Dec. 2006 Newsletter

Soul & Effectiveness at Work and in Life..
The path of the Enlightened Leader
A compelling vision...

By Bill O'Mara PhD

Imagine a world of sacredness (soul) at work of true meaning and purpose. Where people live in their true selves, feel fully alive and create more than ever imagined. Where workplaces are transformed to true communities of love, fun, and service. Where we live and share the sacred way. Where heart is more important than anything. Imagine soul at work... where all organizations become communities of light and good, innovation and breakthroughs.. of simplicity and passion.. and soaring profits too.. can you?
For now more than ever, enlightened leadership is needed in our world. We are in a time of great change - some call the great acceleration. Global influences are threatening our economic security. How we conduct ourselves in the new markets will make the difference in whether we succeed or fail. In today's keenly competitive markets, a company's track record is no longer any guarantee of business. In planning, we are faced with questions whose answers lie outside our sphere of experience: How are we to survive in these chaotic times? How do we know what to do to succeed in the future? What will our businesses and communities need in order to be able to grow? How can we be strong when we're struggling to attract and keep our workforce talent? How do we handle everyone's fear of change?
The realities we face in our society today are mind-boggling. We seem to have no moral grounding. Corruption, anger and violence permeate the fabric of our lives and are displayed as entertainment on television and in movie theaters. Children are being killed by guns in their schools, sometimes by other children. The sexual misconduct of sports heroes and government leaders regularly make the headlines. Crime is rampant in our cities, as is alcoholism and drug abuse. The cost of living continues to spiral upward. Public services and school programs are being cut back. The leadership of giant American companies waltz off to court, as billions of dollars in innocent citizens' investments go down the drain. White collar crime is draining away our profits. Poverty and AIDS persist in our rural communities. The cost of medical care has gone through the roof, at a time when obesity has become epidemic. War is still our way of solving our relationship problems. Corporate stress in killing many people.
Despite the trillions of dollars we have poured into programs to solve these social-organizational problems, we still have them and they are growing along with our population. This is outrageous and must change.
We need to rethink what we're doing and why things aren't working the way we want them to. A big part of the problem is that the world is much larger than we commonly realize. We are all connected to each other and to everything else in more ways than we can imagine. This is not a new perspective, but a time-honored eternal truth. It is through understanding that 'we' are the leaders. We are the team needed to work together and make the change. How? One leader at a time opening up to respond, to what is before us, from a new place .. from our hearts and souls; with new tools .. principles and disciplines, love and respect, integrity and community. The path (of Enlightened Leadership), as I have discovered it, is two fold (2 keys) supported by several core life principles.
The first key is to master the sacred way, to live in our Higher-self. Meaning, find your path to Spirit and each day connect in and run your life from this place of wholeness. This also means putting yourself first. Each of us needs extraordinary energy to grow and serve in this life. You can't give what you don't have. So, filling yourself daily through meditation, yoga, exercise, prayer, etc, is mandatory. Not a nice 'do it when it's convenient thing', but the absolute disciplined daily habit foundation for our life. And here is why. If we are not centered, inwardly peaceful, strong and getting our energy from Spirit and Earth then by default our Lower self kicks in and we literally seek to 'suck' energy from other people through four control dramas to make up for it. The control dramas are the root of all the problems we see in the world. Higher-self people do not pollute, steal, hurt, oppress, etc. The four are: the Intimidator, the Interrogator, the Aloof, and the Poor Me. Read Dr. Eric Berne's Games People Play or James Redfield's classic, The Celestine Prophecy; for a review of these four.
Each of these is simply an unconscious pattern we develop to fill up because no one taught us another way. No one taught us the sacred way. And when we leave the cocoon of family at 18, the transition must take place for us to learn how to create our own energy or the Lower-self will kick in and see all of life and people as an energy competition (security, control, approval), a threat, a game to see who can win. People in their 20s now are more lost than ever. Leaders of nations are acting out because of these dramas. Huge percentages of our workers are too. This energy game ignites more and more Lower-selves and the zero sum game thinking that goes with it. There is another way. Work on filling yourself up (through sacred practices) and being authentic (direct when you need to be, and be compassionate with yourself).

The second key after learning how to fill up and be whole with Spirit, is to flow out..to master the art of true sacred service.. through heart, wisdom and skill. The Enlightened leader considers more by the very nature of living the sacred way, than others do. He goes deeper to heal, to learn, to purify, to vision quest. This is evolution. A manager considers profit. A leader considers profit and people. An Enlightened leader considers profit, people, and our earth. All are needed. The Enlightened leader is savvy, aware, smart, thoughtful. He understands what is needed for all to win and does whatever it takes with impeccable integrity to rally a team together to accomplish it. We must be effective, serve, profit and help our planet so all win. No more win ..lose. Karma won't permit it. There is always a way, I believe, to do three times more in half the time when you consider the whole and seek to serve deeply. The law of attraction supports it. Look at the phenomenon of world class branding.. creating loyalty beyond reason with your product or service. This is a spiritual quest. Only those walking the enlightened path achieve this. Customers want to be uplifted, touched, inspired, served with a sincere smile and given superior value. Energy is the key. Customers want soul. Customers want to do business with organizations that stand for what is right. Organizations that are attractive energetically ..that serve their needs. The businesses I personally return to over and over (hotels, restaurants, retail, etc.) are because they are instruments of upliftment, positive energy and impeccable service to their constituents and the earth. And millions of others feel the same. Yes be smart .. use sound accounting, use the latest technology etc. but without soul it will be for not. Lower-self leaders for generations continue to ignore this at huge cost attempting to manipulate people to buy an inferior product with no energy, make decisions that serve them only, and miss the boat entirely. As the consumers mature and evolve these companies will fall.

This two fold sacred path and principles (such as respect, self nurturance, acceptance, connection, growth, joy) outlined in The Way of the Corporate Shaman, and the many new books on Enlightened Leadership, is intended for all who wish to achieve their highest potential and make a genuine contribution in their lifetimes. The lessons contained here can assist you in this transformation to enlightenment. The concepts, principles and disciplines we all know we must do are as timely as they are ancient and timeless. They live at the heart of all religions and belong to all. They are eternal universal truths. By using them you can change your life and the lives of countless others. When we learn to live from the heart, we will change the world. It is our highest cause, our most rewarding adventure, to be who you came here to be. Fulfill your ultimate destiny. Shine your light. Be a pioneer of living and sharing the path to true Soul at Work.
Imagine a world of sacredness (soul) at work of true meaning and purpose. Where people live in their true selves, feel fully alive and create more than ever imagined. Where workplaces are transformed to true communities of love, fun, and service. Where we live and share the sacred way. Where heart is more important than anything. Imagine soul at work... where all organizations become communities of light and good, innovation and breakthroughs.. of simplicity and passion.. and soaring profits too.. can you?

Now is the time,

Bill Jason O'Mara PhD
Author, The Way of the Corporate Shaman
Leading Starwood Lead Facilitator
Bill.omara@starwoodhotels.com;
Bill@CorporateShamanWay.com
760-809-4478