Working for a large computer software company can be stressful and the week long event in Seattle was no exception. Months of preparation, times of uncertainty with acquisitions and rumors of layoffs. Long days, hours on your feel, nonstop talking and a bit of tension among the staff. I stood in the middle of it all, as if in the eye of a storm, time and turmoil swirling around me. Then… from the chaos a sense of calm wrapped its arm around my shoulder, I took a deep breath, stepped out from the safety of silence and made a decision. Be a part of the problem, or take the leadership position and rally the troops to rise to the excellence we are capable of. What I learned… People want to do the right thing, they are eager to help. They enjoy collaboration and will in fact rise…to be excellent… together… each and every time.