Clearly I have NOT mastered this fine art of getting things done, as it has been a month since I last posted something.  Since then, however, I have been educating myself in the fine art of managing my time and the productivity of others.  I am currently availing myself of interns, with whom I am getting systemic changes accomplished that daily demands would have me ignore.  Like moving into Cooler Email, for instance, lock stock and barrel for managing my business from software-as-a-service.  There’s more to the story — stay with me.

Without some troops I would not tackle a project like shifting the locus of my business from my computer to another system so that others could share it.  Having that locus of control shifted makes many things possible that weren’t possible before.

While I have them (before they move on with their REAL lives), Ipek (on the left) and Semih (on the right) are making possible this transition to Cooler Email and other great tools of productivity.

On a related topic, I attended a business gathering last evening where we talked about execution of strategy.  The overarching theme of the evening was that for there to be a shift in the collective consciousness of bringing our heart to the business world, and not just our head, we all need to work for the common good and make decisions with the common good in mind, not just our selfish interests.

This is a theme of mine, and fortunately not JUST mine!  Working for the common good means that as we go about our regular work, we bring in the fine art of considering how what WE do will impact others.

I have helped Semih find a school where he will get his MBA, and I will help Ipek get a job.  I met these two young adults through an earlier intern, Orcun, whom I helped find a job and in doing so I lost him as an intern.  He replaced himself by introducing me to his two friends who needed internships.  THAT, my friends, is the FINE art of getting things done!  When I released my need for Orcun to be my intern, little did I know that I would end up doubling my workforce of interns!  My deciding based on the common good turned out to be good for me, good for Orcun, and good for Ipek and Semih.

I think that’s the way the world REALLY works, and it is NOT intuitive any more than leaning into the curve on a motorcycle is intuitive.  It is a choice, and in the end things get done that should get done, even though in the beginning we don’t see the whole picture.

Fairmont Chateau Le Montebello, tucked between Ottawa and Montreal Canada, is a beautiful place to be, never mind the beautiful people who found their way there to be together for the last Vy Summit.  I was privileged to speak, as well as be an audience member.  Thank you to Tom, Mike and Mikka, for generating yourselves. Thank you to all of you who extended yourselves authentically to be an “adult,” (Fred Pryor), manage your thoughts — your ands, your buts, your I’s and you’s etcetera (Mary Lore), and and to be a stand, with me, for the highest good of all INCLUDING yourselves and your organizations.  And thank you Jim Joyce and Armando Galarraga for showing us the template of how to take the high ground, even when it’s hard.

We live downtown on Market Street in the Marina District, where most runs pass below our patio and windows, but none as large or impressive as the Rock and Roll Marathon with 30,000 runners today. For those 30,000 runners it is a strenuous event, for us it is a parade.

If I were hiring, I would be at the finish line of the Rock and Roll Marathon.  I would interview those who came in early to learn about their motivation and where else are they motivated to excel like they just have.  I would interview the middle of the pack runners to see where they got their staying power for 26 miles.  Not the premier athletes that the first group are, what drives them?  For what cause or reason would they subject their bodies to 26 miles of hard labor?

I would look at their costumes — did they go all out to present themselves in keeping with the rock and roll theme, as some did?  You would not BELIEVE some of the tu tu’s I saw running by me.  One woman had stretch-on fabric tattoo arms that she could conveniently remove after the race but in the moment she was WITH it!

And I would interview the laggards.  It was clear, at some point there were fewer young, virile runners and more gray hairs and paunches.  This clip is taken of a laggard group.  Look at them!  They have spirit, they have determination, they are going to go as long as they can go, regardless of the rubber tires around the middle, the scrawny arms or legs, the leg in a cast.  They are going to be part of the party for as long as they are, and they are not to be discounted!

Consider, for a moment what it would take to don a Superman outfit and strike out afoot for 26 miles with 29,999 of your favorite strangers. Superman, wherever you are, I salute you.

The lessons of the human spirit abound in this event.  If I were hiring I would definitely ask if someone has ever run a marathon or taken on a marathon kind of event, and how they viewed the experience.  Myself, although I prefer to avoid physical risk — my risks are in other areas of life — I have traversed a number of treacherous rivers, once with an older friend who had Multiple Sclerosis.  Without his medicine he would have been in a wheelchair.  I doubt, if the river guides had had a clue, they would have allowed him onto the raft.  At one point we capsized and he was thrown over.  Getting his stiff, aging body back onto the boat was not easy, and he did it without complaint.  It took sheer grit, a character quality that I knew about him before we started this journey.

I knew about him, from this experience, that he had grist for the mill.  How about the folks you hire?  Do they have character?  I don’t mean ARE they a character, I mean do they HAVE character — that abiding quality that gets one through difficulties in life that seem to come ready or not, at work or in life.

It is character that has us exhibit the discernment skills that make us good collaborators and team players.  Character eschews gossip, pettiness and being small in the face of the challenges that come with being human.

I was proud of the 30,000 starters of today’s Rock and Roll Marathon.  Regardless of how far their bodies got them, they put themselves in the race, and that is what makes life rich and full.  Way to go!  From watching you at mile six, I would have appreciated any one of you on a team with me.

Orson Wells says in his very special voice,”We will sell no wine before its time.” You can see this wine commercial for Paul Masson on YouTube. This blog is not about wine, though. It is about timing.

I understand why to sell no wine before its time — the wine isn’t ready to be consumed!  It would not taste right, it would reflect badly on the wine maker, it would “leave a bad taste in our mouth” (pardon the pun) from the experience.

What about the timing for discovering the world revolves around the sun, and not the other way around?  It took over 1000 years from the first person’s assertion of the earth revolving around the sun, not the other way around, before Copernicus gained credibility for this novel view of reality!   Indeed, Nicholas Copernicus was destined to put forward the theory of the earth’s motion at a time when the idea could be heard. During an earlier era Aristarchus declared the same, too early in mankind’s receptivity to gain credibility.   Although true, truth found no champions.

A modern forward-thinking mind, Dean Kamen, invented (among other things) the electric scooter Segway. His intention was that they replace cars for local transportation but they proved too expensive. I see them downtown upon occasion, driven by the neighborhood “safety cops.” Kamen, according to Fortune Magazine (May 3, 2010), has learned that change takes time and a group effort. Indeed Wilbur and Orville flew, yet it took another 50 years before flying was mainstream.

Although adoption curves have their own timing, they are shortening by and large.  For example, the speed of change is lickety-split on the web. My wonderful social media intern, Audrey Vernhet, informed me recently that Facebook could cost money in the next few months. I am NOT ready to climb on that adoption curve!

Speaking of adoption curves, I wonder when business leaders will take up the accountability for being trustworthy and hold each other to account for the position power they hold?  See www.trust-in-leaders.com for an opportunity to comment by completing the research request.  I welcome your thoughts.

If you haven’t seen Ted Talks you have really missed something!  For more inspiration and innovation, go to www.ted.com.  Enjoy!

The University Club, where Larry and I are members, hosts a “Distinguished Speaker” series of presentation where all comers are welcome, up to the 200 capacity of their beautiful dining room.  This event last week was superb, and I took careful notes which I share with you here.

From top to bottom, the presenters were:

Moderator Stephen Mayfield Director San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology
Panel Lisa Bicker CEO, Clean Tech San Diego
Lee Stein CEO, Prize Capital
Irene Stillings CEO, CA Center for Sustainable Energy

Here is pretty much what they said about the Clean Tech industry in San Diego, from my notes (taken on my iphone).

Clean technology means a way to be more energy efficient.   Regarding GDP vs energy consumption, the US consumes 25% of the world’s petroleum. The Chinese have been buying energy reserves so there is increasing demand on limited energy resources.  We have to be inventive to retain our standard of living.  Energy is the only commodity with an unsatiable demand  for it.

Lisa Bicker heads Clean Tech San Diego, a market connectivity organization.  Her comments:  San Diego has one significant intangible asset with tangible results, which is the great collaboration between and among agents of innovation and this is different from other areas.  Playing nicely with others helps us succeed.  Many local mayors have a commitment to transforming our community in green ways.

There are 672 clean tech companies in SD.  Half are creators, half are enablers.

Lee Stein:  Environmental Entrepreneurs need to be a business voice for the environment.  Regarding energy resources, today we are using the resources of 2.5 planets, which is not sustainable – 45 mill barrel/day shortfall.  AB 32, under attack now, will create 352,000 jobs by 2020 but a ballot measure out there sponsored by one company seeks to damage the good that AB 32 does, do not put it on the ballot, do not be fooled.

China’s green leap forward. They looked at California.  With their “Negawatt,” they seek to arbitrage energy and it’s just good business.  China is going toward solar and wind.  There will be a slow start and will import less energy from us and we could import energy from them in the future.  Innovatively, 57 degrees below the ground can be mined for energy for instance and it is happening.

Irene Stillings:  The California Center for Sustainable Energy helps consumers to make wise energy decisions.  The need is insatiable the supply is not.  The Chinese invest more in this area than US investors.  China is now leading in solar power.  California leads the country and provides the cues to Washington.  Excellent renewable portfolio standard.  For example, in California, Title 24 is a series of stringent building codes equal to basic LEAD standards.   There is no national energy policy yet.  We could have cap in trade limits and carbon tax.  Also incentives for offshore drilling and other things.

Residential and businesses want it. Going green does green your bottom line.  Currently we are seeing job growth in solar and algae.  We need energy efficient audits.  We need more quality auditors and installers.  Irene has increased staff by 25%, and her organization will train energy auditors.

Comments generated from questions of the audience:  In San Diego, too many resources are going into gaming the system rather than improving the opportunity to bring innovation.  We need to be more proactive in legislative before stuff becomes law and SF is good at this, we could improve.

What about water technology?  San Diego is home to over 100 water technology companies that are often stalled, like gray water.  More needed, but water is not as sexy as energy.  The need is much worse.

China is producing ten times the energy engineers as the U.S.. What are these organizations doing to generate the needed people?  Academically, Science in the US was not popular but very recently STUDENTS have figured it out and are flocking to the lab.  Policy has lagged behind to support student applications.

Students have environmental ethic and are making it part of their own choices.  Look at usfirst.org.

There is no silver bullet to the energy issues, but there should be silver buckshot!

I had the pleasure of introducing Dave Logan as the opening keynote presenter for the Association for Strategic Planning annual conference in Pasadena yesterday.

Dave is a USC faculty member, best-selling author, and management consultant. At USC, he teaches in the Executive MBA, Master of Medical Management and Executive Education.  As co-founder and senior partner at CultureSync, a management consulting firm, Dave works with Fortune 500 companies, governments, and non-profit organizations.   He’s written four books, including Tribal Leadership. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication from the Annenberg School at USC.

Although not an alumni of the Marshall School myself (I have a University of San Diego MBA), I first met Dave at a USC MBA Alumni gathering in San Diego several years ago, when his book Tribal Leadership was in pre-publication format.  Tribal Leadership is about leveraging natural groups to build a thriving organization.  Rather than TALK about the 5 stages of an organization’s culture, he DEMONSTRATED the five stages by assigning roles to 5 random individuals from the audience.

Dave was so effective at communicating the essence of Tribal Leadership that I immediately vetted him as a speaker for Vistage, where I was a chair at the time, and engaged him to speak to my CEO group about Tribal Leadership.  Again, Dave was interactive and inventive.  Using polling technology, he asked my CEO clients where they thought we were as a group within the five stages of Tribal Leadership.   The good news for me was, they gave the group very high marks.  Even more importantly, and to Dave’s credit, they were so committed to practicing Tribal Leadership distinctions in their organizations that they requested Dave return, which he did six months later.

I then garnered for myself a front row seat for the unveiling of Dave’s next book at the opening presentation of Landmark Education’s Conference on Global Leadership.   Called Three Laws of Performance, Rewriting the Future of Your Organization and Your Life, this book was an overnight best-seller.  I highly recommend that you pick it up if you want to read about deep, sustaining transformation in several highlighted organizations.  This book was co-authored with Steve Zaffron.

I could not think of a more dynamic way to begin our conference on strategic planning, with the theme of positioning for long-term success in a short-term world, than to hear Dave’s original thinking.  For me personally, he brings a focus to the BEING aspect of what we are DOING so that we can HAVE the results we seek. Dave embodies an extraordinary way of BEING engaging with content that is fresh, and rich, and delivering it so that the message sticks.

Dave left us with an immediate take-away, a model for devising an interim strategy, which I have pictured here, and which he invites you to use freely (open source)!  Best done as three separate questions in a group setting (for challenging your assumptions), it favors immediate results and in these trying times, who doesn’t want that?  If you have questions or if you want the PDF version please feel free to contact me.  If you find this useful, just please tell me how you used it, and what it did for you — I’ll tell Dave too!  He and I would like to know.

We have a new friend, Kim DeMotte, whom we met at a fabulous conference last month for people who want to build on their success to expand the good they can bring to the world. At a dinner, Larry and Kim struck up a conversation about corporate governance, and Kim said some things that resonated with Larry and myself.

First, you have to trust people to do a good job, and in this instance we were speaking of someone holding the job of CEO. When a CEO reports to a board, how do you govern that CEO such that they are responsible AND allow them to do their job, their way.

In this video with Kim, you can get it straight from “the horse’s mouth,” (sorry Kim, not a literal translation)… Kim is an advisor to the corporate world. He lives in St. Louis. What you should know about Kim, in addition to his comments here on corporate governance, is that he authored a book called “The Power of No” in which Kim (and contributors) illustrate just that! Get the book, it’s excellent!  I particularly appreciate Kim’s straight talk.  No muss, no fuss, just straight talk.  We could use more of that today, with a sagging low in trust of leaders in this country (and elsewhere, we don’t on the corner on that malady).

In the name of mission (and I would say some think mission is vision, so I’m including vision here also), do the right thing. Clear communication enables a whole host of positive effects. Too many wus’s won’t take a hard stand, set a clear boundary, say no. Amazingly enough, some of the most mature, noble looking men fall into the trap of being too nice, and mucking it up for everyone from the top of an organization down to the last person to feel the effects of poor leadership.

To that I say, “Cut it out!” Get Kim’s book, read Susan Scott’s “Fierce Conversations,” and go back to the mission. Whatever doesn’t fit the vision and the mission, do not tolerate.

Just as I begin to gain some early confidence in myself within LinkedIn, Facebook, albeit pretending to be on Twitter, here comes 3.0.  If you really asked me what can I DO in Web 2.0… well, nobody has ever said, “You stupid person, that’s not what you do on Twitter.”  And I must confess it has entertainment value for me.   And if you haven’t waded into the social media waters you’ve been left behind, stranded on a dry desert island.

Malcolm Gladwell says, in his latest book Outliers, that it takes 10,000 hours to achieve mastery.  I’m not there!

That said, I am armed and dangerous.  This picture is my computer (MacBook Pro) and on the keyboard, just in front of the Fortune Magazine article about Web 3.0, rest my two Flip Video HD cameras.  My new hobby is interviewing people who have something valid to say about trust in leadership, and I have successfully surrounded myself with more and more conversations on this topic.  Hence, the building library of interviews on my website.

On some days I could convince almost myself I’m gaining some proficiency, then I go to an event such as the one sponsored by the San Diego Software Industry Council (SDSIC), an inquiry into “What exactly is Web 3.0?  No one has the answer, but there are some cool tools associated with whatever it is.  I have been perpetually challenged to figure out what meta-tags describe my blog, for instance.  Here’s a cool shortcut to doing that:  It’s a web service called Open Calais, created by ThomsonReuters.  I just submitted the above text to Calais, and I was presented with all the meta-tags, blogging just got faster and easier! Check it out.

Dimitry Shapiro, “Chief Disruptor” and Founder of Veoh Networks was on the panel.  Whether he’s right or he’s wrong, he is convincing!  His observation is that to be web savvy, you need to know the google search commands as a BASIC skill.  Dimitry refers to www as the “Wild Wild Web”, and strongly suggests Web 3.0 would be a “structured web with reputation.”  Words like “semantic web,” “reputation systems,” “open research,” were terms bantied about,  in the midst of sharing links to other great sites;  “Feedly,” a Firefox plug-in that brings in user-selected inputs from Google Reader, Twitter, RSS feeds in easy to read magazine style format;  Open Publish for blogging;  Huffington Post.

Dimitry, like me, is interested in trust, his specialty is the media.  He calls it journalistic integrity and he says we used to have it.  The “Bloggosphere, Twittersphere have made the world,”according to Dimitry, “a very scary world.”

It’s great fun to break the mold once in a while and do something fun and different, like inviting a chef into your home to cook a meal for a special occasion!

I first invited Cheffrey to create a surprise intimate dinner for Larry’s birthday, we went shopping in the afternoon, had a cocktail at Bing Crosby’s, and then went home, to find Cheffrey having already prepared a delicious dinner for us! Cheffrey and I had made all the arrangements ahead, Cheffrey did the shopping and the preparation, some in advance and some in our kitchen.

When I knew Janine Benyus and several others were coming to dinner, I immediately thought of Cheffrey! Once again, with very little effort on my part, we had a fabulous dinner experience — the watermelon and heirloom tomato salad was unbelievably delicious! — and I got to enjoy our guests.