The last week of February was all about the 2013 LIVESTRONG Assembly for over 200 global leaders and myself. We were joined by the amazing staff of LIVESTRONG HQ and their one of a kind CEO, Doug Ulman. Also invited where LIVESTRONG's partners in fighting cancer, all in all a very divers gathering. I am sure you have seen plenty of pictures and inspiring stories telling you all about how the Foundation is going forwards after a few difficult months and they are all true.
As all of us worked very hard to define our meaningful actions for this year and tried to join forces to make the impact that LIVESTRONG has even bigger in our own communities, I started to realize something.
Not only is LIVESTRONG unique in its vision about cancer and survivorship, they have another quality that all of us can learn from and should try to adapt: they have the rare ability to create an positive energy in a room full of people that not necessarily agree with the actions they take. No matter what your opinion is about the subject at hand, they listen, value your opinion and respect it and you. That doesn't always mean the course of action is changed but creates an atmosphere in which it is safe to have a different opinion and where the dialogue leeds to positive action.
On the plane back from Chicago it dawned upon me: although I was exhausted I was also full of energy and positivity, ready to work even harder to reach the goals all of us set at the Assembly. I was touched by the way the LIVESTRONG staff radiated positive energy and wondered why this made such an impression on me. And than it hit me: it made such an impression because it seems that in the last couple of years negativism has taken over much of our interaction. Yes, times are hard, work is scarce and it will probably stay like that for a bit.
But does that justify treating each other badly? Do we always need to see the negative side of things? Why can't we approach each other as the LIVESTRONG staff treated all of us, with respect and positive energy?
Some days my bad leg hurts so bad I almost don't want to get up and go to work. I always go, but does the fact my leg hurts even more than usual give me the right to be cranky towards others? And if I am, does that give other people the right to draw their own conclusions about that, without even wondering why I act that way (I usually don't)? Does every work suggestion need to be answered with " we'll do it my way" instead of thanking someone for thinking along and considering whether they have a point or not??? I have plenty more examples of this but I think we all get the picture.
As I went back to work on Monday I was once again reminded of the positive attitude and energy I took back from the LIVESTRONG Assembly and I decided to adopt the way the LIVESTRONG staff conducts itself (and no, I don't think they are perfect. Everyone has his or her flaws but the general attitude over there is something else).
I put my " You are the LIVESTRONG Foundation" card on my computer as a constant reminder how I want to conduct myself from now on: positive and respectful to others.
I think LIVESTRONG's staff, CEO and founder have another amazing legacy, besides being awesome cancer fighters: they make this world a better place for all of us, survivors or not.
From the bottom of my heart to all of them: THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!
Crowin' to Joe
7 jaar geleden
