Scott Monty | Timeless Wisdom

How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

The Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David, 1787 (public domain - Wikimedia Commons) "What can you say about a twenty-five-yea...

Short and Concise Win Every Time

Short and Concise Win Every Time

Boy Blowing Soap Bubbles. Allegory on the Transitoriness and the Brevity of Life by Karel Dujardin, 1663 (Wikimedia Commons - public doma...

The C-Suite Needs More Time

The C-Suite Needs More Time

Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still by John Martin, 1816 (public domain - Wikimedia Commons) "I wasted time and now time d...

Advice for Corporate Storytellers

Advice for Corporate Storytellers

The Storyteller by Giovanni Tiepolo, c. 1773 (public domain - Wikimedia Commons) "Memory is necessary for all operations of re...

Leadership Style: Resistance vs. Resilience

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QXYj7xG9VZA/Xh9NAyN4YBI/AAAAAAABK2A/-phmV8RcdbwuWle9QETinCGZIMrouV0XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/William%2BBradford%2B-%2BLocked%2Bin%2BIce%2B1882.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1342" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QXYj7xG9VZA/Xh9NAyN4YBI/AAAAAAABK2A/-phmV8RcdbwuWle9QETinCGZIMrouV0XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/William%2BBradford%2B-%2BLocked%2Bin%2BIce%2B1882.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Locked in Ice</i> by William Bradford, 1882 (public domain)</td></tr>
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<i>"Out of the night that covers me,<br />      Black as the pit from pole to pole,<br />I thank whatever gods may be<br />      For my unconquerable soul." </i></div>
<span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em><span style="font-family: merriweather sans,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;"></span></em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><em><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">― William Ernest Henley</span></em></span></div>
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<br />
We all experience setbacks. It's just part of life. We run into obstacles, whether they're related to time, resources, difficult personalities, changes in circumstances, etc.<br />
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The true mark of a leader is how they respond to these kinds of difficulties. There are some leaders who look at the facts and decided to put their heads down and plow through; and there are others who assess the situation and alter their plans — sometimes comprehensively.<br />
<br />
I recently had a health issue that was causing me a lot of pain. So much so that it made it impossible to concentrate on anything: reading, writing — even meditating.<br />
<br />
Rather than fight it, like I usually do with an illness, I decided to visit the doctor. It's a good thing I did, because the doctor warned that it wouldn't have gotten better without care.<br />
<br />
After treatment, the pain still lingered for about a week, but it made me realize a couple of things: (1) humans are so much softer than our ancestors, who had to endure conditions beyond our imagination; and (2) how other leaders have managed to get themselves through situations of unimaginable hardship.<br />
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<h2>
<b>That's Cold</b></h2>
The stereotypical visualization of Hell is usually fire and brimstone, with Satan wielding a pitchfork as molten lava flows all around. But in Dante's <i>Inferno</i>, there were nine circles of Hell, each with varying forms of tortuous surroundings.<br />
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The Ninth Circle of Hell, in Dante's telling, was the frozen central zone of Hell where Satan was trapped in ice, frozen up to his mid-chest. This is the area where the worst sinners were sent, unable to speak or move, frozen in the ice.<br />
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According to Rachel Jacoff (<i>Dante</i>, Cambridge University Press, 1963) Dante portrayed the worst of Hell this way because "<i>the deepest isolation is to suffer separation from the source of all light and life and warmth</i>."<br />
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Imagine then, that it’s the early 1900s and you're undertaking a physical and geographical adventure that no other human being has achieved: you're going to travel to Antarctica, the last unexplored continent, and you're going to march to the South Pole.<br />
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This of course is exactly what Captain Robert Falcon Scott sought in 1910 when his <i>Terra Nova</i> Expedition set out. He had already led the <i>Discovery </i>Expedition from 1901–1904 to explore Antarctica, and his goal in his return was to be the first to reach the South Pole.<br />
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As humans spread around the globe, the polar regions were a couple of the few remaining areas to conquer, so competition was fierce. There was a Japanese Antarctic expedition in the works, as well as an Australasian expedition, and the Norwegians, under Roald Amundsen, were going to explore the Arctic.<br />
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The <i>Terra Nova</i> set out from Wales on June 15, 1910, prepared to arrive in the Antarctic for its summer months. By the time it reached Melbourne, though, a telegram from Amundsen was waiting for Scott, indicating that the Norwegians were headed south. It was to be a race, then.<br />
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Scott was a Royal Navy man, beginning his naval career as a 13 year-old cadet. He worked his way up through the most hierarchical system, with the <i>Discovery </i>voyage serving as a way to further his advancement. This culture and tradition would eventually doom Scott — more on that later.<br />
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Looking to use the most innovative technology of the day, Scott opted for a mixed transport strategy, using dogs, horses, and motorized sledges (essentially motor cars with tracks rather than tires). The vehicles quickly succumbed to the cold, and eventually the horses did as well.<br />
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When the horses grew weak, expedition member Lawrence Oates suggested killing them for food. This kind of thought was abhorrent to the traditional Scott, and he forbade it. The horses died anyway. The food would have proven useful for the dogs and the men who were left.<br />
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Meanwhile, Amundsen relied solely on a team of 100 Greenland sledge dogs, knowing how they could be useful when led by the right expedition member.<br />
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After many hardships, on January 4, 1912, Scott decided that he and four men would make the final march on foot. On January 17, Scott and his men made it to the South Pole, but to their horror, there was a Norwegian flag waiting for them.<br />
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Amundsen and his men had made it just 34 days earlier.<br />
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Dejected, the five began the 862 mile journey back on January 19.<br />
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Over the course of the next two months, as they trudged back through blizzards and down glaciers, scurvy and frostbite began to set in (temperatures were routinely -40 degrees Fahrenheit). On March 16, Oates, whose toes had become frostbitten, left the tent and walked to his death.<br />
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According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Falcon_Scott#Last_march" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"After walking 20 miles farther despite Scott's toes now becoming frostbitten, the three remaining men made their final camp on March 19, approximately 12.5 miles short of One Ton Depot. The next day a fierce blizzard prevented their making any progress. During the next nine days, as their supplies ran out, and with storms still raging outside the tent, Scott and his companions wrote their farewell letters. Scott gave up his diary after March 23, save for a final entry on March 29."</blockquote>
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Each man, aware of his pending death, penned final letters to loved ones. In addition, Scott left this message for the public:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale."</blockquote>
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In his final diary entry, Scott wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Every day we have been ready to start for our depot 11 miles away, but outside the door of the tent it remains a scene of whirling drift. I do not think we can hope for any better things now. We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far.<br />It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more.<br />R. SCOTT.<br />For God's sake look after our people."</blockquote>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6zH-0-b6L0/Xh9NW8fqCEI/AAAAAAABK2I/FfAsJIrK5sQpsDUxJcnH2g-tYOfW-IfdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/R%2BScott%2BJournal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6zH-0-b6L0/Xh9NW8fqCEI/AAAAAAABK2I/FfAsJIrK5sQpsDUxJcnH2g-tYOfW-IfdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/R%2BScott%2BJournal.jpg" width="446" /></a></div>
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Heroic and chilling, all at the same time.<br />
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Imagine the pain Scott went through — both mental, for the defeat he and his team experienced at the hands of a rival, and physical, with the equivalent of being in the center of the Ninth Circle of Hell. And the full knowledge the he and his team would not survive,<br />
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And still, Scott managed to write in his diary, straight through to the end. He resisted nature and its cruel effects for as long as humanly possible.<br />
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He also resisted giving up traditional roles along the way, punishing crew members for insubordination and making them hew to their given responsibilities. It's as if the British Navy as it existed in the Mediterranean and Caribbean also had to function in the Antarctic.<br />
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In reality, the differing conditions required a different way of thinking.<br />
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<h2>
<b>Adapt or Die</b></h2>
And this is where Ernest Shackleton's leadership stands apart.<br />
<br />
Shackleton and Scott were well acquainted, not just as explorers who sought fame, but as fellow expeditioners. Shackleton had been part of Scott's <i>Discovery </i>expedition, but was sent home early, due to sickness or because he violently disagreed with Scott's leadership style, depending on differing reports.<br />
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Once the news of Scott's death reached England, Shackleton decided that there was still an opportunity left for him amid the <a href="https://onedrive.live.com/edit.aspx/Documents/Writing?cid=00964bea118a35bb&id=documents&wd=target%28Blog.one%7CB5C76A37-CCCA-4C5A-9B12-64CFDAFE155A%2FResistance%20vs.%20Resilience%7CD78026EE-163C-438B-9551-6B46A2CB928C%2F%29%20onenote:https://d.docs.live.net/00964bea118a35bb/Documents/Writing/Blog.one#Resistance%20vs.%20Resilience&section-id={B5C76A37-CCCA-4C5A-9B12-64CFDAFE155A}&page-id={D78026EE-163C-438B-9551-6B46A2CB928C}&object-id={3A6E7047-6EEA-41C4-B49B-623FD54FC8FB}&3C" target="_blank">Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration</a>. He was determined to be the first to cross the entire continent, traversing the South Pole along the way.<br />
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Just like Scott's journey, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Trans-Antarctic_Expedition" target="_blank">Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition</a> ran into trouble. Setting off in in August 1914 in what would become the most appropriately-named ship in exploration history — the <i>Endurance</i> — Shackleton's tale would become one of courage, leadership, and resilience in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable.<br />
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As he prepared his journey, legend has it that Shackleton advertised for crew in the newspapers with this ad:<br />
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<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."</span></i></b></div>
</b><br />
There's no known evidence that any such ad ever appeared, but tone rings true, as that's exactly what Shackleton got.<br />
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He chose a number of experienced Antarctic naval hands to lead the ship, and his scientific team included two surgeons, a meteorologist, and a biologist, as well as an expedition photographer.<br />
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By mid-February 1915, the <i>Endurance </i>was trapped in pack ice and Shackleton expected it would be for the entire winter. He had the set up the ship for winter quarters.<br />
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There, throughout the winter, they exercised the dogs, played sports, took turns swabbing the deck, and took walks illuminated only by the moonlight. Shackleton's main concern was keeping morale up and ensuring general fitness, for they'd need both for their journey ahead. The men generally mingled as a team; there was no hierarchy as far as Shackleton was concerned.<br />
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What Shackleton was building within his team during this critical time was a sense of optimism, the need for patience, and a physical endurance to train the body and mind for grueling circumstances. He ignored traditional naval roles and expectations and adapted to the changing conditions.<br />
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At one point, the ship's carpenter Harry McNish, objected to orders, saying that he was released from service because of the length of time the <i>Endurance </i>was out of service. Shackleton managed to talk him down, but there was a rift that remained between the two.<br />
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The conditions continued to change as the ship was eventually crushed by the ice. On October 27, 1915, Shackleton ordered a camp to be set up on the ice and that the crew should rescue as much from the ship as possible, including two of the lifeboats.<br />
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Trying to pull the lifeboats over the uneven ice floes was difficult work. By the end of December, they set up what Shackleton called "Patience Camp" and waited for the ice to break up. The team dogs had to be shot because their food needs were outstripping the expedition's, which had already rationed things. Their meat helped to sustain the crew.<br />
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They remained on the floes until April 8, 1916, when the ice began to break apart. Shackleton decided that the only option was to try to make land at Elephant Island, about 100 miles away. A week later, they were at the southern coast of the island, but could not approach because that side consisted of cliffs and glaciers.<br />
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After landing on the remote and desolate Elephant Island, Shackleton knew that his mission had to change. It went from trying to transverse the continent to trying to bring his entire crew home safely.<br />
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The only hope was to make a run for South Georgia, some 800 miles across the Southern Sea. He determined that he and five others — the most able seamen and navigators among them, and the ship's carpenter Harry McNish — would make the journey in one of the lifeboats.<br />
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Shackleton knew that despite his differences with McNish, his skills would be essential for their survival. He put aside any hard feelings that he harbored and made it clear to McNish how important he was to the entire expedition.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNP-pY8_eyw/Xh9O-Lv6aXI/AAAAAAABK2Y/nKgUfPgEBI8qEL7xqaerdhxc7zCa_0DBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/AllSafeAllWell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="500" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNP-pY8_eyw/Xh9O-Lv6aXI/AAAAAAABK2Y/nKgUfPgEBI8qEL7xqaerdhxc7zCa_0DBACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/AllSafeAllWell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Together, they outfitted the 22.5-foot lifeboat with makeshift tools and materials, and packed enough provisions for four weeks, knowing that if they didn't make it by then, they'd be doomed. Over the next two weeks, the tiny boat encountered some of the largest waves and stormiest conditions Shackleton had ever encountered in his 26 years at sea.<br />
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They eventually made land at South Georgia on May 10, but realized that the whaling depot was 26 miles away, on the other side of the island, which could only be reached over the mountains. Shackleton knew that three members of the crew were near exhaustion, so he and the other two would make the journey.<br />
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McNish put screws through the bottom of the team's boots, creating makeshift crampons for mountaineering. They crossed without rest, knowing that they were racing against time to save the lives of their crew members they left behind both there on South Georgia and back on Elephant Island.<br />
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They reached the whaling depot, returned to the camp to pick up the remaining three crew members, then set out to rescue the rest of the expedition at Elephant Island. It took four attempts over the next few months before they could finally get the right ship and break through the ice to rescue the remaining crew on August 30, 1916.<br />
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Not a single life was lost.<br />
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<h2>
<b>Lessons for Today's Leader</b></h2>
These two harrowing tales — and you should take the time to seek them out and read more about them — are stark examples of managing in a crisis, and how different leadership styles bring us different results.<br />
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Scott's style was about powering through and doing what was necessary. There are time when such resistance is helpful. But when conditions change, it requires emotional intelligence to recognize that the leader needs to seek counsel, change course, and depend on different skill sets.<br />
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Shackleton was all about resilience and endurance. He knew that the most important thing wasn not glory or fame, but the lives of his fellow crew members. He came to care about them deeply, and they about him.<br />
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Leaders who listen to their team, create a sense of optimism and shared purpose, watch morale while focusing on the goal, and show they trust their team with greater responsibilities, will be able to withstand any crisis that comes their way.<br />
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Developing this level of trust and respect among your team is critical every day, so that when a crisis hits, you'll be well prepared to endure together.<br />
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Leadership Style: Resistance vs. Resilience

Locked in Ice by William Bradford, 1882 (public domain) "Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to po...

This Again?

This Again?

First Voyage, Departure for the New World, August 3, 1492 by L. Prang & Co., 1893 (public domain - Wikimedia Commons) It's a n...

How to Make Reflection Part of Your Daily Habit

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jYx4SbO4PU/Xj3mDsY57eI/AAAAAAABLfs/O8fuSMZFA5sI0bcrHtsS2GHLQFMPurphQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Caspar%2BDavid%2BFriedrich%2B-%2BWanderer%2Babove%2Bthe%2Bsea%2Bof%2Bfog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1600" height="526" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jYx4SbO4PU/Xj3mDsY57eI/AAAAAAABLfs/O8fuSMZFA5sI0bcrHtsS2GHLQFMPurphQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Caspar%2BDavid%2BFriedrich%2B-%2BWanderer%2Babove%2Bthe%2Bsea%2Bof%2Bfog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caspar_David_Friedrich_-_Wanderer_above_the_sea_of_fog.jpg">Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog</a></i> by Caspar David Friedrich, 1817 (Wikimedia Commons - public domain)</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
– Søren Kierkegaard </div>
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With the new year upon us, it seems like everyone is trying to outdo each other with memories of the past year (or worse — the past decade!)<br />
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Reflection isn't something that needs our attention once a year. It's a habit and should be developed like any other habit.<br />
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If done well, it can result in clarity of mind, a less volatile knee-jerk reaction to things, and deeper relationships.<br />
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Why is it that we find reflection so difficult?<br />
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For one, there are so many distractions to occupy us. Opening the phone and going on an infinite scroll down the screen is a soothing but mindless activity. As is swiping left or right. Or tapping the little colored blocks or jewels that are part of that game you like.<br />
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When we have frictionless distractions, those provide a welcome and easy escape from the hard work that reflection requires.<br />
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Self-improvement is difficult. It requires work. It takes commitment over time to take hold. And whether it's work-related or personal, taking a good hard look at yourself is part of emotional intelligence that makes us desirable to be around.<br />
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The best leaders, friends, and partners are those who know themselves well. And the only way to know yourself is to spend quiet time alone.<br />
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And still, we fall for the annual "let's look back as we prepare to look ahead" posts and exercises — as if these are enough to fill the gap from throughout the year.<br />
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Anyone who's received an annual performance review that seems like it comes from out of left field should be familiar with that feeling.<br />
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You sit down, either completely clueless about what's about to be said, or firmly believing it's going one way, when — WHAM! — you're hit with an assessment that you didn't see coming.<br />
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Good leaders are always communicating with their peers and direct reports. There should be no surprises.<br />
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And good communication requires constant reflection.<br />
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There's no single best way to reflect and be introspective. You'll need to find what works best for you. But here are a few ideas to get you started.<br />
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<h2>
<b>Quiet mornings</b></h2>
Do you sleep with your phone next to your bed? You should stop that right now. And when you do get up in the morning, don't make your phone the first thing you reach for.<br />
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Begin your day with 15 minutes of meditation or exercise. Or maybe making coffee is a ritual for you. Use that time to turn inward. Don't get sucked into emails, Facebook updates, tweets or anything electronic until you've had time to spend time with yourself.<br />
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<h2>
<b>On Paper</b></h2>
Perhaps there's a favorite book or devotional you like to read. Or maybe you like to express your thoughts by writing in a journal. Spending time with paper objects can help with reflection.<br />
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<h2>
<b>Block Your Calendar</b></h2>
If it's not written down, it's not a priority. And if it's not in your daily schedule, it gets neglected. Block time on your calendar when you can spend it by yourself, working on yourself.<br />
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<h2>
<b>What You Need</b></h2>
As you consider what you'll be reflecting on, consider the questions you might want to answer:<br />
<ul>
<li>What's holding me back?</li>
<li>How can I be more helpful to my colleagues?</li>
<li>What perspective(s) am I missing?</li>
<li>What do I tend to neglect or shy away from?</li>
<li>What's working well right now? How can I do more of that?</li>
</ul>
<br />
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I hope you'll commit to joining me for a slower, more deliberate approach amidst the knee-jerk reactionaries of the online world.<br />
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Together, we'll parse out what matters and what will make you a better leader.<br />
<br />

How to Make Reflection Part of Your Daily Habit

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich, 1817 (Wikimedia Commons - public domain) "Life can only be understoo...

Where the Creative and Analytical Meet

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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Recommended Reading/Listening</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>"Let me recommend this book." – Arthur Conan Doyle</em></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://fs.blog/alexander-shelley/">The Knowledge Project Ep. #9: The Architecture of Music with Alexander Shelley</a> is a dive deep into the architecture of music, the necessity of arts, and what makes Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is so popular. <span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2NpOYD9"><i>Music, Leadership and Conflict: The Art of Ensemble Negotiation and Problem-Solving</i></a> by Linda Ippolito is the first book in the field to explore the use of music in negotiation, conflict resolution and leadership development. Presenting grounded empirical data, it examines how adopting an <b>ensemble </b>approach to <b>negotiation </b>and <b>problem-solving</b> might assist in shifting adversarial combative and competitive frames towards a collaborative mindset. <span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<em>What else is influencing me? You can check out my <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.scottmonty.com/p/influences.html" href="https://www.scottmonty.com/p/influences.html" target="_blank"><strong>sources of inspiration</strong></a> on my site or in the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://flipboard.com/@scottmonty/timeless-and-timely-kah5bsbuy" href="https://flipboard.com/@scottmonty/timeless-and-timely-kah5bsbuy" target="_blank"><strong>Timeless and Timely</strong></a> Flipboard magazine I curate.</em></div>
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<em><em>The above may contain Amazon Affiliate links.</em></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>One More Thing</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>"Our work is the presentation of our capabilities." – Edward Gibbons</em></span></span></span><br />
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If you're in the listening mode over the holidays, I had some in-depth discussions with a handful of industry leaders recently.<br />
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<a href="https://ryanhanley.com/scotty-monty-in-defense-of-deep-thinking-and-eternal-content/">In Defense of Deep Thinking and Eternal Content</a> on the Ryan Hanley Show.<br />
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On <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/we-now-join-the-program-already-in-progress/id1437580588?fbclid=IwAR18BjJUs7hmuwxpV3yTKNoCuXl_bUpCESugdMROdYqsH5iKdroNc2i1HW8&i=1000458624974">We Now Join The Show Already in Progress</a>, Saul Colt and I talked about our current culture of outrage and how social media fuels it, why brands have moved away from building communities and if social media is even fun anymore.<br />
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And Chris Voss and I talked about my time at Ford, the evolution of social media, and the critique of Facebook by Sacha Baron Cohen on <a href="https://thechrisvossshow.com/the-chris-voss-show-podcast-scott-monty-on-the-state-of-social-media/">The Chris Voss Show</a>.<br />
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<i>Please get in touch if you'd like me to join you on your show.</i><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><a data-cke-saved-href="https://scottmonty.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4b1784f23a77243c11e9bc4b6&id=05d7157b3e" href="https://scottmonty.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4b1784f23a77243c11e9bc4b6&id=05d7157b3e" target="_blank">Subscribe</a></strong> |  <strong><a data-cke-saved-href="mailto:newsletter@scottmonty.com?subject=Sponsorship%20inquiry" href="mailto:newsletter@scottmonty.com?subject=Sponsorship%20inquiry" target="_blank">Sponsor this Newsletter</a></strong></span></div>
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Where the Creative and Analytical Meet

The Nine Muses - Euterpe (Music) by Johann Heinrich Tischbein, 1782 (W ikimedia Commons - public domain) "Art in the blood is ...

5 Steps Leaders Can Take After Ethical Lapses

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otYHWFefqx4/XedhqmL9h3I/AAAAAAABKKo/wf-LL52Lx_YfkVOQO4rn20qs-gxwf20bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sandro%2BBotticelli%2B-%2BThe%2BCalumny%2Bof%2BAppelles%252C%2B1495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1279" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otYHWFefqx4/XedhqmL9h3I/AAAAAAABKKo/wf-LL52Lx_YfkVOQO4rn20qs-gxwf20bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Sandro%2BBotticelli%2B-%2BThe%2BCalumny%2Bof%2BAppelles%252C%2B1495.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: dimgrey;"><a data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumny_of_Apelles_(Botticelli)#/media/File:Sandro_Botticelli_021.jpg" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumny_of_Apelles_(Botticelli)#/media/File:Sandro_Botticelli_021.jpg" target="_blank"><em>The Calumny of Apelles</em></a> by Sandro Botticelli, 1495 (W</span><span style="color: dimgrey;">ikipedia - public domain</span><span style="color: dimgrey;">)</span></span></td></tr>
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I have to say, I had an internal debate about whether or not to write about this topic. It's not exactly an uplifting one, but the more I thought about it, the more I considered how there's a common thread here.<br />
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More importantly, I think there are valuable lessons here for how to find our way out of a difficult situation.<br />
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Interestingly, while we seem to be surrounded by corruption, fraud, deception, and swindle these days, it's nothing new.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Corruption's not of modern date;</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">It hath been tried in every state." </span></i></b></div>
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— John Gay (1731)</div>
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What do we do when deception creeps into our lives?</div>
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Odds are, that's how it approaches, too: by creeping. Blatant falsehoods are easy to spot — especially these days, it seems…</div>
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But when someone seeks to deceive us, it happens by degrees, and often times it isn't until you've been duped that you feel the sting.</div>
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And then the sting is twofold: the deprivation of something of value (money, reputation, data, property) and the humiliation or knowledge that you were fooled.</div>
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Whether or not you can retrieve that thing of value which was stolen from you, the question becomes: what will you do now?</div>
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At this point in history, we're no strangers to what Lewis H. Lapham called "<a href="https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/swindle-fraud/paper-moons">the American genius for the artful dodge</a>":</div>
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"the sales pitch, the résumé, the cost overrun, the subprime loan, the building of the transcontinental railroad, the credit default swap, the derivative, the balloon mortgage, the missile gap, the housing bubble, the annual report, the Laffer curve, the Facebook page, the campaign promise, the 2003 invasion of Iraq…"</blockquote>
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— <i>Lapham's Quarterly</i>, Vol.VIII, No. 2</div>
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Maybe we've been responsible for some of these ourselves. Or maybe we've been on the receiving end. If you've made a bad business deal, created a campaign that flopped, or hired someone who wasn't at all who they pretended to be in the interview process, odds are, someone deceived you. </div>
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But as a leader, everyone will be looking at you as you determine the resultant course of action.</div>
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<b>Lies Noble and Servile</b></h2>
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Before we get any further, I want to discuss the difference between what the Greeks called the "<b>noble lie</b>" and intentional, harmful deception.</div>
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In <i>The Republic</i>, Plato explains that by introducing a lie about humanity's beginnings — an origin myth, of sorts — it was more likely to bring harmony among the citizens if they thought they had a common bond. It was for the greater good of society.</div>
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It's not terribly different from how the emperor <a href="https://www.scottmonty.com/2019/05/the-four-powers-of-stories-that-unite-us.html">Augustus commissioned Virgil to write The Aeneid as an origin story</a> for Rome. Yes, it was a series of stories and myths, but it was tied to long-held traditions and beliefs, and it legitimized his position. It made for a happy and satisfied public after years of conflict.</div>
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Contrast that with what Sherlock Holmes had to put up with from Scotland Yard inspectors who were constantly trying to make a name for themselves on the back of his ingenious work. In <a href="https://amzn.to/2rQkanK"><i>A Study in Scarlet</i></a>, the suspect died in his cell and Holmes said that the inspectors would be beside themselves since they couldn't flaunt their victory with some "grand advertisement." </div>
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Good old Dr. Watson came to his friend's defense, saying “I don’t see that they had very much to do with his capture.”</div>
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And that's when Sherlock Holmes laid this truth bomb on us:</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. “The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done.”</span></i></b></div>
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Or, as we learn in that handbook of treachery and deceit, <a href="https://amzn.to/2PhpvN8"><i>The Prince</i></a>:</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"The common people are always impressed by appearances and results."</span></i></b></div>
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— Nicolo Machiavelli</div>
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Sherlock Holmes claimed that work was its own reward. But he also had something else up his sleeve: his own live-in biographer and chronicler, who sold his tales to the <i>Strand</i> magazine and thus served as a near-constant advertisement for Holmes's consulting practice.</div>
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These two instances encapsulate the difference in the white lie and the intentionally harmful lie. One is designed to further society; the other is designed to further the individual.</div>
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Think of it like this: lying to your kids about Santa Claus (whoops — spoiler alert!) helps them to believe in the magic of the holiday season, the act of giving, and the importance of good behavior. But lying while under oath is meant to protect your own skin. </div>
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<b>Deception on a Global Scale</b></h2>
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Recently, <a href="https://youtu.be/ymaWq5yZIYM">Sacha Baron Cohen made a speech</a> about the harm that big tech companies like Facebook, Twitter and others are doing, thanks in part to them furthering lies. It's an exceptional speech. I highly recommend watching it.</div>
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Among his quotes:</div>
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"Democracy, which depends on shared truths, is in retreat, and autocracy, which depends on shared lies, is on the march."</blockquote>
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"All this hate and violence is being facilitated by a handful of internet companies that amount to the greatest propaganda machine of history."</blockquote>
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"The algorithms these companies depend on deliberately amplify the type of content that keeps users engaged: stories that appeal to our baser instincts and trigger outrage and fear."</blockquote>
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Of course, Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not retreating from his desire to have politicians spend money on Facebook while allowing them to promote lies, claiming that he supports freedom of speech as "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sacha-baron-cohen-speech-facebook-response-misses-point-2019-11">a marketplace of ideas</a>."</div>
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Baron Cohen rightly made the distinction: </div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Freedom of speech is not freedom of reach."</span></i></b></div>
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We know that Facebook has intentionally deceived us, many times over. They've shared user data with untold numbers of vendors. They've run experiments on users without disclosing it. They falsified video statistics to encourage more media buying from brands.</div>
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They squashed any trust we might have had in them through years of half-hearted corporate apologies and crocodile tears. Lather, rise and repeat.</div>
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So that leaves us at an inflection point: now that we know Facebook has lied to us, again and again, what are we going to do about it?</div>
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<b>From an institutional standpoint</b>, they've become too big to self-regulate. Some sort of government oversight is needed at this point. Although how and by whom is the mystery.</div>
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<b>At the brand level</b>, it's going to be difficult to convince brands to move away, thanks to the myth of reach. If there are ethical brands out there, they need to step up and put Facebook and others on notice. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pg-digital-ads-facebook-google-20190411-story.html">Like P&G has</a>.</div>
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<b>For users</b>, it's really a matter of being where their friends are. While Facebook is making data portability a reality, <a href="https://stratechery.com/2019/portability-and-interoperability/">they still won't let you export your social graph</a> — your friends. So sure, take all of your photos, but who are you going to share them with?</div>
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Things are still a bit murky here, but at least we're not completely blind to what's happening, as we were three, five, or ten years ago.</div>
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<b>An Executive's Guide to Handling Deception</b></h2>
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So when you're a leader and you're recovering from being deceived or how you've deceived others, everyone is looking to you for how you'll respond.</div>
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Here are steps that you can take to guide your organization through things.</div>
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<b>1. Tell the truth:</b> The first step is admitting what happened. Simply coming clean and owning the error will allow you to get things out in the open and talk frankly about what happened and why it happened.</div>
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<b>2. Commit to avoiding a repeat:</b> Now that you know what happened, you can steer clear of any temptation to get lured into a similar situation in the future. Which is why being clear and honest in step 1 is so important.</div>
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<b>3. Avoid revenge:</b> It's natural to want to strike back (yes, even if you're the perpetrator of the deception — this is why whistleblowers need protection). But it's not going to solve the problem and in fact, it might make the situation even worse. Move on.</div>
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<b>4. Encourage honesty and communication:</b> If you show that you value traits like transparency, inclusiveness, listening, respect, and clear, concise and candid communication, you'll build a more cohesive team, which in turn can help steer clear of deceptive situations.</div>
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<b>5. Maintain your integrity:</b> By taking the steps above, you'll show that you have the leadership capabilities to guide your team through even the most difficult situations. Communicate honestly. Push for ethical business practices. </div>
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Jonas Chuzzlewit was a little more cynical in his approach to business:</div>
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“Here’s the rule for bargains—‘Do other men, for they would do you.’ That’s the true business precept.”</blockquote>
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— Charles Dickens, <i>Martin Chuzzlewit</i></div>
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Instead, consider the Golden Rule:</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” </span></i></b></div>
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— Matthew. 7:12</div>
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>About the artwork</strong></span></span><br />
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I thought this week's image selection deserved a bit of context.<br />
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Botticelli made <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumny_of_Apelles_(Botticelli)#/media/File:Sandro_Botticelli_021.jpg"><i>The Calumny of Apelles</i></a> on the description of a painting by Apelles, a Greek painter of the Hellenistic period. Apelles' works have not survived, but Lucian recorded details of one in his On Calumny:<br />
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“On the right of it sits Midas with very large ears, extending his hand to <b>Slander </b>while she is still at some distance from him. Near him, on one side, stand two women—<b>Ignorance </b>and <b>Suspicion</b>. On the other side, Slander is coming up, a woman beautiful beyond measure, but full of malignant passion and excitement, evincing as she does fury and wrath by carrying in her left hand a blazing torch and with the other dragging by the hair a young man who stretches out his hands to heaven and calls the gods to witness his innocence.</blockquote>
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She is conducted by a pale ugly man who has piercing eye and looks as if he had wasted away in long illness; he represents <b>Envy</b>.</blockquote>
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There are two women in attendance to Slander, one is <b>Fraud </b>and the other <b>Conspiracy</b>. They are followed by a woman dressed in deep mourning, with black clothes all in tatters—she is <b>Repentance</b>. At all events, she is turning back with tears in her eyes and casting a stealthy glance, full of shame, at <b>Truth</b>, who is slowly approaching.”</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Future Tense</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><em>“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.” – Ferris Bueller</em></span></span></span><br />
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Evidently, Apple thinks that where you're standing determines how maps look. Russian forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, drawing international condemnation. The region is now shown as Russian territory on Apple Maps and its Weather app, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50573069">when viewed from Russia</a>. (BBC)<br />
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<i><b>My take:</b> This is a dangerous precedent when companies (ref. Nike, China) are subverting truth to win contracts or retain business.</i><br />
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The most gullible man in Cambridge has company. A Harvard law professor was suspended from his job, found himself temporarily homeless, and eventually spent $300,000 on legal bills. Now, six other men describe their encounters with this mysterious Frenchwoman: <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2019/08/bruce-hay-paternity-trap-maria-pia-shuman-mischa-haider-follow-up.html">The Harvard Law Professor Scam Story Follow-Up</a>. (The Cut).<br />
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<i><b>My take:</b> Even the most intelligent among us can fall victim to scam artists.</i><br />
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A new film, <i>Dark Waters</i>, depicts a Cincinnati attorney's ongoing efforts, beginning in the 1990s, to expose how the company DuPont continued to use toxic chemicals for decades after learning that they caused fatal diseases. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/11/dark-waters-review-mark-ruffalo-robert-bilott/602434/">A Chilling True Story of Corporate Indifference</a>. (The Atlantic)<br />
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<i><b>My take:</b> In the spirit of The Insider, this is a look at the challenges of a whistleblower and egregious corporate malfeasance and lack of ethics. Timely.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>For the Curious Mind</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>"I have gathered a posy of other men's flowers, and only the thread that binds them is mine own." – Michel de Montaigne</em></span></span></span></div>
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Want to know the secret to great leaders? <a href="https://www.strategy-business.com/blog/The-leaders-secret-weapon-Listening?gko=8c91f">They listen</a>. But it takes effort and you have to make it a priority. (strategy+business)<br />
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Polymaths excel in multiple fields. <a href="http://polymaths%20excel%20in%20multiple%20fields.%20but%20what%20makes%20a%20polymath%20%E2%80%93%20and%20can%20their%20cross-discipline%20expertise%20help%20tackle%20some%20of%20society%E2%80%99s%20most%20pressing%20challenges/?">Why are some people impossibly talented?</a> And does their cross-disciplinary expertise offer any advantage to some of society's biggest issues? (BBC Worklife)<br />
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What people most fear is not difference, but a world in which nothing and nowhere is unique, in which every place is the same. <a href="https://aeon.co/essays/left-and-right-are-both-gripped-by-an-identical-fear-homogeneity">The Horror of Sameness</a>. (Aeon)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>A Heart Replete with Thankfulness</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>"Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." – G.K. Chesterton</em></span></span></span><br />
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Since we were together at Thanksgiving, I had a chance to tell my parents how grateful I am for them. Grateful that we could be together and for all of the support they've shown me throughout my life.<br />
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It reminded me of the exercise in gratitude that Mister Rogers was fond of recommending: <a href="https://youtu.be/TcNxY4TudXo?t=248">take just ten seconds</a> to think of some of those people who have loved us and wanted what was best for us. Those who have encouraged us to become who we are.<br />
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Just ten seconds.<br />
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I'll watch the time.<br />
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No matter where they are — here or in heaven — imagine how pleased those people must be to know that you thought of them just now.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Recommended Reading/Listening</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>"Let me recommend this book." – Arthur Conan Doyle</em></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYJ-Lw2gdd4/Xed6FYGWYrI/AAAAAAABKK8/CjUVqFepVoI83dNSXL4SomOM0D7iBqqmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Grift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="328" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYJ-Lw2gdd4/Xed6FYGWYrI/AAAAAAABKK8/CjUVqFepVoI83dNSXL4SomOM0D7iBqqmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Grift.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://thegriftpodcast.com/">The Grift</a> is a show about con artists and the lives they ruin. Best-selling author and New Yorker writer Maria Konnikova takes us to the darker side of human nature and deceit. Ten stories about card sharks, cult leaders, art forgers, impostors and more. Why do we fall for them time and time again?<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHXrs5AaLwo/Xed56SHYN2I/AAAAAAABKK4/9alHuO2M39c_j08n7yU7sTqaCJEFanDHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHXrs5AaLwo/Xed56SHYN2I/AAAAAAABKK4/9alHuO2M39c_j08n7yU7sTqaCJEFanDHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Prince.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2PhpvN8">The Prince</a> is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. The general theme is that accepting that the aims of princes—such as glory and survival—can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends.<br />
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<i>What else is influencing me? You can check out my <a href="https://www.scottmonty.com/p/influences.html">sources of inspiration</a> on my site or in the <a href="https://flipboard.com/@scottmonty/timeless-and-timely-kah5bsbuy">Timeless and Timely</a> Flipboard magazine I curate.</i></div>
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<i><i>The above may contain Amazon Affiliate links.</i></i></div>
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