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Jan-Mar 2021
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PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE HEADER
PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE HEADER
PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE HEADER
A Future of Our Choosing
It is our free will, our ability to choose, that sculpts the future. This statement may appear a bit of a misnomer since rarely, outside of an election season, is the importance and power of personal choice at the forefront of public attention. But in fact, there is nothing more potent nor more powerful than our ability to vote, and we vote every waking moment of every day. These votes are cast in the form of the choices we make, in how we commit our time, devote our attention and spend our money. Even the smallest decision represents a vote.

Unfortunately, one of the greatest tragedies of the human experience is that we undervalue the impact of our choices in crafting our world and our future. If you question this value, consider that all marketing and political campaigns exist for a single purpose: to capture, direct and retain your allegiance. Stated in more tangible terms, the cost of a single 30-second commercial during the 2019 Super Bowl was $5.25 million. Budweiser® purchased 5.5 minutes of our Super Bowl time. Moreover, in order to encourage us not to mute the sound or leave the room, they invested huge sums in production and promotion. All with one goal: our vote.

Contents

JAN-MAR 2021
Basic Necessity: Communication cover
by Hugo Balta
Creating systemic change through dialogue, outreach and connection.
Crisis Management: Why Servant Leadership Matters cover
by Phyllis J. Wilson
A shared sense of purpose builds cohesive, collaborative teams.
Meaning and Fulfillment Is the New Wealth cover
by Joanne McEachen
Contributing individually to the greater good of society is critical to humanity.
The Peaceful Entrepreneur cover
by Kent Welter
A good leader is first a good person.
Choosing Change cover
by Roy E. Alston
Diversity drives powerful communities and important conversations.
Changing the Narrative cover
by Krenice Ramsey
Inclusion fosters a sense of belonging that builds future leaders.
Never Bet Against Hong Kong cover
by Dana Magenau
History is a catalyst for creativity and great ingenuity.
Kindness, Compassion and Empathy: A Little Goes a Long Way cover
by Karen Markel
Creating stronger teams through empathetic leadership.
I Choose to Lead cover
by Heather Kinzie
Mindful choices helping to navigate the path forward.
The Value of Team cover
by David Lory
Collaboration, support and mentoring are the performance differentiators.
Publisher
Rick Thomas

Editor
Nance Larsen

Cover Story Photo
Charan Ingram Photography
charaningram.com

Visualizer
Scott Mlynarczyk

Administration
Karin Norgard
Kelsey Richardson

Sales
sales@thestriveproject.com
907.278.7483

info@thestriveproject.com

Published By
The STRIVE Group, LLC

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Copyright © 2021
The Strive Group, LLC
All rights reserved.

Crisis Management: Why Servant Leadership Matters
by Phyllis J. Wilson
I

was the director of nursing at a large long-term care facility in Gainesville, Florida, when we were directly impacted by a major hurricane on Labor Day weekend in 2004.

We lost electricity and our back-up generators could only power essential equipment via outlets in the hallways, causing us to move our most critical residents, whose care was dependent upon electricity, into the corridors.

It was early September in Florida and the building had backup lighting but no air conditioning. Members of our staff who were not at the facility were home dealing with the damage or out of town on vacation for the holiday weekend. An incredible team of staff and volunteers worked around the clock to ensure our elderly residents received the best possible care. After four long days and nights, the power was restored. We all breathed a sigh of relief and congratulated each other that not a single person in a 154-bed facility had suffered any ill effects.

POLY SOLUTIONS GUIDE TO WORKING FROM ANYWHERE
NO MATTER WHERE OR HOW WORK HAPPENS, GIVE YOUR PEOPLE THE TOOLS THAT ARE MADE TO WORK.
Work doesn’t happen the way it used to. It’s no longer a single place to go or a time of day. It’s a wherever, whenever reality that continues to evolve. But some things haven’t changed. Work still means getting stuff done. It still depends on clear communication and collaboration. On technology that promotes connections, while tuning out distractions. On devices that set up your workforce for success. And on easy device management that means less work for you.
Poly logo
Poly logo
POLY SOLUTIONS GUIDE TO WORKING FROM ANYWHERE
NO MATTER WHERE OR HOW WORK HAPPENS, GIVE YOUR PEOPLE THE TOOLS THAT ARE MADE TO WORK.
Work doesn’t happen the way it used to. It’s no longer a single place to go or a time of day. It’s a wherever, whenever reality that continues to evolve. But some things haven’t changed. Work still means getting stuff done. It still depends on clear communication and collaboration. On technology that promotes connections, while tuning out distractions. On devices that set up your workforce for success. And on easy device management that means less work for you.
POLY VOYAGER FOCUS UC
Stereo Bluetooth headset that lets people focus on work—not the chaos around them

  • Wireless connection across laptops, Bluetooth-enabled desk phones, mobile phones and tablets for ultimate flexibility
  • Brilliant audio that removes distracting sounds and keep people from focusing or being heard clearly
  • Intuitive features and a comfortable design deliver a great experience
Poly Voyager Focus UC headset
POLY STUDIO X30 VIDEO BAR + TC8 CONTROLLER
Radically simple video bar that brings remote teams face-to-face

  • No PC or Mac is required, with cloud service platform support built in
  • Enjoy full boardroom-quality audio and an intuitive touch interface
  • Easily share content wirelessly from any device
Poly Studio X30 Video Bar + TC8 Controller - simple video bar
POLY SYNC 20
Personal USB/Bluetooth smart speakerphone for premium sound in a pocket-sized package

  • Remarkable sound with up to 20 hours of battery life for immersive music, multimedia, or meetings
  • Reduced echo and noise so meeting-goers can hear the speaker clearly
  • Slim and portable for use beyond the desk
Poly Sync 20 - Personal USB/Bluetooth smart speaker
Meaning and Fulfillment Is the New Wealth
When we try not to lower ourselves in others’ eyes, often we lower ourselves in our own…In a culture of “me first,” I lost sight of me.
by Joanne McEachen
A

t times as I was growing up in Aotearoa/New Zealand, I felt like I was slipping off the edge of the world. It’s so silent in places that in moments alone I would wonder if I was still on the face of the earth. Back then, more than anything I wanted to leave, to go find myself—somewhere else in the world. Because what did a country like mine have to offer, a lonely little island in the corner of the map? And who would I be if I stayed there forever, linked to the land of my family and ancestors but hopelessly lost to the rest of the world, where it seemed that everything worthwhile was happening?

The Peaceful Entrepreneur
by Kent Welter
… I’m drawn to creative individuals with a vision. Whether they are pitching a new medical device or an engineering software tool, I love their enthusiasm and passion.
Book on top of eachother
I

enjoy spending my free time mentoring startup CEOs and founders at the Oregon State University Advantage Accelerator. As a fellow entrepreneur, I’m drawn to creative individuals with a vision. Whether they are pitching a new medical device or an engineering software tool, I love their enthusiasm and passion. It’s hard not to get excited during a great pitch. It’s also a skill that we help them develop. Without a great pitch they won’t be able to get the funding they need to make their ideas a reality.

A great pitch is about selling not only your idea but yourself. When I’m mentoring first-time founders, I give them many of the same pointers they have already read in leadership books or gotten from other mentors.

Books stacked up
The Peaceful Entrepreneur
by Kent Welter
Stacked of books
… I’m drawn to creative individuals with a vision. Whether they are pitching a new medical device or an engineering software tool, I love their enthusiasm and passion.
I

enjoy spending my free time mentoring startup CEOs and founders at the Oregon State University Advantage Accelerator. As a fellow entrepreneur, I’m drawn to creative individuals with a vision. Whether they are pitching a new medical device or an engineering software tool, I love their enthusiasm and passion. It’s hard not to get excited during a great pitch. It’s also a skill that we help them develop. Without a great pitch they won’t be able to get the funding they need to make their ideas a reality.

A great pitch is about selling not only your idea but yourself. When I’m mentoring first-time founders, I give them many of the same pointers they have already read in leadership books or gotten from other mentors.

Syracuse University’s
Online M.S. in Communications Management
Syracuse University’s
Online M.S. in Communications Management
No GRE Required
Syracruse University Newhouse School of Public Communications logo
Syracruse University Newhouse School of Public Communications faculty
Choosing Change
by Roy Alston
Diversity Pop Phone Application
Photo courtesy of diversitypop
Does starting over with something new always fix the problem? Or does it simply create new ones while masking the struggles that drove us to change in the first place?
Choosing Change
by Roy Alston
Photo courtesy of diversitypop
Diversity Pop Phone Application
Does starting over with something new always fix the problem? Or does it simply create new ones while masking the struggles that drove us to change in the first place?
I

n today’s world, when something is broken we tend to throw it out. No real thought or consideration, just out with the old and in with the new, shiny replacement that promises to make life easier, better and more vibrant than before.

But the older I get, the more I begin to question the validity of this promise. Does starting over with something new always fix the problem? Or does it simply create new ones while masking the struggles that drove us to change in the first place?

Basic Necessity: Communication
by Hugo Balta
W

e are amidst a time of disease, hatred and collusive agendas, where news media has become more essential and also more corrupt. As people turn to their TVs and mobile devices for the latest information, we as journalists and media contributors must be inclusive and diligent in our approach to reporting to protect people’s lives and rights.

Sustenance
Just as food and water are basic necessities, so is communication. Understanding each other is not only about what we say, but who is saying and receiving it. It’s about the efficacy of imparting information.

I’ve always held the belief that communication can be a detriment or a saving grace. As news director of WTTW News, host of Chicago Tonight’s Latino Voices, and owner and head of content of the Latino News Network, I’ve seen this at work firsthand. Providing high-quality communication motivates me. To do this, there must be diversity in the newsroom and access to quality local news.

Photo by Charan Ingram
Hugo Balta black and white portrait
Photo by Charan Ingram
Basic Necessity: Communication
by Hugo Balta
W

e are amidst a time of disease, hatred and collusive agendas, where news media has become more essential and also more corrupt. As people turn to their TVs and mobile devices for the latest information, we as journalists and media contributors must be inclusive and diligent in our approach to reporting to protect people’s lives and rights.

Sustenance
Just as food and water are basic necessities, so is communication. Understanding each other is not only about what we say, but who is saying and receiving it. It’s about the efficacy of imparting information.

I’ve always held the belief that communication can be a detriment or a saving grace. As news director of WTTW News, host of Chicago Tonight’s Latino Voices, and owner and head of content of the Latino News Network, I’ve seen this at work firsthand. Providing high-quality communication motivates me. To do this, there must be diversity in the newsroom and access to quality local news.

Changing the Narrative
by Krenice Ramsey
E

very child deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read.

I have loved books since I was a child. There is nothing like cracking open a new book and being transported to new places, learning new things and using your imagination to embark on new adventures. This love has stayed with me as an adult, and as soon as my niece was born I knew I wanted to share with her my love of reading. So each year on her birthday, in addition to a fun toy of course, I buy my niece new books to enjoy.

About two years ago, when I walked into a major bookstore to grab some last-minute books for my niece’s seventh birthday, I had a specific need. I asked the sales associate to help me find age-appropriate books featuring Black girls. After about 30 minutes in the store searching shelves full of books featuring children who looked nothing like my niece, I left empty-handed, frustrated and, as a lifelong book lover, saddened that there were likely few bookstores my niece could walk into and feel seen. There were so many questions swirling in my head: Where were the stories for and about her? Where could she not only see herself reflected but also hear her voice? What stories could she read and recognize the pieces of her family and her rich and complex culture?

Never Bet Against Hong Kong
by Dana Magenau
I

was sitting at Peet’s Coffee sipping a café latte in Shanghai with China legend Bob Theleen when he leaned in and said, “Never bet against Hong Kong!”

The Fragrant Harbor is no joke. On a hot summer day, if you stand by Hong Kong’s famed waterfront, you cannot see or smell any traces of the origin of the name. It’s said to be a reference to the spice ships that once sat in the harbor trading incense. Still, one cannot help but marvel at the skyline rising up from the water’s edge. It has more skyscrapers than any city in the world and is a wonder of human ingenuity and capitalism.

First, a bit of history. At the end of the Opium war, the Qing Dynasty ceded Hong Kong Island to Britain in 1842. Later, the British acquired Kowloon and the surrounding New Territories with a 99-year lease. Since then Hong Kong has been the entrepôt between Asia and the world. Its industrial history is rooted in labor-intensive sectors like textiles, electronics and plastics. As China opened up, Hong Kong became the portal to the world’s largest market and was a bastion of financial, legal and operational headquarters for all the foreign companies hungry for a piece of the China pie.

Online in real-time
You’ve updated your technology. Have you adjusted your behavior?
REMOTE READINESS
Customizable classes for your schedule, timing and company needs.
The ability to effectively work remotely has become a necessity, upgrading the action to include relationship-building, video conferencing, and ensuring safety and wellbeing of workers. These challenges are magnified when working virtually. Enabling a remote worker with the right technology and tools can improve communication, generate engagement and create a productive virtual work environment for all.
Illustration of someone on computer
Creating and Enabling a Remote Workforce
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I Can Do It!
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Using Brain Science to Maximize Your Effectiveness Working Remotely
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Managing Virtual Teams
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There’s an App for That!
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Communicating Effectively Over Distance
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Facilitating and Mastering Virtual Meetings
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Leading People Through Challenge and Change
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Safety Matters, Even Remotely!
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Using Brain Science to Maximize Your Effectiveness Leading Remotely
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Accountability on Remote Teams
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Tips to be Effective and Productive while Working from Home
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Maintaining Mental and Emotional Wellness Through Challenging Times
For class descriptions and registration, visit
thestrivegroup.com/remote-readiness
silhouette of a head with a heart using string art
Kindness, Compassion and Empathy: A Little Goes a Long Way
by Karen Markel
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

– Maya Angelou

T

he last 365 days have certainly been transformative, both personally and professionally. I started a new position as dean of the College of Business at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS). I moved my family across the country during a national lockdown and started a new leadership role remotely. Transitioning to a new organization and community in the midst of a pandemic was no easy feat, but it provided the opportunity to reflect on what is most important. Staying true to my own brand of leadership has made for a successful onboarding experience.

I Choose to Lead
by Heather Kinzie
Disruption, Disarray, Commotion, Uncertainty, Turmoil, Dismay
A

s I reflect upon the challenges of 2020, these are the words that come to mind. I know I am not alone; the COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive on so many levels for everyone – personally, professionally and emotionally.

I’m not a stranger to challenges; I’ve faced and overcome my share of chaos and strife throughout the years. But 2020 was different. The continued onslaught of challenges, coupled with my own fears and anxieties, made it difficult to cope, much less plan.

The Value of Team
by David Lory
“Whoever said it was lonely at the top just wasn’t doing it right.”
I

wrote this down on a piece of paper the other day. I had just experienced a particularly successful shift at the restaurant and driving home felt that glow of wonderment, that all of the many moving parts particular to the restaurant business had coalesced as planned into a solid performance.

When I arrived home, I jotted that line down and thought about the army of people that make a restaurant run. Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and I alone cannot take credit for our wins even if I am on the hook for our losses. I have 85 team members who report to me, and every day I challenge myself to make their experience at work equal to or better than the guest experience, so they are motivated to not only survive but thrive in our company.

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Thanks for reading our Jan-Mar 2021 issue!