"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." Lao Tzu

"With an undefended heart, we can fall in love with life over and over every day. We can become children of wonder, grateful to be walking on earth, grateful to belong with each other and to all of creation. We can find our true refuge in every moment, in every breath." Tara Brach

To be color-blind is not enough. Everyone has bias, but giving them free reign ends with prejudice and discrimination. Every society includes a social, legal, and institutional power that can transform discrimination into racism. These realities can only be named and exposed through discourse, leading to the possibility of change. The bad news is that you are not immune; the good news is you can be part of the solution.

"What gets measured, gets managed." - Attributed to Peter Drucker

But are we measuring the right things?

The poor, homeless, abused, and marginalized are ever-present. For some, they are living out the consequences of bad decisions. For others, circumstances outside their control delivered them to the chaotic and stressful life they woke up to each day. Recognizing their humanity demands a response from those with means. Our response proclaims who we are. Most make better choices because they have better choices.

Friendship is a gift given and received from those who embrace our shortcomings and celebrate our wins. Unlike family, we get to choose who is within our circle. A determiner of our success in life is who influences us daily, and our friends maintain most of this influence. It is said, "We are the average of our five closest friends." Choose wisely.

A job interview is as much about you checking to see if this job is the right fit for you as it is about the company finding the right person for the vacancy. These questions are a starting point to ensure you understand the job dynamics before you say "yes." You can work through the questions, and they will build your confidence to ask probing questions to ensure the job and company are worthy of you.

The candidates nervously sit in the lobby, awaiting a turn before your panel. Getting the right person in the right seat on the bus is resource-intensive, and discernment is needed to select the right hire. Your board knows the technical questions to ask to validate the experience outlined on the resume. The following questions are meant to see the candidate holistically and ensure your selection fits all parties well.

The table is set, wine is chilled, food is prepared, and guests are arriving. Greetings, handshakes, hugs, and smiles abound. To get the conversational juices flowing, ask the evening's starter question...

Gathering guru, Priya Parker, recommends resisting the temptation to unify the group, but rather ask questions to Complicate the Individual and “aerate” the group.

“Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” Seneca

Embracing the reality of our mortality makes us live richer.

Most questions cause us to think. Some questions feel like a punch to the gut, leaving us reeling, lunging for the nearest escape. Just because a question is painful doesn't mean it shouldn't be asked. Condemnation is not the goal. A sober assessment of our experience and the world around us allows for a baseline from which to move forward.

ONWARD!

Mentors come in all shapes and sizes. The grandmother’s wisdom, a dog-eared book, an executive a few rungs up the ladder, a podcast, or the faded bumper sticker on the car that just cut you off. Most will play the role of Mentor and Mentee over our lifetime, and knowing the right questions can make all the difference.

Conversations have a natural ebb and flow. Sometimes, the story ends, or silence provides a gap that needs a bridge. Providing a nudge to keep things going and learn more is as easy as...

Hold on to the faintest hope, and each breath demonstrates another glimmer.