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The Art of…

Lynette-Johnson-Art-of-Bali-John-Hardy-DFS-Starboard-Cruise

September 19, 2019 In Art of the Cruise

the Art of the Cruise

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things”

-Henry Miller

I was first introduced to the “Art of the Cruise” as a teenager when I had the opportunity to join my parents for a week-long cruise in the Caribbean. Several years later, I sailed on another 7-day cruise with my parents and their friends. Unfortunately, on both occasions, motion sickness cast its unwelcome curse, and I spent 2 days in my cabin bed enjoying the horizontal view. The beginning and end of the cruises were fun and engaging, while the middle segue was humbling.

Fast forward 20 years later, and I had the opportunity to join Starboard Cruise Services to lead a talented Team empowered to provide best-in-class retail experiences onboard cruise ships. This was a fascinating next step in a 19-year career within LVMH Group. Starboard is based in Miami while operating across 10 different Cruise lines with ships sailing continuously around the world. The opportunity to be a part of an organization with thousands of team members across 26 diverse nationalities with 80 ships circling the globe, was intriguing.

I fell in love with retail at the start of my career and continue to feed this passion through continual growth. I have led a diverse blend of unique businesses across varied cultures with multiple layers of complexity and context. The opportunity at Starboard was another avenue to fuel this passion for growth. The scale of opportunity across Retail Operations, Merchandising, Marketing, Store Design, was amplified by the fact that ships constantly moved and changed geographies. This meant not only the neighborhood changed every 6 months, but the diversity of our guests and team as well. This was going to be a unique lesson in complexity and art.

I called my parents to share the exciting news which was followed by several moments of reverberating laughter. Did I really think a role where I would frequently sail on cruise ships was a good idea? To which I responded, yes, I thought it was an excellent idea. An opportunity to quench my thirst for a complex challenge with the added benefit of overcoming a lifelong obstacle. Or, worst case scenario, I would increase supply in my fashionable scopolamine patch. On a positive note, after three years, this unfortunate disturbance did subside and I persevered through many cruises and outgrew it. I was very pleased to share this news with my family.

The “Art of the Cruise” is a passion that continues to grow globally around the world. It is an affordable way to embrace a variety of cultural experiences and you can tailor the offer based on how you want to experience it. If you are adventurous and prefer a plethora of entertaining activities with Instagrammable “firsts”, we have a recommended Cruise line for you. If you prefer a serene experience with exclusive educational opportunities and personalized itineraries, we have this too. The importance of offering “experiences not things” and experiences based on how individuals choose to have them, will continue to impact all aspects of our daily lives.

It’s a privilege to be surrounded by a community of like-minded happy individuals. This was one of the first discoveries I had when I joined the Starboard Team. Everyone onboard a cruise ship is happy. Celebrating an engagement, wedding, anniversary, birthday, or families and friends relishing the opportunity to simply spend time together. I consider myself to be a positive person, however, being surrounded with up to 6000 additional happy people 24/7 on a ship is a life changing experience. You imagine a positively engaged community back home, and extending the boundary into every-day life.

Travel opens up our world: We embrace new cultures, hear diverse dialects, taste and smell exotic fare; It’s an experience that envelopes all of our senses. It is these discoveries that expand our contextual horizon and fuel our imagination. We become comfortable being uncomfortable and broaden our perspective. We become more understanding of our cultural differences and appreciative of our unexpected similarities. As we all evolve from our travel experiences we can one day imagine a world without borders.

Lynette-Johnson-Art-of-Loss-journey-family

March 30, 2017 In Art of Loss

the Art of Loss

“The song has ended but the melody lingers on…”

–Irving Berlin

I did not fully understand the “Art of Loss” until my father passed away. I had been in Minnesota 10 days earlier to celebrate my parents 55th wedding anniversary, before traveling back home to Miami Beach. I was at work when I received a distressed phone call from my Mom; my father had suffered a cardiac arrest, and was in a coma at the hospital.

There was an awareness within me that one day I would hear words like this, but it’s not a situation you can truly be prepared for. When the reality sinks in that you will lose a hero of your childhood a tumultuous roller-coaster of emotions set in. My father was my courageous protector and one of my biggest fans for over 50 years; and life would never be the same without him.

My father was a formidable teacher. I grew up in a household where discipline, hard work, and family were valued. I watched my father start every day at 5:30am, brew coffee, and leave for work by 6:15am. We ate dinner together every night as a family, and the simple things in life were cherished. To this day, I associate the aromatic smell of coffee in the morning with my Dad.

My father loved all things nature. He grew up on a farm in Superior, Wisconsin. He was happiest when he was outside in the woods. He painted Minnesota as an adventure showing me its richness and helping me to discover its beauty for myself. We belonged to a camping club and traveled all over the US and Canada in our camper. We ate by the campfire together, met new families, and made new friends. When we were home, we spent weekends on the boat waterskiing and fishing, or camping at nearby lakes.

My father’s hobby was his lawn. It was meticulously cared for: fertilizing, watering, cutting, and mulching. His riding lawn mower was constantly in use – I can picture him with his cowboy boots, sunhat, and beer in hand. His lawn was always the most brilliant green, and created the perfect segue into the garden, which was and still is my Mother’s creative domain. My contribution were the steady flow of Home Depot gift cards which kept the entire scientific process in balance.

My father was also instrumental in my earliest fashion choice: Cowboy Boots. I lived in boots for several years with his proud stamp of approval. Cowboy boots were perfect for everything in Minnesota. They were perfect for bringing Gary down on the school playground when he was picking on my friend Lisa (to my Mother’s dismay and my Father’s slight smile.) I also learned they were perfect for climbing trees, which was my #1 expertise.

My father’s guiding hand was influential in so many ways. It’s there in every picture from my childhood – As I learned how to swim, catch fish, horseback ride, fall off a motorcycle, and drive a car. It was there to provide for us as we grew together as a family. My Dad held my hand and encouraged me through many of life’s lessons. I am grateful I was able to hold his hand in the same way many years later as an adult.

When you lose someone you love, they say a part of your soul leaves with them, and a part of their soul stays with you. I believe this to be true. I know the part of him that is with me is the inspiring spirit that encourages me to experience the world, while staying grounded in what is important. The part of me that resides with him is the acknowledgement that he made a life-changing impact on an adopted little girl who needed parents and a family – and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Dad, I am grateful I was able to be with you and hold your hand one last time. Letting go was the hardest thing I have ever done. I will never forget the moment when your heart stopped beating and my heart didn’t. It took my breath away. I miss you and I love you, Dad.

September 11, 2016 In Art of Change

the Art of Change

“One moment can change a day, one day can change a life and one life can change the world.”

–Buddha

The “Art of change” is a compelling proposition. When you have a vested interest in driving change and leading a team of people to achieve greater results, it is a unique challenge when part of the team wants to change and part of the team does not. People may hesitate taking a journey into the unknown when they are comfortable with the way things currently are.

I enjoy leading change while developing strategies to grow businesses and building high performance teams to deliver results. It is an area of expertise I am passionate about and continue to develop. Seeing a team of people grow together and collaborate freely while being empowered to make decisions, is rewarding.

Leading change starts with inspiring people to see a vision they want to deliver. When people see a future that is brighter than today, they start to weigh the risks and rewards – what will the future mean for me and how can I contribute to its success. By painting a compelling picture, you create a desirable destination for people to travel to. Then you can focus on empowering people to creatively get there together.

There are immediate financial priorities to focus on when leading change in an organization. Balancing the urgency of delivering results while influencing culture change requires a thoughtful approach. It is helpful to assume everyone has the skills to perform their role and is given the opportunity to prove themselves. I believe everyone should be given this initial chance. People deemed unable to embrace change can flourish when empowered to think differently and lead change, and surprise everyone.

People want to be part of the change process and to be heard – what is working well, what isn’t working well, and what you can do to support them. You won’t fully understand what is happening inside an organization until you hear it first-hand from the ground up. It is an opportunity to learn and be visible and engaging with everyone throughout the organization as decisions are being made.

People that are face to face with the customer have tremendous insight. You can hear what the customer is saying and identify areas of opportunity for the organization to focus on. You always learn something new. The best ideas can stem from a variety of customer-facing teams – they know where the opportunities are but may not have the right channel to voice them.

You can discover hidden obstacles when meeting directly with teams, and it is a perfect opportunity to solve them. Recurring daily obstacles can be frustrating, and if they can be easily solved, it makes a meaningful difference. Paying attention to what teams are experiencing and driving a series of positive changes, influences culture. A series of small wins can build momentum. Communication channels are initiated where everyone is heard and feels supported by the leadership team while being part of the change process.

Cross-functional silos are a key challenge when leading change. Functional areas can operate with limited crossover and accountability in place. It is imperative to break down the walls and facilitate ways for the teams to engage openly and share how to fix what is broken. By ensuring cross-functional teams are accountable for the change process, the teams are empowered to identify the best ways to deliver improved results together. You can drive a lot of momentum through empowering leaders to take action at all levels.

When the “Art of Change” is led well, the leadership team is trusted. There is a willingness to share information across the entire organization and openly communicate while the organization is evolving.

It is an opportunity to bring an organization together and align resources to empower the right people to make the right decisions and capture the rich potential of the future.

September 11, 2016 In Art of a Team

the Art of a Team

“We rise by lifting others.”

–Robert G. Ingersoll

Building a team is an art. And like any artistic process, it takes years of experience to develop expertise and master your craft. Years of inspiring a vision, developing plans, overcoming obstacles, delivering results, and motivating a diverse group of individuals to achieve greater success.

It is rewarding to build a team when culture change is required. It is an opportunity to combine strengths of individual team members in a refreshed way and operate differently. It is exhilarating when you create the right formula. An opportunity to get the right things done with people in the right roles to make them happen.

It is an art to bring people together with a common purpose. Blending a team of people together to share a vision, be capable of executing a plan to deliver it, and ultimately, be motivated to do it. It becomes a balance of building collaboration and expertise while inspiring everyone to act and encourage the heart.

Opportunities are lost when delivering financial results is a top priority without considering the team of people who will deliver it. It is vital to understand everyone’s strengths and empower how they can work together and help each other create success. Tremendous energy can be generated through leveraging everyone’s strengths.

When you focus on delivering results while also prioritizing people development and building effective teams, you create an environment for new ideas to thrive. You fuel an incredible amount of new idea generation while steering the process. You create high performance teams with a dynamic blend of business expertise, creativity, and empowerment.

Finding skilled individuals who are the right social and cultural fit is also important. It balances the importance of “what we do” and equally prioritizes “how we do it.” By creating a strong cultural base, it builds morale and establishes a positive working environment that everyone wants to be a part of.

A team is fun to be in when it is built well. Balancing work and fun is essential. A team that experiences wins and losses, brainstorms and shares ideas, and celebrates successes together, performs better. Enjoying what is being created while becoming more skilled at creating it. It drives incredible momentum for growth and inspires ongoing learning and development.

I have been fortunate to be a part of many dynamic and diverse teams. My career has been successfully founded in it. The “Art of the Team” is a highly influential aspect of my personal growth. It is fundamental to how we connect with each other and partner together to achieve goals.

The ability to blend a diverse group of individuals together to achieve greater results truly is in “Art.”

An “Art” that can positively impact the lives of others in a meaningful way as you continue to master your craft.

May 29, 2016 In Art of Opportunity

the Art of Opportunity

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”

–Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

It is invigorating when tackling a new challenge. Skills are tested, and the boundaries of personal experiences are stretched. When you accomplish what you set out to do and practice the skills needed to steer through life’s obstacles, the reward is gratifying. Each new adventurous challenge becomes an opportunity.

I had an opportunity to lead a US $300M business unit that was faced with increased competition, market share loss, and declining profit. This business unit had the most difficult financial performance within a global organization, and the short-term outlook was challenging. This was precisely the opportunity I was looking for. I was acutely aware of the rugged terrain ahead and jumped at the chance to join the team.

Our team was overwhelmed with an onslaught of bad news hindering our ability to keep everything positively moving forward. When faced with the barrage of bad news all at once it is easy to lose confidence, and what can follow is the questioning of your own abilities. When a team is no longer sure it has the capability to win, failure to see opportunity is the greatest risk.

Our first priority was to bring everyone together with clarity of purpose. Collectively, we needed to be inspired by our future and share in the vision of what we wanted to achieve. Once we envisioned the vast potential of what the future could become, we could start focusing on the daily tasks to get ourselves there.

We needed to fall in love again. We needed to fall in love with the meaning behind what we were doing and how we planned to do it. Incorporating moments of happiness into a daily routine created an emotional connection. Emotionally engaging the team helped everyone work harder for themselves and for each other. By encouraging a culture of opportunity everyone became inspired to contribute. Opportunity started to present itself.

There is an element of wonder that unveils itself when you are engaged with what you do. You see things differently when you are inspired by your surroundings, and you discover opportunity in everyday interactions. By sharing these discoveries with others, you can inspire them to look at things differently too. When everyone is inspired, the rich potential of the team and the wealth of opportunity is within reach.

I was blessed with several team members who radiated creativity as a core strength. The blend of creativity with business expertise was a powerful combination that helped build momentum and inspire process; it created an unpredictable approach which fueled hidden opportunities in a difficult business climate.

By combining the inherent strengths of each individual with the innate strengths of other individuals, everyone became united in purpose, and the sum of those strengths amounted to exceeding our goals. It was the perfect example of 1+1=3. The opportunity to create something extraordinary is within reach.

Fueling opportunity through structured processes creates dynamic tools to bring everyone together. When processes are embraced throughout an organization, everyone owns a piece of the game plan and has a vested interest to ensure it leads to success. You have established a sustainable chain of opportunity with everyone working together to achieve the same goal.

Meaning and purpose leads to discovery in all facets of life and career. They lead to new opportunities that add value and maximize possibilities as the environment changes. Opportunity is harnessed through visualizing its potential, engaging new relationships, and combining strengths.

By dreaming of what the future can become, you begin creating a path filled with opportunity that guides you toward your desired destination.

May 24, 2016 In Art of a Sunset

the Art of a Sunset

“Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too.”

-Beau Taplin

A sunset is one of life’s inspiring gifts that I have grown to appreciate over time by paying more attention to it. I enjoy being captivated by the dramatic theater of a sunset. To discover a colorful sunset display by accident, or become mesmerized by a rainbow of color while on vacation far away from home, is an extraordinary experience.

Watching a sunset unfold is like discovering a secret entrance into a live performance that is uniquely yours. The performance is for one night only and when it finishes, you feel privy to peek through a window into the grandeur of Mother Nature’s artistry. While others may glimpse an alternate version of the live performance, some may not even see it at all.

I became fully captivated with the “Art of a Sunset” when I moved to Guam. I had just spent three years living in Hong Kong when I relocated to live atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean. I remember my first evening at home after we finished unpacking and I walked into the back yard to take a breath. The sunset that evening was spectacular. After three years of intense city life, the experience of walking barefoot through grass while surrounded by an incredible sunset, was a breathtaking welcome.

As the pulse of daily life fell into groove, I would periodically arrive home in time to glimpse the evening’s wonderful array of colours. I quickly learned the strategic placement of my home was on par with having a front row seat, center stage. When the performance began it enveloped my entire living room and pulled me into the back yard so I could witness the magic. How awe inspiring it is to have a canvas of the grandest scale in front of you as your back yard.

It did not take long for me to become accustomed to arriving home in time for the show to start. In fact, as the day progressed, if Mother Nature appeared to be setting the stage for a spectacular event, I would juggle my calendar to arrive home in time. It’s interesting how quickly I connected to this dramatic display of nature’s artistry, when it was a daily event I under appreciated for over forty years.

Basking in the beautiful warm glow of a sunset is a moment to disconnect and enjoy the present. It’s an opportunity to appreciate one of life’s wonders, and on a positive note, you don’t need to be on vacation. You just need to open your eyes to witness the daily “Art of the Sunset” perform its colorful dance into the horizon and exit the stage.

Watching the sun set at the end of the day, is when the passage of time is most evident. It’s when we realize another day has passed, and Mother Nature brings it to closure with an exclamation point. It’s when we pause to reflect on another page of our journey, and today’s colorful exit fades away into the promise of a colorful new tomorrow.

May 9, 2016 In Art of the Senses

the Art of the Senses

“You’re always one decision away from a totally different life”

At age 26, I had the opportunity to move to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe is a rich cultural community with a wealth of sensory experiences that heighten all five of your senses: from seeing the varied art galleries; tasting the southwestern blend of spices; inhaling the aroma of roasting Chile; hearing the familiar sounds of the Markets; and touching the beautiful adobe buildings that envelope you.

I was overjoyed to find an old adobe pueblo built in 1911 as my new home. It was the ideal post card setting for the experience I was envisioning to have in New Mexico, and it was a prime location- one block off Canyon Road, in the heart of the artist district of downtown Santa Fe. I moved into my new home in June, at the start of a breathtaking summer season.

I embraced my new lifestyle with evening walks to the many renowned restaurants, and weekends spent discovering the many art galleries of Santa Fe. The Farmers Market became a favorite weekend tradition where I basked in the variety of New Mexican Chile and spices, and I thrived on conversations with local farmers and restaurant owners, discovering the flavor of Santa Fe through their artistry.

The community of Santa Fe was a unique blend of locals, part-time seasonal residents, and tourists. At the time I was there, Santa Fe had an acceleration of tourism and hotels were consistently sold out of rooms. This created even more demand as Santa Fe gained momentum as a top destination to visit. Santa Fe attracted a unique blend of artists, spiritual enthusiasts, nature photographers, musicians, and chefs, creating an enchanting blend of artistic talent to behold. I was in awe of the diversity of creativity and the “Art of the Senses” surrounding me and quickly became embedded in the community.

New Mexico Chile is an education in the “Art of the Senses.” The Chile grown in New Mexico is a fantasy of naturally dense color – Green Chile, Red Chile, Pintando (rainbow mix), and an interesting blend of varietals – Big Jims, Barkers, Rio Grande, Sandia. For the first 60 days after my arrival, I struggled to adapt to the levels of Chile heat, which seemed to vary between “hot”, “wow this is really hot”, and “I can’t breathe.”

All food in Santa Fe had an influence of Chile – from eggs at breakfast, to enchiladas at lunch, to southwestern grilled chicken for dinner, and dessert. I humbly bowed to the constant firing up of my senses, and started carrying a box of tissue with me to all lunches and dinners. I gave up attempting to gracefully adapt, and just embraced the experience. Chile is habit forming. It’s puzzling when your body responds strongly to the fiery invasion while craving more at the same time. You find yourself inhaling a long breath to process the heat while ingesting another mouthful at the same time.

There is a science behind the craving for Chile. Capsaicin is the compound that makes the Chile spicy, and creates the same effect on our pain receptors as heat. Capsaicin also causes the body to release endorphins, which is a pleasurable experience. In other words, Chile makes you happy. I marveled at how quickly my craving materialized and how happy I became constantly eating and thinking about eating Chile.

I still smell the heady aroma of roasting Chile that wafted throughout Santa Fe during Chili season, and hear the cracking of Chili roasting at the Farmer’s Market. Currently, my lifelong Chile addiction includes shipping freshly picked Hatch Green Chile overnight from the farm when in season, and shipping frozen packages of roasted Big Jims for the remainder of the year, to my home. A freezer dedicated to New Mexico Chile can become a topic of conversation for visitors to my home. Fortunately, I can rationalize the situation with scientific experts. After all, its just science.

The charm of my post card adobe home did fade slightly with the introduction of winter. As winter became formidable at times, I discovered the absence of central heat to be a fundamental misstep. My contrived heating system consisted of a wood stove in the kitchen, a strategically placed electric heater in the bathroom, and an electric blanket. The strategic placement of the bathroom heater unveiled itself as the temperature dropped and snow began to fall.

Surprisingly, when the air temperature fell, the window in my bathroom no longer closed, which resulted in a miraculous compiling of snow and frost in the shower every morning. My morning routine adapted to include a trip to turn on the space heater, a quick scamper back to the electric blanket, a courageous dash into the shower, followed by an animated water dance while the tile unfroze. A suspect addition into the “Art of the Senses.”

Christmas in Santa Fe was magical, and one of my favorite “Art of the Senses” experiences. On Christmas Eve, I ventured towards downtown to meet friends at our favorite restaurant for dinner. As I approached Canyon Road, there were farolitas (paper bags with tea light candles inside) lining the edge of the road on either side. Campfires were in the street in front of many of the art galleries, and hundreds of people had gathered to share holiday drinks and sing carols together. I unexpectedly stopped in my tracks to soak the entire setting in. It reminded me of a Norman Rockwell painting, and I was absorbed into the scene as it came to life all around me.

It’s a privilege to live in an artist community and be consistently surrounded in creativity. You seek out ways to continue stimulating your heightened senses, which becomes an “Art.” I found myself driving home down Canyon Road every evening so I could enjoy the evening lights and artwork in the darkness through lit gallery windows.

Carole LaRoche Gallery became a favorite, and her haunting Red Wolves would stare out at me as I drove by. There was something knowing in their gaze that gave me goose bumps. At the time, I could not afford the art pieces I fell in love with, however, years later I flew to Santa Fe to purchase the Red Wolves that eluded me years before. My companion wolves are still one of my favorite memorable pieces and they continue to cast their knowing sensory gaze my way everyday.

May 9, 2016 In Art of Intensity

the Art of Intensity

“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a star.”

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Everyone should live in Hong Kong, at least once.

Hong Kong is an experience in intensity. If you have ever eaten authentic Szechuan food, you know what I mean. Levels of flavor gradually pour in and quickly and abruptly overwhelm your senses until you finally gasp for air.

In Hong Kong, I was immediately absorbed into an environment that is at a constant level of intensity and change. There is a fascinating dynamic of contrasts within the city. While living there I developed an awareness of the unpredictable influences that can quickly change everything overnight.

Living and working in Hong Kong is exciting. There are tremendous resources at your fingertips. Everything functions seamlessly. There is a rhythm to the constant current of millions of people, an intensity made up of people and cultures from all over the world blending together in this singularly contained vertical space.

Hong Kong is a powerhouse. The magnitude of daily activity in and out of the city is awe inspiring, and the dense coexistence of commerce and humanity is humbling. Building a business in Hong Kong is an introduction into a world of complimentary forces ultimately fueling the growth of a dynamic economy while being able to control it.

In Hong Kong I spent most of my time in the sky. My home and office were perched high up within this vertical arena. Occasionally, I landed on the ground in between. I made my home in an apartment that looked out into the heart of Hong Kong’s architectural marvels. It’s interesting how much your perceptions change depending on what floor you live on. You find yourself thinking acutely in three-dimensional terms. I could find serenity up high with a view of the city down below, or seek excitement down low right in the heart of it all.

Taxi rides in Hong Kong are a lesson in intensity. While you see your destination across the harbor in Kowloon, the apparent ease it takes to get there becomes irrelevant to the experience you are about to have. Getting there can be a ten-ticket ride. It starts with a series of twists and turns throughout the jungle maze of city streets. Often the driver will hit bursts of speed, yet suddenly and miraculously maneuver into the fastest traffic lane without event. Layer upon layer of gravity-pulling starts and stops brings you closer to your destination, then ten traffic lanes condense into two, and you disappear into a tunnel for a short break.

As you emerge from the quiet hum of the tunnel on the other side, the intensity kicks in again. Eventually, you learn to assert authority from the back seat and influence the outcome with your taxi driver – mastering the starts and stops of your experience while calmly enjoying crystallized ginger now and then. That was just one half of the daily commute.

Even Mother Nature throws intensity at you. My first test was a T10 Typhoon. I questioned my decision to live in a high-rise glass apartment building, set precariously into the edge of a cliff, which suspiciously swayed in the wind. I found myself debating whether the building was going to hold tightly to the hillside, or slide into the heart of the city. And yet we both stood up to it. Two years later, another impending T10 became an opportunity to relax at home with a glass of wine.

The “Art of Intensity” is the ability to stay focused and controlled while a dynamic environment swirls and shifts around you.

Hong Kong was where I discovered I could live my life as an adventure in the sky.

Hong Kong became an opportunity to experience heightened contrasts. It was a remarkably dense, diverse community I was fortunate to be a part of, and an ideal place to master skills in the “Art of Intensity.”

And Hong Kong is where my intense love of Szechuan food was born. The hotter, the better.

Lynette-R-Johnson-Art-of-the-Village-DFS-Team

May 9, 2016 In Art of the Village

the Art of the Village

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”

-Audrey Hepburn

“It takes a Village.” While many of us have heard this proverb at some point in our life, this particular ideal became reality when I moved to Guam.

When I first joined DFS in 1994, Guam and Saipan were two of the places I visited. These two small islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean were full of unique character with a fascinating blend of history and culture. My journey came full circle with the opportunity to actually live in Guam and Saipan 20 years later.

Guam and Saipan are two of the original islands that helped create the foundation of DFS Group. Today, DFS Group is a US $4BN Luxury Travel retailer headquartered in Hong Kong. As the founders of Duty Free Shoppers expanded business throughout the Pacific Rim, Guam and Saipan, were key to capture the emerging Japanese tourism market, which had just started to travel. For the long-term employees of DFS Group, these two heritage locations are respected for their critical role in creating the future success of DFS Group, as we know it today.

When I moved to Guam and Saipan, I acquired 700 new family members overnight. I quickly realized these 700 DFS employees were somehow related to everyone else on both islands. My newly extended family was actually an entire village spanning across two islands. As an only child growing up with a small family in Minnesota, I considered this a fascinating accomplishment.

Everything is easier when you have a village community. There is an extended network of friends and family at your fingertips. People help each other and have fun together. People work together to create a successful business while serving each other, celebrating what you are creating, while determining how you can improve the quality of life for everyone. Any problem you have becomes everyone’s problem, and it will promptly and collectively be solved.

Sustainable growth was the foundation of our village community. When you are a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, your families depend on it. Tourism brings visitors from Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, to both islands, and the collective community focuses on creating demand for others to keep visiting. My appreciation for sustainable growth has grown over the span of my entire career, but it is here, in Guam and Saipan, where I thought about it every day.

When you are tasked with creating sustainable growth for a village community, that has become your family, it is personal. When your personal and professional interests intersect and become a collective priority, it changes everything. It broadens your perception of what you do, and it broadens your perspective of what you can achieve. It creates a balance with the goals you intend to achieve and the sustainability of how you intend to achieve them.

The culture of Guam reflects rich traditional Chamorro customs along with strong Spanish influences and other American, European, Asian, and Micronesian visitor influences. The community of Guam is a wonderfully diverse blend of Chamorro, Filipino, American, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Micronesian islanders. (Including, four Minnesotans at the time of my arrival with our Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo also proudly growing up in Minnesota.)

The blend of all of these cultural influences is expertly captured in the unique Pacific Rim food. One of the true “Arts of the Village.” Key staples in the menu include: Red rice, barbequed chicken, pancit (Filipino style noodles), kelaguen (chopped barbecue chicken or shrimp, fresh grated coconut, peppers, onion, lime juice), finadene (a sauce made with soy, garlic, lime juice, peppers, vinegar, onions), and dinanche. Homemade dinanche is my favorite Chamorro accompaniment: a unique blend of peppers, coconut milk, onions, garlic, lime juice, and a variety of family ingredients.

The signature gathering of the Village is the Fiesta or Barbecue, where skilled grill masters and family chefs come together to create the ultimate feast. Family recipes are handed down over generations and a variety of fresh island ingredients are blended together into an art. Each family dish is uniquely theirs, so the gathering of everyone’s dishes together is a delightful array of flavors to experience. It’s a privilege to attend the many Fiestas and Barbecues that encompass the island as families and friends celebrate together throughout the year.

My first BBQ at my home, hosting 50 team members, was a true Fiesta. This is where the “Art of the Village” excels to the benefit of all. It starts by humbly accepting offers from everyone to bring their favorite family dish, and everyone also coordinates to ensure the menu is covered. Next, you invite the master griller who will expertly craft the best grill menu and incorporate all of his secret sauces. He will, in turn, invite several other master grillers who will capably handle the preparation and execution of the grills.

In my case, it was capably handled by the entire DFS softball team who promptly caravanned over to my home after their softball game in a series of capable trucks. Traditional seasoned metal barrels and wire grates were unloaded, along with several coolers. Next, cars upon cars of friends arrived with an exceptional variety of homemade family dishes. This is when I exhaled a sigh of relief and took my cue to relax and enjoy the “Art of the Village.” It’s also when I learned my role was to simply supply the cold beer and refreshments.

Guam and Saipan is where I felt at home from day one. In some ways, before I arrived. There is overwhelming comfort in being embraced by the “Art of the Village.”

Guam is where I appreciated the importance of promoting sustainable growth while serving others. This will forever influence everything I do.

Guam is where I experienced the most exceptional sunsets and the most incredible Barbecue I have ever tasted. Better than anywhere else in the world. The “Art of the Village” at its best.

May 9, 2016 In Art of the Soul

the Art of the Soul

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”

-Rumi

Karya Tangan Indah (KTI) jewelry manufacture in Bali, which is also a sustainable farm, was the setting for a compelling opportunity with John Hardy Jewelry. I was recruited to lead the global Brand product strategy and oversee the Bali design center and jewelry manufacturing operation. I sold my home in San Francisco to move into an antique wood joglo set in the midst of a rice paddy featuring limited electricity, occasional wireless, several animated geckos, and outdoor plumbing.

With the promise of adventure and an opportunity to experience a fascinating culture rich with ceremonial and artisanal tradition, this was a captivating next step. It was a pivotal decision, and one of my most inspired career moves. Overnight, I became responsible for 550 employees and their families, their welfare consistently at the forefront of my decision-making. Bali became my home for three years.

Bali is a study in contrasts and balances as epitomized by the black and white checkered cloths that dot the landscape. Numerous temples spoke of the deep-rooted ceremonial traditions of the Balinese, whose religious origins are based in Hindu and Buddhist practices. Amid the tranquility of tropical-island living was a vibrant, staccato urban energy, all blending perfectly. These were constant reminders for me to balance everything I have learned so far with everything I was quickly learning.

The KTI organization is predominantly Hindu and Muslim. This was my first opportunity to lead an organization with a diversity of religious preference, and there was a beauty in the diversity, a tolerance for everyone’s differences. People came together with a similar interest in the “Art of the hands” to create beautiful handmade jewelry. I appreciated how everything just worked.

Creating jewelry is an art. I am a firm believer that the art of the process determines the outcome. When skilled artisans come together to craft an object, you can feel it. At John Hardy, we referred to it as the “soul” of the jewelry. The silversmith tradition in Bali has been handed down over generations. Weaving palm fronds into daily offerings, designing penjar, carving wood, embroidering kebaya, amongst the many examples of artisanal tradition in Bali are skills many start to develop as a child and some become masters of their craft at a very young age.

Being surrounded by a community of incredibly talented artisans is a privilege to witness first hand. My role was to create an environment where everyone was inspired to create, and also challenged to enhance expertise. We created momentum – staff from the kitchen to production to design filled with an appreciation and pride of what we were achieving, while becoming even better at achieving it.

Bali inspired my journey into the “Art of the soul.” When you experience the “Art of the soul” captured expertly in children, and throughout the fabric of an entire community, you understand the importance of sustaining and protecting it. Taking pride in the “Art of the soul” helps generate interest among youth, and engaging youth promotes sustainable resources for our business. Sustainable growth for our business protects traditions. The success of our mission at John Hardy rested in the creation of handmade jewelry and at the same time helped reinforce and nurture the soul of the community.

Bali was a window into a diverse community. How the diversity of language, culture, religious preference, can be condensed into one community. We are all part of a community. We have an opportunity to broaden the scope of what we consider our community to be.

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