Friday Reflections

What Do You See?

POINT TO PONDER

If the doors to perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. 

                                - William Blake

STORY LINE by Rajiv Shah

I'm currently reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven J. Covey. The early chapters outline a test that was conducted involving the picture below that I found interesting:

The chosen subjects were asked what they saw. Half argued that they saw an old woman in her last days. Asked if they saw anything else, their response was overwhelming "no."

Much in the same way the other half of the group concluded that they saw a beautiful young lady, possibly a cabaret performer in the prime of her life. Asked again if they could see anything besides the young lady, their response was also a resolute "no." 

Both sides were sure as to what they saw in the picture and believed there was nothing else to the drawing. Which group was right? 

In fact, if you look closely, both groups are correct. An old woman and young lady both do exist in the same image. 

REFLECTION

How many times do we look at a problem or situation in life and accept our view as the only one? Perhaps there is often more than one answer? And maybe we can find that there is more than one point of view that is correct. 

What's Your Passion?

POINT TO PONDER

The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

                                    - Robert Byrne        

 

REFLECTION by Rajiv Shah

So how does one discover their passion? How do you pursue it if you find it? These questions seem to come up a lot between my friends, coworkers, and from readers here on Friday Reflections. I've compiled a list taken from interviews, speeches, and conversations with people pursuing their own passions. 

• Acknowledge. Admit to yourself if you are on a path that you are happy/content with. Recognize if you have no clue what you are happy doing (it opens up the possibility to find out). You also might find that you are perfectly happy in your current situation and just needed a little reminder. So if you are currently happy/content, admit it. If you are unhappy and want something different, admit that. And if you have no clue, amen, and admit that too. After all, accepting and admitting is not only reserved for A.A. 
• Fight inertia. It seems there are all sorts of reasons not to do something. Find the one thing that tells you yes. You may not even know where that path leads but take the first steps. Now, this does not mean that you need to quit your job, make a major life change right away or throw caution to the wind. All this means is get off your butt and do something you enjoy - the emails can wait. Unless of course, composing emails happen to be your passion. In that case, bang away at that keyboard.
• Explore. Take that class you've been interested in. Try something new. Dig a little deeper with the interests you already have. Often just trying something will lead to new discoveries. But in order to do that you need to...
• ...Start saying yes. "No" shuts you off from possibilities. Saying yes allows you to see what's possible. "Yes" is about discovery. Discover or rediscover the things you love.
• Go for broke. What you love is something you would do for no money. In some cases, you'd even pay to do it because the act of doing is the payment itself. You don't have to quit your job to do this. There's a mistaken assumption that you can only do one or the other. But it's not about exclusion but enriching what you already have, whether that comes through your family, food, sports, art, science, or competitive dog grooming. 
• Let go of shame... You are good enough to pursue your passion. Your passion is worthy if you believe in it. Others may think it's silly, irresponsible, or a few might even find it interesting. But it's not their passion, it's yours. And despite any belief to the contrary, you are enough. You are young enough. Or old enough. You are smart enough. Capable enough. You don't have to be timid or ashamed to say it out loud. Your parents weren't always right about your life. And sometimes they were. You aren't your failures. You can pick yourself up and grow. And grow. And grow. You are more than enough and the only person that needs to believe that is you. 
• ...And its evil twin - FEAR. Kick fear in the groin. Because it sure as hell will hit you as hard as it can. It will debilitate you. Scare you. Reason with you. But worst of all, it will come to you as your best friend - whispering caution, doubt, and protection into your ear. And if you listen to the ugly voice of fear, it has you. And it's very hard to shake off. It will get into your head like a worm and bury itself deep into the recesses of your mind. It will lay eggs. It will grow and then give birth to more fear as it feeds on your past failure, heartbreak, and disappointment. Even worse, it will show up when you succeed and tell you that you got lucky. It will question if you can do it again. Fear will say that the good is fleeting, that it won't last. Because maybe, you don't deserve it. When you believe that, it will want you to tear down others because if you can't have it, then why should they? Fear is selfish and self-preserving. Even worse, it's resilient. So please give humanity a gift and kick fear in the balls. 
• Write a blog about it. Now I've really gone off the deep end... No, seriously, write about it. Tell people about your passion. Make a YouTube video if you feel inspired. Your success will inspire others. It's why we have a biography section in the bookstore to begin with - fear mongers pay top dollar to hear about the heartaches of successful people while others pursuing their passion will read it and be inspired. There's a famous story about Michael Jackson where he once told a close friend (who was also named Michael) that their first names meant 'who is like God.' The friend seemed to think that Michael Jackson meant that they were like God because of their passion for music and their successes. Michael quickly said that he wasn't using his talent for music to self-congratulate himself or to pump up his ego but believed his gifts needed to be used to help inspire other people to discover their gifts. And there isn't a shortage of talent or passion, we just have to believe that we are worthy enough to pursue it. 

 

It's Been a Long, a Long Time Coming.

POINT TO PONDER

When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves. 

                                                       -Viktor E. Frankl

STORY LINE  by Rajiv Shah

I have two very politically minded friends. One is Republican. The other a Democrat. We have all known each other for a very long time. Our history extends far beyond politics, religion, and economics. Or so I thought. 

Sparing you all the gory details, what essentially happened was this: they both started out over Facebook lightly ribbing each other over the 2012 election, casting their thoughts and jokes on both of the presidential candidates. It started out in good humor and with thoughtful debate exchanged. 

Soon, however, things started getting a little bit heated. A personal jab was thrown by one friend to solidify a point that he was making. Next, a personal blow (more like an uppercut if we were talking about a boxing match), was delivered by the other.

It was at that point that the gloves were ripped off and the arguement became fully combative as the friends hurled personal attacks at one another. There were vicious points about how one friend being overweight was a laziness reflecting an inability to accept their own failures. Another attack reflected one friend's inability to tell the truth as the reason why he was miserable. It was ugly to witness.

By the end, my two friends could no longer refer to each other as "friends." They deleted each other off Facebook and refused to speak to one another. Naturally, I got caught up in the middle. I mediated through phone calls and inundated with complaints. Both felt that they were right. I had to tell them that who was right was irrelevant. What mattered was making a change. 

 

REFLECTION

 Here's why:

1. Change is inevitable. It happened to both of them - in their views, in their lives, and even in their friendship ending. Either they both could accept the change in each other and continue being friends or they could let it go entirely and start on a new path without their friendship. Either way, change had arrived.
2. They were both in denial. Denial is the refusal to recognize or acknowledge. Both believe staunchly that the other is wrong and that they are right. By arguing they were either hoping to A) convince the other of their point of view or B) shame the other into conceding defeat. Both were not going to work. Who is right is petty and egotistical when there is no longer communication and progress. Then again, maybe I'm the one in denial, that this argument was really rooted to something much deeper. Maybe they really aren't meant to be friends any longer. Which lead me to... 
3. Acceptance. At this point there's a need for acceptance. This involves ending the friendship, accepting that fact, and adjusting to it. The other choice requires that apologies be made, differences be put aside, and that there's enough room to have discourse within the friendship. 

To get to that stage both must accept differences in one another. But before that can happen, the real change must first start within themselves. 

 

 

To All the Bosses

It was on October 8th, 1975 when I walked through the front doors of Raytheon Semiconductor to begin my journey in the High Tech Industry. “Way back then” many things were different, but some basic things have not changed even with the advances in technology: Human Connections and their memories. This reflection is about those memories.

STORY LINE

I have worked for 47 bosses in my 37 years career. (Yes, I can count by each name.) And from each one of them I learned some very valuable lessons. These lessons are the basis of so many Friday Reflections over last 27 years. Here are some memorable quotable quotes and teachings from some of them from my first 25 years in industry:

1. You can’t be a good engineer unless you have experienced all aspects of the processes yourself. Go and install some flow meters, clean the tubes and vacuum pumps with technicians, mix some acid baths and load some boats in furnaces before you start working on the process. (Joe Z)
2. There is a difference between a degree and education. Unfortunately people falsely believe that Degree means Education. (Maxine Gandall)
3. A desk is a dangerous place to view the world. I don’t want desktop engineers and tabletop managers. (Jim Boyd - It was the late 70s. We had only one conference room in the entire plant. Meetings took place on production floor.)
4. You have to think your job as your own business. (Charles Fa, in 1975 - my first boss in industry. He often reminded us about world wars and how people learnt to use resources very effectively during those times.)
5. In this fast moving Industry, we are measured by the degree of failure. (Mike Hill)
6. You must know your personal worth. (Gary Remmen)
7. You have never gone camping? Come and join me for camping in Tahoe. (Jerry Drake) One of the most memorable vacations with the boss and his kids.
8.  Don’t Assume. Constant follow up is the name of the game. (Bipin Shah)
9.  Have you had dinner? (Dave Deardorf. He was the GM of our group, not my direct boss. We were starting a new fab and worked long hours. Often, he would drop by production floor late in the evening. Seeing me there, he used to take me out for dinner)
10. In Asia, most of the business is done over a cup of tea. (Late Mr. Fran Dowd, the VP and GM of our Division. Though I was a very low level in organization, for some reasons not known to me, he had decided to teach me many more practical lessons about real management and working life through his unique STORYTELLING style.)
11. You can delegate many things but you cannot delegate Leadership. (Gidu Shroff)

  

REFLECTION

Bosses came in all shapes, sizes and styles. From each one I learned some very valuable lessons that has been helpful in my career and life. To All The Bosses I have loved Before and Now: Thank You for 37 years of memories.

A Real Network

POINT TO PONDER

The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.

                                    - Keith Ferrazzi

STORY LINE by Rajiv Shah

This week I've spent the majority of my time at a film festival here in LA where one of the films I worked on is screening throughout the week. Film Festivals can be a mad crush to get your film seen, raise capital for your next project, and make as many connections as you possibly can. It's hard work but is a whole lot of fun too. When I first started going to these festivals I was overwhelmed, intimidated, and avoided all the wonderful events that festivals provide to filmmakers. Why? Because I felt uncomfortable approaching strangers trying to sell myself and my films to them. It felt artificial. I felt fake. And because of this I wasn't fully enjoying myself. 

Fast forward 4 years from that first festival and I'm swapping business cards, making connections, attending all the parties (and there is one every night) and most importantly, I'm enjoying myself. A lot. More than I ever thought I was capable of. What changed? 

In the past four years I've had tremendous mentors who I've learned from, most of the time just by observing how they act in the same environments. I found what worked for me and below is a list of what I've learned (and is not just applicable in entertainment). It's a list of observations I've made of things that have helped me open myself up and enjoy the process more. 

• Be yourself. In being yourself you aren't trying to prove anything or validate yourself to anyone. Some people won't mesh with you but the ones you do make a connection with are the ones that will probably will grow into lasting relationships. By being yourself you often find others with similar interests and tastes. 
• Get to know them. I'm curious about other people and their stories so I ask a lot of questions about the person I'm interacting with. The information I glean is often valuable and I'm able to utilize it in my own life. Another great thing is that getting to know someone takes the pressure off of myself. People like speaking about their interests and usually getting them on a topic they are passionate about will lead to interest about what you do and what you are passionate about. 
• If you are trying to sell something you aren't asking the other person for anything. I'm not asking for money or what they can do for me. Not at all. I take the apprach that I'm coming to them with an opportunity. You are coming to them to share what you are passionate about, to give something that has enhanced your life and are grateful to include them in the process. You allow them to decide if they want to take part in it. You are giving instead of taking. 
• Don't take things personally. You will meet jerks who will run you down, that criticize and mock. Let them. That has more to do with them than you. Move on and look at that interaction as being one step closer to someone that you will actually click with. I equate it to baseball, you aren't going to hit a home run in every at bat but you have to keep stepping to the plate, striking out, in order to hit one out of the park. 
• Value what you do and what you bring to the table. There is only one you. I know the market is flooded with talent but have faith in the skills and talents you bring. People want to be around those that value who they are and what they do. 
• Find the good in everything that happens. Never is anything a complete waste. There is always something you can take away from the experience - a lesson learned, a shared experience that you can use, a genuine connection. Even when I go to something that I didn't particularly care for, I find the one thing I can take away that helped me grow in some way. It's all about perspective and what you give is what you get. 

 

REFLECTION

I'm curious as to what has helped you? Is there something you have observed and learned that helps you? Please share your experiences in the comments below and we'll look to post some of them in a future Friday Reflection! 

Training Maybe Mandatory but Learning is Optional

 

POINT TO PONDER 

 For those who want to learn or do something, no training or mandates are necessary. For those who do not, no classes or conferences will suffice.

STORY LINE: Three short stories about Real Learners and Doers

1.   Two new female and junior employees seem excited about their jobs, showed tremendous passion for learning and doing something constructive. Sensing their high energy and enthusiasm, their Group Manager agreed (took risk?) to allow them to participate in two important cross-functional projects, both of high importance in the yearly plan. But these two girls were not there just to learn. They contributed exceedingly well and took on a leadership role in their respective teams. They were not there just to participate but to learn on the job and contribute. They made significant contributions without having formal training classes or conferences.

 

2.   Once Upon a time: He (a zealot) was not invited to the seminar for “XYZ” that only an exclusive/elite group of people were fortunate enough to attend. But a year before that seminar, recognizing the need for that kind of subject, he had developed a class on “XYZ” that was being piloted across different groups. A few of those “fortunate” ones from an ancillary group who attended “XYZ” seminar - by that well known speaker and feeling enlightened (temporary dose?) and powered - felt that it was their given right to own such training across the company. When they found out that an “unauthorized” zealot from another group - not officially certified as elite trainer - had already developed a class and was teaching it, they contacted him, his supervisor and even higher channels to stop that zealot from doing any further training. One of the elite members met with the zealot’s supervisor to inform him that the class work by Mr. Zealot was of inferior quality and did not meet instructional design guidelines per the experts. The Zealot’s supervisor made a truce with the "elite” that as soon as his group was ready with their high-end, elite training, he would tell zealot to stop his class.

A few years later, over 1000 people had benefited from the Zealot’s training with great reviews while the rest are still awaiting an “elite” class based on proper instructional design.

3.   Many years ago, while looking for a person to manage our business systems, we interviewed a young man who had just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business. Knowing full well that he did not have a degree in Computer Science, as was normally required, we took into account the fact that he was a computer fanatic from the age of eight and displayed tremendous enthusiasm to tackle new challenges. It was a risk, but the interview team felt that it was worth it.

During the first month, he noticed that our small group needed some key applications, but was told that it was impossible to get on the corporate group’s roadmap. So he decided to learn programming himself. Instead of going to a full semester course with a fee of $3,600 that others had done, he bought a book for $32 and got started on the basics. Not only did he learn quickly but within a year he created an entire management system with 45 working applications, a figure that the larger more central group could not even commit to in a three year roadmap. That young man has had his own thriving company for last several years. For more curious, entire story is in the following link.

http://fridayreflections.typepad.com/weblog/2007/07/last-i-heard-we.html

 

REFLECTION 

My memory bank is full of such people who do not wait for training mandates, classes, permission, or performance review guidelines to contribute. They don't just show up to get a mark for "participation." They are the people who are committed to their self development and contribution to their stakeholders. (Making a choice for thriving vs Compliance to check list of survival)

 

What is this life if, full of care......

POINT TO PONDER

While taking a stroll in commonwealth park in Boston during my visit in May, I stopped by a park bench to take a short rest. As I was sitting, my eyes rested on a little plaque underneath the bench.

This very profound message reminded me of William Henry Davies' poem, Leisure. 

REFLECTION What is this Life If Full of Care by Davies.

Pictures by Anand, Dave, Ray, Shinji and Boon Seng in 1H 2012.

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. 

 
            (Birthplace of Silicon Valley)                                                      (Fenway Park)

No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheeps or cows.

 

No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. 

 

 

No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night

.

 

No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance

.

 

No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.

 

A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. 

   

 

Now Pitching:Tradition. Now Batting:Modernization.

POINT TO PONDER

We are not makers of history. We are made by history. 

                            -Martin Luther King, Jr. 

STORY LINE by David Hightower

A sad but inevitable fact of life is that things change over time.  For better or worse, things evolve. This adage is so true that it even applies to America’s greatest pastime, baseball.  

    On a recent trip to Boston we had the pleasure of touring Fenway Park, home of the world-famous Red Sox (and the Green Mon-stah!).  Unfortunately the Sox were out of town so we didn’t get to enjoy a game.  But we did learn about the amazing history and tradition of a club like the Red Sox and a stadium like Fenway Park.

    While Fenway appears old and battered from the outside, the inside is alive with rich tradition and stories of legends past.  Even as someone who doesn’t care for the Red Sox (and their unlimited budget), I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic as I listened to story after story about the history of the park.  From the Fisk Foul Pole in left field to the Peski Pole in right, to the only ladder in baseball actually in play (once the source of the only “ground-rule triple” in baseball), Fenway oozed the stuff of legends.

    Now it’s true that from a comfort or architectural standpoint Fenway doesn’t even come close to comparing with modern parks like AT&T Park or (the new) Yankee Stadium.  The luxuries offered at these parks speak volumes about how the game has evolved over time to place more emphasis on the fans; namely, providing the most modern facilities with the best amenities.  I mean, who doesn’t want a hot tub and pool in the middle of the outfield bleachers…. or that amazing ahi tuna wrap with the chipotle aioli during the 7th inning stretch.

    On one hand I love the fact that stadiums have evolved into more than just a baseball experience.  But the question is, has it come at a price? Have we sacrificed a little of that history in the name of “newer and better”?  Neither AT&T Park, nor (the new) Yankee stadium have experienced 100 years of baseball played within the walls, or have legends about the only red seat in a park with all green seats (the longest home run ever hit at Fenway - Ted Williams - 505 feet - 1946).  Are these legends simply stories from our yesteryear, or are they a part of the clubs foundation?

    And while there is always room for legends to be made at the newer ball parks, it is true that you leave a little piece of your heart in that old stadium that you saw hundreds of games played in.

    But hey, I guess that’s just life evolving!

 

REFLECTION

Every seat, every pole, and every place in the park had a story to tell. History isn't something that is just learned, it is something you can feel. Keep your eyes, ears, and minds open and it can still affect your life in the present. 

 

The Power Curve

POINT TO PONDER

"...things have a momentum, and at a certain point you can't really tell whether you have created the momentum or it's creating you."

                                                   

                                                                        -Annie Lennox

STORY LINE

Thank you Mark Dennen for contributing to Friday Reflections last week and referencing The Power Curve. And thank you to Micro CEO, a reader, who posted the following in response to Mark’s comment about The Power Curve, attaching a reference link which I found very enlightening and worth sharing:

“One of life's under-regarded principles is called being Behind the Power Curve (or "on the back side of the power curve"). The analogy comes from aviation, and is illustrated in this graph, which all would do well to understand:….More in the link that follows……

http://sifter.org/~simon/journal/20100718.h.html

 

REFLECTION

How do you see the Power Curve applied to your work and in your life? How can we utilize the principle of the Power Curve to our advantage?

The Treasure was the Journey Itself (and the lessons learned and shared)

 

 

POINT TO PONDER

 “The treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries he made, and the wisdom he acquired.”

                                                                ~Anna Hassapi

STORY LINE Recently Mark Dennen, a good friend, retired at a young age after a very successful career in sales as an executive of a multinational company.  A day before he boarded the plane to the place of retirement, Mark was gracious enough to satisfy my curiosity by sharing his experiences, lessons learned and impart the wisdom acquired through the years. Here are a few of the many things I captured.

 

1.   Customers are looking for desired outcomes not just products. (You are not buying a drill, but a means to make a hole or perhaps fasten boards with a screw)

2.   Presentations: People come to hear me speak, not to read my slides. 

3.   Three things that helped him to be successful:   Work Hard, Be Respectful and Don’t waste money. 

4.   Why he took accounting and business classes:   In any company, it is all about making money for the stockholders. The best (most secure) jobs are those directly related to revenue generation

5.   Risk Taking: People spend too much time worrying about smallest  incidents which could impact them by $1 to $5 million, instead they should be focused on those could impact them by $5B-$10B (The Power Curve)

6.   Status: It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice.

7.   Appreciation: Selling is personal and small things make a big difference such as a hand written Thank You, a small gift (specialty tea, jam, or flowers for the spouse at dinner), the sharing of an article or even a personal photograph.  

8.   Ethics: It’s easy to have high ethics when you are making lots of money (it’s easy to be good with no temptations), but it is far harder when times are bad. 

9.    “If only thing you do is follow a recipe, then you are not a good cook.”

10.  During a crisis, usually the first thing to get dropped is courtesy. (Unfortunately)

11.  Read. Read. Knowledge is the differentiator. In the age of chivalry, friendly knights would greet each other by raising their visor with their right hand (the hand which normally held the sword).    The handshake probably evolved in a similar manner, to demonstrate that each person was not holding a weapon.  Today, most  business discussions (interviews, sales presentations, claim settlements, etc.)  begin with the standard handshake, but it is the short verbal handshake immediately following which can establish the tone for the success or failure of the meeting. 

Meetings are like a chess game, there are variety of openings and one can never accurately predict how they are going to start.  It could be the weather, politics, sports, medicine, finance or pets, but regardless of the topic, it would be helpful if you could engage in the discussion and establish some level of competency, thus creating a favorable impression.  The best way to do this, in my opinion, is to read from a variety of credible sources on a daily basis to improve your chances in this initial engagement. For newspapers, I like the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal and although many will have problems with their Op-Ed pages, both are well-written, very credible and cover diverse topics.  For magazines, Scientific American, the Economist and Fortune cover a variety of topics and events of interest to a variety of professionals.   Everyone will have their own preferences, but the important thing is be read, to be aware and be current. 

12.  Interview: Competing against many who want the job. What differentiates you, all happens in just a brief conversation. Once you get the position, then how you perform is all that matters. One interview: a Ph.D., from a prestigious university, when asked,  “What do you read?, answered,  “I read my phone.”  (not a good answer). 

 

REFLECTION 

Thank You Mark. “Things that are given away are never lost.”