My last blog post included a bit of name dropping so I thought I would do it again. I’ve had some terrific life experiences in my career that provided me the opportunity to meet some rather famous people, sometimes in unusual circumstances. Such was the case when I flew to New York and cabbed to a large warehouse on the west side of Manhattan where I spent the day. I was on hand to coordinate logistics for Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith who was taping a special first-ever Hall of Fame Class from the “Puppy Bowl.” The segment ran on Animal Planet at halftime of that year’s Super Bowl. I must admit, it’s not an everyday occurrence to hang out with the NFL’s all-time sack leader and lots of dogs! For those who don’t know what goes on behind the scenes of television production, suffice it is say this video is the culmination of a 10-hour on-location shoot by a fairly large crew, many dogs with handlers, clips from past Puppy Bowls, voiceover from one of the great NFL announcers, and a fun, but tight, script. You may wonder why I am telling this story. It’s really just to grab your attention and transition to plugging the point of my last post. Of all the “famous” people I’ve met, none of their life stories are any more unique than ones I’ve learned about “ordinary” people. That premise led me to crafting a longform feature piece I published on Medium. So, in case you missed it, I invite to enjoy my story titled, “Keep on Keeping On.” I’ve collected, by estimate, several hundred quotes over the past few decades that I find meaningful. I regularly share them on LinkedIn and include a perspective as to why I am doing so. Tip: using images on LinkedIn helps drive engagement. As such, I’ve created a template for my quotes that also allows me to elevate my brand by incorporating my logo. Adding some thoughts in the post versus a standalone image further elicits engagement. Here's a recent one. A career and lifestyle change a few years ago has permitted me the opportunity to expand my network across industries and groups. I’ve pursued professional and personal interests that lead me to connecting to some extraordinary human beings. I am encouraged by the number of empathetic people who are committing their time, passion, and knowledge to helping others. A common thread among these individuals is their ability to think critically, examine a problem, and then take extraordinary efforts to finding a solution. It’s not easy and requires tireless devotion to lead transformation that makes the world a better place for us, and for the generations that follow. These people I speak of are rooted in thinking beyond what benefits them personally in the now and how to they can spearhead a sustainable impact that is far reaching and will live beyond our lifespans. Change takes time because it so often is met by fierce resistance. Many people react viscerally to the idea of altering what they know to be the norm. This perhaps natural short-term response is one that senses change as a threat. Adapting to something that is evolving requires one to pause, reflect and contemplate, to fully understand the “why” and the future implications behind a proposed shift in thinking. One of my sisters, who is dear to my heart, gifted me a wonderful book, Longpath: Become the GREAT ANCESTORS Our Future Needs, by Ari Wallach. Making the surprise package at my door more special was the note that she kept thinking of me when she read it. It is a terrific book as the author lays out the importance of futurism that serves as an antidote to short-termism. In my opinion, short-term thinking plagues our society and is one of the factors that has led to the dangerous divide that exists today. I recommend you giving the book a read. Minimally, take some time to visit the Longpath Labs website to learn more. When my wife and I downsized from our suburban home in Ohio to a condo in the city of Chicago, one of the casualties was our large collection of books. We loaded up the car (twice) and donated all but about dozen books to the Stark County Library before we moved. As someone who reads mostly on my iPad, there is a terrific tradition I learned from a friend recently. He talked about how he prefers to read print but only keeps certain books. More often than not, after he reads one, he writes his name inside of it and then shares it with someone in his life who he thinks would enjoy the book. The only caveat is that that they pass it along to another person with the same instruction. After telling me this and us having discussed a book, I received a copy in the mail from him. It was unexpected, an entertaining book, and I obliged by passing it on to the next person. For the record, Longpath is a keeper and one I will grab off the shelf to read again, and reference from time to time. RANDOM SOMERSAULT: Chicago is home to many local bookstores that have survived and continue to flourish. If in town, check out one (or more) of these from this list of the 19 best in the city. If you have a favorite bookstore where you live or travel, share it with my readers by adding it in the comments below. Speaking of change, as an avid hockey fan who watches plenty of games that start with “O Canada,” I am surprised I hadn’t noticed on my own an alteration to the Canadian National Anthem lyrics five years ago. The wording was officially changed from “True patriot love in all thy sons command” to “True patriot love in all of us command.” Of course, change can be hard, and the Bill was opposed by a faction. It is worth noting (see this story) that this was the 13th proposed bill to change the lyrics. Read on in the article and you’ll learn it wasn’t the first time the lyrics have been modified. In fact, the line that sparked debate was not in the original lyrics written in 1908 but added about a decade later. I commend the action of changing the words to gender neutral as it reflects a way of thinking. As someone who adapted decades ago to changing the way we speak and write, I simply don’t understand why someone today uses terms like “fireman,” “policeman,” “mailman,” or “congressman” instead of more encompassing “firefighter,” police officer,” mail carrier,” or “congressperson.” I have far too much respect for the many people in my life who do not identify as a male to use antiquated vernacular rooted in a different time. The use of gender-neutral language has a tremendous impact on large sets of people. It creates a sense of inclusion and equity that affects, subtly or not so subtly, how a person views oneself. This leads to a change in how they imagine the possibility of their dreams and opportunities in life. I’ll leave you with a quote from Williams James that Wallach used in Longpath: The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing their inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” I applaud all the people in my life who are committed to fueling meaningful change through actions, large and small, that result in making this a better future world for all.
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WHY "RANDOM SOMERSAULTS?""Random Somersaults"
features storytelling based on themes spurred by personal and professional experiences and thoughts that represent a broad range of topics with a few random, yet relevant, detours. It is a terrific way to get to know Pete Fierle as you gain insight into how he processes information through this less formal and creative style of writing. The blog has been described as “fun and informative” and “what fun to meander through ideas and streams of consciousness.” AuthorPete Fierle has a love for all mediums but a special affinity for the written word (that flows from a keyboard or fountain pen) as a powerful platform for storytelling. ARCHIVEBe sure to check out the archives and roll through past posts for a variety of topics and stories.
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