I need your help, please reply: In search of goodness…

As I watched the sun rise through the Hard Red Maple tree in our front yard this morning, my thoughts were on gratitude for my work.  One of the greatest joys in my life is the wide variety of people who faithfully read and contribute to this personal leadership blog: a couple thousand and counting!  Bankers, lawyers, teachers, scientists, coaches, consultants, accountants, marketers, engineers, construction workers, designers, home makers, entrepreneurs, CEOs, senior executives, administrators, sales people, managers, students, professors; even my wife and my Mom are all interested in our dialogue on faith, family, finances, fitness, friends, fun and future.  It’s impressive and inspiring.  I am so grateful.  And I’m asking for more help.

Recently, I was the speaker at an executive conference and I dove into the topic of spreading goodness in leadership and business. It was a particularly appropriate subject because the industry in which they work is constantly on the front page of the Wall Street Journal – it’s an industry with very little trust.  Rather, it’s largely shrouded in toxic mistrust.  I figured this was a fitting place to spread a little goodness, right?  One participant said to me afterward: “you rocked my soul.”  It happened so fast, I wasn’t able to ask him “why, how, or what do you mean?”

Here’s the challenge: we are developing a point of view about “goodness” in business and leadership.  The first time I wrote about this subject in an Entrepreneur Organization’s blog site, one reader replied:  You sound like a Mormon. Hmmm…I’m not sure if that was a compliment or not.  What do you think?

Please reply to me with your answers to these two questions:

1)   What does “goodness” mean to you in the context of leadership and business?

2)   What does “goodness” NOT mean…  (I’ll tip my hand here…I do NOT think “goodness” means being soft, weak or unprofitable.)

The question is…will you help me?  What do you think?

Good leaders know when to tap into the people around them for insight, encouragement and groundedness, (if that’s even a word).

I’m looking forward to your reply…and I promise to share your collective answers.  By sharing your thoughts, you are helping to shape a future book. Seize the day.  Thanks for your help:

What does goodness in leadership and business mean to you?

What does goodness NOT mean…?