Chicago, Friday night, April 27, Dr. Robert Wright and Dr. Judith Wright take the stage to award the 2012 Transformational Leadership Award to Dr. Muhammad Yunus. It was an amazing moment. In front of more than 500 world leaders, this man from Bangladesh, small of stature but large of heart, was a living example of a transformational leader.
His eyes had an additional sparkle as this normally vibrant man listened to an incredibly moving introduction by long time friend and supporter, Dick Durbin.

Dr. Yunus’ address moved his listeners but was also a challenge—take one step to make a difference, to solve a problem. Dr. Yunus recounted his initial foray into microlending: “I asked myself why do banks give money to people who have money? Why not give money to people who are poor? So that is what I did.” The simplicity of his question worked laughter in the audience as people recognized the inherent challenge and saw their own assumptions unmasked. Dr. Yunus started by asking the right questions.

Dr. Yunus challenged banking corporations that did not see women as worthy of their attention. He questioned bankers when they interrogated women about borrowing money. “Why don’t you go home and discuss this with your husband – is what the banks would ask. I noticed that the banks never asked men, ‘Why don’t you discuss this with your wife?’” Again, laughter rippled throughout the room. A simple question revealed the prevalent assumptions in Bangladesh, as well as for everyone eating dinner at the Westin River North. How often do we do things just because that is the way things are done? How often do we not ask the pertinent questions? How often do we accept and not question?

Dr. Yunus asked himself, what can I do to help? He took the first step. He asked the pertinent questions. He combined that with action by going to the villages himself and saw the dire poverty and asked what it would take to change. Dr. Yunus lived his life as a question and by working to answer that question, he empowered women and entrepreneurs, cultivated microfinancing in Bangladesh, and originated the concept of social business.

Dr. Yunus transformed the world he lives in—the world we live in. He was not someone who knew anything about the banking industry and yet that did not stop him. He believed in the actualization of human potential. He discovered that a few dollars would be the answer to creating business that could transform human beings. This is why I am proud of my contribution in supporting Dr. Robert and Dr. Judith Wright to present the Transformational Leadership Award to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the true embodiment of a Transformational Leader. Now, the question is, “What questions are you asking?”

Ticket to Heaven (Daily Kabbalah Tune Up)
Wednesday May 9, 2012
There is a story about a man who passes on and meets a guardian angel whose was sent to prepare him to prove his worthiness to be accepted into heaven. The man explains that everyone loved him and he never got into conflict with any person. The angel informs him that this argument will get him a first-class ticket to hell.

We came to this world to create positive change and transformation within ourselves, and the world around us. Positive change always encounters resistance, conflict, and obstacles. We must embrace difficult and heated situations in life, for that is the method of igniting our reactions in order to transform them.

Whom and what will you disturb today and how will you be disturbed?

I've been thinking about the world differently since reading his autobiography. I've been looking at file cabinets and thinking about how they could be designed more beautifully. I've been telling myself if toilet stalls could be designed more beautifully. His obsession with elegance, beauty led to that. That he cared about it. At the same time, I compare him against Riggio and Bass's four aspects of a transformational leader. He certainly had inspirational motivation but he didn't have individualized concern. He was not an idealized influence. He was not somebody anyone wanted to be like. He did have intellectual engagement. So he passes two out of their four tests for a transformational leader. Seems to me that makes him a leader who transformed our world but not a transformational leader. So the larger question I'm asking is could he have brought about the beauty that he brought to computing without being as obnoxious as he was? By being a transformational leader who transformed an industry. What do you think?

Come see who truly is a transformational leader. Muhammad Yunus will be awarded the 2012 Transformational Leadership Award in Chicago April 27-28. Join us in honoring his creation of beauty and transformation of the microfinance industry at the award dinner and symposium.

Later that evening, It occurred to me that she might have been making a pre-emptive excuse for a marriage that was not as strong as it could be. As I thought further about it and discussed the comment with others, the consensus was that children represent, in fact, a huge possibility to strengthen and enrich a couple. While children demand time and can challenge a weakly partnered couple, they also provide a rich opportunity for the engaged couple to grow together as they deal with differences in values, resolve conflicts, and share meaningful moments. Further discussion revealed that the couples that use children to grow closer are more committed to honesty, resolving differences, and becoming aligned. They courageously deal with difficult conversations, express and resolve judgments, and generally take advantage of the opportunities children represent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uYafcQ8SV0&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc&feature=player_embedded.

Wouldn’t it be nice if people were enjoying work as well as recreation? What do you think?

Neuroscience is telling us that the key to happiness is engagement. From that, the real trick is to fully engage and enjoy everything you do.