Jim's Take Jim Frawley, Bellwether

In our first of four conversations, Catherine and Jim outline how to build ideal connections and community, based on aligning with your personal values and motivations.

In the journey of our careers and social lives, the pursuit of a "seat at the table" has become a familiar phrase, symbolizing recognition, validation, and influence. However, like so many age-old metaphors, rarely do we take the time to look beyond their assumed surface-level meaning. Many still work tirelessly in hopes of earning a place here, without fully understanding exactly what it is they’re after, or what it may require to get there. 

In episode 124 of "Welcome to Jim's: Take Happy Week," Jim delves into the concept of gentle leadership, initially expressing skepticism towards the latest leadership trend. However, the episode explores the relevance of gentle leadership in today's discourse on leadership and personal development, emphasizing its focus on empathy, kindness, and collaboration. The host discusses the origins of gentle leadership, drawing parallels with the concept of gentle parenting, which gained popularity years ago.While acknowledging the benefits of fostering psychological safety and creating environments where individuals can thrive, there are potential drawbacks. Excessive focus on empathy can lead to entitlement and an inability to cope with life's challenges. Furthermore, the episode emphasizes the importance of setting and maintaining high standards, challenging individuals to meet expectations while providing support and guidance.Ultimately, Jim encourages a nuanced approach to leadership, incorporating elements of civility, respect, and accountability. They stress the necessity of balancing empathy with discipline and holding individuals accountable for their actions. Despite initial reservations, the episode concludes with an affirmation of the value of gentle leadership when understood and applied effectively.

Welcome to 2024. We are going to kick it off with lots of isms. Shedding the collective dumpster fire of 2023, much of what I’ve been hearing is that people are looking to start anew in 2024. Again. Just like last year. And the year before. I’m seeing a recurring theme. The theme … and this is something I’ve been dealing with … is that there seems to be a cynicism infiltrating much of the conversation style over the past six months to a year. On a recent run (a Dopey run, more on that in the show) - I was reminded that much of our perspective is impacted by the experiences around us. But our perspective needs to be protected at all times - it’s what makes us unique - and while it should evolve, I would argue a healthy perspective is one that embraces optimism and hope. It’s what drives us to accomplish and try more. A lyric from Vinegar Hill by Black ‘47 stuck with me on the run: “When faith is gone, all hope is lost.” And we have lost faith. I’m not making a religious stance - although you can take it that way. But we have lost faith beyond that standard view. We have lost faith in our institutions. Our educational system. Our neighbors and what we believe is true. And, we have lost faith in ourselves.We don’t have all the answers - and that’s OK. But as the world continues to evolve around us - our belief system - our faith in ourselves and our ability to get shit done - is what’s going to drive us out of whatever dark place cynicism takes us. Skepticism is good - I encourage it. It shows we think. But skepticism evolves to cynicism too easily, and we must be aware that without faith in ourselves and others; without hope that things will be better, without a recognition that we are capable of writing our script - we are going to be spending our days in a negative tornado of cynicism. It can start small - more on the show about how a short run changes my entire thinking paradigm - but it’s necessary if we are going to be successful in 2024. Enjoy the week!

This week - we cover the desperate need for simplicity. The world is changing … we know this. It gives us a feeling of being out of touch, with a fear of being left behind. Clients of mine are PINING for simplicity, yet we don't make the time for it. From too many things to accomplish, to things moving too fast - the world has been adjusted to make everything easier to accomplish at SPEED, yet the irony is that we feel more twisted and less valuable because of it.Many of the people I speak to are just begging for a collective breath …and this is my take on simplicity - from my recent weekend at Walden Pond to the need to clean your office.

Today we chat time - re-thinking, framing and managing it as things change so quickly.