“A very large part of the rancor of political and social strife springs from the fact that different classes or sections are so cut off from each other that neither appreciates the other’s passions, prejudices, and, indeed, point of view.” - Theodore RooseveltWhen stresses on the community are real, it’s easy to blame others and get angry at “the enemy.“Anger is easy; empathy is hard.We need love - and love in the form of empathy.What if we remember that…What directly hurts one indirectly hurts all;We’ve been through this before - past is prologue - and it will happen again;On the whole, people are really trying to do their best - a very small group of people sets out to be evil;Reality is perception - it’s how we choose to see things;The present is all we have - and it’s what we stand to lose?Dr. Martin Luther King offers a parting thought:“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of [prejudice] will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and [community] will shine over [us] with all their scintillating beauty.” - Dr. Martin Luther King(Adapted from Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail to reflect a broader hope and to be more inclusive. You can read the full letter here.)

I’m re-reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Leadership in Turbulent Times,” a book that studies the leadership of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson.I realized that all 4 of these leaders had these 9 things in common.Childlike wonder and curiosity about life, people, and their stories.Connection with people they seek to serve.Thirst for knowledge of the past - poems, literature, history, fables.Doubt - crippling self-doubt and anxiety in their own ability and pursuits.Courage to decide and act - even if it was not in accordance with the norm.Entertainer - could regale audiences with stories.Pride - often had too much of it and needed an event to back it down.Vision - knew where they wanted to go.Parents - their parents left a mark of what to do and what not to do.Which ones most resonate with you?

If you’re going to start something, it requires a few things:A mission, cause, or belief that’s compelling.A runway to start - it can be small, but you need to have the space.A decision to do it.A follow through.That’s it.If it’s that easy, why is it so hard?

“The important thing about telling everyone your idea is that it puts you on the hook for following through, because you’re going to look foolish if you do nothing.” - Sam PottAt a point in life I wanted to be an architect - I was beyond fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright. I would ask my parents for a sketch pad and colored pencils and create drawings and landscapes for “future” homes. I can vividly recall a time when I shared an idea with my mom. It went something like this:Me: “Mommy, looks at this cool idea for a house!”Mom: “Nice. How are you going to run power? How are you going to do the plumbing? How will the doors open?” Putting your ideas out there is the surest way to find what works and what doesn’t, and a good “How” question bridges the gap between idea and reality. If there is a problem with putting your ideas out there, it won’t be in the response from others. The problem will lie within you - and your ability to allow yourself to be put on the hook. Don’t shy away from that feeling; advance!

I keep my kindergarten diploma in my office because it reminds me that a key part of life is “playing well with others in the sandbox.“In the sandbox, anything can happen. Experiments, questioning, evaluating, risk-taking, or invention. It is the space where we can embody a question, a “What If.“The thing with answering questions, it’s always better when someone wants to come alongside and answer those questions with us. Perhaps they’re just as interested as you?If that’s the case, it’s best to pursue questions with others who are just as interested as but totally different than you. Why?Because difference is a competitive advantage - examining the same problem from multiple points of view likely leads to a more effective solution.That sounds simple enough. But what makes playing the sandbox with others so difficult?You are required to show your work, share the process, and share the solution.

Your ideas need space to work themselves out - John Seely Brown said, “For imagination to flourish there must be opportunity”- and that opportunity is space and time.Give yourself the problem to solve. Analyze it. Ask Why, How, and What If questions.Take yourself out for a walk. Think about those questions while walking. Play with the idea the way a cat plays with their food.Re-approach the problem later in the day and see if you’re problem solving has improved.I make an effort to take walks in the middle of the day - when the day is brightest. Perhaps giving myself time to think is the “brightest” part of the day. Pun intended.

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any other one thing.” - Abraham LincolnWhat are you resolved to do? For whom? Why? What’s in it for them?There was a time when my life’s resolution was to make a living exclusively playing music, and I did it. I reached that goal at great cost to myself and my relationships, but those that doubted I could make it happen were proven wrong. That’s the problem.The problem is not those that doubted me - it was their mistake to doubt. My mistake was leveraging my ambition to serve myself - not to serve others.Any type of leadership (self, group, political, team, musical, etc.) requires demands that you serve others. Your definition of success must be rooted in the betterment of those you seek to serve.Keep your resolutions front and center - almost more important than any other one thing; the ones you seek to serve, they are your most important.

Gigs - they are the opportunity to do something! When I show up to play, I’m doing something - not just playing the instrument, but I’m serving people. My bandmates, the singer, the audience, the venue owner, the neighborhood, the local economy, and the culture. You have an awesome responsibility showing up for others. Don’t take it for granted and love every second of it.

If “What If” questions spark ideas, “How” questions tease ideas into existence.Gauri Nanda, inventor of the Clocky (Wikipedia), went from “What If” to “How” in a pretty impressive way.Here’s what Gauri Nanda asked:What if it was harder to turn off the alarm clock? What if your alarm clock forced you to get out of bed and chase after it? What if I put wheels on it?While testing Nanda noticed the clock’s fall was traumatic… How might that shock be absorbed?How do we gear up for production? How do we handle orders? How do we launch a full-fledged business?The Clocky is still sold today. I may have just purchased it… and my future self will curse my present self for getting it.

A strategic question - that question get people to think without feeling judged - is where past, present, and future intersect. It’s the convening of what was, what is, and possibility.What could we do better?Why, exactly, do I feel as if we’re not getting along?Why do you want to change that?How would you explain the condition of your book of business to our CEO?What are you committing yourself to work on this coming week?How might we, as a family, better serve our community?Tough questions? Yes. But they don’t judge.The heart of the question is in its openness, curiosity, honesty, and a slight desire to be provocative.What are the odds that I’m wrong?