious tradition or sensed simply as a wholesome basis for action.

The point is, it's your choice. If it's worth something to you to live life with purpose, then take a little time to write down at a least your rough idea about what you stand for.

You may want to look at three areas:
- What you're doing here on the planet (purpose)
- What you hold as important (values)
- What you are committed to seeing happen (vision)

These are great topics for meditation, journaling, art, trips to mountaintops and deserted beaches, etc., if you like to do those things.

3. Take action to close the gap, if there is any.

What are three powerful things you could do today to make it clear that you stand for [insert your important stuff here]?  Would you exercise?  Show your team more respect? Offer your sister in college a loan? Bike rather than drive?

What structures or support do you need to put in place to make these stick?
Friends to do this with? A coach or mentor? An alarm on your handheld to remind you?

4. Go be you, in joy and health.

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C. Resources for further exploration

"Living Life on Purpose: A Guide to Creating a Life of Success and Significance" by Greg Anderson
-- This tiny book challenges each of us to get clear about why we're on the planet. If you usually hate cheerful books, see if you can grit your teeth and work through this one.

"The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life (Revised)" by Robert Fritz
-- Once you take a stab at articulating why you're on the planet, you may want to make some new choices about how you live your life. You'll find great wisdom here on choice and experimentation.

"Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It" by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
-- This book offers practical perspectives on character and purpose as the basis for leadership. This isn't new ground, but these guys do a great job with it.

"Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in
Everyday Life" by Thich Nhat Hanh
-- A grace-full reminder that we choose in each moment where to place our awareness. What we stand for shows up most powerfully here, right now.

And anything on Gandhi.

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D. Note from Pam

I'm delighted to welcome you to this first IdeaShape newsletter!

This first issue is about something central to your impact as a leader: what you stand for.

Each month, you'll receive an email with ideas and resources you can use to shape your success. Some of these ideas will strike you as obvious... I invite you to step back and look at how this is actually working in your life. Others will seem far out... and I invite you to consider how much choice you actually have.

Together we will actively explore
- How we can be our most creative, effective selves
- How we can build organizations worthy of our talent and energy
- How we can shape lives that deeply fulfill us

I'm glad you've joined in the adventure!

In joy, service, and wonder,
Pam

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WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU TO...
Expand your capacity to take on bigger opportunities?
Lead your organization to bring out the best around you? 
Be your most creative, focused self in your work?
Shape a life that consistently fulfills you?

IdeaShape offers coaching and related services that
help highly-capable people achieve their professional
and personal goals faster and more easily.

We invite you to contact us to explore working together.  http://www.ideashape.com

TO CONTACT US
To offer feedback, submit ideas for articles or resources, or explore working together,
please email Pam Fox, pamfox@ideashape.com
We want this newsletter to be a valuable source
of ideas and information... your feedback will help us
accomplish this. Thank you!

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