Ethos-A Cultural Watercooler by Randy Elrod

iLead: Alpha or Servant Leader

As top down hierarchies crumble, circles of collaboration become crucial. Please note that this is not advocating "bottom-up" leadership. We all know that the socialism experiment earlier this century failed miserably. Collaborative circles not hierarchical triangles comprise the method wise servant leaders utilize in order to inspire and hold on to cultural creatives.

The freedom to be, as Os Guiness states in The Call; who we ARE, not what we DO comes only in circles of collaboration. There is no place in the controlling and hierarchical Alpha leadership style for unique giftings and styles contrary to the Alpha.

A servant leader allows people that are better and smarter to enjoy the freedom and power of collaboration. This provides satisfaction from the success of the team and not from his or her individual prowess. As Alpha leaders become more isolated and insulated due to hierarchal deficiencies (i.e. brown nosing, kissing ass, etc), much of this servant leader process naturally evolves as cultural creatives defect to futures of their own choosing. This allows the stimulating ability to form collaborative and fluid teams. Dr. Paul Ray says that over 50 million have already left the confines of this Alpha hierarchy and are changing the world NOW.

A quick way (certainly not the only way) to recognize an Alpha leader is to LISTEN. The pronouns of a servant leader are much different from those of an alpha leader. A servant leader utilizes the pronouns: we, us and our, while the Alpha leader utilizes the pronouns: I, me and my, (i.e. MY team, MY assistant, etc.).

It is no mistake that the "i" is lower case in "iLead".

More later...Thoughts?

Prince Caspian VIP Preview

Two thumbs WAY UP!!!

I enjoyed Prince Caspian more than The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. And that is a mouthful, because if you are a long time Ethos reader, you will remember that I really, really enjoyed  the first Narnian Chronicle and let everyone know it countless times.

If you are a purist that insists the film be precisely true to the book, you may be a little frustrated. However, if you prepare yourself for one of the most enjoyable fantasies in recent memory and allow the filmmakers to practice a small bit of creative license, you will leave totally satisfied.

I personally had a glorious feeling of magic and wonder as I left the theatre. In fact, that mystical sensation engulfed me throughout the movie.

Extraordinary, evocative and exactly what C. S. Lewis might have envisioned for the movie. Aslan provides a much needed glimpse of a God personality that speaks volumes. At least, to me.

Go see it tomorrow. It is a MUST see on the big screen. That's all I'm saying. No spoilers or plot leaks. My rating is simply an A+.

Watercooler Wednesday - Light Work

HERE are the guidelines. PLEASE take time to read them.  

It will save us both a lot of time.

To join us, do a post today about Arts/Culture, put a link in your post to this post permalink (not my general URL) and then put the permalink of your post (not your general URL) here at the end of this post. Thanks.

Join me around the watercooler today and each Wednesday...

WCW Conversation - "Light Work"

My iPhone has now become my primary computer. I am ashamed to admit that I caught myself wishing for a red light while driving my Jeep yesterday.

To my chagrin, this relatively new red light phenomenon has increased as my addiction to Twitter, texting, checking e-mail, surfing the web, oh yeah - and making phone calls all have become a regular occurrence.

During the next few minutes of my ride, I began to notice other drivers stopped at red lights. They were doing it too. Doing what I now call "light work".

Instead of the usual testosterone induced revving of my engine, I now find myself totally oblivious to the light until the sound of a horn jars me from my "light work". I wonder how long it will be until an entire line of cars miss the green light all together. Doing light work.

Let's suppose my wage adds up to roughly twenty dollars an hour, a three minute red light would be, let's see, that would be one dollar worth of work accomplished. Maybe we could get time clocks installed in our vehicles. Even better, our iPhones will soon be able to record "light work" and maybe we'll get time and a half pay. I could almost afford the half-gallon of gas I just used sitting at the light.

But priceless indeed is the look of abject terror on the face of the guy sitting in the turn lane on the opposite side of the light as I try to punch out my last three letters while careening head-on towards him, turning my wheel at the last possible second, all the while thinking I might just be able to catch the next light red for more light work.

How about YOU? What do you do for your "light work"? TELL US HERE. Come on, confess. You know it's good for you.

China Earthquake Relief

Caring For China is establishing an Earthquake Relief Fund to assist the victims of the Central China Earthquake of May 12, 2008.  To donate to this fund, go to http://www.CaringForChina.org and go to “Donations”.  The link will give you several options, including PayPal, which is quite easy.  Caring For China will send you a tax deductible receipt and you will be automatically put on Caring For China’s newsletter list.  The list is not distributed to anyone else, and you may opt out at any time. 

Thanks for your heartfelt concern for the people who have suffered in this natural disaster, and for acting so quickly to do something about it.  The funds will be wired to Central China where they will be distributed by the local staff to those in most need.

(HT: Hugh Hewitt)

At Last Evening Light

Mark Lee and Bryan White To Lead Songwriting Retreat & Master Class at Kalein

Mark Lee of Third Day & Country Music Recording Artist Bryan White will lead the Kalein Songwriting Retreat & Master Class June 9 & 10, 2008 at beautiful Round Cove.

Auditions are now being accepted for only six songwriters. Apply Now! Time is limited.

About Kalein Songwriting Retreat

Songwriting Rules & Regulations

Songwriting Audition Application

Master Teachers Mark Lee & Bryan White combined have garnered over 7 million albums in sales, 4 Grammy Awards, 25 #1 songs, 20+ Dove Awards, ASCAP Song of the Year, CMA's Horizon award and the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist award, CMT Rising Star and Male Video Artist of the Year, and SRO Touring Artist of the Year.

They have written songs such as “Show Me Your Glory”, “Strong Tower”, “Sky Falls Down”,"Love Is The Right Place" and "One Small Miracle", "Someone Else's Star," "Rebecca Lynn," "So Much For Pretending" and "I'm Not Supposed To Love You Anymore"

Kalein exists to provide a place to encourage and equip gifted artists and leaders to discover, develop and discipline their dreams. An esthetically pleasing and solitary refuge where respected and recognized master teachers provide personal training, encouragement and mentoring to small groups of leaders and artists.

For more information E-mail HERE.

A Tribute To My Mom

A poem for my Mom,
Patricia Ann Daugherty Elrod

Tender

You love me tender,
You love me sweet,
You have always let me go.
You've made my life complete,
And I love you so.

You love me tender,
You love me true,
You dream my dreams fulfilled.
And Mom, I love you,
And I always will.

And I know that as my dreams come true
This I pray, that Happiness will follow you
Everywhere you go.

This post is a part of Positive Post Tuesdays

Come On, You Call This An Evangelical Manifesto ?

Read what Alan Jacobs writes in The Wall Street Journal The Associated Press says THIS. The Chicago Sun Times weighs in HERE. Blogger Jim Wallis talks HERE, and I guest blog about it at Hugh Hewitt's Townhall blog.

From Wine To Arts And Frugal MacDoogal Benefit Kalein ...

Twenty-four extraordinary people enjoyed exquisite wines last evening in Franklin, TN. The From Wine To Arts wine tasting benefited our artist development center Kalein.

My friend Lisa Limper donated the most evocative wines I have ever tasted together in one evening.

Gourmet tapas, original art, a fine wine auction donated by Jeff W. at Frugal MacDoogal (Jeff also provided expert tasting guidance throughout the evening), Angela from Nashville Wine Press and great conversation highlighted the evening.

Among the highlights were a 1990 Silver Oak Cabernet, 1992 Opus One, 1987 Carmenet Blend, and 1980 Whitehall Lane Cabernet. However, the wine that captured the evening was an outstanding 1990 Whitehall Lane Reserve Cabernet, followed closely in order by the Carmenet, Silver Oak and Opus One.

Over $2,000 was raised for Kalein. A superlative evening.

I Am Guest Blogging At Hugh Hewitt...

today. Please take a few seconds and COMMENT on the post. It is titled The Death Of The Alpha Leader. Hugh's Townhall blog is ranked in the top 50 in the world.

Virtual Reality As An Addiction...Recovery Tool

The virtual reality world is usually thought of as escapist entertainment. But a University of Houston researcher has found computer-generated environments can serve as an effective tool to help recovering addicts.

Patrick Bordnick, an associate professor at the university’s Graduate College of Social Work, reports that a virtual reality setting can mimic the actual world well enough to intensify the cravings of alcoholics. It can thus serve as a safe place for addicts to practice new behaviors.

Read more HERE

Hugh Hewitt

Another mention by Hugh Hewitt. I am humbled and honored.

O'More College Of Design Student Fashion Show

Tonight at 7:30pm at the War Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are available at TicketMaster and at the door $15/$30

A perfect Nashville evening destination.

My daughter is a student at O'More and a part of the behind-the-scenes action for the show this evening.

Fashion design will be one of the many genres of art studied at Kalein.

Watercooler Wednesday-Favorite Web 2.0 Apps

HERE are the guidelines. PLEASE take time to read them.  

It will save us both a lot of time.

To join us, do a post today about Arts/Culture, put a link in your post to this post permalink (not my general URL) and then put the permalink of your post (not your general URL) here at the end of this post. Thanks.

Join me around the watercooler today and each Wednesday...

Watercooler Wednesday-Favorite Apps

While researching for the Lifework 2.0 thinktank, I discovered a lot of great new web apps that are both fun and useful. Apps such as Flux, Ning, Slide, Magnify, UVNTV and the highly addictive Rock You

RockYou is a leading provider of applications and widgets on the web. RockYou widgets include photo slideshows, glitter text, customized Facebook applications and voicemail accessories that are simple to use and enable people to frequently refresh their online style. RockYou applications are customized for easy integration across all social networks including Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Friendster, Tagged and hi5. RockYou's cost-effective, results-focused advertising platform is the largest Ad Network on Facebook and the most dynamic method for rapidly acquiring Facebook application users.

My LifeWork 2.0 video HERE was created with RockYou in less than 15 minutes and it was FUN!!!

What is Your Favorite Web App? Tell Me HERE.

How Do You Twitter?

These are my Tweet rhythms.. What about You? Go HERE to find out.

Go HERE to see a succinct Twitter explaination.

HT: (Queen Anne's Lace & Ragamuffin Soul)