GREAT BY CHOICE

It was another amazing day at the Tiger Global Conference in New York City.

 "Jim Collins is one of the most influential management thinkers alive." (Fortune)   He shared tremendous insights from  his new book, Great By Choice.    Drawing from his empirical research, he analyzed the true Great Companies over the past century.

"In difficult times", he challenged the major entrepreneurs from across the globe, "what makes a great leader different from the ones that reach the deathline?"   Disciplined steady growth, the "20 mile march" will get you through the difficult times... and "the right people in the right seat".  The wrong person on your team will weaken your entire internal structure to the point of crumbling when the world around you is in disarray.

The great companies are the ones that are operating at the threshold of peak performance of their major competitors.   This means that every employee must be incredibly passionate about driving the eco engine of your company.  Ask yourself, "what is your main piston and which one is misfiring?"

Next, Dr. Larry Lindsey, the former Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to President George Bush on global economic issues, held a fireside chat with Julian Robertson, the Chairman of Tiger Management.  It was a phenomenal discussion on the outlook for the US economy and Europe's sovereign debt crisis.  He revealed two significant truths.

First truth: In crisis mode, we mistakenly focus on the urgent, instead of what is important.  This causes us to run out of time and brain cells to do what really needs to be done.  

Second truth: To forgive something does not solve the problem.  It is still there!  Echoing Jim Collin's advice, great leaders love confronting the problem and fixing it quickly to minimize damage.  The questions that are raised are not about the past, they are really about the future!

His economic advice for the next decade?  
                                           Keep it safe; diversify; and have liquidity!  

Delivering Happiness

It was a most amazing day as we attended a Global Conference at the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan.


Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos and Jenn Lim, CEO of Delivering Happiness gave inspiring talks about the  transforming power of delivering happiness on both profits, productivity and life.  "There is a movement underway to create a culture of happiness in our society.  Happiness is what gives meaning to our lives, to be part of something bigger than oneself with a higher purpose.  According to Maslow's Hierarchy,  more than a job or a career, it is a calling."  


Do you know what is your calling?   The Book of Esther tells us we are each created for a special purpose that no one else can fill... we may never know what that is, however it is enough that God knows what He is about.

 Next, David Fischer, the Vice President of Global Operations of Facebook, shared their marketing vision for the present and the future.  The importance of building connections and the new 21st century wave of Word of Mouth Marketing was the basis of exponential growth for companies spanning the globe.  He shared several truths regarding the social design of communication and a more partnered centered approach as a platform for creating an ecosystem that yielded results.  

What was key?  The ability to get STARTED NOW and MAKE IT HAPPEN TODAY, and not weeks/months/or a year from now.

Guardian Angel Day

October 2 was the Feast of the Guardian Angels. 

 The angels are pouring down blessings from heaven on our Benedictine Academy school community. The Senior Campus Ministers were busy distributing Guardian Angel Prayer Cards and little sweets to their classmates as they passed through the hallways throughout the day. Sharing kindness and a smile with their BA Sisters filled their hearts with joy.

Angel of God My Guardian dear

to whom God's love commits me here.

Ever this day be at my side,

to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Feast of St. Therese'

St. Therese' of Lisieux is "spending her heaven doing good on earth showering blessings of roses upon us". In celebration of her Feast Day, it is a tradition at Benedictine Academy to honor a special group of people with a beautiful rose. This year our Senior Student Leaders, along with the entire school community, honored our three new teachers to welcome them into our Benedictine family.

Doing "small things with great love" can deliver happiness to the giver, the receiver, the observer and to God! How beautiful and powerful one small act of kindness can be on transforming our world into a better place. Such power... such grace!

WOW Experience!

This year, our Campus Ministers are excited to be Delivering Happiness through "WOW" experiences.

You may be thinking, "What exactly is a WOW experience?".  It is a secret. We can't tell you because we do not want to spoil the SURPRISE.

Come by to say "hello" and see all the remarkable teaching filling our classrooms... and don't forget to stop in Classroom 5 for your WOW experience by our Student Campus Ministry Leaders!

Mr. Jennings, our beloved principal, was knighted as a very special person by our freshmen students.

Celebration of the Mass of the Holy Spirit

It is always a celebration when our dear friend, Benedictine Monk and Headmaster of St. Benedict's Prep, Father Edwin Leahy, is the Presider of our Liturgy. He was on fire with the Spirit as he shared God's unconditional love for each of us and the gift of new beginnings.

Our Gospel Choir joined their voices with Sister Germaine Fritz, President, in beautiful thanks and praise to our loving God for their families, Benedictine Academy, and the multitude of blessings in their lives. We are especially thankful to the Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburga Monastery for welcoming our entire school community in their sacred chapel for the celebration of Mass.

Mass concluded with Father Edwin calling forth a special blessing on the precious bibles that each freshmen and transfer student received as a welcoming gift. The Senior Class presented the bibles in memory of alumnae, Cathy Donnelly Ferruggia. We are grateful to her family for remembering our students each year and continuing this lovely tradition. May God Bless You as you have blessed us.

 

BE A GLOBE CHANGER!

This past year, Benedictine Academy won the Jefferson Awards Regional Gold Medal and the Best New Jefferson Awards School in the Nation! Leading the Way to Success, we are now part of an exciting new program called Jefferson Globe Changers!

"Since 2006, the Jefferson Awards began using its history and prestige to become one of the nation's largest activators, and inspiring volunteering with a special emphasis on young Americans. With GlobeChangers we want any student age 25 and under to THINK BIG. We want to work with their passion and create a national or global service project. The opportunity: Become a significant leader for tomorrow." Sam Beard, co-founder with Jacqueline Onassis and Robert Taft, Jr., of the Nobel Prize for Public Service.

Sam Beard from Kyle Schember on Vimeo.

For more information and to hear Ariana, one of Benedictine Academy's Lead Globe Changers, share her thoughts with viewers, check out this link: http://globechangers.org/index.php .