A SMALL NOTE
A couple of days ago a very small envelope appeared in my “hopper” at work. It was personally addressed in a familiar hand. The short note was from a close business associate with whom I’ve been collaborating. Although succinct, it was none the less powerful. To describe its content would require I paint the full background of our work together. Suffice to say that we have embarked on a series of projects that is mutually challenging, and therefore a bit daunting, but certainly exhilarating. The note’s power came from the personal sharing it contained.
I’ve saved the handwritten note, of course. I can reflect again on the contents and, in the future, it will serve as a window to this point in time.
Interestingly enough, the post mark read: “Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.” --John Adams
http://poweroftheletter.com/
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Winning TWO "best in the Navy" Environmental Awards
We’re winners, twice over! Best Natural Resources Program AND best Restoration Clean-Up Program in the U.S. Navy world wide!
http://www.ocregister.com/news/environmental-award-base-1994589-beach-re
It seems incredible. Why?
Why do we not believe that we’ve won? Probably because we do not believe we can win! It seems too huge - to be best in class. I recall looking at the winners and thinking that we could do that only if… or, how do I get started to accomplish such a laudable goal?
I can now report from the inside perspective of an award winner. At a certain point, we got ourselves to believe that we were worthy and could (would) win. To get to that point we started humbly. We asked ourselves what contributions we were currently making.
We jotted our achievements down, weekly, monthly, five minutes at a time, no matter how small or silly they seemed. We took pictures. We shared our weekly and monthly accomplishment lists with each other and our bosses almost like, “lookie what I did mom / dad!” We also started to see better what others were doing to help us in our quest. We started to view all accomplishments, no matter how small or who made them, as a meaningful contribution.
Then, when it came time for the dreaded annual performance review, we dipped into the stream of accomplishment lists and lo and behold we became believers!
We'll be in D.C. June 3rd at the Navy Memorial for the award presentation. Come join us!
http://www.ocregister.com/news/environmental-award-base-1994589-beach-re
It seems incredible. Why?
Why do we not believe that we’ve won? Probably because we do not believe we can win! It seems too huge - to be best in class. I recall looking at the winners and thinking that we could do that only if… or, how do I get started to accomplish such a laudable goal?
I can now report from the inside perspective of an award winner. At a certain point, we got ourselves to believe that we were worthy and could (would) win. To get to that point we started humbly. We asked ourselves what contributions we were currently making.
We jotted our achievements down, weekly, monthly, five minutes at a time, no matter how small or silly they seemed. We took pictures. We shared our weekly and monthly accomplishment lists with each other and our bosses almost like, “lookie what I did mom / dad!” We also started to see better what others were doing to help us in our quest. We started to view all accomplishments, no matter how small or who made them, as a meaningful contribution.
Then, when it came time for the dreaded annual performance review, we dipped into the stream of accomplishment lists and lo and behold we became believers!
We'll be in D.C. June 3rd at the Navy Memorial for the award presentation. Come join us!
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