WHY YOU SHOULD WISH UPON A STAR "If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme… when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." -Disney's Pinnocchio This lyric comes with two basic assumptions: 1. That you have dreams and value them. 2. That you are capable of putting your whole heart into wishing and working for them! One of my new favorite things to do is a web search about something out of the ordinary, like the value of wishing on a star. It's my own version of crowdsourcing for interesting new (or old) ideas. Here's what I found when I searched for "wishing on a star": In 2008 World leaders converging in Japan for the Group of Eight summit didn't wish upon a star, but instead posted their hopes on a bamboo tree. That made me curious what were they wishing for and did those wishes come to be?  (If anyone knows this answer, please email me!) Wagner.edu highlights stories of women and men in our world today who "wished upon a star" and worked hard to make their dreams come to be. There are some great stories here, truly inspiring! There's also a step by step technique out there!  This simple, cartoon embedded article in thewikiHOW outlines how to wish upon a star. included are some little tips like: If you make a wish, never tell anyone what the wish is! Always close your eyes, and think really hard when you are making your wish. Sometimes, wishes need help, in order for them to come true.  Help your wish come true by actually doing things. If you are wishing for a really good friend, try to find a friend when you are at a party, or in the park. Then I asked myself, what's a person actually doing when he or she wishes upon a star? Wishing is really a form of asking, asking the universe to help you turn your dreams into reality. Asking for help in this way requires humility, belief and love. You have to love your idea or wish enough to be willing to ask for it, and love yourself enough to believe you can have that dream. Then you have to keep your attention on that wish and do whatever it takes to help it along. What do you secretly wish for? Tonight (or on the next clear night), go outside, find that star, then close your eyes, open your heart, and wish. I'm wishing #leaders everywhere will join you! Full song lyrics here. BASIC GRAPHIC RECORDING CLASS JULY 18TH 9-2PM  CONFESS! You've wanted to learn graphic recording for a long time. This super awesome class will give you a good introduction, so that you can go back and wow your team with your new skills. NO PREVIOUS DRAWING NECESSARY. Email me to reserve your spot (5 spots left!)   SUPER SMARTYPANTS THANKS TO SUNNI BROWN I GOT TO WORK WITH THESE HOOLIGANS! The great thing about being a graphic recording game stormer?  There still aren't that many of us, so we get to work to for each other all the time. Which means I get to be Sunni Brown sometimes.  Them some big shoes to fill. Appreciation abounds. Buy her book Doodle Revolution and see why she is so AWESOME! SHOUT OUT VISUAL INK PARTY if you want to get some serious drawing lessons.  Go draw with these artists, Kevin Woodson & Christine Walker!  Chris gave me my very first drawing lesson 20 years ago, and Kevin Woodson shows me how it's done every time I get to work with him. Check out these two Rock Stars!

Get Disruptive With Your Leadership & In Those Dull, Endless Meetings!

One of the ways to get better results is by getting disruptive with the heirarchy in your organization. You can "offer opportunities" to employees (or your family) all you want, but the real opportunity comes when you turn over the reins.  How do you do it?  By including everyone in the problem identification and decision making process.  Want to share the workload when you are lauching products or creating new programs?  Let others identify the problems, brainstorm solutions and determine the roadmap for how everyone to create success.

If you want to learn more about how to create positive combustion, why not take a workshop hosted by my colleagues Keith McCandless and Nancy White.  (I met these two disruptors when we graphic recorded for the Dalai Lama in Seattle.)  Their workshop, Liberating Structures Immersion Workshop: Leading by Including & Unleashing Everyone is August 16.  What is it about?    "In contrast to managing a project, Liberating Structures catalyzes a broad movement. Leaders responsibly let go of over-control in a way that invites more local action and momentum. Leadership is more distributed: waiting for someone else or gaming the system is replaced by more freedom, self-organization, and mutual accountability. Guided by must-do and must-not-do principles (aka Min Specs), a movement spreads without central control."

Now, how do you become an ANARCHIST in your meetings? Gamestorm them. Here's my newest most favorite game - it's called "Mood 'o Meter." Break participants into small groups (if it is more than 8 people), or push back their chairs, stand up and put down a piece of flip chart paper in the center of the table and turn it into a board (versus "bored") game.  Ask them to draw 3 concentric circles on the paper.  Around the outside circle have everyone write what they believe needs to get done in the meeting, putting a star next to the one with the highest priority (3 minutes to do this).  When you have agreed on the top 3 things that need to go first (2 minutes max deciding), move to the second circle.  Have them draw a picture of themselves on a post it note with a word that represents the strength they brought into the room and on the back, a word that represents their "shadow side"  or mixed mood they brought. (3 minutes max to create)  Have each person share their picture, strength and mood.  (5 min max)  Based on the strengths of the group, have the group self-select a facilitator, scribe and timekeeper.  Write their names in the center circle! Then, start that meeting!

For more super cool Gamestorming ideas, pick up a copy of Sunni Brown's book.  Disruption is QOM!

MY BIG ASK:  I'd love to feature more of your maps and stories of how you areDRAWING YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY!  Send them to me!

If you need a kick start, tune in this Saturday at 1PM PSTon "Minding Your Business" with Robbing Block 1300KKOL mybmedia.com

Or call me for a individual mapping session or email me to sign up for one of my September Graphic Recording or Drawing Solutions workshops in Seattle.
Happy SUMMER!!!