Stories From Women Who Walk

The World Needs Leaders Now Who's In

Episode Summary

Our leaders have failed from a lack of imagination and will. Margaret Wheatley, American writer challenges us: Now it's up to us as local leaders to do what we can - with what we have - where we are. Who's in?

Episode Notes

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk, a uniquely forward-looking, story-based podcast for anyone charmed by and curious about the power of story to profoundly and positively shift our awareness, our behavior, even our culture as well as those who wish to learn more about the power of walking to reveal the world around us and within us. Like magic, the sorcery of stories is this: they help each of us to be seen and heard, to understand and be understood.

My friend and colleague, Leanne Gordon Chief Agent of Change of Changing Futures in Perth, Australia, was reflecting after our online Master Mind Group meeting on a favorite book of hers entitled Who Do We Choose to Be: Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity by Margaret Wheatley. The book opens with a poem by Wheatley: What This World Needs Now:

What This World Needs Now

"This world does not need more entrepreneurs.

This world does not need more technology breakthroughs.

This world needs leaders.

We need leaders who put service over self, who can be steadfast through crises and failures, who want to stay present and make a difference to the people, situations and causes they care about.

We need leaders who are committed to serving people, who recognize what is being lost in the haste to dominate, ignore and abuse the human spirit.

We need leaders because leadership has been debased as those who take things to scale or are first to market or dominate the competition or develop killer apps. Or hold onto power by constantly tightening their stranglehold of fear until people are left lifeless and cowering.

We need leaders now because we have failed to implement what was known to work, what would have prevented or mitigated the rise of hatred, violence, poverty and ecological destruction. We have not failed from a lack of ideas and technologies. We have failed from a lack of will. The solutions we needed were already here.

Now it is too late. We cannot solve these global issues globally. We can see them clearly. We can understand their root causes. We have evidence of solutions that would have solved them. But we refused to compromise, to collaborate, to persevere in resolving them as an intelligent, creative species living on one precious planet.

Now it’s up to us, not as global leaders but as local leaders. We can lead people to create positive changes locally that make life easier and more sustainable, that create possibility in the midst of global decline.

Let us use whatever power and influence we have, working with whatever resources are already available, mobilizing the people who are with us to work for what they care about.

As President Teddy Roosevelt enjoined us:

I’m looking around and holding out a hand: who here will step up? Who is anxious & willing to be a local leader? Who will join us? Who will say, Me, too!

You’ve been listening to Diane Wyzga and Stories From Women Who Walk. Stop by every Monday through Friday for 60 Seconds, Time Out Tuesday, Story Prompt Friday, and every Thursday for longer guest interviews and host-on-mic episodes. You’ll find us on Simplecast or your favorite podcast platform. Whether you are walking in place or abroad, solo or with others, in circles or along the straight and narrow come for the stories - stay for the magic. You will have wonderful company as we walk our lives together.

You’re invited to stop by the website and subscribe to stay current with Diane, her journeys, her guests, as well as creativity, imagination, walking, stories, camaraderie, and so much more: Quarter Moon Story Arts

Production Team: Quarter Moon Story Arts

Music: Entering Erdenheim from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch and Night Heron Music