Category: Self Reflection

Even though it feels like 2023 just started, it is already 2024!!! I remember discussing the challenges of keeping New Year resolutions for 2023, and it is time to start making resolutions for 2024.

I was driving around doing errands on Saturday, and several times on the radio I heard the words “peace on earth, Goodwill to men.” When I got back to the house, I decided to use my primitive Googling skills to find out the origin of these words.

I just concluded my annual three-day, silent retreat at the Demontreville Jesuit Retreat House in St. Elmo, Minnesota, and I thought it would be helpful to explain why I take the time to do this each and every year. On the first day of my Northwestern Kellogg value-based leadership classes each quarter, I explain to my students that I believe you cannot lead other people until you gain the ability to lead yourself. This leads to a discussion of the need to become self reflective so you can become self-aware. I highlight the importance of self reflection to a leader by asking three questions:
1) If I am not self reflective, is it possible to know myself?
2) If I don’t know myself, is it possible to lead myself?
3) If I can’t lead myself, is it possible to lead other people?

I want to wish you and your families a blessed Thanksgiving. While many of us have much to be thankful for, clearly there are many issues and problems around the world. I think it is important this week to take the time from our busy schedules and say some prayers for all of the people who are much less fortunate than we are, especially those suffering in Ukraine and in the Middle East.

I realize some of my readers do not believe in prayer, and that is fine with me. However, maybe some of my readers meditate, or take the time as I suggest in my values-based leadership classes to self-reflect on their values, their true purpose, and what really matters in their lives. I believe that process makes us better human beings and better leaders. As I tell my students, if you cannot lead yourself, how can you lead others?

Khalid Ali, my former Kellogg student, good friend, and communications partner, has encouraged me to write a blog post EVERY Sunday that we publish every Monday. Khalid has advised me that the posts shouldn’t be too long, maybe around 500 words max. Well, given the famous saying “a picture is worth 1,000 words,” I can save time this week with a picture that may be worth a million words (okay, I realize I am VERY biased): I want to introduce you to my first grandchild, HARRISON THOMAS CLARK, who entered the world 7 days ago!!!

It seems like only yesterday that I was attending 5- and 10-year reunions, and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to attend a 50th reunion…Are those people still capable of even walking around on their own? Well, somehow, here I am already.