In this issue, you’ll find: An introduction to our new website, In the Works - highlights of upcoming programs, Exemplary Leader - Lynn Blake, author and advocate for heart health and Inside First, Principle of the Month - Learning
We’re excited to announce that our new website is up and ready for action. It’s more than a rebranding. The site is built to help you benefit from and join us in our mission of inspiring character-based, purpose-driven living and leading.
The first thing you’ll notice is that the site reflects the new branding we launched in March. While our mission has not changed, we have refined the messaging and made it easier to find what you’re looking for:
Want to learn about us and what we do? Our Home page gives a quick overview, then find details with the About Us button, or jump straight to Our Story.
Want to find our more about a program or event? Links from the home page take you to program descriptions with drill-down to flyers that have all the details.
Ready to register for a program or event? You’ll find a calendar of events, and you can register, pay, and add them to your calendar from the site.
Want to get more involved? Learn about all the benefits of membership, select a level that’s right for you, and join from the site. Then get access to special content and privileges that come from being a member. Or donate to help us reach a wider audience.
Can’t find our last newsletter or that thought-provoking article you read last year? The Ideas page highlights content, navigates by category, and searches for what you want.
Have a question that’s not answered? It’s easy to Contact Us from the site.
We’re still working through a few kinks, so let me know if you see anything we can make better. We’ll keep events current and keep adding content from the 28 years we’ve been learning and sharing, so check back often.
Special thanks to Donna Jacobs at WebDevLite for being easy to work with and going above and beyond to make our vision a reality. We hope everyone benefits from the improvements.
-Jon Strickler
IN THE WORKS
Programs:
A special Inside First facilitators lunch for all existing and potential facilitators is set for June 18th. If you’re not already registered, sign up for the free event on the web. To learn more about this role, please call JHK.
Our Foundations of Leadership program is now planned for August 7-8th. This program is almost free thanks to a generous local sponsor. The launch is over 1 & ½ days to help participants clarify their values and purpose through Inside First principles and exercises. Find details and register on our new site.
The next RoundTable is scheduled to start on the weekend of October 16-18th. Find details and register on our site.
If you have special programming requests or you’ve done a program in the past and would like to participate again, please let us know. We can customize a program to your needs, and we’ll be forming groups on an ongoing basis.
Note: Monthly meetings of RoundTables will be scheduled following each session to allow for member availability.
EXEMPLARY LEADER
Lynn Blake
Lynn is a devoted wife, mother, and passionate community volunteer. Her professional and personal experiences resulted in a deep commitment to saving lives in our community. After surviving sudden cardiac arrest (thanks to the amazing work of Eagle County Paramedics), she made it her mission to transform that experience into purpose, supporting both individuals and systems that save lives. She founded Starting Hearts, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing survival from cardiac arrest through education, prevention, and community preparedness. Lynn has been responsible for placing many defibrillators throughout the Vail Valley.
She tells her story in a recent book called Heart of the Matter. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Colorado mountains, this inspiring story invites readers to embrace life’s peaks and valleys, proving that even in our lowest moments, hope and transformation are within reach.
Lynn is a graduate of an early Vail Leadership program called Leaders Lab.
LEARNING
The Inside First Principle for June
Overview
Frederic Hudson, the sage executive coach said, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”By growing, he meant learning, expanding your perspective, and trying something new. With technology, it has become easier to uncover knowledge. This makes learning more readily available. But learning what? All wisdom scripture asks that we build our learning on what is good and right and helpful. Everything we need to know about behavior, ethics, and every other key leadership issue is contained somewhere in those scriptures.
Too often, learning is thought of as something only done in school. But the process of continuous maturation that occurs throughout life is best fueled by an attitude of “not knowing”, of longing to understand, and by the joy of freely asking “why” and “how” questions. The title of Peter Vaill’s book expresses what we all might strive for: Learning as a Way of Being. See our book review on the web.
But how does one turn learning into wisdom? Simply stated, it most often comes with experience and maturity. Learning the lessons of life can be difficult, particularly in our early years. But over time, a more patient, more humble approach seems to bring us answers more readily. Understanding can often be gained through interaction with others, particularly in small groups, where dialogue allows the lessons we’ve all learned to come out in a supportive, non-judgmental fashion. Wisdom is earned, not acquired.
Some leaders, however, view knowledge as all-powerful: market knowledge, technological know-how, and intellectual capital are vital. The reality is that knowledge is good, but it’s not the primary thing that makes the world go ‘round. Effective leaders know that it’s more about how we relate to one another.
Sample Practices: The following practices are offered by a variety of leaders from around the world:
Please consider sharing this newsletter with others who might be interested in our mission. If this was forwarded, you can sign up using the button below. Thank you!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
