When I was invited to participate in this blog tour for the new release of Utopian Frontiers by Drew Tapley, I wasn’t sure how it would fit with my leadership development mission. But the title intrigued me and I was up for reading some fiction.

Utopian Frontier begins with a scene, or should I say a riot brewing in Caracas, Argentina. The crowds are gathering to petition the directors of an investment bank to return their bonuses to help the failing economy in Argentina.

Sound familiar?

However, the book quickly switches to Edwin Sharp and his family as they embark on a family vacation and stumble upon a hidden research facity on the fringe of a national park somewhere in America. In reality, the Sharps were led there by a power unbeknownst to them.

And that’s right, a “facity” as they call it made up of people who came to live in this experimental society in which hope, humanity, and technology blend to create utopia here on earth.

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Part 10 of the 10 part series: Leader-friendly gardening practices to end bullying.

During this series, I discussed the social shift we need to make to help end bullying. I explained why adults should step up to ending bullying and how adults can empower children to take the lead on ending bullying in our lifetime and generations to come.

In addition, I explored in depth how the six leader-friendly gardening practices: be nonjudgmental, do not enable, use empathy, prune gossip, eliminate blame, and eradicate victimization can help end bullying.

These are practical actions that anyone can take and involve little time or money. They are a gift from you to those around and there is no better time to share that gift than the holidays.

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Part 9 of the 10 part series: Leader-friendly gardening practices to end bullying.

Eradicate victimization – Victimization is a form of survival leadership that is pervasive in today’s society and robs you of the opportunity to be in control of, and responsible for how you experience life as a leader.

Desired outcome: Healing

In Part 1, I discussed the need for social change to help end bullying and it begins with adults. In Part 2, I made an appeal for adults to step up to end bullying, and in Part 3, I discussed how adults can empower children to take the lead on this issue.

The leader-friendly gardening practices began in Part 4 - Being nonjudgmental, Part 5 – Do not enable, Part 6 - Use empathy, Part 7 - Prune gossip, and Part 8 - Eliminate blame.

Blame and victimization often go hand in hand and can be devastating to your sense of self, life, and leadership.

Consider this - you always win the game of life you play.

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 Part 8 of the 10 part series: Leader-friendly gardening practices to end bullying.
 
Eliminate blame – Blame is a more severe form of gossip and a way to deflect personal responsibility for life. Taking 100% responsibility for your life gives you the power to thrive.
 
Desired outcome: Accountability
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Part 7 of the 10 part series: Leader-friendly gardening practices to end bullying.
 
Prune gossip – Often thought as a form of harmless entertainment, the true underbelly of gossip is that it diminishes your personal power and trust with others. A thriving leader prunes gossip when it begins.
 
Desired outcome: Kindness Read more »