The WINGS Creed

Here it is...what you've been waiting for...

The WINGS Creed

I soar with WINGS. Let me tell you why.
I learn lots of skills that help me reach the sky.

I love and accept who I am on the inside
and know my emotions are nothing to hide

Life’s full of surprises that make me feel different ways.
If I can control myself, I will have much better days.

I understand the choices I make should be what’s best for me to do,
and what happens is on me and not any of you.

I understand others are unique. I want to learn more about everyone I meet.
I want to step into their shoes and see what they are going through.

I am a friend. I support and trust. Working together is a must.

Kind and caring I will be. I listen to you. You listen to me.

I soar with WINGS. I just told you why.
All of these things are why I fly high.

I Soared...

The other day, I had the most amazing experience. I attended a kind of after-school program for…not just “at risk” kids, but for the most “disadvantaged” kids -- kids who had the lowest grades, the worst behavior problems in one of the poorest schools in Charleston, SC. It’s not just another “after school” program: the purpose of this program is to teach social and emotional intelligence skills to these children.

The program is called WINGS for Kids and is the brainchild of a very creative woman named Ginny Deerin. Last Wednesday she took me to see one of her WINGS programs, up front and personal. (See www.wingsforkids.org)

Here’s what happened: we arrived at the school and were treated like very special guests. One of the leaders, Brendon, came over and gave us a HUGE hug. I felt more than physically embraced. Two “ambassadors” from the program came to welcome us as special guests. When I asked them how they happened to be chosen ambassadors, one said: “Because they trust us.”

There are about 150 kids in the program, ranging from kindergarteners to fifth graders. (I don’t really know what to call them because children makes them sound too young and participants too impersonal.) The program is every day from 2:30 – 5:30 in the afternoon, and every kid gets a hot meal at the end of the day.

The children, the kids, are organized into groups of about 10, called “nests”, each of which is headed by a “wing leader.” These wing leaders are college students who have committed to participating in the program. There is a very specific design to the program, including a snacktime “meet and greet” where the kids get to talk and dance in their respective groups and express the pent up energy of being in school all day. Then, there is a community segment where everyone comes together to do a learning activity. There are elective segments where the kids can choose how and where to spend their time.

I loved it.

That week the learning segment was about dealing with “conflict.” The program director asked the room full of kids whether they could tell her what was important when handling conflict. Lots of hands went up with the “oooooh, oooooooh, call on me” enthusiasm. When asked, one kid said: “You’re not supposed to yell at people.” Another replied: “Everyone has to give a little.” It was pretty impressive and so exciting to feel the positive energy in the room.

At the end of the segment, and before going to their community service work outside, everyone said The WINGS Creed. You’ll have to come back tomorrow to read the creed, but if I were you, I wouldn’t miss it. You might want to adapt it as your own daily creed.

Finally, before I go, I want to give a special shout out to the Wings leaders. The program wouldn’t be successful without them. They were patient, but firm, acting as positive role models for the kids. I was impressed with their dedication. Remember Brendon? He was going to be a computer specialist, but as a result of his experience with WINGS, he has decided to become a teacher and work with kids.

Years ago, a Wings leader was on track to become a law student. During his experience with WINGS, he also decided to change his major to education and this year, he became the principal of the very same school where he had participated in the WINGS program.

So, is WINGS effective? It is changing lives. More tomorrow…

Professionally Speaking...

Do you know what I do professionally?

When I am feeling inspired, I call myself a "Human Potentialist", someone who helps people to believe in themselves, in their potential, and to find work that allows them to express who they are in the world -- for a return. For money. Other times, I call myself a "Reinventionist" because I help people to reinvent who they are in the world and how they contribute work. I've even been called a "Corporate Deprogrammer" because I've helped a lot of my clients out of traditional corporate jobs into more entrepreneurial ventures.

My core philosophy is the unifying principle that underlies all of my work. Here's what I tell my clients: I believe that in today's world, your "job" is to figure out your God-given talents, to use those talents to make a contribution to the world, in alignment with your purpose, which will give you a sense of meaning and fulfillment. And, that's how you make money.

Some people call me a career coach, others an executive coach, and my clients, a life coach. I've never liked monikers or labels. What I do is to help people figure out who they are and how they want to express that in the world, for a return. For money.

I'm not just a career coach because I have my clients think about work in the context of their lives. Far beyond a job, I help my clients design lives they want to live, of which work is just one component.

I love working with executives, to help them think about how to leverage themselves, -- their strengths, talents and abilities, to make a larger contribution to their company, to the business. Sometimes I even help my executive clients to reinvent their businesses.

I would never call myself a life coach because, well, while I do love to help my clients think about their lives, my focus is helping them to figure out how they want to "work". There is a focus on "work." (To me, "work is play" especially when you are just exercising your gifts, but more about that later.)

So,now that you know a little bit more about me and what I do...what would you call me? What do I do? Please leave your comments for me...

It's Tuesday...

...and that means it is my day to write my post for the Beyond the Stuff blog. Except for one thing.

The BTS gals are on a break.

Well, we tried.

After 5 months of blogging, conversations, recorded podcasts, and an off-site, the Beyond the Stuff gals have decided to “take a break.” We are going to let everything lie for 6 weeks and see where we are.

On one level, it felt like a relationship break up. On another level, it felt incredibly freeing.

You see, there were two very divergent points of view emerging within the group. One perspective was that we should organize and push for our brand, our "business" to get viewers, to develop an audience, to "become something." We had roles, responsibilities and deadlines. There was a lot of pushing, driving, "going for it" energy.

The other point of view was that we would all commit to show up for a podcast recording each week. Beyond that, each of us would pursue opportunities for the group as each one of us individually felt impelled. One of the women began to consider book ideas, another one looked into caricatures. There was a sense of staying in flow, letting each member follow her daily inspiration and take action only when feeling that internal impulsion from something outside of oneself, divine guidance. This group believed on letting whatever it would be, emerge, and, that would be sufficient, in fact, beyond sufficient, and better than what they might have created without what felt like divine guidance. It would be what it would be...a manifestation of faith.

So, you can see how disparate these perspectives were and are. After receiving an email from one of the women who wanted to "drive" the enterprise forward, we concluded that these points of view were irreconcilable and so, short of breaking up completely, decided to take a break. Well, you know what happens when couples try to do that. It usually portends an end to the relationship. Not always, but usually.

And, so it is with us. I am very curious to see what happens from here. I sense that the women who want to drive, push, make something happen will work towards their vision and that perhaps, the women who want to stay in flow will experiment with how, staying true to themselves and their internal vision, will let something emerge. Something precious and unique.

We'll see...stay tuned...

PS. I haven't decided what to do with my blogposts over there at the BeyondTheStuff website. Think I'll migrate them over here...

Jobless Rate in South Carolina Close to 10%

I just read our local newspaper The Beaufort Gazette from Wednesday. The lead article reports that our state unemployment rate is the third highest in the nation -- at 9.5%, with some folks predicting that it could be as high as 14% by the end of the year.

That's bad.

I'm grateful that I am able to use my talents here to help folks think of creative ways to find work. More later...