We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing 4th of July weekend!
And now the party's over.
The grills have cooled down.
The fireworks shows have gone up in smoke.
The hot dogs, baked beans, chips, and watermelon have been eaten.
Now is a good time to reflect on this summer holiday that made us the country we are today....and hope to be in the future.
All organizations have a culture that defines them and they follow a mission and vision. And, the United States is no different.
Celebrating the 4th of July is part of our organizational culture.
It is an opportunity to reflect on our countries mission and vision.
The preamble of the Declaration of Independence states;
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness.
Separating from England, "the mother country," threatened American's sense of security, economic stability, and identity. Asserting our independence and securing it for posterity was the mission.
Are we living up to this mission?
Just like any organization, it is important to consider a vision for the future as well.
The founders refined our vision in the preamble of the United States Constitution. It states,
We the people of the United States, to form a more perfect Union....
Visions are aspirational, and young America was full of aspiration!
Our founders believed that growth and change was necessary.
Striving to know better, do better, and be better is part of who we are as Americans.
Are we living up to this vision?
In his 2018 book, The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, Jon Meacham writes,
To know what has come before is to be armed against despair. If the men and women of the past, with all their flaws and limitations and ambitions and appetites, could press on through ignorance and superstition, racism and sexism, selfishness and greed, to create a freer, stronger nation, then perhaps we, too, can right wrongs and take another step toward that most enchanting and elusive destinations: a more perfect Union.
On this week after our 4th of July holiday, where we celebrated our independence, our mission of equality, and vision to embrace change for the better, let's reflect if we are living up to what our founding fathers set before us - as individuals and a nation.
Our Summer Reading List
Summer is finally upon us.
Schools are out, vacations are starting.
It's time to read a few books!
We asked a few of our faculty members to provide us with book recommendations to create a short summer reading list.
As you may expect, these are not your typical beach reads!
Leadership, business, personal development, and history are always trending on Diamond6 bookshelves.
Do you have a book you would recommend to us?
Comment below and let us know what it is AND why you recommend it.
Maybe we'll do a Diamond6 readers’ list next!
First Friends; The Powerful, Unsung, and Unelected People Who Shaped Our Presidents by Gary Ginsberg
We often talk about leading the boss and that everybody needs somebody. That is also true with Presidents and Ginsberg’s analysis is compelling as he tells the stories of these “friends” who were influential advisors to American presidents at critical moments in their lives and our history.
The Great American Sports Page: A Century of Classic Columns from Ring Lardner to Sally Jenkins by Charles P. Pierce
Not only are sports columnists terrific writers, they tell compelling and interesting stories of sports heroes from all walks of life with passion and humor. This groundbreaking anthology spans nearly a century of sports writing featuring well known and lesser known athletes. Easy to read and the perfect travel companion, this book This is my summer read and have also placed it in my travel bag so I can read a couple of these on a flight.
Flying Blind by Peter Robison
This book is much more than just the 737 Max. Leadership requires task skills, behavioral skills, and future skills. By focusing on just task skills, copying Jack Welch, and not understanding the implications of doing so, Harry Stonecypher and lesser lights destroyed the safety culture of Boeing. Note the destructive power of arrogance.
The Edge: How 10 CEOs Learned to Lead – and the Lessons for us All by Michael Useem
Mike Useem, a management professor at the Wharton School, says a leader’s job in a radically changing world, is “standing on a cliff edge, getting a grip on unfamiliar landscapes, and acquiring the skills for leading the enterprise into new territory.” Useem interviews and draws lessons from ten leading CEOs who have faced and met critical challenges.
Twilight of the Gods by Ian Toll
The final volume of Toll’s Pacific War trilogy. Toll’s telling of the events of 1944-45 comes up to the high standard of his first two books in the series. No one else offers as complete a treatment of the war. No one else assesses the leadership challenges and social upheaval on all sides nearly as well. This lengthy book and series are worth the time it takes to read them.
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
When not intentional, human beings begin with what they know. They may follow a process which does not fit the circumstances. Only when it is too late do they consider context. This book implores us to start with context. Examples like the case of Sandra Bland are powerful illustrations of how specialization creates conflict which can lead to tragedy.
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks.
Arthur C. Brooks tackles the challenge all of us will face sooner or later; that of moving from the ambitious striving for success at work that often characterizes the first half of life, to truly flourishing in the second half of life. This book is not about changing your diet and exercising more; rather, it digs deep into crafting a fresh mindset about work and life, and the importance of building connections and finding meaning as we age.
The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles
Historically based on Britt Johnson’s life, this short novel is set in the rugged days post-Civil War Texas and the Indian Territory. Johnson, a Black rancher, undertakes rescuing his kidnaped wife and children and the wife of his neighbor from their Kiowa-Comanche captors. Jiles rises above modern stereotypes of the period to describe conditions and courage that make the reader wiser about the times and its people.
The Lightmakers Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond
In The Lightmaker's Manifesto, Walrond helps us name the skills, values, and actions that bring us joy; identify the causes that spark our empathy and concern; and then put it all together to change the world. Creative and practical exercises, including journaling, daily intention-setting, and mindful self-compassion, are complemented by lively conversations with activists and thought leaders such as Valarie Kaur, Brené Brown, Tarana Burke, and Zuri Adele.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant
Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, Grant investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners.
JEFF SET A WORLD RECORD!
Ok, let's be more specific.
He set a personal Diamond6 world record in number of workshops taught in a certain period of time.
But still, we're impressed!
Here's a quick summary between April 4 and June 18th. (Just 2 1/2 months!)
States visited: 8
Number of workshops taught (in person and online): 12
Number of participants: 210
Miles traveled: 27,100!
Can he break this record with all the workshops planned this fall? We'll see!