Articles

None of us know when we will find ourselves in the foothills of a mountain we must climb, when we need a shot of confidence. We can find it in the words and examples of others...

Dr. Mel Pender is a decorated war combat veteran and retired military officer. He is also an Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneur, community leader and public speaker who has impacted lives and inspired young people the world over. Including me.

In 1925, Ted Giesel went to Oxford to pursue a Ph.D. in English. Giesel’s biography states that while his notebooks include notes on lectures, they reveal a much greater propensity for doodling. One day a classmate looked over at Giesel’s notebook and said, “You’re crazy to be a professor. What you really want to do is draw. That’s a very fine flying cow!”

It might be this time of year, or perhaps this year in particular, that calls for a renewed message of hope for our country, our families, friends and colleagues. And yes, our four-legged companions, too. I recently received this festive photo from my daughter Ryan, who completed her internship at the White House last Friday. These bigger-than-life replicas of Bo and Sunny are on point to welcome all to the House this holiday season.

I believe in the value and importance of becoming a fully integrated human being, especially so for those of us in leadership. I also believe that finding ways to nurture our humanity through our professional lives can get lost in too much work.