Have you heard the parable about the turtle and the scorpion? Once a turtle and a scorpion found themselves stranded on the side of a rising river. The turtle was going to cross the river before the current became too strong. The scorpion asked whether he could ride the turtle’s back across the river. The turtle rightly answered NO! The turtle told the scorpion that he wasn’t crazy and wouldn’t give the scorpion a chance to sting him and kill him.
The scorpion said, “Look, why would I sting you? I will be on your back and if I sting you and you drown, I will drown with you. I don’t want to die so trust me I won’t sting you.” The turtle thought, yeah why would he sting me and kill himself so the turtle agreed and allow the scorpion to climb onto his back.
Halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the turtle on the soft part of his neck. The turtle turned around and asked why the scorpion would do that as the turtle was becoming paralyzed and no longer able to swim. The scorpion simply answered, “That’s what I do; I sting things.” The turtle then answered, “But now we will both die.” The scorpion simply said, “You knew I was a scorpion when you allowed me to climb onto your back”.
Obviously, you can draw many conclusions from this story. What I found interesting is that the turtle allowed calamity into his life by ignoring the obvious! We are in control of what we allow to rule our day – don’t be a turtle and ignore those signs and symptoms that will eventually lead you to negative outcomes. You are the master of your own destiny daily!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Takes a Village
What motivates people to either give you there best or something that falls short of the mark? Do some people wake up each day with a conscious thought just to “mess up”? Do people really do the best they can do even though their outcome leaves a lot to be desired? When you are in a leadership role, in your professional or personal life and encounter behavior or outcomes that are contrary to your expectations you probably go through this decision tree matrix. The frustrating proposition for managers is that even after you provide instruction, some folk still continue down a path that is less that desirable for them and for you. The question is what should you do?
Some management gurus suggest that folk do the best they can each day and that you should wait and “catch” them performing at optimal levels and then praise them. They also suggest that during the intervals that you have to wait for these folk to perform at optimal levels you should just provide consistent feedback. These management gurus have long ago fallen out of favor as companies found out that this process could run you into bankruptcy. More recent management gurus suggest that the critical factor is choosing the right people for the job and then investing in their success. This frame of reference would then pick experienced people from inexperienced people, thereby limiting the pool of folk who are provided opportunities.
Some management gurus suggest that strong leadership is the only thing needed for an organization to succeed. Well if that were true then ENRON would still be in business and GE would still be a world market leader.
My guess is that it takes a “village” not to only raise children but also a successful company which suggest that everyone in the village is working for the success of the village and not their own individual position in the village. That takes each of us examining our own motivations and work behaviors daily. This level of introspection is healthy for me and I suspect can be healthy for all that partake in the activity. Being part of a village is a great thing as villages both protect us and provide sustenance. We each then owe it to the village to be good citizens and provide sustenance back!
Some management gurus suggest that folk do the best they can each day and that you should wait and “catch” them performing at optimal levels and then praise them. They also suggest that during the intervals that you have to wait for these folk to perform at optimal levels you should just provide consistent feedback. These management gurus have long ago fallen out of favor as companies found out that this process could run you into bankruptcy. More recent management gurus suggest that the critical factor is choosing the right people for the job and then investing in their success. This frame of reference would then pick experienced people from inexperienced people, thereby limiting the pool of folk who are provided opportunities.
Some management gurus suggest that strong leadership is the only thing needed for an organization to succeed. Well if that were true then ENRON would still be in business and GE would still be a world market leader.
My guess is that it takes a “village” not to only raise children but also a successful company which suggest that everyone in the village is working for the success of the village and not their own individual position in the village. That takes each of us examining our own motivations and work behaviors daily. This level of introspection is healthy for me and I suspect can be healthy for all that partake in the activity. Being part of a village is a great thing as villages both protect us and provide sustenance. We each then owe it to the village to be good citizens and provide sustenance back!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Crabs in a Basket
Here’s a thought. If you have ever gone crabbing on a shore line you already know this lesson. If you have only one crab in a basket you need to keep the lid on your basket to prevent the crab from crawling out. When there are several crabs in that basket the lid is not necessary because the crabs will drag one another down so that none of them can get away.
A lot of unsuccessful people act the same way. They’ll do things to keep others from getting ahead. They spread false rumors, they are busier pointing out your failures as opposed to your successes, they will not allow you to stand on their shoulders because they are convinced that you will never help them when given a chance. Crabs truly do not understand that a RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS!
The good news is that if you observe someone trying to be a CRAB you don’t have to buy into their belief system. You can get out of the “basket” by refusing to be a CRAB. Be the COFFEE BEANS that you are and have a great day and great weekend.
A lot of unsuccessful people act the same way. They’ll do things to keep others from getting ahead. They spread false rumors, they are busier pointing out your failures as opposed to your successes, they will not allow you to stand on their shoulders because they are convinced that you will never help them when given a chance. Crabs truly do not understand that a RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS!
The good news is that if you observe someone trying to be a CRAB you don’t have to buy into their belief system. You can get out of the “basket” by refusing to be a CRAB. Be the COFFEE BEANS that you are and have a great day and great weekend.
Don't take kindness for weakness
Good Morning Team and What a Glorious Morning It Is! Remember that Winners have Intelligence, Integrity, Maturity, Consistency, Character, Persistence, HOPE, a Belief in CHANGE and CHEESE!
There is a trait that I have struggled to obtain my entire life – HUMILITY which is defined by Wikipedia as a quality or characteristic ascribed to a person who is considered to be humble. A humble person is generally thought to be unpretentious and modest: someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others.
Now I have also found that while people say they like unpretentious and modest people, modest and unpretentious people are not rewarded or seen as leaders. Just remember all of the statements made about Senator Clinton or Senator Obama when folk thought they were “too humble”. Most often, they are taken advantage of.
What is it about human character that we take advantage of humble people; why is humility taken as a weakness? There in lies the lesson of why the human race is destined for failure. If more of us could value the virtues of the humble person and more humble people were in positions of leadership, the world would be a better place! I often embrace the concept of “don’t take kindness for weakness” and find that people often mistake kindness as a form of weakness and begin to test the limits of your kindness. That is so disappointing isn’t it? Disappointment notwithstanding, I continue to struggle with my quest for humility because every now and then my kindness is returned and this simple act energizes me. I think it would also energize you if you tried it.
Have a GREAT and humble day.
There is a trait that I have struggled to obtain my entire life – HUMILITY which is defined by Wikipedia as a quality or characteristic ascribed to a person who is considered to be humble. A humble person is generally thought to be unpretentious and modest: someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others.
Now I have also found that while people say they like unpretentious and modest people, modest and unpretentious people are not rewarded or seen as leaders. Just remember all of the statements made about Senator Clinton or Senator Obama when folk thought they were “too humble”. Most often, they are taken advantage of.
What is it about human character that we take advantage of humble people; why is humility taken as a weakness? There in lies the lesson of why the human race is destined for failure. If more of us could value the virtues of the humble person and more humble people were in positions of leadership, the world would be a better place! I often embrace the concept of “don’t take kindness for weakness” and find that people often mistake kindness as a form of weakness and begin to test the limits of your kindness. That is so disappointing isn’t it? Disappointment notwithstanding, I continue to struggle with my quest for humility because every now and then my kindness is returned and this simple act energizes me. I think it would also energize you if you tried it.
Have a GREAT and humble day.
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