I love this image for a number of reasons – it is so rich with lessons.  Here are some that jump out for me.  Please add yours by posting a comment.

1. It is simple – just a few brush strokes - less is often more.

2. It is elegant – elegance and grace are central themes in my new book The Spark, the Flame, and the Torch.  What ever is elegant and graceful inspires.

3.  It is timely – our examples, metaphors, teaching methods and theories need to be constantly revised and replaced in order to be relevant. Relevance is an essential ingredient for success.

4. It is subtle – notice the skin tones of the players.  Blunt and abbrasive messages are the currency of earlier times.  We are tired of being bludgeoned with marketing and teaching messages that wear us down. Instead, nuanced messages have greater potency because they will be listened to, while we tune out the loud noises.

What other metaphors for excellence, growth, spirit and inspiring leadership can you find in this image?

I come from a generation and a belief that the greatest agent for change in our world is big business. I’ve also come to the conclusion that, very often, big business does not understand, or know how to, reach its world-changing potential. If we simply see ourselves as purveyors of goods and services to consumers, then the playing field can become mundane and sometimes venal. But if we reframe our perspective, seeing ourselves as agents of change in the world– if we have a dream of how the world could be as a result of our contributions — then we may be able to raise the flag of business proudly once again.

All of us watched with horror as the nightmare of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil catastrophe unfolded– and continues to unfold. (Disclosure: in previous years BP was one of my firm’s largest clients). From my previous work with this organization, I am convinced that there was never any willful intention to cause damage. On the other hand, it seems safe to say that humility and transparency do not appear to be BP’s favorite characteristics.

BP now faces nearly 250 lawsuits, some fueled by greed, and others by fear and pain. BP’s stock has fallen by 50% and it plans to suspend its dividend.

In my new book, The Spark, the Flame, and the Torch, I have included many case studies of organizations where transparency, authenticity and accountability have dramatically reduced the cost, legal wrangling and stress of dealing with mistakes. In the simplicity and elegance of an apology lies a path to stregthening trust and corporate relationships–and therefore future business opportunities.

We can forgive many things, even things that put our lives at risk, damage our financial security, or in other ways are hurtful. But it is very hard to forgive arrogance. A simple apology–from Toyota, Boston Scientific, Golman Sachs and many others–very early in the game, with a clear acknowledgment of responsibility, can go a long way to ease public anger. And it can go far to restore public confidence in big business.

(Cartoon by Clay Bennett of The Chatanooga Times Free Press–please visit to see some of the wittiest and most brilliant opinion cartoons of our time)

Much of our education system is stubbornly stuck in old methodologies and beliefs and suggesting changes, as I have painfully learned, is not an easy sell. We have helped a few leading educators and their systems to achieve remarkable results – one school district using our methodologies to move from 800th to 200th in the nation in a few short years.

Fast Company,a frequent chronicler of unfolding trends, presents a brilliant article by Anya Kamenetz describing how mobile technology and open source software and apps are bringing education to students, at a lower cost, in the student’s preferred learning style, at a speed appropriate for each learner, in instantly translatable content, with tracking capabilities and complete mobility. What this means is that the technology industry has aligned with altruistic entrepreneurs to navigate around the bureaucracy and out-of-date thinking of our education system to deliver inspiring learning to students, despite the obstacles presented by a moribund system.

Recently, I asked an audience comprised of the faculty of a major teaching college why we continue to use Victorian teaching methods (and content) in an age when the average teen between 13-17 years old sends nearly 2,000 text messages each month. In other words, they endure an archaic system of communicating in the classroom, relieved by what they do in their real world as soon as they can escape. This is no way to inspire learning in young people who will very quickly grow into leadership positions in our society.

And if we also entirely omit teaching values, integrity, character, service and honoring the sacredness of others in our curricula – we have a recipe – a perfect storm – for developing dysfunctional adults.

But there is hope. As Fast Company reports, “The U.S. Department of Education has earmarked $5 billion in competitive school-reform grants to scale up pilot programs and evaluate best practices of all kinds. Major foundations are specifically zeroing in on handhelds for preschool and the primary grades.”

Let’s hope we learn how to make the grade. And let’s hope some of the brave teachers who are pioneering new ideas maintain their courage in a system that can sometimes present a hostile environment for breakthrough ideas. We need these leaders now, because they are developing our leaders of tomorrow.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends,you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who who have been placed in our lives.

Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.

Good friends are like that – you may not always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell. And if you are the one wearing the bell, then I’ll listen for yours. |And remember – be kinder than necessary.  It is inspiring.

Adapted from an unknown source but sent to me by by friend Wally Amos at http://www.chipandcookie.com/

As I was I checking out one early morning following a recent stay, one of the many delightful front desk staff looked at me, gave a great big smile, and said, “Oh, I just LOVE how you did your hair this morning!”  I am including a picture of my hair here so you understand the brilliance of this remark!

Following a stay there last week, I received an e-mail from the CEO of the hotel.  It said, “Dear Dr. Secretan, Thank you for staying at 21C Museum Hotel. We just have to know…Did you love us? And more importantly…Will you be back? You see, for us, that’s a biggie. Each day we strive to win new fans for 21c and we always want to ensure our loyal fans keep coming back”.

These are times where those in the travel industry – especially the hotel and airline businesses – are reducing service levels (one of the largest chains recently removed the daily delivery of USA Today) and are cost-cutting wherever they can. They blame the economy, a reduction in travelers, and how little travelers are spending.  But as leaders, we get what we expect, and what we intend. So if  you are 21C Museum Hotel, you simply invest more, train more, innovate more and please customers more.

And – VOILA! – you win the Conde Nast “Best Hotel in America” Award.

OK, let’s review this one more time:  slash costs, lay off people, and reduce service levels = a decline in fortunes.  Do the opposite and we achieve increased levels of excellent performance on top and bottom lines that flies in the face of naysayers. QED.  Any questions?