Books
Poet Envy, A “Tribute” To Billy Collins, U.S. Poet Laureate
So on 11-12-13 Judith and I go to Rollins College to hear Billy Collins, the U.S. Poet Laureate and a Winter Park neighbor. His newest book is called Aimless Love. He shared readings from this plus many of his other poems. What a delightful, funny, and thoughtful event because that is Billy, and his writing reflects the man.
My added bonus was the feeling of being sophisticated by osmosis from being dipped into what felt like a room full of English majors (I married one). Despite my business degrees, I could appreciate the poetry, but more importantly, the poet's keen mind, wit, and way with words. Invest a few minutes to catch The Lanyard. Your mother will appreciate it.
I've pasted a YouTube video of Billy reading "The Lanyard."
And if you're so moved to scroll a bit further, you can read Poet Envy, the poem that Billy inspired me to write.
Poet Envy
The poet writes in stanzas
And I develop sentences, into paragraphs, into chapters.
The poet postures by looking outward from within
And I internalize the world and offer up deep reflection.
The poet amuses himself and jots it down
And I am bound by order, context, and flow.
The poet creates with gestational ease
And I conceive, carry, birth, and raise.
The poet leans upon the dais reading from his poems
And I stand before them nakedly without notes.
The poet opens pages and recites his children
And I develop my opening, middle, and close.
Oh to be a writer of verse instead of prose.
This poem took me 30 minutes instead of 30 months.
May I Share Four Gifts With You?
What is Peace?
Please read the text below this On-Purpose Minute and Christmas Greeting.
Here are your 4 Gifts:
Gift 1: The Gift of Finding True Peace
Gift 2: The On-Purpose Person Kindle Edition* for free (link below)
Gift 3: The On-Purpose Business Person Kindle Edition* for free (link below)
Gift 4: The Gift of Sharing These Gifts—Pass along this message!
*BONUS: Link to download free Kindle Reader App for most any computer, tablet, or phone
Gift 1: The Gift of Finding True Peace
What is peace? And, who doesn't long for peace? But do we really understand what we're searching for? Peace is not an absence of conflict, work, distress, or stress. Peace is a state of being in spite of conflict, work, distress, and stress.
In Hebrew the word Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) means peace or oneness, wholeness, or completeness. This oneness 
isn't to be found just within us. In fact, core peace is only found in a oneness with God. When we're apart from God, we're divided, alone, discontented, and unsettled. Peace apart from God is impossible.
Your 2-word purpose statement is your unique, loving connection to God. When you know your 2-word purpose statement you have the essential connector to God that is distinct to you. This added identity gives a depth and strength so we're more apt to be at peace even as all Hell is breaking loose around us.
Being On-Purpose is that state of being one with God—truly the peace that passes all understanding. Inner peace begins with being right with God.
My Christmas wish to you is that you embrace the Prince of Peace—the person of Jesus. Keeping God as a concept is easy. Jesus, however, is difficult because He is about a personal relationship. He brings us to a place of decision to accept or reject and that causes conflict, work, distress, and stress. So how can one who causes so much turmoil to the soul be the way to peace? The seeming irrationality of it all is confounding on its face. Think for a minute, however, and you'll see that it is the only logical way for us to come freely to a place and person of peace. Of course Jesus was hated and loved. His presence calls for a response.
My Gifts Toward Peace For You:
May I help you get on the journey to peace? From December 25—27 only, use the links below to download free Kindle editions of The On-Purpose Person (Gift 2) and The On-Purpose Business Person (Gift 3).
Gift 4 is the gift of sharing this offer of peace with family, friends, and associates. Please copy and pass along this link: https://kevinwmccarthy.com/my_weblog/2012/12/what-is-peace/
BONUS GIFT: Don't have a Kindle device? No problem! There are Kindle Reader Apps for PCs, Macs, iPhones, Androids, iPads, and more. Use this link: Kindle Reader Apps For Most Any Device
“To Lead is to Serve” by Shar McBee
I just posted this review on Amazon.com about To Lead is to Serve by Shar McBee. I figured, Why not share Shar here? So here goes. It follows the link below to go to amazon. It is a free Kindle download today.
Over the decades, I've been the board chair or a board member for
numerous Not-For-Profit (NFP)organizations. To Lead is to Serve nails
the realities of servant leadership by heightening awareness for those
easy-to-miss courtesies every person, let alone leader, needs to live.
One
doesn't need to be a leader by title to gain from this book. We're
surrounded by "volunteers" at home, at work, and in NFPs. Civility,
graciousness, and authentic caring never go out of style, yet, for most
of us, they are learned manners. Who is your mentor?
Shar McBee, a
mentor and the author, begins chapters with a story from her extensive
background and experience. This format plus her writing style makes for
a swift and enjoyable read plus memorable impact. Key takeaways are
distilled for the reader along with practical "Gems" and "Exercises" to
meaningfully solidify the everyday application and adoption of this
serving orientation.
Another element that makes this message
remarkable is its do-ability factor today. She's asking us, the
reader/leader, to make a shift in perspective and posture from running
something to serving someone. Then again, that's what servant-leadership
is all about – the people. Rarely, however, have I seen the concept
and principles brought to life in such actionable terms for anyone for
any given moment starting where ever you are.
To Lead is to
Serve is a leadership book that invites a high touch approach to doing
life. Some "leaders" may be tempted to use this content as a means to
manipulate volunteers to do their bidding. If that's you, then please
read the book and discover a healthier and happier way for all of us to
interact with you. Serving is a lifestyle before it is a leadership
style but it begins with you deciding to lead is to serve (to borrow a
phrase).
Thank you Shar McBee for this powerful, easy to read, and precious message of leading by serving.
Kevin W. McCarthy
Author, The On-Purpose Person
PS: Here is Shar's website: http://www.JoyofLeadership.com
Great Quotes From Great Leaders
I’ve always been a fan of great quotes. They are a thing of beauty in both prose and provocation to reflect on the matter at hand. Enjoy this brief movie from my friends at Simple Truths:
What Are Core Values?
Purpose and values are strongly related. Purpose precedes values. Purpose is by definition good. Values without purpose being inherently good can be easily abused. Values, you'll discover, will often be in conflict.
How does one resolve a values conflict? Your purpose provides the swing vote or trump card if needed.
For example, most people would say that a value such as "Family first" makes a lot of sense. Now consider that if that family is the mob and you as a family member happen to cross the family. Another value kicks in—you cross the family, you die. Murder, even an "honor killing" is still murder.
The values came in conflict! A purpose statement that is by definition "good"—a rather biblical concept from Genesis or "of God"—has a higher probability of engaging our deeper spirit or consciousness that murder is absolutely wrong regardless of the circumstances.
I'm sharing with you this brief Simple Truths movie about core values. It offers a solid "core" reasoning for investing in knowing your values and better knowing yourself.
Are you ready to clarify and write your purpose and values plus vision and mission? Enroll today in The On-Purpose Leader Experience. The next six-week cycle begins October 23. Watch a free one-hour preview and enroll at this same site—discount prices currently show in the shopping cart, too, so you can save $50 or $70 on your enrollment for one or two persons.
Do You Want The On-Purpose Person For Free?
Download The On-Purpose Person for free in Kindle: go to http://www.oppkindle.com. Starting today through April 28, you can get the unabridged book for nothing. Don't have a Kindle device? No problem, use the link above to download free Kindle reader software for your Mac, PC, phone, or iPad!
Once you have your own free Kindle edition, please share the message of being on-purpose with others on your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social media and email lists. Thanks for helping the planet to be on-purpose!
On-Purpose Profile: Hugh MacLeod of GapingVoid.com
permissions granted for use of the above cartoon by Hugh MacLeod
In spite of my classic business education and conservative ways, I have a deep appreciation for artists who tear into the essence of the human condition to challenge the traditionally held views of society. All is not right since that one bite in the Garden of Eden.
A recent post I saw in Copyblogger.com by Hugh MacLeod inspired me to dig into his story. His artwork brought a smile of irreverent recognition for the prevalent challenges with so many in the workforce. Hugh's website, GapingVoid.com, includes a number of edgy "Cube Grenades" that he fiendishly lobs into the lives of his corporate captive audiences. Take a scroll around his cartoon log. Be sure to subscribe to his daily cartoons for an emotionally explosive reminder of how your work can be a noble expression of your purpose… or not!
If you're a fan of the hit TV show The Office, then for sure, Hugh's artwork will curl your lips upward. A bit of parody mixed with a dose of purpose may be just the recipe for prodding you to be on-purpose.
Hugh provides us with a great example of a person with a love and talent for something that doesn't fit the mold of what's expected. Instead of compromising who he is to become someone he isn't, he's growing who he is in order to be more of whom he can become. Sure, he's working hard at it! Sure, you're working hard too. Hugh provides yet another profile of a person building a life where the inner work and outer work are aligned and integrated in a productive and profitable manner.
Thanks Hugh for your Cube Grenades that blow holes in the facade of living with contented, unexamined mediocrity. You're encouraging us all to step into the boldness of being on-purpose: Be Yourself> Prosper> Make A Difference.
