Leadership Lessons Learned

No not a campy remake of the 2004 film “13 Going on 30”.  The title comes from reflection as I compiled, coordinated, and collated what I hold gratitude for, per recommendations and teachings of Mary Meyer and Dean Lea.

Time passes by as evidenced by the attached photo of those that I hold the most gratitude for.  In the photo, despite my ageless wife not changing, today shows my mustache and hair has greyed a bit, and the three littles have or are soon turning 30, 27, and 25 this spring.  My gratitude is abundant for being allowed to be a member of this fab five if simply by inclusion.

Gratitude also flows to my expanded and extended family of parents, siblings, in-laws, friends, and beyond nuclear reaches of small-town America that raised and schooled me.

17? I reflected that professionally I have been schooled by 17 leaders who had the “joy” of being my direct “manager” ranging from front line up through Board Chairs or Owners:  Phil Collins, Kathleen Stevens, Scott Ireland, Marcella Fulmer, Mary Margaret Lee, Gail Vogt, Karen Simonenko, Rich Parker, Sally Waite, Pat Fox, Jeff Blanchard, Andy Treanor, Tom Butts, Jeff Kao, Burt Willey, Jim Crook, & Rich Tarrant. Their contributions to my development is undeniable and appreciated.  I am simply so thankful.

7,000? That results from my rough estimate of how many peers, colleagues, and even those that in some capacity I might have been called “manager” for that have been with me over the years.  Those young, those old, whether aligned with me or in contrast to me being young or old at the time, have so much shaped my learning and development.  I have had the privilege of having leadership teams working with me to tackle changing the world.  I have had people show me the world through their eyes, their minds, and their hearts. What a gift you all have given me.  I wish I could list all of your 7,000 names here, but you need to know that you impacted me so deeply that I swear I easily could recite all of you. Grateful.

Gaining on more gratitude, I was humbled this week by the opportunity to meet with the incredible Weiwei Wang and Tino Rutanhira from the Vermont Professionals of Color network. The passion and the promise these two incredible spirits and souls are bringing towards diversity, equity, and inclusion is appreciated and respected.  The education they provided me with in simply meeting them, and the excitement they hold for what is possible, for us all to come together as one, to seek and build opportunity for all, and to be the difference we all can and should be, is something I can certainly add to my list of things to be grateful for.  Let’s all keep striving to unite, embrace, and accelerate being the best that we all can be.  I’m grateful you made time for me. Thanks again Weiwei Wang & Charles Rutanhira, PMP

Finally, for the 7,000, I am here for you, I owe you, and I’m grateful for you. #gratitude #inclusion #leadership #itmatters