Okay, so ... yeah ... it's been a while since I've blogged here.  So... ya'all wanna know what's been up with me? (rhetorical... I've received emails / shouts asking about it... heh)

So... for a while I had an individual as a bookkeeping client that brought in a bit of money when I was in dire needs... and from there the energy started flowing again.  I have picked up a couple of other clients for side work - but then it happened... I had interviewed for a company goodness... back towards the end of 2008; didn't get the job at that time... but really liked them a LOT.  So, I remember one day a couple weeks following the interview (after they had chosen someone else for the position they interviewed me for)... I stated to myself, "I *WANT* to work for that company, dammit - and somehow, Universe, you will make it happen." ... Now, having said that - I had NO idea how on Earth that was going to happen.

Then... by command of "As You Wish" ... in December 2008, I received a call from the very company I had demanded that the Universe give to me.

I am now (and have been since January 5th) working for Natural Capitalism Solutions, Inc.  - they are a non-profit company and they hired me (along side another accountant/bookkeeper) to clean up a bit of a mess that the prior accountant (and a couple other before her) had created in the books.  Needless to say, they were in dire need of us... especially after getting into the work that needed to be done.  I felt empowered to be using the accounting skills that I have... but even more excited that they also need a person with social media / social networking expertise ... I am going to be working towards that as soon as the accounting project is caught up.

So... this was a dream job that I ASKED the Universe to send to me - I had vaguely remembered the book, Natural Capitalism - creating the next industrial revolution.  One person that I had kinda looked up more information on was L. Hunter Lovins.  I admire powerful women who are positive role models to whom I can look for inspiration.  Hunter is definitely an inspiration to me.  The first day I walked into the office to work - she was there - by very odd fluke of chance as this woman travels so much to educate, inspire and empower others to "be the change" so to speak... towards sustainability, renewable energy and positive business practices.  It literally took me a while to realize that *THIS* was *THE* very Hunter Lovins that I had researched.... O!M!G! ... she's REAL.  As in... down-to-earth, talks WITH you - not at you, and she is human... I know that sounds weird to say that... but some people get so into their heads about their position at a company or so driven into their life purpose that they overlook human interaction - Hunter does not do that.  She checks in with people in the office and treats people very well.  Now, having said that... she is also a very as-a-matter-of-fact person - she says what she means and means what she says, which can come across as harsh to outsiders getting to know her.  I admire how direct she is and how she knows exactly what she wants.  Determined, driven, passionate, intelligent, articulate and able to inspire with her speeches/presentations.  She is - IMHO - a world-changer; someone who is out there putting her feet to the pavement and making every effort to help others learn how to become more sustainable and energy efficient.

So... that's the update on where I am working (and a bit of my star-struck awe of Hunter Lovins) ... I will definitely be keeping everyone updated as much as I can as my projects evolve and my work with this fabulous non-profit company grows.  I know that I have so much to offer them - and the wonderful thing about this job... I love going into work ... I seriously enjoy my co-workers and see the passion in so many of them (including the passionate interns who work there, too!!!)

As I get to know more about everyone, I will be trying to share about them as well... not sure where I will be doing that... but I will make every effort to at least come back to my blog and share links to them.

I am still very passionate about Gaia and the original reason I joined this beautiful community... I still believe in that vision/purpose/mission... and I will continue living that in my life and sharing the community.  So you will still see me here... maybe not as frequently as I used to be... but, my heart is still here... regardless of what has happened in the past.

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oh... the website is currently being redesigned for NatCapSolutions.org... so please be patient... I will alert everyone when the fresh, new, beautiful site is up and running.

...so, I had started reading this book back in June 2007 when I first started working for Zaadz.  I knew there was an inherent value to *knowing* the men for whom I worked from this perspective - to understand them and their position - AND to work towards my own goals.  I've been picking at this book since I got laid off from Gaiam in August 2008 and really feel that it has so much information on personal development (for me anyway).

These are some of the highlighted snippets that I have picked up so far:

• But the vital traits -- the attributes that make up the right stuff to get to the taller peaks -- are there if you know how to look.  You should be able to recognize a good percentage of these qualities in your own CEO. Most important, these are traits you should consider developing for yourself.
• Despite how high up you are or how far away from your level they are, one thing is certain: A CEO's personality, character, drive, and spirit will affect you now and in the future.
• Work on improving you own qualities to surpass yourself as well as others.
• Vital Traits:
  • 1st: Secure in Self
    • Top CEOs want to deal with self assured people over any other type.  For some that might seem lik a statement of the obvious, but remember, people tend to choose people like themselves to work with.
    • Management is to a large extent effective delegation.  Leadership, of course, is the ability of inspiring and motivating people to worthwhile achievement. Both require respect. If you don't have it for yourself you're not likely to get it from others.
    • Somtimes people who are insecure make it to the ranks of CEO because they overcompensate so fiercely. (** I loved Duane Pearsall's story that went along with this **)
    • Children are not born with self-doubt, they learn it.
    • Effective chiefs have found the way back to that "child" in themselves. They go on without self-doubt to face new challenges with enthusiasm and a secure feeling of adequacy.
      
  • 2nd: In Control of Attitude (**this is VERY important**)
    • If you lose control, you lose. Period.
    • "We smile because we want to not because we have to." (**a company slogan of Southwest Airlines**)
    • ...attitude is one area where you do have control.
    • Only people ho manage their attitude avoid being managed by others.
    • ... immediately you start working from a stronger foundation with the goal-achieving, positive words "I can" instead of the self questioning "Can I?"
    • What he was doing with his attitude control is relaxing anxieties and thinking through situations rather than simply reacting.  It's so uncomplicated, yet so few people do it consistently.
    • Change outlooks when you need to and want to.
    • "There are few negative, sour people who pull success off." - Lodwrick M. Cook
      
  • 3rd: Tenacious
    • Keep going until something stops you, then keep going.
    • Hold firmly to your aspirations; tenacity breeds tenacity as success breeds success.
    • Tenacity is not stubbornness elevated to the level of stupidity. It is commitment to the result regardless of what has to be endured along the way.
    • There are exceptions to perserverance:
      • Give up if you are in a business situation that is throwing good money or resources after bad or putting good people into bad projects. [...] "Know when to hold them and know when to fold them."
      • Stop if you are wrong but your pride hates to admit it. Tenacity in that situation isn't a strength, it's a sickness.
  • 4th: Continuously Improving
    • Continuously improving means learning.
    • To continuously learn:
      • talk to people,
        
      • learn from mistakes,
      • learn from other's experiences,
      • emulate effective leaders,
      • learn something new everyday.
    • ...get in among the employees, customers, suppliers, competitors, and community. "Manage by walking around."
    • Talking with purpose (not just chattering) to various people adds to your power.
    • You know that experience comes from mistakes. Mistakes provide the opportunity for some of your best learning.
    • Nothing happens unless people are willing to make decisions, and you can't make decisions without making mistakes.
    • A good boss is the best business school in the country. (*yeah-yuh*)
    • Be excrutiatingly aware. Develop your senses.
    • Live and learn. Observe. Listen. Think. Discuss.
    • Be aware of balanced and appropriate improvement, but always, always, always be tenacious about continuously improving.
    • Do not improve only your technical expertise.  For example, improve in personality, honesty, awareness, and common sense.
      
  • 5th: Honest and Ethical
    • Honesty is truth, integrity, being genuine, equitable, fair, and frank. It implies an absence of fraud, deciet, artifice, and deception.
    • "There is no situational honesty. Honesty is honesty." - Leonard Abramson
    • "We have to recognize that our view of truth is partial." - H. Richard Niebuhr
    • Without honesty, there is no way to truly be a good human.
    • Near-perfect leaders' [...] Do's and Don'ts:
      • Don't intentionally mislead or misrepresent.
      • Don't straddle the line.
      • Don't break promises or go back on your word (despite the fact that it is the norm for many political leaders).
      • Don't waltz around. Don't put a "spin" on it.
      • Do be honest with yourself -- internally and externally.
      • Do remember that regardless of how carefully you disguise the truth, someone will find out. It will be embarrassing at least.
      • Do remember that your distrust of others will often justify their distrust of you. (**if all else is ignored - THIS is paramount to learn**)
      • Do be precise, crisp, then move on. Long winded explanations get you in trouble.
      • Do understand misunderstandings.
      • Do realize one person's honesty is another person's dishonesty. (**how I see this, is repeating what another has said only to make yourself "sound honest" is not honest**)
      • Do bring out into the open uncomfortable issues.
      • Do stop exaggeration. Say it like it is. That is good enough. Keep in touch with reality, then you won't get caught "believing your own press."
      • Don't forget even for a moment, people go to jail for dishonesty.
    • Integrity goes along with honesty.
    • Consider the thought of using honesty to get ahead, to make money, to do a job. Radical, isn't it!
      
  • 6th: Thinking Before Talking
    • Why should you try extra diligently to think before you talk?
      
      • You are more responsible for your words and their results.
      • You avoid repeating yourself.
      • You minimize stuttering and stammering and unnecessary "uh"s and "and"s.
    • Speech is not some sort of  proof of intelligence.  Appropriate speech is powerful; silence is powerful, too. Listen. Observe. Evaluate. Then talk.
      
  • 7th: Original
    • ...the CEO has the opportunity to act and think with imagination. The CEO
      • has the liberty and freedom to be atypical,
      • can risk being different,
      • can afford to be unique,
      • has to be original if she/he is going to set the standard for her/his people. People often wonder what the boss wants. A boss needs to show them by setting the example.
    • "I take the time to think. Lightning strikes and fireworks go off and it becomes inspiration." - John Bianchi, Ph.D.
    • "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein.
    • The simple way to get ahead in business is to give top performance today and significantly improve the performance tomorrow.
    • Never be satisfied with simply maintaining the status quo.
    • Originality is the principal source of human improvement.
    • How to be more original:
      • Decide to be. It all starts with attitude management.
      • Be easy on yourself.
      • Support others.
      • Keep at it. [...] Tenaciously minding your mind can result in a breakthrough hen you least expect it and probably most need it.
    • Leadership vision is all about originality.
      
  • 8th: Publicly Modest
    • Secure people can be publicly modest. Insecure people aren't.
    • [Seasoned near-perfect chiefs] observe propriety in speech, behavior, and dress.
    • Go after the problem with vigor. But every once in a while look over your shoulder. If they ain't coming with you, you ain't leading.
    • Before you get too taken wiht yourself, go sit under a tree and remember your tortuitous circumstances are due to time, place and friends.
    • "Graciously accept nice things someone has to say about you but don't believe it. As CEO you get more credit than you deserve when things are going well.  And when things aren't going well, you'll get more blame than you deserve." - Hal Krause
    • Being publicly modest is being persistent in your efforts toward living an effective life. It also means being patient that others will acknowledge your abilities before you have to point these out to them (which certainly dilutes any thrill you might get from being recognized by others!)
    • Not one chief [...] interviewd felt he or she always got credit as deserved. Probably no one in life feels they get due recognition.  That's life.

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And that is part one of my blogging on this book; I will read a bit more and highlight more... and come back to this as a multiple entry blog topic.  Aside from this being a brilliant book on CEO traits... I still feel this is a book that can be about being a powerful and positive human... not just CEO.