For a long time, I’ve been down on corporations. I felt like corporations were sucking our souls and it was seeping into society. This week I saw the exact opposite. It shocked the hell out of me, in a good way. This week, in the wake of the death of George Floyd, I saw corporations play a role in breathing soul back into a divided society.

At a time where our governmental leaders are divisive, driving the rift wider and wider, I often wondered if it were even possible to bring us back together. And if so, what would that…

We have all been awakened to how little control we have over what matters. And how much control we have over things that don’t matter at all.

We have seen that we have little control over the spread of a new virus. And the global supply chain of ventilators. And the stock market. And toilet paper.

Yet we have extreme control over things that don’t matter. For me, the wake up was in the number of emails I receive telling me what shoes I should be wearing for spring. …

In a casual conversation, I mentioned to a friend how much I can’t stand delivering the same workshop more than twice. I get bored by the third time. Her response was “Not me! I am all about mass producing the message and getting it out to people!” My initial reaction was “How dreadfully boring.” Until I realized that in a kind and gentle way what she was really saying was…

“You are focused on entertaining yourself, you are not focused on serving people.”

Purpose. In this moment, I realized my search for purpose was completely self-centered. “What makes me happy…

Welcome to this installment of the Toon-Te-Ching. We are taking each one of the 81 verses of the Tao-Te-Ching, pairing it with a toon and connecting the teaching to our work life. This verse delves into leadership.

Verse 17

With the greatest leader above them,
people barely know one exists.
Next comes one whom they love and praise.
Next comes one whom they fear.
Next comes one whom they despise and defy.

When a leader trusts no one,
no one trusts him.

The great leader speaks little.
He never speaks carelessly.
He works without self-interest
and leaves no trace. …

Welcome to this installment of the Toon-Te-Ching. We are taking each one of the 81 verses of the Tao-Te-Ching, pairing it with a toon and connecting the teaching to our work life.

Verse 15

The ancient masters were profound and subtle.
Their wisdom was unfathomable.
There is no way to describe it.
One can only describe them vaguely by their appearance.

Watchful, like people crossing a winter stream.
Alert, like someone aware of danger.
Simple as uncarved wood.
Hollow like caves.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Amorphous, like muddy water.

But the muddiest water clears as it is stilled…

This week’s Toon-Te-Ching explores the idea of letting things end to make room for something new to start.

Verse 16

Become totally empty.
Let your heart be at peace.
Amidst the rush of worldly comings and goings,
observe how endings become beginnings.

Things flourish, each by each,
only to return to the Source . . .
to what is and what is to be.

To return to the root is to find peace.
To find peace is to fulfill one’s destiny.
To fulfill one’s destiny is to be constant.
To know the constant is called insight. …

Have you ever worked with someone so fanatical about a framework that they seemed oblivious to reason? They got upset whenever anyone tried to question the framework or process? Did it almost seem like they were brainwashed? They view the world as people who “get it” and people who “don’t get it”.

These people are Zealots. They’ve seen the light and they think everyone else should see it instantly too. Oh did I mention, I can be like that sometimes too? I think we all have a little Zealotism in us.

Zealot: a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in…

Welcome to this installment of the Toon-Te-Ching. We are taking one of the 81 verses of the Tao-Te-Ching, pairing it with a toon and connecting the teaching to our work life.

Verse 14

That which cannot be seen is called invisible.
That which cannot be heard is called inaudible.
That which cannot be held is called intangible.
These three cannot be defined;
therefore, they are merged as one.

Each of these three is subtle for description.
By intuition you can see it,
hear it,
and feel it.

Then the unseen,
unheard,
and untouched are present as one.

Its rising brings…