The Magic of Rising Together

This past weekend was particularly joyful as around 100 members of 100 Coaches convened in NY to celebrate Marshall's 75th birthday. Only 8 years ago, Marshall called me up and asked if I wanted to help him on a little project to teach 15 people everything he knew about coaching – a pay it forward project he said. Just over 6 years ago, we decided we were onto something bigger and agreed to be open to forming a community. I drew out some ideas on the back of a napkin and shared it with Whitney Johnson, Alisa Cohn, and a few others. At the time, we were thinking about creating a community of leaders, leadership thinkers, and leadership coaches. We dared to dream of an agency, a publishing imprint, an event, and other bells and whistles. As we gathered in celebration, the abundance created by the expansive growth and generous support of community members, sparked by and modeled after Marshall's example, was clear and visceral. And it inspired the following reflections.

The law of unintended consequences swings both ways. Marshall is fond of saying, "we are just making this up" as we boldly experiment with new endeavors and initiatives. There is a lot of truth in that statement, and while we directionally have an idea of where we are going, we are not sure how we will get there. At the same time, we are committed to how we will get there – committed to generosity, community, and making the lives of the people we connect with a little better. We don't know what the next step will be; we do know how we will take it. Looking backward and forward tips the scale of unintended consequences in favor of good unintended consequences over bad ones. And when we make a mistake, we admit it, forgive ourselves, and move on. Thank you, Marshall!

Generosity begets generosity. The idea at the center was Marshall wanting to teach people everything he knew for free and to use it however they wished. As he said, “You can’t steal something that’s already been given away for free.” And from that initial ripple, waves of generosity have flowed. Everyone who joins the community receives an initial gift of belonging, community, and shared knowledge. In return, they pay it forward to new members and those they meet elsewhere. John Sviokla's "speed to trust" concept is actively at play and it is common practice to “assume the friendship”, enabling members to form meaningful connections and collaborations easily. The generosity in our community extends beyond sharing knowledge and resources; it includes the emotional support and encouragement members provide to one another. Perhaps best of all, it includes generosity of spirit where we assume good intent and forgive one another for shortcomings. This virtuous cycle of generosity ensures our community's continued growth, resilience, and positive impact on the world.

Flourishing communities create expansion. Starting with these ideas, we have created a flourishing community. We can only say we are flourishing if we do so together. People who might have otherwise seen themselves as competitors are instead finding that they are partners. People who might have hoarded become sharers. People who would have been alone feel connected. The more we share and collaborate, the more abundance there is for everyone. In our book Becoming Coachable, we write about the Flourishing leader who seeks to grow the enterprise for all stakeholders, including themselves, their families, their employees, the earth, their communities, and anyone else they are connected to. Our community is a living example of what is possible in a flourishing environment, a loose mesh of strong support in which everyone can be held. And with each new addition, the culture and mesh strengthen and the impact multiplies.

Marshall's birthday is an excuse to celebrate him, the ideas he shares, and the ideals he lives. He is smart, direct, colorful, and playful. He is dedicated to the noble pursuit of improving as many lives as he can, no matter how small the impact may seem, while remaining grounded in the understanding of how difficult this is. He sets a wonderful example of an Earned Life, partly by how he lives his life, and in greater part by how he inspires others to live theirs. All of us in the 100 Coaches community have meaningfully better lives because of Marshall. And we are paying it forward by, each in our way, making the lives of a few people better every day. We are all imperfect, striving not for perfection but for daily progress. Daily Questions. FeedForward. Accountability. These ideas are Marshall's legacy, and everyone is welcome to try them, use what works for them, and forgive and let go of what doesn't. On behalf of those I love and lead, Happy 75th Birthday, Marshall... and thank you. Our lives are better for knowing you.

With love, gratitude and wonder.
Scott