In a time filled with hustle and bustle, the wisdom my mother shared decades ago still resonates deeply: "Life isn't just about reaching your destination; it's about savoring the journey, the people you meet, and the places you experience along the way." As I navigate the ever-evolving landscape of my career and personal growth, this insight remains etched in my heart. Today, I want to share a story that embodies this timeless wisdom. Meet Laura Clancy, a dynamic young colleague who worked as a public relations account executive in New York City. Laura was a vivacious redhead with sparkling eyes, an appetite for life and a perpetual smile that brightened any room. Beyond her professional accomplishments and growing experience as a leader, she held family close to her heart. When she received the devastating news in 2000 that her sister, Karen, was battling cancer, Laura made a life-altering decision. She resigned from her agency position, putting her career on hold to care for her ailing sister. Laura’s actions spoke volumes about her commitment to "Family First," a principle she lived by rather than one merely talked about. Life's journey rarely follows a straight and uneventful path, and Laura understood this truth well. She embraced the unexpected detours that life presented. Picture a chilly winter morning in Massachusetts, snow softly blanketing the landscape. Undaunted by the weather, Laura embarked on daily distance runs, dedicating herself to the rigorous training required for the 2001 Baltimore Marathon. This event symbolized her resurgence, a momentous step towards rekindling her career. Her determination and unwavering spirit were evident in every step she took. However, on that fateful marathon day in October, just shy of the finish line, Laura experienced dizziness and exhaustion. Many marathon runners refer to this moment as hitting "the wall." Laura sought medical attention, but tragically, she never regained consciousness. It was discovered that a blood clot in the base of her brain had cut short her promising life at the tender age of 29. A close friend and our wonderful colleague, Ray Kerins, at the time poignantly described Laura as a compassionate and joyful individual, a remarkable PR professional, and someone whose absence would be deeply felt. On a sunny day in Milford, Massachusetts, friends and family gathered at St. Mary's, Laura's childhood church, to say their goodbyes. Laura was laid to rest nearby, having completed a remarkable race. As they remembered her journey and celebrated her well-lived but too-short life, they were reminded of the beauty found in life's fleeting moments. The years pass quickly. When I’m in Manhattan, I always walk over to have a quiet dinner at Wollensky’s Grill at 49th Street and 3rd Avenue. It’s been one of my favorite haunts for decades. I never visit without stopping in reverence at a display near the bar where the restaurant honors those who it refers to as “Absent Friends,” the dead whose memories live on. Absent friends. Time marches on and the list grows. We remember them. Life unfolds through their stories and experiences we share with others, especially in the tumultuous times we face during the Holiday Season. Laura's story encourages us to cherish our loved ones, celebrate the journey, and find strength in the face of adversity. It underscores the importance of living authentically, embracing life's twists and turns, and valuing the people who journey alongside us. It reminds us that, ultimately, it's the journey itself that shapes our lives and leaves a lasting impact. As we navigate our own journeys, may we always remember Laura's indomitable spirit and the enduring message she leaves behind: Enjoy the journey; the destination will arrive in its own time.
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The train journey from Tokyo to Hakone was a tranquil and scenic prelude to a day that would leave an indelible mark on my heart. In the company of two Japanese colleagues, Taydoshi Goto and Sherrie Fujinama, we embarked on this trip one crisp October moirning. The countryside unfurled before our eyes, a tapestry of vibrant green and the promise of autumn's splendor. It was a day meant for reflection, as my trip throughout Asia was drawing to a close. Upon arriving at Hakone station, we decided to pause for a leisurely lunch before immersing ourselves in the cultural wonders that awaited us at the Chokoku-no-mori art museum, a sprawling 17-acre complex where the genius of great artists comes to life. What makes this museum truly extraordinary is the way it weaves art into the fabric of nature. Art and Nature Coexisting in Harmony At the heart of our visit was the question that has intrigued artists and thinkers for centuries: Is art a mere representation of nature, or does it hold the power to become one with it? The Chokoku-no-mori museum, with its remarkable outdoor exhibition featuring sculptures by luminaries like Rodin and Henry Moore, offers a compelling response. It effortlessly shows that art and nature can coexist in harmony, each enriching the other. Founded in 1969, this museum's setting immediately casts a spell on its visitors. Nestled amidst picturesque green hills, valleys, and breathtaking mountain vistas, it feels like the landscape itself is a masterpiece waiting to be uncovered. The decision to infuse this pristine natural setting with artistic creations was nothing short of inspired. As we explored the museum, we encountered about 120 sculptures, spanning the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, hailing from Japan and beyond. It's a treasure trove that proudly holds one of the largest collections of Henry Moore's sculptures, a testament to his belief that sculpture thrives in the open air. Auguste Rodin, Aristide Maillol, and Niki de Saint Phalle with her powerful "Miss Black Power" are just a few of the eminent artists gracing the museum's collection. While the central square showcased some of the most renowned works, the true enchantment lay in wandering the grounds, where art and nature melded seamlessly. Gabriel Loire's Symphonique sculpture, a mesmerizing multicolored tower, felt like a symphony of colors and lights dancing in harmony. Picasso's Genius Unfolds Before Us Yet, the true lesson of this museum became apparent when we entered its interior. Alberto Giacometti's works found their place here, but the pinnacle was the pavilion dedicated to Pablo Picasso, the Spanish Cubist painter and sculptor. Inaugurated in 1984 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Fujisankei Communications Group, it houses an astonishing 700 of Picasso's works, including sculptures, paintings, drawings, and even pottery. Picasso's genius unfolded before us, from his youth to his later years, immortalized through the lens of the American photojournalist David Douglas Duncan. What struck me profoundly that day was the interplay between the setting, the artworks, and the natural landscape. It's a rare occurrence to find such harmonious coexistence between art and nature, and it transformed this museum into a place not merely to visit but to inhabit, if only for a fleeting afternoon. Play areas for children and vast green spaces for relaxation enriched the experience. A tea pavilion, several restaurants, and even a foot bath provided a perfect way to unwind after immersing ourselves in the world of art and nature. Picasso once famously said, "Art is not the application of a canon of beauty, but what the instinct and the brain can conceive beyond any canon." His philosophy about art was deeply intertwined with his political and social beliefs, which are evident in many of his paintings. He viewed art as a powerful tool for societal reform and used his works to confront and challenge prevailing political and social conditions. The Lesson of Finding True Beauty As I departed Hakone that day, I carried with me not just memories of breathtaking sculptures and natural beauty but also a profound lesson from Picasso that transcends the world of art: that beauty is not confined by rigid rules or expectations. It can be found in the harmony between the man-made and the natural, in the interplay of creativity and the environment. In a world increasingly defined by boundaries and divisions, Picasso's lesson from the heart of Hakone reminds us that true beauty emerges when we embrace the interconnection between different elements, whether it's art and nature, cultures and traditions, or people from diverse backgrounds. It's a lesson that invites us to see the world through a different lens – one that celebrates the boundless possibilities of human creativity and the profound beauty that emerges when we let art and nature become one. Periodically, I look at a postcard purchased from the gift shop at Chokoku-no-mori. It features a photo of Picasso at work in his studio and a quote, "Lo que uno hace es lo que cuenta. No es lo que uno tenía la intención de hacer.” Translated, it reads, “What one does is what counts. Not what one had the intention of doing.” It’s time to do more with our lives – to listen to the heart, to step forward and serve the needs of others, and to be a witness to the continuous interplay of internal and external events that influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. While vacationing recently in Palm Desert, we drove through Indian Wells, California. My mind was transported back to another time and place, when I counseled a magnetic CEO who admired the breathtaking beauty and affluence of Indian Wells. In the Eighties I was public relations counselor to a Dallas-based software company acquired by a global technology firm for the then-princely sum of $800 million. The CEO of my client organization was a former GE planner who trained under the legendary Jack Welch. He was a highly confident, urgent leader who listened intently, spoke with precision and made all the right moves. That is, until the day the acquisition was announced. It remains fresh in my mind years later: The CEO ushering me into his office, just prior to the public announcement, to report that his triumphant entry into a room packed with hundreds of jubilant employees would shortly turn dark and despairing. As a condition of the merger, he would announce that every employees would be given their walking papers and asked to reapply for their jobs. I remember having no more than a few minutes to gather my thoughts on the crisis about to unfold. And that’s exactly what happened. Anguished employees cried out. Some wept bitterly. People poured out of the room as angry recriminations rang out against the CEO. As could be expected, the resulting news coverage was devastating. The CEO departed the company with $30 million and built a stunning mansion in Indian Wells. His reputation, however, was bankrupt with the very people who delivered his largesse. It was all very predictable, and a great deal of pain could have been avoided. Truth Cannot Be Silenced I arrived in Honolulu one summer day in the Nineties on a mission to discover why Hawaii’s telephone company had experienced a sharp drop in profitability and customer satisfaction, and a staggering rise in workplace accidents, lost time due to illness, and scores of unfair labor practice filings among its union employees. Our client project was directed by Hawaiian Telephone’s parent company on the mainland. Accompanied by Dr. Robert Berrier, a great friend and the preeminent researcher in the field of employee engagement, we traveled the islands to conduct in-depth interviews with finance leaders, customer service specialists, telephone linemen and front-line managers. These interviews were caustic and revealing. They led us back to a common denominator – the leadership behaviors of the CEO. As we pulled at the threads of truth that emerged in the interviews, we discovered the CEO had woven a tapestry of lies and deceit. While married and living on one island, he was carrying on an affair with a mistress on another island. The employees, predominantly Hawaiian natives whose Polynesian heritage guided their values, their priorities, their interactions with others and their behaviors, knew the truth about his immorality and had no respect for his leadership. The truth could not be silenced. When we met with our senior clients back in Texas, they received the news stoically, thanked us for our report and terminated the leader that same afternoon. The Hawaiian company quickly regained focus and momentum under a new leader. “Face reality as it is…” Fast forward to 2014. I was consulting with leaders of a global bank in San Francisco as we sought to understand why front-line employees had secretly opened scores of deposit or credit-card accounts for customers without their knowledge. As we pressed for interviews with executive leaders and front-line managers to dive more deeply into what was driving the fraudulent behavior, the heads of risk management and corporate communications pulled the plug on our project. They were unwilling to search for the truth. As the aforementioned Jack Welch once said, “Face reality as it is ... not as you wish it to be.” It was later learned that the bank pressured employees to meet unrealistic sales goals, spurring them to open millions of accounts in customers' names without their permission, charging improper fees for auto and home loans, and selling unwanted insurance products. The bank agreed to pay billions of dollars to resolve investigations into its sales practices. It also admitted to collecting millions of dollars in fees and interest to which it wasn't entitled, harming customers' credit ratings, and unlawfully using customers' personal information. Ultimately, the bank’s CEO became a sacrificial lamb forced to atone for a corporate culture driven to excess. What Does It All Mean? Decades after the rise of the strategic counselor in public relations and the evolution of the corporate manager as a more enlightened leader, we still experience these reputational gaffes inside great companies. Decisions made at the top can drastically affect employees and public perception and even put an organization into a crisis mode. Finding truth – it’s a simple thing, really. It starts with listening to your employees, speaking from the heart, considering the effects of potential decisions, studying the implications of certain transactions, and mapping out key stakeholder needs to understand how they may act or react to actions we take. As Jeff Bezos of Amazon once said during the heat of a crisis, you always remember that “Our reputation is what people say about us when we’re not in the same room.” Here are my key takeaways from these examples:
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May 2024
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