Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

Time and Change and Complexity

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World_Trade_Center,_New_York_City_-_aerial_view_(March_2001)The Tivo in the bedroom records old episodes of Friends and for awhile now, we’ve watched one or two before turning the lights out. The world of Friends really doesn’t seem that long ago – it ran from 1994-2004 – but I guess it was.

I’m struck by how much simpler life appeared to be. What’s really weird is that they’re not always looking at smartphones. When Ross and Phoebe and Rachel and Joey are hanging at the coffee shop, they talk to each other rather than burying their faces in a device.

The season that Monica and Chandler get together is what we’re currently watching. Computers are not a permanent fixture in their living spaces although in one episode, Ross does use a laptop. It is unlikely that several times a week the Friends were asked to create a user id and password with the password comprised of some random combination of uppercase, lowercase, numeric, and symbols. And, told not to use the same password for everything because that could be a catastrophe should someone steal it, like yesterday when it was reported millions of gmail passwords were hacked. The complexity of the world today can be hard.

For example, we bought a new Samsung washer and dryer last month. They are not even top of the line but can do practically anything you want done to your laundry. The control panel has so many lights and buttons and knobs I feel like I’m in a cockpit. And get this – there’s an app. Yes, I think we can wash and dry remotely! Why, I have no idea.

Our former washer and dryer were purchased immediately following 9/11. The economy was in a tailspin and we thought buying appliances was a way to help. Those Maytags were fine machines – lasted 13 years – and were not complicated in any way. I miss that.

Best we can figure, the Friends episodes we are watching now were from the spring of 2001 because in practically every one, some transition shows a panoramic view of NYC that includes the old World Trade Center.

Seeing the twin towers gets me every time.

Would love to know what you think about the increasing complexity in our lives. Share your thoughts in the comment section.

My goal is to write 30 blog posts in 30 days the month of September.

#30in30

Ch-ch-changes

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If you are a regular newsletter and blog reader you’ve seen a version of this before but my change playlist and mailing list are always evolving so I share it every year. 

jazz fest

always a good day at the fest

I am so looking forward to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this weekend and next because it is a time of inspiration and renewal. For the jazzfest faithful, the fest is a spiritual cleansing and creative catalyst.

Music.Is.Powerful.

Are you re-inventing? Or, I guess the better question would be Who’s NOT re-inventing right now? That’s life in a world of rapid change.

You can harness the inspirational power of music to support and fuel transition. How so? Stop listening to anything that reminds you of the situation you are leaving – whatever you’re done with – and listen to something different. Does not have to be new music, just new to you. Don’t forget about Pandora and Spotify as low cost, no cost sources for new and different music.

NPR featured songs about change in a story last week.

Below is my always growing list of songs about change. Make yourself a change playlist and then listen to it a lot.

And, don’t stop thinking about tomorrow…

  • A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
  • Roll the Bones – RUSH
  • Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (especially the version on The Dance featuring the USC marching band)
  • I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
  • The Power of Goodbye – Madonna
  • Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
  • Uprising – Muse
  • Sing the Changes – The Fireman
  • Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon
  • I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt
  • Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Above the Bones – Mishka
  • Changed – Rascal Flatts
  • Brand New Day – Sting
  • Cool Change – Little River Band
  • Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) – George Harrison
  • Dog Days are Over – Florence + Machine
  • Changes – David Bowie
  • Hold On – Wilson Phillips
  • Big Girls Don’t Cry – Fergie
  • Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
  • Feeling Good – Nina Simone
  • Already Gone – Sugarland
  • You Get Knocked Down – Chumbawumba
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash
  • You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Lisa Marie Presley
  • Changes IV – Cat Stevens
  • Everybody’s Changing – Keane
  • Ramble on – Led Zeppelin
  • Girl on Fire – Alicia Keys
  • Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
  • Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise – Avett Brothers
  • A Change is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
  • What Doesn’t Kill You – Kelly Clarkson
  • Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
  • Move From the Hood – Luther Allison
  • The Climb – Miley Cyrus
  • Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz
  • Tomorrow – from the musical “Annie”
  • We Gotta Get Out of This Place – The Animals
  • How Do You Like Me Now? – Toby Keith
  • Dream On – Trombone Shorty

Would love to know your favorite songs of change.

Time for Greatness

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Get around some greatness. You can find it all over the place – in architecture, museums, books, nature, community, movies, art, people, music, history, science. Get near it and absorb that energy. Do this while you are setting your goals for the new year. Breathe greatness in and infuse it into your new year plans.

My husband and I are fortunate to spend a lot of time in New Orleans where we stay a block away from the National WWII Museum. I simply can not get enough of that place. It is full of artifacts from a time when mere mortals became great and beat back heinous evil forces.

Besides the stuff and stories on display, we regularly see current and veteran members of our armed services visiting – people who sacrificed much for the greater good. To be around them and this history fills me with awe and admiration. I wonder will my life and work ever make that kind of difference in the world.

Recently, the B-17 bomber named My Gal Sal with an interesting history was moved to the museum campus. It was in pieces in the parking lot by us for a couple of weeks and we we were able to get pretty close. Standing so near something from that era can really choke me up.

Now is the time for setting goals and making plans. Do this in a mindset of greatness and then go forth to achieve it.

If your plans call for change, think about what you are listening to. I’m a big believer in the inspirational power of music to support and fuel transition. I’ve added a couple of new ones to the playlist.

Happy New Year everyone!!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think.

Inspiration

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Time spent over the last ten days at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival inspired and renewed me. For the jazzfest faithful, the event is a spiritual cleansing and creative catalyst.

Music.Is.Powerful.

Are you in a re-invention phase? Or, I guess the better question would be Who’s NOT re-inventing right now? Crazy how change is the constant.

You can harness the inspirational power of music to support and fuel transition. First, stop listening to anything that reminds you of your old situation – what you are leaving behind. Next, start listening to something different. Does not have to be new music, just new to you. Below is a list of great songs about change. Make a change playlist and listen to it a lot.

And, don’t stop thinking about tomorrow…

  • A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
  • Roll the Bones – RUSH
  • Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (especially the version on The Dance featuring the USC marching band)
  • I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
  • The Power of Goodbye – Madonna
  • Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
  • Uprising – Muse
  • Sing the Changes – The Fireman
  • Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon
  • I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt
  • Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Above the Bones – Mishka
  • Brand New Day – Sting
  • Cool Change – Little River Band
  • Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) – George Harrison
  • Dog Days are Over – Florence + Machine
  • Changes – David Bowie
  • Hold On – Wilson Phillips
  • Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) – Fergie
  • Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
  • Already Gone – Sugarland
  • You Get Knocked Down – Chumbawumba
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash
  • You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Lisa Marie Presley
  • Changes IV – Cat Stevens

For a wonderful, thought-provoking music-reinvention analogy, check out Christopher Bowe’s recent blog post for HBR.

FInally, please share your favorite songs of change here.