Thriving rather then Surviving

From Surviving to Thriving: Personal Attitudes and Professional Strategies for Success!

Erwin Schwella2nd June 2010Erwin Schwella2nd June 2012: Possible Scenario

2nd June 2012: RealityChair Elect of the Public Member Interest Group of the International Leadership AssociationProfessorial Fellow at the Leiden Leadership Centre of Leiden University, the NetherlandsMember of the Statutory Training and Development Board of the Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM)Convenor of he SPL Public Leadership Forum cooperating with the Mayor of Cape Town to support urban renewal with knowledgeMember of the Board of the Stellenbosch University Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa (SIGLA@Stellenbosch)Academic and community activismNumerous international travels, presentations and publications on leadership and innovationSpiritual, personal and professional growthOn the way to Norway via Amsterdam at 23:30 on official University business

First Things First: The EssentialsIf you are going through hell, keep going!: Winston ChurchillPositive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will: Zig ZiglarIf you don't program your life, your life will program you!: Les BrownIt is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome: William James

Never Give Up

Live Life to the Fullest: The Value of Happy Music

Live Life to the Fullest: The Value of Humour Good humour is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment : Grenville Kleiser A lesson: Do not Focus too Much on YourselfRather gaze at the stars than at your navel!Viktor Frankl: Do you still have something significant left to do?Live Life to the Fullest: Be and Become MoreThere are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain.What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control.Leo BuscagliaLive Life to the Fullest: Be and Become MoreYou have been given so much, are you making the most of it?Only you can make a difference!There are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our encouragement, who will need our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give. Leo BuscagliaLive Life to the Fullest: Never Stop LearningIndividual and Institutional Learning:What happened?Why?What can I/We learn from this?EmpowermentHow can we build the learning back into the system?Capacity buildingParables of Mice and (Wo)MenThe value of parables as collected and collective WisdomThe challenge of parables: find the meaning and the motivationTeaching childrenTwo- or maybe three stories about inspectionThe Impact of attitude:We create our own reality storyYitzhak Perlman story: - "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left." A marble boy and sweet girl storyThrowing starfish in the sea storyAlfreds legacy storyThe Gambler storyA boy n and girl were playing together. The boy had a collection of marbles. The girl had some sweets with her. The boy told the girl that he will give her all his marbles in exchange for her sweets. The girl agreed. The boy kept the biggest n the most beautiful marble aside n gave the rest to the girl. The girl gave him all her sweets as she had promised. That night, the girl slept peacefully. But the boy couldnt sleep as he kept wondering if the girl had hidden some sweets from him the way he had hidden his best marble.

10Lessons About Strategy from a GamblerListen, Learn and Share

Advancing in Life Irrespective of Age: Stay GracefulA Prayer For Growing Old Gracefully

Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all; but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people; and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen.Author Unknown

Go Out and Do it Now!