Who knew this fortune about "karma" and "kindness" from a Chinese cookie would serve as the final piece of inspiration for this edition of my newsletter.
There’s an old adage that
"things come in threes.”
First: I had just finished reading “The Blind Slide” by Michael Lewis, the empowering story of football star Michael Oher and the Tuohy family who together paved Oher’s way out of the housing projects in Memphis. (As you probably, know, actress Sandra Bullock won the Academy Award for her portrayal of Lee Ann Tuohy.)
Second: Washington Post writer Michael Gerson wrote a column entitled, “Wanted: Grown-ups”, a brilliant piece about how American politics is no longer about Republicans and Democrats but between what he calls the “Ugly Party and the Grown-Up Party.” Read his article here.
And the third: I was having dinner with my summer intern at a Chinese restaurant when I cracked open my fortune cookie and was greeted with the words, “It is very good karma to practice random acts of kindness.”
What do these three very different items have in common – to create my version of "things coming in threes”?
Kindness. And the lack thereof in today’s world (especially in politics).
I often talk about defining a “path to public service” wherever I speak, whether it is to graduate students in La Paz, Bolivia; college students at Lake Seliger, Russia; elected women officials in Kaduna, Nigeria; high school girls in Detroit, Michigan; or emerging political activists in Houston, Texas.
My message: passion-driven leaders inspire action in others by harnessing the boundless enthusiasm and deep emotions of the human heart. And that includes the importance of acts of kindness that can change people’s lives.
Lee Ann Tuohy – the epitome of a “mother grizzly bear” – put heart (and teeth) in her values by taking in a homeless teenager and helping him become the man he is today. If you haven’t seen “The Blind Side” or read the book, I highly recommend it. I had to pull tissues out of my purse at times as I read of the loss, challenges, setbacks, love, and ultimately the success of the Tuohy family and their special relationship with Michael Oher.
Compare the actions of the Lee Ann Tuohys of the world with today’s politics.
As Michael Gerson wrote: “The rhetoric of the Ugly Party shares some common themes: urging the death or sexual humiliation of opponents or comparing a political enemy to vermin or diseases. It is not merely an adolescent form of political discourse; it encourages a certain political philosophy – a belief that rivals are somehow less than human, which undermines the idea of equality and the possibility of common purposes.”
So, as Gerson points out, it’s time for people to behave as “grown-ups.” To become, as I outline in my presentations, “passion-driven leaders” in their communities who support positive change, not, as Gerson writes, those who are “making politics an unpleasant chore, practiced mainly by the vicious and angry, (and) are feeding dangerous resentments in a volatile time.”
I still believe that teaching individuals -- especially women – how to become citizen activists who can make their lives better by influencing government decisions is a noble undertaking. The path to public service is often a journey and not a sprint.
As I work with emerging leaders worldwide, I outline the six steps to achieving passion-driven leadership.
The first, and most powerful step?
To influence others, you must create a foundation of positive politics. Identify your passions, solidify your beliefs -- and then you can motivate others to affect positive change in your community.
Open doors to those who have had them slammed shut. Perform random acts of kindness.
You may not end up as an author with a best-seller on the New York Times book list, but you may change a life….change your community…..and make the world a better place.
P.S. You can read more about my six steps to public service by visiting my website, www.NancyBocskor.com and clicking on "keynotes."
Exciting News!
Nancy recently received the 2010 Distinguished Alumna Award from her alma mater,
Otterbein College.
The Alumni Association awarded the Distinguished Alumna Award to Nancy at Otterbein’s Alumni Weekend luncheon on June 12 in Westerville, Ohio.
She was recognized for "her passion to affect change in national and international communities, training and consulting with the nation's and world's political leaders, and commitment to educate others, particularly women, around the world."
This award was established in 1951 to honor graduates who have achieved recognized prominence in their chosen career and have made significant contributions to their profession, community and the lives of others.  | 
