|
Dr. John B. Izzo
To learn more about
John Izzo
visit:
www.theizzogroup.com
to order books
visit:
www.fairwinds-press.com |
the enlightened
leader
Volume 22 - January
2008
Thank you for your subscription to the
enlightened leader we hope that it shares with you valuable information
and brightens your day just a little.
Reflections from Dr. John
Izzo
The Bucket List - Do you have a life list?
There is a new movie just starting to
hit theatres across the United States and Canada called The Bucket List
starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. Directed by Rob Reiner, it is
a film about two older men who are dying and meet as roommates in the
hospital. One of them talks about an assignment he received in college to
make a list of the things he wanted to do before he died; an assignment he
never completed. Together in the hospital, they make a list which they
call The Bucket List (as in 'before you kick it'). Predictably the list
includes sky diving, racing fast cars, seeing the wall of China and
various wild adventures. Since Nicholson’s character is rich (Freeman’s is
not), they get to live out some of these dreams and forge their way
towards fulfilling more important and more difficult ones as the movie
presses on.
I have just spent the last year interviewing almost
250 people from the age of 60-106 so I have a pretty good idea now about
what people are actually wishing they had done at the end of their lives.
Although sky diving and fast cars might be on the list for some people,
most of the people I interviewed had different regrets.
Almost all
of them said they wished they had risked more but they specified that the
risks were more about the heart than the body-being more true to
themselves, pursuing their dreams and loving more deeply. Many of them
said they wished they had been more careful about how they used their
time-about not wasting time on things that did not matter. They told me
that we spend far too much time worrying about what others think of us and
not enough time listening to our own inner voices. Many of them wished
they had “really been there” for the people they loved. They also told me
that the greatest fear at the end of life is not failure or even death.
The greatest fear is that we had never lived and that our last words would
be: “I wish I had” or “I should have…”
Most of all I discovered
that building reflection into our lives is critical if we are to come to
the end of our lives and careers deeply satisfied. Many of those I
interviewed told me that they had regular times for reflection in their
lives, often on a daily basis.
Making a life list and making sure
it stays current is a pretty good tool for keeping life and career on
course. Life lists are like wills, everyone knows you should have one but
many people never get around to it. I personally have a life list I
developed about five years ago. At least every few months I review the
list, cross off the ones I have accomplished, add a few from time to time,
and decide which ones I want to focus on for the next several months.
When the two older men in The Bucket List created their list, they
filled it mostly with things they wanted to DO before they die. My list
has quite a few of those things on it as well (such as trips I want to
take and experiences I want to have, like attending the NBA finals) but it
also has quite a few things I want to BECOME before I die (things such as
being a more generous person, a person who is a mentor to younger people
in my profession, and how I want to be remembered by others).
This
is why when I ask people to create a life list during retreats, I ask them
to make a list of the things they want to DO and BECOME while they are
alive. Making a list for our career is also a good idea-what do you want
to DO and to BECOME during your career? Once you have the list, build in a
time to check in with yourself every 2-3 months-does the list still make
sense? What must be added? What has been accomplished? What will be your
focus for the months ahead?
Of course, in the end, the two
characters in The Bucket List discover that maybe there were even more
important things to do before you die than sky dive. Whether you see the
movie or not, make the list long before you die.
Happy New
Year
Dr. John Izzo
Book Reviews:
The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity and the Renewal of Civilization
by Thomas Homer Dixon
This is a compelling book that explores the challenges humanity
faces - from a deteriorating environment to a widening gap between rich
and poor. Dixon also shows how we can change course and create a positive
future out of the emerging chaos. If you want to truly understand the
world in which we live and why we must make changes now, read this book.
We recommend it highly.
For further information on Dr. John Izzo, his work, publications,
writings and his national appearances schedule please visit www.theizzogroup.com.
If you wish to unsubscribe please e-mail us and we will remove you from
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January Author Events
...and you are invited.
Dr.
Izzo will be in the following cities to launch his newest book -
"The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You
Die"
TORONTO: January 9th-
5-7 pm
Ben McNally booksellers
366 Bay St. T.416-361-0032.
(wine and hors d'oeuvers)
CALGARY:
January 15th 5-7pm
McNally Robinson Booksellers
go
there...
120 8th Ave SW T.403-538-1797
(wine and hors
d'oeuvers)
VANCOUVER: January 25th
7-9pm
Vancouver Public Library
350 Georgia St. W.
T.604-331-4040
(coffee, tea and sweets)
If you and your
colleagues, family or friends wish to attend any one of these free events
please simply RSVP at info@theizzogroup.com.
The Biography Channel
January TV
Airing
The Five Things You Must Discover Before
You Die is
airing on The Biography Channel-Canada starting January 5th.
The
series will be televised Saturday evenings from January 5th to February
2nd at 8pm PT/11pm EST.
Jan. 5th - Reflect More
Jan12th - Risk
More
Jan.19th - Love More
Jan 26th - Enjoy More
Feb. 2nd -
Return More
Please
refer to your local listing schedule for your area's channel and
time.
Your Brain May Lead to Bad Business Decisions
In a fascinating book title, Your
Money and Your Brain, former Fortune reporter Jason Zwieg
examines research on how the human brain makes decisions. Although the
book is about investing, many of its findings should be considered by
leaders and groups making important business decisions. Among its most
interesting findings are: The human brain is programmed to look for
patterns even when none exist and to make decisions based on small amounts
of data.
Zwieg shows that the human brain has changed little since
our days living in hunting and gathering societies hence we are programmed
to take small amounts of data and make quick decisions -will the leopard
get me or not, where is the antelope now, is that person a threat or a
friend, etc.
This research shows why we often make poor decisions.
The bottom line is when making a decision, always think twice. Force your
brain (or group) to consider more alternatives. He also suggests taking
time away from a problem before making decisions. He also shows that our
brains are naturally attracted to that which is familiar whether in
investment decisions or other critical choices. We have a natural tendency
to think that whatever is familiar is safe.
What this means is that a
group or person will tend to be attracted to what they already know (their
comfort zone). Therefore having people of many different perspectives with
many different experiences tends to lead to better decisions. This book is
a great read.
The Izzo Group's
enlightened
leader newsletter is produced and distributed by The
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