Thank you
Date: 01 January 2021
Thank you 2020 for reminding me that I am one of the few lucky ones in the world.
I was fortunate not to lose any loved ones or have loved ones with lasting effects after their battle with the virus.
I was fortunate not to be without a home, or a home without heat and cool air and to have a home full of love.
I was fortunate not to have had to stand on a food line to feed myself or my family.
I was fortunate to be safe and not risk my health as so many essential working heroes had to do.
The year 2020 also allowed me to re-connect with friends and colleagues. Some colleagues become friends and some friends became brothers and sisters. I also made new friends and colleagues, who I hope to one day give a big hug.
I thank you 2020 for reminding me of how lucky I am.
PS Many years ago, I read the book, The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw. This book has always stayed in my mind and continues to remind me of how lucky I am.
Person of the week (really the year)
They are all the essential workers. The people that kept us safe … the healthcare workers, police officers, and fire fighters. All the people who conducted repairs after a storm so we could have our electricity and running water back. They are the people who kept our supply chain running, especially everyone who works at our grocery stores. They are all the delivery people who delivered millions of packages to so many people. They are the unsung heroes that we walk by on the street, and not knowing that they helped us throughout 2020.
A race we can all come together on
Date: 13 December 2020
It has been a while; I have been tied up with a number of projects but I also have had my excuses.
I had wanted to send this thought-for-the-week, during the week of November 8th, but here we are the week of December 13th and this thought-for-the-week is still relevant.
The below three stories have to do with a race and how the competitors treated each other. ‘Crossing the Finish Line Together’ has been a story that has stayed with me for many years and I try to be the person ‘running in the other direction’.
I hope that more people will agree than disagree, that this is a race we can all come together on.
Crossing the Finish Line Together
Based on a true story which happened at the 1976 Special Olympics in Seattle, Washington.
Years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants lined up at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the sound of the starting gun, they all started off in their own way, making their best effort to run down the track toward the finish line. That is, except for the one young boy who stumbled soon after his start, tumbled to the ground and began to cry. Two of the other racers, hearing the cries of the boy who fell, slowed down and looked back at him. Then without hesitation, they turned around and began running in the other direction—toward the injured boy.
While the other contestants struggled to make it to the finish line, the two who had turned around to run in the other direction reached for the boy and helped him to his feet. All three of them then linked arms and together they walked to the finish line. By the time the trio reached the end, everyone in the stands was standing and cheering, some with tears rushing down their faces. Even though by turning back and helping the boy who fell, they lost their own chance to win the race, they all had smiles on their faces because they knew they had done the right thing.
Max and Marvin
The highlight of a Special Olympics event last weekend at North Rose-Wolcott High School in New York came during the 50-meter dash, where two competitors reminded all of us why we love sports.
Max and Marvin, best friends who had never before competed together according to local news station 13WHAM, lined up for the race. The gun fired and Max raced out to an early lead, but he noticed his friend was falling behind.
Without hesitation Max retreated, grabbed Marvin's hand and helped him through the rest of the race. The two crossed the finish line hand-in-hand, encouraged by the thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd.
A True Story of a True Champion
The race to the finish between Abel MutI and Ivan Fernandez
Person of the week
The Person of this week is to all the team players that I have been honored to work with and at times, to represent. They did what was needed to be done, regardless of title or responsibilities. They carried the team at times, and they lifted others when it was the time of others to carry the team. There are too many to list, but I thank them all
Toughest Job in the World
Date: 11 May 2020
Definitely the toughest job in the world
Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms
A special Happy Mother’s Day to the Moms that are part of the Armstrong Wolfe Women in the COO Community. It is an honor to work with these successful Mothers and Executives.
The Armstrong Wolfe Women in the COO Community’s mission statement are to
To inspire women in Financial Services to have no limit to their aspirations. To educate women on business management and the COO role as career destinations. To establish exclusive and confidential networking opportunities with peers. To enable a cross-industry business dialogue to address common challenges.
Another Not Another VC Call idea to break up the day, is to allocate certain hour(s) in the day to have the team take a break from their computer and have the time to themselves.
Need a smile?
Date: 08 April 2020
It is hard to describe this new News Network by actor John Krasinski.
Warning - only watch if you are in the mood for a smile, a laugh or a cry.
Here is the introductory episode - Some Good News with John Krasinski Ep. 1
This one is for the Hamilton fans
'God bless them, God bless them, God bless them' ...
Date: 06 April 2020
This is what Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of NY State, said at a press conference three weeks ago when asked about healthcare workers and the situation they will be entering as the COVID-19 virus progressed in New York.
The picture is a representation of the iconic 'Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima' photograph, which shows six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in the final stages of the Pacific War.
The photograph was later used for the construction of the Marine Corps War Memorial in 1954, which was dedicated to honor all Marines who died for their country since 1775.
As the virus accelerates in New York, and all around the world, seeing Healthcare worker’s dedication, heroism, and courage is really unbelievable. They know the dangers better than most of us, yet they continue to face that danger to care for others. When being interviewed by the news, the question, ‘How do you feel about the situation you are putting yourself into', the standard response from multiple Healthcare workers has been, ‘This is what we do'. How we will ever thank them, I am not sure.
But, the thanking and recognition does not stop there. This week in Barcelona, Doctor and Nurses stopped what they were doing and gave a huge round of applause to the cleaning staff that work all day and night to keep the hospitals clean. Here in the US, there was a project for kids called ‘Kindness 101’. Kids were asked to write a thank you letter to someone to show appreciation for what they are doing to help during these times. Letters were written to garbage collectors, postal service workers, police officers, grocery store workers and delivery drivers to name a few. There are many people we need to thank that are keeping critical parts of our ecosystem operating during these times.
We cannot all be doctors, nurses, postal workers, or delivery drivers, but we can all give them a smile and thank them.
A way to help in the UK
Dan Blake, a former HSBC colleague is one of the founders of The National Care Force The National Care Force is our response to the crisis, with a commitment to supporting those who depend on vital services - like care homes, home care and other such organizations - for as long as it takes to help every user. Social care is separate from the NHS, and its 1.6 million care providers are crying out for aid in this time of need. These providers will not receive NHS funding or volunteers to combat the effects of the virus.
They need people to join them in helping their social care system - from volunteers and care providers, to donors, technology and media partners.
We all have drunk from the wells other have built
Date: 02 March 2020
I recently read a piece of research titled, ‘Historical Roots of Agile Methods: Where did “Agile Thinking” come from?’, by Noura Abbas, Andrew M Gravell and Gary B Willis - University of Southampton (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/39996418_Historical_Roots_of_Agile_Methods_Where_Did_Agile_Thinking_Come_From)
For anyone interested in agile thinking and methods, and especially for anyone who is not familiar with this thinking, I highly recommend you read this piece of research.
Reading this reminded me of an old thought-for-the-week blog titled ‘Remember Where You Came From’, which I share below.
Agile thinking and methods are one of the biggest movements in software development. Some people will have heard of this recently and some people will have learned to work this way for the past 5-10 years. 'Agile Thinking’ is now really growing, moving outside of the engineering department and into the front office and day to day life. We now have an industry of Agile Coaches (or Innovation Coaches), teaching us this way of thinking, methodologies and helping us change our habits.
What made me share this piece with you is that I am a big believer in the saying, ‘We all have drank from the wells others have built’. Even though Agile Thinking may be new for many of us, Agile Thinking actually goes back to the 1950’s. Agile Thinking is not a new concept but a concept that has been developed over time, with the building blocks being built over the past 60-70 years.
We all have drunk from wells others have built, reminds me that a majority of my success is due to the effort that others have done in building those wells that I have had the opportunity to drink from and hopefully, helped improve.
If you are interested to see how today’s technological successes, leveraged and learned from technological developments going back to 1843, read the Walter Isaacson’s book – The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
As well, did you know that
The first iPhone was created in 1998
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoGear
https://www.xconomy.com/san-francisco/2012/03/26/the-first-iphone/
The first touch screen was created in the late 1960’s
https://www.thoughtco.com/who-invented-touch-screen-technology-1992535
https://thought-for-the-week.com
Remember Where You Came From
We have had several Town Halls lately, which is great to see, as we get to hear of updates, ideas and thoughts from many of our leaders, but there was one recent Town Hall that caught my attention. One of the speakers in the Town Hall spoke about how certain things were not good enough for them and how they set out to change things around. I am a big supporter of change and constant improvement, so it is great that we have people who look to change things around (assuming the change is meant to progress, improve or solve a problem). Credit to the speaker and all who have implemented change, as driving change is not easy.
But why this speaker’s comment (or maybe it was how they presented it) caught my attention is that the speaker did not talk about what others (both internally and externally) have done before them, in order to achieve the change they achieved. My point here is to not forget where you came from and remember that for the most part, we are leveraging from the ideas, accomplishments and failures others have thought about and experienced. At times change will come from connecting dots, ideal timing, luck and building on top of what was built.
I prefer our leaders remembering where they came from
Kindness can be the greatest gift that you can give a person. Especially when they are not expecting it.
Date: 15 February 2020
Thank you Mark Friedman and Howie Cohen
On January 28th, I had a phone call with Mark Friedman, Ph.D., an executive coach. The call was scheduled for 45-60 minutes but we ended up speaking for 2-hours. He not only gave me 2-hours of his own time, but he also gave me some great guidance and some insight about myself that I had not seen. I was extremely appreciative of Mark’s time and guidance. We ended with the usual agreement to try and stay in touch and wished each other the best.
Four days later, Saturday 1 Feb, I received an email from Mark introducing me to his nephew, Howie Cohen. Mark wanted to connect me to Howie as he felt we shared similar interests. That weekend, Howie took the time away from his busy family and life schedule to speak to me. Howie was extremely generous with his kindness and offered to introduce me to people he felt would be of interest for me meeting.
I have had some incredible support from so many friends and relatives. It would be wrong for me not to recognize them all and thank them, but the list would be too long. But to get the time and help from people you do not even know, has been one of the kindest things that has happened to me.
Thank you Mark and Howie
One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others - Lewis Carroll
Date: 14 August 2019
Even when one is going through their own challenges, it feels great to do something for others.
#thoughtfortheweek
How a small act of kindness can go a long way
Date: 07 August 2019
I see this person just about every morning. We do not know each other by name but we give our casual hellos and we each have our own regular morning routine.
The other day, as I was getting ready to do my next ‘regular morning routine’, out of nowhere, he came over and gave me a ‘tool’ I needed to conduct my next routine.
That small act of kindness stayed with me for the whole day. It just made my day that someone I do not know would go out of their way to help me. My next thought was that I needed to do the same.
We may not always be in a situation to provide an act of kindness to someone we do not know, but I am sure we have multiple times when we can do a small act of kindness to the people we see every day and do know.
#thoughtfortheweek