Welcome to the Monthly Newsletter by Amer Kaissi 

Edition #23, October 2021

This new book was recently recommended to me by the CEO of a large health system. “Be Where Your Feet Are: Seven Principles to Keep You Present, Grounded and Thriving” is an entertaining read with one main question: how can leaders remain present and mindful despite all the craziness around them? Scott O’Neal, a sports-executive who has lead numerous NBA, NHL and NFL organizations, and a devoted husband and father of three girls, wrote this story-heavy, deeply personal book to share some answers based on his experience.

The book has one simple but not easy suggestion: Whatever interaction you find yourself in, make sure you are truly present in the situation. If you are in a 1:1 meeting with a colleague at work, listen to them, connect with them, and forget everything else. If you are on a date with your spouse, disconnect from all work messages and give them your attention 100%. If you’re spending time with your kids, don’t be checking sports scores or Instagram posts on your phone. “Be connected, be present. Be with me. Look me in the eye and talk to me. Understand who I am as a person,” O’Neal writes. That’s what being where your feet are is all about.

O’Neal shares a lot of hidden gems throughout the book. One of them is some good advice that he heard about “the secret of life”: “Number 1: wake up in the morning, put your feet on the ground, and be so passionate about what you do for work that you sprint to the office every day. Number 2: at night, after a hard-charging day of work, sprint home with equal passion”

If you’re looking for a research book on presence & mindfulness, this is not it. But if you’re looking for an easy-read full of interesting stories and personal examples, you will enjoy this book.

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Dr. Amer Kaissi is a Top Leadership Keynote Speaker. He speaks about leadership, teams and culture.