Where Do You See Stars?
Most people know that i.c.stars stands for “inner-city computer stars”. But the “i.c.” can stand for so many other things, such as “innovation community”, “inter-connected”, “information curation”, or simply “I see”. One thing that stands out in my mind is, “What do I see when I think about leadership?” Asking that question, ultimately we have to look at ourselves first. Do we see ourselves as leaders, opportunity makers, or as people in need of service? This fundamental introspection sets the stage for how we interact with i.c.stars.
They say that living in the inner city, you can’t see stars. People go on elaborate vacations out to the country or other faraway places in hopes of actually seeing stars. When we do catch a glimpse, we relish and drink the moment like it is pure ambrosia, because we don’t really get to see the stars. But if you live in the country and you are surrounded by stars every night, then it is just a normal thing to you. So I believe that we have to be more creative in the city, and sometimes even step into the darkness in order to see the stars that do exist. We spend so much time looking up and out, that there is magic and there are stars when we are able to look in. I believe the first step of really embracing your leadership mission is to look inside and define you values, and really understanding your perspective on the world. So we can recognize when to stand in the darkness, and when to turn on the lights.
As a former science teacher, I have spent a good deal of time studying and teaching astronomy. By definition a star is really just a combination of gas and dusk. I like to use the metaphor of comparing stars to celebrities or Hollywood “stars”. What we see is the “star”. But really when you break it down, part of it is gas and the other part is dust. The dust is the talent or skill that they have that is drawing the gas. The gas is what we as a society that pump them up with that says, “This is what makes you a star”. When they fall we blame them, we persecute them, we hate them. But it is really us that created them.
Now this metaphor is important because as we see stars in our business, our communities, and in our leaders we need to recognize them for their dust. These are the particles of themselves that they lend to our businesses and our communities. I think it is really important for us to take some time and take a step back and figure out what our gifts really are that we are giving to our communities, our businesses, and the planet and take responsibility of these gifts. If your gift is communication, you should take responsibility for it and really be impeccable about your communication. You should really use your communication to reach people, and to uplift and motivate them. It should be used to make opportunities. It shouldn’t be used to slander, or make somebody feel less than, or to destroy community. We often forget our gifts are gifts at all. We forget that it is a gift to be able to communicate. We lose sight of how powerful it is to tell a story and really be able to move people. If our gift is process, how do we use process to enable other people to be their best? Not disable, but to fully optimize others to be at impact even more people. People don’t stop to ask, “What are my gifts, where do I stand when I see stars?”
When people are not able to see stars, they begin to lose hope. Look at what happened to O.J. Simpson, one of our stars fell. There was a lack of hope that he was a good person. We began to use our gift to literally take him down. When people lose hope they fail to dream. We don’t even dare to dream. We literally lose creativity that leads to loss of innovation.
Let me quickly tell you a story about my best friend Boo. She was about 6 or 7 at the time and she really wanted to take me out to lunch at the Rainforest Café. Every time we would get together for an outing, I would always pay. This time she wanted to pay. So she saved her piggy bank for a year in order to take me out to lunch. When her mother told me this I was so moved, that I went out on a search for the coolest piggy banks that I could find. To help her fill the piggy bank I would put in these little pieces of paper with positive affirmations and nice quotes that I would think of. So right next to the money were all these great quotes and affirmations that celebrated Boo.
One day she and I were having a discussion about the economy and she asked me, “Why do they say the money is in a depression? Why is it depressed?” And I said that “The money gets depressed, because we stop believing in the power of transformation. We stop believing that the money is still valuable. We stop believing that the money has any value and the value gets lower and lower. It gets depressed, and then we get depressed too because we don’t have any money”.
Her answer was, “Maybe the money needs those messages like you put in my piggy bank. Maybe we need to tell the money it is going to be ok. Maybe the money needs love too”
To me, this was such a great lesson in hope. Out of the mouth of babes comes this phenomenal understanding that what we value and believe in also needs to be nurtured. It needs to be loved. It needs to be seen. That is why we need to see our stars. Like that old “Sly and The Family Stone Song”, Everybody is a Star!
I see stars everywhere. Where do you see stars?
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Comments
U GO Sandee!!!!!!!
U GO Sandee!!!!!!!
i c stars within
Sandee I see stars in every woman or child that has been abused or witnessed abuse. I see stars in every heart that looks towards a “Higher Power” no matter what you call HIM, HER or IT. I know that my prayer is that anyone who see’s me will see the Spirit of Allah within me and that anyone who speaks to me will hear HIS voice. I recieved my stars early from my parents who always dreamed of doing and being better. Who in the late 50’s dared to be entrepreneures. Parents who were not what one would call well educated, you see my father couldn’t read and my mother had a 6th grade education I have learned from them different but distinct things; from my mother I learned compassion, love of family, love of self, community, forgiveness and always know the “The Patience of JOB”. From my father I learned Independence, Trust, being fearless and most of all “save at least 10% of every pay check”.
The stars in my world encompasses the North star that led my parents to migrate from Mississippi to Chicago, where their dream began. My mother having no shoes used paper to form shoes which she tied to her feet. My father not caring about his inability to read found a job and took care of his family.
My need to empower and help others are not mine but were and will always be my parents. Most importantly my patience. Sandee I see stars, your’s, my sons and those whom I work with and come across daily.
Where Do You See Stars?
I see stars in all leaders that are passionate in Social Change. They have the light to be able to help the “potential” youth “spark a light” so that they can have the opportunity to shine. The first people “I See” stars in are the parents. Their contribution towards their kids determines how they will succeed. We, as parents, may not always have the answers but we must strive to make the effort to succeed. And if we fail at least we know what didn’t work and try again.
My daughter, Boo who is now 10, is one of my four beautiful children and future leaders. One of the things that I truly adore is her LOVE & consideration for others. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with Breast Cancer earlier this year. She went through Chemotherapy & Radiation. With the therapy, my mother-in-law lost her hair. Boo felt sadden to see her “Grama” going through this. A few days passed and I walked into our living room where Boo was watching the HBO special documentary “Locks of Love.” As I sat down and asked her questions about this documentary, she said began to talk about the girls on t.v. and with great emotion, connected with them.
I will never forget this Saturday afternoon when Boo could of been outside playing was watching a documentary and turned to me and said, “Can we have a Locks of Love Day? Please mom…I wanna donate my hair.” She wasn’t asking to just cut her 20-30+ inches of hair but also asking to have an entire day!! We are targeting to have her Locks of Love Day on Valentine 2012 and her 4yr old sister now wants to donate her 15-20 inches of hair as well “so that little girls can have Rapunzel hair.”
So if there’s one thing “I See” is that we, as parents, can NEVER fail if we teach our children how to LOVE…how to show their Leadership to create Opportunities for others with Value and through Education.
Much BeaLove,
Beatrice V. Elizalde