Day:  I LOVE being a part of this executive board. There is nothing as powerful or exciting as a room full of highly intelligent people who believe in a common goal.  There’s also nothing more time consuming as that same room of intelligent people wordsmithing a sentence .  The problem with people who love words is that they can’t use just any old word.  Does the sentence or question really convey what we’re trying to say or ask?  I personally LOVE to wordsmith, but there are some people in my life, and I imagine in yours, who hate it (not naming names here).  But again, if words are powerful, then we must be careful how we use them so as not to be misunderstood. And the idea of forming a question to get the answer we’re seeking as compared to open ended questions just to see what we get is fascinating.  The slightest change in the wording can do that.  It makes us clarify what it is we really want from a statement or question – the WHY, if you will.

On the plane yesterday, I heard a toddler talking to his mom.  Probably the question I heard most was “Why?”.  Especially when the child was told he would have to wait to use the lavatory until the plane landed.  I hope he made it. Anyway, how many times have we answered a child’s “why” with something like “because I said so” or “just because”?.  I know that sometimes answering  all of those “why” questions takes time and we feel like we have to give long, detailed answers.  But does just cutting them off at a young age dissuade them from asking it as they get older?  Sometimes asking “why” may sound like it’s questioning someone’s authority or intelligence (and maybe you are!).  It certainly doesn’t have to.  It could be the opening to a great debate/discussion that could lead to other conclusions, new ideas or merely clarify an issue.

In reading Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why”, I discovered that all organizations know what they do, and how they do it, but very few understand “why” they do it.  What is it in their beliefs or philosophy that inspires them to make a product or support a particular cause?  Questioning “why” can certainly hone our message and speak more personally to others, perhaps igniting their passions or inspiring them to join our cause.  How would that work for the organization I’m a part of?  Pretty sure we’ll talk about that tomorrow: )

Evening.  Being the introvert I am, meetings are easy.  I am in control of what I contribute, pretty much when I want to contribute.  I really like listening to everything first before I form an opinion and/or contribute to the conversation and so I may appear stand-offish, although I don’t mean to.  Tonight however took me out of my comfort zone with a group of ladies, a couple of whom I didn’t know very well, but feel I know better now.  There’s nothing like taking off your “face” to get honest with someone.  For women (from my point of view), make up is that stuff that hides your perceived flaws, hides those things you don’t want others to see.  You can portray yourself the way want with make up and pretend those flaws aren’t just underneath the surface.  For some of us it’s a scary thing to expose our real self, especially as we get older.  So tonight we received a kind invitation to get together, just some of the “girls”, to get facials.

The other thing this does for us, as it does for all crazy busy women, is allow us to take a little bit of time for ourselves.  This is a group of very passionate, driven women who want to make a difference in the world.  This doesn’t always involve taking care of ourselves.  But tonight, we shared wine and laughter and allowed ourselves to show our real faces.  What a great way to get to know each other better!  I’m going to love working with and getting to know these women as we work as a team to bring music to all.