I am preparing a presentation on Mentoring different generations. Although I dislike the “generalization” of individuals through generations-theory, I am trying to find some interesting materials.
Here is a video explaining the different generations:
As the year seems to wind down, we often want to label it as a “bad year,” or a “hard year”. But labels are dangerous. Many things happen in a year. So rather than labelling, it is possible to look for themes. If it was difficult, what was difficult, and why was it difficult – but much more than that, how are we going to make it easier next time around.
We are also conditioned to mention the challenges and tribulations of the year – find three or four great themes – what was fantastic about this year, what has impressed you, what made you smile… these are the true treasures of the year. Like most treasures, they may be hard to find – but they surprise us. We need them. Find them, make them, love them – Treasure them!
I always enjoy Ken Robinson…Watch this video and have fun with me! It’s just so crucial to realize what our kids need and why ADHD should be seen for what it is…
Sometimes, at the end of a business day, we forget that it’s not the end of the day. It’s actually the beginning of another day. So often we forget that our families have been waiting for us to come home and just be ourselves – not tv watchers or paper-readers – just ourselves. Dads an Moms, husbands and wives, friends… who care, enjoy and have fun with our families.
Sometimes we forget to leave the work at work and to be home when we are home…
Sometimes is OK, but when sometimes becomes most times, that’s when we should worry. And it happens faster and more often than we think…
Sometimes.
Over the past weekend, I read two books by Andy Andrews. The Heart-mender and The Noticer. But first, there is a story behind the story. I had ordered one of the books a while ago, and was phoned last week by CUM books in Bloemfontein. The lady who called told me that the book had arrived. But then, she went one step further.
“I would recommend that you come in to collect it on Saturday, as we then have a 25% discount on all our books.” What a wonderful thing. She went beyond her duty in terms of thinking what the customer needed. She really wanted me to benefit from the sale/special.
Whenever a shop has a “sale/special” it should be to the benefit of the customer. Too often so-called “specials” are NOT special. One of the local coffee-shops has a breakfast special, but when you read the fine print, you see that when you buy the special, the coffee is not included, which means it is not actually a special. Merely clever wordplay (or menuplay).
My experience with CUM was wonderful, here was someone who used the sale/special to win a customer’s loyalty. Is that not what specials are for?
Well, back to the books – both were pleasant to read, and the Heart-Mender is essentially about the power of forgiveness. One of those wonderful gifts which we can give ourselves, when we think we give to others - that’s probably why it contains the word GIVE…
I was reading “The Inner game of Work,” and “The Inner game of Tennis” again this week. What really interesting concepts. In essence we are often our own worst enemy when it comes to focus. You see, we often want to control, instruct and advise our “natural self” on how things should be done. We forget (or simply do not believe) that we have the power to get into “the zone” where we can utilize our strengths, tap into our natural energy resources and, yes, do incredible thing.
Remember: Pushing your comfort zone does not mean you have to go into a “discomfort zone.” You have to go into THE ZONE! The area where your mind meets reality and the natural flow of passion, energy and effort leads to creating great things.
Sometimes doing is more powerful than thinking… (especially if you’ve spend some time thinking, I think 
)
There are three kinds of time, the clever people say…
Time in which you do planning.
Time in which you do what you planned.
Time in which you do what you haven’t planned.
Here is the scary part: If you never take time to plan, you will always be in crisis-management mode…doing the unplanned.
So when last did you spend some time planning?
If you feel like you never have time, make time…by taking time (to plan)!
Yesterday, Juan Lewis and I spent some time talking about the power of strategy. So often we do things that are not part of a strategy. If there is no strategy most of the things we do (even if they seem to be good) are actually “interferences,” but because there is no strategy, they seem to be meaningful.
Once we know why we do what we do, we are able to focus. Focus means that you get rid of unnecessary interferences. When we have strategy, we know which actions are leading to what we want to achieve and which are merely time consuming. Denis Waitly says one should not start a day/week or month before you have finished it. Only if you have defined your vision can you achieve it.
Beware of actions which are not linked to strategy – interferences often wear the mask of meaningfulness.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of presenting to the FNB managers in our region. Their conference was taking place at Black Mountain Resort. The presentation was divided into three parts.
The first was based on Seth Godin’s book, The Dip, and it was just fun re-reading the book in preparation. In essence, we all go through dips in life, but if the dips are the right ones, they make a tremendous difference, because they seperate us from the competition (or others who are not willing to go through dips).
It’s not easy going through dips, but they do make a difference in our lives. Randy Pausch said it so well in “The last lecture.” There is a reason why there is a wall between our childhood dreams, and achieving them…
For those of you who have never seen Randy’s video, have a look at the video below:
“>
In the second part of my presentation, I looked at Dan Pink’s book: “A Whole New Mind,” and specifically at the trends Pink identifies for the future: Design, Storytelling, Symphony, Fun, Significance and Empathy. The really interesting thing is that the future is NOW, and all those elements are already at work in the workplace, on many levels and in many ways.
By the way, Pink’s ideas on human motivation are refreshing, as is this little video about it. Fun stuff – Enjoy!
In the last part of my presentation, we dicussed the attitude that’s needed to go through dips as well as handle the future. And who better to look at than Leonardo da Vinci and the wonderful book by Michael Gelb on how to think like Leonardo. In essence, it’s all about being open to learning, savouring experiences, living with paradoxes, understanding systems thinking and making use of both left and right brain… the things that great Renaissance people do… Here is a little video Gelb did on Leonardo’s birthday. Enjoy!
I was reading Michael Gelb’s book again. All about “Thinking like Da Vinci.” And yes, is it not clear that we’re facing a new rennaisance (almost daily it seems). And when we try to stay ahead by learning, growing and trying – we get tired, burnt-out, depressed…
Maybe it’s not about keeping up?
Maybe it’s about savouring the experience, opening up to new ways of learning, understanding that we might never understand the paradoxes – and it doesn’t really matter…maybe it’s about finding the true artists within us? Yep, maybe it’s time we don’t try so hard, and find the Da Vincis that reside within us.
Maybe it’s easier than we think?
Maybe it isn’t?
