"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. "
Bill Cosby US comedian & television actor (1937 - )
Two weeks of the most intense activity, even more so than in the early hectic days in the summer. The inevitable consequence of extreme busyness is that you have to prioritize. You cannot fulfill all requests - something has to give. If you "succeed" at work under these circumstances, then there's a good chance that you may not be present at home. If, conversely, you "succeed" at home during a period of intense demands at work, then there's a good chance that work may be taking a hit. If you somehow manage to keep both going, you may be neglecting your body, or your friends, or your personal development. Or, perhaps you simply may not be keeping in touch with your relations, or attending your club etc.
Depending on how many stakeholders you have in your life, the demands can be quite challenging to meet. But often you can establish an equilibrium that is quite fulfilling under normal circumstances. This fragile balance between your supply of energy, time and attention to the different stakeholders is shattered when one area goes into crisis-mode with a step change in demand level. Here is where you run the risk of slipping into failure-mode - where you try to meet all the demands, you try to please everybody.
One concept I discuss in the Four Elements framework (see http://www.bobowest.com) is Flow. One metaphor for flow is water in a pipe. When the pressure is turned up, the water flows faster, but if the pipe has many holes in it, the flow is disrupted. The holes in the pipe are those demands that turn your attention from the most important stakeholders in your life. And, in this, you need to be very honest about what you value most. Some people claim that work is not important and then go into panic and depression when that aspect of their lives deteriorates. Given that we often spend over eight hours per day at work, it would seem to have an intrinsic high value merely because of the volume of our lives that at lived there. Not to mention the financial value it brings. Family is also critically important, ultimately much more so than work. So is health. But you need to look closely at some of the other areas. Also, within one area, do you really need to satisfy everyone' s demands or are some customers more important than others?
I guess the crux of the matter is that saying yes to one thing often means saying no to another so we need to be very conscious of what we are saying no to. But, ultimately, we have to question the nature of failure itself. Is a bad result really failure? What if you bounce back and address the issue with renewed vigour? Do you really fail if you keep driving forwards?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. "
Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)
Thursday 13 December 2007
Tuesday 4 December 2007
Facts
"Where facts are few, experts are many. "
Donald R Gannon
Another day spent at home nursing the family and resisting the lure of the flu pandemic. A high regular dosage of vitamin C via a flask of hot water with lemon, regular ingestion of echinacea and a good intake of fruit fortifies the body's defences. Fact. No expertise required, just experience. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, not in the theory. Picking up from yesterday's musings, it does seem that the realm of the expert does require some smoke and mirrors. If all is factual, there is not much scope for being an expert, is there? Conversely, where the subject matter is shrouded in uncertainty, therein lies the feast of the expert, with intricate theories and elaborate models and systems. Perhaps this somewhat cynical assessment of the role of the expert should be restricted to matters of the intellect rather than practical (physical) tasks, where muscle memory can convey real expertise beyond the realm of fact.
Donald R Gannon
Another day spent at home nursing the family and resisting the lure of the flu pandemic. A high regular dosage of vitamin C via a flask of hot water with lemon, regular ingestion of echinacea and a good intake of fruit fortifies the body's defences. Fact. No expertise required, just experience. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, not in the theory. Picking up from yesterday's musings, it does seem that the realm of the expert does require some smoke and mirrors. If all is factual, there is not much scope for being an expert, is there? Conversely, where the subject matter is shrouded in uncertainty, therein lies the feast of the expert, with intricate theories and elaborate models and systems. Perhaps this somewhat cynical assessment of the role of the expert should be restricted to matters of the intellect rather than practical (physical) tasks, where muscle memory can convey real expertise beyond the realm of fact.
Monday 3 December 2007
Expert
"Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then do it. "
Robert Heinlein, US science fiction author (1907 - 1988)
Back after another break. The challenge is to keep this going in the midst of much intensity at work and in life. At the moment, my family has been struck down with a nasty illness and I'm playing nurse while fighting the insurgents at the gates of my body. Being healthy is important and I would like to be an expert in this. But I don't want to be limited either. I guess the limitation of being an expert lies in the being bound by the law of cause and effect. Experts tend to be more concerned with the effects and do not have much grasp on the cause side. Take illness. What causes illness? Really. Experts - doctors in this case - will have detailed knowledge and expertise about illnesses and about their potential cures. However, the actual cause of illness is surrounded by smoke and mirrors. Are the bacteria or viruses, which are on the scene when the illness symptoms are observed, the cause of the illness or merely consistent scavengers of dying cells and tissues, rather like rats on a rubbish tip or maggots on a rotting carcass? Does the body get healed or does it heal itself? I guess it is easy to get bogged down in the details of what causes what and how things work etc - that is the realm of experts. The real question is, can we take a stand and cause things ourselves? Can I cause myself to be healthy? Can I cause myself to avoid the illness that is ravaging my family? Can I become an expert in cause? Or will I be an educated slave to effect?
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few. "
Shunryu Suzuki
Robert Heinlein, US science fiction author (1907 - 1988)
Back after another break. The challenge is to keep this going in the midst of much intensity at work and in life. At the moment, my family has been struck down with a nasty illness and I'm playing nurse while fighting the insurgents at the gates of my body. Being healthy is important and I would like to be an expert in this. But I don't want to be limited either. I guess the limitation of being an expert lies in the being bound by the law of cause and effect. Experts tend to be more concerned with the effects and do not have much grasp on the cause side. Take illness. What causes illness? Really. Experts - doctors in this case - will have detailed knowledge and expertise about illnesses and about their potential cures. However, the actual cause of illness is surrounded by smoke and mirrors. Are the bacteria or viruses, which are on the scene when the illness symptoms are observed, the cause of the illness or merely consistent scavengers of dying cells and tissues, rather like rats on a rubbish tip or maggots on a rotting carcass? Does the body get healed or does it heal itself? I guess it is easy to get bogged down in the details of what causes what and how things work etc - that is the realm of experts. The real question is, can we take a stand and cause things ourselves? Can I cause myself to be healthy? Can I cause myself to avoid the illness that is ravaging my family? Can I become an expert in cause? Or will I be an educated slave to effect?
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few. "
Shunryu Suzuki
Monday 12 November 2007
Experience
"Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. "
Aldous Huxley, "Texts and Pretexts", 1932 English critic & novelist (1894 - 1963)
It is interesting how people refer to someone as being very experienced and then proceed to elaborate that the person was worked in the field for 20 years. Does that really mean that they are experienced? Or does it simply mean that they have worked in the field for 20 years? They may not have learnt very much in those 20 years, and perhaps might simply benefit from the practice of going through the same motions again and again. You can have 20 years' experience or you can have 1 year's experience 20 times...
Aldous Huxley, "Texts and Pretexts", 1932 English critic & novelist (1894 - 1963)
It is interesting how people refer to someone as being very experienced and then proceed to elaborate that the person was worked in the field for 20 years. Does that really mean that they are experienced? Or does it simply mean that they have worked in the field for 20 years? They may not have learnt very much in those 20 years, and perhaps might simply benefit from the practice of going through the same motions again and again. You can have 20 years' experience or you can have 1 year's experience 20 times...
Tuesday 23 October 2007
Exercise
"Exercise alone provides psychological and physical benefits. However, if you also adopt a strategy that engages your mind while you exercise, you can get a whole host of psychological benefits fairly quickly. "
- James Rippe, M.D.
"Exercise ferments the humors, casts them into their proper channels, throws off redundancies, and helps nature in those secret distributions, without which the body cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the soul act with cheerfulness. "
- Joseph Addison, The Spectator, July 12, 1711English essayist, poet, & politician (1672 - 1719)
"Mach-S, the speed at which stress can't keep up, is simply forward motion. But it has to be self- propelled. Note that people in cars are still stressed. "
- Jef Mallett, Frazz, 08-26-05
It has been another eventful week of extreme work intensity and I have had a very simply but powerful insight. In times of intensity, the antidote against stress is discipline. One aspect of this is having the discipline of consistency, a fixed well-planned schedule of activities that are executed without fail. Another, specifically with respect to work, is the discipline of fixed deadlines, getting into the office at a certain time and, more importantly, leaving at a specific time - again without fail ("In life, you're either consistent, or you're non-existent" - Mark Litman). This discipine obviously, and more conventionally, applies to the accomplishment of tasks. Setting and meeting mini-deadlines throughout the day is a critical discipline.
However, perhaps the most important of these disciplines, and one that underpins the rest, is the discipine of consistent exercise. For example, I would go through my memory exercises while walking in the early morning. Your body and mind need exercise in order to sustain their energy and perform at the highest levels of effectiveness. It also helps us develop mental toughness and, indeed, courage to go that extra mile ("Fatigue makes cowards of us all" - Vince Lombardi). The ideal scenario, as the first quote suggests, is to combine mental and physical exercise. So, the challenge is to get going when the going gets tough.
- James Rippe, M.D.
"Exercise ferments the humors, casts them into their proper channels, throws off redundancies, and helps nature in those secret distributions, without which the body cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the soul act with cheerfulness. "
- Joseph Addison, The Spectator, July 12, 1711English essayist, poet, & politician (1672 - 1719)
"Mach-S, the speed at which stress can't keep up, is simply forward motion. But it has to be self- propelled. Note that people in cars are still stressed. "
- Jef Mallett, Frazz, 08-26-05
It has been another eventful week of extreme work intensity and I have had a very simply but powerful insight. In times of intensity, the antidote against stress is discipline. One aspect of this is having the discipline of consistency, a fixed well-planned schedule of activities that are executed without fail. Another, specifically with respect to work, is the discipline of fixed deadlines, getting into the office at a certain time and, more importantly, leaving at a specific time - again without fail ("In life, you're either consistent, or you're non-existent" - Mark Litman). This discipine obviously, and more conventionally, applies to the accomplishment of tasks. Setting and meeting mini-deadlines throughout the day is a critical discipline.
However, perhaps the most important of these disciplines, and one that underpins the rest, is the discipine of consistent exercise. For example, I would go through my memory exercises while walking in the early morning. Your body and mind need exercise in order to sustain their energy and perform at the highest levels of effectiveness. It also helps us develop mental toughness and, indeed, courage to go that extra mile ("Fatigue makes cowards of us all" - Vince Lombardi). The ideal scenario, as the first quote suggests, is to combine mental and physical exercise. So, the challenge is to get going when the going gets tough.
Tuesday 16 October 2007
Excellence
"The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence."
- John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963)
"It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Back after a long break. I have been somewhat consumed by the challenges of the new job, and three months into it, there is no clear sign that the challenges will abate. But then perhaps I am looking in the wrong place. Rather than look to the challenges, I need to look to myself, to step up into my excellence. Perhaps that's what this is really about....
- John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963)
"It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Back after a long break. I have been somewhat consumed by the challenges of the new job, and three months into it, there is no clear sign that the challenges will abate. But then perhaps I am looking in the wrong place. Rather than look to the challenges, I need to look to myself, to step up into my excellence. Perhaps that's what this is really about....
Tuesday 7 August 2007
Evil
"The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. "
Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Atlas Shrugged, 1957
"The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. Whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles. "
Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1966
"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room."
Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
With challenge comes growth and I am certainly experiencing challenge in my new job. It is very exciting because my growth rate exceeds the rate at which the challenge is growing. An early morning reflection makes us consider the problem of evil. The quotes say it best...
Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Atlas Shrugged, 1957
"The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. Whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles. "
Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1966
"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room."
Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
With challenge comes growth and I am certainly experiencing challenge in my new job. It is very exciting because my growth rate exceeds the rate at which the challenge is growing. An early morning reflection makes us consider the problem of evil. The quotes say it best...
Thursday 26 July 2007
Enemies
"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. "
William Blake, English engraver, illustrator, & poet (1757 - 1827)
Another long day - the mountain of challenges keeps growing but the valley or perhaps plateau at the other side is fertile. So I wake up earlier and roll my sleeves up. It's called being alive.
Why is it easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend? Is it simply expectations? You don't expect much from an enemy and so you are not as disappointed. With a friend, you expect much more and so you are disappointed much more easily. But is that enough to make forgiveness easier? Could it be that trust is a precious commodity the loss of which distorts one's emotional and psychological stability? Or is it simply that an enemy is further away from you and a friend is closer? Therefore there is more scope and hidden desire for the enemy to be brought closer; and therefore you seize the opportunity for forgiveness when it arrives...
William Blake, English engraver, illustrator, & poet (1757 - 1827)
Another long day - the mountain of challenges keeps growing but the valley or perhaps plateau at the other side is fertile. So I wake up earlier and roll my sleeves up. It's called being alive.
Why is it easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend? Is it simply expectations? You don't expect much from an enemy and so you are not as disappointed. With a friend, you expect much more and so you are disappointed much more easily. But is that enough to make forgiveness easier? Could it be that trust is a precious commodity the loss of which distorts one's emotional and psychological stability? Or is it simply that an enemy is further away from you and a friend is closer? Therefore there is more scope and hidden desire for the enemy to be brought closer; and therefore you seize the opportunity for forgiveness when it arrives...
Wednesday 25 July 2007
Education
"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. "
B. F. Skinner, New Scientist, May 21, 1964, US psychologist (1904 - 1990)
Long day yesterday. Longer than has been recently - a sign of the mounting challenges. I almost missed putting my son to bed, which was not ideal. But, on the other hand, I am in the investment phase of my new career.
Education is useful, not just for the knowledge one acquires, but for the ways of thinking and the discipline of the mind. These are the qualities that remain and serve us long after the knowledge has receded into the dark corners of our minds...
B. F. Skinner, New Scientist, May 21, 1964, US psychologist (1904 - 1990)
Long day yesterday. Longer than has been recently - a sign of the mounting challenges. I almost missed putting my son to bed, which was not ideal. But, on the other hand, I am in the investment phase of my new career.
Education is useful, not just for the knowledge one acquires, but for the ways of thinking and the discipline of the mind. These are the qualities that remain and serve us long after the knowledge has receded into the dark corners of our minds...
Tuesday 24 July 2007
Economics
"Socialism failed because it couldn't tell the economic truth; capitalism may fail because it couldn't tell the ecological truth. "
Lester Brown, Fortune Brainstorm Conference, 2006
Had a particularly good creative session with my son yesterday evening. I make up stories at bedtime but ever since we decided to capture them and one day turn them into a children's book, he has become the official editor. Yesterday, he was in particularly good form, slicing and dicing the story until it fell within his acceptance parameters. And, I have to say, he was a very canny four-and-a-half-year-old editor. Today's story will probably include the floods that are ravaging England...
Climate change is upon us - of that there is little doubt, some but little. The question is, is it mankind who has caused it through rampant technology and consumption, or is it cyclical? There are two opposing camps on this topic. Instinctively, one feels that it is mankind. Five billion people on this planet does not seem natural. Surely, it was inevitable that sooner or later the planet would begin to struggle. But hasn't this sort of thing happened before? The cyclical camp would present much evidence to dismiss the climate change environmentalists. They would argue that the bulk of carbon emissions actually comes from trees and animals engaged in flatulence!
I don't know what the solution is to the climate change puzzle. Indeed there might be no solution if the cyclical camp is right. If, on the other hand, we have caused this, then we need to fix it. And let's be clear on one thing. Cutting emissions and being more environmentally friendly is a good thing. But it will not fix the problem - it's too late for that. Even the scientists have underestimated the speed of the changes. The only way out of this mess is technology. That is the price of having a 5 billion population. And not just environmentally-clean technology, but environmentally-cleansing technology. Capitalism does not tell ecological truths, but it does tell economic truth. The key is to turn ecological truth into economic truth...
Lester Brown, Fortune Brainstorm Conference, 2006
Had a particularly good creative session with my son yesterday evening. I make up stories at bedtime but ever since we decided to capture them and one day turn them into a children's book, he has become the official editor. Yesterday, he was in particularly good form, slicing and dicing the story until it fell within his acceptance parameters. And, I have to say, he was a very canny four-and-a-half-year-old editor. Today's story will probably include the floods that are ravaging England...
Climate change is upon us - of that there is little doubt, some but little. The question is, is it mankind who has caused it through rampant technology and consumption, or is it cyclical? There are two opposing camps on this topic. Instinctively, one feels that it is mankind. Five billion people on this planet does not seem natural. Surely, it was inevitable that sooner or later the planet would begin to struggle. But hasn't this sort of thing happened before? The cyclical camp would present much evidence to dismiss the climate change environmentalists. They would argue that the bulk of carbon emissions actually comes from trees and animals engaged in flatulence!
I don't know what the solution is to the climate change puzzle. Indeed there might be no solution if the cyclical camp is right. If, on the other hand, we have caused this, then we need to fix it. And let's be clear on one thing. Cutting emissions and being more environmentally friendly is a good thing. But it will not fix the problem - it's too late for that. Even the scientists have underestimated the speed of the changes. The only way out of this mess is technology. That is the price of having a 5 billion population. And not just environmentally-clean technology, but environmentally-cleansing technology. Capitalism does not tell ecological truths, but it does tell economic truth. The key is to turn ecological truth into economic truth...
Monday 23 July 2007
Doubt
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. "
Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
After a period of primarily management activity over the last two weeks, managed to get technical yesterday and delve into some detail. I began to question much that had been set up by the consultants, some of which had been taken as gospel truth...
I think a lot of problems in the world are caused by the absence of doubt. The certainty of being right can lead to the most extraordinary actions. And today, we only need to look at the wars and terrorist activities to see dogma and certainty in play. Even a mass murderer is convinced that his victims deserved to die and that he was doing the world or God a service. No questions. No doubts. And yet doubt is at the very heart of civilisation. It is doubt that drives man to inquiry, to research, to develop. If we stop asking questions, we stop learning. We stop growing. Civilisation begins to grind to a halt.
Yes, there is a place for faith. Indeed, it can be a source of strength, particularly in trying times or when perseverance is needed to reach a challenging objective. But the survival of the intellect, the bedrock of civilisation, depends on its continued use. And its continued use depends on asking questions. On having doubts...
Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
After a period of primarily management activity over the last two weeks, managed to get technical yesterday and delve into some detail. I began to question much that had been set up by the consultants, some of which had been taken as gospel truth...
I think a lot of problems in the world are caused by the absence of doubt. The certainty of being right can lead to the most extraordinary actions. And today, we only need to look at the wars and terrorist activities to see dogma and certainty in play. Even a mass murderer is convinced that his victims deserved to die and that he was doing the world or God a service. No questions. No doubts. And yet doubt is at the very heart of civilisation. It is doubt that drives man to inquiry, to research, to develop. If we stop asking questions, we stop learning. We stop growing. Civilisation begins to grind to a halt.
Yes, there is a place for faith. Indeed, it can be a source of strength, particularly in trying times or when perseverance is needed to reach a challenging objective. But the survival of the intellect, the bedrock of civilisation, depends on its continued use. And its continued use depends on asking questions. On having doubts...
Sunday 22 July 2007
Dogs
"If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer. "
Alfred North Whitehead, English mathematician & philosopher (1861 - 1947)
Start of a new week and a whole new exciting set of challenges. The issue of motive is an important one because it colours the actions one takes. This brings us nicely to today's humorous quote. One neighbour has 4 dogs, the other has 7 cats. The difference is marked.
Alfred North Whitehead, English mathematician & philosopher (1861 - 1947)
Start of a new week and a whole new exciting set of challenges. The issue of motive is an important one because it colours the actions one takes. This brings us nicely to today's humorous quote. One neighbour has 4 dogs, the other has 7 cats. The difference is marked.
Thursday 19 July 2007
Dignity
"Let not a man guard his dignity, but let his dignity guard him. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson, US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882)
The solution to overwhelm is action. If you feel beset by numerous tasks that all have to be done and you've written them down and prioritized etc, then you must simply begin. Start on one task and complete it, then another and onwards. You build momentum, which then propels you through the remainder of the tasks. Action then leads to a feeling of accomplishment, which then boosts your self-image which allows you to experience dignity. But let's be clear, your dignity is not something that you protect. It is not some superficial fragile creature that needs sheleter from an abusive world. It is far more fundamental than that. It should protect you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882)
The solution to overwhelm is action. If you feel beset by numerous tasks that all have to be done and you've written them down and prioritized etc, then you must simply begin. Start on one task and complete it, then another and onwards. You build momentum, which then propels you through the remainder of the tasks. Action then leads to a feeling of accomplishment, which then boosts your self-image which allows you to experience dignity. But let's be clear, your dignity is not something that you protect. It is not some superficial fragile creature that needs sheleter from an abusive world. It is far more fundamental than that. It should protect you.
Wednesday 18 July 2007
Democracy
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. "
George Bernard Shaw, Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)
I'm in risk of being overwhelmed with commitments and new demands. This is a signal to start setting some boundaries to preserve my integrity. The other side to this is that it gives me the impetus to raise my energy levels and use my creativity.
A little detour then. I look around the various countries of the world and listen to the news. What strikes me is that the form of government that most people end up experiencing is probably what they are ready for. Democracy relies on awareness of the voting population. If the voting population is unaware or perhaps even uninterested, is democracy really effective? Is there a level of competence and knowledge required in order to properly vote. Does a surgeon get voted into office? And then does he ask for a vote when making surgical decisions? It's always amusing to see people complaining about a leader that they voted into office...
George Bernard Shaw, Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)
I'm in risk of being overwhelmed with commitments and new demands. This is a signal to start setting some boundaries to preserve my integrity. The other side to this is that it gives me the impetus to raise my energy levels and use my creativity.
A little detour then. I look around the various countries of the world and listen to the news. What strikes me is that the form of government that most people end up experiencing is probably what they are ready for. Democracy relies on awareness of the voting population. If the voting population is unaware or perhaps even uninterested, is democracy really effective? Is there a level of competence and knowledge required in order to properly vote. Does a surgeon get voted into office? And then does he ask for a vote when making surgical decisions? It's always amusing to see people complaining about a leader that they voted into office...
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Creativity
"Frugality without creativity is deprivation. "
Amy Dacyczyn
Managed my meetings very well yesterday and also my time in general. It is interesting how the management of time is analagous to the management of money. The difference is that with time the stakes are higher. Money you can always regain, time is lost forever.
The challenge is to be frugal but also be creative. Invest the time, don't just save it. Invest the money, don't just save it. Invest the energy, don't just save it.
Amy Dacyczyn
Managed my meetings very well yesterday and also my time in general. It is interesting how the management of time is analagous to the management of money. The difference is that with time the stakes are higher. Money you can always regain, time is lost forever.
The challenge is to be frugal but also be creative. Invest the time, don't just save it. Invest the money, don't just save it. Invest the energy, don't just save it.
Monday 16 July 2007
Courage
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death. "
Harold Wilson (1916 - 1995)
A series of new challenges have come to light and I now need to make additional requests. A big success factor is the willingness to take things on, despite the risks involved.
Some people believe that courage is being fearless in the face of danger. In fact, you cannot display courage unless you are afraid. Fear can paralyze or it can galvanize. The latter result is courage.
Harold Wilson (1916 - 1995)
A series of new challenges have come to light and I now need to make additional requests. A big success factor is the willingness to take things on, despite the risks involved.
Some people believe that courage is being fearless in the face of danger. In fact, you cannot display courage unless you are afraid. Fear can paralyze or it can galvanize. The latter result is courage.
Sunday 15 July 2007
Communism
"Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. "
John Kenneth Galbraith US (Canadian-born) administrator & economist (1908 - 2006)
Good weekend after an intense week. Lots of domestic work and children's parties. And some computer hardware tinkering for good measure.
I am often amused by people's obsession with political systems. "Are you left-wing or right-wing?" they demand. I like to keep things simple. I advocate freedom, but that can only come with responsibility. And the qualities of the human are the dominant consideration in any case. So whether it's man exploiting man or the reverse (man exploiting man), that can happen regardless of the political system.
John Kenneth Galbraith US (Canadian-born) administrator & economist (1908 - 2006)
Good weekend after an intense week. Lots of domestic work and children's parties. And some computer hardware tinkering for good measure.
I am often amused by people's obsession with political systems. "Are you left-wing or right-wing?" they demand. I like to keep things simple. I advocate freedom, but that can only come with responsibility. And the qualities of the human are the dominant consideration in any case. So whether it's man exploiting man or the reverse (man exploiting man), that can happen regardless of the political system.
Wednesday 11 July 2007
Common Sense
"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. "
Albert Einstein, (attributed)US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
The good days keep piling in. Today is a big day, with my need to present a proposal. I think, apart from financial and commercial factors, which inevitably need to be considered, I will appeal to their common sense. The quote above is a little cynical but quite amusing...
Albert Einstein, (attributed)US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
The good days keep piling in. Today is a big day, with my need to present a proposal. I think, apart from financial and commercial factors, which inevitably need to be considered, I will appeal to their common sense. The quote above is a little cynical but quite amusing...
Tuesday 10 July 2007
Committees
"If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into a committee -- that will do them in. "
Bradley's Bromide
Another intense day and the challenges ahead are becoming clearer. There is much potential here. One key may be to successfully navigate past the inertia and bureaucracy of committees. Anyone who has dealings with committees may have an idea of what we're talking about. But I think the quotes say it best, if a little exaggeratedly!
"A committee can make a decision that is dumber than any of its members. "
David Coblitz
"Committee--a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done. "
Fred Allen
US radio comedian (1894 - 1956)
"To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three men, two of whom are absent. "
Robert Copeland
"A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled. "
Sir Barnett Cocks
(1907 - 1989)
Bradley's Bromide
Another intense day and the challenges ahead are becoming clearer. There is much potential here. One key may be to successfully navigate past the inertia and bureaucracy of committees. Anyone who has dealings with committees may have an idea of what we're talking about. But I think the quotes say it best, if a little exaggeratedly!
"A committee can make a decision that is dumber than any of its members. "
David Coblitz
"Committee--a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done. "
Fred Allen
US radio comedian (1894 - 1956)
"To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three men, two of whom are absent. "
Robert Copeland
"A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled. "
Sir Barnett Cocks
(1907 - 1989)
Monday 9 July 2007
Charm
"Charm is a way of getting the answer yes without asking a clear question. "
Albert Camus
Very hectic first day - met lots of people, had lots of training, lots of meetings and even sat in on an interview. Also got a new laptop and a new car. On your first day at a new job, there is an unwritten rule that you have to be charming. Hopefully, that will be the same as just being yourself :-). You often don't get a second chance to make a first impression. You want people to like you or at least have a positive impression of you upfront. That's level 1 charm. Level 2 charm takes it further. Here, you become very persuasive without even asking...
Albert Camus
Very hectic first day - met lots of people, had lots of training, lots of meetings and even sat in on an interview. Also got a new laptop and a new car. On your first day at a new job, there is an unwritten rule that you have to be charming. Hopefully, that will be the same as just being yourself :-). You often don't get a second chance to make a first impression. You want people to like you or at least have a positive impression of you upfront. That's level 1 charm. Level 2 charm takes it further. Here, you become very persuasive without even asking...
Sunday 8 July 2007
Character
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Lovely weekend of sunshine, friends and music. Starting a new job today and it is important to stay true to one's core values. This new role will be a test of my character.
People tend to regard suffering or adversity as the ultimate test of character. But does that really bring character out, or do we simply observe the survival instinct or mechanism of the person? In his book, "The Survivor Personality", Al Siebert describes the habits and qualities that help human beings overcome difficult situations - from everyday conflicts to major life stresses. My reading of this is not a description of people's characters, but rather a description of their resilience or survival capacity. I am more in agreement with Abraham Lincoln. It is when you have power that your true character comes out.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Lovely weekend of sunshine, friends and music. Starting a new job today and it is important to stay true to one's core values. This new role will be a test of my character.
People tend to regard suffering or adversity as the ultimate test of character. But does that really bring character out, or do we simply observe the survival instinct or mechanism of the person? In his book, "The Survivor Personality", Al Siebert describes the habits and qualities that help human beings overcome difficult situations - from everyday conflicts to major life stresses. My reading of this is not a description of people's characters, but rather a description of their resilience or survival capacity. I am more in agreement with Abraham Lincoln. It is when you have power that your true character comes out.
Let's take a look. What is character? The dictionary would tell you that it is, basically, an attribute or a quality that defines a person. This means that you are defined by a certain set of habits, qualities or attitudes and these form the basis upon which you character is judged. Now, typically, that would be demonstrated when you have many options and so your true inclinations and controls then can be released. If you are in adversity, your choices are limited and you basically have to either stand up and fight or curl up and capitulate or run. Very little scope for character revelation, but plenty of scope for survival mechanisms to kick in (or not). So, yes, that is the best way to elucidate character - give choices.
Thursday 5 July 2007
Prisoners
"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. "
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Pan American Day address, April 15, 19393
2nd president of US (1882 - 1945)
Bringing order to my environment was the order of the day yesterday (if you'll excuse the pun). It's also one of the quickest ways of regaining one's flow. Otherwise, it is easy to get trapped in your clutter.
This introduces an interesting topic - imprisonment. But not physical imprisonment as in jail or being kidnapped. We are talking about being trapped in life in general, not being able to break out of one's life situation or"predicament", sentenced to mediocrity by history and circumstance. "I had a poor upbringing, my parents neglected or abused me, I had a poor education, I was born in the wrong place, I was born the wrong colour or race etc". This then may become the limiting platform for a life of mediocrity. It is like a prison that was constructed to jail poor victims of chance. You didn't choose to have a poor upbringing. You didn't choose to have bad parents. You didn't choose to have a poor education. You didn't choose any of that...You have been unfairly convicted. You must be freed immediately. This is the basis of some philosophies and political systems. Are these sound?
Let's take a look. Indeed you must be freed immediately because prison is never pleasant. However, there is something a little suspicious here: you have the key to the lock. But it seems that you are so busy feeling victimised that you don't simply unlock your cell and step out into freedom. There are no guards, there are no dogs; there's just you in your cell. So, getting out of your prison is down to you. But perhaps you cannot see that you hold the key because you cannot see that it is your thinking that keeps you there; and probably got you there in the first place! It may even have escaped you that numerous others had the same or worse background experiences as you and still avoided life prison. Of course you might, or indeed those who would have you remain in prison so they could campaign for you would, say that it's not the same. Those other lucky people were blessed with good genes and so they were able to lift themselves from the appalling childhood circumstances. There is no escape...Right? Bull.
It all starts with simple steps. Decide what you want and then start to take little steps towards it. As you get into the habit of taking action to meet your goals you begin to reclaim your responsibility for your life. Other important attributes like empowering beliefs and ways of seeing the world will come, but the key is to start! Victimhood is seductive because it precludes responsibility and the need to take action. It is important to be aware of this trap. Because avoiding the mental trap of victimhood keeps you out of most life prisons. And reclaiming your power - responsibility - unlocks the prison door.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Pan American Day address, April 15, 19393
2nd president of US (1882 - 1945)
Bringing order to my environment was the order of the day yesterday (if you'll excuse the pun). It's also one of the quickest ways of regaining one's flow. Otherwise, it is easy to get trapped in your clutter.
This introduces an interesting topic - imprisonment. But not physical imprisonment as in jail or being kidnapped. We are talking about being trapped in life in general, not being able to break out of one's life situation or"predicament", sentenced to mediocrity by history and circumstance. "I had a poor upbringing, my parents neglected or abused me, I had a poor education, I was born in the wrong place, I was born the wrong colour or race etc". This then may become the limiting platform for a life of mediocrity. It is like a prison that was constructed to jail poor victims of chance. You didn't choose to have a poor upbringing. You didn't choose to have bad parents. You didn't choose to have a poor education. You didn't choose any of that...You have been unfairly convicted. You must be freed immediately. This is the basis of some philosophies and political systems. Are these sound?
Let's take a look. Indeed you must be freed immediately because prison is never pleasant. However, there is something a little suspicious here: you have the key to the lock. But it seems that you are so busy feeling victimised that you don't simply unlock your cell and step out into freedom. There are no guards, there are no dogs; there's just you in your cell. So, getting out of your prison is down to you. But perhaps you cannot see that you hold the key because you cannot see that it is your thinking that keeps you there; and probably got you there in the first place! It may even have escaped you that numerous others had the same or worse background experiences as you and still avoided life prison. Of course you might, or indeed those who would have you remain in prison so they could campaign for you would, say that it's not the same. Those other lucky people were blessed with good genes and so they were able to lift themselves from the appalling childhood circumstances. There is no escape...Right? Bull.
It all starts with simple steps. Decide what you want and then start to take little steps towards it. As you get into the habit of taking action to meet your goals you begin to reclaim your responsibility for your life. Other important attributes like empowering beliefs and ways of seeing the world will come, but the key is to start! Victimhood is seductive because it precludes responsibility and the need to take action. It is important to be aware of this trap. Because avoiding the mental trap of victimhood keeps you out of most life prisons. And reclaiming your power - responsibility - unlocks the prison door.
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Reading
"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking".
Albert Einstein US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
Well, it has been a long break and much has happened in the interim. The two most significant events have been a tremendous holiday in Sardinia (Cagliari, Costa Rei, Pula, Buggerru, Domusnovas, Chia, Nora etc ) and my leaving my professional home, the company I had worked for for almost nine years. I am looking forward to the exciting challenges ahead and I have also been doing much reading....and thinking.
Reading is essential. And particularly for children, it is an unquestionable imperative.
It is the most straighforward way of acquiring and leveraging knowledge. It opens up new dimensions. It can stimulate and it can entertain. But it can also become a passive habit. It is a question of approach. How do you read? Does your mind race? Does it make connections? Ask questions? Do you pause your reading and ponder? Do you integrate what you learn? Do you relate it to what you already know? Or do you simply absorb the information and feel good?
The other side of this is how active do you keep your brain? Do you do some independent thinking? Do you create concepts? Do you organize ideas? What about solving problems, puzzles or playing chess? Or even writing your own book?
The more you keep your brain active, the more capacity you have for benefiting from reading...
Albert Einstein US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
Well, it has been a long break and much has happened in the interim. The two most significant events have been a tremendous holiday in Sardinia (Cagliari, Costa Rei, Pula, Buggerru, Domusnovas, Chia, Nora etc ) and my leaving my professional home, the company I had worked for for almost nine years. I am looking forward to the exciting challenges ahead and I have also been doing much reading....and thinking.
Reading is essential. And particularly for children, it is an unquestionable imperative.
It is the most straighforward way of acquiring and leveraging knowledge. It opens up new dimensions. It can stimulate and it can entertain. But it can also become a passive habit. It is a question of approach. How do you read? Does your mind race? Does it make connections? Ask questions? Do you pause your reading and ponder? Do you integrate what you learn? Do you relate it to what you already know? Or do you simply absorb the information and feel good?
The other side of this is how active do you keep your brain? Do you do some independent thinking? Do you create concepts? Do you organize ideas? What about solving problems, puzzles or playing chess? Or even writing your own book?
The more you keep your brain active, the more capacity you have for benefiting from reading...
Tuesday 12 June 2007
Social Systems
"The great challenge for the next several decades will be to advance understanding of social systems in the same way that the past century has advanced understanding of the physical world. "
Jay Forrester
It's been an intense week with the focus being on relationships - personal and business. Lots of discussion and connection, some of which was very effective in achieving goals.
The traditional resources that are cited as available to individuals are time , energy and money. Indeed, much effort in the past has centred on these three resources. However, there is tremendous power that can be derived from relationships. And indeed, by leveraging relationships, one can "gain" more time, energy and/or money. That in itself would make relationships take the MVR (Most Valuable Resource) title. But there's more. Relationships can provide opportunities and ideas. and most critically of all, more relationships. The upward spiral is virtually infinite.
This is where social networking has its value. The availablity of a virtually unlimited resource that simply needs to be grown and nurtured like a precious crop.
Jay Forrester
It's been an intense week with the focus being on relationships - personal and business. Lots of discussion and connection, some of which was very effective in achieving goals.
The traditional resources that are cited as available to individuals are time , energy and money. Indeed, much effort in the past has centred on these three resources. However, there is tremendous power that can be derived from relationships. And indeed, by leveraging relationships, one can "gain" more time, energy and/or money. That in itself would make relationships take the MVR (Most Valuable Resource) title. But there's more. Relationships can provide opportunities and ideas. and most critically of all, more relationships. The upward spiral is virtually infinite.
This is where social networking has its value. The availablity of a virtually unlimited resource that simply needs to be grown and nurtured like a precious crop.
Sunday 3 June 2007
Trust
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you”
- Friedrich Nietzsche
A super weekend to round off a tremendous week. Made some good progress with my son's writing skills. There is a significant gap between his ability with a computer and his ability with a pencil. The latter lagged behind, prmiarily because of a lack of interest. Rather than make writing a chore, I have invented games that require writing and that seems to have worked a treat! We had a fantastic BBQ on Saturday with quite a few friends and then relaxed on Sunday.
One theme I observed was the utility of trust. Some people view it as some precious entity in itself, a source of offence if it is not present. But is that the real essence of trust? I would suggest that trust simply saves time (and hence money). Stephen Covey (Jnr) wrote a book called Business at the Speed of Trust, where he expounded the commercial value of trust. Trust is like a lubricant that oils the engines of business and life in general. Decision-making is much easier and quicker if there is trust.
If I want to buy your company and I trust you, do I need to hire an army of lawyers and accountants to carry out due diligence and draft water-tight legal documents?Do I need to check you out? To check out the company's transaction history? Or would it suffice for you to tell me what I want to know and I simply sign? Trust. If I want to hire someone for a particular role, I could go through the long sequence of getting CVs from agencies and then arranging phone interviews and then face-to-face interviews, perhaps even assessments etc. Very time-consuming and costly. However, if I trust you and you say to me "I know this guy, he's absolutely perfect for the role!", could I not save myself a lot of checking? This is where social networks like LinkedIn can be very useful, if relationships are build on a bedrock of trust.
There are many more examples, but the theme is simply that trust saves time. So we need to examine what constitutes trust. Stephen Covey describes it as being made up of two elements - Character and Competence. You trust someone either because they are of good character or because they are competent. Even if you are the most honest, principled saint in the world, I would not trust you to perform a SAP Security negative test unless you have the competence. Vice-versa, if you were a genius at SAP Security but were prone to a bit of corruption, I wouldn't trust you either.
So, to finish off, let's return to Friedrich Nietzsche's quote. The real problem with the fact that you lied to me is not that my feelings have been hurt ("how could you!?"). It is the fact that from now, I cannot simply trust what you say. Therefore it will cost me time and money to verify or find out for myself.
- Friedrich Nietzsche
A super weekend to round off a tremendous week. Made some good progress with my son's writing skills. There is a significant gap between his ability with a computer and his ability with a pencil. The latter lagged behind, prmiarily because of a lack of interest. Rather than make writing a chore, I have invented games that require writing and that seems to have worked a treat! We had a fantastic BBQ on Saturday with quite a few friends and then relaxed on Sunday.
One theme I observed was the utility of trust. Some people view it as some precious entity in itself, a source of offence if it is not present. But is that the real essence of trust? I would suggest that trust simply saves time (and hence money). Stephen Covey (Jnr) wrote a book called Business at the Speed of Trust, where he expounded the commercial value of trust. Trust is like a lubricant that oils the engines of business and life in general. Decision-making is much easier and quicker if there is trust.
If I want to buy your company and I trust you, do I need to hire an army of lawyers and accountants to carry out due diligence and draft water-tight legal documents?Do I need to check you out? To check out the company's transaction history? Or would it suffice for you to tell me what I want to know and I simply sign? Trust. If I want to hire someone for a particular role, I could go through the long sequence of getting CVs from agencies and then arranging phone interviews and then face-to-face interviews, perhaps even assessments etc. Very time-consuming and costly. However, if I trust you and you say to me "I know this guy, he's absolutely perfect for the role!", could I not save myself a lot of checking? This is where social networks like LinkedIn can be very useful, if relationships are build on a bedrock of trust.
There are many more examples, but the theme is simply that trust saves time. So we need to examine what constitutes trust. Stephen Covey describes it as being made up of two elements - Character and Competence. You trust someone either because they are of good character or because they are competent. Even if you are the most honest, principled saint in the world, I would not trust you to perform a SAP Security negative test unless you have the competence. Vice-versa, if you were a genius at SAP Security but were prone to a bit of corruption, I wouldn't trust you either.
So, to finish off, let's return to Friedrich Nietzsche's quote. The real problem with the fact that you lied to me is not that my feelings have been hurt ("how could you!?"). It is the fact that from now, I cannot simply trust what you say. Therefore it will cost me time and money to verify or find out for myself.
Thursday 31 May 2007
The Main Thing
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." - Stephen Covey
I have taken the advice of many and switched from a daily blog to a blog that I update every few days. I guess it avoids overload and gives people time to absorb and comment. The last couple of days have been very efficient in terms of work and what I have been getting done. However, when I consider what my short-term focus and goals are, it becaomes clear that these days have not been effective. The distinction between effectiveness and efficiency is an old favorite from the great Stephen Covey. It's the proverbial climbing the ladder fast but then realising that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.
So, I have been getting lots done, but these things are not necessarily the most important things to do in the context of my goals and objectives. Part of the reason for this was that I abandoned my contextual planning and was just churning through to-do lists (climbing the ladder fast). It strikes me that the reason that people do not achieve their goals is because they do not focus sufficient attention and energy on them. This is because they are too busy doing other things and accomplishing other tasks not related to their goals. Today has been radically different, as I have reverted back to my integrated worklist, which classifies my tasks and forces me to dump irrelevant tasks in favour of key ones. I am now keeping the main thing the main thing.
I have taken the advice of many and switched from a daily blog to a blog that I update every few days. I guess it avoids overload and gives people time to absorb and comment. The last couple of days have been very efficient in terms of work and what I have been getting done. However, when I consider what my short-term focus and goals are, it becaomes clear that these days have not been effective. The distinction between effectiveness and efficiency is an old favorite from the great Stephen Covey. It's the proverbial climbing the ladder fast but then realising that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.
So, I have been getting lots done, but these things are not necessarily the most important things to do in the context of my goals and objectives. Part of the reason for this was that I abandoned my contextual planning and was just churning through to-do lists (climbing the ladder fast). It strikes me that the reason that people do not achieve their goals is because they do not focus sufficient attention and energy on them. This is because they are too busy doing other things and accomplishing other tasks not related to their goals. Today has been radically different, as I have reverted back to my integrated worklist, which classifies my tasks and forces me to dump irrelevant tasks in favour of key ones. I am now keeping the main thing the main thing.
Monday 28 May 2007
Belief
"I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong. "
Bertrand Russell British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
Spent a significant portion of yesterday at a place called Big Space, where kids have virtually unlimited playing opportunities and parents can join in or have a drink and read etc. Great fun!
The subject of belief is an intriguing one, and yet it is one that has much charge and consequence for the world. Belief, by definition, is not the same as knowledge. For, with knowledge, there is fact to back it up, a practical, tangible body of evidence that leaves little room for doubt (though there will be those who doubt practical reality itself). Whereas belief often relies on faith, on acceptance of a doctrine or premise, which often cannot be proven. And indeed, there are some beliefs which are beyond the possibility of proof. So, inherently, the question of whether a belief is true or false is pointless. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. What is the effect of the belief? What does it lead to? Surely, this is a more pertinent focus of attention than whether it is true or false.
So that brings us to Bertrand Russell's amusing quote. Given that my beliefs, regardless of how useful they are in guiding my life and helping me be a good person, are not definitely true, does it make sense for me to die for my beliefs? Or does that dogmatic martyrdom stem from a lack of value prioritization? Have I conducted the internal exercise of asking myself what my most important values are? Would life feature lower down the list than my beliefs? Honestly? What if I died for a belief that was subsequently proven to be false? How annoying that would be! I could die to save life (Life is my highest value) but not for much else.
Here are some more quotes on the subject of belief.
"Some people are so ready to die for their beliefs that they forget to live by them" - Bobo West
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. "
George Bernard Shaw Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. "
Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778)
Bertrand Russell British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
Spent a significant portion of yesterday at a place called Big Space, where kids have virtually unlimited playing opportunities and parents can join in or have a drink and read etc. Great fun!
The subject of belief is an intriguing one, and yet it is one that has much charge and consequence for the world. Belief, by definition, is not the same as knowledge. For, with knowledge, there is fact to back it up, a practical, tangible body of evidence that leaves little room for doubt (though there will be those who doubt practical reality itself). Whereas belief often relies on faith, on acceptance of a doctrine or premise, which often cannot be proven. And indeed, there are some beliefs which are beyond the possibility of proof. So, inherently, the question of whether a belief is true or false is pointless. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. What is the effect of the belief? What does it lead to? Surely, this is a more pertinent focus of attention than whether it is true or false.
So that brings us to Bertrand Russell's amusing quote. Given that my beliefs, regardless of how useful they are in guiding my life and helping me be a good person, are not definitely true, does it make sense for me to die for my beliefs? Or does that dogmatic martyrdom stem from a lack of value prioritization? Have I conducted the internal exercise of asking myself what my most important values are? Would life feature lower down the list than my beliefs? Honestly? What if I died for a belief that was subsequently proven to be false? How annoying that would be! I could die to save life (Life is my highest value) but not for much else.
Here are some more quotes on the subject of belief.
"Some people are so ready to die for their beliefs that they forget to live by them" - Bobo West
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. "
George Bernard Shaw Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. "
Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778)
Sunday 27 May 2007
Bank
"A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it. "
Bob Hope US (English-born) actor & comedian (1903 - 2003)
Great weekend (so far). Another Taijutsu session passed without any damage to my back, a very encouraging result, given that my training partner was a senior black belt with strong ninja tendencies. Set up a newish PC - I'd forgotten how long it takes from installing the operating system to the service packs and then the updates & security etc. And I need to open the PC up to stick in some more memory - my son's video games demand it :-). Don't worry, we're talking 20 minutes of powerboat racing, not 3 hours of violent combat. My mother-in-law arrived yesterday with goodies from Italy, and how do I show my gratitude? I let her watch UFC 71 with me - dohh!
Today's quote is amusing but has some truth to it. Think about it. You have to demonstrate a fair degree of financial well-being in order to get a loan from a bank. If you really need the money i.e. are financially struggling, you have less chance of getting the loan approved than if you don't really need the money i.e. are financially strong. That is because the bank want to get their money back with interest! Simple, really.
Bob Hope US (English-born) actor & comedian (1903 - 2003)
Great weekend (so far). Another Taijutsu session passed without any damage to my back, a very encouraging result, given that my training partner was a senior black belt with strong ninja tendencies. Set up a newish PC - I'd forgotten how long it takes from installing the operating system to the service packs and then the updates & security etc. And I need to open the PC up to stick in some more memory - my son's video games demand it :-). Don't worry, we're talking 20 minutes of powerboat racing, not 3 hours of violent combat. My mother-in-law arrived yesterday with goodies from Italy, and how do I show my gratitude? I let her watch UFC 71 with me - dohh!
Today's quote is amusing but has some truth to it. Think about it. You have to demonstrate a fair degree of financial well-being in order to get a loan from a bank. If you really need the money i.e. are financially struggling, you have less chance of getting the loan approved than if you don't really need the money i.e. are financially strong. That is because the bank want to get their money back with interest! Simple, really.
Friday 25 May 2007
Argument
"The Argument from Intimidation is a confession of intellectual impotence. "
Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness, 1964
US (Russian-born) novelist (1905 - 1982)
A day of coaching and consulting. Many interesting developments and possibilities. No arguments though. It has always intrigued me as to how intellectually lazy people become, how unwilling or perhaps unable they are to engage in prolonged discussion where views differ. It seems much easier for them to threaten or dismiss or shout rather than really go into the issue. Even when you are right in an argument, you can still learn something from the other person's viewpoint. Surely, it must be worth it, if the person has any value whatsoever to you, to explore ideas together. Good argument sharpens the intellect and expands awareness, and both parties benefit.
OK, Mr West, let's test this out. How about parents with their kids? You tell your kid to do something, and they argue that they don't want to do it. Which road do you take? The road of authority/intimidation or the road of reason? Hmm, tricky. Maybe it depends on the kid and the situation. My son does not respond very well to authority/intimidation unless it is backed up by reason. So I have found that reason is far more effective with him (and forces me to think); though when he is in the wrong and knows it, authority/intimidation is works very well too.
I guess, the test of a concept is extrapolation. If everyone did it, what would the world be like? Would everyone be arguing indefinitely, or would we avoid most of the mindless violence and lazy hatred that plagues our world? I suspect that if reason were to feature highly on people's agendas and arguments were conducted with integrity and a quest for understanding, then we could be looking at a utopia of sorts. That's my argument for reason ....
Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness, 1964
US (Russian-born) novelist (1905 - 1982)
A day of coaching and consulting. Many interesting developments and possibilities. No arguments though. It has always intrigued me as to how intellectually lazy people become, how unwilling or perhaps unable they are to engage in prolonged discussion where views differ. It seems much easier for them to threaten or dismiss or shout rather than really go into the issue. Even when you are right in an argument, you can still learn something from the other person's viewpoint. Surely, it must be worth it, if the person has any value whatsoever to you, to explore ideas together. Good argument sharpens the intellect and expands awareness, and both parties benefit.
OK, Mr West, let's test this out. How about parents with their kids? You tell your kid to do something, and they argue that they don't want to do it. Which road do you take? The road of authority/intimidation or the road of reason? Hmm, tricky. Maybe it depends on the kid and the situation. My son does not respond very well to authority/intimidation unless it is backed up by reason. So I have found that reason is far more effective with him (and forces me to think); though when he is in the wrong and knows it, authority/intimidation is works very well too.
I guess, the test of a concept is extrapolation. If everyone did it, what would the world be like? Would everyone be arguing indefinitely, or would we avoid most of the mindless violence and lazy hatred that plagues our world? I suspect that if reason were to feature highly on people's agendas and arguments were conducted with integrity and a quest for understanding, then we could be looking at a utopia of sorts. That's my argument for reason ....
Thursday 24 May 2007
Anger
"When anger rises, think of the consequences. "
Confucius Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)
Another warm day yesterday. Royal Mail finally came through and my important parcel was delivered. I did a fair bit of career coaching and started informing some clients that I would be moving on in July - not very well received ... I also witnessed a classic case of road rage.
What is it about anger that is so attractive and compelling to us? We know that it serves little useful purpose, although it may temporarily raise our energy level beyond apathy, grief, fear and desire. And yet we still habitually get angry about even the most trivial (in the greater scheme of life) things. Why? Well, because we're human, most people would say. Getting angry is natural, perhaps even useful in terms of giving you critical information that something is not right in your world. It is the staying angry that does not add value. I suspect that it satisfies some human needs - certainty, variety, significance and connection.
Imagine a woman whose husband is aloof and unattentive in a stagnant and boring relationship. Something happens and she gets angry and starts to scream at him or throw things or pack her bags etc. Suddenly, she gets the expected reaction from him (certainty), a surge of emotional energy and charge (variety), a feeling of importance (significance) and finally getting his full attention (engagement). She stays angry...
What is the problem with sustained anger? It often (but not always) leads to rash decisions or actions that may have consequences. Good old Confucius suugests that we contemplate the consequences of our anger as it rises. I find it helpful to acknowledge the anger as anger as it rises first, because that must be the first step. Otherwise, you don't even realise you are angry until it is too late. So I might observe and almost savour the anger as it builds up:
"Mmm, I'm getting really pissed off"
This takes some of the charge out of the anger by undermining the inevitability of the reaction. This is the power of observation. Getting curious about why your're angry and about what this anger could lead to might avoid unnecessary problems. It may even lead to positive insights. A lot of the problems in the world are caused by anger ...
Confucius Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)
Another warm day yesterday. Royal Mail finally came through and my important parcel was delivered. I did a fair bit of career coaching and started informing some clients that I would be moving on in July - not very well received ... I also witnessed a classic case of road rage.
What is it about anger that is so attractive and compelling to us? We know that it serves little useful purpose, although it may temporarily raise our energy level beyond apathy, grief, fear and desire. And yet we still habitually get angry about even the most trivial (in the greater scheme of life) things. Why? Well, because we're human, most people would say. Getting angry is natural, perhaps even useful in terms of giving you critical information that something is not right in your world. It is the staying angry that does not add value. I suspect that it satisfies some human needs - certainty, variety, significance and connection.
Imagine a woman whose husband is aloof and unattentive in a stagnant and boring relationship. Something happens and she gets angry and starts to scream at him or throw things or pack her bags etc. Suddenly, she gets the expected reaction from him (certainty), a surge of emotional energy and charge (variety), a feeling of importance (significance) and finally getting his full attention (engagement). She stays angry...
What is the problem with sustained anger? It often (but not always) leads to rash decisions or actions that may have consequences. Good old Confucius suugests that we contemplate the consequences of our anger as it rises. I find it helpful to acknowledge the anger as anger as it rises first, because that must be the first step. Otherwise, you don't even realise you are angry until it is too late. So I might observe and almost savour the anger as it builds up:
"Mmm, I'm getting really pissed off"
This takes some of the charge out of the anger by undermining the inevitability of the reaction. This is the power of observation. Getting curious about why your're angry and about what this anger could lead to might avoid unnecessary problems. It may even lead to positive insights. A lot of the problems in the world are caused by anger ...
Wednesday 23 May 2007
Old Age
"Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does - except wrinkles. It's true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place. "
Abigail Van Buren, 1978 US advice columnist (1918 - )
Yesterday was a day of meetings.The idea of experience cropped up more than a few times. The automatic assumption is that experience comes with age. Of course, this may or may not be true. It all depends on the individual (though, all things being equal, an an older person is more likely to be more experienced). You can have 30 years' experience or you can have 1 year's experience 30 times. Age, in itself, does not necessarily convey as much as we might assume.
Physically, aging does have an effect, but this can vary wildly between individuals. The grandmaster of Taijutsu - Dr Hatsumi Masaaki - is 76 years old, but few would survive in a fight with him. My grandfather lived to the age of 93 when he died suddenly; prior to that, it was virtually impossible to keep up with him. And there are many other examples. What makes these individuals "defy" aging? Well, they simply keep active.
Mentally, aging does have an effect as we are losing brain cells constantly. However, this can be compensated for by building more connections between brain cells, which an older person would have had more opportunity to do. So the mentally active person does not suffer the effects of aging on a mental level; there are countless chess players who would testify to this. And, in cultures where older people are revered and empowered, they resist the mental pull of aging much better than those in cultures where older people are cared for. You use it or lose it.
So the challenge is to cultivate the habits that will sustain us as the years go by, habits that will avoid the degradation effects of neglect. We must not neglect our bodies and we must not neglect our minds. Practicing a martial art and playing chess are just one habit couple - there are many more...
Abigail Van Buren, 1978 US advice columnist (1918 - )
Yesterday was a day of meetings.The idea of experience cropped up more than a few times. The automatic assumption is that experience comes with age. Of course, this may or may not be true. It all depends on the individual (though, all things being equal, an an older person is more likely to be more experienced). You can have 30 years' experience or you can have 1 year's experience 30 times. Age, in itself, does not necessarily convey as much as we might assume.
Physically, aging does have an effect, but this can vary wildly between individuals. The grandmaster of Taijutsu - Dr Hatsumi Masaaki - is 76 years old, but few would survive in a fight with him. My grandfather lived to the age of 93 when he died suddenly; prior to that, it was virtually impossible to keep up with him. And there are many other examples. What makes these individuals "defy" aging? Well, they simply keep active.
Mentally, aging does have an effect as we are losing brain cells constantly. However, this can be compensated for by building more connections between brain cells, which an older person would have had more opportunity to do. So the mentally active person does not suffer the effects of aging on a mental level; there are countless chess players who would testify to this. And, in cultures where older people are revered and empowered, they resist the mental pull of aging much better than those in cultures where older people are cared for. You use it or lose it.
So the challenge is to cultivate the habits that will sustain us as the years go by, habits that will avoid the degradation effects of neglect. We must not neglect our bodies and we must not neglect our minds. Practicing a martial art and playing chess are just one habit couple - there are many more...
Tuesday 22 May 2007
Advertising
"What is the difference between unethical and ethical advertising? Unethical advertising uses falsehoods to deceive the public; ethical advertising uses truth to deceive the public. "
Vilhjalmur Stefansson, "Discovery", 1964 Canadian explorer & ethnologist (1879 - 1962)
Had a full day yesterday in the office. Got home and watched Gladiators with my son (yes , I know) then the neighbours came round to have a drink and a chat. After they had gone home, I put my son to bed and my wife crashed as well. I was tempted to follow suit, also having had a tiring day. But I had received a text from a friend saying they were going to a fantastic jam session near me. So I popped out to the local pub to meet them only to head back home to get my musical equipment - snare drum, stand and drumsticks. It was worth it - what a great evening of music we had! I was very grateful for that advertising text, though I ended up going to bed at 1:30am.
What about advertising then? The quotation suggests that regardless of the accuracy of the claims, the objective of the advert is to deceive the viewer. If deceiving the viewer includes influencing the viewer into making a decision to buy a product or service, then I agree. Is influencing the same as deceiving? Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Or do adverts actually go a little further? Do they not conjure up an image or a feeling (e.g. through music) that the viewer is led to believe they will get if they buy the advertised product or service? So rather than simply sell the product or service on the basis of functionality and tangible benefits, the adverts often go further - selling an image or feeling that is perhaps not guaranteed at all, and may even be spurious. This is where the deceit may occur even if their claims about the product or service are true.
So let's bring this closer to home. What about us, when we try to influence others? We don't call it advertising, but that is probably what we are effectively doing (perhaps in an unsophisticated way), whether it is persuading someone to buy a new gadget or see a film. Do we sell the facts and tangible benefits or do we sell the image and feelings?
Vilhjalmur Stefansson, "Discovery", 1964 Canadian explorer & ethnologist (1879 - 1962)
Had a full day yesterday in the office. Got home and watched Gladiators with my son (yes , I know) then the neighbours came round to have a drink and a chat. After they had gone home, I put my son to bed and my wife crashed as well. I was tempted to follow suit, also having had a tiring day. But I had received a text from a friend saying they were going to a fantastic jam session near me. So I popped out to the local pub to meet them only to head back home to get my musical equipment - snare drum, stand and drumsticks. It was worth it - what a great evening of music we had! I was very grateful for that advertising text, though I ended up going to bed at 1:30am.
What about advertising then? The quotation suggests that regardless of the accuracy of the claims, the objective of the advert is to deceive the viewer. If deceiving the viewer includes influencing the viewer into making a decision to buy a product or service, then I agree. Is influencing the same as deceiving? Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Or do adverts actually go a little further? Do they not conjure up an image or a feeling (e.g. through music) that the viewer is led to believe they will get if they buy the advertised product or service? So rather than simply sell the product or service on the basis of functionality and tangible benefits, the adverts often go further - selling an image or feeling that is perhaps not guaranteed at all, and may even be spurious. This is where the deceit may occur even if their claims about the product or service are true.
So let's bring this closer to home. What about us, when we try to influence others? We don't call it advertising, but that is probably what we are effectively doing (perhaps in an unsophisticated way), whether it is persuading someone to buy a new gadget or see a film. Do we sell the facts and tangible benefits or do we sell the image and feelings?
The Superior Man
"The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. "
Confucius, The Confucian Analects, Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)
A day of acquisitions yesterday, in more ways than one. Had a good forgiveness opportunity when I discovered that my parcel had not yet been delivered by the Royal Mail. I could have been furious, given the importance of the contents and the fact that I had paid a bit extra to guarantee the delivery. But, in a rare show of self-mastery, I greeted this development with compassion and almost a sense of gratitude for the experience! I spoke to a very pleasant individual at the post office who was extremely helpful :-). I helped someone in need in the process. I found a very useful feature on the internet. I had great conversations with various people about lost parcel experiences. And I had a great entry for my daily journal. Extraordinary.
Today's quote is dedicated to a team of professionals that I work with currently. They are called the Basis Team. And their motto seems to be "underpromise and overdeliver". I think that phrase says it all.
Confucius, The Confucian Analects, Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)
A day of acquisitions yesterday, in more ways than one. Had a good forgiveness opportunity when I discovered that my parcel had not yet been delivered by the Royal Mail. I could have been furious, given the importance of the contents and the fact that I had paid a bit extra to guarantee the delivery. But, in a rare show of self-mastery, I greeted this development with compassion and almost a sense of gratitude for the experience! I spoke to a very pleasant individual at the post office who was extremely helpful :-). I helped someone in need in the process. I found a very useful feature on the internet. I had great conversations with various people about lost parcel experiences. And I had a great entry for my daily journal. Extraordinary.
Today's quote is dedicated to a team of professionals that I work with currently. They are called the Basis Team. And their motto seems to be "underpromise and overdeliver". I think that phrase says it all.
Sunday 20 May 2007
Advice
"Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties. "
Aesop Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC)
A day of gardening yesterday. And lot's of play. A very short musing today. Whose advice do we trust? Someone in difficulty or someone whose life is going well. Perhaps the best is someone who was in difficulty and overcame it to do well? It is worth taking a good look at the source of any advice that you are offered. It is possible for good advice to come from someone in difficulties, but it is more risky. When you squeeze a lemon, all you get is lemon juice....and some seeds.
Aesop Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC)
A day of gardening yesterday. And lot's of play. A very short musing today. Whose advice do we trust? Someone in difficulty or someone whose life is going well. Perhaps the best is someone who was in difficulty and overcame it to do well? It is worth taking a good look at the source of any advice that you are offered. It is possible for good advice to come from someone in difficulties, but it is more risky. When you squeeze a lemon, all you get is lemon juice....and some seeds.
Saturday 19 May 2007
Low Aim
"Not failure, but low aim, is a crime"
- James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) American poet, critic, editor, diplomat
My back survived yesterday's Taijutsu activities though I only did one hour rather than two and a half. And then Chelsea won the FA Cup. Not a bad day really!
How easy is it to avoid the pain of failure by aiming low? Can it not be tempting sometimes to play small? And if you can do well without having to do your best, is that not compelling? Is this simply laziness? Or is it fear of failure? This is a crucial issue that is hidden well especially by talented people (and most if not all people are talented, in some way). They use their talent to do well, without having to aim particularly high. So they stay in a comfort zone, which is safe from the pain of failure, but way below what they are capable of. To the outside world, particularly those who do not know them well, they may seem successful. But they, at their deepest core, will feel a gnawing ache of unfulfilment.
But why can't they just be happy with what they have? Why do they need to do more if they are already doing well? Well, the great Jim Rohn said it well:
"Doing less than you can messes with your mind" - Jim Rohn
Our talent has to be exploited, like a crucial mineral reserve, and used to create value in the world. That makes us flow and makes the world flow. And there is another angle to this that is compelling: there may be thousands of people counting on you to step into your greatness. Yes, this is not an exaggeration or overestimating your potential significance. It is an inspiring fact. If you do your best, using your gifts, the value you would bring to the world could affected thousands, perhaps millions.
The question is, will you aim high or will you aim low?
- James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) American poet, critic, editor, diplomat
My back survived yesterday's Taijutsu activities though I only did one hour rather than two and a half. And then Chelsea won the FA Cup. Not a bad day really!
How easy is it to avoid the pain of failure by aiming low? Can it not be tempting sometimes to play small? And if you can do well without having to do your best, is that not compelling? Is this simply laziness? Or is it fear of failure? This is a crucial issue that is hidden well especially by talented people (and most if not all people are talented, in some way). They use their talent to do well, without having to aim particularly high. So they stay in a comfort zone, which is safe from the pain of failure, but way below what they are capable of. To the outside world, particularly those who do not know them well, they may seem successful. But they, at their deepest core, will feel a gnawing ache of unfulfilment.
But why can't they just be happy with what they have? Why do they need to do more if they are already doing well? Well, the great Jim Rohn said it well:
"Doing less than you can messes with your mind" - Jim Rohn
Our talent has to be exploited, like a crucial mineral reserve, and used to create value in the world. That makes us flow and makes the world flow. And there is another angle to this that is compelling: there may be thousands of people counting on you to step into your greatness. Yes, this is not an exaggeration or overestimating your potential significance. It is an inspiring fact. If you do your best, using your gifts, the value you would bring to the world could affected thousands, perhaps millions.
The question is, will you aim high or will you aim low?
Casualness
"Casualness leads to casualties" - Jim Rohn
Big development at work yesterday - almost made me reconsider my career decision, but I decided that I had definitely made the right choice. Today is a big day for me, physically. I have my first bout of Taijutsu for three months, after being given the all-clear by my back specialist. It is with some nervousness that I reenter the arena of the ninja, knowing that the slightest lack of concentration or a slump into casualness could set me back (no pun intended)....
Big development at work yesterday - almost made me reconsider my career decision, but I decided that I had definitely made the right choice. Today is a big day for me, physically. I have my first bout of Taijutsu for three months, after being given the all-clear by my back specialist. It is with some nervousness that I reenter the arena of the ninja, knowing that the slightest lack of concentration or a slump into casualness could set me back (no pun intended)....
Friday 18 May 2007
Becoming By Acting
"Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions. "
Aristotle Greek critic, philosopher, physicist, & zoologist (384 BC - 322 BC)
A tiring day yesterday. Perhaps more to do with my relaxing of good habits (drinking fluids regularly, chewing properly, breathing, regular breaks etc) than extraordinary levels of activity and achievement :-). So I'll take that as feedback to revert to the productive and energizing disciplines.
The power of habits is often understated. There isn't really much to say further on this - only action is necessary. Perhaps a couple of additional quotes:
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle
"First we make our habits, and then our habits make us" - John Dryden
Aristotle Greek critic, philosopher, physicist, & zoologist (384 BC - 322 BC)
A tiring day yesterday. Perhaps more to do with my relaxing of good habits (drinking fluids regularly, chewing properly, breathing, regular breaks etc) than extraordinary levels of activity and achievement :-). So I'll take that as feedback to revert to the productive and energizing disciplines.
The power of habits is often understated. There isn't really much to say further on this - only action is necessary. Perhaps a couple of additional quotes:
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle
"First we make our habits, and then our habits make us" - John Dryden
Wednesday 16 May 2007
The Causes of Action
"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire."
Aristotle Greek critic, philosopher, physicist, & zoologist (384 BC - 322 BC)
Great day yesterday. Got my MRI scan results and was told that my spine was anatomically perfect (yes!!!). Also had my tooth repaired very quickly and then spent a tremendous afternoon working from home, after an award-winning lunch (eba with okro soup). And then there was The Apprentice...
Action is the key. We know that. But what causes action? Well, Aristotle was no slouch, and seemed to cover the most important topics thousands of years ago. The first two causes, chance and nature, appear to be uncontrollable. Compulsion can be shaped by education. Habit is a massive cause - some say 90% of what we do is habitual, so a lot of the strategies away from CSD ("Could, Should, Don't) involve habit. Reason is probably used more as an explanation for actions rather than being a real cause, though some people do act on reason. Passion and desire are probably more causative than reason, in practice.
So by looking at these causes, particularly the powerful ones, we can begin to affect our lives significantly. It would be interesting to monitor some of your actions for a day and classify them as above....
Aristotle Greek critic, philosopher, physicist, & zoologist (384 BC - 322 BC)
Great day yesterday. Got my MRI scan results and was told that my spine was anatomically perfect (yes!!!). Also had my tooth repaired very quickly and then spent a tremendous afternoon working from home, after an award-winning lunch (eba with okro soup). And then there was The Apprentice...
Action is the key. We know that. But what causes action? Well, Aristotle was no slouch, and seemed to cover the most important topics thousands of years ago. The first two causes, chance and nature, appear to be uncontrollable. Compulsion can be shaped by education. Habit is a massive cause - some say 90% of what we do is habitual, so a lot of the strategies away from CSD ("Could, Should, Don't) involve habit. Reason is probably used more as an explanation for actions rather than being a real cause, though some people do act on reason. Passion and desire are probably more causative than reason, in practice.
So by looking at these causes, particularly the powerful ones, we can begin to affect our lives significantly. It would be interesting to monitor some of your actions for a day and classify them as above....
Tuesday 15 May 2007
Words and Action
"We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them."
- Abigail Adams, letter to John Adams, 1774, US wife of John Adams 1764 (1744 - 1818)
I sealed the deal yesterday and felt the warm glow of making the right decision. Now I have lots of other business to progress; but a significant milestone has been reached.
I had a conversation with a prospective business partner yesterday, which touched on the importance of action. The fact that lack of action is the source of much failure and unfulfilled dreams is clear, and we have covered this in several articles on CSD ("Could, Should, Don't"). This quote takes an interesting angle, which is the relationship between our words and our actions. Perhaps our use of language may intensify the incongruence between our words and actions. Our lack of integrity (doing what we say) may be amplified by the lofty language that we sometimes might use to disguise our CSD infestation. Do our actions live up to those words? Something to think about...
- Abigail Adams, letter to John Adams, 1774, US wife of John Adams 1764 (1744 - 1818)
I sealed the deal yesterday and felt the warm glow of making the right decision. Now I have lots of other business to progress; but a significant milestone has been reached.
I had a conversation with a prospective business partner yesterday, which touched on the importance of action. The fact that lack of action is the source of much failure and unfulfilled dreams is clear, and we have covered this in several articles on CSD ("Could, Should, Don't"). This quote takes an interesting angle, which is the relationship between our words and our actions. Perhaps our use of language may intensify the incongruence between our words and actions. Our lack of integrity (doing what we say) may be amplified by the lofty language that we sometimes might use to disguise our CSD infestation. Do our actions live up to those words? Something to think about...
Monday 14 May 2007
Fanatic
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."
- Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)
I made an important career decision yesterday that reflected my values rather than my fantasies - quite a key distinction for me. It rained for most of the day, but there was a 3 hour respite in the evening so we had a barbeque (the highlight was chicken in Reggae sauce) - carpe diem!
In the world we live in, where there is so much hatred and violence, I wonder how much of this is due to mental inflexibility. For many people, the response to uncertainty is to revert to dogma, rather than undergo the hard work of thinking. Not only will they not entertain other possibilities, but they will also make the issue central in their lives until it consumes them, sometimes literally. Is fanaticism then, simply a dangerous form of mental laziness? I guess we must be careful who we call lazy :-).
I believe that laziness is at the heart of many human failings like hatred, fanaticism, prejudice etc. It is the lack of inclination or discipline to think. The path of least resistance or at least least effort is the rigid one. And yet the changing world requires more flexibility.....
- Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)
I made an important career decision yesterday that reflected my values rather than my fantasies - quite a key distinction for me. It rained for most of the day, but there was a 3 hour respite in the evening so we had a barbeque (the highlight was chicken in Reggae sauce) - carpe diem!
In the world we live in, where there is so much hatred and violence, I wonder how much of this is due to mental inflexibility. For many people, the response to uncertainty is to revert to dogma, rather than undergo the hard work of thinking. Not only will they not entertain other possibilities, but they will also make the issue central in their lives until it consumes them, sometimes literally. Is fanaticism then, simply a dangerous form of mental laziness? I guess we must be careful who we call lazy :-).
I believe that laziness is at the heart of many human failings like hatred, fanaticism, prejudice etc. It is the lack of inclination or discipline to think. The path of least resistance or at least least effort is the rigid one. And yet the changing world requires more flexibility.....
Sunday 13 May 2007
Better be wise
"Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own. "
Aesop Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC)
The rain is back. Our flirtation with bright sunshine has been curtailed and the solid British weather has made a spectacular return. We toyed with the idea of a BBQ yesterday, after a bout of retail therapy (for my mum and sister I must add), but opted for an excellent south Indian takeaway instead. There was a window of about one and a half hours of sunshine...
We have discussed the value of making mistakes and learning from them. What powerful lessons are learnt when we meet with misfortune and can understand the source of our errors. However, given the number and depth of lessons to be learnt, can we really afford to make that many mistakes? If foxes had a better communication system, might they not have documented that crossing motorways was hazardous? Or would they opt to determine each one for himself through trial and error? The grisly evidence on the motorway tells its own story. Surely, it is wise to learn from other people's misfortunes rather than yours; because you cannot sustain many misfortunes without paying a high price.
So we must pay attention to what goes wrong in other people's lives, just as much as we must pay attention to what goes right. For the world is a classroom that offers us lessons, both experiential or vicarious. The former we get by default - there is no escape. The latter offers us a fast track...
Aesop Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC)
The rain is back. Our flirtation with bright sunshine has been curtailed and the solid British weather has made a spectacular return. We toyed with the idea of a BBQ yesterday, after a bout of retail therapy (for my mum and sister I must add), but opted for an excellent south Indian takeaway instead. There was a window of about one and a half hours of sunshine...
We have discussed the value of making mistakes and learning from them. What powerful lessons are learnt when we meet with misfortune and can understand the source of our errors. However, given the number and depth of lessons to be learnt, can we really afford to make that many mistakes? If foxes had a better communication system, might they not have documented that crossing motorways was hazardous? Or would they opt to determine each one for himself through trial and error? The grisly evidence on the motorway tells its own story. Surely, it is wise to learn from other people's misfortunes rather than yours; because you cannot sustain many misfortunes without paying a high price.
So we must pay attention to what goes wrong in other people's lives, just as much as we must pay attention to what goes right. For the world is a classroom that offers us lessons, both experiential or vicarious. The former we get by default - there is no escape. The latter offers us a fast track...
What you think of me
"What you think of me is none of my business"
- Terry Cole-Whittaker (B. 1939) American evangelist, author
I tested an important journey yesterday to help me in making a career decision. There was also a bit of shopping and the fun of Eurovision...
Being independent of the good opinion of others is a critical attribute to inculcate in oneself. The alternative is to be a slave to people's opinions of you. You end up trying to please people and compromise your innermost values in the process. You get upset by people's opinions of you, whether expressed or simply inferred. You waste tremendous energy worrying about what someone thinks about you or really meant etc. You open yourself up to pointless stress and suffering.
So does that mean you must become a cold, uncaring cyborg, not moved by people's perceptions of you? Does it mean that you will not examine your own flaws that people may be showing you through their opinions of you? Do you become aloof, perhaps even arrogant in your immunity from taking criticism to heart? Or do you simply have a well-developed self-image, which is robust and flexible enough to process feedback from others and use it to extract useful insights that can aid your progress? Are you simply able to discern the portion of people's opinions that is just a product of their thought system and life experiences, a reflection of their unique perception and perhaps little to do with you?
This is where asking the right questions can be useful. In a particular situation where you have been described by someone as being selfish, you can ask yourself several different questions. For example;
"How can he/she accuse me of something like that?!!!"
"Do I care if he/she thinks I'm selfish?"
"Oh no, am I really selfish? Have I always been? Oh no! I feel really guilty now!"
"I know I'm not selfish. Is he/she simply projecting their own selfishness?"
There are also several other statements (perhaps expletives) you might utter. It strikes me that a question like
"Why did he/she say that?" or "What did I do that may have led to that interpretation?" provides a more balanced approach. You may still end up concluding that you are not selfish or that you are, but the key is that you start from a more "scientific" base. You actually examine the issue without defences or insecurities jumping into the fray. You are genuinely curious.
So perhaps that is the answer. Curiosity. Rather than take things personally, maybe we simple need to become curious. So, what you think of me is none of my business, but if you tell me then I should be curious rather than emotional.
- Terry Cole-Whittaker (B. 1939) American evangelist, author
I tested an important journey yesterday to help me in making a career decision. There was also a bit of shopping and the fun of Eurovision...
Being independent of the good opinion of others is a critical attribute to inculcate in oneself. The alternative is to be a slave to people's opinions of you. You end up trying to please people and compromise your innermost values in the process. You get upset by people's opinions of you, whether expressed or simply inferred. You waste tremendous energy worrying about what someone thinks about you or really meant etc. You open yourself up to pointless stress and suffering.
So does that mean you must become a cold, uncaring cyborg, not moved by people's perceptions of you? Does it mean that you will not examine your own flaws that people may be showing you through their opinions of you? Do you become aloof, perhaps even arrogant in your immunity from taking criticism to heart? Or do you simply have a well-developed self-image, which is robust and flexible enough to process feedback from others and use it to extract useful insights that can aid your progress? Are you simply able to discern the portion of people's opinions that is just a product of their thought system and life experiences, a reflection of their unique perception and perhaps little to do with you?
This is where asking the right questions can be useful. In a particular situation where you have been described by someone as being selfish, you can ask yourself several different questions. For example;
"How can he/she accuse me of something like that?!!!"
"Do I care if he/she thinks I'm selfish?"
"Oh no, am I really selfish? Have I always been? Oh no! I feel really guilty now!"
"I know I'm not selfish. Is he/she simply projecting their own selfishness?"
There are also several other statements (perhaps expletives) you might utter. It strikes me that a question like
"Why did he/she say that?" or "What did I do that may have led to that interpretation?" provides a more balanced approach. You may still end up concluding that you are not selfish or that you are, but the key is that you start from a more "scientific" base. You actually examine the issue without defences or insecurities jumping into the fray. You are genuinely curious.
So perhaps that is the answer. Curiosity. Rather than take things personally, maybe we simple need to become curious. So, what you think of me is none of my business, but if you tell me then I should be curious rather than emotional.
Friday 11 May 2007
An Educated Mind
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. "
- Aristotle
Lots of family time yesterday - my son and nephew having a ball. I had to listen to and understand different people's points of view, though I stopped just short of acceptance.
If you watch people arguing, pay attention to the respect that they give each other's arguments. If my mind is not robust and flexible, then I may need dogma to keep it safe from "rogue" ideas. So if I am in an argument, and someone puts forward an idea that I don't agree with, I will not even allow the idea through the front gate. I will shoot it down on the road. I certainly will not entertain it. That would be too risky - I might begin to shake the fragile foundations of my thought system. However, if my mind is robust and flexible, I would actually take a good look at their point of view, suspend my bias temporarily and seek to see the value of their argument. I may update my view, having learnt something; or I may be able to to better present my argument, having understood their argument or the flaws in it.
"Seek first to understand, and then to be understood" - Stephen R Covey (The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People)
Every argument is a learning opportunity. But only if you are willing to learn. That is probably the essence of an educated mind, rather than having been through school, university etc. Let's practise this discpline today - could be fun, seek out some arguments!
- Aristotle
Lots of family time yesterday - my son and nephew having a ball. I had to listen to and understand different people's points of view, though I stopped just short of acceptance.
If you watch people arguing, pay attention to the respect that they give each other's arguments. If my mind is not robust and flexible, then I may need dogma to keep it safe from "rogue" ideas. So if I am in an argument, and someone puts forward an idea that I don't agree with, I will not even allow the idea through the front gate. I will shoot it down on the road. I certainly will not entertain it. That would be too risky - I might begin to shake the fragile foundations of my thought system. However, if my mind is robust and flexible, I would actually take a good look at their point of view, suspend my bias temporarily and seek to see the value of their argument. I may update my view, having learnt something; or I may be able to to better present my argument, having understood their argument or the flaws in it.
"Seek first to understand, and then to be understood" - Stephen R Covey (The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People)
Every argument is a learning opportunity. But only if you are willing to learn. That is probably the essence of an educated mind, rather than having been through school, university etc. Let's practise this discpline today - could be fun, seek out some arguments!
Mistake
"The greatest mistake a man can ever make is to be afraid of making one."
- Elbert Hubbard 1859-1915, American Author, Publisher
Very constructive day yesterday, with much achievement and a slight break from the career decision game. Fell asleep on the sofa, and woke up at 2am to find that my mum was asleep on the other sofa. That fine family tradition is still as strong as ever!
One inhibitor in life is the fear of making a mistake. It feels safer not to take action, because that way you don't risk error and consequences. But is this a delusional argument? Inaction is a form of action that leads to its own consequences. I guess that we have to be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them, otherwise we would simply paralyze ourselves and/or meet other consequences anyway.
"The man who doesn't make mistakes usually doesn't make anything" - unknown
- Elbert Hubbard 1859-1915, American Author, Publisher
Very constructive day yesterday, with much achievement and a slight break from the career decision game. Fell asleep on the sofa, and woke up at 2am to find that my mum was asleep on the other sofa. That fine family tradition is still as strong as ever!
One inhibitor in life is the fear of making a mistake. It feels safer not to take action, because that way you don't risk error and consequences. But is this a delusional argument? Inaction is a form of action that leads to its own consequences. I guess that we have to be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them, otherwise we would simply paralyze ourselves and/or meet other consequences anyway.
"The man who doesn't make mistakes usually doesn't make anything" - unknown
Wednesday 9 May 2007
Authenticity
"To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say."
Rene Descartes1596-1650, Philosopher and Scientist
As predicted, yesterday was very intense and rather tiring, but some clarity on the decision front is emerging. I was reading a book on the train, which was so funny in parts that I would laugh out loud. It was a crowded train. Very soon, other people began to smile, and then there was the odd giggle...
It is an old saying that actions speak louder than words. And that is very true on several levels. If someone says that they will complete a task and don't complete it, that gives you a clue as to their real thinking. Perhaps it wasn't so important for them to complete the task, or they don't believe that they have the capacity to complete such tasks. If someone does not like me, they may say "I like you", but their body language will very quickly give the game away, even before their overt actions do.
So why is it so much easier for people to hide their thoughts in their words than in their actions?
I suspect it is because our words are more under our conscious control than our actions. And what we really think gets transmitted directly into our unconscious mind that governs a large portion of our actions. Therefore, a skilled body language expert will be able to read a person's thoughts quite well. And if someone truly believes something, their life will be a testimony to that belief.
If I claim I want to be successful, and I know what I should do, I know I could do it, but I don't do it (CSD - "Could, Should, Don't"), then what's going on? Perhaps I don't really want to be successful after all. Perhaps I have some other beliefs that go against what I say I want. Or perhaps I simply have a fear of success or failure. We may be looking at one of the root causes of CSD, a topic we discussed at length several weeks ago.
A woman keeps attracting men who abuse her, each time complaining bitterly and vowing never to date "that type" again. Yet she still goes for the same men. What is she thinking? That is exactly the question. She could choose differently, she should choose differently, but she doesn't. Maybe she thinks deep down "I'm not worthy of better" or "I deserve to be abused, just like my mother" etc. Listening to what she says would give a misleading view. Paying attention to her actions reveals a lot. A married couple who argue a lot and are on the verge of separating are interviewed. Both of them say that they want their marriage to work and that they love their partner. They say they want to be happy. But their actions suggest that they simply want to be right.
There is so much more we could explore on this. But words are "symbols of symbols, and thus are twice removed from reality". The key is to pay attention to your own actions. That tells you what you are really thinking...
Rene Descartes1596-1650, Philosopher and Scientist
As predicted, yesterday was very intense and rather tiring, but some clarity on the decision front is emerging. I was reading a book on the train, which was so funny in parts that I would laugh out loud. It was a crowded train. Very soon, other people began to smile, and then there was the odd giggle...
It is an old saying that actions speak louder than words. And that is very true on several levels. If someone says that they will complete a task and don't complete it, that gives you a clue as to their real thinking. Perhaps it wasn't so important for them to complete the task, or they don't believe that they have the capacity to complete such tasks. If someone does not like me, they may say "I like you", but their body language will very quickly give the game away, even before their overt actions do.
So why is it so much easier for people to hide their thoughts in their words than in their actions?
I suspect it is because our words are more under our conscious control than our actions. And what we really think gets transmitted directly into our unconscious mind that governs a large portion of our actions. Therefore, a skilled body language expert will be able to read a person's thoughts quite well. And if someone truly believes something, their life will be a testimony to that belief.
If I claim I want to be successful, and I know what I should do, I know I could do it, but I don't do it (CSD - "Could, Should, Don't"), then what's going on? Perhaps I don't really want to be successful after all. Perhaps I have some other beliefs that go against what I say I want. Or perhaps I simply have a fear of success or failure. We may be looking at one of the root causes of CSD, a topic we discussed at length several weeks ago.
A woman keeps attracting men who abuse her, each time complaining bitterly and vowing never to date "that type" again. Yet she still goes for the same men. What is she thinking? That is exactly the question. She could choose differently, she should choose differently, but she doesn't. Maybe she thinks deep down "I'm not worthy of better" or "I deserve to be abused, just like my mother" etc. Listening to what she says would give a misleading view. Paying attention to her actions reveals a lot. A married couple who argue a lot and are on the verge of separating are interviewed. Both of them say that they want their marriage to work and that they love their partner. They say they want to be happy. But their actions suggest that they simply want to be right.
There is so much more we could explore on this. But words are "symbols of symbols, and thus are twice removed from reality". The key is to pay attention to your own actions. That tells you what you are really thinking...
Tuesday 8 May 2007
Measurements
"The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them."
- George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950, Playwright
Still in decision mode, with key choices to make. I expect that to be compounded today and I need to remember that saying yes to one means saying no to another. I guess it's a nic problem to have. My son is playing with his cousin (combined age is 7 years) - there is much discussion and decision making. Perhaps a lesson there?
This quote is not really talking about prejudice, because it the prejudgement is based on a previous knowledge of a person, rather than a generalization based on a feature. It basically highlights the habit of not updating our view of someone even when there is new information to take in. It may show up in parents not updating their view of their children as they grow up. Or in friends not updating their view of each other. Or in a married couple. The result is often predictable. There is resistance to "change".
Joe is going through some personal growth and perhaps is beginning to enjoy some success. His friends still see him as poor old Joe. They know and love poor old Joe. They have a lot of history with poor old Joe. They helped poor old Joe with his many problems and seen his many failures. They cannot see him in any other way but as poor old Joe. As he grows and transforms, they feel uneasy but do not really recognize or accept the change. They just think he is behaving strangely, or becoming a little irritating or boring. Instinctively, they try to resist him and "drag him back" to the poor old Joe that they know and love. If they are a strong group and Joe hangs out with them, it will be difficult for Joe to progress. He feels pressure to continue to fit into the old measurements, because his friends have not taken new ones.
Are we taking new measurements regularly?
- George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950, Playwright
Still in decision mode, with key choices to make. I expect that to be compounded today and I need to remember that saying yes to one means saying no to another. I guess it's a nic problem to have. My son is playing with his cousin (combined age is 7 years) - there is much discussion and decision making. Perhaps a lesson there?
This quote is not really talking about prejudice, because it the prejudgement is based on a previous knowledge of a person, rather than a generalization based on a feature. It basically highlights the habit of not updating our view of someone even when there is new information to take in. It may show up in parents not updating their view of their children as they grow up. Or in friends not updating their view of each other. Or in a married couple. The result is often predictable. There is resistance to "change".
Joe is going through some personal growth and perhaps is beginning to enjoy some success. His friends still see him as poor old Joe. They know and love poor old Joe. They have a lot of history with poor old Joe. They helped poor old Joe with his many problems and seen his many failures. They cannot see him in any other way but as poor old Joe. As he grows and transforms, they feel uneasy but do not really recognize or accept the change. They just think he is behaving strangely, or becoming a little irritating or boring. Instinctively, they try to resist him and "drag him back" to the poor old Joe that they know and love. If they are a strong group and Joe hangs out with them, it will be difficult for Joe to progress. He feels pressure to continue to fit into the old measurements, because his friends have not taken new ones.
Are we taking new measurements regularly?
Monday 7 May 2007
The Right Track
“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”
– Will Rogers (1875-1933) American actor and humorist
A rather subdued day yesterday, with an emphasis on domestic chores. I did manage to do some learning, which always adds a spark to any day.
How important is it to keep moving forward, to keep learning even when you are already an expert? In the 21st century, it is critical. Knowledge becomes obsolete at an ever-increasing rate, with good technology and techniques being superseded by new technology and techniques. In the 20th century, the emphasis was on building up a wealth of knowledge and expertise, which would serve you well and did not need much replenishment or enhancement. Things are very different now. The emphasis is now on one’s ability to learn quickly and apply the new knowledge.
The world is not standing still, so neither should you.
– Will Rogers (1875-1933) American actor and humorist
A rather subdued day yesterday, with an emphasis on domestic chores. I did manage to do some learning, which always adds a spark to any day.
How important is it to keep moving forward, to keep learning even when you are already an expert? In the 21st century, it is critical. Knowledge becomes obsolete at an ever-increasing rate, with good technology and techniques being superseded by new technology and techniques. In the 20th century, the emphasis was on building up a wealth of knowledge and expertise, which would serve you well and did not need much replenishment or enhancement. Things are very different now. The emphasis is now on one’s ability to learn quickly and apply the new knowledge.
The world is not standing still, so neither should you.
Expert
"An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less" - Nicolas Murray Butler (1862-1948) President of Columbia University
Great family day yesterday, with five little cousins united for the first time in the doting company of aunts, uncle and granny. I also broke the speed record for legal journey time to Gatwick from Hemel Hempstead. I did get a parking ticket in Knightsbridge - a residents parking space embedded in a sea of pay-at-meters on a Sunday! Perhaps there is justice after all...
How does one become an expert? By focusing attention and energy. By deepening knowledge in specific areas. Indeed, it is often necessary to narrow one's field of study in order to achieve this depth. So that is fairly clear. But does that limit us? Are experts limited in terms of the scope of their knowledge? Deep but narrow? I guess, by definition, one must say yes. However, I wonder if depth can lead to integration and hence scope. If I understand something very well, is it not possible for me to distil out some fundamental concepts which I can then apply to a vast array of other areas? Can the power of metaphor and commonality not be harnessed to leverage my expert knowledge?
My take on this is that the quotation is accurate - an expert knows more and more about less and less. But there are subsequent possibilities for dramatically expanding the scope of understanding, using one's expert knowledge. The key is the inclination to do this...
Great family day yesterday, with five little cousins united for the first time in the doting company of aunts, uncle and granny. I also broke the speed record for legal journey time to Gatwick from Hemel Hempstead. I did get a parking ticket in Knightsbridge - a residents parking space embedded in a sea of pay-at-meters on a Sunday! Perhaps there is justice after all...
How does one become an expert? By focusing attention and energy. By deepening knowledge in specific areas. Indeed, it is often necessary to narrow one's field of study in order to achieve this depth. So that is fairly clear. But does that limit us? Are experts limited in terms of the scope of their knowledge? Deep but narrow? I guess, by definition, one must say yes. However, I wonder if depth can lead to integration and hence scope. If I understand something very well, is it not possible for me to distil out some fundamental concepts which I can then apply to a vast array of other areas? Can the power of metaphor and commonality not be harnessed to leverage my expert knowledge?
My take on this is that the quotation is accurate - an expert knows more and more about less and less. But there are subsequent possibilities for dramatically expanding the scope of understanding, using one's expert knowledge. The key is the inclination to do this...
Saturday 5 May 2007
Dream
" I have a dream" - Martin Luther King Jnr
I had a dream last night of being attacked by a man with a knife. Recklessly I resisted and used my martial arts training to disarm him and broke his arm in the process. I ended up in court, but I guess I could have ended up in the morgue. But, hey, it was just a dream. Maybe it was just a mechanism to get me out of bed early enough - need to go to the airport to pick up my mum, sister & her two kids.
Of course, Martin Luther King was talking about a different type of dream, more of a vision for the future. Something to think about...Time to go, the pilot is ahead of schedule!
I had a dream last night of being attacked by a man with a knife. Recklessly I resisted and used my martial arts training to disarm him and broke his arm in the process. I ended up in court, but I guess I could have ended up in the morgue. But, hey, it was just a dream. Maybe it was just a mechanism to get me out of bed early enough - need to go to the airport to pick up my mum, sister & her two kids.
Of course, Martin Luther King was talking about a different type of dream, more of a vision for the future. Something to think about...Time to go, the pilot is ahead of schedule!
Friday 4 May 2007
Decision
"In your moments of decision, your destiny is shaped" - Anthony Robbins
Back home again, after a day of interviews and meetings. I have some key decisions to make, which will have an impact on my professional, financial and personal life. What is the best way to come to such decisions? By consultation with others or by private introspection? Or would it be a combination of both? How much can I allow others to influence me? How far ahead can I think in weighing up the pros and cons? What else must I consider? Can I trust my feelings or must brutal logic rule?
I know this. I must write. For in the medium of writing, the light of clear thought shines forth....
Back home again, after a day of interviews and meetings. I have some key decisions to make, which will have an impact on my professional, financial and personal life. What is the best way to come to such decisions? By consultation with others or by private introspection? Or would it be a combination of both? How much can I allow others to influence me? How far ahead can I think in weighing up the pros and cons? What else must I consider? Can I trust my feelings or must brutal logic rule?
I know this. I must write. For in the medium of writing, the light of clear thought shines forth....
Love
“If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were
always yours. And if they don't, they never were.”
- Kahlil Gibran, 1883-1931,
Lebanese Poet, Novelist
I woke up this morning on my sister’s sofa in London. She had to go into hospital last night with abdominal pains. Luckily, I was in London on business yesterday evening and was able to come over to look after her kids while the ambulance took her away. Her older son (9 years old) got busy managing the defragmentation of her computer hard disk after comforting her while they were waiting for the ambulance. Love in action!
Love is the big one. And Kahlil Gibran has incredible wisdom and insight. It is worth reading his book The Prophet, which illuminates several areas including the topic of love. Indeed, his quotation is so devastatingly simple and clear that I find it difficult to write much to add to it. The expression “Truth is true” seems appropriate. How easy is it to let someone go that you love, really? It is simple (and obvious) but not easy. This may be because we are possessive, whether it is in a romantic relationship, a family relationship, or a relationship with friends. We are torn between wanting them to be happy and well, and wanting them to be with us. Ideally, those two desires would be in harmony, but sometimes they are not.
We are human. And thus we have our foibles and weaknesses. So we must learn to forgive ourselves and bring more of our truly loving selves into being.
always yours. And if they don't, they never were.”
- Kahlil Gibran, 1883-1931,
Lebanese Poet, Novelist
I woke up this morning on my sister’s sofa in London. She had to go into hospital last night with abdominal pains. Luckily, I was in London on business yesterday evening and was able to come over to look after her kids while the ambulance took her away. Her older son (9 years old) got busy managing the defragmentation of her computer hard disk after comforting her while they were waiting for the ambulance. Love in action!
Love is the big one. And Kahlil Gibran has incredible wisdom and insight. It is worth reading his book The Prophet, which illuminates several areas including the topic of love. Indeed, his quotation is so devastatingly simple and clear that I find it difficult to write much to add to it. The expression “Truth is true” seems appropriate. How easy is it to let someone go that you love, really? It is simple (and obvious) but not easy. This may be because we are possessive, whether it is in a romantic relationship, a family relationship, or a relationship with friends. We are torn between wanting them to be happy and well, and wanting them to be with us. Ideally, those two desires would be in harmony, but sometimes they are not.
We are human. And thus we have our foibles and weaknesses. So we must learn to forgive ourselves and bring more of our truly loving selves into being.
Wednesday 2 May 2007
The Singing Pig
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pig." -- Folk saying
Well well, some consolation last night on the football :-). A busy day, with much discussion about future contracts and career options. As well as some exciting possibilities on the writing front, with some incredible stories waiting to be told.
I think today's quotation is a little piece of pure wisdom that could save so much frustration and resentment. Everyone has their features, some may be transient, others are hardcoded. Those that are hardcoded form part of what is called the personality, which research indicates doesn't change much with time. In fact, part of what shapes the personality, are signature themes - these are the seeds of talent within the person, the tendencies that they have. Ultimately, these point towards the person's gift, but that will be attained only if these signature themes are developed and expressed positively. Another contributing factor to the personality are experiences, which lead to beliefs and consequently ways of being.
Because of our unique brain wiring, there are some things that we are or can be exceptional in, and there are some things that we will never really excel at (understatement). By things, I do not necessarily mean tasks but rather specific traits. I, for example, would not describe myself as a DIY expert (understatement) - I don't instinctively know how to assemble a piece of furniture, or resolve an engine problem in my car; I don't just figure those sorts of things out, as do many people that I know. Two of my signature themes (http://www.strengthsfinder.com), however, are Intellect and Learner, so I now always ensure that I have some instructions to hand. Armed with those, I can perform the most complex DIY task.
So I haven't really changed (I can't really sing), but I can achieve my objectives by using what I have and am. It would be futile to try to make me an instinctive DIY expert; and indeed I might find it irritating.
I guess that's the key. To use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses in achieving particular objectives. And to remember not to try to change people; rather try to help them bring out their strengths.
"You can't turn a pumpkin into a tomato" - Dina West
Well well, some consolation last night on the football :-). A busy day, with much discussion about future contracts and career options. As well as some exciting possibilities on the writing front, with some incredible stories waiting to be told.
I think today's quotation is a little piece of pure wisdom that could save so much frustration and resentment. Everyone has their features, some may be transient, others are hardcoded. Those that are hardcoded form part of what is called the personality, which research indicates doesn't change much with time. In fact, part of what shapes the personality, are signature themes - these are the seeds of talent within the person, the tendencies that they have. Ultimately, these point towards the person's gift, but that will be attained only if these signature themes are developed and expressed positively. Another contributing factor to the personality are experiences, which lead to beliefs and consequently ways of being.
Because of our unique brain wiring, there are some things that we are or can be exceptional in, and there are some things that we will never really excel at (understatement). By things, I do not necessarily mean tasks but rather specific traits. I, for example, would not describe myself as a DIY expert (understatement) - I don't instinctively know how to assemble a piece of furniture, or resolve an engine problem in my car; I don't just figure those sorts of things out, as do many people that I know. Two of my signature themes (http://www.strengthsfinder.com), however, are Intellect and Learner, so I now always ensure that I have some instructions to hand. Armed with those, I can perform the most complex DIY task.
So I haven't really changed (I can't really sing), but I can achieve my objectives by using what I have and am. It would be futile to try to make me an instinctive DIY expert; and indeed I might find it irritating.
I guess that's the key. To use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses in achieving particular objectives. And to remember not to try to change people; rather try to help them bring out their strengths.
"You can't turn a pumpkin into a tomato" - Dina West
Experience
"At the end of the next 20 years you can have 20 years experience - or you can have one year's experience 20 times. It's a matter of choice."
- Richard G Nixon (b 1940)American entrepeneur, publisher, author,speaker, seminar leader
Still reeling from yesterday night's devastating result - Chelsea going out of the Champion's League. Yes, I know it's just a sport, but you need to let life touch you (but don't let it kill you!).
What is experience, really? Is it just particpating in events over time? Or must it be something more? Do you have to learn from the event, and so shape future events? Or is repetition of the event also a form of useful experience? Is repetition merely practice rather than experience? We talk about having 5 years experience or 10 years experience, but surely it is events rather than time that should take centre stage.
This is worth pondering about. But my simple take is coined from Jim Rohn:
"Don't just get through the day; get from the day" - Jim Rohn
- Richard G Nixon (b 1940)American entrepeneur, publisher, author,speaker, seminar leader
Still reeling from yesterday night's devastating result - Chelsea going out of the Champion's League. Yes, I know it's just a sport, but you need to let life touch you (but don't let it kill you!).
What is experience, really? Is it just particpating in events over time? Or must it be something more? Do you have to learn from the event, and so shape future events? Or is repetition of the event also a form of useful experience? Is repetition merely practice rather than experience? We talk about having 5 years experience or 10 years experience, but surely it is events rather than time that should take centre stage.
This is worth pondering about. But my simple take is coined from Jim Rohn:
"Don't just get through the day; get from the day" - Jim Rohn
Tuesday 1 May 2007
Enjoy The Sunshine
"Some people are making such thorough preparation for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine."
William Feather 1889-1981, Author and Publisher
A truly remarkable morning. Such brilliant sunshine and early morning warmth. Before looking at today's quotation, I just had a thought about yesterday's quotation. We discussed how we might think that something cannot be done and then prevent anyone else from doing it (to prove ourselves right). This Dog-In-The-Manger dynamic also plays itself out internally. It's called a limiting belief. You will do anything to sabotage yourself from achieving what you think cannot be done.
I work in the area of risk management, so I am instinctively drawn to contingency planning and preventive measures. But is there a danger of missing out on the now, by continuously being focused on the if and when? I guess the trick must be to fully participate in the present, while still preparing for the future. Perhaps the concept of full participation must include planning. Part of the benefit of having lovely sunshine is that it puts you in a resourceful state of mind - excellent for basking and daydreaming, and excellent also for planning.
There are many angles to this, but the one that strikes me is our old friend gratitude. You can want and plan for new acquisitions and experiences, but you must be grateful for what you already have. In a pseudo-metaphysical way, gratitude creates the space for more to enter your life. It also represents a focus on what you value rather than what you want to avoid. And we tend to get more of what we focus on (positively or negatively). Not necessarily by some hocus-pocus mechanism, but by simply being transmitted into feelings and actions that lead to results.
So I enjoy the sunshine, am very grateful for it and expect more of it in the future, probably by taking appropriate actions (e.g. going to a sunny place :-). But I take a few minutes out to set up some rainy day insurance.....
William Feather 1889-1981, Author and Publisher
A truly remarkable morning. Such brilliant sunshine and early morning warmth. Before looking at today's quotation, I just had a thought about yesterday's quotation. We discussed how we might think that something cannot be done and then prevent anyone else from doing it (to prove ourselves right). This Dog-In-The-Manger dynamic also plays itself out internally. It's called a limiting belief. You will do anything to sabotage yourself from achieving what you think cannot be done.
I work in the area of risk management, so I am instinctively drawn to contingency planning and preventive measures. But is there a danger of missing out on the now, by continuously being focused on the if and when? I guess the trick must be to fully participate in the present, while still preparing for the future. Perhaps the concept of full participation must include planning. Part of the benefit of having lovely sunshine is that it puts you in a resourceful state of mind - excellent for basking and daydreaming, and excellent also for planning.
There are many angles to this, but the one that strikes me is our old friend gratitude. You can want and plan for new acquisitions and experiences, but you must be grateful for what you already have. In a pseudo-metaphysical way, gratitude creates the space for more to enter your life. It also represents a focus on what you value rather than what you want to avoid. And we tend to get more of what we focus on (positively or negatively). Not necessarily by some hocus-pocus mechanism, but by simply being transmitted into feelings and actions that lead to results.
So I enjoy the sunshine, am very grateful for it and expect more of it in the future, probably by taking appropriate actions (e.g. going to a sunny place :-). But I take a few minutes out to set up some rainy day insurance.....
Sunday 29 April 2007
Manger Vision
"If you don’t think something can be done, then at least don’t stop someone else from doing it. "
--anonymous
The hay fever season is upon us...Itchy eyes, sneezing fits, irritated throat...Not an ideal start to the day, but then again this is life! The alternative (not being alive) is much less attractive :-).
So gratitude is becoming the dominant early morning emotion. Counting one's blessings is now the early morning ritual (also quite a lot of fun!).
I've observed the dog-in-the-manger dynamic often, where someone does not want to do something or thinks it cannot be done, and then prevents anyone else from doing it. It is a pervasive dynamic that plays itself out in the workplace, at home, in social settings, among children, in schools etc. I wonder what is behind this. Is it simply ego? The need to be right? If I say it cannot be done, then suddenly I have a vested interest in proving myself right. I must then resist any attempt to accomplish the impossible task, musn't I? Otherwise my concept of what is possible is refuted. And if I tie that to my identity, then suddenly there is quite a lot at stake. I become a snarling ferocious dog in the manger (DIAM). Of course, outwardly I may need to appear professional, or not disagreeable, so I may fight my battle in a subtle way. But ultimately, there is a negative agenda aimed at proving me right - it cannot be done.
Now consider this dynamic being played out in the world by millions of people, some of whom are in positions of power and influence. What would be the effect of this on the world's progress? What if the bold creative go-getters are constantly stifled by the DIAMs)? What would be the world's future? But what if the DIAM is rational and reasonable? What if there are very good reasons for thinking that it cannot be done?
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw
--anonymous
The hay fever season is upon us...Itchy eyes, sneezing fits, irritated throat...Not an ideal start to the day, but then again this is life! The alternative (not being alive) is much less attractive :-).
So gratitude is becoming the dominant early morning emotion. Counting one's blessings is now the early morning ritual (also quite a lot of fun!).
I've observed the dog-in-the-manger dynamic often, where someone does not want to do something or thinks it cannot be done, and then prevents anyone else from doing it. It is a pervasive dynamic that plays itself out in the workplace, at home, in social settings, among children, in schools etc. I wonder what is behind this. Is it simply ego? The need to be right? If I say it cannot be done, then suddenly I have a vested interest in proving myself right. I must then resist any attempt to accomplish the impossible task, musn't I? Otherwise my concept of what is possible is refuted. And if I tie that to my identity, then suddenly there is quite a lot at stake. I become a snarling ferocious dog in the manger (DIAM). Of course, outwardly I may need to appear professional, or not disagreeable, so I may fight my battle in a subtle way. But ultimately, there is a negative agenda aimed at proving me right - it cannot be done.
Now consider this dynamic being played out in the world by millions of people, some of whom are in positions of power and influence. What would be the effect of this on the world's progress? What if the bold creative go-getters are constantly stifled by the DIAMs)? What would be the world's future? But what if the DIAM is rational and reasonable? What if there are very good reasons for thinking that it cannot be done?
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw
Saturday 28 April 2007
A Fine Quotation
"A fine quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool."
- Joseph Roux (1834-1905)French priest and writer
Sunday morning. We have a full house. Our guests from yesterday evening stayed over ("Drive for an hour and a half or have another beer. Hmm"). Everyone is sleeping and my pancake duties will commence probably in about an hour's time. So I get to do my daily quotation review, this time in the kitchen (the study is also a guest bedroom). Incredibly quiet, except for the birds - I think they're really going for it today (maybe they know something we don't).
Interpreting and getting the juice out of the many excellent quotations that there are out there is one of my passions. Today's serves as a warning that I must really respect the quote and do it justice. It is said that a little knowledge is dangerous. A fine quotation, poorly understood by its conveyer and so irrelevant to the topic at hand, will probably raise an eyebrow or confuse the matter for the recipients. The same quotation, well understood by its conveyer and applied to the right topic, will bring clarity and depth of understanding to the recipients.
- Joseph Roux (1834-1905)French priest and writer
Sunday morning. We have a full house. Our guests from yesterday evening stayed over ("Drive for an hour and a half or have another beer. Hmm"). Everyone is sleeping and my pancake duties will commence probably in about an hour's time. So I get to do my daily quotation review, this time in the kitchen (the study is also a guest bedroom). Incredibly quiet, except for the birds - I think they're really going for it today (maybe they know something we don't).
Interpreting and getting the juice out of the many excellent quotations that there are out there is one of my passions. Today's serves as a warning that I must really respect the quote and do it justice. It is said that a little knowledge is dangerous. A fine quotation, poorly understood by its conveyer and so irrelevant to the topic at hand, will probably raise an eyebrow or confuse the matter for the recipients. The same quotation, well understood by its conveyer and applied to the right topic, will bring clarity and depth of understanding to the recipients.
Friday 27 April 2007
Worry and Work
"The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work." -Robert Frost, 1875-1963, American Poet
Yesterday, I flitted between being a warrior and being a worryer.
"So much to ponder, so much that could go wrong, what about this, what about that, I need to do that, hope it's not too late" etc.
Then,
"Let's get it on! Come on! Action! JFDI!"
A complete difference in physiology and energy between the worryer state and the warrior state. In the warrior state, I was in action mode and focused on what I was trying to achieve. In the worryer state, I was focused on what I was afraid would happen.
"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes of the goal" - Unknown
And worrying can lead to CSD ("Could, Should, Don't"). But wait a minute. I work in risk management so surely worrying is part of the game and leads to right action. Is it? Or is it a case of assessing risk and devising measures to remediate. There is an emotional (fear) element in worry which can paralyze you.
Yesterday, I flitted between being a warrior and being a worryer.
"So much to ponder, so much that could go wrong, what about this, what about that, I need to do that, hope it's not too late" etc.
Then,
"Let's get it on! Come on! Action! JFDI!"
A complete difference in physiology and energy between the worryer state and the warrior state. In the warrior state, I was in action mode and focused on what I was trying to achieve. In the worryer state, I was focused on what I was afraid would happen.
"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes of the goal" - Unknown
And worrying can lead to CSD ("Could, Should, Don't"). But wait a minute. I work in risk management so surely worrying is part of the game and leads to right action. Is it? Or is it a case of assessing risk and devising measures to remediate. There is an emotional (fear) element in worry which can paralyze you.
Thursday 26 April 2007
Life
"Your life is an expression of all your thoughts"
- Marcus Aurelius Antonnius (121-180) Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher
An incredible day yesterday, with much interaction and achievement. I set the tone for the day first thing in the morning by reviewing my goals and being grateful for what I already had in my life. That gratitude can also extend into the future - not quite counting your chicks - but being completely committed and so grateful in advance.
I was on my way to an interview at 11:15am. I was on my train trying to cover off negative aspects (what could go wrong) and it was approaching 11:00am. The train stopped at Upper Halliford, I got up and went to the door. I pressed the open button and reached for my ringing phone. I then realised that the door hadn't opened, so I pressed the button again. Still no response. By this time my full attention was on the train door and I was beginning to get concerned. After another unsuccessful press, I made a dash for another door and pressed the open button frantically. By this time, the door was locked and the announcer indicated that the train was moving: "The next station is Shepperton..." I ran through an array of expletives - thankfully there was no one else on the carriage. I was going to be late for my interview. I made a call to warn them that I would be late (one must manage one's agreements) and sat down, absolutely furious. As if to mirror my mental state, the train stopped and sat there for a few minutes. Now it had become a joke - I actually began to laugh and started to think "Well this will make a great ice-breaker story". In the end, I got to Shepperton, hopped in a cab, and arrived at the interview one minute early. The interview went very very well.
- Marcus Aurelius Antonnius (121-180) Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher
An incredible day yesterday, with much interaction and achievement. I set the tone for the day first thing in the morning by reviewing my goals and being grateful for what I already had in my life. That gratitude can also extend into the future - not quite counting your chicks - but being completely committed and so grateful in advance.
I was on my way to an interview at 11:15am. I was on my train trying to cover off negative aspects (what could go wrong) and it was approaching 11:00am. The train stopped at Upper Halliford, I got up and went to the door. I pressed the open button and reached for my ringing phone. I then realised that the door hadn't opened, so I pressed the button again. Still no response. By this time my full attention was on the train door and I was beginning to get concerned. After another unsuccessful press, I made a dash for another door and pressed the open button frantically. By this time, the door was locked and the announcer indicated that the train was moving: "The next station is Shepperton..." I ran through an array of expletives - thankfully there was no one else on the carriage. I was going to be late for my interview. I made a call to warn them that I would be late (one must manage one's agreements) and sat down, absolutely furious. As if to mirror my mental state, the train stopped and sat there for a few minutes. Now it had become a joke - I actually began to laugh and started to think "Well this will make a great ice-breaker story". In the end, I got to Shepperton, hopped in a cab, and arrived at the interview one minute early. The interview went very very well.
Wednesday 25 April 2007
For Want Of...
"For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost; being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for the want of care about a horseshoe nail." - Ben Franklin
Had a very hectic day yesterday, and today promises to be even better! My concern at times like these is
1. Am I being busy moving towards my goals? Or am I getting into "the thick of thin things"?
2. Do I have the energy and capability to cope with my schedule?
The first point can be creatively argued; though The Law of Straight Lines (Mark Joyner) would quickly refute any spurious explanations and justifications.
However, it is the second point that is easier to address. Am I taking good care of myself? Am I carrying out regular maintenance? Am I sufficiently fuelled and have enough water? How fast can I go and for how long? How do I feel in the morning when I wake up? How does my car feel in the morning when I start it? Are my skills being developed constantly? Or am I too busy to take good care of myself?
Stephen Covey tells a story of a man who needs to cut down many trees and sets about his task, sawing away nonstop. After a while, he gets tired and his saw gets blunt, but he keeps sawing. His father suggests to him that he takes a break to sharpen his saw and also rest a little. He declines, saying "I don't have time to sharpen my saw, too many trees to cut". So he keeps sawing away, but each tree takes longer and longer to cut down. Ultimately, he slows to a halt...
Sharpening your saw is a vital activity that increases or at least maintains your achievement capacity. The busier and more challenging your life, the sharper your saw needs to be...
Had a very hectic day yesterday, and today promises to be even better! My concern at times like these is
1. Am I being busy moving towards my goals? Or am I getting into "the thick of thin things"?
2. Do I have the energy and capability to cope with my schedule?
The first point can be creatively argued; though The Law of Straight Lines (Mark Joyner) would quickly refute any spurious explanations and justifications.
However, it is the second point that is easier to address. Am I taking good care of myself? Am I carrying out regular maintenance? Am I sufficiently fuelled and have enough water? How fast can I go and for how long? How do I feel in the morning when I wake up? How does my car feel in the morning when I start it? Are my skills being developed constantly? Or am I too busy to take good care of myself?
Stephen Covey tells a story of a man who needs to cut down many trees and sets about his task, sawing away nonstop. After a while, he gets tired and his saw gets blunt, but he keeps sawing. His father suggests to him that he takes a break to sharpen his saw and also rest a little. He declines, saying "I don't have time to sharpen my saw, too many trees to cut". So he keeps sawing away, but each tree takes longer and longer to cut down. Ultimately, he slows to a halt...
Sharpening your saw is a vital activity that increases or at least maintains your achievement capacity. The busier and more challenging your life, the sharper your saw needs to be...
Tuesday 24 April 2007
Vision
"If you do not occupy your life with a big problem, it will simply get filled up by little ones" - Unknown
I was at a meeting last night where I met some extraordinary people. One man that stood out was a wheelchair-bound marketing guru called Geoff Bone. He lost both his legs in an accident in 1972 and decided that he wouldn't let that stop him. He set up and ran marketing businesses that are providing him with the basic platform to tackle big problems and big needs in the world. There are 130 million people disabled people worldwide who don't have access to wheelchairs and therefore drag themselves around on the floor. Geoff decided that that was unacceptable to him, and had the vision of providing a wheelchair to every disabled person in the third world. He took ACTION to put his vision into motion and now runs a project to solve this massive problem. To find out more, visit the website:
http://www.geoffbonewheelchairproject.com
I was at a meeting last night where I met some extraordinary people. One man that stood out was a wheelchair-bound marketing guru called Geoff Bone. He lost both his legs in an accident in 1972 and decided that he wouldn't let that stop him. He set up and ran marketing businesses that are providing him with the basic platform to tackle big problems and big needs in the world. There are 130 million people disabled people worldwide who don't have access to wheelchairs and therefore drag themselves around on the floor. Geoff decided that that was unacceptable to him, and had the vision of providing a wheelchair to every disabled person in the third world. He took ACTION to put his vision into motion and now runs a project to solve this massive problem. To find out more, visit the website:
http://www.geoffbonewheelchairproject.com
Monday 23 April 2007
Your Value
"If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price." – Source Unknown
Reality check in England - we had gotten carried away by the sunshine and began to entertain notions of a tropical Britain. I just look outside the window now and the reassuring drip of rain from a dark and marauding sky has restored faith in the British weather. No BBQ today.
Do we teach people how to treat us, how to respect us? By how we treat ourselves or respect ourselves? When you make a mistake, how do you react? Do you chastise yourself "You idiot!" or worse still continue to beat yourself up long after the error? Or do you forgive yourself, learn from the error and move on? Do you cross your own boundaries? Do you break your own agreements with yourself? Do you regularly tell yourself how bad you are at something? Do you undersell yourself in the workplace? Do you constantly work someone else's plan? On that last point, I can't resist the following quote:
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much." Jim Rohn
Reality check in England - we had gotten carried away by the sunshine and began to entertain notions of a tropical Britain. I just look outside the window now and the reassuring drip of rain from a dark and marauding sky has restored faith in the British weather. No BBQ today.
Do we teach people how to treat us, how to respect us? By how we treat ourselves or respect ourselves? When you make a mistake, how do you react? Do you chastise yourself "You idiot!" or worse still continue to beat yourself up long after the error? Or do you forgive yourself, learn from the error and move on? Do you cross your own boundaries? Do you break your own agreements with yourself? Do you regularly tell yourself how bad you are at something? Do you undersell yourself in the workplace? Do you constantly work someone else's plan? On that last point, I can't resist the following quote:
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much." Jim Rohn
Sunday 22 April 2007
Breaking Free from CSD - Spiritual
"If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don’t hoard it. Don’t dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke." - Brendan Francis
Woke up this morning, feeling sluggish. Perhaps the weekend was more indulgent than strictly necessary :-). But perhaps I need to pay more attention to the energy/vitality basics - eat energising food, actually chew it properly, hydrate my body regularly, exercise etc. The morning feeling is my vitality barometer - leaping out of bed is where I prefer to be.
The last and ultimate block to flow and cause of CSD is on the spiritual level - withholding your gift. I believe that everyone is born with a unique gift (unique perhaps in the most subtle way) that enriches the world and contributes a piece to life's great puzzle. Spirituality often gets mistaken for religion. The two can be distinguished as follows:
Spirituality - a sense of connection to the universe and to a higher power
Religion - an organized system of worship that gives a framework to the relationship we have with the universe and with a higher power
The facet of spirituality that we are discussing here is the notion of our role in the universe, and our source of power. I believe that our gift is a key to the source. When someone is working their gift, they are fully alive, creative and powerful. But how do you discover your gift?
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Gil Bailie
Your gift leaves a trail for you to follow - a sort of personal treasure hunt. One set of clues are your strengths. What are your strengths? Activities that make you feel strong. There are several parts to this - you are good at them, you instinctively are drawn to them, you feel great when you re doing them, and you feel fulfilled after doing them. Of course, strengths are made up of talent, skills and knowledge. You may be able to isolate the talent component by remembering what you loved and were good at as a child (your parents/siblings might shed light on this). A wonderful treatment of talent is provided by the strengthsfinder programme by Donald Clifton and Marcus Buckingham (http://www.strengthsfinder.com and http://www.simplystrengths.com). Some people are fortunate enough to just know their calling in life. They can then build skills and knowledge quickly and easily.
When you have this block removed, and you start to bring your gift powerfully and pervasively into your life, the other blocks must begin to fall away and CSD dissolves. A world where everyone was working their gift would be very different from the one we live in today.
"If everyone cleaned in front of their houses, the whole world would be clean" - Mahatma Gandhi
Woke up this morning, feeling sluggish. Perhaps the weekend was more indulgent than strictly necessary :-). But perhaps I need to pay more attention to the energy/vitality basics - eat energising food, actually chew it properly, hydrate my body regularly, exercise etc. The morning feeling is my vitality barometer - leaping out of bed is where I prefer to be.
The last and ultimate block to flow and cause of CSD is on the spiritual level - withholding your gift. I believe that everyone is born with a unique gift (unique perhaps in the most subtle way) that enriches the world and contributes a piece to life's great puzzle. Spirituality often gets mistaken for religion. The two can be distinguished as follows:
Spirituality - a sense of connection to the universe and to a higher power
Religion - an organized system of worship that gives a framework to the relationship we have with the universe and with a higher power
The facet of spirituality that we are discussing here is the notion of our role in the universe, and our source of power. I believe that our gift is a key to the source. When someone is working their gift, they are fully alive, creative and powerful. But how do you discover your gift?
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Gil Bailie
Your gift leaves a trail for you to follow - a sort of personal treasure hunt. One set of clues are your strengths. What are your strengths? Activities that make you feel strong. There are several parts to this - you are good at them, you instinctively are drawn to them, you feel great when you re doing them, and you feel fulfilled after doing them. Of course, strengths are made up of talent, skills and knowledge. You may be able to isolate the talent component by remembering what you loved and were good at as a child (your parents/siblings might shed light on this). A wonderful treatment of talent is provided by the strengthsfinder programme by Donald Clifton and Marcus Buckingham (http://www.strengthsfinder.com and http://www.simplystrengths.com). Some people are fortunate enough to just know their calling in life. They can then build skills and knowledge quickly and easily.
When you have this block removed, and you start to bring your gift powerfully and pervasively into your life, the other blocks must begin to fall away and CSD dissolves. A world where everyone was working their gift would be very different from the one we live in today.
"If everyone cleaned in front of their houses, the whole world would be clean" - Mahatma Gandhi
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