Grateful

It's often said when you're stuck or feel down, helping someone less fortunate can be the biggest gift for both of you. No matter your religion or cultural background, there are points in your life when you have felt beaten down and sad.

Those are the times to take out a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the things that are going well. You may not think it's a long list but if you let your mind go, be kind to you, and think deep, you will find it. And it might just change your life.

Here's my list for today.

I am grateful for my health and for my loving family.
I am grateful for wonderful friends who are family and for food in my belly.

I am grateful for the ability to help others and for collaboration.
I am grateful for a vast network of people to explore new and exciting ideas.

I am grateful for chocolate. and or all of my senses and physical abilities.

I am grateful for music and for the ability to live in a cool town.
I am grateful for a charmed life and for creativity.

I am grateful for the desire and chance to do something bigger than me.
I am grateful for a great home and for freedom.

I am grateful for my passion for cooking and for learning my lesson.

I am grateful for a remarkable group of colleagues around the world.
I am grateful for curiosity. I am grateful for sharing and for coffee.

I am grateful for being able to give back and for perspective.
I am grateful for possibilities and for the ability to share this with you.

I am grateful for the blessing of a clever mind and for compassion.

Now it's your turn.
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Meet Sue Austin

Like you, I’ve seen and read plenty of content on how to get out of our heads or push through adversity, and more will be required as we live our lives, but I wanted something different, something that would be a good stiff kick in the butt.

Leadership isn't about being in control when the road is straight and dry but rather handling difficulties and unforeseen curves along the way.

This is Sue Austin


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Freedom is a Privilege

Millions of women and men of all races and nationalities have given their lives for the freedoms we embrace. Those freedoms are not a right; they are a privilege we hold dearly in our souls. You and I may disagree but we both cherish our ability to do just that.

No one, no matter who they are, what office they hold, or how many names they call those who oppose them, has the right to unilaterally decide those freedoms simply by our faith, the country of our birth, or the colour of our skin.

No one.
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I Am Grateful

It's often said when you're stuck or feel down, helping someone less fortunate can be the biggest gift for both of you. No matter your religion or cultural background, there are points in your life when you have felt beaten down and sad.

Those are the times to take out a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the things that are going well. You may not think it's a long list but if you let your mind go, be kind to you, and think deep, you will find it. And it might just change your life.

Here's my list for today.

I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for my loving family.
I am grateful for wonderful friends who are family. I am grateful for food in my belly.

I am grateful for the ability to help others. I am grateful for collaboration.
I am grateful for a vast network of people to explore new and exciting ideas.

I am grateful for chocolate. I am grateful for all of my senses and physical abilities.

I am grateful for music. I am grateful for the ability to live in a cool town.
I am grateful for a charmed life. I am grateful for creativity.

I am grateful for the desire and chance to do something bigger than me.
I am grateful for a great home, I am grateful for now. I am grateful for freedom.

I am grateful for my passion for cooking. I am grateful for learning my lesson.

I am grateful for a remarkable group of colleagues around the world.
I am grateful for curiosity. I am grateful for sharing. I am grateful for coffee.

I am grateful for being able to give back. I am grateful for perspective.
I am grateful for possibilities. I am grateful for the ability to share this with you.

I am grateful for the blessing of a clever mind. I am grateful for compassion.

Your turn.
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Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit

Thank-You Maya

The world lost a great mind and mentor this week. Dr. Maya Angelou was 86 when she passed away in her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The St. Louis native and Pulitzer Prize nominee gave us a seemingly endless list of great works and shared her thoughts and wisdom through her books, poems, speeches, and tireless inspiration.

We'll let her have the last words.

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it. 

My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return. Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Nothing can dim the light which shines from within. Nothing will work unless you do. 

You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. 

One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.


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getty | voavideo

Madiba

The father of democracy in South Africa and beloved man around the world died yesterday with the same dignity that gave him the strength to endure 27 years of imprisonment then emerge as the first black president of his country, the key figure in the ending of apartheid, and the recipient of the Noble Peace Prize.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's poise, grace, and leadership inspired billions and will do so for generations to come.

PBS tells Mandela's story.


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Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela | PBS

What's Your Excuse?

I was looking for something inspirational this morning. Like you, I’ve seen and read plenty of content on how to get out of our heads or push through adversity, and more will be required as we live our lives, but I wanted something different, something that would be a good stiff kick in the butt.

Leadership isn't about being in control when the road is straight and dry but rather handling difficulties and unforeseen curves along the way.

Meet Sue Austin



TED | Sue Austin

Growing Ideas

It’s easy to say we care. It’s simple to make a wish list of things we could do. It takes courage and commitment to get to work. We all have stuff we want to improve, people we want to help, and ideas we want to execute. Ron Finley is not living in wishes and someday, he’s getting it done today.

Raised in South Central Los Angeles, Ron showed an early passion and talent for fashion, and started his own clothing company, The Dropdead Collexion, in his family garage. His hard work took him from the streets of LA to the shelves of Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue but he has never forgotten his home.

Ron has created LA Green Grounds to help bring health and pride back to South Central and explains in his TEDTalk how he took a simple idea and wrapped his arms around his community. Ron Finley welcomes all to dig in and help.

Perhaps we can also get to that wish list while we’re at it.


Kneale Mann | Leadership and Culture Strategist, Writer, Speaker, Executive Coach helping leaders create dynamic culture and improved results.

Ron Finley

Do We Care?

I don’t care if I don’t agree with what you say.
I’m thankful we can engage in a meaningful conversation.

You might not care what I did last year or last week.
We can bring forward the good and incinerate the rest.

I don't care how much money you have or have lost.
The key is we can collaborate to create change now.

You could not care about my opinion.
It's good we have the freedom to have one.

I may not care it didn't work out for you last time.
Together we might be able to make our ideas a reality.

You probably don't care what I did years ago.
We could merge our collective experience and create something cool.

Through leadership, let's show how much we care.

Kneale Mann

cdnsba

Never Forget

Let us always remember the brave women and men who gave their lives and to those who continue to fight for freedom.

Kneale Mann

We’re All The Same

You may want a raised bungalow with a pool while she has her eyes set on that new condo building downtown, but it’s not about the stuff, it’s about the stuff inside. It’s about the stuff that drives us to find passion in our work and relationships.

Climbing some corporate ladder begins to lose its luster after a while. There has to be more. We need to strive for growth in areas other than titles and compensation. Yes, we want to make a living but the key word is living, not sustenance.

Show You The Money?

I could triple your salary then take away all of your freedom and creativity, and you may enjoy some new toys for a while but it won’t last long. The victories and challenges we think back on are rarely linked to salary or position. Anyone who got there, had to struggle to get there. There are no short-cuts, there are no lottery tickets, there are no replacements for doing the work.

I have the unique privilege of working with leaders from Canada, Belgium, Germany, the U.S., and China and we may not be as different as we suspect. I often refer to a quote that makes a lot of sense. Maybe it will resonate with you.

No matter how many mistakes or how slow your progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t even trying. 
Tony Robbins

Kneale Mann

aplacetolovedogs

44 Years Later - His Dream is Alive

Many may say it’s not possible. The naysayers will chime in to remind you that no one has tried that before while the status quo will fight to keep things just the way they are now. Every now and then someone is brave to stand for millions and remind us that each of us counts and can affect positive change.

April 4, 1968

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was just 39 years old when his life was ended in Memphis. His inspiration continues more than four decades after his tragic passing. Dr. King's words remind us that we can do it, we can put forth change, and we can have a dream.

• A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

• A right delayed is a right denied.

• At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

• Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. We must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.

• Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.

• I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

• Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.

• You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

• Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.

• Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

• Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?

Kneale Mann

image: mlk memorial

How Do You Create Change?

If you are facing an issue that seems insurmountable, watch this. If you feel alone in trying to make a difference, watch this. If you want to find others to help you conquer the problems you face, watch this.

Invisible Children is the brainchild of Jason Russell and Laren Poole along with a team of 40 dedicated people in San Diego and help from millions around the world.

But it didn't happen overnight. Change takes time and dedication and leadership and guts and perseverance. It can be tough and scary. Especially when you are trying to change the trajectory of the future.

If you want to help, watch this.


Kneale Mann

visual: invisiblechildren

Let's Remember

We spend a lot of time discussing business and fretting over the economy. Let's take a moment to thank the brave women and men who fight and have fought for our freedom.

We remember so we never forget

Kneale Mann

image credit: blogto

34 Reasons to be Thankful

Today and Every Day

I am a proud Canadian. I live in the most multicultural country on earth which means there is never a shortage of places to find great food and learn customs from all over the world.

We have clean drinking water, safe roads, universal health care and an abundance of natural resources.

There are about 33 million of us spread over the second largest land mass in the world but despite some suspicions we do not all speak French or live in igloos and it is not winter eleven months of the year.

What is true is that innovation, ideas and creativity are plentiful in Canada.

It is a wonderful place to live.

Canadian Thanksgiving was on October 11th this year. Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. And since over half of the visitors to this space are from the U.S., I thought I would mention some of what I am thankful for every day.

• My family
• Great friends
• A sense of humour
• Learning daily
• Creativity
• Better understanding of me
• Abilities yet to be fully developed
• Incredible people I have met through various social networking channels
• Chocolate
• Opportunity to help others
• Conceptual thinking
• Humility
• You
• Options for my career path
• Wisdom of Mom
• Fascinating clients
• Passion for writing
• Help when I least expect it from the most surprising of places
• Tireless mentors
• Feedback
• An inquisitive mind
• Health
• Choice to quest a fulfilling career
• Freedom
• Four brothers from other mothers
• Ice cream
• Passion
• Appetite for more
• Childlikeness of Dad
• Fabulous colleagues
• People on my side
• Curiosity
• Appreciation for now

What are your reasons to be thankful?

knealemann | email


Join me for Movember.
image credit: jessica lagunas

Freedoms Realized

Today is Remembrance Day and it is given due respect around the world with presentations, ceremonies and personal sharing of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy our lives today.

Sadly, conflict continues and probably always will but the only way for us to get our minds around it all is to cherish each other's ideas and innovation in business, medicine, science, technology and relationships.

Our lives are busy with workflow and corporate climbing, deadlines and responsibilities, making ends meet and realizing our dreams.

The explosion of the social web has given us access to each other in a way no one could have predicted. There are almost two billion of us connecting online.

They gave us our freedom.

When we talk about the freedoms, we often refer to the ability to realize dreams and have a safe place to live, clean water and our ability to create our own path.

We must remember everyone who put their lives in harm's way every day.

So today, I thought I’d share a video from TED curator Chris Anderson who discusses the rise of the web which is driving a phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation. This is about much more than technology.

This is about our visceral desire to connect, share and advance our knowledge. It is a freedom we need to cherish and nurture.


knealemann | email

Join me for Movember.

image credit: TED

Remembering: Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.
January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

Remember | Never Forget

Remember those who have fought with their most precious gift of all.

Remember fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, cousins and friends who did not come back and have the time to cherish the freedoms we enjoy.

Remember that our problems pale in comparison.

Remember women and men who continue to defend our right to say and do what we want.

Remember those who helped shape our ideals and freedom.

Remember souls who give us hope and perspective
to what is really important.

Remember to say...

Thank You