Chapter 8: Authentic Elegant Pachydermic Leadership.

Last week, I penned a few lines, but as the rain keeps playing its rhythmic symphony, we march on with our splendid summer. ??? The garden is morphing into a wild wonderland, much to the cheer of the local critters and blossoms. ???? Time is a rare commodity these days, so my ruminations on procurement and its parallels with Mother Nature are on pause while I battle the weeds, give haircuts to hedges, play matchmaker with plants, and moonlight as a lawn barber. ????

Thankfully, the verdant vista is still up for grabs from the comfort of my battle-scarred Chesterfield. Perched on my trusty, timeworn leather steed, my mind takes a stroll down memory lane, pondering the professional crossroads I’ve encountered and the paths I might’ve trodden differently. ?? Sure, some choices led me down the garden path, into seasons of doubt, yet I harbor no regrets. I’ve clung to my moral compass; the Jesuits did leave their mark, as did my folks. ??

“Be critical, listen, evaluate, use reason, but above all, carve your own trail, cultivate your convictions, and don’t just mirror others. Embrace fresh angles, self-reflection, and internal dialogue,” they said. George F. Handel’s tunes are my current co-pilot, harmonizing with the drizzly tableau painting itself across the woods and hills. ????

Recent years have been a parade of fads, justified or not, as if a mere handful of marketing maestros are pulling the strings. Change has become the cornerstone of every mission statement—change for good, for better, for best. “Go for this, go for that,” they chant, each campaign seamlessly stitched with sustainability patches and echoey chants of inclusion and diversity. ??

I’ve tried, more than once, to box myself into the conventional confines of management styles. But here’s the kicker—I’m not a fan of boxes. They’re just… square. And life, my friends, is anything but square. I’m a bit of a maverick, preferring to waltz through a kaleidoscope of geometric shapes—circles, ellipses, parallelograms? Bring 'em on! ????

If I must slap a label on my management mojo, “Authentic Elegant Pachydermic” (AEP for short) is the moniker I’ve mustered. ?? It’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal; I’m more white-water rapids than a serene stream. Authenticity, or the lack thereof, really grinds my gears. Double agendas, hush-hush plans—some folks think they’re playing 4D chess, whispering ‘A’ while plotting ‘B’. ????

In my career odyssey, I’ve bumped into a constellation of shooting stars, their faux authenticity as transparent as glass, inevitably leading to a trust drought and sour ties. Some are blissfully unaware, never pausing to ponder. Stepping into the meeting colosseum, it’s best to check egos at the door—no one likes a show-off. ????♂?

As the years stack up, I’ve watched many a promising leader topple like dominoes. Tall trees do catch the most wind, but it’s the roots—our values—that keep us standing through the gales. Authenticity is the bedrock, elegance the grace that makes life’s dance a bit more refined. ????

Life’s grand theater is a medley of scenes, backstage whispers, an audience, and intermissions. Unlike thespians, the real art is being the same soul in every act. Yet, there’s a cast out there, shedding their masks behind the curtain, and buddy, I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. ??

To this day, it baffles me what drives folks to don these facades. Maybe it’s insecurity, a yearning to charm a close-knit circle that, in time, will echo their once-admired leader’s fall from grace. Eventually, every tree meets its saw. I’ve sparred with colleagues, our debates fiery yet dignified. Respect for those who stand their ground is immense; it’s the spice that makes the corporate stew palatable. ??

Pachydermic? Well, unless you’re in the charity biz, the endgame is to spin the revenue wheel and fatten the profit piggy bank—not just for the suits upstairs but for the whole crew and their kin. Democracy’s dandy, but sometimes you gotta play the captain and steer the ship through choppy waters, rallying the crew around a shared compass point. ??

Doing right by everyone is a tall order. Chasing performance can call for a thick skin; frame that mindset right, and you’re golden. At the end of the day, it’s all about crafting a dream team; if you’re not rowing together, you might just have to walk the plank. A little left, a little right, a little… expectant? ????