Alyceum

Igniting Leaders, Inspiring Revolutions

Archives for November 2020

Top 10 Books for 2020

by

I believe in the transformative effects of books. Personally I’ve witnessed how a book can inspire a different perspective and move me to action. Are you making the most from the incredible knowledge we have at our fingertips?

Which books to read?

I’m an avid reader and yet, I still feel there is not enough time in the day to read as many books as I want.  So I have to be discerning with the books I read. I look closely for recommendations and I don’t stay around for long with books that don’t capture my attention.  Yes, often I’m dipping in and out of books too for the info I’m craving at that moment. I try to search for a range of books and throw fiction books into the mix too (although most of these recommendations are non fiction).

It’s like a fireside chat with an incredible mentor…

I love non-fiction books as it feels like you are getting personal mentoring from leaders from every part of the globe hearing about their research, influences, perspectives and ideas.  What a wonderful pleasure to be able to access their thinking and ideas.  Some are leadership focused and others are focused on mindset, personal transformation and rituals.

My top 10 book for 2020

Ok, so here are the parameters, I’ve limited this list to books that have come out in 2019 or 2020, not books that I’ve discovered that have been published before then (because that would be an even longer list). I’ve also tried very hard to keep it just to 10!

So within those constraints here are my favourite books for 2020.

Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links.  I hope you enjoy the books that inspire me!

My first among equals pick goes to…

1. Manifesto for a Moral Revolution by Jacqueline Novogratz


How I would really love a real fireside chat with Jacqueline Novogratz!

Jacqueline Novogratz is a true pioneer of our times.  She is the founder of Acumen, a global community of socially and environmentally responsible partners dedicated to changing the way the world tackles poverty.  Wow – what an incredible aim!

How did she do it? She shares her own life journey in this book as well as many of the changemakers that Acumen has invested in over the years and I absolutely delighted in learning from her and their experiences.  It’s the type of book that inspires you to do better, think bigger and keep trying.

This is a super wise read. Her insight into creating systems change to empower our most disadvantaged fellow human beings brings to light just how important human dignity is.

If you are looking for leadership ideas and strategies to do good in the world, this book is an absolute MUST!

2. The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices by Casper ter Kuile 


This was such a captivating read.

Author, Casper ter Kuile is a thoughtful and entertaining writer. This book is light yet deep.  It explores how we can add layers of meaning and connection into our lives which is suffering from disconnection, loneliness and ….  He explores how you can transform your daily habits into practices that create a sacred foundation for your life.  He explores four areas of connection – to self, to others, to the natural world and with the transcendent.

Casper has an intriguing background; he is a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School after growing up in a secular family in England!  He co-authored a white paper called How We Gather which explores the ways we come together in the modern world for life long endeavours to build community, seek purpose, be accountable and serve others.

3. Untamed by Glennon Doyle


This is the book we all needed in 2020. Glennon has such a down to earth tone about her that makes her reading accessible to everyone.

This book encourages us all to really trust our inner voice and stop adhering to the expectations of everyone else. Who would you be if you had full permission to truly live the life you want?  This book is a wake up – dig beyond your social conditioning and live life according to your rules.

With so many memorable metaphors that instantly become part of your vocabulary…you’re a cheetah and we can do hard things! This is the first book I’ve read of Glennon’s memoir series and I really enjoyed it.

4. Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman


Often when we explore relationships we are mostly talking about intimate relationships, family relationships or work relationships.  This book explores friendships!

Our close friendships can mean so much in our life but rarely do we delve into how we can foster these relationships over a long time. How do you overcome different life stages, geographic moves and more generally the ups and downs of life.

I loved reading this part-memoir of the author’s own friendship together, exploring the history of friendships and how we can make the most of our friendships in our lives.  It brought to my attention just how important these relationships are in my own life and how I can cultivate them more mindfully.  To all my big friends – thank you!

5. Be Fearless by Jean Case


Jean Case is the CEO of the Case Foundation (a philanthropic foundation supporting social entrepreneurs driving change) and also the first female Chairwoman of National Geographic Society in its 131 year history.

She shares her incredible experience working as and with changemakers, compiling the approaches and strategies to be fearless in your approach in transformational change.

I love the stories she shares, both of incredible changemakers from around the world as well as her own stories of how she lives her life.

6. Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change the World by Layla Saad


This is a truly brilliant book.

I first came across Layla a few years ago following the conversations about race globally especially when her work was confronting white educators. This piqued my interest as a facilitator of programs working with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds including people of colour.

I love how she has set out this book as a 28-day challenge.  Make no mistake, each day is deeply confronting work, but this is the work we must do to overcome the white supremacy. White supremacy work is not just for unhinged fringe groups, everyday people like you and me must commit to it and share our part in a system we were born into to ensure we don’t continue it.

I love how Layla shares that she wrote this book to be a good ancestor  (how wise is this?!) and by reading this book, you do your part in being a good ancestor too.

7. Thriving Mind: How to cultivate a good life by Dr Jenny Brockis


This is the book we truly needed this year and that was even before COVID hit!

Now more than ever we need to focus on how to thrive in our modern life and Jenny has lots of practical strategies – backed by evidence based research – to help us do that. This book speaks directly to the challenges of modern living, loneliness, stress, lack of connection and mental health.

She writes about happiness and engaging all of our emotions, enhancing our energy, mood and resilience as well as harnessing the powers of connection and relationships.  I am really lucky to call Jenny a friend in real life and she is the real deal!

8. Humour, Seriously: Why humour is a superpower at work and in life by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas


Both these authors are so interesting in their fields of study that I’m surprised I hadn’t come across them before.  Dr Jennifer Aaker is a behavioural psychologist, and Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, teaching courses on innovation, the power of storytelling and purpose. Naomi Bagdonas is a Stanford lecturer and a professionally trained comedian. She has designed and facilitated innovation workshops for the boards and leadership teams of Fortune 100 companies.

We have also experienced how humour can shift the feeling in different situations – make us relax, be vulnerable or make down barriers. Yet, this book really explores how it can be useful in a business context. Given our businesses are moving into the age of creating an experience for the customer (and our employees), I enjoyed being stretched to think about how I can use humour more. Full disclosure – I’m not the funniest person around but I definitely enjoy hanging with funny people.  This book really breaks it up and gives easy ways to start thinking and seeing the world in a humorous way!

9. Becoming by Michelle Obama


This memoir is pure delight to read.

Like many people, I adore how Michelle carries herself, standing as a role model in society.  It’s her character, her empathy, her intelligence and her ability that draws people to her.  It was a privilege to read more about her journey. Very inspiring.

This has been out for a little while now and it certainly is a chunky book, but beautiful stories that will lift your spirits for sure.

10. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert


I want to finish my list with a fiction novel. I believe fiction can be just as insightful as non fiction. Just like my non fiction favourites, there have been novels I’ve read, seemingly just at the right time, that have changed my outlook on life.

I did get a chance to read a few novels this year including this absolutely superb book by Elizabeth Gilbert.  (Side note – Reese Witherspoon has a great online book club recommending mostly novels each month – check it out)  Being a theatre lover, I was in awe of the depth of research and understanding used to bring to life in a thoroughly entertaining way.  I love the themes and questions that she exposes in this book; the role and place of a woman, women’s sexuality and how we respond differently to men and women.

The characters and how they live their lives can definitely be confronting to the reader even 80 years after the period we are reading about!

—

Of course, these were just my absolute favourites!  Something in me makes this such a hard blog post to publish because there are always so many other books worth reading and mentioning…RBG, David Attenborough, Barack Obama, Julia Gillard to name just a few. Maybe I’ll set different parameters next time and share my favourites within particular subjects such as leadership or diversity in the future.

An important realisation

You know, when you start to collate all the books you are reading and have read, you start to get an understanding of which voices you are listening to and perhaps, more importantly, which voices you aren’t hearing. I definitely like to read female stories and perspectives as well as perspectives that are going to challenge my point of view on the world. Looking at my own list, I’m keen to read some more Aboriginal authors in 2021 and found this fantastic list which will help me guide my choices!

Well that’s it for now. I would love to hear your top reads for 2020 too!

Get this Free Guide: 6 POWERFUL SECRETS TO FIND YOUR HIGHEST PURPOSE IN LIFE

The world needs more purpose-driven people. But where do you start?

This inspiring guide will give you powerful insights to find and refine your own purpose in life.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

 

How to use your influence for good

by

Most change-makers I know are keen to have a positive impact on the world in some way. Traditionally you may have had to be a Prime Minister or wealthy CEO to influence and impact the world.

But the world has changed! You don’t need to be in a position of authority to have the power to positively influence those around you. Tools such as the internet have levelled the playing field and allowed everyday people to have a voice, gather people together for a cause and create momentum. Think about Malala Yousafzai or the #Metoo movement.

What types of power increase your influence?

Social psychologists John French and Bertram Raven discovered that there are six types of influential power and, of those, there are two that everyone has the ability to harness regardless of their standing.

1. Expert Power – Having advanced levels of knowledge about a subject gives you power because people trust you as an expert in your subject area and look to you for guidance. Develop this power by taking courses, reading, attending conferences, finding mentors who challenge your assumptions and constantly stretch your knowledge and understanding.

2. Referent Power – This is the type of power that people wield when they are well-liked and respected. You have this power if you are well-known in your community. Earn this power by always leading with integrity, doing good work, building strong relationships and take bold actions.

As change-makers, we can work on developing these powers to influence our workplaces or communities. Challenge yourself to lead not through position, fear or demands but through something which is far stronger than these – shared values!

Shared values are guiding beliefs that groups and organisations rally around to inspire change and keep people committed to their causes. These are beliefs that excite, guide people’s actions and help define identities. Most importantly, they’re the emotionally-charged fuel that enables leaders to influence their followers.

Tap into Emotions and Get Personal

According to Harvard Business researcher Dr. John P. Kotter, most people fail to be influential because they try to influence others using logic, convinced that facts will make others listen to them.

However, research shows emotional appeals can be more persuasive. This is because the same part of your brain that you use to make decisions also controls emotions, causing the two to be intertwined. If you want to influence people to take action or adopt new ideas, you can’t just tell them why they should do it; you have to make them feel it. So, basically, how you make people feel will impact your ability to influence and make change.

How do you make people feel?

Consider these avenues of power you can exert everyday

1. Speak up – consider how you communicate with those who you know, including your family, friends and colleagues. Can you raise awareness about an issue? Can you support an event through sharing it? Consider the ways you can share more – perhaps on social media, in your workplace or just with your friends.

2. Share your expertise – can you use your knowledge, networks and expertise to support a cause by sitting on a community organisation board?

3. Consumer power – every time you purchase something, you are supporting it. Choose carefully and support business and brands that contribute something to the world.

4. Philanthropy – philanthropy is just a fancy word for carefully considering how to give funds (or time) to have a positive impact in the world. You don’t have to be rich and famous to make a donation. Just start with a small goal of thoughtfully giving 1% of your earnings this year.

5. Resources – what resources do you have at your disposal? Can you influence your workplace to support a charity, offer a space to an event or meeting or use your profile to help build momentum for a cause?

I really do believe that people just don’t know how influential they can be. We have everything at our fingertips – access to knowledge, access to platforms to have a say, access to resources.

Don’t Forget!

In a Harvard Business Review article, Ben Laker and Charmi Patel outline a number of ways that you can increase your influence with one on one.

1. Build rapport – building rapport with the people that you want to influence will strengthen the interpersonal connections and trust that you have with them. Get to know people, dig a little deeper then you usually would – find out their purpose and passions in life, consider how you can support them.

2. Be an active listener – influencing isn’t just about telling people what to do or buy, it’s about understanding what will make them want to do these things. To learn this, you must first listen to them, understand what their motivations are and be empathetic about what they tell you. Practice asking good questions and listening.

3. Be focused and set an example – you can’t influence someone to change if you have not made that change yourself. Often I’ve found this is the best way to influence. Great influence comes from sharing your own experiences, and showing someone that the change you made could be great for them too.

The real question is: Are you ready to step up?

Get this Free Guide: 6 POWERFUL SECRETS TO FIND YOUR HIGHEST PURPOSE IN LIFE

The world needs more purpose-driven people. But where do you start?

This inspiring guide will give you powerful insights to find and refine your own purpose in life.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Running for the Federal Senate

by

Recently I was asked to speak at the inaugural She Runs Campaign School in Perth, a program to encourage more women to run for politics.  They were keen to hear about my leadership development work that empowers people from diverse backgrounds to step up and lead AND also about the time I ran as an independent candidate for the Federal Senate.

The time I ran for federal politics

I was 21 years old when I ran for federal politics.  It was an incredible experience that taught me so much and influenced my future steps (albeit not in politics).  So how did I come run as an independent in 2004?
It’s actually a funny story.  2004 was a very different time in politics.  There weren’t many independents that ran at all back then. So much so, the morning TV show, Sunrise started a media campaign to encourage their viewers to run as independents at the next election which hadn’t been called at that stage.

21 year old me had had some experience with politicians and politics through my teenage years.  While being involved in my community volunteering, I had the opportunity to meet with, talk and connect with many of my local members of parliament (state and federal) and also meet the Prime Minister, Premier and Minister for the Environment.

So when Sunrise asked viewers to send in videos sharing what you would do if you were a Senator, I was happy to share my two cents worth.  Next, Sunrise were showing all the videos and had chosen three people from each state to fly to Canberra to talk about what it would mean to run for the Senate.  We got the opportunity to meet and speak with politicians and then we recorded a one minute pitch to be shared again with viewers.

Political pop stars

This is where it turned into, what I call, ‘political pop stars’ where viewers were invited to vote for their favourite Senator-to-be, for the chance to win $10,000 to go towards your costs of running in the election. Lo and behold, I won the WA viewer vote and was awarded the funds!  On the 29 August, the election was called for a short 6-week campaign leading up to the election date on the 9 October between Howard and Latham, only the second Federal election where I was legally able to vote!

Like every opportunity I’ve come across, I took it on and gave it everything I had.  I printed flyers and posters, got T-shirts made, organised a website and started talking to people.  I used the opportunity to attend every networking event I could, where I focused on three key groups – young people, women and small businesses, asking people what they thought of politics and what the community needed. I spent many mornings out on busy street corners in Perth during the morning rush and tried to catch people that way!  It was especially useful when I had the couple of opportunities to speak on Sunrise during the campaign too.

Number #1 on the Ballot

I was drawn first on the ballot sheet, having found a running mate and entered as a group (as opposed to being an ungrouped independent) and getting the required number of signatures.  Another interesting part of the experience was being involved in the preference deals including with the main parties as well a whole range of smaller political parties that I had never heard of before.  What is most interesting to me was on reflection was just how so important those preference deals can be. In the end, I polled over 4,000 first preference votes and got pretty close once the preferences started to fall. It definitely shows the power of these preference deals to catapult someone into a seat. Over the years, I’ve noticed how many independents have, in fact, reached a seat on far less first preference votes than I received!

So what were my lessons from the experience? 

1. I experienced the huge lack of trust in politicians.  This was so stark for me moving from a 21-year-old community volunteer to a political candidate.  I could feel some doors closing (or being slammed) as people and groups not wanting to ‘be political’.  I don’t think this has changed much except for a few marked exceptions. There is much opportunity to redefine the role and perception of politicians.

2. I realised how little people knew about our political system. My most asked question was what seat I was running for in the Seat and, of course, the Senate is divided by states not seats. I think there is a great opportunity to update our political system too. I believe the adversarial nature of politics is quite out-dated and there is opportunity to look around at how other countries organise their governments as well as newer forms of participatory government such as citizen assemblies.

3. Running for politics is doable – anyone can do it.  Bring people together.  Do things differently.  You don’t have to buy into the ways things have always been done.

We want and need leaders with character.  And if Zali Steggles or Cathy McGowan’s experiences are anything to go by, now is the time to put yourself forward.  We need leaders driven by the greater good rather than those driven by ego, status and party politics.

Get this Free Guide: 6 POWERFUL SECRETS TO FIND YOUR HIGHEST PURPOSE IN LIFE

The world needs more purpose-driven people. But where do you start?

This inspiring guide will give you powerful insights to find and refine your own purpose in life.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How to be a changemaker?

by

 

“All of us are needed for a moral revolution.  It doesn’t matter where you live, the size of your bank account, or what you do for a living.  The world needs you to flex, to stretch to uncomfortable levels, to build your moral imagination, to listen more deeply, to reckon with your sense of identity, and to open yourself up to understand the layered inconsistencies and differing perspectives of others.  It requires each of us to partner better, to tell stories that matter and embrace the beautiful struggle.”
– Jacqueline Novogratz

I definitely know that I am at my happiest when I’m working with a team of people to make the world just a little better in some way.  I love new ideas and I love a project that challenges that status quo.  I love inspiring others to think about the change we can make together.

This year – 2020 –  commemorates 25 years since the start of my journey in leadership and community change making.  Back in 1995, I was 12 years old, I was given a beautiful gift.  I was chosen to attend the first International Children’s Conference (ICC) on the Environment run by the United Nations.  800 kids from 90 different countries were chosen to attend and experience 3 days of speakers, workshop and kinship.

There is no doubt in my mind that this conference was an immense catalyst in my life and one that I feel very fortunate to have.  At 12 years old, my attention was diverted away absorbed by my own teenage life and focused on others, my local community and world.

At this conference, I connected with the three other Perth delegates and we came back to Perth and formed our own group.  Supported by our parents and a supportive teacher, we decided to run our own kids conference!  This was probably one of the first examples of the ‘youth-led’ movement.  It took us 13 months and in 1996, we ran the first Kids Helping Kids conference with 150 kids from around Western Australia and our ICC friends from Malaysia.  In 1999, the group became incorporated as Millennium Kids and still runs today.

Since 1995, I have been a keen volunteer, a change maker and voice for the issues that matter. I look back with huge gratitude for the experiences I had, the people I met and most importantly, the mindset that was formed.  It was a mindset that change can happen, we can achieve great things in our community when we come together and we have more power and influence than we think!

So in this post, I want to share 7 lessons I’ve learnt about creating change!

1. Lead now

“Leader is not a title that the world gives to you—it’s an offering that you give to the world.”
– Abby Wambach, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion

You can lead right where you are – with your knowledge, experience, ideas and passion!

Don’t wait to be asked, don’t wait until you’re old enough or experienced enough.  Get in there, join the team, shadow the leader, meet new people, share your ideas – start learning on the job!  We all have the capacity to lead change – to make the world a little bit better than how we found it.

You have to be willing to be brave and give ideas a go, put yourself out there, make mistakes, learn and realise you have some value to give to the world.

2. Don’t doubt the crazy ideas!

“The day before something is a breakthrough, it’s a crazy idea.”
– Peter Diamandis, author and founder, Singularity University

It’s often the crazy ideas that can make the biggest difference!

Kids running their own conference, young people being board directors on aged care organisations, everyday people joining together to become philanthropists…all of these crazy ideas became successful projects.  Many people scoffed at these ideas and took a lot of convincing of their worth.  Hang in there, it gets a little easier!

Give yourself time for thinking and talking about crazy ideas too. We can all too often get caught up in the busyness of life.  Give yourself time to really think about what the world most needs now.

3. Diversify your network

“Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.” 
– Jesse Jackson, Politician and Civil Rights Activist

Get out and make as wide networks as you can.  A broad network is an advantage when it comes to creating change.  You can’t do it all by yourself!  When I was 21 years old, I ran as an independent candidate for the Federal Senate of Australia.  I loved the experience because it truly pushed me out of my comfort zone.  I committed to going to a wide range of events with people I had never met before.  Not only did it help during my campaign, but through the rest of my career and community work.  The friendships I made, the organisations I came across, the people I connected with have held me in great stead.

When you’re building a team, it’s integral to know your strengths and find people who strengthen the group through different mindsets, skillsets and networks.  They will challenge you and that’s a good thing!  It can be an easy trap to bring together people who mirror your own strengths, instead, push yourself to bring together different people.

In these increasingly polarised times that we are living in, it can be all too easy to be revolted by people who hold different opinions and close down the conversations completely.  Try to keep the avenue open.

4. Failure is part of the process

“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”
– Ken Robinson

Plant many seeds as not all will grow.  Failure is not a reflection of you, it’s just part of the process.  For every project idea that’s been successful, there have been three ideas that have failed.  Don’t be disheartened by this.  Ask yourself, what can I learn from this?  The learnings might come years afterwards too.

See the obstacles not as a sign to stop but a sign to keep going! Embrace them. Rise to the challenge of them.  Obstacles will only make you stronger so keep in there!

5. Cultivate your skills in learning, listening and leadership

If you want to make a positive impact on the world, here are three key skills – learning, listening and leadership.  Since the very beginning of my journey, I’ve been honing these skills.  I still get it wrong and there is still much opportunity for improvement!

Learning – you are also learning! Learning about the complex problems we are facing in society, how we can make a positive impact, how we can work together more effectively.  Being a learner.

Listening – the greatest leaders I have observed are all incredible listeners. They listen for what is said, they listen for what is not said. They don’t just listen, they connect and see the world through the eyes of the speaker.  Often, when we have ideas and knowledge, we can be too quick to talk all the time.  A great leader sees the opportunity to ask questions and listen.  They listen with great humility.

Leadership – be ready to learn more about yourself, your team, your community and society and uncover the assumptions and biases that may hold you back.  This self awareness helps you to start building mastery in leadership.  You will need it when you need to bring together a diverse group with a common vision, when you need to have a courageous conversation with a team member and when you get knocked down by failures.

6. Surround yourself with the people, places and beauty that inspires you

When I feel inspired, I feel like I can do anything.  So I think deeply about what inspires me the most.  I wonder about the times that inspire fresh thinking, innovative ideas and connections.

For me, it’s about people, places and creativity. I surround myself with inspiring people. I meet with them. I read their books.  I listen to their videos and podcasts.  I attend events that push my knowledge and networks and am inspired by the incredible people I get to meet. I’m also inspired by our beautiful natural environment, the blue oceans, the tall trees and the animals who inhabit these spaces.  Art, creativity, music and movement also inspire me.  I love different art forms and the creativity and dedication it takes to create.

What gives you energy? Take your inspiration seriously.

7. Focus on what you’ve achieved, not what’s still to be done

“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”
– Ruth Bader Ginsburg

This is an important one!  When change is the goal, you can be so futures focused that you don’t acknowledge your achievements along the way. And let’s face it, we often have big hopes and dreams!  Don’t get disheartened that there is still so much to do, celebrate what you have achieved along the way – highlight it, the small wins, make them visible to all the team.  Change, at the best of times, is slow but that doesn’t mean that you don’t celebrate the wins along the way.  Sometimes change happens in a giant leap, most of the time it will be incremental. Stick with your goals and purpose for the long term and don’t forget to take the time to acknowledge what you have achieved.

Together we can effect real change, by joining together, sharing our talents and envisioning a better future.  Often I reflect on my 12 year old self, who had their eyes opened by the possibilities of this. No matter what we face as a world or society, I try and remember this.  Now I have children of my own who see the issues they would like to positively impact and I know it’s my turn to encourage them to see their role as a changemaker in society.

Here’s to another 25 years of changemaking impact.

 

In 2021 I’m piloting a new online course on personal leadership and making an impact! Are you keen to join in? It includes weekly masterclasses, leadership challenges and opportunities to share and connect. If you want to find out more, add your email here and receive my free guide too.

 

Get this Free Guide: 6 POWERFUL SECRETS TO FIND YOUR HIGHEST PURPOSE IN LIFE

The world needs more purpose-driven people. But where do you start?

This inspiring guide will give you powerful insights to find and refine your own purpose in life.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.