In keeping with my acronym theme, I have HOPE that we will harness the opportunity before us, reclaim our power, and emerge stronger as a nation because of the current economic crisis.

I began this post in January. Looking at my last post, “Where have all the leaders gone?” it appears I was missing for a time. However, I was not gone. I was on hiatus gathering HOPE and finishing the online infrastructure for a worldwide Leadership Garden Legacy.

During this time, I continued to follow the news about the stimulus package and worsening economy. Each night I shook my head. In my mind, the economic crisis is a symptom of a much larger issue; the erosion of moral ground in our human garden. Yet, I am an eternal optimistic.

As the days passed, I felt a stronger need to cultivate and stimulate the growth of the individual and collective Leadership Garden. The place I began was to apply six “common sense” leader-friendly gardening practices in my own work and life:

• Be nonjudgmental
• Do not enable
• Use Empathy
• Prune Gossip
• Eliminate Blame
• Eradication Victimization

I knew to stimulate HOPE and growth in my personal garden it would take time, effort, and tenacity - not to mention a strong dose of patience and personal responsibility.

Leader-friendly gardening practices are not easy to use, but they are the basis for thriving in everyone.

When you plant love and compassion in your Leadership Garden and re-sow those seeds around you, there is HOPE for everyone. This takes no money and little time. Love and compassion help stem the rise of fear, anger, and blame so pervasive in the landscape of humanity today.

Harsh judgments and gossip about who is to blame for our current crisis does not solve the problem, nor does it empower anyone to think creatively - let alone cooperatively. Blame, gossip, and outrage may make you feel good in the moment, but over time, your strength and energy begin to erode in such a condition.

Blame is rooted in the past. From this state of mind, the seeds of anger, fear, and anxiety flourish. These emotions hamper your ability to see anything new and dampen the imagination and ingenuity of the human spirit.

Our ancestors built our great country grounded in HOPE, courage, ingenuity, hard work, and a willingness to search for a brighter future. Now you can do the same and blaze new trails for future generations.

The eight principles and practices for growing a thriving Leadership Garden produce a fresh and organic view of leadership and help you discover the true leader in you. This return to nature strengthens your roots and helps to produce a brighter future for you and everyone.

If you have HOPE and want to help stimulate the use of “common sense” leader-friendly gardening practices, head on over to the

Leadership Garden Legacy

and learn how you can create a thriving legacy with me.