The boss, conference organizer, co-worker, interviewer, parent or client who wants your best work, your art and your genuine enthusiasm:

…can demand that you bring your best possible work the first time, can point out that they are paying you well, that they’re busy, that they’re powerful, and that they accept nothing short of high performance or you’re out.

…or they can nurture you, encourage you, set a high bar and then support you on your way. They can teach you, cajole you and introduce you to others that will do the same.

The first strategy is the factory mindset, of interchangeable parts and interchangeable people. It is the strategy of ensuring six sigma perfection, on demand, and the strategy of someone in power, who can demand what he wants, when he wants it.

You don’t make art this way, or emotional connections, or things that haven’t been made before. You may get the job done, but it’s not clear if you’ll make a difference.

Via Seth Godin

Ian Leslie makes the case in a piece for Medium 

“I know – it’s like proposing The Beatles are underrated. Malcolm Gladwell is the king of non-fiction writing and publishing. His new book is a million-seller lock. His writing is referenced hundreds of times a day in newspapers, magazine articles, talk shows, boardrooms and bars. He could pay off the national debt of a small Latin American country with the proceeds of his annual speaking tour.”

Check out the rest — here.

Check out USA Today’s article — here.

Some excerpts:

On how she’s learned to embrace her age and stay in the present: “Modeling, I realize, is how we see beauty, but I try to look at people in my life: my mom, my grandmas. I associate wisdom and grace with age. I’m 44. This is midlife. The way I try to live is: Be here now. Be your best self now.”

On how yoga has taught her to be a better person, parent and philanthropist:“The biggest thing I’ve taken from yoga is: It’s so not about asana (the physical postures). It’s living yoga daily. And I do that every day to the best of my ability. There are always challenges. As a parent, I can get so frustrated. Any parent can! But then my yoga that day is parenting. It’s learning patience. With my advocacy work, too, there are so many obstacles. So the yoga is sticking with it no matter what.”

On integrating the yoga practice and mind-set into every aspect of her life:“I’ve done marathons and given birth and felt stressed out about this or that — and the yoga is there. It’s about the equanimity of any moment, no matter how hard. You find that first on the mat, and then the mat is everywhere. You bring it with you. It sounds esoteric, but to me, it’s actually very practical. People say things like ‘I’m not flexible … I can’t do yoga.’ You know what? Then you won’t be flexible. The power of the mind — yoga teaches you about that. I also love the collective piece of it. Sure, I have a self-practice. But I prefer the sweaty, stinky room.”

I had the opportunity to listen in on a discussion about St. Francis.

St. Francis was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He lived in the 12th and 13th centuries.

I listened in on a man talking about him a few weeks back. Here are my notes:

–In order to go out and evangelize – to bring the message to others. We must first have the message in us.

–He suggested we LOVE and LOVE at all times.

–Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than it does to teachers. And if he does listen to teachers it is because they are witnesses.

–If we don’t live out what we are trying to bring to the world- than people don’t and will not pay attention.

–St. Francis was a wordless witness. He didn’t need to use words a lot, he used them sparingly and effectively. It was the way he lived.

–St. Francis said, “love and do not expect others to change.”

–He also said, “Love and do not wish people to be more religious or less religious. Just love.”

–“Love and always be merciful.”

–He believed he was here to bring the message of Love.