Stephen J. Gould said-
"I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweat shops."
What other areas are genius and talent being wasted? The weight of this comment is huge when you think about broken systems like education, foster care and adoption. Foster care and adoption are only half broken, along with our court system. How many migrant farm workers today have ideas but no access to move them?
Access to me is easy, but for a migrant farm worker it's most likely out of reach.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
The Imagineering Way
In this great book from the staff at Disney, Imagineer Anne Tryba says, "When you create, you are essentially reinventing who you are and what you are believe yourself capable of accomplishing. There is a kind of courage that has to be mustered before embarking on any creative endeavor, no matter how large or small."
We as humans have an innate need to create. When those creative needs are stifled, we are off balance and searching for something that is inside us.
We as humans have an innate need to create. When those creative needs are stifled, we are off balance and searching for something that is inside us.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Traditions
It's interesting to think about what we do out of tradition:
Freud said "come back next week" and since then, therapy has been once a week meeting.
180 days of school, summer break. Done out of necessity generations ago and followed today when it is a non-competitive model.
8 hour work day that is inefficient, not challenging and often does not meet the needs of the worker or the industry the worker serves.
Many of these models are broken, and in the connection generation many broken models are getting fixed.
What do we do in our business, home and family and personal lives out of tradition? "Because that's how we've always done it."
Freud said "come back next week" and since then, therapy has been once a week meeting.
180 days of school, summer break. Done out of necessity generations ago and followed today when it is a non-competitive model.
8 hour work day that is inefficient, not challenging and often does not meet the needs of the worker or the industry the worker serves.
Many of these models are broken, and in the connection generation many broken models are getting fixed.
What do we do in our business, home and family and personal lives out of tradition? "Because that's how we've always done it."
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Forward Thinkers
Our brains evolved from front to back. "The back is the wanting part, the front is the restraint part. And they are both with us all the time." Roy Baumeister said.
What if we can choose which part of our brain to use? Can we choose to be forward thinkers? This phrase usually applies to leaders or mentors, but what if it's as simple as intentionally deciding to use that part of our brain? The wanting part is what drives consumption and gratification. Our culture, society and world could use more restraint.
Do an experiment for a moment. Close your eyes and meditate a few seconds. Can you identify where your thoughts are? Are your neck and shoulder muscles tight? Where are your eyes looking? Is your forehead crinkled up or smooth? Can you change those muscles and move your thoughts to the font part of your brain?
More to come as I get my questions answered.
What if we can choose which part of our brain to use? Can we choose to be forward thinkers? This phrase usually applies to leaders or mentors, but what if it's as simple as intentionally deciding to use that part of our brain? The wanting part is what drives consumption and gratification. Our culture, society and world could use more restraint.
Do an experiment for a moment. Close your eyes and meditate a few seconds. Can you identify where your thoughts are? Are your neck and shoulder muscles tight? Where are your eyes looking? Is your forehead crinkled up or smooth? Can you change those muscles and move your thoughts to the font part of your brain?
More to come as I get my questions answered.
Friday, March 9, 2012
It's too easy
What if an apple a day IS really all it takes to keep the doctor away?! I heard Jim Rohn ask this question today on one of his seminar cassettes.
That would be too easy, we'd tell ourselves. We look for the big solution, when often the small steps that lead to the big solution are under our nose. We look for the miracle, the breakthrough, the new science or technology.
Often all we need to do is listen to ourselves, our muse and the collected wisdom of those who have gone before us and those experts who are teaching us today.
That would be too easy, we'd tell ourselves. We look for the big solution, when often the small steps that lead to the big solution are under our nose. We look for the miracle, the breakthrough, the new science or technology.
Often all we need to do is listen to ourselves, our muse and the collected wisdom of those who have gone before us and those experts who are teaching us today.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Quiet
Today the caravan led me to the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.
The book came last night and I've only just started it, but from the very beginning it is valuable.
I have always thought of myself as an introvert, but I was always in conflict with myself over the way I need to be as a husband and father and teacher and coach versus the way I think I am. I am learning that it's OK to be quiet and reflective.
I live in my head and I always thought that was a negative thing. I need more introspection about my place in a fast, talkative world. I am learning to be OK with myself as I learn who I am.
The book came last night and I've only just started it, but from the very beginning it is valuable.
I have always thought of myself as an introvert, but I was always in conflict with myself over the way I need to be as a husband and father and teacher and coach versus the way I think I am. I am learning that it's OK to be quiet and reflective.
I live in my head and I always thought that was a negative thing. I need more introspection about my place in a fast, talkative world. I am learning to be OK with myself as I learn who I am.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Trade Convenience for Permanence
I'll take permanence over convenience any day. Cassettes from my youth, 8 tracks and vinyl records I've collected as a teenager are permanent. Even if it means bulk. The front seat, back seat and trunk of my car are usually filled with CD's and books.
The bulk is both the problem and the solution.
I know I could download all of those books and CD's to my iPad or Kindle, but what am I losing in those few seconds it takes Amazon's Whispernet to download?
I am losing my connection to others. I lose an artifact from my history. I lose a story. Or I lose the opportunity to create a story and add a little to my history.
The bulk is both the problem and the solution.
I know I could download all of those books and CD's to my iPad or Kindle, but what am I losing in those few seconds it takes Amazon's Whispernet to download?
I am losing my connection to others. I lose an artifact from my history. I lose a story. Or I lose the opportunity to create a story and add a little to my history.
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