Here I stand...

Here is a tentative response (actually, not a response, it is more an essay for a line of reflexion...) on M. Linsky ''challenge (www.cambridgeleadership.blogspot.com) for the group'': We are all experiencing in some way, in our personal and/or professional lives, effects of the current economic crisis. How can you use this crisis as an opportunity to make some hard decisions and to live closer to your values, rather than to hunker down and hope it will all soon pass? What if the world is never going to be the same again? How can you make decisions now both to prepare for that and to shape the future? What decisions are now before you that you could make assuming that it is time to "reset" and start fresh, rather than conserve?

I have actually read the blog above cited, some articles and links quite good, prime quality. The world will never be the same again, this situation can become as bad as the crashes in economy in the XXth century. We all trust in, well, let us all say it out loud, yes, in our...leaders. That they will strive and deliver and get us all out of this mess. It is our hope. Most of us put a brave smiling face and ignore the homeless or even the nearby misery or recent fatality of this mess. But this will leave quite some scars.

Concerning decisions, I cannot yet take them. I will probably will have to ponder on a few. But it may turn that all the risks taken in the past 3 years (cf. some chapters in M.Linsky's book 'leadership on the line' on why providing a line to others to follow (aka, sort of leadership) is very dangerous indeed. In short:

* I have been shortlisted (but may not get it...) to become a ''sort of CEO'' for the national coordination of Sciences and Technology at our NSF equivalent. It is a promotion in terms of amplitude of impact of my actions, but it may imply leaving a small town near the Spanish border, leave the family (forcing a weekly commuting of 4h30 (slow!) train each way, 250Km away, and move to Lisbon, to a zero-bedroom flat, same salary as before, more expenses... Now tell me if this may not become a difficult choice... I may be rejected in the end so, this is an academic exercise, but... what shall I do, in case if...? On the one hand I can participate in shaping the core of graduation for the new generation in Portugal and (very) indirectly in the EU, but on the other hand, it will imply a considerable sacrifice in physical, mental, perhaps emotional, family terms....

* I may also take (depending on a nasty final run of the elections for the 'supremo' leader at the university) other posts. Not that I asked or waiting. i am just being sensible and reasonable and if the winning 'party' is of mine maybe I can have this: a chance to shape some areas at the local university, a better salary, better working conditions, more\better visibility (to some already asking for a post in advance of any ballot result this may mean a better local social image...in a very small local society where vanity is sometimes having a few extra mortgages on few more car(s), house(s), villa(s) in the seaside...

* On the whole, the two above is between same salary plus more expenses plus distance from family or better salary, better 'position', also a an opportunity to contribute but strictly local: Mr Smith takes a post in Congress as 'CEO' consultant or Mr Smith stays at 'home' and assists where really needed and get some payoff for that (eventually).

* I can also ignore all this and also withdraw from the general council of the university and run again for Dean of Faculty. But I am not looking at this, really.

* Or then, if loosing all, I can go to another (!) 'desert crossing' period, taking some Saint-Exupery books on how life was exciting at Cap Juby, maybe doing a bit of Rick's, never however having had a Ingrid in my past life...; It will be probably the desert (again).

In the whole, life for some academics is that brief scene in 'A Beautiful Mind' when J.Nash is watching from the door when a Professor has won a prize and the other colleagues pay homage. It is all about being recognized, it all about getting an incentive, a tap on the back for a 'job well done'. In a global society where there is (sometimes) no mercy to stab the opponent in the back, it is getting hard.



Yes, I am a bit tired, if not exhausted: research, supervision, book writing, original papers, conducting the Faculty, coordinating with the Departments, lack of coordination from the many 'aboves', only instructions and targets, not many 'why's', even fewer 'how's'. I share Saturday's 7 Feb article in Martin's blog, the 'Piece of Mess-II'', namely the second paragraph. What can I do? Maybe sometimes it can be rephrased 'What can we be allowed to do'? I have been taking considerable risks in the past 10 to 5 years (this may sound to dramatically to some ...) but it is my true feeling. In a way, I will (only in part) learn in the next few weeks how these risks, the sacrifices were worthy or not. I fear that all this effort and struggle is now already consuming a bit of inside my own 'soul'. So,



How can you use this crisis as an opportunity to make some hard decisions and to live closer to your values, rather than to hunker down and hope it will all soon pass? What decisions are now before you that you could make assuming that it is time to "reset" and start fresh, rather than conserve?

I will let you know in a few weeks.

My very best regards

Paulo Vargas Moniz

The Fearless Leader

''Lightning the load'': http://www.amazon.co.uk/Snoopy-Features-Fearless-Leader-Peanuts/dp/1841611042 .