The Back Story of my Chapter from Energize Your Leadership: Discover, Ignite, Break Through
By Tony Vengrove
As a self-proclaimed innovation omnivore, I’m inclined to follow my heart and permit my curiosity to trail-blaze a path into unchartered territory. That spirit led me to a wonderful group of global leaders who came together to publish Energize Your Leadership: Discover, Ignite, Break Through.
I find the story of the how the book came to be just as inspiring as the book itself. Most of us met online in various Twitter chats, Google hangouts and such. A smaller group first recognized a lack of energy, excitement and sense of purpose in the leaders they interact with each day. After examining that insight for some time the idea for the book emerged and they began to recruit a larger group to participate.
I’m forever grateful to Alli Pollin who thought it wise to ask me to get involved. I “met” Alli digitally after hearing her interviewed on a podcast and thereafter began to converse and share ideas on social media. When the content team determined they needed to find someone to write a chapter about creativity, Alli generously extended an invitation to me to join the cause; I jumped at the chance.
The 16 authors involved are scattered across the globe. I’m still amazed we were able to incorporate as an LLC, agree to a budget and contribute our own capital, create a master plan for the book, stick to a schedule, communicate only via conference calls and email, and pull it all off. Personally, I think it’s a bit of a miracle—collaboration at its finest!
Our book is about energy. As Chris Edmunds states in our forward, “Energy is a vital quality…that is present when people are engaged, enthused, aligned, and valued.” Sometimes energy is abundant and easily accessible, sometimes it’s like a flickering pilot light struggling to ignite into a flame.
“Unleash Your Creativity,” the chapter I wrote for the book, features a story about how my creative energy was sapped and in desperate need of being reignited.
Something almost divine attracted me to an event a few years ago: a local artist was giving a talk on the tremendous success he enjoyed after taking creative action on a serendipitous idea. The timing couldn’t have been better. I had been stuck in a rut and was in need of something to re-energize me and put me back on track. Creative inspiration might be just the thing. I signed up immediately. On the day of the talk, I’d come down with a nasty head cold and the thought of curling up in bed under the covers sounded far more appealing than trudging outside to then sit in a room full of people for a presentation. But I felt obliged to show up for at least part of the event, so I bundled up and made my way to the venue.
My head cold threw me a curve ball that night. After feeling so excited to attend the event, I suddenly didn’t want to be there. When the talk turned into a hands-on group exercise, I felt dread and thought about leaving. Thankfully, I didn’t get the chance to sneak out and in staying and participating in that hands-on exercise I ultimately found the inspiration I so desperately needed. (You’ll have to read the book to get the full story!)
Creativity can be fickle that way. Sometimes we know exactly where to go to find inspiration, other times we need to quiet our mind and our inner judge to allow inspiration to find us. Quite often it’s in unexpected places, at unexpected moments. When we’ve lost our leadership mojo, what’s often most needed is a clear mind that creates space for our creative spirit to get up and dance. That’s why I love to say creativity is a miracle cure for the leadership blues.
In Energize Your Leadership, we share 16 personal stories intended to reach versus preach. Through our storytelling we hope you’ll find inspiration and the message you were meant to hear. Everything we do creates either positive or negative energy and we wish for you to become a positive energy force for uplifting leaders around you. In doing so, you’ll not only energize yourself, but those around you—and that’s how you can inspire and change the world.
I invite you to learn more about our book at www.EnergizeYourLeadership.net. It’s available on Amazon and Kindle along with other online retailers. I’d love to hear your stories about how and where you found inspiration to energize your leadership—please share with us using the hashtag #EnergizedLeaders.
Miles Finch Innovation helps companies navigate the messy territory of corporate innovation. We’re strategic thinking partners who can help you get unstuck and identify creative solutions to your toughest challenges. We also love to train and speak on the subject of Creative Leadership. Email us or call us at 860-799-7505 to learn how we can help you you unlock the creative potential of your employees.
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