Fierce in Seattle

I drove from Portland to Seattle late Sunday afternoon. I wished for just one more travel day, for the opportunity to take a detour and spend at least a couple of hours with friends in a little town where I lived for nine years, but stayed on the freeway heading north. Even so, I enjoyed just driving by signs with names of towns that sounded so normal when I was a kid simply because they were familiar, but now sound delightfully different, like Tukwila, Tenino, Pe Ell, Yelm, Steilacoom, Puyallup.

Monday was beautiful. Not cozy warm, of course, but sunny and beautiful, with just enough clouds to add visual interest to the blue sky. I stayed at a place near the Space Needle, and spent the two days at a wonderfully friendly, hospitable conference center right next to the water. The weather shifted to a cold, windy snow on Tuesday morning before returning to mere cloudiness by afternoon. It was fascinating.

Why Seattle? For Fierce Conversations.

I read the book about a year ago, and it's one of those which has planted itself firmly in my soul. The target audience is business leadership, but the applicability is far beyond that audience. In fact, I see the applicability to all levels of spiritual leadership -- families, care groups, Sunday School, pastors, board members, team leaders, etc. -- even greater than that in business. If you're thinking I'd recommend the book for you, you're probably right. Read it, and let's talk. I would love to hear what you think!

More on the book later. For now, here is a quote to chew on, from a really smart guy named Albert Einstein:

"We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. It cannot lead; it can only serve."