is it possible to be intentionally unintentional
intentionally unintentional
intentionally unintentional or asked in another way is there power
or asked in another way is there power
or asked in another way is there power in the absence of intention
in the absence of intention
in the absence of intention these are provocative questions that
these are provocative questions that
these are provocative questions that I’ve spent a good part of my
I’ve spent a good part of my
I’ve spent a good part of my professional career exploring if true
professional career exploring if true
professional career exploring if true the implication is in many ways contrary
the implication is in many ways contrary
the implication is in many ways contrary to what we are taught growing up to make
to what we are taught growing up to make
to what we are taught growing up to make decisions deliberately to actively seek
decisions deliberately to actively seek
decisions deliberately to actively seek those experiences that are uniquely
those experiences that are uniquely
those experiences that are uniquely capable of preparing us to achieve our
capable of preparing us to achieve our
capable of preparing us to achieve our life goals this is definitely true in
life goals this is definitely true in
life goals this is definitely true in Business School where from day one we
Business School where from day one we
Business School where from day one we are encouraged to be methodical as we
are encouraged to be methodical as we
are encouraged to be methodical as we chart our future paths from selecting
chart our future paths from selecting
chart our future paths from selecting classes to Club leadership positions to
classes to Club leadership positions to
classes to Club leadership positions to picking that perfect summer internship
picking that perfect summer internship
picking that perfect summer internship between the first and the second year
between the first and the second year
between the first and the second year everything is framed in terms of how do
everything is framed in terms of how do
everything is framed in terms of how do we make this to achieve our life how do
we make this to achieve our life how do
we make this to achieve our life how do we help achieve our life goals today
we help achieve our life goals today
we help achieve our life goals today however I’d like to offer a contrarian
however I’d like to offer a contrarian
however I’d like to offer a contrarian view I’d like to take you on a journey
view I’d like to take you on a journey
view I’d like to take you on a journey through my time in India and in Africa
through my time in India and in Africa
through my time in India and in Africa that led me to the belief that by
that led me to the belief that by
that led me to the belief that by actively seeking unfamiliar and
actively seeking unfamiliar and
actively seeking unfamiliar and uncomfortable environments I could
uncomfortable environments I could
uncomfortable environments I could actually achieve much greater personal
actually achieve much greater personal
actually achieve much greater personal leadership development rather than
leadership development rather than
leadership development rather than pursuing a specific experience or lesson
pursuing a specific experience or lesson
pursuing a specific experience or lesson I learned – I learned to be intentional
I learned – I learned to be intentional
I learned – I learned to be intentional but only to a certain point after which
but only to a certain point after which
but only to a certain point after which by definition I could no longer dictate
by definition I could no longer dictate
by definition I could no longer dictate outcomes what I found is it is from
outcomes what I found is it is from
outcomes what I found is it is from these spaces of ambiguity or at times
these spaces of ambiguity or at times
these spaces of ambiguity or at times personal chaos that come some of the
personal chaos that come some of the
personal chaos that come some of the most impactful personal professional
most impactful personal professional
most impactful personal professional growth now to understand how this all
growth now to understand how this all
growth now to understand how this all started this is this isn’t a belief I’ve
started this is this isn’t a belief I’ve
started this is this isn’t a belief I’ve always held to understand how this all
always held to understand how this all
always held to understand how this all got started I need to take you on a trip
got started I need to take you on a trip
got started I need to take you on a trip down memory lane to 2006
down memory lane to 2006
down memory lane to 2006 now I’m sufficiently awkward high school
now I’m sufficiently awkward high school
now I’m sufficiently awkward high school senior let’s see yeah there we go
senior let’s see yeah there we go
senior let’s see yeah there we go maybe not this awkward all of the time
maybe not this awkward all of the time
maybe not this awkward all of the time okay there we go that’s a little bit
okay there we go that’s a little bit
okay there we go that’s a little bit better now I just read Thomas Friedman’s
better now I just read Thomas Friedman’s
better now I just read Thomas Friedman’s book the world is flat and had become
book the world is flat and had become
book the world is flat and had become fascinated with emerging markets in
fascinated with emerging markets in
fascinated with emerging markets in particular China and India were growing
particular China and India were growing
particular China and India were growing at in excess of 8% annually GDP and and
at in excess of 8% annually GDP and and
at in excess of 8% annually GDP and and I really wanted to go to those places so
I really wanted to go to those places so
I really wanted to go to those places so now fast forward a few years later and
now fast forward a few years later and
now fast forward a few years later and alum a sophomore at DePaul University
alum a sophomore at DePaul University
alum a sophomore at DePaul University and a new internship is created a
and a new internship is created a
and a new internship is created a semester long internship is created
semester long internship is created
semester long internship is created through a special partnership between
through a special partnership between
through a special partnership between DePauw & Cummins a fortune 500 diesel
DePauw & Cummins a fortune 500 diesel
DePauw & Cummins a fortune 500 diesel engine and power generation manufacturer
engine and power generation manufacturer
engine and power generation manufacturer I immediately apply and I’m fortunate
I immediately apply and I’m fortunate
I immediately apply and I’m fortunate enough to be named one of the first to
enough to be named one of the first to
enough to be named one of the first to interns
interns
interns I am beyond excited I feel on top of the
I am beyond excited I feel on top of the
I am beyond excited I feel on top of the world
world
world I’ve clinched a international finance
I’ve clinched a international finance
I’ve clinched a international finance internship let’s sit here and I clinch
internship let’s sit here and I clinch
internship let’s sit here and I clinch the International Finance internship at
the International Finance internship at
the International Finance internship at a fortune 500 company in one of the
a fortune 500 company in one of the
a fortune 500 company in one of the hottest two emerging markets I’ve hit
hottest two emerging markets I’ve hit
hottest two emerging markets I’ve hit the trifecta in my mind I’m going to
the trifecta in my mind I’m going to
the trifecta in my mind I’m going to India and I’m going to learn all about
India and I’m going to learn all about
India and I’m going to learn all about international finance and strategy and
international finance and strategy and
international finance and strategy and set the foundation for incredible
set the foundation for incredible
set the foundation for incredible international business career can you
international business career can you
international business career can you sense the calculation my decision-making
sense the calculation my decision-making
sense the calculation my decision-making process it turns out none of that
process it turns out none of that
process it turns out none of that actually happens despite asking for work
actually happens despite asking for work
actually happens despite asking for work repeatedly I mostly just sit around for
repeatedly I mostly just sit around for
repeatedly I mostly just sit around for six months you see the concept of an
six months you see the concept of an
six months you see the concept of an internship at least how we all think
internship at least how we all think
internship at least how we all think about it didn’t really exist in India at
about it didn’t really exist in India at
about it didn’t really exist in India at the time they thought of it more of a
the time they thought of it more of a
the time they thought of it more of a Job Shadow that coupled with the fact
Job Shadow that coupled with the fact
Job Shadow that coupled with the fact that my internship my internship host
that my internship my internship host
that my internship my internship host hadn’t really prepared for my arrival
hadn’t really prepared for my arrival
hadn’t really prepared for my arrival led to a really disappointing work
led to a really disappointing work
led to a really disappointing work experience I returned to the US feeling
experience I returned to the US feeling
experience I returned to the US feeling devastated thinking how did I blow this
devastated thinking how did I blow this
devastated thinking how did I blow this incredible opportunity on such a
incredible opportunity on such a
incredible opportunity on such a fruitless experience however as I think
fruitless experience however as I think
fruitless experience however as I think about it more and more and I reflect on
about it more and more and I reflect on
about it more and more and I reflect on my time in India I realized I’d actually
my time in India I realized I’d actually
my time in India I realized I’d actually learned a whole lot but the growth had
learned a whole lot but the growth had
learned a whole lot but the growth had come from what at the time seemed like a
come from what at the time seemed like a
come from what at the time seemed like a really odd place daily life activities
really odd place daily life activities
really odd place daily life activities like buying groceries getting my hair
like buying groceries getting my hair
like buying groceries getting my hair cut had become new experiences and
cut had become new experiences and
cut had become new experiences and challenges sources of growth let me give
challenges sources of growth let me give
challenges sources of growth let me give an example
an example
an example there’s a saying that goes in the US
there’s a saying that goes in the US
there’s a saying that goes in the US traffic lights are the rule in China
traffic lights are the rule in China
traffic lights are the rule in China they are a recommendation and in India
they are a recommendation and in India
they are a recommendation and in India they are decorations now it probably
they are decorations now it probably
they are decorations now it probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that
doesn’t come as much of a surprise that
doesn’t come as much of a surprise that traffic in India’s major cities is
traffic in India’s major cities is
traffic in India’s major cities is really bad
really bad
really bad it rarely stops for anything part of my
it rarely stops for anything part of my
it rarely stops for anything part of my daily commute to the office involved
daily commute to the office involved
daily commute to the office involved crossing this really major street
crossing this really major street
crossing this really major street walking I remember walking up to it the
walking I remember walking up to it the
walking I remember walking up to it the first day and thinking how on earth am I
first day and thinking how on earth am I
first day and thinking how on earth am I going to get across this thing I feel
going to get across this thing I feel
going to get across this thing I feel petrified out of desperation I do the
petrified out of desperation I do the
petrified out of desperation I do the only thing I can I start to observe
only thing I can I start to observe
only thing I can I start to observe those around me I watch how they cross
those around me I watch how they cross
those around me I watch how they cross the street they take a few steps out let
the street they take a few steps out let
the street they take a few steps out let traffic flow in front and behind them
traffic flow in front and behind them
traffic flow in front and behind them take another couple of steps let some
take another couple of steps let some
take another couple of steps let some more traffic flow in front and behind
more traffic flow in front and behind
more traffic flow in front and behind them and they eventually get across the
them and they eventually get across the
them and they eventually get across the street when I muster up enough courage
street when I muster up enough courage
street when I muster up enough courage of my own I attach myself to the hip of
of my own I attach myself to the hip of
of my own I attach myself to the hip of a complete stranger and do my best to
a complete stranger and do my best to
a complete stranger and do my best to follow along slowly but surely I learn
follow along slowly but surely I learn
follow along slowly but surely I learn how to cross these streets I learned a
how to cross these streets I learned a
how to cross these streets I learned a profound lesson from this rather mundane
profound lesson from this rather mundane
profound lesson from this rather mundane and unremarkable activity of crossing
and unremarkable activity of crossing
and unremarkable activity of crossing the street I learned the power of
the street I learned the power of
the street I learned the power of intention of sorry imitation in this
intention of sorry imitation in this
intention of sorry imitation in this case it was imitation out of desperation
case it was imitation out of desperation
case it was imitation out of desperation as without
as without
as without mimicking others I quite literally would
mimicking others I quite literally would
mimicking others I quite literally would have never learned how to cross the
have never learned how to cross the
have never learned how to cross the street but there was a more meaningful
street but there was a more meaningful
street but there was a more meaningful message here
message here
message here imitation had become a key part of
imitation had become a key part of
imitation had become a key part of integrating culturally for me in within
integrating culturally for me in within
integrating culturally for me in within a week this was especially true within
a week this was especially true within
a week this was especially true within when it came to the nonverbal
when it came to the nonverbal
when it came to the nonverbal communication that is prevalent in India
communication that is prevalent in India
communication that is prevalent in India within a week of arriving I started to
within a week of arriving I started to
within a week of arriving I started to notice the ubiquitous head nod that I’m
notice the ubiquitous head nod that I’m
notice the ubiquitous head nod that I’m sure those of you who have been to India
sure those of you who have been to India
sure those of you who have been to India are familiar with its it’s somewhere
are familiar with its it’s somewhere
are familiar with its it’s somewhere between a yes and a no looks like this
between a yes and a no looks like this
between a yes and a no looks like this and it can kind of be used to answer any
and it can kind of be used to answer any
and it can kind of be used to answer any question now initially I have no idea
question now initially I have no idea
question now initially I have no idea what it means or how to interpret it I
what it means or how to interpret it I
what it means or how to interpret it I remember on one occasion I’d asked a
remember on one occasion I’d asked a
remember on one occasion I’d asked a colleague a question and he responded
colleague a question and he responded
colleague a question and he responded with the head nod and I had to say
with the head nod and I had to say
with the head nod and I had to say submit I don’t know what you’re saying
submit I don’t know what you’re saying
submit I don’t know what you’re saying is that a yes or is that a no without
is that a yes or is that a no without
is that a yes or is that a no without fully understanding it I just start to
fully understanding it I just start to
fully understanding it I just start to imitate it because at the very least I
imitate it because at the very least I
imitate it because at the very least I can tell it’s an important part of
can tell it’s an important part of
can tell it’s an important part of communication through trial and error I
communication through trial and error I
communication through trial and error I do slowly learn how to use the head nod
do slowly learn how to use the head nod
do slowly learn how to use the head nod properly
properly
properly now imitation has a lot of negative
now imitation has a lot of negative
now imitation has a lot of negative connotations some people call it
connotations some people call it
connotations some people call it unoriginal others go as far as calling
unoriginal others go as far as calling
unoriginal others go as far as calling it condescending or patronizing
it condescending or patronizing
it condescending or patronizing however imitation can come from a place
however imitation can come from a place
however imitation can come from a place of great sincerity and vulnerability
of great sincerity and vulnerability
of great sincerity and vulnerability when you let your guard down and accept
when you let your guard down and accept
when you let your guard down and accept you you accept you don’t know how to do
you you accept you don’t know how to do
you you accept you don’t know how to do something imitating others can be seen
something imitating others can be seen
something imitating others can be seen as a sign of respect or a desire to
as a sign of respect or a desire to
as a sign of respect or a desire to learn think about if you’ve traveled
learn think about if you’ve traveled
learn think about if you’ve traveled internationally to a place you don’t
internationally to a place you don’t
internationally to a place you don’t speak the local language any attempt you
speak the local language any attempt you
speak the local language any attempt you make to even learn a few words is often
make to even learn a few words is often
make to even learn a few words is often received with great warmth at least this
received with great warmth at least this
received with great warmth at least this has been my experience edit score this
has been my experience edit score this
has been my experience edit score this is imitation and I now tie and I now try
is imitation and I now tie and I now try
is imitation and I now tie and I now try to embrace it when I’m placed in
to embrace it when I’m placed in
to embrace it when I’m placed in unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations
unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations
unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations my time in India was Oh Leslie yeah my
my time in India was Oh Leslie yeah my
my time in India was Oh Leslie yeah my time in India was transformative well I
time in India was transformative well I
time in India was transformative well I had gone there to learn a specific set
had gone there to learn a specific set
had gone there to learn a specific set of finance and business
of finance and business
of finance and business I went there to learn a specific finance
I went there to learn a specific finance
I went there to learn a specific finance and business skillset I instead walked
and business skillset I instead walked
and business skillset I instead walked away having started down in Credle path
away having started down in Credle path
away having started down in Credle path of personal growth marked by life
of personal growth marked by life
of personal growth marked by life lessons such as this greater
lessons such as this greater
lessons such as this greater appreciation for imitation more
appreciation for imitation more
appreciation for imitation more importantly though I walked away with a
importantly though I walked away with a
importantly though I walked away with a profoundly different perspective of what
profoundly different perspective of what
profoundly different perspective of what it means to be intentional what struck
it means to be intentional what struck
it means to be intentional what struck me was how the growth I had had had come
me was how the growth I had had had come
me was how the growth I had had had come not as the result of a specific action
not as the result of a specific action
not as the result of a specific action but instead of just putting myself in a
but instead of just putting myself in a
but instead of just putting myself in a certain type of environment in the first
certain type of environment in the first
certain type of environment in the first place this was a turning point for me
place this was a turning point for me
place this was a turning point for me whereas in India the growth was largely
whereas in India the growth was largely
whereas in India the growth was largely accidental I now started to seek out
accidental I now started to seek out
accidental I now started to seek out opportunities where I knew I’d be placed
opportunities where I knew I’d be placed
opportunities where I knew I’d be placed back into these types of environments
back into these types of environments
back into these types of environments despite a disappointing work experience
despite a disappointing work experience
despite a disappointing work experience in India I now despite a disappointing
in India I now despite a disappointing
in India I now despite a disappointing work experience in India I grown quite
work experience in India I grown quite
work experience in India I grown quite fond of Commons as a company and I
fond of Commons as a company and I
fond of Commons as a company and I joined full-time in 2010 about after 18
joined full-time in 2010 about after 18
joined full-time in 2010 about after 18 months of persistently lobbying for an
months of persistently lobbying for an
months of persistently lobbying for an overseas work assignment I had two
overseas work assignment I had two
overseas work assignment I had two opportunities represented to me one was
opportunities represented to me one was
opportunities represented to me one was in Belgium and one was in South Africa
in Belgium and one was in South Africa
in Belgium and one was in South Africa in deciding between the two I asked
in deciding between the two I asked
in deciding between the two I asked myself one simple question which role
myself one simple question which role
myself one simple question which role would put me back
would put me back
would put me back most consistently put me back into those
most consistently put me back into those
most consistently put me back into those types of environments where I knew
types of environments where I knew
types of environments where I knew growth would occur needless to say I
growth would occur needless to say I
growth would occur needless to say I packed my bags and I was on my way to
packed my bags and I was on my way to
packed my bags and I was on my way to Africa well in the end I had four
Africa well in the end I had four
Africa well in the end I had four amazing years in Africa and while I was
amazing years in Africa and while I was
amazing years in Africa and while I was based in South Africa I spent the
based in South Africa I spent the
based in South Africa I spent the majority of my time traveling across the
majority of my time traveling across the
majority of my time traveling across the continent helping cummins establish and
continent helping cummins establish and
continent helping cummins establish and grow new businesses in total I visited
grow new businesses in total I visited
grow new businesses in total I visited over a dozen African countries and I
over a dozen African countries and I
over a dozen African countries and I made many lifelong friends along the way
made many lifelong friends along the way
made many lifelong friends along the way growth continued to come from where from
growth continued to come from where from
growth continued to come from where from unusual places where I was least
unusual places where I was least
unusual places where I was least expecting it and most importantly as the
expecting it and most importantly as the
expecting it and most importantly as the result of no specific action a perfect
result of no specific action a perfect
result of no specific action a perfect example of this is a trip I took early
example of this is a trip I took early
example of this is a trip I took early last year to attend a friend’s wedding
last year to attend a friend’s wedding
last year to attend a friend’s wedding now it’s a warm Saturday morning and I’m
now it’s a warm Saturday morning and I’m
now it’s a warm Saturday morning and I’m driving about an hour south of
driving about an hour south of
driving about an hour south of Johannesburg to a small Township named
Johannesburg to a small Township named
Johannesburg to a small Township named Sybil cane with the name of the church
Sybil cane with the name of the church
Sybil cane with the name of the church and my smartphone I feel I have
and my smartphone I feel I have
and my smartphone I feel I have everything I need to navigate to the
everything I need to navigate to the
everything I need to navigate to the wedding in the three and a half years
wedding in the three and a half years
wedding in the three and a half years I’d lived in South Africa never once had
I’d lived in South Africa never once had
I’d lived in South Africa never once had I had a problem navigating with GPS but
I had a problem navigating with GPS but
I had a problem navigating with GPS but by the third failed attempt to find the
by the third failed attempt to find the
by the third failed attempt to find the Dutch Reformed Church I had run into
Dutch Reformed Church I had run into
Dutch Reformed Church I had run into four other cars full of equally lost
four other cars full of equally lost
four other cars full of equally lost wedding guests for the next two hours we
wedding guests for the next two hours we
wedding guests for the next two hours we aimlessly caravan across the township
aimlessly caravan across the township
aimlessly caravan across the township asking dozens of local townspeople if
asking dozens of local townspeople if
asking dozens of local townspeople if they know where the church is
they know where the church is
they know where the church is and we’re consistently met with puzzled
and we’re consistently met with puzzled
and we’re consistently met with puzzled looks almost as if they don’t even know
looks almost as if they don’t even know
looks almost as if they don’t even know what we’re asking them and this is not a
what we’re asking them and this is not a
what we’re asking them and this is not a language barrier issue everyone is
language barrier issue everyone is
language barrier issue everyone is speaking English we then stumble we send
speaking English we then stumble we send
speaking English we then stumble we send stumble upon an elderly woman gardening
stumble upon an elderly woman gardening
stumble upon an elderly woman gardening in her front lawn in her front yard
in her front lawn in her front yard
in her front lawn in her front yard tired stressed beyond fashionably late
tired stressed beyond fashionably late
tired stressed beyond fashionably late and in what I am sure to be the 15th
and in what I am sure to be the 15th
and in what I am sure to be the 15th futile attempt to ascertain the location
futile attempt to ascertain the location
futile attempt to ascertain the location of the church I ask her I say hey mum do
of the church I ask her I say hey mum do
of the church I ask her I say hey mum do you know where the Dutch Reformed
you know where the Dutch Reformed
you know where the Dutch Reformed churches she looks at me and she says
churches she looks at me and she says
churches she looks at me and she says the church with red bricks and a green
the church with red bricks and a green
the church with red bricks and a green roof is just over there but I don’t know
roof is just over there but I don’t know
roof is just over there but I don’t know what its name is and that’s when it hits
what its name is and that’s when it hits
what its name is and that’s when it hits me
me
me I’d been approaching the problem in
I’d been approaching the problem in
I’d been approaching the problem in completely the wrong way the church was
completely the wrong way the church was
completely the wrong way the church was not known by its English name but
not known by its English name but
not known by its English name but instead by its physical description
instead by its physical description
instead by its physical description addresses street names maps this was not
addresses street names maps this was not
addresses street names maps this was not the system through
the system through
the system through this community primarily navigated they
this community primarily navigated they
this community primarily navigated they navigated by landmark in physical
navigated by landmark in physical
navigated by landmark in physical description
description
description thus the church didn’t have an address
thus the church didn’t have an address
thus the church didn’t have an address wasn’t really on a map that wouldn’t
wasn’t really on a map that wouldn’t
wasn’t really on a map that wouldn’t have made any sense offering to show us
have made any sense offering to show us
have made any sense offering to show us the way
the way
the way the elderly woman climbed into my Jeep
the elderly woman climbed into my Jeep
the elderly woman climbed into my Jeep and we arrived at the church within five
and we arrived at the church within five
and we arrived at the church within five minutes
minutes
minutes luckily the pastor was still preaching
luckily the pastor was still preaching
luckily the pastor was still preaching and we hadn’t missed the whole ceremony
and we hadn’t missed the whole ceremony
and we hadn’t missed the whole ceremony now it took me a few weeks to fully
now it took me a few weeks to fully
now it took me a few weeks to fully synthesize the implications of the
synthesize the implications of the
synthesize the implications of the experience I’d had in see looking
experience I’d had in see looking
experience I’d had in see looking ultimately I failed to locate the church
ultimately I failed to locate the church
ultimately I failed to locate the church because I was operating within a frame
because I was operating within a frame
because I was operating within a frame with a framework that wasn’t compatible
with a framework that wasn’t compatible
with a framework that wasn’t compatible with the environment I was in at the
with the environment I was in at the
with the environment I was in at the time furthermore the correct framework
time furthermore the correct framework
time furthermore the correct framework to use never once crossed my mind
to use never once crossed my mind
to use never once crossed my mind navigating by physical description in
navigating by physical description in
navigating by physical description in landmark never once crossed my mind to
landmark never once crossed my mind to
landmark never once crossed my mind to use the common idiom it goes beyond
use the common idiom it goes beyond
use the common idiom it goes beyond putting yourself in someone else’s shoes
putting yourself in someone else’s shoes
putting yourself in someone else’s shoes because you potentially don’t even know
because you potentially don’t even know
because you potentially don’t even know what those shoes look like now when I
what those shoes look like now when I
what those shoes look like now when I face a particularly challenging problem
face a particularly challenging problem
face a particularly challenging problem I attempt to relinquish everything I
I attempt to relinquish everything I
I attempt to relinquish everything I think I know and actively try to think
think I know and actively try to think
think I know and actively try to think about the situation from a different
about the situation from a different
about the situation from a different perspective and most importantly be
perspective and most importantly be
perspective and most importantly be cognizant they may not even know what
cognizant they may not even know what
cognizant they may not even know what that what some of those alternative
that what some of those alternative
that what some of those alternative perspectives look like my time in Africa
perspectives look like my time in Africa
perspectives look like my time in Africa was was highlighted by experiences such
was was highlighted by experiences such
was was highlighted by experiences such as these great personal leadership
as these great personal leadership
as these great personal leadership insights that came from nothing more
insights that came from nothing more
insights that came from nothing more than putting myself in uncomfortable
than putting myself in uncomfortable
than putting myself in uncomfortable environments so why does all of this
environments so why does all of this
environments so why does all of this matter I’ve noticed the connection
matter I’ve noticed the connection
matter I’ve noticed the connection between the types of personal leadership
between the types of personal leadership
between the types of personal leadership at the types of personal leadership
at the types of personal leadership
at the types of personal leadership insights that come when you place
insights that come when you place
insights that come when you place yourself in what in uncomfortable
yourself in what in uncomfortable
yourself in what in uncomfortable environments and the attributes of
environments and the attributes of
environments and the attributes of successful global leaders leadership
successful global leaders leadership
successful global leaders leadership today consists of operating in an
today consists of operating in an
today consists of operating in an increasingly interconnected world in a
increasingly interconnected world in a
increasingly interconnected world in a world that has increasingly diverse
world that has increasingly diverse
world that has increasingly diverse teams yet diverse teams are not in and
teams yet diverse teams are not in and
teams yet diverse teams are not in and of themselves enough to solve today’s
of themselves enough to solve today’s
of themselves enough to solve today’s greatest challenges leaders need to know
greatest challenges leaders need to know
greatest challenges leaders need to know how to harness the different
how to harness the different
how to harness the different perspectives and life experiences of
perspectives and life experiences of
perspectives and life experiences of their teams in order to come up with
their teams in order to come up with
their teams in order to come up with innovative solutions if you think about
innovative solutions if you think about
innovative solutions if you think about it
it
it it’s actually silly to think that one
it’s actually silly to think that one
it’s actually silly to think that one person with one set of life experiences
person with one set of life experiences
person with one set of life experiences knows the right path forward all of the
knows the right path forward all of the
knows the right path forward all of the time great leaders are a great leaders
time great leaders are a great leaders
time great leaders are a great leaders not only someone who is confident enough
not only someone who is confident enough
not only someone who is confident enough to accept when they don’t know the right
to accept when they don’t know the right
to accept when they don’t know the right path forward but someone who’s willing
path forward but someone who’s willing
path forward but someone who’s willing who’s willing to consciously think about
who’s willing to consciously think about
who’s willing to consciously think about and leverage perspectives other than
and leverage perspectives other than
and leverage perspectives other than their own even if they’re not fully
their own even if they’re not fully
their own even if they’re not fully comfortable or they don’t fully
comfortable or they don’t fully
comfortable or they don’t fully understand those alternative
understand those alternative
understand those alternative perspectives leaders need to know when
perspectives leaders need to know when
perspectives leaders need to know when to imitate others or more importantly
to imitate others or more importantly
to imitate others or more importantly when to broaden their horizons to
when to broaden their horizons to
when to broaden their horizons to consider perspectives they didn’t know
consider perspectives they didn’t know
consider perspectives they didn’t know existed before and make no mistake this
existed before and make no mistake this
existed before and make no mistake this is that this takes deliberate action
is that this takes deliberate action
is that this takes deliberate action taking a step back and saying hey maybe
taking a step back and saying hey maybe
taking a step back and saying hey maybe there’s a solution to this problem I
there’s a solution to this problem I
there’s a solution to this problem I haven’t thought of yet that’s that takes
haven’t thought of yet that’s that takes
haven’t thought of yet that’s that takes intention but wait haven’t I been saying
intention but wait haven’t I been saying
intention but wait haven’t I been saying all along
all along
all along don’t be intentional herein lies the
don’t be intentional herein lies the
don’t be intentional herein lies the paradox of what I’m suggesting in order
paradox of what I’m suggesting in order
paradox of what I’m suggesting in order to truly learn and embrace these types
to truly learn and embrace these types
to truly learn and embrace these types of personal leadership insights you
of personal leadership insights you
of personal leadership insights you cannot intentionally seek them out you
cannot intentionally seek them out you
cannot intentionally seek them out you can only intentionally put yourself in
can only intentionally put yourself in
can only intentionally put yourself in the types of environments where these
the types of environments where these
the types of environments where these lessons emerge naturally emerge you have
lessons emerge naturally emerge you have
lessons emerge naturally emerge you have to be intentionally unintentional what’s
to be intentionally unintentional what’s
to be intentionally unintentional what’s what’s important here is not the
what’s important here is not the
what’s important here is not the specific lesson or experience but rather
specific lesson or experience but rather
specific lesson or experience but rather the willingness to put yourself in the
the willingness to put yourself in the
the willingness to put yourself in the types of situations where these lessons
types of situations where these lessons
types of situations where these lessons present themselves in the first place
present themselves in the first place
present themselves in the first place well I’ve highlighted two personal
well I’ve highlighted two personal
well I’ve highlighted two personal leadership insights today there are many
leadership insights today there are many
leadership insights today there are many other lessons that only that can only
other lessons that only that can only
other lessons that only that can only truly emerge when you put yourself in
truly emerge when you put yourself in
truly emerge when you put yourself in uncomfortable situations actively seek
uncomfortable situations actively seek
uncomfortable situations actively seek uncomfortable and unfamiliar
uncomfortable and unfamiliar
uncomfortable and unfamiliar environments consciously aware that
environments consciously aware that
environments consciously aware that these are the spaces where the greatest
these are the spaces where the greatest
these are the spaces where the greatest growth naturally occurs thank
growth naturally occurs thank
growth naturally occurs thank [Applause]
”
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