Inspiration

As a leader – what questions do you ask of yourself the night before the ‘Big Game’?

Dean Barker and James Spithill
| CGT

You know last night had to be a long night for both Dean Barker (ETNZ) and James Spithill (Oracle USA) on the eve of what will be the most epic battle in the history of sailing. Sitting in very different places looking at the same objective – they must have been wrestling with very different questions.

Dean Barker ETNZDean Barker – up 8 to 1 a week ago, with just one win between The Cup and his team & country. Now – bearing the mental burden of a staggering losing streak.

James Spithill USAJames Spithill – behind 1 to 8 last week after starting with a 2 point penalty – now riding the wave of one of the greatest come-back stories in all of sport… And they meet this afternoon (pending wind) in the Super Bowl of sailing – winner take all.

The Cup brings opportunities AND burdens that go above and beyond any other sailing competition. In addition to the sailing team and boat – there are hundreds (thousands) of people that have made each of these campaigns possible in these areas:
• Technology design, building & maintenance
• Business organization; sales, marketing, finance, legal etc.
• Fitness; nutrition, exercise, rehab
• Media
• Corporate sponsors & private supporters, not to mention…
• Fans with raging national pride

With all that on their shoulders…
• What are they thinking?
• What questions kept them awake last night?
• What questions did they wake up to this morning?
The questions they ask of themselves will bring clarity of priorities and focus. As stated in the NY Times article ‘Distilling Wisdom of Effective C.E.Os’ April 17, 2011, ‘The greatest contribution a CEO makes to their organization may be asking the right questions.’

As a leader, what questions are you asking of yourself the night before the ‘Big Game’?

AC Stand off

A brief view of North Korea

Blaine Harden / Escape from Camp 14
| CGT

In November 2011 I went on a tour of the DMZ – the 4 mile wide demilitarized zone which divides North and South Korea.  This is the most heavily fortified border in the world.  It was a surreal and powerful experience to be so close to this repressive regime.

Freedom Bridge
Freedom Bridge
Left foot in S. Korea, Right foot in N. Korea
Left foot in S. Korea, Right foot in N. Korea
And this past Monday I had a tremendous opportunity to eat and dialogue with Blaine Harden  – author of the highly acclaimed book ‘Escape from Camp 14’.  This book is about Shin Dong-hyuk, believed to be the only person who was born in the brutal Camp 14 gulag – to escape and tell his story.
An important and necessary read. Blaine Harden does an amazing job taking a very complicated brutal story and making it understandably and digestible to the masses. He also provides key resources and background data for people that want to learn more.
Blaine Harden / Escape from Camp 14
Blaine Harden / Escape from Camp 14
There truly are few things in existence as brutal and horrific as the gulag / camp system of nK. Modeled after Stalin’s prison camps in Russia – the 3 generations of ‘Great Leaders’ in nK have taken the oppression of people to a new level. With the guiding principle that ‘three generations must pay for the sins against the country’ – entire families are imprisioned for generations.
How can we be this brutal to one another?

What do I desire? Living a life of joy.

| CGT

Give yourself an inspiring 3 minute boost today and watch this video narrated by Alan Watts where he challenges us to ask ourselves ‘What do I desire?’

When we find the answer to that question – we must do it – or live a life doing other things in order to create money and time for the things we like to do which we will never do because we have to do the other things to make money and time possible.

It all starts with asking ‘what do I love to do?’
• Who am I?
• What brings me joy?
• When do I feel most alive?

Write these questions down.
Dwell on them.
Then decide – what are you going to do about the answer?

Enjoy this 3 minute challenge to living a fulfilled life!

http://youtu.be/siu6JYqOZ0g