Why did I get out of bed today?

by Heather Plett | Feb 6, 2006 | Uncategorized

I’m having a discouraging day today (see post below). It seems like I’m accomplishing so little on the grand scheme of things. I’m spending most of the day reminding myself of all my failings – I’m an ineffective leader, I haven’t made any significant impact on this organization even though I’ve been here nearly 2 years, I don’t seem to be able to figure out how to build a team, I feel like a dog barking in the wind speaking to people who rarely listen, I haven’t figured out how to work effectively with the “difficult people” on the team, I’m letting people’s opinions affect me too much – oh, the list could go on and on. Every time I THINK I’m taking a step forward, I’m forced to take 2 back.

How do you combat discouragement? I have no idea. I’ve prayed, I’ve tried to remind myself of the things I’ve done right, I’ve reached out to encourage other people hoping that the reaching out would lift my own spirits, I’ve vented to listening ears, I’ve gone for a walk to try to clear my head. Oh, they’ve all helped a little, but none of these things is sufficiently lifting me out of my mood.

At lunch time, I went for a walk and ended up where I often end up when I need a little comfort. No, I didn’t head to a bar to order a stiff drink, nor did I go to the food store for a junk food fix (though, I admit, it was hugely tempting). No, what I did was head to the bookstore. Few things clear my head and help me think more clearly better than books.

I didn’t find anything revolutionary or particularly mind altering. I browsed a little, picked up a few things that looked interesting (like a book on spiritual labyrinths and mazes – seemed like an intriquing idea), but didn’t really find anything that helped. I walked back to the office with my spirits still fairly low.

When I got back to the office, I found myself still in a funk, unable to focus clearly enough to get any real work done. So I started browsing through my “looks interesting, find some time to read later” file, again hoping to find some written word that would lift my spirits.

This is what I found…. the speech that Bono delivered at the National Prayer Breakfast recently. (If you go to the link, scroll down the page to find “Bono’s best sermon yet”. It’s worth the read.)

Well, I’m not entirely out of my funk. I STILL don’t know how I’ll solve all my team leadership problems. Bono didn’t help me figure THAT out. But… I’m once again renewed and refreshed in my desire to be part of something bigger than myself – an effort to make the world a better, place, where the poor have a voice, the rich countries of the world are willing to share their power, and justice is available for all. I know, it sounds like a pipe dream, but everyone needs to have a dream. And we need to be part of something.

Here’s a rock star who could be resting on his laurels, enjoying the “good life”, kicking back on the French Riviera with his friends, and instead, he’s daring to ruffle some feathers, get in their faces, talk to people in power, and make a difference. There is so much I admire about him, but one of the things that intrigues me most is his ability to get people to listen to him. Not just rock music enthusiasts, but Kings and Presidents and Corporations. And, according to an article about him in Time magazine, he’s done it by speaking the language they can relate to. When he speaks to fundamentalist Christians (like the current administration) he quotes the Bible, when he speaks to big business, he uses economics, when he speaks to liberals, he uses justice language. There’s something to be said for someone who can reach people where they are.

I may not be a rock star, but I can continue to try to use my voice to support those whose voices are never heard. It may not always be the easiest place to work, but I have an incredible opportunity to be part of an organization that’s supporting the poor, and for that I am grateful.

To sum it up, here’s a quote from Bono’s speech:

A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord’s blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it. I have a family, please look after them. I have this crazy idea…

And this wise man said: stop.

Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing.

Discouraged

by Heather Plett | Feb 6, 2006 | Uncategorized

After several years of being a manager, I know these things to be true:
– no matter how many leadership or coaching books you read or courses you take, people are still people and you can’t mold them into the shape you want them to take
– even bosses need some positive re-inforcement now and then – if you have one, make sure she/he doesn’t just hear criticism all the time
– you can’t make a group of people act like a team if they don’t want to be a team
– conference calls are a waste of time if only one or two people do all the talking
– no matter what good idea you have (or another person on the team has), someone will pour cold water on it
– some people DELIGHT in pouring the cold water
– it’s nearly impossible to lead people who don’t think they need to be lead

Sometimes I wonder why I still do it. Today, I’d rather be working all alone with just a computer screen to keep me company. But instead, I steel myself to lead yet another waste-of-time conference call that I keep insisting we have because it’s the only way I can imagine we’ll begin to build a team out of a bunch of “I’ll do things my way” people spread across the country.

Enough

by Heather Plett | Jan 30, 2006 | Uncategorized

When my sister asked me if I wanted to go through some of the clothes she’d received as hand-me-downs (expensive, brand-name clothes, I might add) to see if I needed or wanted any of them, I said “no thank you. I have enough clothes.”

Wow! Enough. I truly have enough. It was good to say those words and realize that they were true. Not just in the area of clothes, either. It’s true for furniture, kitchen gadgets, and all kinds of other stuff too. I have enough.

Oh sure, if I started to think of it, I could find things I’d LIKE, but even that list isn’t very long right now. I feel content with what I have. My closets are full enough, my cupboards are full enough, my house is full enough.

It’s a good feeling – to realize that you are content. It helps that I’ve made a decision to not bring anything into my house unless I am prepared to get rid of the same number of things from what’s already there. It makes me think twice about accepting things – even the things people give me. It’s a zero sum game – acquisitions in equals dispersements out.

Yes, I have enough.

Maddie-ism

by Heather Plett | Jan 26, 2006 | Uncategorized

Said between sobs while she wanders around the house naked after her sister beat her into the bathtub… “I’m going to get my Barbie suitcase,” sob, “and I’m going to pack it and move somewhere where I NEVER have to take baths AGAIN!” sob

I’ve never had a kid who threatens to move away from home as often as she does, and she’s only three. And the scary thing is, sometimes I think she’d actually DO IT! Fortunately, tonight’s not the night, because she’s now cozy and clean in her pajamas, still in my house. Whew!

(If anyone sees a three year old wandering past their house with a Barbie suitcase please send her home.)

Sometimes it just sneaks up on you

by Heather Plett | Jan 25, 2006 | Uncategorized

Sometimes, when you’re driving home in the dark, on the way home from your mom’s house where you’ve heard one too many “God’s truth” opinions voiced, the kids are laughing and playing “hats over” in the back seat of the car, it hits you and all you can do is let the tears flow because you remember a moment, a conversation, a pat on the shoulder, and you long to have him back.

This time, it was the election. I wanted to hear his opinion. I wanted to see him reading his Maclean’s magazine and wondering what might be in store for our country this time around. I wanted the voice of a man who liked to listen to other peoples’ opinions, challenge them, disagree with them perhaps, yet always respect them deeply. I wanted to thank him for raising me to have an opinion, a voice, and the confidence to believe in it even if it was different from his own.

I wanted it so badly I could almost taste it.