A Touch of Grace is Worth More than a Bag of Loot
Saturday - August 4, 2007“Jana Stanfield for NSA President” has a nice ring to it. How else can the National Speakers Association fill the star power of its current succession plan? My candidate is Jana.
I know, the year will be 2010/2011 and who is thinking that far into the future? Certainly the National Speakers Association is. The Presidency of 2010/2011 will follow Lenora Billings Harris, Marc LeBlanc, Sam Silverstein and Phillip Van Hooser. Huge shoes. NSA is in more than capable hands and its succession plan is never in doubt.
But, to paraphrase Dan Burrus: “I’m not afraid NSA will fail to change. I’m afraid it will fail to transform.”
So, Jana’s my nominee for the presidency several years hence. I know she’s not running, will likely not accept if nominated and would likely not serve if elected. Trivial details. I’m nominating her anyway. Want to know why?
At the most recent convention my candidate was not main stage. She was backstage – holding an impromptu gathering in a cramped hotel suite overflowing with fans, disciples, and new friends.
What happened that night? Oh, only the kinds of things that happen whenever Jana Stanfield takes the stage or steps into a room anywhere in the world. Miracles.
It started quietly enough. Jana sang a few songs and told a tale or two of her work with the women of India and Asia. Then, in pure “Jana style,” she gave her stage over to not one, but two, “VIP’s” (NSA calls first time convention attendees “VIP’s”). Both had incredible talent. Their gorgeous singing voices filled the room – and the clear message that shone through was that Jana was recognizing every first timer in the room, and every first timer at the convention – treating them, indeed, as VIP’s.
What happened next is that the room filled with a generosity of spirit without dissonance or disagreement. Everyone felt a part of something bigger, and grander than themselves. That’s the way it is with Jana’s work. She brings all faiths together and sees the value in everyone’s experience.
Jana’s message is always “Celebrate Others! Let’s hear it for serving others!” She calls upon her audiences not just to participate, but to give and to stretch. And she practices what she preaches as she travels the world with “Women Helping Women Helping Others.” What more could you ask of an association president?
Jana seems to ask the question that few others ask. What is it that we need to transform? Are we in need of transforming our businesses – or are we in need of transforming our world?
In her award winning writer’s workshop, “Word by Word,” Anne Lamott said:
“I’m secretly in this business because I want people to start helping save the world…. what matters is that we find out who we are and that we learn how to take care of each other better.”
The truth is that both the current and the future presidents of NSA, whether they like it or not, will be called upon to help save the world. Transforming our businesses will profit us little if we fail to do that.
Yes, the National Speakers Association can be led by a woman with a guitar whose weapons are smiles, songs, stories and tears. It can be led by someone who clearly says, “I’m not perfect,” and blesses us all with impossibly stunning feats of grace.
Jana Stanfield for President. Just hope she accepts.
“Jana Stanfield for NSA President” certainly has a resonant ring to it. I, for one, believe Jana has the brains, talent, heart and gumption (a good western Kentucky term loosely defined as being a healthy combination of vision, commitment and all-around common sense) to find a way to do just about anything she sets her mind to do.
Never mind for a moment, that NSA does not choose it’s leaders by way of a campaign–grass roots or otherwise. Why not Jana as president? After all, NSA’s 30+ year history as an organization is a testament to the contributions of hundreds of individuals, the majority of whom were patterned from a mold of selfless service similar to the one that fashioned Jana. I would suggest a more important question might be, “Why would we want to constrain the likes of Jana with an office as limiting as President?”
To me, Jana resembles the pleasing aroma of fresh baked bread. Whenever and wherever I encounter her, I find myself being refreshed and tantalized by the experience. She makes me feel good about who I am, where I am and about the possibilities that exist within me. Her spirit is such, that like the aroma of bread, it should not be restricted to the confines of the kitchen where the bread is baked, but rather should be free to waft deliciously through the window, down the street, into alley ways and around the corners of life that most of us would not think (or dare) to travel. But Jana travels unafraid. After all, she has often reminded us that she’s “not lost, just exploring.”
Jana and I have been friends for more than 10 years. We met at NSA and our friendship was solidified there. In fact, I have an autographed photo of Jana hanging on my office wall (along side a couple dozen other of my NSA heroes). The sentiment Jana penned on the photo reads, “Phil, UBU IME. Love, Jana.” That’s what I think Jana is best at–being herself, while encouraging others to be exactly who and what they are–all in the context of love.
I look forward to serving this organization as president in a couple of years. Until then, I will learn from the capable leadership of those that preceed me as president. And when it finally comes time for me to leave that office I look forward to turning the gavel over to another capable colleague–yet unidentifed–who, I am confident, will lead our association to even great heights. Will that be Jana? Probably not. But I hope it will be someone with an equal measure of brains, talent, heart and gumption.
Meanwhile, I trust Jana will go right on being her unique self, making music, filling hearts and touching lives with few, if any, organizational constraints. And to that, I say, “Jana, UBU!”
I would gladly vote for Jana Stanfield for President of NSA! She is talented in every way, especially when it comes to people. As President of NSA, Jana’s goal to make a difference in the world would surely be possible. She is an excellent role model as a speaker and as a friend.
Heard Jana, bought all the CD’s and keep them in my car to keep me grounded in the wild Denver traffic. Put my vote in!
I’ve know and loved Jana for more years than I can remember. And I love sharing her with others. A few years ago I gave all my coaching clients a copy of one of her CDs as a holiday gift.
So even though I agree with “Jana Stanfield for NSA President”, I wouldn’t want to confine her talents and her potential for affecting the world in this way.
I see Jana as a world leader. And I give her lots of votes and support for continuing to do the great work she does through her music and being who she is. A great role model for all of us.