Fresh Perspectives

Outstanding Book

I just finished reading “Love Leadership, The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World” by John Hope Bryant.  John is the founder and CEO of Operation Hope, a non-profit organization which helps people   attain a better quality of life through financial literacy and personal dignity.  This is one of the most inspiring and timely books I’ve read in some time!

John outlines 5 ideas which shape Love Leadership.

Loss Creates Leaders
Fear Fails
Love Makes Money
Vulnerability is Power
Giving is Getting

We live in a world where capitalism has earned a bad reputation.  Much of the economic turmoil we are experiencing came from excess greed and an attitude that what’s in it for me trumps what’s in it for us.  John shows the real difference between fear-based leadership and love-based leadership.  His book reinforces that capitalism is not predatory by nature, and that good capitalism actually can propel the human spirit.

As I said in my previous post, we are not in an economic cycle, rather an economic reset.  Our world is changing and the old ways of doing things simply won’t work.  John Hope Bryant’s book offers a different way of looking at American capitalism…..actually a new way of looking at the world.  John’s 5 ideas may seem counter-intuitive, but they are based on integrity and love; and they work!  His true-life examples of CEOs who lead based on love rather than fear are plentiful and convincing.   His own life experiences are engaging and convincing as well.

This book is a must read for everyone.  And the timing of this book couldn’t be better!

A Wonderful Message

I’m convinced that this so-called “recession” isn’t your typical cyclical recession like we’ve experienced before.  As John Hope Bryant said in his manifesto, this economic climate isn’t cyclical; it is a “The World on Reset”.  We are in the midst of enormous change not just in our economics, but in our world as a whole.  The business climate is changing, and the businesses who continue to be greedy are likely to fail.  Mr. Bryant also tells us that the attitude of “what’s in it for me” must change to “what’s in it for US”.  I couldn’t agree more; greed has reared its ugly head, and we are paying the inevitable consequences.

Over the past few months, I’ve found hope!  I found it in the service vendor who is performing a massive rebuild to my van to convert it to disabled-accessible.  His comment to me was “be patient, you are not getting your van back until I’m satisfied that it’s right for you.”  He’s delivering on his promise that when I take delivery, the van will be exactly as I need it to be.  He has done work for me before, and I trust him completely.  We do business on a handshake.

I found hope in the insurance broker and close friend who devoted his valuable time, talent and knowledge to deliver an insurance program that precisely fits my life and budget.  He went above and beyond expectations and delivered more than I could ever anticipate.

These people realize the importance of integrity in doing business.  They know from experience that through unexcelled service, they build relationships.  And those relationships make the all the difference.   They realize that success isn’t about the bottom line.   They do things right and the bottom line takes care of itself.  Business and capitalism does not have to be all about greed.

John Hope Bryant’s manifesto makes sense!  His book looks like something I will enjoy as well.