A PEACE of WORK: Volume 1

As May approaches, I thought to do a second "issue" of A PEACE of WORK. Actually, this is VOLUME ONE... for April 2022.

As noted then, A PEACE of WORK is intent on being a bit of a catalogue and catalyst, holding resources and links and posts and will be a kind of buffet table of our work with Epic Engage. Since that first "soft launch" back on April 5, I have posted on:

• SMASHing Success
• 4 Ideas from My Students
• Walking through this World
• What are Your Core Four?

• Reservoir Logs
• The Productive PIEEEE
• Business, Stillness and the Yield
• Congruence and Leadership
• On Purpose
• Start the Conversations
• The Fervent Practice of Simplicity
• Cool Conversations to Consider
• and TUGtalks the Virtues Project

A Simple Fervent Focus

In The Fervent Practice of Simplicity... I noted that I would be taking May and June to explore same; and I will. Yup, Simplicity, with Fervor. That said, I posted this on LinkedIn this morning...

• "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." – Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

• There is a lot of talk about free speech of late and it has been likened to the bedrock of a functioning democracy. That may be true. I am not a fan of cancel culture nor censure. That said, if free speech is the bedrock, sincere dialogue and understanding are the topsoil, from which everything grows. Free speech, without a true desire to dialogue and understand, is bedrock without soil. Continuously firing salvos at each other with no intent to dialogue is building another form of trench warfare.
• It is not about censure. Censure will never solve. It is about a spirit of purpose to dialogue. Without that, we are left with only bedrock, and nothing grows there. Bedrock, without topsoil, is the place of futile division. At home, school, work, business and community... we need dare to dialogue and understand. Therein, we find Wisdom.

• True Unity is not about pretending we are all good, holding hands and singing kumbaya. True Unity is worked on. And. contrary to popular opinion, Humanity has seen Unity evolve from the caves, to the clans to the villages, towns, cities, city states, countries, and commonwealths. It is just that now we are realizing there is but one planet amongst us and that is causing new stresses.

• More and more, we are realizing that we all live here. Every single one of us, on this blue marble in the Cosmos. Now, the heavy lifting of building Unity must happen. It will not happen simply with "free speech". It will happen with thoughtful and discerned speech and dialogue that bridges and builds. Our world. locally and globally, will not thrive on bedrock. It will need the topsoil of dialogue and understanding. No panacea. No utopia. Just the work put in to realize we are on this planet together.
• "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established." --- Bahá’u’lláh

With Simplicity firmly in heart and mind, all of that is to say that my LIFE/work is about exploring and advancing fully functioning Unity ... and the role that Character and Purpose play in building same... at school, work, business and community.

My just cause is "move forward together, stronger" ... "humans together, strong" all grounded in Justice, Peace and Unity. My work is about helping build communities (at school, work, business and community) locally and globally, contributing to the needed discourse and dialogue, and engaging in constructive action. That is part of my own Simplicity... in action. And, I see the global goals as opportunities for individuals and organizations, careers and business enterprise alike.

While all 17 matter to me (and I intend to ever do my own best little part on same), I see my enterprise immersed in Goals 4, 8, 16 and 17.

That in mind and heart, I have been remembering of late... on my 13 years walking with #bestlittledogintheworld Panda... still missing #littlewolf and still learning from her. She inherently and instinctively knew herself.

As for me, my instinctive self awareness is that I work with and champion businesses and organizations thusly understanding the opportunities for a better world... and that there is no dichotomy other than what we create in our heads. The individuals and organizations with whom I best work ... they get this. The left and the right are wings of one great bird and we need both to fly and soar as Humanity deserves. When we get that at school, work, business and community... we begin to understand a sustaining and sustainable prosperity. That is my simple fervent focus.

A Suggestion

In A Future for Us All, the "late, great and humble" Sir Ken Robinson speaks so eloquently to the above... I believe and contend.

Frederick Buechner once said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world of deep hunger meet." However you define God or not, I humbly suggest vocation is a meeting place of joyful purpose and need. That said, and for this month, I simply suggest three things.

• Explore Purpose for yourself.
• Browse the global goals to see what is needed in the world.
• Identify and articulate an intersection of same for yourself, your organization or your business.

Co-Operation

This card from Virtues Matter says so much. Cooperation is co-operation and it is best manifested when we do not try to arbitrarily "fit in"... but when we find our best fit.

That said, for me, Simplicity rules. It is about not thinking so much... but about simply doing what I do, being what I be... and finding where and how and with whom that is best and most needed. I offer this thought...

If we want to attract those we best attract and serve, then we need be who we are. Yesterday, I had some fun drawing a "younger Igoo" as part of my AukWords and Pandamonium plans for May...

... and I realize that it captures a piece of my spirit... for this PEACE of WORK. And, I will be reclaiming my Education in support of same. Until next time.

Peace...

Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.

Me on LinkedIn

CHECK OUT

• The Character LENS to Lead
• Developing Leadership Character – Ivey Business Journal

• TUGtv
• The Global Goals
• The Virtues Project

Epic Engage

LEAD. INSPIRE. EDUCATE. UNITE.

• You are an Activant … an Educator, Entrepreneur or Emerging Leader who is looking to make constructive change happen, on the ground, real-world, real-time. You are world-embracing and noble-hearted. You seek to mobilize a strong, united and character-driven team to change the world or your corner of it. You want to lead, inspire, educate and unite in doing so. Let’s go build a better world!

I am an Activant too; an Educator and Entrepreneur by experience, education and Enthusiasm... with 40 years in leadership training and development, 27 years in business college education and 20 years certified and associated with The Virtues Project. Additionally certified for 16 years in Temperament Assessment and with a longstanding body of work around Character Leadership, I help advance conversation, consultation and capacity around Character, Purpose and Unity... and the global goals. My work in business and education is to help those building a better world at school, work, business and community; locally and globally. Humans together, strong.... that is my meaning... and the space I can stay forever. To that just cause, I commit.