WEBVTT 00:00:05.600 --> 00:00:11.940 I want to, go ahead and welcome everybody to our very first IPS Global Lecture Series. 00:00:13.225 --> 00:00:26.365 We're excited for everybody who is joining us tonight and knowing also that it's being recorded and posted in classes in different places, so people who are in different time zones will watch later as well. 00:00:27.310 --> 00:00:44.955 So I'm excited to introduce, our new lecture series in the MSP, where we will have kinda the opportunity for leaders from a variety of different fields of work and ministry to share about their work and their use of various aspects of applied psychology in their work. 00:00:46.215 --> 00:00:52.955 The lectures will be every fourth Thursday of every term except summers, so four a year. 00:00:53.570 --> 00:01:03.910 And we're looking especially to have individuals, to share who work in kind of the areas of work or ministry that our new concentrations represent. 00:01:04.530 --> 00:01:09.615 So tonight, we're having a topic on leadership, the importance of virtue and leadership. 00:01:09.995 --> 00:01:14.575 In the spring, we'll have a talk on marriage and family studies, and we'll have something on human services. 00:01:15.275 --> 00:01:23.890 So just to give insight into people's work and ministry lives, that work in these areas. 00:01:24.750 --> 00:01:39.545 So for tonight, our very first lecture, I am very, very grateful to be able to introduce, and welcome Father Nathaniel Haslam to speak to us tonight about the importance of virtue and leadership. 00:01:40.965 --> 00:01:43.705 Father Nathaniel is with us from the Lumen Institute. 00:01:44.245 --> 00:01:55.980 Lumen Institute is an organization that helps business and cultural leaders to pursue excellence in their leadership role and thus then to influence others and culture through the excellence in leadership. 00:01:57.080 --> 00:02:05.345 Father Nathaniel was ordained, a Catholic priest in Rome in 2010 after joining the Legionaries in 1999. 00:02:06.125 --> 00:02:15.265 Before he joined the Legionaries, he had received training in electrical and mechanical engineering from the Rensselaer Polytech Institute in New York. 00:02:15.760 --> 00:02:27.460 And after graduation, he worked for Xerox for several years and planned to found his own fortune 500 company when the Lord let him know he had other plans and called him to the priesthood. 00:02:28.745 --> 00:02:39.725 During his twelve years of priestly training, he founded the International Leadership Semester, which is a certified leadership study abroad program at the European University of Rome. 00:02:40.440 --> 00:02:53.260 He's also helped organize and coordinate the first ever Vatican executive summit in which world economic leaders were invited to discuss a global ethics strategy to respond to the economic crisis in 2009. 00:02:54.755 --> 00:03:01.415 And for the last ten years, father Nathaniel has been living in Houston, where he has also assisted, various parishes. 00:03:02.275 --> 00:03:06.775 And he is the national chaplain for the Lumen Institute for Business and Cultural Leaders. 00:03:07.770 --> 00:03:12.110 He's also finally published, the book, The Future of Leadership in 2020. 00:03:13.290 --> 00:03:23.725 And he enjoys helping leaders bridge from Sunday into Monday, through one on one, one to one life coaching and small group work. 00:03:24.185 --> 00:03:26.985 So I want to welcome father Nathaniel very much. 00:03:26.985 --> 00:03:29.325 Looking forward for you to share with us tonight. 00:03:30.985 --> 00:03:31.385 Wonderful. 00:03:31.385 --> 00:03:32.105 Thank you, Julia. 00:03:32.105 --> 00:03:33.245 Can you hear me okay? 00:03:33.705 --> 00:03:34.025 Yep. 00:03:34.025 --> 00:03:34.665 Very well. 00:03:34.665 --> 00:03:35.165 Wonderful. 00:03:35.225 --> 00:03:43.910 Well, I can't see you all out there, but a one of a greeting to you all and maybe a good place to start would be to start with a prayer as we launch into this new series. 00:03:43.910 --> 00:03:44.150 Right? 00:03:44.150 --> 00:03:48.230 That kind of a landmark moment for DMU to have this series. 00:03:48.230 --> 00:03:52.845 So we just entrust us all to the Lord and and our conversation tonight to each to the Lord as well. 00:03:52.845 --> 00:03:56.625 In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. 00:03:57.485 --> 00:04:00.765 Lord God, we come before you as your beloved daughters and sons. 00:04:00.765 --> 00:04:11.760 So grateful for this day we've received and to know that we are your children, that you hold us very closely in your arms and call us your beloved, cherished ones. 00:04:12.380 --> 00:04:21.595 And in a very amazing way, you not only reveal that love to us, but you also send us out to reveal that love to others, to be coworkers in the vineyard with you. 00:04:21.815 --> 00:04:22.935 And that's a tall order. 00:04:22.935 --> 00:04:28.135 We know we are weak instruments and and broken instruments so often, but nonetheless, your grace upholds us. 00:04:28.135 --> 00:04:47.810 And so with that for that reason, we turn to you with confidence and continue to put our hand to the plow and and recommit to be dedicated and ministers and servants to our sisters and brothers who need the gospel, who need to know you just as much as we do ourselves to share the joy and the peace that comes from knowing you, the the lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:47.810 --> 00:04:59.565 And so we ask your blessing upon this night on each one of us and our needs and our intentions and all those that are in our hearts this night, and and to bless especially the students and faculty and staff, Divine Mercy University. 00:05:00.105 --> 00:05:02.925 May god bless us all in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit. 00:05:02.985 --> 00:05:03.485 Amen. 00:05:05.010 --> 00:05:05.970 So very good. 00:05:05.970 --> 00:05:12.130 I don't see you, but, look forward to to hear your thoughts and questions in the q and a session. 00:05:12.130 --> 00:05:13.110 A little disclaimer. 00:05:13.730 --> 00:05:18.930 I think the most important and and oftentimes the the funnest part of these these sessions is really the q and a. 00:05:18.930 --> 00:05:26.575 And I've been had the grace and chance to give talks on leadership and virtue over the years and find that that's the most important time that we have. 00:05:26.575 --> 00:05:29.455 So I'm gonna have a I'm I'm not gonna talk for more. 00:05:29.455 --> 00:05:31.935 I'm gonna stop myself after about a half hour or so. 00:05:31.935 --> 00:05:38.360 Got my watch here with me because I wanna hear from all of you and and your thoughts and and to share dialogue a little together. 00:05:39.060 --> 00:06:07.520 So as you heard in that little intro, I'd really say that, look, I think, like, all of you, the idea of living virtue, the idea of of trying to imbue whatever sector of leadership or influence you find yourself in, be that in the sort of the ministry of the church, whether that's in the in the psychological sciences, if that's in in business, if it's in sports, entertainment, politics, whatever sector of the world you wanna speak about, it's kind of an imposing thing, frankly. 00:06:07.520 --> 00:06:14.400 It it's not I don't I think most of us don't feel qualified to serve in in the field of who we're sent to. 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:15.600 And and I certainly didn't. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.185 I mean, I'm a a broken man. 00:06:17.185 --> 00:06:20.965 I don't know if my bio said or not, but I'm a former atheist businessman. 00:06:21.425 --> 00:06:27.025 I a lot of the virtues I'm gonna talk about or the things we're gonna talk about, I frankly did them all as business people. 00:06:27.025 --> 00:06:30.625 I, you know, I stole from the company when I worked with them before. 00:06:30.625 --> 00:06:32.310 I was dishonest. 00:06:33.250 --> 00:06:35.830 I stepped on people to get legs up in the company. 00:06:36.530 --> 00:06:43.910 So I'm I'm preaching from the position of one who's also received great mercy and understanding from the Lord. 00:06:44.445 --> 00:06:50.145 And and and yet also knowing that what we each one of us on this call tonight have much to offer. 00:06:50.685 --> 00:06:52.205 People need the message that you all have. 00:06:52.205 --> 00:06:57.005 So that's also one thing that I hope you all take away is that you also how are called to leadership. 00:06:57.005 --> 00:07:04.880 You are a call to, to to imbue the world with virtue and with with with the the gift of knowing Christ. 00:07:05.580 --> 00:07:18.685 So one of the just as a background, how sometimes this mission to come to us unexpectedly, I was in Rome, still a seminarian in 2008, and the world is back then you might remember was in the middle of the economic global economic crisis. 00:07:19.145 --> 00:07:27.945 And so one of the pivotal moments I remember in my life and has put me on the trajectory of to to be with all of you today was I was just studying for the my theology exam. 00:07:27.945 --> 00:07:35.920 I get a little knock on the door, and father priest there says, well, brother Nathaniel, you're supposed to be at headquarters right now. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.240 They're over near the center of Rome for a meeting. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.840 I'm like, what what meeting is that? 00:07:39.840 --> 00:07:44.240 Well, find a car, get over there, and, you know, you'll find out. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:48.445 So I found my way over to this meeting that I was supposed to be at at half hour ago. 00:07:49.065 --> 00:08:01.780 And they sit me down and tell me, well, I don't know why you're late, but didn't you know that you're supposed to be helping coordinate the first ever Vatican Vatican executive summit in the Vatican City State for global, economic and political leaders. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:04.320 And I said, absolutely no. 00:08:04.320 --> 00:08:05.700 I did not know about that. 00:08:05.760 --> 00:08:10.580 It was quite a surprise, quite unlooked for, not exactly wanted, frankly. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:20.475 And and yet such an eye opening experience to be sent to do something way beyond your capabilities. 00:08:20.615 --> 00:08:21.015 Right? 00:08:21.015 --> 00:08:23.835 How the Lord sends you out in his name. 00:08:24.455 --> 00:08:32.880 And one thing that really struck me about that event, which I'll I'll share probably a little bit more as we go, but was the hunger. 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:45.895 There were men and women from all strata society, Jewish brethren, our Protestant brethren, men and women, from the Muslim faith, Hindus, and and atheists of goodwill. 00:08:46.675 --> 00:09:15.445 But all there to address the global economic crisis and a path forward of how we can live with a set of criteria, set of standards, a set of virtues, if you will, right, in our decision making that would impact and help bring the world back from the brink that we were in back in 2008, 2009, which many of you maybe felt personally perhaps from perhaps lost jobs, prices in the marketplace, or other other realities that we faced back then. 00:09:15.745 --> 00:09:38.625 And so the other thing that struck strikes me before I launch in any further on this is just also when I moved to Houston, Texas after that to to help accompany men and women in business and and culture to seek excellence in all all aspects of their life, the first person I met said, father Nathaniel, you know, I don't think we actually need this help. 00:09:38.625 --> 00:09:47.605 I I really don't think I think we can be people of integrity, people of justice, people of prudential decision making, people of self mastery, of faith. 00:09:47.825 --> 00:09:56.100 You know, I think we can do this without people out there to advise us or or to recommend or to guide us and walk with us. 00:09:56.640 --> 00:09:57.520 And, you know, I took that. 00:09:57.520 --> 00:09:58.160 I was like, okay. 00:09:58.160 --> 00:09:59.360 I'm gonna keep that as a data point. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:07.675 But the interesting thing was in my ten years here in Houston talking to hundreds of leaders around the city over these years, that was the only person who's ever said that to me. 00:10:08.375 --> 00:10:20.570 Everyone else I've ever talked to said we need support, guidance, accompaniment, people who are trained in virtue to help us like the Sherpa guides who take people up Mount Everest. 00:10:20.790 --> 00:10:21.290 Right? 00:10:21.670 --> 00:10:41.865 Sherpa guides who can't carry you up Mount Everest, but they know more or less the trajectory of the mountain, how the mountain works, you know, the dangers, the path trodden pathways, time tested pathways that are somewhat sure, you know, I e the virtuous way, if you will, of life, to walk with people. 00:10:42.730 --> 00:10:48.730 And so I I think that's what I found here and kind of little bit what you're seeing or what I'm gonna share very briefly is the fruit of that experience. 00:10:48.730 --> 00:11:08.730 I've had ten years of doing this with people walking with them as a priest, but also a priest who's, been a servant of many men and women who hold roles of influence, of teaching influence, of educational influence, or in business running companies, or or departments of companies or what have you. 00:11:08.970 --> 00:11:15.370 So I'm gonna share just a little brief bit on this, some of these ideas real quick with you, and then get to our time for q and a. 00:11:15.370 --> 00:11:16.510 So that was a little introduction. 00:11:17.210 --> 00:11:30.115 These are just some shots from recent, speaker events with the Lumen Institute where we bring, let's say, a professional athlete, an NFL, NFL, player, a, someone from the media. 00:11:30.415 --> 00:11:43.690 We recently had Dan Daniello, founder of the Carlyle Group, who I believe is on the board of Divine Mercy University, here in Houston with us to speak to about 70 executives and business owners and young professionals here in Houston couple weeks ago. 00:11:43.830 --> 00:11:50.250 So where we are are trying to encourage men and women that that virtue is possible and that virtue is important. 00:11:50.345 --> 00:11:58.365 And to talk with, you know, and have men and women of influence preach that message, if you will, to their peers and to those who aspire to be like them one day. 00:11:59.225 --> 00:12:03.120 So I wanna give you just a very brief, share. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:04.160 I'm not gonna go into this. 00:12:04.160 --> 00:12:06.420 This is more you can have a copy of this later. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:22.705 But in my second book, which I'm currently writing right now and hope to finish the first manuscript next week, if you can keep that in your prayers for me, please, this book will highlight my in my experience in talking with a lot of people, a little bit of a leadership model. 00:12:22.925 --> 00:12:25.885 There's a lot of different leadership models out there for growing a leadership. 00:12:25.885 --> 00:12:33.860 This model that I'm gonna be proposing in the book has one principle, four behaviors, eight virtues, and four decision making criteria. 00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:54.795 I I I share this with you just because for some of you out there wanting to grow in leadership, a little bit of a framework on leadership that combines both the best of the secular world and also the insights from Christian Judeo Christian belief, both ethical, moral, and, of course, even the mystical, level of transformation in Christ, which is at the heart of Christianity. 00:12:55.655 --> 00:12:59.035 This model, if if you will, kinda takes into account all all of that. 00:12:59.095 --> 00:13:05.980 So the model has one principle that Christ, the good shepherd, is the standard example, the source and summit of leadership. 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:21.755 The real heart behind the true leader, leader no matter what area of leadership we talk about, family life, in ministry, priests, nuns, consecrated individuals as mothers, as fathers, as husbands, as wives, and the different areas you may work in. 00:13:21.895 --> 00:13:31.540 From that principle come four key behaviors, having a clear identity and be a transmitter of identity, to be dedicated to the mission, embrace holistic virtue formation. 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:34.600 That's where we're gonna gonna zero in on today together a little bit. 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:37.560 And then forming future generations. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:43.765 These are four key behaviors that flow from the principle of Christ, the good shepherd. 00:13:45.105 --> 00:13:46.405 These are the eight virtues. 00:13:46.625 --> 00:13:48.245 Of course, there are many other virtues. 00:13:48.785 --> 00:13:51.505 I'm sure many of you could point out other virtues that aren't listed here. 00:13:51.505 --> 00:14:03.320 But these are eight virtues I found both through the Lumen Institute and what we do with business leaders and cultural leaders, as well as in practice what a lot in our modern day people need help with. 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:10.125 And I find in the people I've worked with over the deck over more than a decade now, that these resonate a lot with them. 00:14:10.365 --> 00:14:22.125 The definitions of these virtues are taken right out of the Lumen Institute handbook, and we even have, like, a little, a little, like, virtue card, which I'm happy to share with you that summarizes in these very short right? 00:14:22.125 --> 00:14:25.160 These are very succinct definitions of these virtues. 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:30.660 But this is what we work with the business leaders to forge these virtues in them. 00:14:30.660 --> 00:14:35.960 You know, the virtues are like, I'll get back to this a little bit, but the virtues are kinda like muscles of the heart, muscles of character. 00:14:36.445 --> 00:14:39.325 And and like all the muscles of the body, they're interconnected together. 00:14:39.325 --> 00:14:47.325 And so when like the famous phrase, when you rise and tide raises all ships, when you work on one virtue, it impacts the others. 00:14:47.325 --> 00:14:47.645 Right? 00:14:47.645 --> 00:14:50.705 So you work on humility or you work on self mastery. 00:14:50.765 --> 00:14:54.260 Well, self mastery helps you in your prayer life. 00:14:54.260 --> 00:14:56.900 It helps in your marriage. 00:14:56.900 --> 00:15:00.260 It helps in, frankly, maybe being a little more slow to make decisions. 00:15:00.260 --> 00:15:02.680 It helps you with your prudential decision making, etcetera. 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:05.940 So whether you're working on one virtue or another, they're all they are interconnected as well. 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:13.655 So they're certain things you can do to work on them. 00:15:13.655 --> 00:15:14.155 Right? 00:15:14.535 --> 00:15:16.475 So just a little snapshot of that. 00:15:16.535 --> 00:15:18.475 We can come back to that if you want later. 00:15:18.855 --> 00:15:22.295 And then the last thing in the model are the four decision making criteria. 00:15:22.295 --> 00:15:24.230 These are right out of the church's social doctrine. 00:15:24.230 --> 00:15:36.390 You may may or may not be aware, but there is the catechism of the Catholic church, very large document summarizing what we believe, what we how we live, how we worship, and lastly, how we pray. 00:15:36.390 --> 00:15:40.065 Those are the four pillars of the catechism. 00:15:40.525 --> 00:15:46.625 But what many people don't know is that there's actually, if you will, a a catechism that flows out of that one on our social living. 00:15:46.925 --> 00:15:52.260 How do we how should based on Christian revelation, how should banking somewhat work? 00:15:52.260 --> 00:15:57.400 Family life, politics, economic life, our treatment of the environment. 00:15:58.660 --> 00:16:07.025 We've had decades old and even centuries old teachings on these things in this book, which you can get online as well, summarizes those those different areas. 00:16:07.085 --> 00:16:14.465 But at the front end of that book, that compendium, are the church in the church's view, the four decision making criteria. 00:16:14.525 --> 00:16:24.680 So I like to think of this as, you know, as leaders or as servants of others in our society, what are what's a lens or the building blocks to make a decision? 00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:29.400 Like, if you wanna talk about, well, let's about you know, let's legalize marijuana or another drug. 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:38.755 Let's work on universal health care or, immigration reform or pick your issue of the day. 00:16:38.755 --> 00:16:39.255 Right? 00:16:40.435 --> 00:16:42.455 But what is your standard for making decisions? 00:16:42.675 --> 00:16:53.920 Well, the church offers us these four very succinct principles that when we make a decision, if we want it based on the gospel and root in the gospel, it should respect all four of these. 00:16:54.380 --> 00:16:57.900 So they're very they're they're four highly demanding principles. 00:16:57.900 --> 00:16:59.020 I'm not gonna go into depth. 00:16:59.020 --> 00:16:59.580 You have them there. 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:02.835 You can have, again, these later on for your own resource. 00:17:03.295 --> 00:17:08.495 And and feel free to reference the compendium to go in deeper detail on those. 00:17:08.495 --> 00:17:15.615 So that's a little bit of sense of, because I'm coming to gonna zero in on the on virtue as one aspect of leadership. 00:17:15.615 --> 00:17:16.115 Okay? 00:17:16.340 --> 00:17:18.980 Here are some books references for your future reference. 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:24.180 I happen to throw my my late my last book in there in case you wanted on the future of leadership. 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:32.085 But these other books go into ethics, virtue, a little bit the psych also a little on the psychology of virtue, but not heavily on that theme. 00:17:32.245 --> 00:17:35.445 And then the practical, how do you actually live your faith and work? 00:17:35.445 --> 00:17:38.745 So these are some references you might find interesting. 00:17:39.605 --> 00:17:41.605 The shortest one is not my book, actually. 00:17:41.605 --> 00:17:42.165 That's short. 00:17:42.165 --> 00:17:48.410 But the shortest one, which I didn't put in here, is the called the vocation of the business leader. 00:17:48.410 --> 00:17:53.370 It's a document that the Vatican put out, I wanna say, maybe six years ago. 00:17:53.370 --> 00:17:55.070 It's about eighteen, twenty pages. 00:17:55.850 --> 00:18:10.725 And it basically takes the four principles I recently I just mentioned these four, human dignity, common good solidarity, and subsidiarity, and it and it talks about how should the business leader, the businessman or woman, live, basically. 00:18:10.785 --> 00:18:14.340 Like, and reflect on the nobility of the business person. 00:18:14.800 --> 00:18:17.520 So that's another document you may find very accessible. 00:18:17.520 --> 00:18:18.320 It's right online. 00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.200 You can look it up. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:21.120 These are just two or three quotes. 00:18:21.120 --> 00:18:22.960 I'll give you an example of what it speaks about. 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:27.220 Number one, from everyone who's been given much, much will be demanded. 00:18:27.945 --> 00:18:32.845 Business people have been given great resources, and the Lord asked them to do great things. 00:18:33.385 --> 00:18:34.845 This is part of their vocation. 00:18:36.425 --> 00:18:39.885 The vocation of the business person is a genuine human and Christian calling. 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:47.640 Pope Francis calls it a noble vocation, provided that they see themselves challenged by greater meaning in life. 00:18:49.540 --> 00:18:53.240 I like number 13 just because it talks about well integrated business leaders. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:19:06.875 Doesn't speak about the word virtue, but therein, I think we can see see the in this case, the Vatican and those that prepared the document reflecting on that that just like in any walk of life, business people need to be well rounded. 00:19:06.875 --> 00:19:12.480 They need to develop all those talents like Matthew 25 tells us, you know, that God gave each one different talents. 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:25.155 And for those in exercising the professional in the professional life, like many of you are on this call, right, or even in the ministry, that we're called to develop all of our talents, not just some of them, but but all of them to the potential that the Lord asks us. 00:19:25.375 --> 00:19:29.075 And that impacts our leadership, and certainly virtue is a big part of that. 00:19:30.095 --> 00:19:37.700 Very quickly, because I wanna get some concrete examples, which maybe are the most interesting thing for all of you, that here are three little definitions of virtue. 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:40.360 So if we're gonna talk about virtue in business, well, what is virtue? 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:44.440 Well, virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to the good. 00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:50.865 It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of him or herself It's from the catechism. 00:19:52.685 --> 00:19:56.525 You will see there's definitely a distinction also between human virtues and supernatural virtues. 00:19:56.525 --> 00:19:58.465 I'm not gonna that's a whole talk in itself. 00:19:58.765 --> 00:19:59.265 Right? 00:19:59.325 --> 00:20:00.785 The definitions are here. 00:20:01.885 --> 00:20:07.560 Suffice to say that both the virtues that come almost innately to us, we can develop those. 00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:19.125 And then there's also the virtues we receive from baptism, the virtues we receive that are infused or elevated by the power of the holy spirit that ultimately remember that deep down as Christians, that virtue is not just an extra. 00:20:19.585 --> 00:20:35.330 It's all part of the beautiful calling to become one with Christ and truly to that's the whole mystical spiritual theology dimension, right of our faith to become refashioned in Christ that people truly see the virtue of Christ in us. 00:20:35.330 --> 00:20:45.895 Not because we're, you know, we really, really work hard to be virtuous, but rather because the power of God elevates our nature and and conforms us to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:45.895 --> 00:20:51.895 So we would literally begin to live like Saint Paul said, you know, I I became all things for for each person. 00:20:51.895 --> 00:20:52.055 Right? 00:20:52.055 --> 00:20:54.375 I became configured to the Lord. 00:20:54.375 --> 00:20:57.870 I was as the as in the early church, they used the word Christification. 00:20:58.010 --> 00:20:59.870 I was Christified. 00:21:00.410 --> 00:21:00.910 Right? 00:21:01.130 --> 00:21:05.210 I was conformed, if you will, fashioned to be like Christ. 00:21:05.210 --> 00:21:12.110 And so that's the that's that whole well, we're we're participating in that supernatural life when we embrace the life of virtue. 00:21:13.335 --> 00:21:15.655 So why virtue is important in business? 00:21:15.655 --> 00:21:22.475 Well, I think some of the examples will speak for themselves, but, Lumen Gentium from Vatican two speaks of the role the role of the lady as an example. 00:21:22.615 --> 00:21:30.290 Lady are called to make the church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only, and through them that can happen. 00:21:30.670 --> 00:21:34.770 As a little example of that, and it kinda gets into some practical examples from business. 00:21:34.830 --> 00:21:43.330 But, for example, the the CEO of Hisco Corporation, the current managing director of of Lumen nationally is also here in Houston. 00:21:44.025 --> 00:22:08.920 And and Bob is an individual that, you know, Lumen with the help of Lumen coaching, spiritual guidance, sharpening the saw with other leaders around him, has become a man who now leads his meeting with virtue who who uses virtue and the handbook in his meetings with a staff, for example, and other and other such things where you you can really you really can grow. 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:11.660 You can really become different when helped. 00:22:11.685 --> 00:22:11.925 Right? 00:22:11.925 --> 00:22:13.765 And that's a there's so many examples of that. 00:22:13.765 --> 00:22:15.765 I I I picked just a few examples. 00:22:15.765 --> 00:22:16.645 There's more examples. 00:22:16.645 --> 00:22:25.065 If you like this book, stories and bit stories of virtue in business, there's a number of different areas where they speak about why virtue is important in business. 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:30.420 I picked a couple from the book and a couple from my own experience, but I just wanna share with you. 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.800 These are more stories. 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:37.860 So one is one of the benefits of virtue in business is that you adhere to the law. 00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.100 Okay? 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:40.280 So in other words, you stay out of trouble. 00:22:40.875 --> 00:22:41.115 Okay? 00:22:41.115 --> 00:22:42.235 That's that's one thing. 00:22:42.235 --> 00:22:48.875 I was with in brought in by a Fortune 50 company years ago after the Vatican executive summit. 00:22:48.875 --> 00:22:52.410 They were having a lot of global ethical problems, this company. 00:22:52.730 --> 00:22:58.970 And it was very interesting that the number two guy of the entire company, he was in charge of that whole of the ethics policy and renewal of the company. 00:22:58.970 --> 00:23:01.150 And we sat in his corporate in the corporate office. 00:23:01.770 --> 00:23:09.425 And this gentleman who who was Protestant and an active Protestant, we we came to a beautiful conclusion together. 00:23:09.425 --> 00:23:20.865 And that is that out there in in the business world, and maybe in other sectors of the world as well, there's the idea that ethics and morality is basically to adhere to the law. 00:23:20.865 --> 00:23:21.665 You don't get in trouble. 00:23:21.665 --> 00:23:24.210 Like, if you don't get us in trouble as a company, you're good. 00:23:24.210 --> 00:23:24.930 Like, we're good. 00:23:24.930 --> 00:23:30.150 So do basically the bare minimum, right, that we can get away with whatever as long as we stay within the law. 00:23:31.090 --> 00:23:36.465 And that's a very different outlook on life and business, frankly, than as Christians we'd have. 00:23:36.625 --> 00:23:43.685 I mean, even Aristotle, who is not Christian, spoke of ethics as the art of excellence, of excellent living. 00:23:44.065 --> 00:23:49.665 And so do we that was a thought there that in business, it's important. 00:23:49.665 --> 00:23:50.310 I mean, yes. 00:23:50.390 --> 00:24:02.810 At a bare minimum, a virtuous life kinda keeps you living according to the law and keep the company afloat, maintain the good of the company that it actually doesn't go under, people keep their jobs, etcetera. 00:24:02.870 --> 00:24:13.205 So without virtue, it's very easy that slippery slope, lack of self mastery, lot of personal interest that you can take the company down. 00:24:14.065 --> 00:24:19.790 A very concrete example that the number two point here I put here is leaders in particular set the pace of the company. 00:24:20.010 --> 00:24:20.490 Right? 00:24:20.490 --> 00:24:30.270 There's a company in the Northeast, again, a very large company, probably a Fortune 100 company that they had very drastically different back to back leaders. 00:24:31.210 --> 00:24:52.170 The first leader that came out came before the one that followed, he was a very strong man of integrity, a family man, an individual of faith who went to church on Sundays, led by example, dedicated a lot of time to mentor his executive team, was very faithful in a lot of different ways of his life. 00:24:52.170 --> 00:24:54.810 The individual who and and and the company soared, frankly. 00:24:54.810 --> 00:24:57.070 You know, stocks were up. 00:24:57.525 --> 00:25:00.585 People were, looking to work there, etcetera. 00:25:00.725 --> 00:25:12.580 Well, the person who took took his place within six months had left his wife for his assistant and was having an affair with the assistant. 00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:24.500 Within a year and a half, similar behavior was taking place in his executive team with almost all the executives on the inner executive team. 00:25:25.435 --> 00:25:27.035 Some people might say, well, father, well, look. 00:25:27.035 --> 00:25:31.355 I mean, at the end of day, people are people and, hey, it's a private life. 00:25:31.355 --> 00:25:33.035 Well, you know, that's the funny thing. 00:25:33.035 --> 00:25:39.435 It's actually not private, and it always whatever is private always spills over into real life. 00:25:39.435 --> 00:25:39.935 Right? 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.320 Yeah. 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:42.160 The light daily life including at work. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.860 And I think we all know this from experience. 00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:58.295 You don't change when you put on the collar and go to work every day as a priest or as a nun or, you know, go to the office, you know, in your in your business or go into giving therapy listening to people for therapy or whatever it might be. 00:25:58.675 --> 00:26:11.340 So this this behavior within two years sank corporate comp competence in the corporation, stocks went down, massive layoffs ensued, and there was a huge turnover at the company. 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:30.315 So what started off as an indiscretion, right, which then turned into a full fledged affair and leaving his wife, and then not being corrected in it, not changing his ways in it, led to a ripple effect, like mold spreads in the dough in among the app rotten apple, if you will, spread. 00:26:30.695 --> 00:26:38.160 So it happened as executive, and then that spilled over to the whole company in terms of jobs, performance, etcetera. 00:26:38.780 --> 00:26:44.640 So leaders, if they're not virtuous or if they're virtuous, they create a virtue cycle and lead by example. 00:26:45.020 --> 00:26:49.395 If they're not virtuous, well, unfortunately, we know it can happen from there. 00:26:49.395 --> 00:26:53.475 And, of course, I think all of us out here know how that can be also in the clergy. 00:26:53.475 --> 00:26:53.635 Right? 00:26:53.635 --> 00:26:58.615 We've seen plenty of examples of of of the good of that sometimes and also the bad of that, unfortunately. 00:26:58.835 --> 00:27:04.200 And so that's why we pray for all those in roles of leadership in the church or in any profession. 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.700 Right? 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:11.420 So commenting on the next one creates an atmosphere of teamwork, service, and forgiveness. 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.180 The virtuous person. 00:27:13.355 --> 00:27:29.250 There's actually a I'm not gonna go into much on this one, but there actually is a very strong movement right now in corporate life, even, scholarly articles and consultants who are going around preaching the message of magnanimity and forgiveness in corporate life. 00:27:30.050 --> 00:27:33.170 They're seeing that it does hit the numbers of the company. 00:27:33.170 --> 00:27:39.830 It does affect performance when people hold grudges, when people don't talk, when they get into silos and don't reconcile. 00:27:40.370 --> 00:27:41.970 And it's it's a very real thing. 00:27:41.970 --> 00:27:43.990 It's not just a private life thing. 00:27:44.315 --> 00:27:46.495 And so among among coworkers. 00:27:47.115 --> 00:27:51.355 So that's that's actually making a lot of inroads right now in the corporate life from what I've seen. 00:27:51.595 --> 00:27:53.775 Puts people at the center of decision making. 00:27:54.635 --> 00:28:00.880 So at the Vatican executive summit, there was a wonder one of the wonder several wonderful women that were there attending. 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.860 Her name was Inez. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:07.300 Inez ran one of one of the largest steel companies in Europe at the time. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:16.565 And Inez, one of her her her talk to to the audience, and and her presentation was all about putting people at the center of decision making. 00:28:16.625 --> 00:28:22.165 And she talked about how they had to they needed to have, they need to have major layoffs. 00:28:22.225 --> 00:28:40.185 And so the way they did that was very creative in that they not only gave great compensation packages, but they also those that stayed took pay cuts so that as soon as the economy turned in the next year or two, they would be able to hire back everyone that was laid off. 00:28:40.185 --> 00:28:41.565 And that's exactly what happened. 00:28:42.105 --> 00:28:48.665 They hired back unless the other unless individuals wanted to work somewhere else, they were able actually to hire people back after that. 00:28:48.665 --> 00:28:58.200 So there was this whole spirit of, yes, we have to make some hard decisions for the overall good, but we're gonna do it in a way that's that is what we would certainly consider a Christian way. 00:28:58.260 --> 00:29:05.895 But even from a just a humanistic standpoint, respects the dignity of the person, respects the common good, shows, hey, solidarity. 00:29:06.035 --> 00:29:07.815 I am my brother and sister's keeper. 00:29:07.875 --> 00:29:10.115 I am gonna take responsibility for your good. 00:29:10.115 --> 00:29:10.435 Right? 00:29:10.435 --> 00:29:12.615 And go shoulder to shoulder with you, etcetera. 00:29:13.155 --> 00:29:15.975 And so you that there are ways of living that. 00:29:16.530 --> 00:29:20.710 Virtue in business, it creates a culture where people feel valued and respected. 00:29:22.450 --> 00:29:23.570 So many examples of this. 00:29:23.570 --> 00:29:38.475 I was just at a coffee couple days ago with a friend, and he described how the former CEO of this company was we'll just call call this this individual a bulldozer. 00:29:38.695 --> 00:29:39.195 Right? 00:29:39.575 --> 00:29:42.075 Did whatever need to be done to get what he wanted. 00:29:43.070 --> 00:29:54.770 Get to the top, close deals, get this get the money he wanted out of the company, surround himself with the people that he wanted, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. 00:29:55.155 --> 00:30:04.115 The impact of this behavior, the impact of just the difference and the utilitarianism at which he treated the people, give you an idea. 00:30:04.115 --> 00:30:13.550 A year and a half after he left, one of the women on the management team went to a restaurant with a subordinate who she was taking out to lunch. 00:30:14.330 --> 00:30:24.965 And this this, this other woman who worked for her, they were at the table, and they saw two tables over this gentleman who she had the the other woman hadn't seen in a year and a half. 00:30:25.425 --> 00:30:35.045 And the subordinate then reported to my friend that her boss, the whole meal was trembling and couldn't look at him. 00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:41.820 She was traumatized by the impact of his leadership and the way he was she she was treated by this by this guy. 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.520 You know? 00:30:42.520 --> 00:30:48.060 So the the way you live, right, it has far reaching implications. 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:53.155 And so a lot of the virtue is an integral part of creating a culture. 00:30:53.155 --> 00:30:54.035 I'll give you an example. 00:30:54.035 --> 00:31:06.250 Another guy, one of the most famous guys here in Houston in the business world is a is a guy, runs a has run a an oil company here in town, done amazingly well as a company. 00:31:06.710 --> 00:31:13.910 And when you see him in a at at a I was very impressed at an event for young people as an example, a young adult program. 00:31:13.910 --> 00:31:15.450 We brought him in to give a talk. 00:31:16.070 --> 00:31:19.435 He went around and spoke with every single person. 00:31:19.435 --> 00:31:25.455 He gave special attention to those who were more on their own and maybe didn't know quite how they fit in at the meeting. 00:31:25.755 --> 00:31:30.415 And he would go around and just show love, care, respect, and attention for each person. 00:31:30.710 --> 00:31:32.310 Say, you know, that's that's virtue in action. 00:31:32.310 --> 00:31:32.550 Right? 00:31:32.550 --> 00:31:34.950 That's not something you just have. 00:31:34.950 --> 00:31:40.150 It's something that you oftentimes forged and built with the help of God, of course. 00:31:40.150 --> 00:31:42.150 This guy happened to be a Catholic as well. 00:31:42.150 --> 00:31:46.755 Did actually did a master's degree in theology after he finished running his company. 00:31:46.755 --> 00:31:47.815 Just as an aside. 00:31:48.835 --> 00:31:57.565 And last example I'd like to give before basically trying to finish and turn it over to q and a is that virtue in business also helps us be bold with our identity as Christians in a natural, balanced way. 00:31:57.565 --> 00:32:04.360 Boldness, important. 00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:04.600 Right? 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:07.800 Being bold, being authentically who we are, and not being ashamed of who we are. 00:32:07.800 --> 00:32:09.740 Some of you probably heard of Peter Friasil. 00:32:09.800 --> 00:32:12.795 He's CEO of Polydek International. 00:32:13.015 --> 00:32:17.035 It's a mine mining equipment sifting company in in South Carolina. 00:32:18.215 --> 00:32:30.940 Peter was a fallen away Christian, went on a retreat with us in in Atlanta, had a encounter with Christ, and has since really come alive in his faith and has not and still runs his company. 00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:42.015 But, basically, he and a few Protestant friends created this thing called His Way at Work where they imbue, a culture of care and respect in their companies, based on on on their faith. 00:32:42.015 --> 00:32:51.715 And but the example about him I wanted to give you was that he created a business card where it has his name, CEO Polydeck International, etcetera, etcetera, company of integrity, etcetera, etcetera. 00:32:51.775 --> 00:32:56.140 But on the back, it says we are we are a Christian based company. 00:32:56.920 --> 00:33:03.180 And our model of leadership and why we do what we do for you, the customer, is because we believe in Jesus Christ. 00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:09.980 And a lot of people said you shouldn't do that, that people will be offended, that they won't do business with us. 00:33:10.415 --> 00:33:16.835 And as a case in point, he tested this with the largest mine in Pakistan. 00:33:17.695 --> 00:33:21.875 I believe it was Pakistan, which is owned by two Muslim brothers. 00:33:23.150 --> 00:33:27.870 Polydec had 10% of the business when they went over to renegotiate their contract. 00:33:27.870 --> 00:33:42.465 And Peter introduced himself, gave him the card, showed him the back of the card, explained, you know, their ethos and what drove Polydeck as a company and its backbone and its heart, the heart, and just kinda gave it up to see what would happen. 00:33:42.465 --> 00:33:45.845 And the brothers came back and said, you know, look, we we reconsidered. 00:33:46.065 --> 00:33:50.565 We we don't wanna give you we don't wanna renew the 10% of our business to you. 00:33:51.010 --> 00:33:53.750 We wanna actually give you a 100% of our business. 00:33:54.610 --> 00:33:57.750 You got all the mine equipment is yours. 00:33:57.970 --> 00:33:59.170 You we're because why? 00:33:59.170 --> 00:34:08.745 Because, well, we as Muslim, we believe different things, but the common values we share, in a lot of ways, they as brothers were saying, I mean, it means a lot to us that you are willing to state what what you stand for. 00:34:08.805 --> 00:34:09.285 Right? 00:34:09.285 --> 00:34:10.325 And it's not about you. 00:34:10.325 --> 00:34:11.285 It's not about the money. 00:34:11.285 --> 00:34:18.825 It's about the the person, Jesus, who you stand for and and and what that brings in terms of virtue. 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:37.475 And so all that, again, just to say there are so many examples, and I'm sure many of you out there could give me examples from your experience of how virtue changes things, how virtue elevates the conversation, the atmosphere, the quality of relationship, the trust, etcetera. 00:34:37.855 --> 00:34:38.255 You know? 00:34:38.255 --> 00:34:42.355 And and, frankly, most people that have gotten high up in business are influential. 00:34:42.415 --> 00:34:43.455 Again, it's not universal. 00:34:43.455 --> 00:34:45.055 We know all bad examples out there. 00:34:45.055 --> 00:34:53.420 But at least, like, here at Houston, I'll tell you this, that almost everyone I've met that's sort of at the top of the ladder of their business area tend to be people that have pursued virtue. 00:34:53.420 --> 00:35:01.635 Because otherwise, it's like the the system, you can only be have lack of integrity, to be disloyal, be a liar, be dishonest. 00:35:02.575 --> 00:35:06.735 That only gets you so far usually, at least in the business community. 00:35:06.735 --> 00:35:13.395 Not saying every community out there perhaps, but in the business world, oftentimes, it will only get you so far. 00:35:13.455 --> 00:35:16.355 So those are some examples from my own experience. 00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:22.380 I'm just gonna turn it over to q and a here because we have about twenty minutes or so left, and I've been talking. 00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:26.200 I hope none of you fell asleep, but it's been forty minutes almost. 00:35:26.200 --> 00:35:30.540 And I hope this was enlightening and helpful and insightful in some way for each of you. 00:35:31.345 --> 00:35:31.845 Yeah. 00:35:31.905 --> 00:35:33.925 Thank you so much, Nathaniel. 00:35:33.985 --> 00:35:42.325 Really appreciate your thoughts and overview of different aspects, for June how it affects, business world and leadership. 00:35:43.430 --> 00:35:49.190 If you want to put a question, we have a a q and a. 00:35:49.190 --> 00:35:56.755 You can just type your question, and I will say it out loud, you know, give it let us hear what it is. 00:35:56.755 --> 00:36:04.275 And while we're waiting for people to think of questions, from Nathaniel, I'm wondering if you would tell us a little bit on just your day to day life. 00:36:04.275 --> 00:36:04.515 Right? 00:36:04.515 --> 00:36:05.555 You work with leaders. 00:36:05.555 --> 00:36:08.135 You do some one on one work, small groups. 00:36:09.040 --> 00:36:12.420 If you would share a little bit with us kinda that work in the Lumen Institute. 00:36:13.520 --> 00:36:14.020 Sure. 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:15.120 Just what that looks like. 00:36:15.120 --> 00:36:16.080 I think it would be Sure. 00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:16.740 Wonderful. 00:36:17.600 --> 00:36:36.935 So the work in the Lumen Institute mirrors quite a bit what we do as legionaries and what we do in kind of Regnum Christie movement methodology, and that is one to one highly personalized attention, small group kinda sharpening the saw together, and engage in mission. 00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:40.220 Help the people experience mission their mission from God. 00:36:40.220 --> 00:36:45.660 Discover their personal mission, if you will, and help help accompany them, empower them in that. 00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:55.285 So so, of course, my most important part of my day is prayer and mass and try to make time for Christ, be filled with him, right, so that I can give him. 00:36:55.285 --> 00:36:56.805 That's that's the most important part of my day. 00:36:56.805 --> 00:37:04.985 But as soon as I go out, if you will, into the minute outside the house, the community, I probably spend the day somewhere between three and five. 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:11.460 Lumen Institute members or other cultural or business leaders out there and really just sitting with them having coffee. 00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.180 You'd be surprised. 00:37:12.180 --> 00:37:21.335 I'd say 95% of the people I've met have zero, like zero relationship with a priest, a protestant pastor, a minister. 00:37:22.075 --> 00:37:34.370 You know, someone that can just sit with them and listen to their story and listen in the company and offer ideas, insights, thoughts, you name it, and all that. 00:37:34.370 --> 00:37:40.230 So three to five meetings a day like that, typically, over coffee, over lunch, over breakfast. 00:37:40.530 --> 00:37:43.575 You know, you know, usually about an hour long each, typically. 00:37:43.575 --> 00:37:50.955 And I'll meet people once a month typically like that, especially those who are in the Luminance Institute who are kind of committing to ongoing development and formation. 00:37:51.655 --> 00:37:57.640 Small groups in the Luminance do we do a three hour sharpening the saw meeting once once a month. 00:37:57.640 --> 00:38:01.480 So we'll take Jesus as a leader, take one of the virtues. 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:06.460 So this month, the virtue is magnanimity, and we'll talk about look at the gospel from that perspective. 00:38:06.600 --> 00:38:08.940 We'll look at some discussion questions. 00:38:09.160 --> 00:38:14.395 We will maybe do a case study or two together, especially from their personal experience, if possible. 00:38:15.095 --> 00:38:24.375 And and, frankly, just also check-in because the fellowship component is so important too that, you know, as leaders, they it's the expression, and I know it's could be cliche, but it's very real for these people. 00:38:24.375 --> 00:38:25.835 It's kinda lonely at the top. 00:38:26.270 --> 00:38:26.430 Right? 00:38:26.430 --> 00:38:29.230 And I'm not necessarily talking about these big corporate guys or women. 00:38:29.230 --> 00:38:29.470 Right? 00:38:29.470 --> 00:38:34.450 I mean, some of them are maybe running a 10 or a 20 person company. 00:38:34.510 --> 00:38:38.370 Like, you know, I've had people that run, like, a tree trimming company or run a bakery. 00:38:38.855 --> 00:38:40.695 Now these aren't not necessarily massive companies. 00:38:40.695 --> 00:38:44.615 Then you have other ones that have bigger companies too, but their lives are very similar. 00:38:44.615 --> 00:38:45.095 Right? 00:38:45.095 --> 00:38:50.135 And and people oftentimes don't know who they can trust because people always wanna get stuff from them. 00:38:50.135 --> 00:38:58.670 They want money or they want connections or they want a job or they want a referral, or a letter of recommendation, or you name it. 00:38:58.670 --> 00:39:10.935 So I think these people generally appreciate just the TLC, which I think Christ gave because Christ came for all of us, not he came for for people, all social strata and economic backgrounds. 00:39:10.935 --> 00:39:11.335 Right? 00:39:11.335 --> 00:39:14.775 So and we all have a poverty that needs his love. 00:39:14.775 --> 00:39:18.635 And and and so and for a lot of these people don't feel like they're loved or know that they're loved. 00:39:18.695 --> 00:39:20.475 So and then lastly, mission. 00:39:21.495 --> 00:39:28.270 Like, example, we have our we have a kind of our advent mission coming up where we're gonna be a couple with members, couples, even whole families. 00:39:28.270 --> 00:39:36.910 We're going to the homeless a homeless women's shelter together to cook lunch, for the women for the for the women and and for their some of them have children there. 00:39:36.910 --> 00:39:40.625 And usually, there's about a 100 women that live in this particular center. 00:39:40.845 --> 00:39:50.225 And so we'll be spending, some time there just together and and being in solidarity together with them and loving them, listening to their stories, etcetera. 00:39:50.765 --> 00:39:52.850 So that's a little overview. 00:39:53.230 --> 00:39:53.470 Yeah. 00:39:53.470 --> 00:39:59.310 Thank you for the so we have one comment, wonderful, JB Goetz from, Germany. 00:39:59.310 --> 00:40:01.230 Actually, he's listening all the way from Germany. 00:40:01.230 --> 00:40:02.370 It is 02:30. 00:40:02.430 --> 00:40:05.390 Actually, by now, 02:44AM for him. 00:40:05.390 --> 00:40:06.030 God bless you. 00:40:06.030 --> 00:40:06.670 He's been out there. 00:40:06.830 --> 00:40:09.675 Not fallen asleep, has loved it. 00:40:09.815 --> 00:40:17.195 So he's wondering, the legendary brothers you know who are in Germany, do you know if they are aware of Lumen Institute? 00:40:17.335 --> 00:40:19.995 Is there any work over in Europe and Germany specifically? 00:40:20.510 --> 00:40:27.230 He says he has a group of about a 100 Catholic entrepreneurs and leaders and who might be interested in touching base. 00:40:27.230 --> 00:40:27.830 So Sure. 00:40:28.030 --> 00:40:29.490 He has a connection Good question. 00:40:29.550 --> 00:40:33.470 I appreciate that insight and question and love to connect with you about that. 00:40:33.470 --> 00:40:34.190 Certainly, always. 00:40:34.190 --> 00:40:41.605 We're looking in fact, we Lumen, we're currently exploring opportunities, possibly to expand, to Latin And South America, to Asia. 00:40:41.605 --> 00:40:47.625 There have been a couple of doors open in Asia that we're gonna probably explore this coming year, and Germany would be would be wonderful. 00:40:47.845 --> 00:40:53.870 I do know I I don't know all that the legionaries are doing and Regnum Christie are doing in Germany specifically in this area. 00:40:53.870 --> 00:41:00.770 I've heard of I've heard of those few things, but nothing I don't know personally anything that's really organized like what Lumen is doing. 00:41:01.390 --> 00:41:08.485 And so I did I'd be more than happy to to hear about what this group does and if I can be of any service to them or Lumen could be. 00:41:08.485 --> 00:41:09.945 We'd be happy to explore that. 00:41:10.325 --> 00:41:12.325 So Yeah. 00:41:12.325 --> 00:41:14.725 So they I think it's a hard it's it's a hard work. 00:41:14.725 --> 00:41:16.725 I think it seems since we're at the ground. 00:41:16.725 --> 00:41:18.370 So it's We yeah. 00:41:18.370 --> 00:41:22.050 How do we, Julia, how do we share information as far as, like, contact information? 00:41:22.050 --> 00:41:24.530 Do you will you send out, like, the email address or something? 00:41:24.530 --> 00:41:25.570 Or Yeah. 00:41:25.570 --> 00:41:27.250 The the recording will go out. 00:41:27.250 --> 00:41:28.710 We'll post it in all the courses. 00:41:28.770 --> 00:41:32.610 We'll send it out, and then there will be information with your name on that. 00:41:32.610 --> 00:41:33.735 So Okay. 00:41:33.735 --> 00:41:38.475 I think everybody who's been here who's listening, would be there. 00:41:38.615 --> 00:41:41.015 So so there's one one other question we had. 00:41:41.975 --> 00:41:49.200 Some data says maybe aggressiveness is a little more associated with company leadership versus agreeableness. 00:41:50.220 --> 00:41:50.540 Right? 00:41:50.860 --> 00:41:58.000 Has not been it's it's really associated as much with, company leadership or successful company leadership. 00:41:58.380 --> 00:42:04.125 Maybe aggressiveness seen a little more as a male trade, agreeableness, a little more as a female Right. 00:42:05.865 --> 00:42:07.965 Just your comments and thoughts on that. 00:42:08.745 --> 00:42:22.830 Well, I think it's I I think I I and I can't speak for other parts of the world such as Germany or other continents in in the in the theme of how how far advanced there is that kind of openness and the progress of having women in in the leadership roles. 00:42:22.830 --> 00:42:24.290 I haven't studied that in in-depth. 00:42:24.670 --> 00:42:29.230 From here in The United States, what I can tell is there's definitely a a a put there's definitely a growth in that area. 00:42:29.230 --> 00:42:34.255 In fact, one of the guys I just with recently, his his CEO is is a woman. 00:42:34.395 --> 00:42:35.195 And it's funny. 00:42:35.195 --> 00:42:40.335 She she is a very agreeable, gentle woman from what I can tell. 00:42:40.395 --> 00:42:50.350 Very professional, very adept at her business, and knows it through and through, but sounds like a very compared to the bulldozer example I gave you, like, the exact opposite. 00:42:51.050 --> 00:42:59.805 Team builder, gentle, in in various ways, but also knows how to get the job done in a way. 00:43:00.025 --> 00:43:00.825 So I do agree. 00:43:00.825 --> 00:43:03.225 I think I think there is a general perception that you have to fight. 00:43:03.225 --> 00:43:05.325 Like, it's like a tooth and nail business. 00:43:05.385 --> 00:43:07.625 You know, you have to prove you're tough. 00:43:07.625 --> 00:43:11.245 You have to almost I don't wanna say be. 00:43:12.210 --> 00:43:20.150 I think men men oftentimes are are are they they kinda go into the business world thinking that they have to be that way or you're not gonna have to fight for it. 00:43:20.690 --> 00:43:28.985 And and maybe and maybe that's sort of the culture that we create by by doing that sometimes instead of seeing it as, like, valuing each other's strengths. 00:43:28.985 --> 00:43:30.605 Like and there are different ways to lead. 00:43:30.665 --> 00:43:31.165 Right? 00:43:31.465 --> 00:43:38.185 So that would be one of my encouragements to the women on the call is to don't force yourself to be something you're not. 00:43:38.185 --> 00:43:38.425 Right? 00:43:38.425 --> 00:43:41.325 To to leverage your strengths from God. 00:43:41.340 --> 00:43:41.500 Right? 00:43:41.500 --> 00:43:46.140 And then bring the feminine genius to the to the boardroom or to the to the Executive Suite. 00:43:46.140 --> 00:43:46.460 Right? 00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:49.120 To the C Suite, as they say, is important. 00:43:49.740 --> 00:43:54.975 I think we you can you can be professional without being, you know, cutthroat. 00:43:55.995 --> 00:43:58.655 You know, to be cut you know, be cutthroat to be professional. 00:43:58.875 --> 00:44:06.315 I think that's the challenge as Christians, right, is that we can part of our mission is to reclaim the the vision of leadership. 00:44:06.315 --> 00:44:06.475 Right? 00:44:06.475 --> 00:44:08.160 That you don't have to be that way. 00:44:08.160 --> 00:44:08.400 Right? 00:44:08.400 --> 00:44:10.020 That it's not actually very effective. 00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:11.040 Right? 00:44:11.040 --> 00:44:13.780 And and it creates that whole it creates a whole culture of infighting. 00:44:14.160 --> 00:44:18.880 But I think from what you're saying, I love this view of a reeducation almost. 00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:19.200 Right? 00:44:19.200 --> 00:44:24.955 A new shared vision of of that virtue does have an essential part in leadership. 00:44:25.095 --> 00:44:25.595 Right? 00:44:25.815 --> 00:44:31.095 And it's maybe allowing people from what you say I wanna know what your thoughts are. 00:44:31.095 --> 00:44:38.370 It's almost like you have to give people a new sense of you can be virtuous as a leader. 00:44:38.370 --> 00:44:39.170 Like Yes. 00:44:39.250 --> 00:44:41.030 The Lord will bless that you can be successful. 00:44:41.650 --> 00:44:42.130 Yes. 00:44:42.130 --> 00:44:45.590 And is that what you find that people may say is, It's like, oh my goodness. 00:44:46.130 --> 00:44:47.830 The two actually do work together. 00:44:48.575 --> 00:44:57.535 Well, you know, one of the things I hear people talk about a lot or at least they were, you know, may rest in peace Steve Jobs, you know, from, you know, iPad and iPhone, all this stuff. 00:44:57.535 --> 00:44:58.035 Right? 00:44:58.895 --> 00:45:02.610 Steve Jobs was always I've heard so often a visionary. 00:45:02.670 --> 00:45:03.170 Right? 00:45:03.230 --> 00:45:05.310 Paint a vision of the future of what's possible. 00:45:05.310 --> 00:45:12.610 And now people talk about Elon Musk, right, with SpaceX and Tesla and all the you know, vision of the future, visionary, sort of what's possible. 00:45:13.230 --> 00:45:24.025 I think as Christians, we really need to ask God for a visionary spirit that we I think the world is lacking oftentimes a vision. 00:45:24.165 --> 00:45:24.485 Right? 00:45:24.485 --> 00:45:27.045 Are we out there painting a vision of a world of virtue? 00:45:27.045 --> 00:45:29.220 What what a world with virtue could look like? 00:45:29.860 --> 00:45:33.880 That that that's, for example, that whole little the four criteria for decision making. 00:45:34.660 --> 00:45:40.360 How often do you hear anyone proposing a different way of looking at leadership decision making for tough issues? 00:45:40.820 --> 00:45:47.895 I rarely hear anyone talk about other than, well, I feel this way, or we should, or we should this, or this is better, that's better. 00:45:48.515 --> 00:45:54.355 But where's where's where's someone painting a bit of a vision of what's possible or giving the tools, like, you know, I propose this. 00:45:54.355 --> 00:45:56.055 Let's look at it from this perspective. 00:45:56.435 --> 00:46:09.850 I think as Christians, we have to pray for it, but and then also practice, that's a way to in in certain schools of leadership, the art of casting a vision is actually, something you can work on and develop. 00:46:10.070 --> 00:46:18.155 And so some some leadership development approaches make that kind of a front end leadership trait that you can work on and develop. 00:46:18.155 --> 00:46:28.740 And I think whether we're priests, nuns, consecrated women, lay women, lay men out there, etcetera, that's that's a as Christians, maybe something we could all work on because the world is waiting and hungry for a vision. 00:46:28.740 --> 00:46:30.600 And I think we had a lot to offer. 00:46:30.820 --> 00:46:31.140 Mhmm. 00:46:31.140 --> 00:46:31.700 A lot to offer. 00:46:31.700 --> 00:46:38.680 And each of us in our respective areas can cast that vision and still hope and offer a little bit future of the vision, like, on virtue. 00:46:39.060 --> 00:46:39.460 Mhmm. 00:46:39.460 --> 00:46:46.095 But, you know, it's a I would say you gotta have your elevator pitch, but to some degree, you do. 00:46:46.315 --> 00:46:46.815 Yeah. 00:46:46.955 --> 00:46:47.455 Wonderful. 00:46:47.915 --> 00:46:56.415 So this next, question is is first off from one of our graduates as a thank you for your wonderful talk and how enlightening it's been. 00:46:56.660 --> 00:47:02.600 And then the question is, if virtue and leadership is going to be a new focus in the MSP program. 00:47:02.660 --> 00:47:03.960 Any more question for me? 00:47:05.940 --> 00:47:07.620 And how wonderful that would be. 00:47:07.620 --> 00:47:08.900 And it is. 00:47:08.900 --> 00:47:17.885 So we have a new leadership psychology concentration that we started this fall, and we're having, one new course. 00:47:17.885 --> 00:47:24.465 It's applied leadership skills, which comes out of a self reflection, self leadership, pursuit of virtue model. 00:47:25.810 --> 00:47:46.335 Just very much following what you've been talking about and then talking about, transformational leadership, building on that, servant leadership, also pulling in some positive psychology positive leadership, and then just a little more hands on leading groups, people, organizations, what those look like. 00:47:46.335 --> 00:47:49.395 So there's three courses as as part of that concentration. 00:47:49.855 --> 00:47:52.435 People can also write their capstone on that piece. 00:47:52.895 --> 00:47:58.070 So there is that is part of the program since this fall. 00:47:58.070 --> 00:47:59.110 So we're excited. 00:47:59.110 --> 00:48:05.110 We are we're having a growing number of people from leadership settings and workplace settings. 00:48:05.110 --> 00:48:08.390 So, and and love your talk. 00:48:08.390 --> 00:48:09.530 Just so applicable. 00:48:09.590 --> 00:48:10.250 It's wonderful. 00:48:10.925 --> 00:48:12.225 Now we have another question. 00:48:13.965 --> 00:48:17.825 Father, anything new to you thinking that you were worked as a layperson. 00:48:17.965 --> 00:48:18.465 Right? 00:48:18.605 --> 00:48:24.305 And then that question, what make you change your values to to now be a person of virtue. 00:48:24.445 --> 00:48:24.900 Right? 00:48:25.700 --> 00:48:26.680 How did that happen? 00:48:26.820 --> 00:48:28.920 In my in my case Mhmm. 00:48:29.620 --> 00:48:32.260 Well, I give a ton well, not all. 00:48:32.260 --> 00:48:32.820 Really yeah. 00:48:32.820 --> 00:48:33.220 Really. 00:48:33.220 --> 00:48:41.145 I give God so, clearly, much credit because I I, yeah, I I was not on a virtuous path at all. 00:48:41.145 --> 00:48:43.865 I mean, God really intervened in that. 00:48:43.865 --> 00:48:47.965 I think perhaps we've all had our Saint Paul of some form or fashion experiences. 00:48:48.025 --> 00:48:58.240 Perhaps I've had mine and and the Lord, I mean, one of the main ones was just a deep experience of Christ's love and his presence in the Eucharist one day that changed me forever. 00:48:58.700 --> 00:49:01.100 That, like, this is he he's really here. 00:49:01.100 --> 00:49:07.085 And the thing is, I think maybe one thing that came although, you know, my my thought, it wasn't about virtue in that moment. 00:49:08.585 --> 00:49:16.285 But I think if you the more you love someone or get to know someone, the more you begin to admire their qualities. 00:49:16.345 --> 00:49:18.585 You begin to admire who they are. 00:49:18.585 --> 00:49:27.810 I mean, frankly, when, you know, when I when I when I when I dated, you know, year many years ago and all that, naturally began to notice more and more the qualities of my girlfriend. 00:49:28.110 --> 00:49:32.530 Noted in the qualities of her heart, the qualities of her way of seeing things. 00:49:32.675 --> 00:49:38.835 You know, when as soon as you start to appreciate or value another person, you can't help but start to notice these traits and qualities. 00:49:38.835 --> 00:49:42.595 And with Christ, it's all the all the more and all the more intense, I found. 00:49:42.595 --> 00:49:57.170 So I think just meeting him and knowing him and getting to know him better, falling in deeper love and respect for him, just drew me to, like, well but, yes, of course, this is what Christianity is. 00:49:57.170 --> 00:50:07.515 It's not simply about admiring from a distance an ethical, wonderful figure, God himself for that matter, but literally becoming one with him and becoming totally like him. 00:50:07.975 --> 00:50:13.015 You know, respecting your personality and all that you are as a man or a woman, God kinda draws you in. 00:50:13.015 --> 00:50:24.600 And so it was real it's really been a journey of twenty years now or so that of just trying to cooperate with, like, him drawing me to embrace his own life and and and me. 00:50:24.600 --> 00:50:24.840 Right? 00:50:24.840 --> 00:50:31.425 And and to to to live with his magnanimous heart as an example, to live with his humility, and that it's attractive. 00:50:31.645 --> 00:50:34.945 I mean, what wasn't attractive before is extremely attractive now to me. 00:50:35.485 --> 00:50:44.360 And that's I think that's what god does to us when we seek union with him through prayer and through Eucharist, and and all that. 00:50:44.360 --> 00:50:54.540 And and then that then that includes the practical means, right, of self denial, of of forging self mastery and perseverance, doing things you don't like to do, giving up opinions, changing attitudes. 00:50:55.295 --> 00:50:59.875 There's a real shedding, if you will, to rise in in his virtue. 00:51:00.255 --> 00:51:03.475 So, so we have to cooperate with it. 00:51:03.615 --> 00:51:13.960 What I found also very helpful was something we do in the Lumen Institute, but something I've had in my training with the legionaries now for twenty some years is we just had, like, a simple, like, virtue growth program. 00:51:14.580 --> 00:51:16.900 So, god, where do you want me to grow? 00:51:16.900 --> 00:51:18.580 Well, I think you're called to grow in love. 00:51:18.580 --> 00:51:21.400 Well, especially, I'm really impatient on the roads. 00:51:21.885 --> 00:51:25.585 Can't keep my attention span more than a few seconds with a person. 00:51:25.725 --> 00:51:28.065 Well, let's start working on the patience of Christ's heart. 00:51:28.205 --> 00:51:29.805 And how are we gonna how are we gonna do that? 00:51:29.805 --> 00:51:39.060 Well, we're gonna do that in in the level of prayer and transcendence through daily prayer, meditating on Christ's patience with people in the gospel, gospel passage every morning. 00:51:39.060 --> 00:51:43.300 We're gonna weave it into family life by well, I live with a group of priests. 00:51:43.300 --> 00:51:46.020 Maybe you live with a spouse or kids, but or whatever. 00:51:46.020 --> 00:51:54.964 But, you know, that one priest gets under my, you know, you know, under my skin, and I'm just gonna pray for that person when I'm talking to them next time. 00:51:54.964 --> 00:51:55.275 I'm gonna weave it into that relationship. 00:51:55.275 --> 00:51:58.715 And we've been the patient driving on the road on the I 45 down to Houston. 00:51:58.715 --> 00:52:05.535 So I'm going to pray in our father instead of honking or try to, you know, speed around that person when they cut me off. 00:52:05.810 --> 00:52:10.230 I'm gonna weave it into that daily fabric of my daily life and the people I interact with. 00:52:10.530 --> 00:52:17.890 And so, you're you begin intentionally cooperating with the Holy Spirit to forge the virtue where you notice it most. 00:52:17.890 --> 00:52:18.390 Right? 00:52:18.690 --> 00:52:21.350 Where where you see the possibility most. 00:52:22.035 --> 00:52:34.035 And it begins you begin to see the change, you know, day by day, little by little, become that more in my case, then I'm just giving an example of patience as one aspect of love, the virtue of love. 00:52:34.035 --> 00:52:34.715 So Wonderful. 00:52:34.995 --> 00:52:35.815 Hope that helps. 00:52:36.560 --> 00:52:37.760 Thank you very, very much. 00:52:37.760 --> 00:52:38.080 Yeah. 00:52:38.080 --> 00:52:41.300 I really appreciate that that insight and sharing. 00:52:42.560 --> 00:52:45.140 I don't see another question at the moment. 00:52:45.200 --> 00:52:49.735 So, if there are more questions, then we'll be posting the talk. 00:52:49.735 --> 00:52:51.895 People can email you directly, I'm sure. 00:52:51.895 --> 00:52:52.215 Right? 00:52:52.215 --> 00:52:54.135 It's would it be okay if they have Mhmm. 00:52:54.295 --> 00:52:55.015 Want to connect. 00:52:55.015 --> 00:52:59.035 Another, person from Germany is interested in connecting with you. 00:52:59.975 --> 00:53:06.140 The other questions, you can reach out to me or reach out to you directly or I can forward. 00:53:06.480 --> 00:53:09.000 I wanna say thank you again so You're welcome. 00:53:09.240 --> 00:53:22.655 Very much for sharing with us tonight and just love casting that vision of virtue and leadership and that it's possible and that it's supposed to be what we are doing. 00:53:22.655 --> 00:53:29.075 It will have wonderful effects on, all kinds of settings in this, worker ministry. 00:53:29.615 --> 00:53:34.530 So I really, really appreciate that and, wish you all the best for your work in ministry. 00:53:34.530 --> 00:53:37.810 And, so good to hear you share today. 00:53:37.810 --> 00:53:39.030 Really appreciate that. 00:53:39.250 --> 00:53:39.890 And Thank you. 00:53:39.970 --> 00:53:45.110 Invite everybody who's in the talk or who's listening and who will be listening later. 00:53:46.050 --> 00:53:47.270 Have a good night, Paul. 00:53:47.840 --> 00:53:48.660 God bless everyone. 00:53:49.200 --> 00:53:49.860 Take care.