Spring, Summer, Spain

Summer has sprung in Chicago, and despite ongoing bizarro weather, we are reawakened as outdoor people again, and when I'm finished with this computer time or that phone call, you'll probably find me near the front of the stage at an outdoor festival or out on the scooter zipping to the lakefront, before I head to Spain for a break and a chance to mix it up in the heat of the cobblestoned streets of Sevilla.

I've been mixing it up out there quite a bit of late, wearing different consulting and creative hats, with also a new website in the works, so let's just say I'm ready to take a summer breath.  I'll share a few pairs of hybrid highlights just from the past month...

IMPROV: At Greenheart's
Leadership Transformed retreat

I took a look within at a leadership retreat (where I got to practice some Improv exercises), right after running a teambuilding session for a large group at Allstate, where it took some improvisation to pull off a simulation which included 10 teams and lots of moving parts in a large company cafeteria.

STRATEGY: Navistar team fills
the walls with ideas

I facilitated a 2-day Strategy retreat with the trucking/engine company Navistar, whose HR leaders filled the walls with ideas, and I also facilitated leadership programs for an international group of University of Chicago MBA students, who represented dozens of countries and industries.

PREJUDICE: CPS Students present
strategies to combat bullies

I was part of an intervention responding to a rather horrifying Chicago Public School incident of anti-semitic bullying--getting a chance to work with 8th graders to help them better understand and combat Prejudice; while I also presented as part of an interfaith panel on religion and met with Muslim schools who are planning to be part of our Poetry Pals interfaith program next school year.

GUITAR: Pushing the creative envelope
at an innovation session

BEEGEE: Barry Gibb performs in Chicago

I brought out my Guitar to push the creative envelope further as part of a Catalyst Ranch creativity session on "Creative Collaboration" and a few days later brought out that guitar again to lead a Jewish song jam session as part of the holiday of Shavuot at a Mishkan community event. I also got to experience a taste of music from my youth as the original BeeGee himself Barry Gibb came to town and played all the sweet favorites.

GAME SHOW HOST: Who's got the biggest Fedhead? 

I even donned a few costumes both professionally--as Game Show Host, with my own musical sidekick, of a special Federal Reserve Bank program I designed; and personally, as I tested my own creative limits at the two closest-thing-to-Burning Man-in-Chicago events, wearing a Tail at Resonate and something-rhythmic-I'm-sure at the latest Full Moon Jam (FMJ).

So SALUD to you, and here's to doing your own creative thing this summer.  If you need just a little transformation inspiration, click here.

TAIL: Getting into the spirit of Resonate

FMJ: About 1200 people were out
celebrating the moon this month