Leading Greats #21

Hello Friends,

Thank you for reading my newsletter “Leading Greats”!

This is where I bring inspiration from my breadth of knowledge and experience in healthcare and leadership, incorporating well-being, plus new innovations.

I hope that you benefit from this information if even in some small way.

I appreciate your support!!

Thank YOU for being GREAT!

It has been another week of interesting conversations and discoveries - this issue focuses on a tough topic - Wildfire disaster & Maui.

I have been wanting to bring more focus to our climate emergency and things that can be done as it relates to our environment and well-being. The time is now.

I have been processing the Maui wildfire disaster

Part of this involved reviewing photos from my last trip to Maui a few recent years ago.

I am incredibly moved and saddened by the wildfire tragedy that just struck Maui.

I offer a moment of attention for the suffering and loss in Maui. And for anyone who was impacted as result of this disaster, my thoughts are with you.

For my readers -here- who are with me from the beginning since March 2023, you may recall I launched Leading Greats from Big Island, Hawaii.

• I have been on the four largest Hawaiian Islands, and up close to the smaller ones over time.

• I am pleased to be able to add that the first two visits were as a guest of a local resident there. That allowed me a unique chance to experience Hawaii first as a local not as a tourist.

• For those who have not been, Maui is next to Big Island. Also, Maui rests between Big Island and O’ahu. Waikiki, and the historical Pearl Harbor are part of O’ahu.

• The Hawaiian Islands are all quite a pleasant sight to see, and pleasurable to experience generally!

• Some of my favorite views on Big Island were of Maui in the distance. There is a picture of this view in my first issue, #1.

I will share a few photos of that trip to Maui. 

They are simple photos from my iPhone (last generation), you can appreciate fair amounts of detail still.

• Lahaina, the historical town in West Maui was wiped out.

• These first two photos look toward west Maui where Lahaina is/was.

• Of note is how steep the decline is down the mountain above that town.  

• This down slope was part of the problem for the fires as they were fed hurricane strength winds that fueled and drove this rapid inferno into a catastrophe.

The last few pictures include areas where I was staying in West Maui/Kapalua area.

Wildfire devastation in California

I live on the San Francisco, CA peninsula near Stanford University. In my decade here, I have experienced life changing effects of wildfires in California.

While my home has not been threatened directly, the air we breathe here has been toxic on too many occasions from drastic large scale, long burning wildfires.

• Communities were destroyed, lives were ended, and uprooted.

• I was ill from the toxic air during a few of these episodes.

• It was traumatic to see all the suffering that took place so quickly and dramatically during each of those intense wildfire threats.

• Drought conditions and high winds played a large part of many of those tragedies as well.

Some may not be aware but these devastating fires, with loss of homes, property, and livelihoods added a huge negative impact to the unhoused populations here in California.

This is just a bit of background and reminder how the unhoused issue can spiral and balloon, and has done so, as we had year-on-year of this devastation for way too long.

Some who are not from near here but see the news about the homeless crisis in California, this is a simple reminder of how that problem could get so big as it did so quickly from wiping out entire towns, housing, and work opportunities.

Avoiding anything political, but the unhoused crisis is vastly complex at a minimum, wildfire destruction added to that.

There is No Planet B

Climate Anxiety is when concern becomes distress over climate urgencies.

July 2023 was the hottest month on record.

There is a fine line between dealing with the effects of climate change without distress, and not paying attention.

• Many feel the climate change situation is out of their control.

• This is denial and can lead to overwhelm and hopelessness.

• The way around this is to take action instead.

• There are many things that can be done together to make a positive impact and change for the climate crisis.

Climate affects our health! Climate affects our livelihoods!

Well-being is a focus of my newsletter, so I proudly take this topic of climate unrest on to bring this overlap of climate and well-being into the light.

Climate disasters affect our healthcare systems.

When healthcare systems are in overwhelm as they have been in the recent handful of years so many things start to break down.

• Clinician and staff burn out.

• The experience of healthcare dwindles.

• The outcomes of care and follow up are marginalized.

• The leadership teams are overly taxed to solve every new chaotic challenge that arises.

It is easy to point fingers and advise from the sidelines as so many often do. It is tough to know what is going on play-by-play if you are not in the game itself.

• I say this for those simply saying “we need solutions”.

• Maybe you will take it on to create the very solutions that we could all benefit from.

• I invite you to do this, please.

What we need are viable sustainable solutions to so many great issues affecting us now on Planet A.

I am here to support you if you would like to reach out to me.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intersections/202308/healthy-responses-to-climate-change-and-climate-anxiety

The World Needs More Great Leaders

Clearly there is a big message in this issue on climate and how our lives are being impacted.

I would like to draw attention to Seth Godin as someone who is actively doing important and meaningful things to turn the direction on some of the ills impacting our climate.

https://www.sethgodin.com/

I have had the pleasure of taking classes from Seth and learning from this wisdom in conversations. Seth is well known for his many great books and educational offerings attempting to help others rise through further development and training.

• I share one of Seth’s recent projects on Climate Action, link below.

• Seth is surely a global leader in so many ways.

• He is one of many leaders I admire and respect.

https://thecarbonalmanac.org/

This newsletter was inspired as an action item from taking classes with Seth Godin. 

Thank you for the lessons and motivation Seth!!

I help motivated professionals transform & improve on execution - so they may lead with increased engagement, effectiveness, and well-being.

That is all - for this issue - of Leading Greats!

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Til next time - Keep it Great,

-Ronnie

• Transformational Leadership Coach | Healthcare Leader | Advisor | Speaker

• Reach out to schedule a call to inquire about my work @ ronniekinsey.net

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronniekinseymba/