“Maturity is achieved when a person accepts life as full of tension”
— Joshua Loth Liebman
I could interview someone every day to find out what they are thinking and feeling about our current situation, how they are handling their responsibilities, and how they see our near future. These conversations ground me, expand my perspective, and keep me connected to what is real.
I prefer these conversations to a one-sided presentation of current events from the television. It is not to say that I am not following the news…I am. I want to be rooted in the facts and current in my understanding. I just enjoy and benefit from the exchange of perspective, from hearing how colleagues are using their time and talent.
In the beginning of this event, I counted the days, then I labeled the weeks (week 1, 2, 3)…then I started to confuse the days and dates, and now I don’t really care which week of the pandemic we are in or how many weeks we have been social distancing. I just try to use each day well and find my value.
I am curious to learn how other people are viewing time as well. So my questions have expanded from: ‘What are you discovering about yourself at this time that you want to hold on to and carry into the new world? What will you leave behind that no longer serves you? And for what are you grateful?’ And now include: ‘Describe the timeline you see going forward. And what sentence, phrase, or mantra do you find yourself repeating?’
This morning my conversation was with Craig Dorn, President and CEO of Youth Opportunities Unlimited. I enjoy my work with Craig; he is a thoughtful individual. When making tough decisions, he garners other opinions and then sits with his thoughts. I have learned from previous sharing that there will always be an early morning follow-up conversation. I have come to appreciate his deliberations and our honest dialogue.
I shared my questions with him in advance and he was prepared (as he always is) to share what is rising up for him in his life, work, and leadership.
I started by asking Craig where his head and heart were today. He was quick to respond: “In my head, I am constantly thinking about trying to be 5 to 6 steps ahead of the challenge, anticipating what will be needed next. In my heart I bounce between hopeful, nervous, and generous of spirit. I am grateful for all the support Y.O.U. receives and nervous that hard decision still lay ahead of us.”
I continued by asking what the timeline of this marathon event looks like and feels like to him.
“In the near term, June is a really important month for the organization. Its largest program for summer youth jobs will either go or not go forward. I will know by June 30th if Y.O.U. really pulled it off or not. And what lies beyond the June 30th milestone is like an existential Camus novel. It feels like an endless train track going into the horizon without end. So my response to this unknown is to double-down on scenario planning, explore strategic partnerships, and hold the question “How does Youth Opportunities stay preserved?”
Can you relate? I can.
What are you doubling-down on?
Craig can be counted on to do his homework and so wanted to share his reflections on the original questions.
What he is discovering about himself includes that he likes to talk more than write and he misses the opportunities to get up from his desk and have a conversation. He admitted that he has always despised working remotely since college days and always would go into the office, even on a weekend, to do his work. Now he says he has ‘Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide’ but has discovered that he can flex and adjust. And, that there are benefits like: less travel time and mastering the remote work style. Before we jumped to what he will leave behind, he wanted me to know that he has really discovered that the Y.O.U. spirit of can do is alive and well!”
Craig continues with the questions and volunteers that he is ready to leave behind the sense of isolation that comes with social distancing. He is eager to find his thinking time and shed the ‘fire hose effect’ of the days with little opportunity to take a breath. He looks forward to the days when the fire hose is shut off and replace by the drinking fountain. I can appreciate this metaphor.
Lastly, Craig was like Santa checking his gratitude list. He is always practicing this powerful habit of reframing and finding the pearl in every situation. He is grateful for the Y.O.U. team, his committed Board Leadership, for an expanding Leadership team, and for the Donors and Young People who are choosing to stay engaged.
Before our call ended, I returned to my new question, ‘What sentence, phrase, or mantra do you find yourself repeating?’ Craig said he finds himself saying on many of his zoom calls and chats,
“Workforce isn’t the highest priority right now, but sometime in the future it will be again.”
I am glad that someone is holding this priority like a beacon for us to have ready. Craig continued and shared that in his head he says over and over:
“Stay Calm, Solve Problems.”
Thank you Craig. You gave me the words and focus I needed today to put one foot in front of the other and work the plan, solve the problems, and plan for the future. I am riding the rails of that endless train track with you and will meet you in the bright, ennobling future that waits for us (and for which we are creating together).
What are you thinking and sharing that helps you stay on track?
Leslie
“There is scarcely any passion without struggle.”
― Albert Camus