Byron's Babbles

Yesterday, as I watched hundreds of individuals come together from all over the world for a global leadership conference in Manila Philippines, I was reminded of what C. S. Lewis said in Mere Leadership: “Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making” (p. 226). It is interesting to watch those that are trying really hard to make a certain type of impression.

I want to be clear, that I am not talking about the different styles we all have in the way we dress. This obsession with impression goes beyond style, fashion, and culture. I am talking about the way we show up.

C.S. Lewis was suggesting that worrying excessively about how others perceive us can prevent genuine connections and authentic behavior. When we focus too much on creating a certain impression, we may become superficial or insincere, which ultimately hinders our ability to build trust and meaningful relationships. From this, we learn that authenticity is key; by being true to ourselves and not obsessing over impressions, we can foster more honest interactions, earn genuine respect, and develop better social bonds in our everyday lives.

Today I had the opportunity to spend half the day exploring Manila Philippines. Filipino culture offers many valuable lessons, such as the importance of bayanihan (community spirit and helping one another), respect for elders (paggalang), resilience (katatagan), and maintaining strong family ties. These qualities foster unity, compassion, and adaptability—qualities that can greatly enrich our own communities and personal growth.

Bayanihan, the Filipino tradition of community helping each other, can be a powerful illustration for building strong organizations. Here’s how:

1. Fostering Collaboration: Just like neighbors coming together to help move a house (which is how bayanihan was created), team members can support one another in achieving common goals, sharing skills and resources freely.
2. Encouraging a Culture of Supports: When individuals see that their colleagues are willing to lend a hand, it cultivates trust and a sense of belonging, strengthening the overall community within the organization.
3. Promoting Collective Responsibility: Bayanihan emphasizes shared effort over individual achievement. In organizations, this mindset encourages everyone to take ownership and contribute towards shared success.
4. Building Resilience: During challenging times, a bayanihan spirit motivates teams to rally together, adapt, and overcome obstacles collectively, fostering resilience.
5. Enhancing Engagement: Participating in collective efforts boosts morale and engagement, as people feel valued and integral to the community’s well-being.

By integrating the principles of bayanihan into organizational culture—such as teamwork, mutual support, and shared responsibility—we can create more cohesive, resilient, and motivated communities within our workplaces.

As I was flying over the Pacific Ocean to Manila Philippines tonight I was reflecting on how much I need things to look forward to. I believe we are all that way, as humans. I’ve not done any research on it, but I’m pretty sure our cows in the barn anticipate and look forward to me showing up in the barn to take care of them. This reflection really got me thinking about things to look forward to, versus things I really want to do, versus formal goals. I am by nature a very curious person and always finding something new to study. For example, while watching the flight tracker on my flight, which I love by the way, I became interested in Mount Fuji when it showed up on the map just a right turn away by air.

So now, I would say Mount Fuji is on my list of “things I really want to do.” Is it a formal goal? No. I believe this is what curiosity is all about. Here in a few minutes I will be stepping into a new world that I’ve never been – the Philippines. I can’t wait! I built tomorrow into my schedule to have the opportunity to explore and learn more about Manila and Filipino culture. Then, I am looking forward to the next day, when I get to do the opening keynote for the 2026 FLUXX Asia Leadership Conference, and meet individuals from 70 plus other countries. Had that been a formal goal? No. But I was curious when the opportunity came available and now I am really looking forward to the coming days in Manila.

So is there a distinction between things we look forward to, things we really want to do, and formal goals? If anything, I would have to admit that I am the person who allows life to happen and I try to be ready for the things I don’t know I need to be ready for. That is where curiosity, and learning, and doing have served me well and provided me the ability to be ready when opportunity knocked. I would say it is more about systems, structures and processes than goals.

Think about this: winners and losers have the same goals. It is the systems that are in place that make the winning teams. That’s why I believe being a curious learner, looking forward to what is next, having things we really want to do are so important.

I love Papa Roach’s song “Wake Up Calling.” As a lover of metaphors, the lyric in the song, “You’re my wake up calling” really jumps out at me. The lyric is a metaphorical way of saying that someone or something serves as a powerful reminder or motivation to wake up or become more aware. It suggests that the person or experience providing the wake up call has a significant impact prompting us to see things clearly, re-evaluate our life, or take action. It’s akin to an alarm clock that jolts us out of complacency or darkness, encouraging change, awareness, or a fresh start. I love how it reflects the idea of being stirred into consciousness or motivation by someone important.

This really got me thinking about those who have served as wake up calls for me. I’m also reflecting on who I need to be the wake up calling for.

As leaders, we can use this metaphor of being a wake-up call to inspire positive change in others. Think of it as intentionally creating moments or environments that prompt reflection, awareness, and action among your team or organization. Here are a few ways we can do that:

1. Provide Constructive Feedback: Like an alarm clock, honest feedback can wake someone up to areas for growth they might not have recognized. Deliver it with kindness and clarity to motivate improvement.
2. Share Inspiring Stories or Examples: Use stories of success, failure, or transformation to spark reflection and inspire new perspectives.
3. Challenge the Status Quo: Encourage questioning existing practices to foster innovation and growth, much like pressing the snooze button on old habits.
4. Create Opportunities for Reflection: Set aside time for teams to assess progress, goals, and values, helping them see what might be overlooked in daily routines.
5. Model Self-Awareness and Growth: Demonstrate your own willingness to learn and adapt, motivating others to do the same.

By being intentional about serving as a wake-up call, we can help others realize their potential, overcome complacency, and embrace meaningful change—driving both individual and collective growth.

I have been intrigued by Sleep Theory’s great song “Words are Worthless”. Part of the song’s lyrics seem to express a sense of frustration or disillusionment with language itself. The line “And we’ll collapse every word ’til we’re speechless” suggests an effort to dismantle or break down words, perhaps implying that words can be inadequate, misleading, or insufficient to truly express what we feel or think. The follow-up phrase “Because you’ll soon find that words are (worthless now)” reinforces this idea, indicating that ultimately, words may fail us or lose their meaning.

This sentiment reflects a feeling that language can’t fully capture complex emotions, truths, or experiences, leading to a sense of futility in relying solely on words. It’s a poetic way of conveying that sometimes actions, feelings, or unspoken understandings might speak louder than words, which can be empty or meaningless in certain contexts.

This song also reminded me of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophical perspectives. Wittgenstein famously explored the limitations of language in capturing the full depth of human experience and meaning. In his later work, especially in Philosophical Investigations, he emphasized that words are like tools used within specific language games, and their meaning is rooted in their use within particular contexts.

I wrote about Wittgenstein’s theories in The Limits of Language and
Beyond Words: Exploring the Limits of Language and the Depths of Human Experience.

The idea that words can sometimes be insufficient or even empty in conveying complex emotions or truths echoes Wittgenstein’s notion that “the limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” Essentially, language might not always be able to fully express what we feel or understand internally, and sometimes actions, gestures, or unspoken understandings carry more weight.