Farewell to the Chief, Welcome to the Revolutionist

Each week we choose a Revolutionist of the Week. This week we can’t think of anyone more deserving that outgoing President Barack Obama.

President Obama’s farewell address included everything we’ve come to expect from the man—grace, class, dignity, intelligence, insight, genuine emotion, inspiration and brilliant articulation. But what was most striking for me was his call to action. My work is dedicated to being a revolutionist for psychologically healthy, safe and fair workplaces, which I believe will have a positive effect on all aspects of our lives. In Obama’s farewell address, I recognized a fellow revolutionist with a powerful message—as citizens we have the ability, and even the duty, to become revolutionists for change.

I define “revolutionist” as someone who influences actions to preserve, protect and advance the human rights of others. As he made clear in his address, this is Obama’s mission as well. I recognize the same imperative that motivated to write my new book, From Bully to Bull’s-Eye, to claim the rights and dignity they deserve.

Obama spoke about hope and possibility, something that we cannot function without, but he didn’t shy away from harsh reality. This is the voice of a revolutionist, someone committed to facing and understanding the facts but equally dedicated to working for change. I look forward to seeing what Barack Obama, private citizen, does in his next phase as a revolutionist. And I echo his call that no individual can do this alone, but together we can resist the threats to democracy and work toward positive change. 

Credit: Photo KABC-TV

Streep Gives America a Master Class on Facing a Bully

The woman who is arguably America’s greatest actress has just given us a master class on how to take on a bully. As everyone knows by now, Meryl Streep addressed our incoming Bully-in-Chief during her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes when Viola Davis presented her with a lifetime achievement award. Her voice brimming with emotion, Streep elegantly and simply laid out Donald Trump without ever mentioning him by name as Patrick Pacheco points out in “Streep’s Golden Globes Attack on Trump: A Brilliantly Simple Anti-Bullying Strategy.”  

Trump’s response has been an attempt to bully her into silence by calling her an “over-rated actress” (19 Academy Award nominations, three wins; 29 Golden Globe nominations, eight wins; 14 BAFTA nominations; two wins; 14 Screen Actors Guild Awards, two wins). But what made Streep’s speech so masterful? Without ever getting personal, she clearly laid out the facts that made her argument strong and presented a clear call to action—support the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as we head into what promises to be a difficult, and even dangerous, time for the free press. America was listening. According to Forbes, the little-known organization has received an unprecedented rise in donations. Brava, Ms. Streep!

Credit: Today.com/Getty Images 

Beware of Lies About Misconduct When Negotiating Severance

Too frequently businesses that lay off an employee allege misconduct to avoid paying a large severance package—and sometimes any severance at all. It’s a tactic that’s very difficult for employees to fight, especially in the United States. Employment attorney Daniel Lublin discusses the tactic in “The dangers of alleging and exaggerating employee misconduct”in the Globe and Mail.

I urge everyone who feels that they are falling into this trap to keep a record of objectives met and all discussions with superiors. Some of these discussions should be initiated by the employee, reviewing performance goals, asking for clarification where there is subjectivity or ambiguity. However, in the case of the 60-year-old employee mentioned in this article, this appears to have been a case of ageism. Special vigilance may be called for if you feel you are being targeted due to age, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation. 

Credit: BIGSTOCK

How to Tame Negative Thoughts During Trying Times

We’ve greeted 2017 with a great deal of trepidation, but emotional intelligence tells us that while we must be vigilant and realistic, constant negativity can get in the way of happiness. Fortunately with practice you can learn to disrupt and tame negative cycles. Lesley Alderman suggests “The Year of Conquering Negative Thinking” in the New York Times’ column, “Well.” Great advice!

Credit: BIGSTOCK

What Happens When Journalists Rationalize Lying in the Age of Trump

This article, “Trump, ‘Lies’ and Honest Journalism,” by the editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, is one of the most disturbing articles I have ever seen. Where I come from a lie is a lie and the only true currency one has is credibility where your word is your bond. To rationalize lying is to normalize it. If the media dilutes the significance of lies coming from the most powerful person on the planet, it gives license to everyone to deflect by lying. Honest journalism is fact based. Period! 

Credit: BIGSTOCK

Equality on Ice

When you think of a sport that is willing to be a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion ice hockey might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but the aptly named Calgary Pioneers are doing just that. Without any fanfare the 96-team WinSport Hockey Canada League, one of the largest men’s non-contact leagues in Calgary, created the first openly gay men’s hockey team in Alberta. I have to especially applaud the additional steps the league took to create a psychologically healthier—and more enjoyable—sports experience for everyone involved. Allan Maki captured what inclusion looks like in his article “Being Able to Play the Game we Love” in the Globe and Mail.

Credit: Pioneers Hockey

A New Year’s Resolution: Become a Revolutionist

I have a bit of advice for people who are feeling worried and even despondent this holiday season due to the current political climate—take action. That is why I penned this column for Money, Inc., “A New Year’s Resolution: Become a Revolutionist.” There’s no time like the present to become an agent of change.

Wishing you Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year. 

Credit: BIGSTOCK

An End-of-Year, and Near End-of-Life, Message from My Mother

A recent visit with my 97-year-old mother brought home the sobering reality of the times we are living in. There’s nothing like the testimony of an eye witness to the Holocaust to make you really see the parallels of Nazi Europe with what is going on today in many parts of the world, which is why I wrote this piece, “What the Holocaust and Coming Out Taught Me About Hard Choices in 2016” that was published in the Forward. I’d be honored if you’d share it.

Photo: Courtesy of Willhelmina Faas. Willehelmina (on bicycle) with friend, taken in Holland c. World War II

She Won’t Be Silenced: Judge Refuses to Dismiss Discrimination Suit Against Ad Agency Exec

Legendary advertising agency J. Walter Thompson and its parent company WPP has failed in their attempt to silence a female communications officer who has accused JWT’s former chief of sexist and racist behavior, as discussed in this Wall Street Journal article: “Judge Denies WPP’s Motion to Dismiss Discrimination Lawsuit.”

Their motion to dismiss the discrimination lawsuit was denied by the court. By challenging the lawsuit WPP signals the attitudes that prevail in the old boy's club. Given that this advertising giant also helps organizations build brand and reputation values, and influences customer behaviors, they, rather than condoning abusive behaviors, should set an example of going above and beyond their duty to right what has gone wrong. 

Photo: Former JWT chief executive Gustavo Martinez in the Wall Street Journal; credit, D. Dipasupil/Getty Images

Where Were the Whistleblowers When Big Pharma Offered Bribes to Doctors?

It’s getting so we don’t know who we can still trust. Drug company Insys Therapeutics was recently brought up on racketeering charges for offering bribes and kickbacks to doctors to push their product, an aerosol form of the painkiller fentanyl, according to this New York Times article. The drug is highly addictive and given the current prescription opioid epidemic it spurred the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts to file the charges to look out for patient safety. But should we really have to rely on the courts, rather than our physicians, to look after our best interests when it comes to health? And where were the whistleblowers? This scheme only came to light because of criminal investigation. Too often executives at Big Pharma get off scot-free while the rest of us suffer. I agree with Patrick Burns of Taxpayers Against Fraud who was quoted in the article—if this means that Big Pharma and its executives are finally held responsible, this case could be a very big deal indeed.  

Credit: BIGSTOCK