VIDEO OF THE MONTH: "When Oprah Asked Me What I Am Now Most Grateful for Today" by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
I figured the best way to answer this would be to take a deep breath and speak directly from my gut. Gratitude is anchor. Strength is my core. But the pain of having to bury my dad this past week really tested my gratitude.
I had no preconceived ideas of how this chat with Oprah would go, other than I was just going to be as present and as authentic as I could for whatever the audience and Oprah needs.
ARTICLE OF THE MONTH: "How to Find Your Purpose Through Creativity (and Why It Affects Everything)" by Matt Valentine
Have you ever considered what creativity actually is? And the importance it has on your life?
Albert Einstein, outside of what he's best known for, is noted for valuing creativity and imagination higher than most (if not all) other traits. During his lifetime, Einstein commented about both on several occasions, saying such things as:
"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." — Albert Einstein
It's hard to argue with someone as intelligent and wise as Albert Einstein. Even today scientists are validating his work more often than they're invalidating it (a common practice for scientific theories), and that's saying a lot considering most of what we thought we knew from fifty years ago has been modified or outright proven false in place of something else more refined.
I’d argue in favor of what Einstein believed about imagination and creativity, and add something to it: most people underestimate the place and importance creativity and imagination have in their own life.
Announcing the 2020 Creative Solutions Award Program
Have you or someone in your crew been creative and innovative at work. We want to hear about your innovative solutions to everyday problems.
The Creative Solutions Award is a way for us to help share your great idea with the public works community. Winners receive recognition and a prize at our annual Graduation and Awards Ceremony and their creative solutions will be entered into the National Build a Better Mousetrap Competition, sponsored by FHWA, where they can win even more prizes for their agency. We will highlight the winning innovation in our Crossroads newsletter and across our social media outlets.
Not sure your innovation would make the cut? Check out our online guide to see examples of past winners—and maybe get inspired to try something new!
Deadline is April 1st—submit your entry today! Click here to get the entry packet.
"Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter" by Liz Wiseman -Book Reviewed by TLP Cohort #6 Member
The premise of this book is the study and habits of individuals that can utilize a workforce beyond its known capacity, and to enable people to reach heights that they themselves did not know they could reach. One line that could summarize the whole book is, "pressure to produce more from less." The pressure they speak of can be applied in a myriad of different ways.
All in all, compared to other leadership books I've read recently, this book is a worthwhile read. At times the "buzz wordiness" of it is a bit over the top, but I really enjoyed reading about the real life examples and thinking about ways that I could use those approaches in my day-to-day interactions with my peers.
How to Stop Taking Things Personally
A tool for you and a tool to share with your team. Click here, to get the printable copy.
The T2 Center Is Now On Instagram!
Along with our Facebook page, the T2 Center now has an Instagram page!
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