Archive for the ‘Grand Dynamics News’ Category

Greetings Everyone!  The Celtics are in the NBA Finals with the LA Lakers, and there is quite a buzz about this unique pre-game mantra that they have adopted this year.  The mantra is Ubuntu! Many of you may be familiar with this phrase from our Grand Dynamics events. Heres a bit of history and why this is so important.

About 7 years ago I sat on the porch with my good friend Erik Kampe.  We were talking about a greeting that we could open Grand Dynamics programs that would capture the essense of leadership, teamwork and a culture of coneecting with each other as a foundation for engaging in our programs, business and life. We were big into The Fifth Discipline, by Peter Senge, at the time and in fact, Ubuntu is referenced in the Fifth Discipline Field Guide and tells of the Africal Zulu culture and the meaning of Ubuntu being “People are people because of other people.” 

Soon enough, Erik and I were dancing around in my back yard, chanting and moving to the elements of what is now a hallmark opening ice-breaker for Grand Dynamics events. 

I think it is awesome that the Celtics (I grew up in New Hampshire) have taken this on and believe it has a great deal with their comeback and record year!  Ubuntu, at the core, is about the pholosphy of acknowleging others, and a system for working together positively in a community. Yet another method of Seeking True North! 

Nelson Mandela once described Ubuntu this way: “A traveler through a country would stop at a village and he didn’t have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu, but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not address themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you be able to improve.”

Here’s a video of him describing the concept. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx0qGJCm-qU

Here are three articles about the Celtics and UBUNTU!

Article #1  http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=2497

Article #2 http://www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x99500244/South-African-word-ubuntu-a-rallying-point-for-Celtics

Article #3 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hbvPxTmN0gXTk18y0ohZZnNqwEOgD913H1SG0

Have an OUTSTANDING DAY!  UBUNTU!

Tim Walther -

Grand Dynamics Turned 10 years old on Saturday!!!!!!!!!! And I turned 36!!!!!! What an amazing last year - with amazing people.  Birthdays are always a time of reflection for me. I particularly like the last year review. Last April I began by celebrating best-friend birthdays back to back in Mexico (Benak!) and Thailand (Sam!). This transitioned into athe culmination of a two year mission — and delivering an orphanage training program in Southern Thailand for over 60 directors. Josh, Rick, Jamie and I all converged with passion to make a positive difference in the lives of the orphan children of the tsunami. All the preparation, practice and passion culminated with a 2 year sport and education program for the children.  8 Months later I was delivering another training program – this time in Casablanca, Morocco for orphanage directors from all over Morocco from SOS Orphanage. This was a highlight (other than being attacked by a camel in the desert in the Sahara) of my 2 month rock climbing trip with Ryan Ernst through Spain and Morocco.

In between I had an incredible year of mountaining in the Tetons. And in celebrating previous adventures, Climbing Magazine featured my first ascent – The Spirit of Mokwai – in the annual EPIC edition last September. We’ve worked with the wyoming workforce extensively.  We’ve delivered Amazing Race Events and Emotional Intellgence Trainings for our corporate teams. The CFMA Advances and the CFMA Renewal rocked my world!  And I have enjoyed running commentary from the CFMA Renewal group over the last 8 months with stories of amazing transformation and connection. 

Will Leggett and our NY Office rocked the house!  Brother Todd Walther continues to inspire and amaze me.  Ann Anderson has finally transitioned and is doing amazing things.  Jamie Reilly has been monumental. And Erick Erickson – well… what can I say about the Master?   Seeking True North is a reality.  The next year is filled with opportunities for continued greatness…  Tim Walther