My Life of Pi

Some people are highly skilled experts in one discipline.  These people often credit their incredibly focused expertise as a key to their success, however they define success.  I do not see myself as one of those single expertise people, though I kind of like the success part of the equation. T-shaped skills Other people have expertise […]

RIP Dr. Roger Fisher

I cut my conflict management teeth on the work of Dr. Roger Fisher.  His book, Getting to Yes, co-authored with William Ury, and first published in 1981, is the seminal book on interest-based negotiation theory and practice.  Dr. Fisher died this week.  He is a legend in the conflict resolution community.  His legacy includes the […]

Tips for visualizing resolution from the world of golf

“I hit a crazy shot that I saw in my head.”   That’s what Bubba Watson said, after hitting a miracle shot on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, at the Masters Golf tourney last month. I was watching on TV.  And, here’s what it looked like: (if you […]

Nowhere Else on Earth

With good collaboration, anything is possible. Collaboration in the Rain Forest Up the coast from where I live in British Columbia is a one of our world’s natural treasures, the Great Bear Rain Forest.  It’s the context for an epic collaboration, involving environmental groups, government, forest industry and First Nations.   It’s also the context for […]

Looking Back: 30 Lessons for Living from the Wisest Americans

I’m a semi-regular viewer of the PBS Newshour.  I especially enjoy that TV program when it offers up a serendipitous connection.  A recent show did just that.  It included an interview of Karl Pillemer, noted gerontologist, and Professor of Human Development at Cornell University. The interview context was his new book, 30 Lessons for Living: […]