Marc Lesser's Blog, page 42
May 20, 2009
Are You Limited By Your Beliefs?
Everything we take for granted is constantly changing. The formation of the clouds in the sky at this moment is unique and will never be repeated. Every cell in our bodies is replaced—some quickly, some more slowly—every seven years. Our planet and the universe are in a state of continual, inconceivable transformation.
May 18, 2009
Stepping From The Top Of A 100 Foot Pole
A famous story from Zen literature presents the provocative question, “How do you step from the top of a 100 foot pole?
The poem that goes along with this question says:
You who sit on the top of a 100 foot pole
Although you have entered the Way, it is not yet genuine
Take a step from the top of the pole
And the entire world becomes your body
May 15, 2009
Strategies For Reducing Distractions
Distractions and interruptions are such a part of modern life that we don’t realize how hard it is to concentrate. Many neuroscientists, psychologists, and technology pundits believe that the distractions of our communication technology are actually rewiring the brain’s capacity to concentrate for any amount of time on one topic.
May 11, 2009
Right Speech
The foundation of right speech is deep listening. Our speech does not occur in a vacuum — it must include our awareness of others. When people don’t feel heard they become isolated and unhappy. Their work suffers, and the work of everyone around them suffers as well. Right speech means being present and meeting each person and each situation directly. Since each person has different communication and listening styles, right speech is the p
May 8, 2009
Z.B.A. Manifesto: Appreciating the Sacredness and Mystery of Our Lives
The Z.B.A. Manifesto
1. It’s okay not to know. It’s okay to be vulnerable. No one has all the answers. We value and learn from the questions and the asking.
2. We are learning to appreciate the mystery and sacredness of our lives and the mystery and sacredness of life.
3. Life is short. There is no escape from old age, sickness, and death. Death is a great teacher. Recognizing the shortness of our lives provides motivation to live fully in e
May 6, 2009
Accomplish More In A Fluid World
fluid metal images.jpg Often when I walk into a company or organization as a coach or consultant, I am struck by the feeling that everyone working there is attempting to change an environment that they, in the sinking pit of their stomachs, believe is solid, immovable, and permanent. As a result, fear underlies almost every activity and communication. Fear of change, fear of failure, and fear of conflict are particularly common.
May 4, 2009
Power
woman diving images.jpg Many years ago, a teacher of mine looked me in the eyes and said, “You have a way of pissing away your power.” I was stunned. At the same time, I took this as a compliment. I didn’t know that I had any power to piss away. This was good news to me.
What is power? What is my power? What is your power? These have been deep and important questions that I’ve been grappling with for many years – the power to change,
May 1, 2009
We Are All Zen Students: We Are All Business People
fire in bow images.jpg A basic truth that I have come to learn, and a primary assumption of my life, is that we are all Zen students, and we are all business people. We are all Zen students in that we all must contend with birth, old age, sickness, and death. We have no idea where we come from or where we will go. At the deepest level we all have the same aspirations — to love and be loved, to discover and express our unique gifts, and to f
April 29, 2009
Small Steps Lead To Large Results
sand images.jpg I was reading this morning about the physicist Per Bak, who states that if grains of sand were dropped on a pile one at a time, at some point the pile would enter a critical stage, where another grain of sand would cause an avalanche. This “hypothesis” is used to show that small events can have large consequences; that seemingly stable systems can behave in unpredictable ways.
April 27, 2009
Social Ventures - Changing the World Through Business
social innovation.jpg I just returned home from a meeting of Social Venture Network in Chicago (www.svn.org). What an amazing group of business and non-profit leaders! SVN’s mission is to “inspire a community of business and social leaders to build a just economy and sustainable planet.” I’ve been a member of SVN for about 15 years and am currently a member of the Board of Directors. This organization is composed of about 60% for-profit
