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"When I was young, I was a revolutionary; and my prayer was 'Lord, give me the energy to change this world.'
As I approached middle age, without having changed anyone; my prayer changed to 'Lord, give me the grace to change all those I come in contact with - family, friends and neighbours.'
Now that I am old, knowing that my days are numbered my prayer has changed again to 'Lord, give me the grace to change myself.'"
The truths of a wise old monk - a lesson that has relevance to us all.
Focus on what is within your control - your reactions, your attitude; and watch your new energy weave a new type of magic on all who cross your path.
Thanks Kathleen for sharing the story.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 02:11 PM
Mirroring language used in the American Presidential Election Campaign a few years back, every time I think of different college and schools programme, the words "Its not the grades stupid" come to mind!
What am I talking about?
Well in the context of developing entrepreneurs via MBA's, schools etc, the focus should be on developing their interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences. Without doubt the ability to relate to others is the key skill; and self motivation, determination, perspiration are the attributes that will help any person develop a successful venture.
Consequently I have been a bit surprised that some of the great schools around the world are just getting around, after a serious curriculum rethink, to focusing on these in their MBA programmes.
At the University of Chicago according to Fortune magazine, the only course that every MBA candidate must take is a communications and team building course.
Common Sense is now the new and forgotten science.
Lets see it put centre stage on Primary, Secondary and College courses - it facilitates real growth in people.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:52 AM
The challenge in life - learning from everybody, even the most annoying of teachers.
"I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am grateful to these teachers."
Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese Philosopher
Author of my favourite book of all time, "The Prophet."
What would yours be?
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:12 AM
Find them - identification is key, the problem is never solving it is seeing!
Face them
Floor them
The sense of exhilaration that follows from you facing and flooring your fears is indescribable. Also your sense of lightness - it is like a giant weight has been taken off your shoulders.
I have always had a fear of heights - the only way I was able to tame them, was facing them full on. So when I went to the adventure centre, my number one goal was to conquer the high ropes. What I lost in bodily fluids as I executed the course, I gained in sense of achievement.
When I project managed the building of my house recently, walking up and down ladders was no longer a big drama!
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 03:41 PM
Lacking motivation?
Fast forward your life - unfortunately you pass away today! However you are in the unique position of being able to write your own graveside oration.
Write down how you feel about your life?
Had you tapped into your potential in all aspects of your life?
Had you experienced magic, meaning, contribution and fulfilment in your life?
Any "what if's" stick in your throat?
Any unfinished business - detail all!
Ok so rewind and back to living!
Commit to pursuing your passion, and living not with total abandon, but as if you had 72 hours to live. You would find that you would engage more in value driven activities, you would live more in the now, and every step of the journey called life would be cherished.
Enjoy the trip with your new eyes!
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 10:09 PM
City & Guilds annual work happiness index puts hairdressers in first place followed by beauty therapists in second place while early years and childcare workers come in third. Plumbers, electricians and construction workers were also happy campers.
Interestingly only two of the top ten would be considered as better-paid jobs.
C&G director general Chris Humphries said: "When asked to rate their workplace in terms of happiness, almost a third of people earning in the £10-£15k bracket gave their job a ten out of ten. Compare that to workers in the £40-£45k income bracket, where less than five per cent gave their workplace a ten.
You can't put a price on a doing a job you love.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 02:27 PM
From buying a car, to building a house, to focusing on an important decision - have you noticed that you appear to attract more teachers.....how the number of "coincidences" start to increase......how the flow of relevant information increases geometrically?
Thats the power of focus - add positive intent, and watch your life transform before your eyes.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 10:18 AM
A report prepared by Cardiff University and published in the Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health journal found that losing reduced happiness but surprisingly that winning did not increase it.
The researchers quizzed 197 male rugby supporters, 111 supporters as they entered a stadium and 86 as they left. People were asked about their planned drinking, feelings of happiness and tendency towards aggression.
"The results are consistent with events around the world which have seen the fans of winning teams run riot after the match. A possible explanation could be that if a supporter's team wins or draws, he can get so caught up in the match that he loses sight of the future and this loss of perspective leads to increased aggression," said lead researcher Simon Moore.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:37 AM
As a diehard Liverpool Supporter the following does not come easy!
One has to find some aspects of Jose Mourinho's Leadership style interesting:
"Sometimes I provoke them. I purposely try and make them fail so they know they can improve. Other times, I change the last two sessions of the week and make them easy. That builds self confidence ahead of the match."
Source News of the World April 01.
Now if he could only learn from the real Special one Rafa Benetez the gift of humility.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 02:05 PM
Write it!
Take out an A4 Sheet and print in big letters your dream in the following format:
Positive, Present Tense and Personal – as if you have achieved the dream.
For example, when I set the goal of writing a Best Selling Book with only a “D” in English in my Leaving Cert and Junior Cert I wrote:
“I am a Best Selling Author” on two sheets of paper. One was placed at eye level over my workspace and the other on the back of my door.
On another two pages, I wrote “manuscript finished by May 21” – these were also placed over workspace and on door.
You can also write your goal on the back of a business card and review regularly.
Paint it.
You don’t have to be artistically inclined for this one - paint your goal as a fait accompli.
Produce a movie!
Close your eyes and see yourself living the dream.
See it in vivid detail. Hear the sounds associated with achieving your dreams. Create those positive feelings associated with living the dream.
The more vivid you can see it, hear it and feel it, the closer you are to bringing yourself to reality.
Play movie just before you go to sleep at night, or before you fully awake in the morning or during relaxation periods.
And don’t worry, the worst possible outcome from engaging in life, from crossing that bridge from inaction to action, is that you end up in a place you describe and recognize as better than your starting point.
Want more ideas?
One day Open Seminar on April 18th, Dublin – “Pure Presence.”
For more details click here.
New motivational Cd – “Setting, getting and forgetting Goals.
For soundbyte here.
Enjoy!
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:04 AM