controversial video

Last month, I was invited to give a keynote address at the national meeting of a natural products trade association. The presentation, entitled "Three Keys to Inspired Leadership," was seen as so controversial by members of the trade association that they banned the video of the talk from their website and only allowed me to post a censored version that deleted any references to their organization or its members. One of the interesting ironies is that the board of directors had a chance to review and edit my slides prior to the conference. So, nobody was caught off-guard by what I had to say. Nonetheless, it seemed to push some buttons.

Before all evidence of my talk is erased from the trade association's website, I want to share this photograph showing that I was in fact invited to give this keynote address:

What was so controversial about a talk focused on inspiration-based leadership skills? Having received no specific feedback from the trade association, I can only guess: In my presentation, I drew a comparison between creative expression and love play, pointing out the role of passion and sensuality in creative inspiration. Although I never mentioned anything overtly sexual (the closest I came was showing a tasteful photograph of a breast-feeding mother), just the mention of connecting with the body in a sensuous manner may have been considered so risqué that the director of the alliance called my keynote a violation of its "community culture."

Now, for the first time, you have a chance to watch the video of this controversial banned speech by clicking the PLAY button below. Please let me know what you think. I welcome your feedback. What did you like best? Was there anything that you found thought-provoking or surprising? What, if anything, did you find shocking or offensive? I'd really like to know. This was not the reception I expected for my keynote address, and I am just trying to understand what might have triggered the individuals who found it so disturbing. Looking forward to your comments.