TEDX talk title hitting the press...you're first to know!
Masterclass: another way to look at your journey line
Imagine: France, 1910. The First World War won’t start for another four years. Paris is recovering from the great flood of Paris, two months where much of the city was underwater.
Raymonde de la Roche had been a sportswoman all her life, a performer, and a lover of cars and motorcycles decades before women were allowed to vote in France. On March 8, 1910, while the flood waters were still receding in Paris, this remarkable woman, dubbed “Baroness” in Flight Magazine despite not having any royal blood, became the first woman in the world to earn her pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Hers was the 36th license to be issued at all.
This isn’t the official start to International Women’s Day— that credit goes to German socialist Clara Zetkin — who was looking to improve the lot of women workers— on the same day as LaRoche’s flight as she attended the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. But it might also go to the garment workers’ strike on February 28, 1909, where women protested working conditions. The United Nations suggests that it is strongly tied to the women’s movements during the Russian Revolution in 1917. It seems the world was collectively moving in this direction one hundred and fourteen years ago (and before.)
“Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” - President John Kennedy
But I will always associate the day with Raymonde de la Roche, who had the courage to pursue both her purpose and her passions, which would one day take her life. Her example, her commitment, her bravada even, held up an example that women could, and would, follow, and began to change that conversation we are still working to change today which allows women, and all people, to contribute their best selves to the place where they are called.
my favorite photo of Raymonde de la Roche
Last week I had the chance to speak to the Pacific Northwest Coast Guard about The Grit Factor (they all received their copies!) as a part of their Women’s Leadership Initiative. They were discussing a lot of hard topics you may have read about in the news, and the opportunities still remaining (there are many) for inclusion. I was encouraged that the group was made up of men and women, as this is the kind of a challenge that has to be met by all of us, collectively.
Something that bears mentioning: Culture is a leadership issue. Leaders set the tone and the realities of culture— and part of leading is finding a way to bring people along with you. That means making hard decisions sometimes— that means holding firm when standards are violated. More on this to come— this is a critically important understanding.
TEDX— it’s only a month away! And three days. Not that I’m counting. I couldn’t be more excited, and I hope you join me in my anticipation, and even the event itself! If you’re anywhere near California’s Central Coast— please join us! Tickets are on sale here. And if you’re not, stream it! And share with your friends in California. We’re hoping to fill the Performing Arts Center with a theme of DETERMINATION. I’m giving away a new direction in my work on grit with the title of my talk, which will be the final talk and the keynote for the event— drumroll please!
Deeper than Why: How the Best Leaders Ignite Passion and Perseverance
It’s so exciting to be doing this work, and in large part its you and your needs and responses and conversations that have helped to shape this new direction, as well as continued work toward integration of my work and experience. This grows out of— and also supports the ideas of— grit and resilience, as well as leadership, so stay tuned for more in all of these directions.
A few things I’ve been fascinated by lately:
Learning more and more about William Damon’s work on purpose in adolescents in particular. Here’s a great interview with Scott Barry Kaufman on the latter’s excellent podcast.
Escaping the Matrix on The Hidden Brain— always an excellent podcast, I really appreciated the depth of conversation on issues directly related to some of our most pressing issues— polarization and the mental health crisis of our kids.
Discovered Dr. Carol Ryff’s work on purpose, and particularly enjoyed her reconsideration of Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics.
Coming across Rebecca Goldstein’s work on The Mattering Instinct— are you starting to see a trend?
The Masterclass for paid subscribers this week is another way to consider your journey line— the critical first step before you venture into purpose!
I’ve made you a short video to go with the exercise as well— excited to hear your thoughts!
For everyone else, thank you for inviting The Grit Factor into your inbox!
to your grit,
Shannon