HOWE Q. WALLACE BLOG

Mindfulness, or happening to the world?

“Mindfulness” or being “mindful” is an adjective that is being applied to people these days.

Being “mindful” is often associated with being thoughtful before you act, intentional about your actions, and full of purpose as you act.

John Baldoni, who wrote a leadership book entitled “Moxie,” had a unique take on the topic. He says mindful people are aware of their environment and always take part in improving that environment.

Being aware of your environment means being alert to what’s happening around you. It gives you credit for reading situations, having an intuition about people, and developing sound strategies to improve things. If you practice this awareness repeatedly, I expect to get the “mindful” tag.

Like most things, the more you practice it, the better you become.

The “special sauce” in this mindfulness tag is that you take what your awareness tells you and put it to work. You can be counted on to do the work, to show up, to make suggestions, and to work alongside others consistently, consistently, and effectively.

Being “mindful” sounds like “happening to the world” to me.

Show up. Pay Attention. Participate. Lead.

-Howe Q Wallace Jr