21st Century Leadership....in the Sierra Nevada!

It's funny how sometimes a thought looming in your subconscious surfaces to the conscious realm yet you aren't quite sure where it is coming from or why it is happening.  I made a posting a few days ago about leadership and my perception of how it is lacking at a national, societal level.  Today I sat in awe of leaders who have made it their life's work to educate others on strategies and tactics to empower organizations, whether socially minded or environmental or both.  There's an energy that fills the space as someone speaks from the heart and explains their commitment to the environment, social justice, righting wrongs and serving the underserved.  I felt like I was in my element, surrounded by others who are dedicating their lives to making this world a better place.  This conference, put on by the Sierra Nevada Alliance is all about strategy and how to focus your energy in the right direction to make the most impact.  The most profound piece of advice we received today was, "just because you are right doesn't mean you will win." This has always been my shtick, we can't lose because we are right.  Well I was wrong!  As is true with most things in life, it's all about POWER.  Who holds the power, how do you gain power, and how do you influence those who have the power to implement the change you are seeking.  Deep.  Heavy.  Lots of work.  We spent almost 10 hours combining role play with powerpoint sessions and a fair amount of questions and answers.  I forgot how much I enjoy these times where I dedicate myself to learning new things, learning how to work with others and becoming more effective with my energy.  There is so much we share in common with others despite our perceived differences.  Our after dinner storytelling brought groups of 5 together to highlight the influences that brought us to where we are today.  Immigration, social work, women's rights, environmental conservation and political aspirations.  Inspired conversation with a new generation of leaders.