Survive and Thrive-Thoughts from an Executive Life and Career Specialist

Organizational Change That Sticks!

Irene Rivka Becker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:58:50 -0500

Organizational change demands a thorough assessment of cultural impact, stakeholder management, change resistance and organisational fit. Aligning change strategy ...

Get Inspired by Peter Drucker Thought Leader

Irene Rivka Becker — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:13:06 -0400

"The World According to Peter Drucker"January 27, 1998

Timeless Wisdom by thought leader, Peter Drucker

Four Challenges to ...

Why is small the new big?

Irene Rivka Becker — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:08:00 -0400

Yes, small is the new big. In a rapidly changing, fiercely competitive world, workplace and marketplace there is a whole ...

The Dip

Irene Rivka Becker — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:47:51 -0400

^{The Dip}^{“The market is a harsh critic. It's not always fair and it can be demoralizing” Seth Godin, marketing ...}

Life, Success and the Future Beyond Brands

Irene Rivka Becker — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:33:18 -0400

Reflections on life, success and the future beyond brands
Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, CEO in residence at ...

The Formula for Leadership, Success and Happiness

Irene Rivka Becker — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:56:10 -0500
The ladder to success has been replaced by a slippery ramp. Successfully negotiating this ramp means developing the power of your Q strengths

The Business Case for EQ by Rutgers University

Irene Rivka Becker — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:04:08 -0500
The important business case for EQ/EI or Emotional Intelligence by Rutger's University is a must read

Following In the Footsteps of Giants by Irene Becker

Irene Rivka Becker — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:14:41 -0400

This week, a beloved figure in Toronto, a business mogul, philanthropist, and a forward thinker who changed the landscape of retail business, the urban core, and the entertainment and culture in Canada’s largest city, died at the age of 92.

Ed Mirvish leaves a legacy that is the footstep of a giant. A legacy we can all be proud of because Mr. Mirvish not only achieved great success and prosperity, innovated positive change, infused Toronto with economic, social and cultural vitality; he also retained that powerful spark of humility, humanity, and a love for his fellow man that is clearly the footstep of a giant.

Maybe it is time for those of us who have achieved the prosperity that creates financial freedom, and those who have not, to ask ourselves what kind of foot print we want to leave behind.

The footprint of a giant is not measured by the size of his bank account, nor by the trophies, awards or material accoutrements of success. The footprint of a giant is measured by his or her ability to leave a legacy that continues to touch the hearts and minds of others.

A legacy that speaks of servant leadership, a legacy that reflects the ability to make a positive difference in the world in which we live, and in the lives of the people we lead, love and serve. Building the footprint of a giant is the work of a life time, it cannot be built solely upon our unprecedented access to knowledge, information, technology, or the skills and competencies we have developed. The footprint of a giant is born of the faith, hope, courage, humility and relentless moral strength and timeless values that create the passionate purpose, desire and ability to make a positive different in the lives of others.

Faith gives one the spiritual power that guides our best thoughts and actions. Hope allows us to embrace gratitude and to build resiliency. Courage gives us the ability to live in alignment with our highest values. Humility allows us to realize that life is a gift, and that minimizing the human dignity or potential of another human being does not give us power, rather it makes us powerless to realize the true purpose of our creed.

In a world of increasing chaos, discord, violence and upheaval it is the men and women from the C suite to the warehouse, from the most revered professions to the humblest of occupations who can decide that they want to make their foot print, the foot print of a giant, or to support the giants among us. Both are equally important, both are critical.

We cannot all become the change we seek, but we can be inspired and motivated by the footprints of giants like Ed Mirvish. We can be inspired to help build and sustain the footprints of the visible and less visible giants whose faith, courage, hope, humility, leadership can help us embrace an evolution of self that will take us past what is, so that we can create what can be in our lives, our communities, our workplaces, our society and our world.