For most of my professional career I often managed with my head. I was logical, rational, reasoned and as my good friend Atsuko would often remind me I am a very linear thinker. Captain Linear she would jokingly refer to me. I was also at times considered to be a little unapproachable, not in a bad way, but not exactly magnetic or a person people were easily drawn to. I was generally pretty reserved. I was an introvert by nature although I could easily toggle between intro and extra-version. In late 2006 I was being considered for an officer level position at the company I was working. During an interview with the CFO whom the position reported I was asked a very difficult question. “Jamie, I have spoken with many small groups in the IT department and there doesn’t appear to be a lot of advocacy for you in this new position. Do you have an idea why?” I answered the question as directly as I could surmising that perhaps some of it had to with others feeling I was a little too distant, or not engaged enough in their lives. I provided some other thoughts but I realized then that I was out of the running, at least for that period of time. The company offered to connect me with an executive coach who worked with other officers of the company to help me work through a development opportunity, specifically people development. What I learned in the 7 months we worked together, right up to the day of my injury, was that I had a disconnect between my head and heart in the way I was relating to fellow employees. Sheryll helped me understand the importance of bringing the two together to help me open up more and be willing to open and share more of my heart in my leadership style. Unfortunately my work with her came to an abrupt halt in June 2007, however my desire to connect my heart more outwardly only got stronger. I’ll say more on this in a future post but suffice it to say a process was put in motion that has allowed me to author a book and speak to people in a way I could never have dreamed of twenty years ago. It has made all the difference in the world.