This morning a friend and I talked by telephone.

The Bible says, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family,” and he is family.

My friend works for a major insurance company overseeing new product development management from the technology side: databases, daily valuation updates, client statement. He’s not a geek, but he understands geekdom.

Today, we talked about the power and impact of personality during good times and bad times.  No one found a pink slip on their desk, but company bonuses and matching pension contributions got axed.

Most employees groused. He understands, accepts, and does his job effectively.

His tone is even, but never bores. As his wife says, “He can walk in a room without sensing any emotion. I walk in a room and absorb every one’s feelings.” He does sense feelings, but never messes with them.

My friend’s temperament and commitment merits a promotion, and he got one.

Temperament and tone matter. Personality is the message. Impeccable expression changes lives.

Paul Hawken’s commencement address, “Healing or Stealing?” expresses his passion, intelligence, and vision. His words: energetic; his challenge: relevant.

Loving the word, ideas, concepts, and having a vision matter. Too often, we overlook the power of ideas because we exert too much attention getting people to buy a product or service. The power of language, the impact of passion that words convey, and the power of redemptive change elevates above the base and mundane.

Mark Twain wrote, “The difference between a word and the right word is the difference between the lighting bug and lightning.”

Paul Hawken’s University of Oregon 2009 graduation commencement address affirms and encourages. When bleak news fatigues and arouses fear, Hawken’s says, “You are brilliant and the earth is hiring.” Economic policy, human toys, and avarice must give way to the enduring necessity of life on earth.

Every day we commence activities, and every day our economic obligations and initiatives must conform to what works best for the earth and all her inhabitants. Investing is not just for you, or me; investing demands moral temperament and sensitive tones. Investing ourselves for the highest purpose creates a portfolio legacy that Wall Street cannot take nor diminish.

To read Hawken’s message, look at the toolbar at the bottom for the word “full” (screen). Hit escape when you’re done.