I used to roll my eyes at the discussion of the differences between leadership and management. The main reason for my cynicism about this often-discussed topic is I've been blessed to be around great leaders who were great managers. The leaders I worked for in the Army were both. It just went without saying. If you couldn't manage, your image and leadership ability was questioned and they found other work for you to do. I've been around similar leader-managers in my civilian life for the most part.
Sometimes blessings come from both ways though. Because of my previous experiences, I've always thought the leadership versus management subject is overplayed. Well, I've recently been participating in a lot of networking activities with many wonderful people who are highly engaged in growing new businesses, running organizations, or leading their companies in new directions. These people are all such inspiring leaders! But there's the rub.
Many of them are not good managers.
Now, one might throw a "how dare you" glare my way for saying this. I respond by reiterating that these people are excellent people with dynamic personalities and given the time, they could lead people through hell and back. But they are not good managers.
I think it's easier to take a good leader and turn her into a good manager than reversing that course and making a good manager a good leader. It really took me being exposed to people who have wowed me. They are able to articulate their vision and can communicate it to those that would easily follow them. My discovery usually comes right after my exuberance reaches its peak, the new leader is saying, "Let's do this!" and I'm responding, "Yes, let's get this done!" while jumping out of my chair! I make the mistake of asking, "So, how are we going to do all this?!" Blank stare.
These people are great! They need the proper mental frameworks to create a viable plan so they can begin marching towards their objectives though. For the first time, I'm meeting leaders who have very little experience doing any of this and it's a shame.
I've spent the last two decades blessed to be on the receiving end of great, world-class leadership from leaders whose ability to manage made them marvels to those like me who worked for them. It took my exposure to this different breed of leaders, though, to realize that the distinction between leadership and management that people often discuss and write about is very real and not overblown!
Sorry I'm late to the game figuring it out.
Roy Nickerson
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Non-spoiler review of the latest Star Trek movie: Good. Not great. I wish I had a cool rating system like something out of something somethings, but I don't. Maybe I should say this movie is running on auxiliary power. Or maybe I could say it's set to "Stun" as opposed to "Kill". (Have you had enough? I can do this all night.)
JJ Abrams and team are still paying proper homage to the original series and the ensuing movies, but now the practice has crossed the line from proper to cute (By the way "cute" isn't being used positively in this case). The first movie's little tributes would send a Trek fan into giddy giggles and turns to an oblivious, yawning spouse who is only there to support her nerdy husband--ahem--to explain why Abrams and his writers are so damned clever. Similar tributes in this movie stopped just short of making me roll my eyes. I didn't out of respect to the franchise's history. I wish Abrams had the same respect. Abrams and team seem to almost be making a mockery out of them. A tersely thought "Got it. Clever. Move on." went through my head a few times.
"Into Darkness" almost completes Abrams' pull of the Trek franchise away from its cerebral origins and into full George Lucas Star Wars mode. Without giving away specifics, I'd say Abrams also added a little of Steven Spielberg into the formula with a touch of Michael Bay doomsday imagery on the side. I expected a cameo from Harrison Ford as a Starfleet Admiral performing a quick wink directly into the camera. Yes; it's that bad people.
Just like the first rebooted Trek movie: for those not as familiar with the characters and canon, this movie will probably be a treat. The effects are mesmerizingly outstanding and because I watched it in 3D, they were even more amazing. For a long-time Trek fan like me though, I felt a little violated. One might think that's overstating it, but I can explain.
It's like a party you went to back when you were young. A new guy shows up because your good friend Paramount said, "You guys need to meet this guy! I think he's great." You and your close bunch of friends look around and say, "Yeah; that's cool." He shows up and Paramount is right. This guy kicks ass! He's got everyone laughing and the tempo of the party starts to pick up. But then comes the turn.
Out of nowhere, he makes a small quip about the host--one of your oldest and best friends--and how he's only there because there was a party across town but it was postponed. He starts changing the music and then he's hitting on one of your buddy's girlfriends...you get the picture.
Look, I'm still on board but I think I'm becoming the curmudgeonly veteran on this ship whose eyes are calibrated to see everything cynically. This movie has really set up the franchise to go in an exciting direction for most viewers. My fear though is that direction isn't for purists. A couple of weeks ago I was worried that Abrams' move to Disney's Star Wars efforts would kill the new, sleek Star Trek franchise.
After this movie I'm thinking, "Meh; let him go. He always wanted to be at the other party anyway. At least he's leaving before someone gets a bottle over the head." Thank you JJ Abrams for livening up the party. You can leave now.
After I win the $600 million Powerball tonight:
1) I'll angrily call Lyndi and tell her she WILL quit her job. Today! That's before revealing why she should quit. Then I'd take her to Vegas and marry her...again.
2) I'd walk into every bank I have a loan at and pay them in person. Write the check--slowly. Really draw out the satisfaction.
3) Buy out a karaoke business and open a small bar & grill called the Open Mic where I could help people feel like stars every day of the week. I'm Asian. Sue me.
4) Buy a huge house boat on Lake Michigan. Not a yacht but something I can drive and not need a staff to run except my best buds who I'd pay their current salary plus 20% to drive the boat and eat and drink. I'd fish. A lot. And read. And write. Very limited rithmatic. Oh, and I'd watch every show on Netflix unimpeded by stupid stuff like work.
5) When not at the boat, I'd live at all-inclusive resorts and cruise ships. Think about it: it would be chump change relatively.
6) I'd sit on boards of nonprofit organizations I care about and give anonymous donations to them. No better way to ensure the money you give would be used the right way.
7) I'd volunteer as an assistant coach for the local high school football team and girls' sports teams without coaching support yet still have girls that want to participate in athletics
8) I'd start after-school programs supporting the arts (music, drama, speech & debate, etc.) near less wealthy school systems that got rid of them. They'd be independent of the schools but would invite (& pay) passionate teachers and/or capable civic leaders to run them.
9) I'd take college courses on stuff I'm interested in and not stuff I "need" to take.
10) Never, ever miss my son's ball games.
11) Take a yoga class and eat healthier. Cancel out the benefits by supporting small local breweries by market testing their products on, well, me.
12) Take guitar lessons.
13) Give scholarships and grants to single parents raising kids on their own. If one parent is out of the picture, the other might as well have the opportunity to be stellar!
14) Eat better. You can do that with a paid chef.
15) Buy more real estate investment properties.
16) Last thing: be "The Most Interesting Man in the World".
