CHAPTER 1
Introduction
The journey of a thousand miles ...
My fingers are trembling ever so slightly.
The date is October 17, 2012.
Today is the day I start the first book in this series: Unleashthe Power of Diversity: Multi Cultural Competence forBusiness Results." Later on, we will examine practicalfeatures one routinely outlines in a book: the content ofeach section, new frameworks and conceptual challenges,business imperatives, and a call to action.
But for this moment, I want you to experience my heartbeating a little bit faster.
To see the room around me, a Starbucks like so manyothers.
People typing, tutors with voices raised ever so slightlyas they try to explain the difference between one type ofdifferential equation or another.
The friendly man at the counter who says he doesn'tremember my name or my order, but recognizes that"wonderful smile".
In a frenetic, stressful and deadline driven corporateenvironment, there is such a laser sharp focus on numbersand results that the human element is often forgotten.
Worse, we err on the side of compliance and conduct ourannual diversity conference, appoint a diversity director ortwo, and feel competent at "diversity and inclusion."
The fact of the matter is that these measures, whilepositive, do not guarantee an engaged diverse workforce.And, on the premise that an engaged workforce is a moreproductive workforce, this book addresses the bottom line.
In order for true diversity learning to occur, however,the reader, regardless of whether she is the CEO of amultibillion-dollar multinational corporation or an individualcontributor, must be willing to read with both the head andthe heart. Therefore: read the stories first before goingto the fact sheet that tells you how many Buddhists thereare in the world or the map that highlights where the threebillion Christians are located geographically. You will learnmore that way. All adult learning and engagement theoryvalidates that assumption.
So, shall we take a Diversity Foray together?
Author's note: I will define—and redefine—the word foraymany times throughout this book. For now, it's a journey,an exploration, and also the framework that centers thisbook. The purpose of this framework is to offer a simpleyet practical toolkit to make the complex, messy, oftendangerous subject of diversity easier to explore.
CHAPTER 2
Mission
Setting our life compass
Why do we exist?
If you don't know where you are going, you can reada thousand books with topics and techniques to helpyou improve your life, and it will not make much of adifference in the end.
I don't mean to talk you out of reading this book ondiversity, but truthful I must be!
So before we start talking about diversity, culture,and all the other aspects that make us different, let'scenter ourselves.
What is your mission in life?
Do you have five or six words that serve as your "northstar" and guide your life?
A wise man I met recently—a master in meditation andimmensely learned—said that his is Peace on earth. Anattendee at a recent global conference showed me hiscard; it said simply Clarity wins.
My north star is Learning, teaching, helping with gracefulflawed authenticity.
Each of those words represents something very critical.
- If it moves others forward, sharing what I havelearned matters to me; this mutual process alsoenables continuous learning from others—thus,learning, teaching, helping.
- Graceful is about dealing with life's challenges withequanimity.
- Flawed is because our human failings, along with ourstrengths, make us who we are. We must thereforeaccept the negative traits that inevitably accompanyour strengths.
- Authenticity is because I have worn masks,relentlessly, for many years of my life, particularlyafter moving from an Asian to a North Americanwork environment. Many of the norms I grew upwith seemed unacceptable compared to the...
