I've seen Congressman Weiner in action before. This is pretty impressive as an example of conviction and of persuasive speaking.

-- 4 AUGUST --

If an explanation is really necessary, Congressman Weiner supplied one in today's New York Times.

Chris Brogan calls attention to a new campaign by Levi's. His whole post contains a more pointed video about what's going on in Braddock. There's real impact here and it's important because it speaks to potential, possibility, and what we can make of ourselves and our world if we're also willing to be responsible and take action. It's amazing to me how a video that seems to have such a narrow focus can expand itself in the minds of viewers. It makes me think of all the arenas and organizations I'm involved in, and it challenges me not necessarily to do more, but to do better. I hope this video is viewed, discussed, and acted on widely.

She was smeared by right-wing media, condemned by the NAACP, and canned by the Obama administration. It wasn't pretty, what was done this week to Shirley Sherrod.

And maybe something good can come of it. The thought occurred to me after reading her now-famous speech, which is about the power of grace and the possibility of redemption.

Here's a way to get some good. This September, when school begins, we should make the speech required viewing in the nation's high schools. It packs quite a lesson within quite a story.

At the Wall Street Journal Peggy Noonan draws a powerful lesson from the Shirley Sherrod's speech. Not much politics here, just wisdom. Let's hope we all learn from this incident.

The book Wisdom of Crowds delves into this. Groups of people make more accurate decisions than individuals, for example.  In other words, asking for help is scientifically proven to enhance the quality of the decisions we make.

Simon Sinek recounts what he learned when he realized that he couldn't do everything by himself. The revelations that got him to a moment that made it possible for him to learn are recognizable to us all:

1. I learned I wasn't good at everything

2. I didn't have the energy to do everything

3. I failed

I guess I learned these lessons the hard way, too. The challenge now is to continue asking for help when I need it and to help people I work with be more effective and make better decisions, too.