9/11 is Here Again: We know our Captain Dahl.

United Captain Jason Dahl was a genius in terms of every switch on the 737.  He was a humanist, an friend and spirit among pilots for United.  United 93 on September 11, 2001 was not just another run.  It would be his bravest.  It enshrined him as an American national hero as well as all the passengers of that flight.

He knew he had a bad situation on board.  What he did not know was that they would soon invade him and slit his throat.  Most intelligence community saw the plane heading for the White House or the Capital.  It had its mission.  The bad guys were already flying the plane.

After being overcome by the terrorists, Captain Jason Dahl was awake enough to know what to do.  He heard passengers rushing the cockpit, but in his dying breaths, he and only he knew what could bring the plane down before it took more hundreds of lives....He had to make a decision that pilots or mortals should not have to make...

Captain Dahl was survived by Sandy his wife and his son, who graduated that year from U. of Colorado, Boulder, wearing his father's honorary doctoral hood.  CIBU was very honored that year to have Jason Dahl family members there with us, his sister, brother in law.....and friends

CIBU has honored a few national champions and national heroes.  It was never so proud to honor Jason Dahl, Captain, UAL, posthumously, in honor.  And his dear life friend Captain Mark Hoog, UAL Captain, who was the shepherd of this story for all of us.

This anniversary celebrates Captain Dahl for his life-giving bravery, and Captain Hoog as a friend Captain who reached out and could never touch again his friend who became his ideal.  It honors all pilots everywhere who hold human life in their hands and fingers on the stick or the throttle.

This story is a sacred part of American History.  Sandy Dahl died this year some say, of a broken heart.  Jason and Sandy, and Mark, our friends and family are with you and will ever treasure the heroism of you, Mark, for holding on, and holding on, and believing....your entire profession of pilots everywhere knows this story and you should be proud that you had the time with Jason and saw an American Hero, held him in your heart and take him with you.  To have such a friend is a great gift.

 

Baseball and Newspapers...

I work out every day at a major hotel in Seoul, swim and keep fit.  Gradually, I have been noticed as a nice guy and foreigner and have struck up friendships with some of my gym-mates....and the man at the concierge desk...you see, I need an English newspaper every day and it is part of my package, but sometimes its gone....over time, Mr. Choi know what that means to me and has saved every day for me.

The hotel is traditional, a gathering place in Seoul, this metro-global city.  Mr Choi is so kind and helpful.  One day I wanted to give him a very small tip for this courtesy and he refused.  I insisted.  It was very modest.  Over time, we talked and shared stories and it is even possible to say we became friends.

One afternoon lately he presented me with the newspaper.  I was with a close local professor friend.  Then, in a moment, came the Samsung Tigers professional baseball team in uniform through the lobby on their way to a KMLB baseball game.  I waved to players!  Had no idea what was to come....

Then in an instant, the main man, the last year all-Korea homerun king stood in front of us and my friend the concierge brought him a package.  He opened.  Two fresh new wood bats for the game that night.  My friend, the concierge, Mr. Choi, presented the bats with no less, no more respect than he gave me the daily newspaper.......
I asked for a photo with the player and got it.  I told him we need him at the San Diego Padres!

He noticed and said thank you, we shook hands and I have a now treasured photo....

My friend, the concierge, Mr. Choi,  is the actual subject of this essay.  He treated us the same, me and the home-run king...ultimate respect and professionalism....there is something in this story that runs deeper about Korea.  It is something that runs deep in Korea people....I am not sure I can put that in words, but I noticed that.  Thanks, Mr, Choi.  You are a window on Korea, yesterday, today, and tomorrow...

Home-run kings get bats....I get newspapers.  Mr. Choi helps our worlds so far apart and yet as close as a photo, right there

women must demonstrate...that their soft power prevails

standing beside every good man is a very good woman...she may be mother, sister, wife.
and he must stand beside her....
celebrate international womens day!

"Real Men" and Animals....

The most amazing thing happened last week in a small city in South Korea.  I was the guest of a university for the creation of a collaborative sister university relationship.  My hosts were fabulous and did the usual job of perfect hospitality.  After an amazing traditional luncheon, one of the young professors took me for a short tour by auto of this very historic place.  We walked and talked serious professional topics.  Most interesting to walk through a temple park dating back one thousand years and to talk 21st Century student culture and technology!

In the car ride back to the bullet train station, we approached an intersection with busy traffic.  There in the middle of the crossroads was a small brown Pomeranian dog.  Unattached to anyone, any car, just sitting there, shivering, looking at each car that went by, as if to say, "Come back, please, don't leave me here"

I spoke up.  My friend also saw him.  He commented, that some cruel people probably left him.  I looked back, the dog was just stationary, not moving out of the middle of traffic.

I took a deep breath.  Then I asked, for some unknown reason, if he also like animals.  He sighed and said "Yes" with a very heavy tone.  He told me he just lost his dog after 17 years.  He said he was incapacitated for a week, could not work, the dog was not an animal, but a friend and part of the family.

I said, "You have heart.  The same is with me.  I just lost a dog of 17 years as well."

Mine was also a Pomeranian.

I will never see that dog again, but will never let it go from my memory.  I had to give it to God to take care of it, find it a good home....not traffic.

"Real Men" have dogs.  Real men, lose dogs.  Real Men cry, and never forget these best friends.
Real men must go on.....an on.....

Life and Death on a Bike: Whiteflash Reminds Us

It was a very cold day in Seoul.  20 degrees Fahrenheit.  Colder North wind blowing strong.
I was crossing a very busy eight lane street at the intersection with another very busy eight lane, fast highway in the middle of downtown Seoul's Gangnam area.

I got halfway across to the safe pedestrian island, when I heard a crashing sound, a collision of two motor scooters at the intersection.  One of the bikers emerged safe and unshaken and looked back, then roared away.  I hestiated to look but did right back at the scene and saw the other biker skidding across the pavement, bike going one way on its side, the human biker like a log just rolling over and over on the pavement in deep, roaring traffic.  I honestly thought he was gone.  No movement, cars rushing past him on both sides.  He was limp, lying in the middle of one of Seoul's busiest crossings on a very cold, cold day.

No one stopped, no pedestrian lept forward to help, no one.  Cars just kept whizzing by.

I was still at the halfway point on a safe island just watching.  He started to move, then rolled over, then got up, blood on his forehead.  He managed to grab the scooter and walk it to the island, staggering all the way.  It was now right before me.  I could shake his hand it was now too close to just walk on by.  Then he collapsed right down at my feet.  I had wanted to pull him out of traffic, but now there was no choice....I had to help.  I asked him, "Can I help you?  How can I help you, Are you alright?"  Stupid questions.

He waved me off...."no Englishe", he said....he was in clear pain lying there.

Then another biker saw this and stopped and talked him to his feet.  He too cared.  He was the only other one.  He soon roared off into the cold day.  The wounded man was staggering but on his feet.  He waved me off again from any help.  This guy was young, in his late 20's I guess, handsome, as big as an NFL player, yet he almost was killed this day.

He would make it through this.  I made sure he got to the other side, then I had to be gone.  Nothing more to do, nothing more to help, I had done what I had to do.

Cold days like this and scenes like this at our feet remind us to go home and hug the ones we love and remember that life is a breath in the cold air, a split second from death, yet we somehow make it.  I will never see this man again, gone into the crowds of millions.  Yet I will see his face as long as I live.

Cold days we do all we can.  Sometimes it is enough, sometimes not.  This day, was a good day, all things considered.  For him and also for me....

Two Years Out....

Two years ago I read about Amy Ambrusco.  Her loss of her children.  I vowed to share my heart with the world of my contacts and friends.  Lots has happened.  I wrote a personal Mission Statement, thanks to Jeffrey Bennett.  I shared many personal stories.  I opened my heart.

Nothing bad happened, or happens when we share out heart.  But we become more open.  We are open in ways we do not even begin to understand.  One of them is love.

2012 will be a most challenging yet a most significant year for me where I make the most personal choices of my life and I still wish to devote myself to doing something of overall good where I have walked...

I still believe, we are not alone, and we are together with ALL we have loved, all our lives, whatever the trials and trails have been....

Everyone needs a mission statement, a personal mission statement, be it a vow to love an animal, a child, a partner, a company, an idea.  Let's remember Steve Jobs, always.  He challenged us to be ready to do our all out best in short days, if that is what is delivered.

On the positive, we love life and love and what bright horizons come...

Japan....Training Ground for Champions

The Boston Red Sox chose Bobby Valentine as their new 2012 Manager.  It has been nine years since he managed the New York Mets or anything else in the US Major League Baseball world.  Well, let's say, during those years Bobby went to Japan and groomed one of the worst professional teams all the way to become the best in Japan.  He learned Japanese, and the people and players loved him.

Boston saw something in him.  Lots of knowledge and even a great command of the New York Yankee team, but there was a champion in there.

Lots of young people aspiring to be great managers....take a look at this story....there is much more to come from Mr. Valentine, Manager, World class style.

Ukraine...How are You?

Somehow, someone likes my blog in Ukraine.  Whoever you are, I appreciate the interest.  Let me know how you found my wrting and why you visit.

Just shows how absolutely global our world is.
I was in Kiev several times in the 1970's and 1980's....Odessa in 1986.....

Strosvoitzia!

Thanksgiving and Homecoming

Most of the things we all are actually thankful for are the basic things of life.  Our warm house and bed, our loved ones who wait for us every day.  The ones we depend on and depend on us.  Our dog, our cat.

Yet, sometimes Thanksgiving gives us something completely new.  Something worth living an extra mile for, an extra year or more for...maybe a whole life for.....it blows us away because it is such a gift that we could never have even imagined it, nor asked for it.  Usually, these extraordinary gifts are people and things brought to us through new people.

Every year's new gifts.  That's it.  The New Gifts of Thanksgiving.

These may not even be at home.  They may be out in the street.  They may originate far from home and in strange places,,,,they may seem to come as strange gifts.  Yet, after we look, we look twice and we just get turned around.

Thanksgiving is not neat and orderly and predictable.  It is the Season of the most serendipity,  If you believe in Whiteflash, it gives us the gift of life, through people who likely end up staying with us as major forces in our life.  True gifts. 

We can ask for the gifts like this.  No guarantee.  There seems to be some extra grace added by the Creator to deliverance of the gifts.  We need some modesty, some humor, and some patience.....But, if the elements are just right, get prepared for one of the most incredible Thanksgivings of your life. 

I know that for me, to thank is better than to ask .....and it is better to thank than want.   Genesis of love and new good things starts with honest thanking........

My year brought me some new souls I now love so much, and  some new friends.  They have the potential to change my life.  I guess I could say this Thanksgiving, it was the people, not the turkey that mattered.  Turkeys taste good, but people always are the ones we base our life on.    The rocks of life like Plymouth Rock was a long time ago.....It has never changed.  It is the Creator's statement that some things we can touch and come back next year and touch again.....

I am grateful to all our troops and the men and women who protect us at their life's risk.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

White Flash in the Most Inconspicuous Places

The great thing about Whiteflash is that it does appear at the most amazing moments...like when we least expect it...or when just maybe, our deep intuition does expect it....let me explain...

You are down and depressed and exhausted, and then, just then, there is a huge storm and a rainbow....it happened today on my way home on the freeway!

The nature of Whiteflash is that it has a curious almost mind of its own, yet one we can understand and even sense before things happen...collective conscious?  Preconscious state of mind?  Maybe, but there is something about the state of mind we are in....If you are not open-minded to the possibilities, you will not see what could happen and may miss the golden serendipity...

We can't guarantee Whiteflash moments in our lives....but we cannot ever be so bold to say that they will not show up....

New life grabs us and gives us deep purpose to live and thrive again....amazing people just become gifts....
Whiteflash comes in from far places...and yet, Whiteflash was there all along, just a breath away....

Airports

The places the faces we see when we are about to fall over...
...from tiredness, anticipation, perspiration and the unknown....
...from the lack of a friendly face to say "would you like to have a cup of warm tea?"

These places, faces are with us...they link our world.  We must pass through them...
They are like hotels.....warm tea, maybe?
They are like museums...like a stellar exhibit of people and art.....waiting for coffee...

Airports are places where we meet and say goodbye....
We can select a soft goodbye...two hours with coffee cake and kisses...
But the goodbye happens, at some stark point, when the clock dictates, it moves us....
But it moves us to the best and last human touches of hand to face, fingers to lips and lips to lips....
Airports move our hellos and goodbyes, always have, always will...
...so. I now look for the next time..airport...will bring her to my arms....
Warm tea, waiting....forever....then life happens in an instant when we can meet and hug and say hello...
after a long spell.....that seems forever until we smell the tea!
Together in each others arms....the tea smells sweeter....and it always will

9/11 is Here Again....and so is the Heart of the Artist!

The passion of the artist, whoever he and she is, wherever they are.....is palpable.  We can hear their heartbeat as they put their passion before us...

CIBU has the extreme honor of one of its honorary doctorates being Captain Jason Dahl, Captain of United 93.....and his best friend who carries his torch, our honorary doctor Captain Mark Hoog of United.  For many, many of us, this day is as close as family, sisters, brothers, loved ones.  And best friends.

So many of my countrymen and women have tried to say what this day is....this video is the best I have found to say what I feel today....

www.youtube.com/v/QZFkZiwMLZ4

9/11 is here again....welcome to our Ship of Friends...we stand with each other together....forever...

A Sign of the Times

On a flight to Korea last December, I sat in First Class on the short haul flight from San Diego up to San Francisco International, then boarded the long 11 hour flight to Seoul...so in the early morning short flight, a nice surprise happened.  The Captain sent me a nice personal note of gratitude for my loyalty to United, written on the back of his business card.  I thought it was a real nice gesture, had seen it once before, in fact.

I happened to have a copy of my Four Flashes book just published with me, and gave it to this Captain after the landing with my own comments penned inside the front cover.  I saw him and wished him well.  It felt good...another of my books out there....give forward....

Last weekend I received a surprise email from the United Captain.  He was working on some mundane paperwork, and there my book was for some short inspirational minutes....I guess it made it easier to get through the tough part he was dealing with.....he said it felt that he had an angel on his shoulder,  Reading the book lifted some of the stress.  I thought what a nice note eight months later. 

Today I was already boarded and in my seat on United 395, Chicago to San Diego, and the Captain emerged from the cockpit.  He looked at me with a sign of recognition and showed thumbs up.  For a split second, I thought it was this Captain.  Later I would ask just to see if that miracle would happen.

Two minutes later he came back to me and said, "Michael, you are the author of the Four Great Flashes book...I stood up, we shook hands and said "Another major serendipity!"  We both stood in awe.  He was very kind.  He said a heartfelt "welcome on board!"...

He flew it well, nice landing, eight minutes early...

As I said goodbye, I gave him my new book....  It felt good.  I wished I had grabbed a picture to capture that moment.

White flash gives us gifts of each other, mostly always good, mostly reminding us we have some rivers of lives that bring us amazing moments, against all odds, far beyond chance...., in this case  even a second or third time.

The landing was smooth this evening....it was a white flash landing all the way....

This is a true story....
I think I needed that or something to lift my spirits....

I hope to see him on a future flight...when my next book is ready to give over....

How can we ever imagine the chances of that happening.....
Like it has so far....

The Second Hurdle

You and I love each other....we know that in every human way....now we have cultures and OMG...languages....

OK, so Very much to do

... I mean very much can be sorted out from bed to kitchen on how the day will go, but the finer points of love and who does what next....that requires some friend or expert who can step in and really do the job of excellence.....translation.....helping out

They, the helpers, the translators, are there to help....

When Love prevails....everybody learns each others' language...

Passion is the great communicator!

The First Hurdle

We are so electronic in our relationships, even our life, love and living for life...

We spend hours in email...and may misfire in it....

We hug our phones....hours....

Where are the hours we hug whom we love....

Where are whom we love...so far away....

How many days and nights do we actually spend....

Minutes...are real....they are ....

....all we have....

Seoul...Asia

When I see passion in people of a country like Korea, even if it is passive-aggressive passion, it matters not to me.  It may not be the conflicting values at the surface, but the passion underneath...thus, I dedicate this, my August, 2011 voyage to Korea...

Passion...fashion...

The minite...the hour..

Can we shorten...the flour....

...baking...waking...

...Time, so fast....

Love...that lasts...

Rain, so long...

Sun, so strong...

Sun, you are me...

Your light set me free...

But your eyes...

Remind me...

and ...bring .....

...like tea...

....the life in we....

and,  always,

...you set me free...

Main Street Forgotten...

Whipsaw!  Wall Street cries that it is a victim of Standard & Poor's downgrading US to only AA+ from AAA+ status...markets tumble...it is a weekend...late summer...Congressmen and Congresswomen are on vacation....Main Street sleeps away...

Back street and back market people are enjoying the ride of their life with volatility.  It is a market for the most seasoned Vegas minded investors...they might be enjoying this....

Main Street people are sleeping...seeing the TV news...not sure how to do anything....how could they anyway?  401k's?  Pensions...forgotten...

Who is Standard & Poors anyway?  What man made this decision?  What committee?  Names, please?  Transparency?  No, they cry out for it, but are their home addresses in Connecticut listed?  I can't imagine why...

Main Street is ubiquitous.  No address.  No Connecticut suburb...no address, no name...

Huge losses.  Societal toll.  Global market chaos.

It will be a nice peaceful, sunny afternoon on the weekend in Connecticut... 

Emergency-Urgency Environments

What we know from much research is that the temperamental fit between an individual and an occupation is relevant.  Personality types are attracted to personality types of work environments.  Secure and serene and safe attracts type B personality.  High urgency, multi-tasking, life-death environments attract type A personality.  In business we say "life death" means customer buys or rejects you!

Type A requires brave, bold, risk embracing people.  They thrive on adrenalin, oxatocin, endorphins of high urgency.  They get high on this.  They hopefully function well.  They save lives and jump in high waters.  They are our action heroes and some unsung heroes.

Everyone needs balance, even type A people.  They need occasional weekends with nothing but pure peace and love.  Ordinarily, they thrive on chaos, but they need regeneration to nurture their spirit.  These warriors are among us.

Type B people do the main jobs of what we all need in every society...they are stable and take care of the most urgent and most safe situations.  They bring peace and calm and love.

How can we know who we are?  Which type? 

Let the urgency tell you.  Your true temperament will come forth....

The whole world needs all of us....

We are all the world!

Micro-Teambuilding

We all talk "teamwork".  But do we really know what we mean?  Are these expressions just feelings or are they skills that can be applied in seconds?  In critical, life-death environments?

Try this idea on...there are micro environments like operating emergency rooms, air traffic towers, international banking centers, military combat, police protection, life saving, rescue, air-sea, and on land.  Situations where hand to hand coordination among team members may mean life or death.  Environments of work or play where there is no room for error....nearly perfect situations.

In my teaching for many years I have struggled with this idea and how to bring the lessons dramatically to students beyond words...right to their knees...but without the real pain that actual errors may mean in real world work.  Thus, I have designed a simulation experiential learning module which simulates the approach to nearly perfect teamwork found in real work environments like emergency rooms, air-sea rescue, and piloting of aircraft.

It is an exercise with TinkerToys where students are given the chance to compete in teams to build a free standing tower (height only, not elegance) within thirty seconds.  We give them thirty minutes to plan and thirty seconds to execute.  They nearly all fail through the third or fourth try...then they get it and perform as an Olympic team, with deft skill and precision team play and handwork.  We have seen all kinds of groups from LAPD heavy duty males to surgical nurse teams to undergraduate students to executives.  All are the same.  All fail....until they learn finally to succeed.  Only one team ever was successful on the first try...a team of ER nurses who already worked together.

The exercise in micro teambuilding brings out the best and worst. 

Finally, teams learn their mistakes and dramatically and physically show success.  Most participants are blown away with how they learn this and how they see the connections with real world, real time workplace situations and in general life.

There are roles...people must get this clear.  There may be a perfect design...this must be learned...There is sub team assembly work...there is the critical role of timekeeper and process coordinator.  Leadership emerges.  True leaders come forward.  Frustration shows its face....ethics show...some people violate the rules...and in the end, teams celebrate and give each other high fives.....

Across cultures, old and young...this is the same.  Planes crash and pilots and crews must respond....ER teams must respond...surgeons and those who support them must save lives....and some are lost....this always has happened, always will and goes on....

We can learn in some micro-environments, what precision,Olympic quality teamwork looks like.  Engarde!  Celebrate!  Beware!  We are of one family.  We must learn how to be a team.  If only for sometimes seconds!

Beyond California

Three people were overheard in a rather intense conversation.  They were from different places on the planet, not all living here in California.  The conversation was about the difficulties in starting a business in an Asian city.

One person talked intensely about the imediate difficulties....upstart legal problems.  This perspective I would call "local"...

The second person said that if the passion was strong, these problems would soon fade away...a perspective I would call "the California perspective"....anything is possible.

The third person just listened.  He was thinking about something even larger than local success with a "can do California spirit"....he was into the thought of making the project go global....not local, not California, but truly global reach.  Thus it would be not the sport college of a city, not the sport college of California, but the sport college of the world.  World sport.  Not too much larger than that!  California thinking got the conversation to a higher level, but the third stage took it to the planetary level.

Most of us think that California thinking is as about as great as we can get in scope.  In fact, world thinking is the ultimate challenge.

All three perspectives in international business study are vital.  But passion comes into play when we get beyond the local.