Morning Briefings

The American tradition of ‘trick-or-treating’ probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called ’soul cakes’ in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives.

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History.com

I discovered that people are not really afraid of dying; they’re afraid of not having lived, not ever having deeply considered their life’s higher purpose, and not ever having stepped into that purpose and at least tried to make a difference in the world.

– Joseph Jaworski
Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership

Leaders are tempted to be ‘lone rangers.’ Why do leaders need to consider having partners? According to Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.

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TouchPoints for Leaders

To me, people are elevators. Either you get in with them and they take you up or they take you down. I needed to be with people who take me up.

– Director Alejandro Monteverde on his production partners
Bella

A Different Take on Health Care: A Trip to Lourdes. A 1985 accident left Marcel Roeg brain-damaged and blind. Since then he has spent most of his time harboring a dream to visit the famous place [of healing]. Last month, he actually made the trip to Lourdes–thanks to his insurance company, VGZ.

– John W. Miller, The Wall Street Journal, October 23, 2007

Success–which I define as doing reasonably well at your chosen career–has huge demands on those who attain it, particularly in our hyper-competitive culture where conditions can change virtually overnight. The combination of marriage, family and career can be consuming. By the time most of us approach our fourth decade, anything that promises relief gets our attention.

– Bob Buford
Stuck in Halftime

The things you learn in maturity aren’t simple things. You learn not to engage in self-destructive behavior or burn up energy in anxiety. You discover how to manage your tensions. You learn that self-pity and resentment are among the most toxic of drugs. You find that the world loves talent but pays off on character.

– John Gardner
from a 1993 speech

So many people tell you to ‘follow your dreams’–from commencement speakers to executive coaches–that it is easy to get the impression you aren’t. But there is scant evidence that people aren’t doing pretty much what they want. According to a Gallup Poll, 90% of Americans are at least somewhat satisfied with their jobs and 75% say they’re satisfied with their pay. Two-thirds would take the same job again ‘without hesitation.’

– Jared Sandberg
The Wall Street Journal, October 16, 2007

I’m just doing one guy’s part. I have no agenda. I just want it to be the best Church it can be. That’s not my call as to what it is. I’m not a bishop, thank God. I am not a priest or seminarian. The indication of whether it’s the best it can be for people is what it gives to their lives. Whether people can be church or not, even when they’re not in that building on Sunday, but in the world.

– Rocco Palmo
The Rocco Report

Citizens who seek to build organizations that solve social problems on a large scale need more than freedom; they also need money. There must be surplus wealth in the economy to finance their efforts.

– David Bornstein
How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas