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"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."
Confucius
Reflect?
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:02 AM
I read a very interesting snippet in the Sunday Times over the weekend.
A reporter questionned an American soldier in the Green Zone about his thoughts on the massive suicide bombs that had killed dozens of people at a Shi'ite Shrine that morning.
"Yeah, I saw something about it on my office television," he replied. "But I didn't watch the full report. I was too busy working on my democracy project."
This reminded me of Good Samaratin study that was completed in Princeton around the early 1970's in the USA. Basically the drift of the study was that theology students were told to deliver a sermon on the topic of the Good Samaritan to a group across campus.
A sample of these students were told that they were late, and were advised to get to the destination asap. Along the way, the students passed by a person who was obviously in distress. Unknownst to them it was an actor playing the role of a victim and planted by the research team.
Ninety percent of the "late" students ignored the needs of the suffering person as they made their way towards the class.
In both circumstances, people were focused on their immediate goal which appeared completely detached from what should be their compass, their mission.
In organisations and indeed at a personal level, the challenge is to ensure that we are living and following our mission. Our goals/activities should not bring us in an opposite direction otherwise we have disconnect!
When you focus on your mission at a personal level, a meaningful, fulfilled adventure awaits.
When an organisation focuses on it's mission, one which reflects the dreams and values of all employees, it creates a culture in which creativity, internal and external customer loyalty flourishes.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:53 AM
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
John Quincy Adams, 6th US President (1825-29),
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 10:34 AM
Company X and Company Y decided to have a canoe race.
Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race. On the big day, Company X won by a mile.
Company Y, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was that Company X had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while their team had 8 people steering, and 1 person rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order, management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing!
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent
another loss, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens and a certificate of completion for the rower. There were discussions getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.
The next year, Company X won by two miles!
Humiliated, the management laid off the rower (a reduction in workforce) for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment.
The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was "out-sourced!"
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 10:36 AM
"I haven't seen a doctor in years, I don't believe in them!" said newly turned centenarian Judy Meade.
In a study of 800 centenarians and 700 of their siblings conducted by Boston University School of Medicine, the researchers found that neither education or socio-economic status played a significant role in living to 100.
Interesting!
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 03:21 PM
Regular visitors to my site will know that I believe that the universe works perfectly - what you give out, you get back in abundance.
On this basis, you can see why I believe that personal integrity is paramount.
For his obvious integrity, after leading his party into Government for the first time in Ireland and then resigning his post as promised; Trevor Sargent soon to be Ex- Leader of the Greens has to be honoured this week.
"This, my friends is the proudest day of my life," he said. "It is a day when courage won out over caution, when a hunger for change won out over the status quo."
Courage and integrity - two vital ingredients in the New Leadership cocktail.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:51 AM
What are your real truths?
When asked key questions, do you spin or tell the truth?
How do you know when you are truly successful and reaching your potential?
Find out the answers to these and more on our latest podcast.
As always, enjoy and share.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:06 AM
"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples, then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas."
George Bernard Shaw extolling the benefits of teamwork?
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 04:32 PM
Many people wondered what Richard Branson was coming into the very competitive airline market when in many people's minds he knew nothing about the area!
How many people have been dissuaded to follow their passion, to follow a knowing that they could do a much better job, provide a much superior service than what is available because "advisors" highlighted their lack of knowledge as an "obvious" barrier to entry.
Remember, knowledge always can provide you with enough reasons not to act.
Choose "Knowing" before knowledge!
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:01 AM
"Everybody here has the ability to do anything I do and much beyond. Some of you will and some of you won't. For those who won't, it will be because you get in your own way, not because the world doesn't allow you."
Warren Buffett addressing an audience at the University of Washington.
Do you accept that you are both the problem and the solution in the context of your professional growth?
Do you accept that blaming others for your current position won't extricate you from the mess in which you find yourself?
Remember when you point the finger at others, three fingers are pointing back at yourself.
Do you understand that your ego could potentially be one of your biggest obstacles to professional growth?
.....questions to ponder.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 09:47 AM
Approximately a third of self-employed U.S. entrepreneurs hold down a second job, according to the Small Business Administration. That compares with just 3 percent of the overall working population.
Deciding on whether or not to hold down a second job, is a key issue in the context of making your entrepreneurial dream a reality.
What you make on short term income, you lose on focus.
When you truly focus on any project, you open the door to attracting teachers, information and circumstances to help achieve your dream.
That is why I advocate either full immersion - yes, feel, floor your fears and immerse yourself in the new venture, or at minimum invest nine to five on your new idea, and a few hours part time in the evening, to pay some short terms bills.
Believe and watch your life transform before your very eyes.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 11:45 AM
"Success is falling nine times and getting up ten..!"
John Bon Jovi
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 11:19 AM
John Moriarity, Poet, Philosopher, Writer, Genius but more than all that - a fantastic human being. I learned with great sadness that John had passed away over the weekend, survived by his partner Eileen.
A few years back, I had the honour of spending a day and a night in his presence. After our time together, my admiration for him was unconditional - John was truly a man that cared for others, and the ground on which he stood.
About a year ago, I gave him a ring just to touch base, and see how things were. I was unaware of his illness at that time. Before I hung up, John thanked me for the phonecall - but it wasnt just an ordinary thank you; it wasn't just the normal conclusion to our usual stimulating conversations; it was a heart filled thanks, that moved me emotionally.
John was without doubt a beautiful person. I had been blessed by the privilege of sharing time with him in the past.
John, may you dance in the heavens, and enjoy your just rewards.
Thank You John.
Just found the following quote from John, from a recent interview with his local paper:
“I certainly believe that death isn’t the end. It’s a terminal lounge and the adventure goes on,” he said. “I will lose my physical body but I can construct a mental body around me, to continue in the great moral and spiritual adventure of the hereafter.”
Posted by Kevin Kelly at 04:16 PM