Right now, I’m in Qatar in the Middle East. This is my second time visiting the country for work and again, I am struck with one thought. People are people.
My colleagues and I are working with executives for a large company here, and what is interesting is that the executives suffer from the same challenges that people experience in Canada or the US or Europe or Africa or the Caribbean… okay you get the point.
This is a fundamental truth that I believe in and every time it is reinforced for me, I wonder how much better we all would be if we could just remember that truth all the time. Whether that other person is someone across the globe, or across the table. Whether they are you client or your spouse. Your friends or your potential friends. This ideas helps to bind us together as one or to put it into one word…
When someone is talking about good fortune, do you think about it as being big or small? No. Good fortune does not come in a size. In fact, it can’t be “Super-Sized”. It’s just Good Fortune.
Those who are the most fortunate actually search it out. And, they are looking for it anywhere and everywhere. In the small cracks and large crevasses of their life, they are looking for it wherever they can. This is an important truth. Those who are the most determined to search out good fortune will also be the ones who find it the most, in whatever format they find it in.
It’s a refreshing thought that good fortune doesn’t come in a particular size, colour, type, look, etc. It is just what it is… Good Fortune.
Was listening to the radio today and heard an interesting program on why we need repetition in our lives. Much of the program revolved around stories which made a lot of sense to me. As I’ve said in the past, I think that we are a sum of our stories. And, the stories that we tell are those that we choose to define ourselves by. Aristotle said it better when he said that we are “that which we choose to consistently repeat”… or something along those lines. It’s true. If you think about the stories that you tell over and over. If you think about the stories that you like to retell about your past, and those that you go out and relive… that’s you.
In all that we repeat and the stories that we tell and live, that is who we are. Are you the serious intellectual story, the dramatic story, the sublime novel… perhaps the comic book? Check inside the covers. You might be surprised at what you discover. And, I guarantee that it’s a really great story!
One of my sons is playing hockey. This comes as no surprise since he is, as many younger boys and girls in Canada are, passionate about the sport. This is his second year and he is still loving it. He seems to be quite competitive (which perhaps isn’t a huge surprise) and certainly enjoys being involved in getting goals.
Last year, he spent basically the whole year playing a forward position which allowed him to be more involved in “goal getting.” This year, however, he’s been asked to play defense as well from time to time. In the locker room the other night, one of the coaches came up to him and asked how he was doing and what he thought of playing defense. His response was non-committal. He wasn’t excited or disappointed. The coach’s response was this, “Well, you’ve got to learn to play all positions.”
What a great response but also what a great comment about our personal and professional lives as well. We do have to learn to play all “positions”. We need to have an understanding of what it takes to be in a different position. It helps us work as a team better. It helps understand what the other person needs and how they can help us.
Sport can teach us a lot about life, business and excellence. And, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a Novice or an Old-Timer.
Sometimes research is interesting. Sometimes it’s curious. But, sometimes it’s just plain important…. and awesome. So, what’s got me all excited? Research into HGH or Human Growth Hormone. This is a popular doping drug used by athletes to get a performance boost. As you can guess, anytime the term “performance boost” comes up, I’m interested, but not normally when it has to do with drugs or doping drugs. So, what is the research?
The short story is that the World Doping Agency did a double blind study involving HGH. The participants were asked to guess whether they believed they were getting HGH or a placebo. Those that guessed correctly that they were getting a placebo did not improve in their performance. Those who guessed that they were getting HGH and were in fact getting a placebo actually improved. What this says and why I’m so interested is that it shows the power of one’s mindset to affect one’s performance.
And, what’s even more interesting is that according to a review in the Annals of Internal Medicine, it looks like HGH does increase lean muscle mass but does not lead to athletic performance.
So, the big learning point here is how “dope” might seem to be a great performance improver but in reality it’s all locked up inside your head and your beliefs.
That’s an important point that everyone can take away. Not just athletes.
Found some interesting notes of mine that must have been sitting around for a couple of years. They were only a few short lines on a small piece of paper but they spoke a truth that can help anyone who doesn’t know how to do something. In fact, the notes are so basic that they could be considered obvious. And, yet, I still think they are worth repeating…
Modelling — If you don’t know how to do something, ask someone who does and go out and model that.
It’s such a great truth and reminds me of another truth that I’ve heard a few times and have repeated here.
If you truly want to succeed in business (or anything for that matter), then consider what others are unwilling to do and do that.
Once we know the above, then all that’s left is to have the courage to go out and do it.
I got a mass email today, and guess what… it was actually not a myth, hoax, joke, spam, or phishing email. It was a true story that was staged by The Washington Post. It’s a great story about perceptions. Take a moment to read and then reflect on what this means for you. The following is the YouTube video, the email I received and the link to the Washington Post article:
THE EMAIL:
“Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning. A man with a violin plays six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people passed through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made… what else are we missing?”
I was listening to an “expert” in the personal performance field talk about habits the other day. It was interesting. Didn’t agree with all that she had to say but it did get me thinking about habits some more.
I’ve thought about and researched this area about as much as anyone, I guess. And, I’ve basically come to the conclusion that there is a <SNAP> when a habit breaks. Literally, a breaking point. A time when you no longer can keep up the old manner or habit. For some that SNAP is loud, almost deafening but often it’s just a normal snap that can easily get missed. What’s interesting about this is not the point at which the SNAP takes place but what lead up to the SNAP. What motivated that person to change behaviours? How did it get to a point where that person “just couldn’t take it anymore”. That’s where the learning is and where that person can better understand what their true motivation was for the change.
And, if you’re looking to change a habit, it’s also good to approach it from the standpoint of, “what will it take to make this break?” And, observing one’s SNAP’s in life can help us understand how we can created additional habit changes.
Okay, I just read about something that I find fascinating. I have read research on altruistic behaviour before and the research – to my memory – basically had shown that people will exhibit altruistic behaviour in many circumstances when they had no reason to. But no one knew why!
Let’s flash forward to some research on the 7 Deadly Sins. The research was largely based on fMRI research by several groups looking at one or more of the 7 Deadly Sins. There was some interesting stuff but the most interesting thing had to do not with the Sins but to Virtue.
One researcher has found altruistic behaviour actually beats out sin in at least one area — neuro feedback. When someone does something altruistic it sends the reward-related brain areas and systems into quite a fervor. Even more than when you’re doing something selfish or related to self-interested gain.
Looks like being the good guy wins out in the end. Nice guys finish first or at least more neurologically rewarded.
Speaking of Impact is the magazine for professional speaking, events and conferences in Canada. It is published every quarter and has a lot of really great content. But, things have just gotten better. SOI, as it is known, is now online with additional content, blogging and video blogging. If you are a professional speaker, work in the events industry or just want to get some great content you need to check it out.
I continue to be amazed at the power of the story. I was walking along a shopping mall recently and walked past a couple of “old timers”. You know the scene. They were holding court with each other on a bench, oblivious and completely aware of those people around them. And, what were they doing? They were telling stories of how things were and how they had made the right decision long ago at an important junction in their lives.
Last night, while perusing what was on TV, I realised how many reality shows there still are. Why? Because, we all love a good story. We love the story of the hero, the underdog, the opponents, the good and the evil. And, we get all of that from these shows. We get people who are often larger than life living out a “play” where we get to see a very human story act itself out.
Why are these stories so important for the old timers and the reality TV stars? Because we are essentially defined by the collection of our own stories. Both people define their self-worth in what they’ve done and what they’re planning on doing.
This is not going to come as a surprise to anyone, especially those who read my blog…. but, you can learn a lot from kids if you choose to.
I had a belief reinforced recently when I watched my kids after what had been a couple of long days. We had been packing the days a fair bit and needed to have a couple of later nights. What did this mean? Our boys were starting to get fatigued. Not fall on your face tired, just grumpy tired.
Fatigue causes performance loss. And, the worst kind is not the kind of tired where you go to work completely worn out. I’m talking about just a little tired. It can be insiduous. You don’t see how your performance changes. Or, the kind of decisions you make… or don’t make. You don’t see the subtle little changes that happen to your manner and your manners. People around you don’t know quite what it is but they don’t enjoy your company as much.
It’s very much like kids, except that they are more external and overt about it. They may get grumpy, stamp their feet, cry or even get very quiet… it’s all the same thing. They are telling us that they need more rest… and likely that we need more rest too.
I’m seeing it everywhere. Things that people shouldn’t be talking about. This is a time of economic uncertainty. People are experiencing financial pressure, job loss or perhaps a job change. Many may be experiencing a lack of direction for career, professional or personal life; others are facing an unknown future or disillusionment with their career or industry. So, this is a time when many people really see very little that is positive.
But, I’m seeing opportunity everywhere. Many of my colleagues are having their best year ever. Many colleagues who have had challenges have also created opportunities elsewhere and are moving forward with strength. Throughout the beginning of this year, so much conversation was centered around the uncertainty in the global economy, a global recession, depression or worse. Very few people were talking about opportunity.
For me, truthfully, I was ignoring most of the conversation that was going on. And, as the year goes on, I’m hearing from a lot of people who have been choosing to not participate in the negative “reality”. It’s exciting. People are realizing that now is a major time of opportunity. Whether it be corporate, professional, or personal opportunities… they are out there.
The other thing that I’m hearing a lot about is…. Renewal. People are seeing this as a good time for renewal whether for organizations or individuals. People are getting ready for new directions, new strategies, and new futures. Now may be a time of uncertainty, but it is also an amazing time for opportunity and renewal.
Just attended a convention for my profession – professional speaking. It’s a convention in the United States that I go to each year and it brings together a lot of my colleagues — 1500-2000 of us. One message that I kept hearing over and over was that the people there were going to the convention for many reasons but that for many the most important was the relationships. In fact, many said that they got as much learning from their conversations as they did from the various plenary and breakout sessions. Some were there solely for the learning and connecting that happened outside of the plenary and breakout sessions.
For many of you, this may not be a surprise, and certainly it wasn’t for me as I feel that way too. It was, however, a nice reaffirmation that learning comes in many forms and that you don’t just have to learn from books, a lecture or other more traditional ways of learning. It also reminded me that one of ways that we learn the best is when we are in a state of play! It is easy to forget that a lot of our most important learning is done before the age of 6 and certainly before the age of 12 while we are playing. And, if we were to look back at our high school and university or college days, we would agree that the professors and teachers that made the course material engaging, were the very best. These professors tended to be the ones who got the teaching awards, and, they get the simple truth that the best learning is play.
Recently, I’ve been reminded of something… how the words that we use, define who we are. They define our spirit. They define our perspective. They define our nature. And, I believe that we have the ability to change the words that we use, and thus, change who we are.
The words that we use informs the person listening to us of who we are, and, it informs us of who we are too. It reinforces thought patterns that we have around our perception of ourselves.
Let me give a couple of examples that I’ve noticed recently. A colleague of mine uses the term “committed” in conversation when he’s telling you what he is going to be doing over the next while. I think that this is great for a number of reasons. He is creating external commitment by telling other people like myself what he is going to be doing and accomplishing over the next short timeframe. This is so important as those of you who have been to my programs know. But, he is also reinforcing the external commitment by saying, “I am committed to doing……. ” out loud. I respect this deeply as it defines who he is.
Another example is my own mother. She will often use the word “stretch”. She will use it in the context of a phrase like, “Oh, that’s so good. That will certainly stretch you.” She likes to see when people are being stretched and sees the value in us being challenged. Looking back on her career, much of what she did was being “stretched”. The work that she did challenged her in many ways, but she felt it was important, important that she be “stretched” and that she know she could handle the challenge. That defines part of who she is.
So, I plan on Observing [from The Performance Shift Model] the words that I use over the next while. It will be interesting to see how I define myself. I hope you will join me. Let me know what you discover.
It’s a wonderful book for people who tell stories. The main kind of story that Grady Jim focuses on is the Hero’s Journey. In my opinion, this type of story is the most important and common story that we have as humans. We see this story everywhere.
In the hero’s journey, we see a person who leaves his or her normal situation, faces a challenge, and then returns a new person to be welcomed back to their world and people. We even see this story in the recent loss of Michael Jackson. Love him or not, he had and created many stories and journeys. And, these stories appealed to many people. People were drawn to more than just his music, they were drawn to the story of a young boy who left the ordinary world of youth and went off to conquer the entertainment industry. And, did.
Whether it be books, television, the newspaper, the radio, music, your story telling aunt, or your own observations each day, there are stories that surround you daily. They are the way that we communicate — the way that we define ourselves. They are an intimate part of society, of our humanity, and what makes us human.
Pay attention to your stories and the stories that support you.
Okay, I love science and research. It has its time and place. But, this example is both fascinating, wierd and yet very entertaining.
Scientists stumbled across an interesting scientific question on YouTube and then they proceeded to study it on Youtube. This is not a joke and has provided some very interesting results, but like I said, at the same time it is very entertaining.
Watch the video and then follow the link below to discover what the scientists found.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, can benefit from watching this video. If you are in leadership (and everyone is — executive, parent, coach, teacher, manager, student, everyone) then you should be able to pick out a “truth” in this video that will apply to you.
Coach Carroll is interviewed by CBSNewsOnline and I think they capture the essence of him very well. Pete Carroll is making a difference with philosophies that can be used in more than just the sports arena.
Watch it and then let me know what was the truth that you uncovered.
My wife and I went to dinner with friends a couple of days ago. This couple is in their 70’s and are just incredible. Why? They have done a ton of things in their lives and continue to do so. The fellow has been an investment banker, a minister, a president of a number of companies, a writer, a mediator, a university faculty member, as well as a myriad of other things that I’ve forgotten. And, of course, he has also carried on his roles as son, husband, father, volunteer, leader, etc. etc.
So, why am I so drawn to this fellow? Because he is basically a Renaissance Man. He has skills, talents and experiences in so many different areas. And, that is the kind of person who I find very interesting. Is that because I aspire to be the same? Maybe. But, most importantly it is because wide knowledge and the “big picture” are things that I’m innately wired for. And, I know this because I’ve done the inventory.
As I promote in my work, it is so important to take inventory of yourself and your leadership, your talents, your strengths. With this knowledge (which very few people actually take the time to do), you will increase your ability to perform at a simply world class level.
So, if you had to fill in the blanks, what would you put in?
I am The __________ [Man / Woman / Guy / Girl / Person]
I was involved in supporting people this weekend who were walking 60 km (36 miles) to raise money for a charity. There were hundreds of people and we (my 3 boys and I) were moving around the route with them cheering them on and playing upbeat music for them as they passed. It was a great experience for me and for my boys. And, apparently from the feedback that we got, the participants really loved it as well.
Now I knew that what we were going to do was going to be a good thing but I never thought about why it affected them so positively until now. I think the reason that they responded to our cheering and more importantly the music was for a few reasons. First, the music that we played during the route was upbeat, positive and encouraging. It elicited an emotional response which was what they needed to keep going with energy and power. Another reason that they appreciate our support was that we were there for them. We tried to support them individually so that they knew that we understood what it was that they were going through. And, finally, the last reason was related to the music that we played for them as they went up the last hill at the end.
We played the Theme from Rocky. You know, the theme that just screams…. You Are A Champion! Nowhere in the lyrics does it say that but that’s what everyone associates with it. It makes everyone feel like they are the hero. And, you know what, they were. On that day, at that hour, they were the heroes of the day and they deserved our attention and our admiration. Many of them had probably not ever been the hero of their story before.
I do hope that they all are the heroes of the story again soon. These people who came in all shapes and sizes really did an amazing thing by raising 2.1 million dollars, and most importantly by achieving a Personal Victory!
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Posted by mindscape 
Posted by mindscape 
