Digital Disruption

I work for a digital agency that is owned by the one of the “Big Three” in the advertising/communication industry.  I was lucky to be chosen to attend a senior management training program back in June of 2008 with 50 colleagues from sister agencies across the globe.

Imagine spending a week in Massachusetts with leading Harvard Business School professors who expertly teach, manage and facilitate an intense 5-day dialogue with 50 of the smartest people in your industry.  It was like a highly intensive “Executive MBA on Steroids.” It was a truly inspirational, high-energy journey of self-discovery!

On the last day, we were asked to write a letter (a real letter on real paper with a real pen – not an email) addressed to ourselves and we were told these letters would be mailed in the New Year.  My letter just arrived.  I think it’s the first hand-written letter I’ve received in 10 years and definitely the first letter from myself.  I thought I’d share it on this blog as we collectively embark on a New Year in 2009:

Dear David,

In order to be a better leader I remind you to:

• Give up your addiction to CPA (continuous partial attention)
• Take control of your attention. Be present in the moment. Put away the Blackberry. Forget the past and the future. Concentrate on the NOW
• Remember balance. Beyond work, give of yourself to your family, friends and community
  
• Be a Leader:
  • Don’t give up
  • Be courageous
  • Be connected
  • Be empathetic
  • Talk to people (in person and on the phone not just via email, IM and Twitter)
  • Have fun
  • Always reach higher
  • Focus
  • Be diligent about follow-through
  • Be diligent about follow-through
  • Be diligent about follow-through

Interesting to get a gentle kick-in-the-butt reminder from yourself 7 months later!

What do you think? Any of this resonate with you?

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