LEADERSHIP and The Art of Catching the WIND

Challenging times provide opportunities to re-evaluate. Take stock. Rethink. Reinvigorate. Renew. Dream BIGGER! ...and put all that we have into catching the wind toward that future we long to create for ourselves and our organizations.

Over the years, I've learned a great deal about this artful process from the leadership example, the management philosophy and writings of Kazuo Inamori, just by following his story. He has been named Japan's most outstanding entrepreneur on multiple occasions and is founder of Kyocera Corporation and KDDI Corporation. Dr. Inamori's management philosophy is deeply rooted in values and has been influential when I've found myself unexpectedly at a leadership crossroads, because his simple timeless principles always bring you back to center...to what truly matters. Many of his teachings are integrated into my book, Putting Our Differences to Work, because over time I have adopted them as day-to-day practices and enjoyed sharing them with others --- and seeing the results.  

In his newest book, Compass to Fulfillment: Passion and Spirituality in Life and Business (McGraw Hill 2009), he talks extensively about what I call catching the wind. Here are four take-aways:

1. What you EXPECT matters.
Dr. Inamori affirms that it is easy to take a narrow view of what seems real and relevant at the moment. You know those times when the a doubting voice whispers in your ear, "This will never work. It never does for me."

"It is precisely because we expect that life will not work out
according to our wishes that life doesn't...
In a sense, our lives fulfill our expectations."

 

2. What you THINK manifests.

Dr. Inamori affirms that we attract only the outcomes on which we focus; only those things we strongly desire are within the realm of our realization.

 

"It is impossible to draw a specific result toward us without
holding it firmly in our minds."

 

3. Envision what you want.
Dr. Inamori tells us that if we want to achieve a particular outcome, the first step is to create the image of who you want to become...or the situation you want to come to pass.

"You must hold that thought with greater determination than anyone else
and desire it with passionate intensity."

 

4. You have to be filled with DESIRE.
To bring his points to life, he tells a grand story of a lesson he learned from Konosuke Matsushita (1894-1989), founder of Panasonic --- admired around the world and regarded by many Japanese people as the "god of management."  He learned the lesson during a lecture many years before Matsushita was so highly regarded. The topic of his lecture was his famous "dam management" theory. I wish I could recount it here in full as Dr. Inamori tells it, but I won't spoil the story, except to say that a profound truth was revealed...

"DESIRE is the beginning of everything.
A vague half-hearted desire will never lead to results."

With all the negativity swirling around us day-to-day in these turbulent times, there is an art to catching the wind. Here is the secret...

Expect it.
Think about it

Envision it.

Desire it.

 

This powerful foursome positions you to move with the wind at your back.

 

PERSONAL INVITATION to inspire you to catch the wind: Learn from another extraordinary leader ONLINE on  AUGUST 10 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm Eastern Time (New York). Join me for LEADERSHIP by Example: A Conversation with Frances Hesselbein, an interactive webinar and global leadership gathering with the founding president and CEO of Leader to Leader Institute in New York (formerly the DRUCKER Foundation for Nonprofit Management).  Meet her and learn why Peter F. Drucker hailed her "as the world's best leader." (The Economic Times - January 2010). No fees. Registration required; confirmation provides login info/audio options to attend. 

*** Learn more and SEE INVITATION: http://tinyurl.com/29n4sam
*** 1-Page Brochure to share (PDF)
*** Visit related online visual self-learning exhibit at the KNOWLEDGE GALLERY

Warm wishes as you work to catch the WIND for that future you have in mind! 

Debbe 

Debbe Kennedyfounder, president, and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies

Twitter: @debbekennedy  @onlinedialogues

 

 

Book:  Putting Our Differences to Work Buy a Copy
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance 
Learn more: http://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/about.html
2010 Axiom Business Book Award Winner - Bronze
for Human Resources and Employee Training