What a weekend in silence taught me about life and business.

I just returned today from my yearly silent weekend retreat. Each year I look forward to this experience to help “clear my mind”. No cell phones, no computers, no media of any kind from Friday night until Sunday afternoon. Complete silence. I find that this experience helps me prepare myself mentally in all areas of my life as 2014 begins.. It’s the time for me “clean my life desk” so to speak.
This type of experience is so contrary to our modern culture and yet the reality is if you can give in to the silence just” listen”, you’d be amazed at what you may come away with and learn about yourself.
Without distractions, you use the time to “clear your head” about your personal and professional life priorities. You start thinking about gratitude, relationships, focus, priorities in life and in business.
Here’s a few things I “reflected on “in the silence this weekend:
1. Keep your focus to live in the here and now.
Every day is a once in a lifetime experience. Every relationship, every person, every business interaction is for today. One day at a time. Use your energy for today.

2. Don’t be in a hurry!
Everything that is “urgent” isn’t always important. Sometimes the “little things” in your daily life are more important to your well being than the “big things”.

3. Do not take yourself so seriously.
In the grand scheme of life, you’re really not that important! Everyone is dispensable . Learn humility, and model it to your family and co-workers. See what a difference it can make.

4. Be grateful.
Everything you know, you’ve learned from someone else along the way in your life’s journey.
You stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before you.
Do you see any implications for your business/life in these four reflections? To be silent and just “be”, can happen anywhere, not just in a retreat house, but you do have to take the time to do so. Haven’t you ever wanted to “be still” at certain times and ponder life’s wonders in your life?

fbucaro

Like you, business ethics and ethical leadership expert, Frank Bucaro has seen the challenges and problems of corporate leadership, particularly over the past few years in regards to poor decision-making, SEC violations, and record breaking financial settlements in a number of different industries. With over two decades of executive training, speaking, writing and with real life experiences, his view and approach to ethics in the workplace is uniquely different. He emphasizes that ethics is a moment-to-moment choice and has little to do with position, titles, personalities or education. Ethics is everybody’s responsibility from the top down. His goal is to help organizations to: a. Strengthen their ethics training initiatives in order to significantly decrease the odds of an ethical/compliance violation. b. Energize, train and motivate employees to understand the value of consistent “high road” behavior as a business advantage. c. Support individuals and thereby the organization by contributing to its success by quality, ongoing values based leadership development. Frank is known for his very practical, slightly irreverent, yet somewhat humorous approach to ethics and leadership development. His conversational style and real life stories connect with his audience in a personal, intense and practical level. Companies such as Bayer Healthcare, BP, ReMax International, EnMax Energy, Danone, etc. have partnered with Frank when they want to proactively stress the message, tools, insights and practical applications that good ethics IS good for business!