Bewilderment

I noticed, recently,

that I feel

bewildered

quite often,

for awhile now.

To be

totally honest

(transparent even)

this is not

a comfortable

feeling

for me.

The best translation

I can make is

lost, confused,

something else

almost at the edge

of awareness

someplace

in between,

neither here

nor there.

Realizing I am going to share these feelings outside the privacy of my own mind, I notice my level of discomfort begins to rise. A simple glance down, seeing, answering the call of my to do list, I am momentarily distracted from the uncomfortable, awkward call of bewilderment. Next on the list:

2019 Letter from Larry Fink,

CEO and Chairman

of BlackRock.

I thought

I would

simply read the letter

& put a check next to that item.

Ahh, that feels so good,

accomplishment.

No, more

bewilderment

followed.

To be clear,

this is the CEO

of one of the largest

investment firms in the world;

It manages

$4,600,000,000,000

4.6 trillion

of the world’s money.

These are the bolded words from Larry Fink’s 2019 letter to CEOs. This is what he wants us to remember.

Purpose & Profit

Purpose and Profit: An

Inextricable Link

Purpose is not the sole pursuit of profits but the animating force for achieving them.

Profits are in no way incompatible with purpose—in fact, profits and purpose are inextricably linked.

The World Needs Your Leadership

A New Generation’s Focus

on Purpose

BlackRock’s Engagement in 2019

“The World Needs Your Leadership”— Leadership, really, when you get right down to it, is about cultivating an environment that opens the space for conversations that matter: conversations that build: shared meaning, focused action and collaborative relationships.

When a CEO sounds more like a poet, it is time to take a deep breath and pay attention. I felt something different in that breath—it was more like a gentle breeze—clarifying, energizing, grounding me through each breath—reminding me again, that I am breathing in and breathing out. Remembering the purpose of this blog; grounded, focused, energized by this purpose: This blog is a space to cultivate conversations that matter and to re-imagine work, together.

Welcome to bewilderment, this seems to be the “new normal” for now, at least—if you are paying attention.

Be well.