PART IThe Courageous Self
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
“My heartache,” said Dr. Gary Persons, “is Dr. Aiden Bellevue.1 He's brilliant and wins Blue Ribbons for loving himself. When he's not ticking people off, he's threatening them. He's Teflon‐coated against HR counseling, discipline, and pay cuts. The more I try to correct Aiden, the harder he fights me. I love his brain but hate his character and he's hurting a mission‐essential project. If I keep him, I fear key folks will quit. If I fire him, he'll tie us up in litigation and probably wreck the project. So, what's your wise counsel?”
Our responses to discomfort and tough questions say much about where we are and how well we cope with challenges in a highly competitive world.
Dr. Persons is a tall and trim science leader who looks like an ambassador to a very important place. Impeccable apparel suggested attention to detail. A sharp, unblinking gaze said he didn't suffer fools and didn't want to hear about an easy, shiny‐object, quick‐fix idea. He'd heard those before from consultants whom he concluded had mostly tried to make him feel better without helping find the fix.
What is wise counsel? Upon what do you usually base your decisions?
We often rely on feelings to make decisions. Feelings are emotional states that can overcome rational thinking and do great damage. Luckily, conscience and experience can mitigate impulses and prevent ...
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