Honing In On
Our hearts go out to all of the Harvey survivors and families who lost loved ones. As I write this, I am aware that millions of people in the Caribbean who experienced the wrath of Irene, while millions more in FL seek safety and await her landfall with anxiety, trepidation and fear. And let's not forget about the 8.1 magnitude earthquake that hit southern Mexico Friday morning. We send blessings to you. Mother nature is certainly forcing our humanity to the surface.
Haven't gotten the video editing down yet, so pardon the thumbnail image. Hopefully the content will make up for it. Today's message although intended for effectiveness in your workplace has applicability to all aspects of life. Today I am honing in on...
Labor, Laboring, and Love
Most of you will be reading this sometime during Labor Day weekend, hopefully enjoying the three day holiday. I've been thinking about Labor. A passion of mine since college when I majored in labor economics. How intertwined are labor, laboring and love....
A Phenomena of Fear
As we prepare for the upcoming Solar Eclipse on Monday during which a 70 mile stretch of the US, from OR to SC, will be plunged into darkness I've been pondering...
Do Need A Coach, A Consultant Or Something Else?
We are living at one of the most exciting and challenging times in the history of the universe. Technology is developing at an extraordinary pace and institutions are crumbling as well. We are at choice points in our own lives, our communities and the country as a whole. I've been pondering ...
My Heart Aches
Many of us scratch our heads in disbelief daily at what goes on around the world. Then, moments later, observe acts of kindness and compassion which support my faith in humanity. This juxtaposition is dizzying. Wednesday I heard news that has my heart aching...
Minding Your Mind
Mindfulness has become mainstream in corporate world. BEI provides some simple techniques to experiment with.
Summer Heat Wave
Here in NYC we are in our third day of 90+ degree temperatures, heat warnings and concerns about air quality. It brings to my mind, the Lovin' Spoonful hit Summer In The City written by John and Mark Sebastian. https://genius.com/The-lovin-spoonful-summer-in-the-city-lyrics
A line in the song states “people looking half dead” got me to thinking ....
If you have a problem with the video link you can go directly to the Bova Enterprises channel at Youtube.
Enjoy and please comment.
Rosemary
July 14th, Bastille Day
It's Bastille Day in France. Another celebration of Independence, and this year acknowledgement of the lasting relationship between France and the US. A partnershiprecognizing the uniqueness of each country. Starting with our fight for independence from the British, there have been a number of opportunities to partner on issues important to both countries. There have been periods of strong disagreement as well. Trust is at the core, irregardless of who is at the helm. By now you may be wondering what this has to do with the workplace and management? Trusted relationships are needed in every place of business. How does one build trust?
A Quick Note
Hope your Independence Day celebration allowed time for some relaxation. I had a great response to last week's greeting. Hope you enjoy this one as well. After you view it please take a moment to comment.
Nesting In the Blizzard
Greetings everyone. We just turned our clocks ahead 2 AM Sunday morning a sure sign spring is on the way. The full moon arrived that same morning and remained between 99 and 100 percent illuminated showing its brightly glowing face through last evening. Mother Nature in communion with La Luna gathered her powers to play havoc on the east coast today and possibly even tomorrow. In NYC we hunkered down for between 12 and 20 inches. When I awoke yesterday there was only a dusting of snow on the ground. The day felt different to me. Usually snow falling has a beauty associated with it, gentle and peaceful. Not Tuesday. This snowfall seemed angry, wet, winds howling. Most people heeded the Mayor's request to stay home so few were on the streets. Eventually we, (Dan and I ) had to go out and clear off the walkways. We are ever thankful to neighbors with snow blowers who cleared our sidewalk a number of times.
Everyone I spoke to yesterday commented on the need to hunker down. Nesting in. I made a big pot of chicken soup in the morning. Mother Nature is pounding us. Some of us coping with the weather, are still trying to find footing after the election. Concern is on so many people's mind. A friend forwarded an email that had a poem Wendell Berry wrote. Although I know I posted this in a previous blog or newsletter reading it again today I felt compelled to write to all of you and reprint the words again.
Before I do this I'll give a brief update about BE (aka Bova Enterprises, Inc.). I'm testing some new descriptive language and would love your thoughts. Please comment to me at rab@bovaenterprises.com
BE...Blending the Art of Leadership with the Science of Management and Delivering a Better Future!
Helping people be more effective at their jobs, be they employees, owner managers or corporate executives.
What makes me different? I synthesize knowledge, skill, experience, wisdom and the unseen to craft solutions to clients' unique situations.
Presently, I am also upgrading my website to align with some of my fine tuning. I will let you know when it goes live.
Appreciating your comments in advance.
Till the next time enjoy Wendell Berry's words and a blessing from Peruvian Shaman
don Oscar Miro Quesada
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
May the gratitude in your heart, on this good day of giving thanks from our hearts, touch in deeply healing manner the hearts of all who have lost hope in their heart.
In heart service, don Oscar.
It's Hard To Believe
I know many of you will agree with me when I say I can’t believe we are just completing the second week of the 2017. Time is just flying by. I hope each of you had a good holiday season. Some like me celebrate religious and spiritual holidays with families and friends. Others may get swept into the fray. Hopefully you have had some enjoyable moments.
When I sat down to write this blog, I decided I should reread last months to see if I wanted to carry over the theme. My concern for the need to dialogue and have meaningful discourse remains. Without it we sink into negativity and negativity serves no one. It breeds distrust, antagonism and adversity.
Dan and I sat riveted to the TV Tuesday night as we listened to President Obama give a civics lesson in his farewell speech, reminding us that a democratic society is only as strong as its citizens’ willingness to participate fully. I ask each of you reading this to consider what you will do in 2017 to become a better citizen of our great nation. Please let me know what you decide.
This weekend we celebrate the birth and life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. My dear friend from college days at Brooklyn College, Luciana Duce is an artist and poet. She shared with me a poem written to honor him that appears in her newest book of poems. With her permission I share it with you:
Warrior of Peace
Today we celebrate
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King
Blackbird of Peace, of Passion,
of Courage and Compassion
You shone your light
on the dark forces of evil,
of hate, of racism, of bigotry
and inequality
Beautiful Blackbird
with wings open wide
you flew peacefully
but with a power so fierce
you shook the heavens
not to speak of thousands of souls
yearning for your message
You soared and flapped
and dove into our midst
Until the hunters came
hungry for the Blood of the Innocent
they shot you down
you fell as a Mighty Warrior bird
wings outstretched
No bullet can pierce
The glory of your name
Nor can ten thousand guns
Silence your voice
Soar onward
Hallowed Warrior of Peace
Soar onward!
Until the Light of your presence
Fills every dark corner of the earth
And every man, woman and child
Is Free to fly to the top of that mountain
You once named “I Have a Dream.”
From the book Wild Herbs, by Luciana Duce-Dugan
Last, but not least, my partner Dan Snow is the featured artist at the Cathouse FUNeral Gallery Booth at the New York Outsider Art Fair January 20-22, 2017. This is the 25th Anniversary of the Fair and “Totem” a piece by Dan that was in last year’s show has been selected to represent the 24th year of the Fair’s history. We hope to see you there. http://outsiderartfair.com/fair/1869
Thoughts This Holiday Season
Wishing those that celebrate Christmas a Blessed Christmas, a Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza (it’s the 50th Anniversary this year of this newest celebration of Family, Community and Culture) and a Peaceful and Happy New Year 2017.
Friday night I was at an annual holiday party. Among those present, were people I worked with years ago. Two comments, made by the same former colleague, stand out and have gotten me thinking. One recalling a meaningful conversation with me more 30 years ago that caused him to miss a call from his then boss, and acknowledging the importance of a rare substantive dialogue at work. He later commented on enjoying reading, what he called, the thoughtful and substantive commentary in my blogs and newsletters, which he reminded me of late have been few and far between. Since I had been thinking of writing this holiday season, his comments energized me.
“Where have all the flowers gone?” What has happened to us? Our ability and willingness to listen and hear what another is saying and respect divergent points of view has deteriorated.
The Christmas party I referred to earlier has been held for more than 25 years. Usually a festive occasion, this time the party was different. The turnout was smaller. Most of the people present, I believe, were delighted with the prospects of a Trump presidency. A few of us were not, and were discussing that fact. Some deciding they could no longer be friends with Trump supporters. I commented that one of my closest friends supported Trump and we’ve worked hard not to have this fracture our friendship, and deep caring for one another. At one point the hostess came over, realizing we were not engaged in a conversation of merriment, she tried to shift the energy. It didn’t work and I realized people that had been friends with her for decades suddenly thought differently about her.
I leave you with a few questions to contemplate as we close out 2016 and spend time with family and friends this holiday season. What have we done????? How did we allow the primary season and presidential campaign to sink to such a low level? What have we taught our children about professional behavior? What is the role the Presidency? What is the role of business in a democratic society? What is the difference between government and business? What if anything do we give up if we stand by and watch business take over government?
My hope for everyone this holiday season is that we take a breath and slow down –sounds silly doesn’t it amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but it can be done. Advent is a season of waiting and watching. So, I ask you to think about the country you want to be proud to live in? What type of government do you want? What safe guards do you want people to have? What do you stand for? What does our country stand for? What do we want to leave our children?
Once you have reflected on these questions I ask you to take another deep breath and ask yourself what you can do differently so that you can engage in meaningful discourse with others so that we can revisit the values we believe in.
Those who know me personally know my passion is the world of work. I help owner managers of small and midsize businesses, and executives of large corporations create conditions where everyone thrives-the ultimate win/win mindset for employees, managers, stakeholders, customers and the communities in which business is conducted. How can we put aside partisan rhetoric and begin to speak to one another about what this country was built upon? Our future depends on it.