Category: Poems
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On this Saint Patrick’s Day…
Happy Saint Patrick’s day. There is an old Irish toast that I find poetic and moving. I’m sharing it here today on the occasion of Saint Patrick’s day. It is all the more touching given that we have travelled few roads and met few distant friends in the last 12 months due to the Covid…
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Poem: The Dash
My sister shared this poem with me many years ago as a powerful reflection on life. What is important about a person’s life? The numbers, the material possessions… or something more… A reflection for a Friday afternoon. The Dash By Linda Ellis I read of a man who stood to speakAt the funeral of a…
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Poem: The Bridge Builder
This poem was shared by Warren Rustand during the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation Leadership Academy 2016 course held in Washington last year. Â It was part of his description of why he spends so much time teaching. Update January 2021: Warren Rustand has published a book and I would recommend to any person who wishes to lead a…
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The Causes of The Great War
The First World War began in 1914. Today marks the day that Britain and Northern Ireland entered the war. Over 9 million soldiers died in the 4 years until 11 November 1918. Â Total direct casualties were over 37 million (source). My great grandfather Sidney was in the trenches in the Great War. Â He never spoke…
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The Road Not Taken
A poem I have always remembered… Â simple but deeply meaningful to me. The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the…
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If, Rudyard Kipling
Parador of Cardona, 9th Century Last week I was at the anual retreat of my chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organisation. Â We spent 3 days in the Parador of Cardona reflecting on our next year from both a professional and personal perspective. Dinner on Thursday night was a session we call “Noche Bohemia”. Â Each person brings a…
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What is this life?
Leisure, by W. H. Davies WHAT is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?— No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep and cows: No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass: No time to see,…
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Happy Saint Patricks Day
photo credit: Hans Kremmers “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.” Old Irish way of saying…
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"Be water, my friend" Bruce Lee
“Be water my friend.” Â Bruce Lee What does Bruce Lee mean? Â What is it to “be water”? On “being water” What is it to “be water“? Â Water flows and adapts. Â It has no plan, but deals with the environment that it finds. Â It fully explores the space. Â It has no expectations of what it will…
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Do it anyway.
This was written on the wall in Mother Teresa‘s home for children in Calcutta and is widely attributed to her. Â It is often given the title “Do it anyway“: Do It Anyway People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be…