End of Day 1 (Monday, June 7, 2010)

The first course is about immersing oneself in "Who Am I As A Leader -- and Who Do I Want To Be As A Leader?" aka Leadership.

Val Gokenbach is the professor for this first course. Today's content was all about us as individuals -- our rhythms, values, stressors, response to stressors. We also explored ourselves through a number of exercises that caused us to examine our personal patterns of nutrition, rest, and exercise -- the Trifecta of Health. The overall theory is that excellent leaders are in tune with the above and are able to self-correct when something is off course.

A couple of things that stuck with me today were:

a. Excellent leaders hire for competency not for comfort, i.e., we need to hire people who are competent in the things we are less competent in.

b. Our thoughts dictate success -- training ones self to be positive separates the most effective leaders from less effective leaders. We each individually own our thought patterns.

c. Several acronyms as ways to ask people to remind you when you're getting off course, i.e., "BOB" = "Back off bitch" or "SOM" = "Scarlett Ohara Moment."

d. Ask yourself..."What would you do today if you knew you could not fail?"

e. "Going through life is just a bunch of moments....don't miss out on any of them...and wait around and the moments will soon change."

f. Leaders won't be able to say "thank you" if they are not grateful.

In summary...today was all about understanding that "ego" makes or breaks a leader. Those who are able to tame their ego and connect with others are the most effective leaders.

Overall it was a great first day.

We had homework to attend afterwards, plus most of us in the class have committed to walk for half an hour before dinner each evening.