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Jul-Sept 2023
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Publisher’s Perspective
Publisher’s Perspective
Publisher’s Perspective
Seeking Opportunity
What comes to mind when you hear the term “hunter-gatherer”? It is likely that you envision a primitive person or tribe wandering the Savanna or a dense forest in search of edible plants and grubs with the occasional good fortune to secure a source of animal protein. And of course, in the evening, seeking shelter from the elements and the wilds of the night. These images are likely accurate, but if we think about these activities in a more fundamental way, it becomes clear that what they were really doing was seeking opportunity in an environment that was ever-changing and that they struggled to comprehend and control. Sound familiar?

Today, we are the ones foraging for opportunity in an environment of ceaseless change that we struggle to comprehend, navigate, and manage. It’s true, most of us have the good fortune of knowing where we will find our next meal, and likely have confidence that we will have a safe place to rest our head at the end of the day. However, progressively few have the sense of understanding and ease about the future that will allow them to rest their minds. The fact is, even those that are aggressively working to protect and cultivate the status quo find that their comfort zones are increasingly barren of the familiar and predictable. Few possess the confidence in tomorrow that they once did.

Contents

JUL-SEPT 2023
Joe Andrulis pictured wearing a white button up and placed against a patterned background
Changing Landscapes
by Joe Andrulis
Strategic partnerships are taking over the AV industry—and that’s a good thing.
two participants of the Fourth Quarter movement from different backgrounds and locations in Israel engaging in a conversation
Change and Courage Are Equal Partners
by Amit Kataby
Vision takes curiosity, hope, determination, and a willingness to take risks.
a tree grows from a large pile of rubbish against a bright sunset
The Art of Surthrival
by Jonathan King
Choosing to thrive in an ever-changing environment.
a wooden directional sign with three board reading "Build", "Your", and "Legacy"
So Life Is Getting Shorter, Now What?
by Karl Mundorff
What is your legacy with society and how will you be remembered?
different hands each hold a large colored piece of puzzle with leadership icon illustrations
Leadership Lessons in Lockdown
by Sarah O’Toole
Leadership can emerge in the most unlikely spaces when trust flourishes.
a hand interacts with a holographic sales graph
The Power of Price Leadership
by Adam Echter
Looking forward is an integral step in business and sales strategy.
a paper art graphic of a light green human profile with a bright yellow ball of paper for as an active brain and keys floating just outside the profile
It Is What It Is
by Heather Kinzie
Reflections on the power of words, why they matter, and how they have impact.
a caterpillar on a twig going through the stages of metamorphosis
Navigating the Complex World Through Vertical Development
by Archana Mishra, Ph.D.
A life-long process of meaning making.
hand of business dressed man holds sign reading "How can I help?"
How Can I Help?
by Andrew Mair
Leading first with a service mentality.
a view from within Antelope Canyon
Finding Gratitude in Unusual Places
by Mark Pooley
New beginnings, even with challenges, create paths to exceptional leadership.
Publisher
Rick Thomas

Editor
Nance Larsen

Cover Story Photo
Lauren with
Photography by Misty photographybymisty.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 © 2023
The Strive Group, LLC
All rights reserved.

We believe that we have no power to change the system or organize as a group to achieve big goals, even if history tells us otherwise.
We believe that we have no power to change the system or organize as a group to achieve big goals, even if history tells us otherwise.

Change and Courage Are Equal Partners

by Amit Kataby
I

n early May 2023, I was invited to participate in a first-of-its-kind conference in Israel by a civilian grassroots movement named The Fourth Quarter. Unfamiliar with the group, I jumped online seeking information, and the more I discovered the more curious I became: Could this be history in the making? Are we reaching new times in Israel? Times of hope, vision, and responsible deliberation led by citizens from all sides of the spectrum?

Stepping Forward
The Fourth Quarter was established two years ago following the increasing tension between the different Israeli groups, which has resulted in the impotence of the government to build a stable coalition or pass laws in the last five years or so. Due to demographic changes in the population throughout the years, there are currently four major “tribes” in Israel: the secular, the religious-national, the Arab, and the ultra-Orthodox, which are fundamentally different from one another and growing equally in size. Each group sees the other as a threat: on the one hand a danger to secular-liberal life, and on the other a threat to the Zionist enterprise. One way this fear is expressed is by having segregated cities and education systems that teach different values and narratives, which increases the tension and division regarding national identity. The lack of integration among groups makes it easy to see the “other” as the enemy and seeds hate and fear between them. This presents a tremendous challenge for Israel, as citizens fear this separation is paving the way to civil war.
The Art of Surthrival
by Jonathan King
H

ave you ever seen someone who by all measures would be fully within their rights to melt down under the weight of the pressures they were facing, but instead this person thrived in front of your very eyes? What you just saw was surthrival. Surthrival is the ability to thrive in an environment so challenging that most people would say simply surviving would be a major accomplishment.

As a leadership and organizational coach, I have the great honor of walking beside my clients as they navigate their roles, relationships, careers, and lives. I get to be close enough to them to empathize with their successes and failures but retain enough distance to see them in a broader light. During the COVID-19 pandemic and in its aftermath, I’ve noticed that some of my clients seem to have a particular knack for surthriving. Perhaps their ability to surthrive is natural, but I’ve noted a common set of seven skills and behaviors my surthrivalists shared. If common behaviors associated with a given outcome provide an opportunity, then suthrivalism can be learned. Yes, some may be better at it than others, but anyone willing to invest in these seven behaviors should see their potential for surthrival increase. Intrigued? I hope so, because here they are.

So Life is Getting Shorter, Now What?
by Karl Mundorff
“He died of a heart attack, on vacation with his family,” read the text.

T

hat was the fourth classmate to pass away this year. Two from heart attacks, one from throat cancer, and another from complications of diabetes. There is nothing like the proximity of death to focus the mind. I had my own challenge fighting colon cancer more than 20 years ago, but at the time I was way too young to think it was my time. I just could not see it.

I’ve lost family members during the intervening years and somehow their deaths seemed different than my classmates. It was a different kind of loss. There is something about all of these deaths happening in the same year, about them being peers, that makes it feel different. It has really made me think.

a wooden directional sign with three board reading "Build", "Your", and "Legacy"
So Life is Getting Shorter, Now What?
by Karl Mundorff
“He died of a heart attack, on vacation with his family,” read the text.

T

hat was the fourth classmate to pass away this year. Two from heart attacks, one from throat cancer, and another from complications of diabetes. There is nothing like the proximity of death to focus the mind. I had my own challenge fighting colon cancer more than 20 years ago, but at the time I was way too young to think it was my time. I just could not see it.

I’ve lost family members during the intervening years and somehow their deaths seemed different than my classmates. It was a different kind of loss. There is something about all of these deaths happening in the same year, about them being peers, that makes it feel different. It has really made me think.

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Christie® Captiva

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Christie HS Series

  • Up to 23,650 lumens
  • 4K UHD, WUXGA or HD resolutions
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the Christie® Captiva projector in black

Christie® Captiva

  • 1DLP® ultra-short throw laser
  • WU resolution canvases up to 150″
  • Landscape or portrait orientations
  • Four-corner geometry adjustment
Christie Inspire Series

TAA Compliant stampChristie Inspire Series

  • 6,000 – 8,000 lumens
  • 1DLP WUXGA resolution
a projector model from the Christie HS Series imposed with a "Bold Color+ Technology" badge
Christie HS Series

  • Up to 23,650 lumens
  • 4K UHD, WUXGA or HD resolutions
  • Comprehensive connectivity
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Christie M 4K25 RGB

  • Smallest, lightest, fully omnidirectional 3DLP® RGB pure laser projector
  • 25,000 lumens with Rec 2020 color
  • TruLife+ electronics for unrestricted connectivity
  • 46 dBA in standard mode

Christie Access II Series

  • Large format LCD panels
  • 4K UHD, ranging in sizes 55″ through 98″
  • Portrait or landscape
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a screen model from the Christie Extreme Series
Christie Extreme Series

  • 55″ high-performance 24/7 LCD panels
  • HD and UHD resolution
  • Extremely narrow combined bezel width as small as 0.88mm
  • 500 and 700 nits
  • OPS slot for tighter integrated solutions
the Christie M 4K25 RGB projector in black imposed with a "TruLife+™" badge

Christie M 4K25 RGB

  • Smallest, lightest, fully omnidirectional 3DLP® RGB pure laser projector
  • 25,000 lumens with Rec 2020 color
  • TruLife+ electronics for unrestricted connectivity
  • 46 dBA in standard mode
five screen models from the Christie Access II Series

Christie Access II Series

  • Large format LCD panels
  • 4K UHD, ranging in sizes 55″ through 98″
  • Portrait or landscape
  • OPS slot
a screen model from the Christie Extreme Series

Christie Extreme Series

  • 55″ high-performance 24/7 LCD panels
  • HD and UHD resolution
  • Extremely narrow combined bezel width as small as 0.88mm
  • 500 and 700 nits
  • OPS slot for tighter integrated solutions
a screen from the Christie Core II LED wall bundleChristie Core II LED wall bundles

  • 100,000 hours of 24/7 operation
  • Includes necessary video wall controllers with scaling and image processing
  • Scales to common resolutions, including HD and 4K

diagram of the different available HD screen sizes

the Christie Terra in black
Christie Terra
An AV processing and management solution for the transport of audiovisual content over 10G Ethernet networks

  • 10G SDVOE AV over IP, 4K@60, zero latency

a screen from the Christie Core II LED wall bundleChristie Core II LED wall bundles

  • 100,000 hours of 24/7 operation
  • Includes necessary video wall controllers with scaling and image processing
  • Scales to common resolutions, including HD and 4K

diagram of the different available HD screen sizes

the Christie Terra in black
Christie Terra
An AV processing and management solution for the transport of audiovisual content over 10G Ethernet networks

  • 10G SDVOE AV over IP, 4K@60, zero latency

Choose Christie and turn your inspired ideas into innovative solutions. We create a complete range of high-quality AV solutions for business, education, entertainment and industry. And protect your investment with industry-leading customer care, warranties and technical support. For pricing information, contact The Chariot Group.

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Leadership Lessons in Lockdown

by Sarah O’Toole
T

here is no success without a valued and performing team. I believe strongly in nurturing talent and enabling personal development, and am no prouder than when I see this lead to bigger and brighter things for team members, even when outside the organization.

Back in 2020, if you had told me that my entire team would switch to working entirely remotely in a matter of days with minimal disruption to business or productivity, I would have never believed you. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting periods of lockdown I must admit I was not a believer in leading a team from afar. I felt we needed to be physically present to be most productive. And for myself I didn’t believe I could provide value to an organization working from my kitchen table. But in March 2020 we found ourselves having to switch overnight to remote working. I had real concerns about losing connections within an already high-performing, strong team.

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY ADVANTAGE ACCELERATOR

a woman wearing goggles and a blue jump suit stands beside a man wearing goggles and an Oregon State University lab coat, both with their arms folded and smiling while standing in a lab

The Oregon State University Advantage Accelerator maximizes the economic and societal impact of university innovations. We strive to be a leading driver, resource and steward for the strategic innovation economy in Oregon and beyond. Our staff, mentors and student interns work directly with innovators and entrepreneurs to explore markets, develop products and obtain customers.

Over ten years the state of Oregon’s only deep tech accelerator has:

  • Worked with over 500 researchers and companies
  • Who have gone on to form over 70 companies
  • Which have gained over $200m in funding

AFFILIATED COMPANIES:

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Valliscor logo
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Suturegard Medical Inc. logo
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eMSion logo
Valliscor logo
Agility Robotics logo
Suturegard Medical Inc. logo
Contact Karl Mundorff, Executive Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, to learn more at karl.mundorff@oregonstate.edu.
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Creating connection through collaboration
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Enhance the quality and effectiveness of your team’s foundation in Government and Public Sector meeting environments through Avocor collaboration solutions.
Whether you are looking to improve communication and enhance critical thinking between teams located anywhere, a better way to host training sessions, or to create immersive communications to expedite decision making, Avocor interactive display solutions are simply the best way to stay connected.

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Avocor Solutions
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Here, there, anywhere
Work is changing. With no fixed address or 9 to 5 limitations, the job now gets done on the hop, on the fly, on the double, on the run—around the clock. But the right tools let work flow and your employees thrive.
THE NEW LOGIC
OF WORK
Today, strategic partnerships are everywhere, and the reason is simple: customers want to purchase solutions, not products.
Changing Landscapes
by Joe Andrulis
I

f you told me five years ago that seemingly competing AV companies would work closely together to bring products to market on a regular basis, I would have been quite surprised. At the time, the simple idea of competitive AV equipment makers partnering together was virtually nonexistent. Yet here in 2023, that’s precisely what is happening across the AV industry. Many organizations, Biamp included, have begun to join forces for the good of the customer. Today, strategic partnerships are everywhere, and the reason is simple: customers want to purchase solutions, not products.

After all, effective AV technology is mission critical to get work done for practically every industry simply to operate day to day. Even though workers are increasingly spending more time in the traditional office space full-time, for a significant number of employees the ability to work from anywhere remains a necessity, especially for those working on the road or in satellite offices, at least for part of the time. Employees and their employers recognize the value of being able to conduct business efficiently from anywhere, no matter the specific working environment of the team.

Photo: Lauren with Photography by Misty

Joe Andrulis in a long sleeve white button up
Joe Andrulis in a long sleeve white button up
Photo: Lauren with Photography by Misty
Today, strategic partnerships are everywhere, and the reason is simple: customers want to purchase solutions, not products.
Changing Landscapes
by Joe Andrulis
I

f you told me five years ago that seemingly competing AV companies would work closely together to bring products to market on a regular basis, I would have been quite surprised. At the time, the simple idea of competitive AV equipment makers partnering together was virtually nonexistent. Yet here in 2023, that’s precisely what is happening across the AV industry. Many organizations, Biamp included, have begun to join forces for the good of the customer. Today, strategic partnerships are everywhere, and the reason is simple: customers want to purchase solutions, not products.

After all, effective AV technology is mission critical to get work done for practically every industry simply to operate day to day. Even though workers are increasingly spending more time in the traditional office space full-time, for a significant number of employees the ability to work from anywhere remains a necessity, especially for those working on the road or in satellite offices, at least for part of the time. Employees and their employers recognize the value of being able to conduct business efficiently from anywhere, no matter the specific working environment of the team.

The Power of Price Leadership

An Integral Step in Business and Sales Strategy

by Adam Echter
L

eadership is a daunting task. Guiding, inspiring, and influencing teams toward sustainable growth is no small feat. Justifiably, we reward our business leaders for it.

But ask yourself, when was the last time you led on pricing? Price is a dynamic force that holds the power to transform the bottom line. It is the cornerstone of revenue generation, profitability, and market positioning.

Working with companies of all sizes and across industries, I’ve seen firsthand how this is imperative in sales, not only due to the unique responsibilities and challenges sales teams face, but also due to their critical role in driving revenue and business growth.

In both good times and downturns, businesses fight tooth and nail for their market position. Most leaders understand the art of selling. However, they often overlook a critical business and sales strategy component: price leadership.

It Is What It Is

Reflections on the Power of Words

by Heather Kinzie
I

love words. My mom ignited this adoration. As a child, when I dared to suggest I was bored, my mom would hand me a dictionary or thesaurus and expect a report of what I had learned over dinner. I loved the way some words sounded, and often I’d try to impress others by using fancy words. My mom had the audacity to suggest I should refrain from using words I could not pronounce or spell correctly; I was undeterred.

Under the tutelage of a keen advisor in college, my vocabulary increased and my competence and passion for language followed suit. In my 20s, I talked my way out of a few traffic tickets, and I am certain I talked my way into my career. Since then, my commitment to thoughtful, creative, and the occasionally clever use of words has been a pillar of my personal and professional life.

It is ironic that I, a lover of words, have been brought to my knees with five unassuming ones.

Navigating the Complex World Through Vertical Development

by Dr. Archana Mishra
I

see leaders of today facing the grand, complex, and adaptive challenges of the 21st century. For example, rapid economic growth has also brought along environmental degradation; globalization has brought people from around the world together, posing challenges to societal integration while also trying to retain ethnic diversity; improved material wealth has provided physical comfort to many but has also led to increased inequality and “diseases of affluence” such as diabetes and cardiovascular ailments; and despite an increasingly plentiful life, many youth are experiencing depression and anxiety. These challenges seem to be increasing in intensity and intractability, and a few years ago I wondered why some leaders and organizations seem to be better able to manage them than others. This query motivated me to further explore the reason behind such variation among leaders.

How Can I Help?

by Andrew Mair
I

t wasn’t easy, but a few years ago, I accomplished something significant. I had to overcome a lot of self-doubt and internal obstacles before I could reach this specific goal. Luckily, a colleague of mine played a huge role in my success. He was an exceptional leader who inspired me to believe in endless possibilities. He asked me thought-provoking questions that helped me see where I could improve and gave me valuable insights on how to enhance my skills. He even encouraged me to proceed and not let self-doubt hold me back. His words still stick with me today: “Time will pass anyway, so why not use it to pursue your dreams? You can always finish it, even if you don’t share it with anyone.” And just a little over a year later, I achieved a major milestone when I published my first book, Tales of a Paperboy.

This experience taught me that true leadership is not about holding a hierarchical position; it’s a mindset anyone can adopt. Genuine leaders inspire others through empathy and actions and drive positive change. My colleague had no authority over me, but he demonstrated the mindset of a true leader, motivating me to reach my untapped potential.

Finding Gratitude in Unusual Spaces

We did not know what the future would bring, but we had an idea that it would likely be the hardest thing we would ever do as a couple. She and I would ultimately face a new and unknown journey filled with pain, sadness, sickness, suffering, and at times despair.

by Mark Pooley

I

’m sitting upright in my chair, looking through a window at a large Ficus tree. I sit for hours with little to no movement. My muscles are always fatigued because my back is broken. I don’t cry, for if I even breathe or exhale with emotion my back will seize. This progression of pain lasted for approximately two months. I pondered: Is this it, is this my new life? What did I do to receive these fractures? Confusion and fear had taken hold of my mind, and my thoughts were cluttered with unanswered questions.

On June 1, 2018, sitting in a wheelchair next to my wife, we looked at the doctor with anticipation for a diagnosis. The doctor was calm and professional when he spoke and said, “You have multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.” I remember looking at my wife’s face filled with concern. We sat in silence for a period of time and then I immediately began asking the doctor, What is the plan? What do I need to do? The doctor explained that the cancer was eating up the bone marrow in my back, which had caused my back to break in many places.

Finding Gratitude in Unusual Spaces

We did not know what the future would bring, but we had an idea that it would likely be the hardest thing we would ever do as a couple. She and I would ultimately face a new and unknown journey filled with pain, sadness, sickness, suffering, and at times despair.

by Mark Pooley
I

’m sitting upright in my chair, looking through a window at a large ficus tree. I sit for hours with little to no movement. My muscles are always fatigued because my back is broken. I don’t cry, for if I even breathe or exhale with emotion my back will seize. This progression of pain lasted for approximately two months. I pondered: Is this it, is this my new life? What did I do to receive these fractures? Confusion and fear had taken hold of my mind, and my thoughts were cluttered with unanswered questions.

On June 1, 2018, sitting in a wheelchair next to my wife, we looked at the doctor with anticipation for a diagnosis. The doctor was calm and professional when he spoke and said, “You have multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.” I remember looking at my wife’s face filled with concern. We sat in silence for a period of time and then I immediately began asking the doctor, What is the plan? What do I need to do? The doctor explained that the cancer was eating up the bone marrow in my back, which had caused my back to break in many places.

With this explanation, I felt oddly liberated and blessed to finally know why my back was broken. My wife and I continued to listen to the doctor explain what the next steps would be. We did not know what the future would bring, but we had an idea that it would likely be the hardest thing we would ever do as a couple. She and I would ultimately face a new and unknown journey filled with pain, sadness, sickness, suffering, and at times despair. If I could go back in time and give myself words of encouragement, I would say, “Mark, be grateful for what you have, trust in the Creator and his goodness, and have the courage to press forward despite what is placed before you.”

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