Resources & Inspiration


The Contract

by: William Ayot
 
A word from the led
And in the end we follow them –
not because we are paid,
not because we might see some advantage,
not because of the things they have accomplished
not even because of the dreams they dream
but simply because of who they are:
the man, the woman, the leader, the boss
standing up there when the wave hits the rock,
passing out faith and confidence like lifejackets,
knowing the currents, holding the doubts,
imagining the delights and terrors of every landfall:
captain, pirate and parent by turns,
the bearer of our countless hopes and expectations.
We give them our trust. We give them our effort,
What we ask in return is that they stay true.


Start Close In

by: David Whyte
 
Start close in,
don’t take the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step you don’t want to take.
 
Start with
the ground
you know,
the pale ground
beneath your feet,
your own
way of starting
the conversation.
 
Start with your own
question,
give up on other
people’s questions,
don’t let them
smother something
simple.
To find
another’s voice
follow
your own voice,
wait until
that voice
becomes a
private ear
listening
to another.
 
Start right now
take a small step
you can call your own
don’t follow
someone else’s
heroics, be humble
and focused,
start close in,
don’t mistake
that other
for your own.
 
Start close in,
don’t take the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step you don’t want to take.