Blog
Old Wine in New Bottles
As I scan the New York Times list of non-fiction bestsellers, I lament that I cannot find anything new, nothing that has not already been written or said before, nothing that causes me to throw open the window and shout, “Aha!” to the world. There are some exceptions in the natural sciences and in the STEM fields, but in philosophy or the social sciences, we seem very stale and stuck. Where are the fresh ideas about the world, and how we could make it better for all?
It seems that new writers discover, for the first time, an idea that has been around for eons, and write about it as if it were an original idea that they are the first to discover—old wine in new bottles.
Even, I confess, in my own work, Courage, Authenticity, Service, Truthfulness, Love and Effectiveness, known by the acronymic rubric, “The CASTLE® Principles”, and practiced globally by millions, is not new. In fact, my friend Marianne Williamson once told me that the reason the CASTLE® philosophy is so widely loved is because there is nothing new to learn, only things to be recalled that we have forgotten.
Has nothing new been written, or new ideas been shared, that would avoid the lies and misinformation that caused the colossal and catastrophic disaster of the Covid-10 pandemic, or that could enable the peoples of Ukraine and Russia to seek a better world together? Are we doomed to live in a world where politicians focus on mutual disparagement instead of building a better world together? Are we destined to fail to learn from our past, to relive the old saw that history repeats itself, and simply keep repeating old tropes, and peddling outdated ideas that no longer serve us?
Could one of the 2095 billionaires in the world, with their $8 trillion combined net worth, be inspired to create a new Nobel-like prize for the best idea that will bring peace and wellbeing to humanity? Or could the Nobel Peace Prize be expanded to include recognition of a practical idea, or work, that can be applied by humanity for the benefit of all?
Do you have a new idea that could be a winner? Or a book that has changed your life, could change mine, or perhaps, even change the world?
Old Wine in New Bottles
As I scan the New York Times list of non-fiction bestsellers, I lament that I cannot find anything new, nothing that has not already been written or said before, nothing that causes me to throw open the window and shout, “Aha!” to the world. There are some exceptions...
Hyperbole and the Language of War
“My back is killing me!” Why do we use the language of war to make a point? I have been studying this for years and I think I have discovered a (possibly Freudian) explanation. There is a word for a statement like this. It is called hyperbole, which the dictionary...
Are we Preparing our Youth for Life?
The Program for International Student Assessment tests 15-year-old students around the world and is administered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 2018, when the test was last administered, the U.S....
Show the Love for Ukraine
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, has removed all guest and host fees for bookings in Ukraine. The idea behind his move is to open a channel for direct support to Ukrainians. If you book an Airbnb reservation, (of course you won’t need to actually go!) all of the money will go...
A Clinic on Inspiration and Leadership
This is not a blog about politics. It is a blog about leadership and inspiration (which, of course, is the same thing). Like you, I have been watching the daily unfolding of the horrors of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I have not been shocked by Vladimir Putin—I...
Creating a More Inspired World
As many of you know, we launched a new movement, "To Create a More Inspired World", last year. The reason for this initiative is well captured in this essay by David Brooks in the New York Times. Our aim is to reverse the dystopian perspective that is understandably...
Zoom Fatigue
A recent study from the University of Arizona suggests that “Zoom fatigue” is not caused by spending endless hours on zoom calls, but from the stress caused by having the camera always turned on, which forces us to stare endlessly at ourselves. In this study, half the...
The Most Important Question to Ask Ourselves
As we learn to navigate a hybrid world of work (for many, but not all), we have become preoccupied with issues such as technology, burnout, engagement, collaboration, recruitment, the pandemic, mental health, stress, how to motivate employees and many other...
How Will You Handle Covid Vaccination Mandates?
Science tells us that any of us can be carriers and spreaders of Covid, regardless of whether we are vaccinated or not. Vaccination is immensely successful in preventing people from dying or being hospitalized - but vaccinated and unvaccinated people are equally...
The Great Reset
Every day we are hearing about: A desperate shortage of qualified employees Employees' reluctance to return to physical premises More than 40% of employees thinking of quitting A general disillusionment with, and distrust of, big government and Corporations. In the...
Announcing A New On-line Course on Higher Ground Leadership®
For the past year, HR.com and The Secretan Center Inc. have been collaborating to create the first coach-led, online learning experience for Higher Ground Leadership®. The beta version is launching on June 29, 2021. It will be led by two of our most...
Can Love Ever be as Entertaining as Violence?
40 years ago, I made two decisions that have shaped my life: I refused to go to any movies where gratuitous violence (or violence of any form) was part of the script, and, I gave up my TV and have not owned one since. The second choice was made to support the first...
