On the Move

For people still looking for me on this webblog...I have begun another weblog as my world has moved beyond greenlights. go here for the latest.


Hint -the picture is from the top of Borobodur, a buddhist temple near Yogyakarta, Java that I visited recently for Psychology without Borders..and a story that will be taken up in "Deborah on the Move" - Blog #3 in my journal series.

Signing off and moving on

Thanks to all of you for your guidance and support transitioning from Greenlights. This blog will be kept on blogger, but will be used no more for my journaling or querying or wondering or metaphorically positing.


Best new yorker cartoon this week is all about "Blogging without Borders"...So perhaps I'll be inspired to begin another blog about my new role at Pyschology without Borders in the near future.

But not today.

Caio!

Constructing a post-transition lifestyle

Today I was a panelist for Leadership Austin's "Valentine's Gift to the Community" luncheon.....sharing the podium with Roy Sosa and Joe Parker. Each of us was to present one idea to transform the community. Roy talked about entrepreneurship, Joe talked about giving voice to "the other" and I ranted about health insurance with a proposal that Austin/Travis County provide universal healthcare to all who live and work in our municipality. What fun to present a bold idea and not have to turn around and iMplement it!

In the past being a panelist would have been a context for my networking for the organization I represented. There's always a potential volunteer, board member, donor, or collaborator in an audience from Leadership Austin or any civic group.

This time, there was no agenda for me, I thought. My current work is not Austin-centric and I was not expecting that an audience member would be able to assist me with my Psychology without Borders projects. So I did my talk, visited with colleagues about sports and their pursuits, and logged the event as time-off from my day job.

And yet, surprise was in store. Hearing that I was off to Java for PWOB, a person came up to me to give me the name of a colleague doing humanitarian relief in another part of Indonesia. Very helpful as I seek out lifelines to orient and ground me in my new adventures.

In case you were wondering...the building blocks of my life after ED are colorful, lightweight (so far) and fun to hold on to and play with - like the photo in this blog.

....I love my Monday night LBJ School class - teaching is a blast, the students are terrific, and I am having lots of fun moving out of practical stories and into case studies and conceptual frameworks. Last night's class - reading tax returns and audits - while sounding quite the snooze, was actually a dynamic learning evening.

....Psychology without Borders is accelerating...I finally have time to dig in more deeply, and there are all sorts of puzzles and knots to explore. The international colleagues that are guiding me are help[ing me begin to see patterns and the context in which I am living....still blurry but taking shape.

.... Eastern Europe adventures are not as easy to fit into this schedule, and my Fulbright colleague Peg is way ahead of me in terms of getting gigs and scheduling multiple projects....but I have two worktrips planned for this year, so I am (relatively) happy.

Still moving too fast to really allow transition to sink in. But it's feeling good.

Think I have totally forgotten Greenlights? Au contraire! But I am happy with how Matt's jumped in, 100% behind him, and looking forward to stories and invitations as my own dust settles.

Not much more to say

Well, although I said I would continue this blog a while longer, it seems like there's not much more to say. I introduced Matt Kouri , Greenlights new ED. around to all the nonprofit rock stars today at the annual Philanthropy Day luncheon..and he seems to have things well in hand.

There's some planning afoot about an official "pass the baton" event later in February, so I will keep the blog open for chats until then, and once the baton is passed, I will officially shut this puppy down.

If any of you readers have questions or comments or things you want me to respond to, write me!
I think my readership count is around 80 brave souls - you know who you are and I thank you.

Tunnel Vision

Well, this is my swing week...a little Greenlights, alot of University of Texas, and a growing list of Psychology without Borders tasks and questions. It has been an interesting week!

The technology has been enough of a challenge to eclipse emotional reactions to the transition. Leaving Greenlights on Monday, I carefully closed down email, voicemail, and put all my important files onto the Greenlights server for all staff to use. When I got in on Tuesday, to run a 3-hour class, and wanted to download some materials from the server, I found I could not access these files.....I am now getting email from University of Texas, Psychology without Boders, and Yahooo....and trying to get all the mail going into the same mailbox, much less get all the outgoing mail sent...has proved to me a challenge. But I am confident that by the end of the month, I will know how to maneuver email and settle into one of my three offices with a rhythm.

On Tuesday I said farewell to the Greenlights Board at their January meeting, which had been rescheduled due to the ice and winter weather. So I was there as the guest...with Matt doing an admirable job of taking on the ED role. It felt odd, but good, to leave after my brief presentation, knowing the team was in capable hands. I keep thinking of things to tell Matt, but I am holding my piece.....he may not have need of all this info, at least not yet.

Matt and I will be doing a bit of visiting over the next few weeks - with one another, to continue the download, and with key stakeholders who need to meet Matt and bond with the new team. I am hopeful I can fit in all this, in between the other work I have committed to do. I think, ruefully, that my tendency to say yes may have gotten me overcommitted. One more way to ignore the realities of the transition from Greenlights.

Seeking a new rhythm

Had a great time my last day as Greenlights' ED - the staff gave me this fun lunch where they presented me with a beat up old suitcase, newly painted to resemble a green hummer and filled with traveling gear, advice, and accessories. Mary Alice had published a comic book of advice - which I will provide the link to once she has it on her website. Lots of laughter, a few tears during the day, and a good feeling that I am leaving a proud team with a fun future ahead.

I emailed to friends and colleagues about my new plans and contact info and got back some thoughtful notes and advice. At the end of the day, as I was packing away photos and files and writing down last minute notes to self, two friends stopped by to reminisce and wish me well.. Good sendoff.... On Monday I'll greet my successor with flowers, lots of lists, and a few tips and insights...mostly a listening ear and a cheer-leader attitude. I can imagine the information overload that will greet him his first weeks at Greenlights - so much to learn, and so much happening.

So this morning I went to my first salsa aerobics class, and it gave me a metaphor for my new pathway. I stood on the back row of the class, watching a spirited, talented instructor take us through steps and movements, to the beat of salsa, merengue, and cumbia. Very clutzy in the back row.....it will definitely take me time to find the rhythm, get my legs and arms moving in thwe right direction, and build up my aerobic stamina.

Just like starting all my new career adventures. It will be tentative steps, getting tangled up, having to stop every once in a while, even as the music is blaring and the beat is insistent. I know from experience it takes time to ramp up. I just need to have the patience - in my salsa class and my day-to-day new projects.

End of the road

So the news is out and my successor is taking over my office Monday. Tomorrow is my last official day as Greenlights' Executive Director. How does it feel?

Well it still doesn't feel real. I am still doing all the litle administrative things....wonder if I will call back daily next week with reminder tasks? I packed up my library books and my table top toys on Monday and reviewed all the files I was taking, leaving, or tossing.. Monday was actually a wonderful day of memories and puttering and thinking ahead for Greenlights future. Austin was hit by a 2-day ice storm on Tuesday and Wednesday, giving me a few additional days to putter in the office while other staff were stuck in their homes. So the "ending" activities - like a last staff meeting and a final board meeting - have been eclipsed by basic mother nature.

So it doesn't feel real yet, but it does feel exciting. I'm excited about
---getting some of my time back. I've been burning the candle at both ends, starting up work at UT Austin and taking on additional responsibilities with Psychology without Borders.
---learning new things. Both my new sets of responsibilities require steep learning. My favorite (although I also get anxious about it)
--- changing my world context.
--- finding ways to help Greenlights' new ED be successful and catch on quickly.

Matt Kouri, Greenlights' new ED, is coming from the business sector- he has lots to learn about the amazing exploits and talents and results in our sector. I am looking forward to connecting him to our colleagues, leaders, connectors, and mavericks.

I may keep chatting on this transition blog a bit longer....until I settle into my new pattern. In the meantime, I am recalling the image of the trapeze the William Bridges describes - it's time to jump off one swing onto the next!

Thanks to all of you who have supported me through this transition. May we all continue to orbit in one another's worlds, and enjoy the adventures!