I loved that movie.
It was one of those movies where I had no idea what to expect, and it took me for a fun, wild and unexpected ride…
Love those!
So, there is a little miss sunshine in my life… and probably one or more in yours… if you think about it.
There is a very special woman, who I met over a year ago, when I took over a new project.
She works in the middle of about 35 very manly men.
She works in an environment that is traditionally very male and very tough.
She works in the middle of a location that is both geographically and logistically isolated.
She works in the middle of an environment that has been full of disharmony.
She works in the middle of the perfect place for her… because she makes it so.
She is an island of sunshine in what has very often been a dark and ugly storm.
Amidst the turbulence and tension that has filled this project, she has remained hopeful. She has remained faithful. She has remained positive.
All of the men trust her. All of the men come to her to be heard, to share, to exhaust. She listens and she listens and she listens. And, she gently embraces their issues. And, she shows them concern. And, she shows them regard. And, she has kept the project and hope alive.
When I met her a year ago, we immediately seemed to have a connection. She shared her thoughts. I could see her passion for the people and the situation.
I am a sucker for passionate, caring people.
And, I am smart enough to know that she who has the trust of the team certainly deserves my trust.
She is a woman of great faith… but what is so special about her is that she never tries to change my believes or values… she just encourages me to be myself. She encourages me to feel His love.
Honestly, sometimes great faith scares me, because it is aggressive faith. But hers is a loving faith, a caring faith, an embracing faith that seems to pull in everyone in her reach.
At first, it almost concerned me that she seemed to understand everyone, even the few people that I was strugging with… but she was right. She reminds me that every single person means well… its just that some of them don’t know how to express their meaning, or just cant hide their insecurity.
Some of the people around us show their care through micromanagement.
Some of the people around us show their care through distrust.
Some of the people around us show their care through the work… and somehow they think their care for the work will show through to the people… (sometimes it may…)
Some of the people around us can’t control their insecurity and it shows up as arrogance.
Some of the people around us can’t control their insecurity and it shows up as disharmony.
Some of the people around us can’t control their insecurity and it shows up as belligerence.
But those are symptoms of fears and concern… unaware of harmony.
Even those teammates that didn’t stay on the team had the best of intentions… they just got distorted in their application…
She saw through that at all times. She respected everyone. She gave everyone her ear and her attention, and as a result, she gave everyone hope.
I write about her for a few reasons.
First, because whenever I get a chance to stop by and say hello, she fills me with hope. She fills me with confidence. She fills me with possibility. She so excitedly encourages me to be who I am and unleash myself upon the world.
How special is that gift?
I told her, I am going to have to make her President of my fan club. So far, I think I have one member ;-)
I mentioned this blog to her, and I suspect she is reading this today. I am careful not to talk to much about this blog, as I don’t want to be self promoting. I want to promote harmony, not me. And there are some people that I know will completely get it, and with those I share it openly.
Anyway, I share this about her because I am grateful for her personally and professionally. While she fills me with hope and confidence and encouragement, she has kept the light on for me in this project.
She has provided refuge through her ability to listen with the team, and she has kept the team present through difficult or absent management, and well intentioned but traditionally disharmonic leadership.
Mostly, I mention her – to make you aware of people like her, to make you grateful for people like her, and to say THANK YOU in the possibility that she may be reading this.
I love that she sees how I try to work. I love that she sees the dynamics and the benefit and the possibility that is created not from my contribution, but from my desire to “get out of the way”.
The success that has happened on the project this past year has been far less from what I or management has done, and much more from our ability to “get out of the way” and let the right stuff happen.
It has helped that we brought in a team player to take the helm, but he has also come in with a soft touch and an inclusive approach. And, the magic seems to be happening dailiy.
These manly men are happy. They are not afraid to say how much better they feel about coming to work. There are smiles and banter in the lunch area. There is pride in their eyes. There is progress everywhere.
This project is in a very important and transitional phase. The transformation that I have seen over the past 15 months has been subtle and drastic at the same time. The place looks extremely similar. The faces are 90% the same. But the attitude, the heart and the level of engagement and collaboration is completely different
Of all of the projects that I have been involved with through the years, this has been one that I will never forget. And, I am hopeful and confident that the ride is far from over. But whatever happens from here, I have tremendous pride in the team that is there and the evolution that has transpired.
It hasn’t been pretty every step of the way, but its been consistent.
And, there isn’t a moment that goes by that I am not grateful for little miss sunshine who kept the light on through the many dark periods… so that this day would be possible.
Whatever happens from here, I am a better man for knowing her and I am a smarter man for having experienced this transformation.
It’s show time! I will share more about this project when I am able to…
For now, think about the little miss sunshines in your life and in your world…
Be grateful for them… And, if at all possible, let them know how special they are…
I write about you because the light that shines in you shines bright…
I write about you because the light that shines in you lights up the world around you…
I write about you because you are generous in the most meaningful of ways… you give people the gift of hope and the courage to be themselves.
Little Miss Sunshine… you are living harmony…
THANK YOU!
Keep on shining bright!
Nestor Benavides