Friday Reflections

You can take a horse to water but you cannot make him drink

"Even when opportunity knocks a person still has to get up off his/her seat and open the door."

Story Line:

The first time I heard the expression "you can take a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink" was in 1991 from my former boss Bob Miller. He was answering an employee question in an open forum, "Why aren't people making use of the training/development opportunities and some excellent ideas that were offered to them?"

This phenomenon isn't limited to the corporate world. Dennis Waitley talks about one tribe of people in his book, 'Psychology of Winning'.  Premature death amongst people in that tribe was increasing, and  research had proven that it was due to a new type of insect that had developed in that area. These tribespeople were offered new homes in a different area, but decided to stay at the same place anyway ... and continued to face premature deaths.

Another example: a businessman took his seven employees out for a walk in a mall for three successive days. Along the way, on all three walks, they found some garbage on the floor in different areas of the mall. Two of them did not even notice it, one complained that it should not be there in the first place, another started talking about the possible root cause, fifth one complained about the garbage cleaning service, and sixth one started to clean it up. The seventh one, while helping the sixth guy in cleaning looked at the businessman and said, "Here is our opportunity. It seems that the current vendor of cleaning services is not doing the job. We can offer better cleaning service to the mall."

Yes indeed, a very simple story ... but this was a real good test by that businessman.

Here is an incidence just from this morning that goes even further. A guy I was talking to told me about the mentoring program that his department had started. He was assigned a mentor from another group. This guy told me that he is learning new things from the mentor, plans to establish relationships in mentor's ecosystem and additionally he took this opportunity to show his mentor different products and services that his department was offering. This horse (guy) is not only drinking water (learning new skills from his mentor) but also offering his water (sales of his products/services) to other horses (creating potential customers). That is: going to do one thing (drink water) and coming back with three(water, juice and wine)

Reflection:

In real life, opportunity comes in many forms: offered by friends, well wishers, superiors and good organizations. But that is as far as they can go. In final analysis, it is you who are ultimately responsible for making use of the opportunity.

Sometimes you just have to get moving

Reflection: Keep on learning new skills, but don't forget that the best part of learning is doing!

Three Cups of Tea. How one person can make a difference.

"Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world ." -Tom Brokaw

Story Line:

Three Cups of Tea: How one person can make (big) difference. Book Report by Analisa.

The story of Greg Mortenson, a man of honor, integrity and passion, narrated in the book 'Three Cups of Tea' is one that follows all seven core principles of Friday Reflections.

1. Keep on Learning New Skills: Greg Mortensen learned Mountain Climbing in early age while growing up on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania where his parents had set up a Medical Center and a school to help local people. Later he returned to his home country and received a degree in Nursing and Chemistry from University of South Dakota in 1983.

2. Assume Responsibility: He was a skilled climber with hopes of reaching the peaks of K2, the world's second highest mountain located in North Pakistan. After a failed attempt in 1993, he got lost. Tired and hungry he landed in a small village where villager nursed him back to health. While recovering he noticed the way the kids tried doing their studies in the outside freezing cold, writing in the sand with sticks because they had no money for pencils and paper. He took upon the mission to build a school where these children could have a proper education. With no background in business, he returned to USA and raised funds by working as a nurse and finding a donor from Silicon Valley.

3. People and Relationships: The integrity and honesty Mortenson showed the people in these villages live on in their hearts forever. As stated in the book, they said many climbers made many promises, but Mortenson was the only one who ever came and followed through. Villagers welcomed him warmly into their villages, protected him by putting themselves in danger and helped through severe weather to get the schools built. Alternatively, the hospitality the villagers showed Mortenson, on many occasions, holds a special place in his heart. His first meeting with them, they prepared a feast for him. Though their food is scarce, they treated their guest like royalty.

4. Flexibility: Working in a developing countries provides many obstacles. Mortenson was able to face the challenges brought forward to him and adapted accordingly. This helped him accomplish his goals.

5 Take Risks:  Mortenson gave up his steady profession in USA and went through many challenges to build schools in a remote region of the workd where there were death threats against him. He was also kidnapped once and later released. He also received hate mails from a few of his own countymen in America for going to help in Taliban region.

6. Passion: He was a genuine guy who often worked long nights in the ER of the San Francisco Trauma Hospital to be able to earn enough money to go back to Pakistan and help build the schools. People were able to see the passion in him and he was eventually able to get investors to fund the schools. But it was a combination of his ability to take risks and his passion that led him to his goals.

7. Performance and Results: In the final analysis, it is the value you bring to society. Mortenson has made a very significant impact on groups of people who are often ignored. Today there are 55 schools for young children in Taliban region. In additon to being recognized with numerous awards in many countries in the world, in March 2009, the government of Pakistan gave him the highest civilian award 'The Star of Pakistan.'

Reflection (source Wikipedia):

The title of his book 'Three Cups of Tea' comes from a Balti proverb: "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family."

The original hardcover book was released in 2006 with a subtitle Mortenson fought against, One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism One School at a Time. The edition sold poorly, only 20,000 copies. Mortenson prevailed upon the publishers to change the subtitle for the 2007 paperback edition of the book to his first choice, ""One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time." They did and the re-titled book soon made the New York Times nonfiction paperback bestseller list. Mortenson explained his reasoning, "If you just fight terrorism, it's based in fear," he commented. "If you promote peace, it's based in hope."[

The book has remained a # 1 New York Times bestseller for 20 months since its release, is a popular University Freshman or campus read in about three dozen campuses, chosen for One Book community reads in over 50 cities, and published in over 20 countries internationally.

Out Of The Box Thinking - Q2 2009

It's that time again - watch the video above as we rotate a simple image, and let your creativity run free!  Let us know what you can see in the comments section.  The best idea (leaving an email address) will receive a free copy of Friday Reflections.

Have a Kindle or an iPhone? Try our affordable, portable, environmentally friendly Kindle Edition

Learn from the mistakes/experiences of others. You will have plenty of time to make your own.

"It is always good to have a mentor."
- JE, current CEO of a High Tech Company, in advice to me in 1977

I have been fortunate to have come across many great people in the 33 years of my career, and learned a great deal by observing them and learning from their experiences and stories. A few of them have been great mentors through the years.

Once I asked one of my mentors, Louis Liang: “What can I do for you in return for all these years of free guidance and help?” He replied, “Pass on your experiences to the next generation. If you keep your experiences to yourself, it stays only with you. Mathematically that is 1 x 1. If you pass it on it multiplies: 1 x Many, and then Many x Many.”

In this spirit, here are a few quotable quotes from some very successful individuals that I have come across:

1. In competitive world, it is never over, it is never enough (RS/GS/BAS/KA and many more of my bosses and executives). The famous Yogi Berra quote “It ain’t over till it is over” applies very well in sports situations where the game is over in a definite period of time. But in the game of business, it is not over unless the business is OVER (i.e. failed or closed). That is why when your company comes out with great revenue and profit, or your group delivers phenomenal performance and you are still asked to do more ... do not let up and not to rest on your laurels. Because in a fiercely competitive game of business, a slight slip can cost you dearly and get you out of the game all together.

2. A good general always inspects his ground before he goes into the war (Patton Quote told by my former boss Jim Boyd). He used to emphasize to new hires the need for studying the environment before starting to make major changes.

3. The most terrifying offer in the corporate world: "I am from the corporate support group and I am here to simplify your job" (JZ, former Boss). Based on Ronald Reagan’s famous quote “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.” Now JZ would have been perfectly OK if the offer had been “I am from…and How May I help you by working with your team?”

4. Don’t flip your finger to the guy in the next car. He may be the interviewer you are going to meet for the job (former colleague late Bill Scott).

5. Assumption will make an ass out of you and me (RS: Former CEO of High Tech Company).

6. There are seven types of people in corporate world: Stamp (information) Collectors, Consolidators, Reporters, Observers, Analyst, Instructors and Doers. Each has a role to play as long as each one understand it clearly and let DOers do their job. (AS and LR)

7. Dealing with that group is like throwing water in the wind (BM).

8. It is difficult to jump into a moving train (MA) ... unless you are running for your life like the kids in Slumdog Millionaire.

9. In business world there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. (FD former CEO. referring to companies that are former enemies and now allies and former partners but now in legal disputes)

10. Don't hand the game ball to your pitcher before the game is over. Don't celebrate prematurely (AS). Learning from 2002 Baseball World Series: Game 6 - SF Giants vs. Anaheim Angels.

11. When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt. (Other version: We will let our work do the talking. CB)

12. Don’t ridicule your opponent in public. Don’t awaken a sleeping giant. (Louis Liang)

13. Retire when people ask you "Why" and not "Why Not?" (Vijay Merchant Famous Indian Cricketer)

14. When Elephants fight, it is the grass that gets crushed (Andy Ang and Pravin Shah). Never get in the middle of people (with power) who are having a fight, or create a situation where they have to confront one another on account of you. I have heard another version of this in Philippines “When Elephants are dancing, chickens should stay away” and forever wondered “How did they get Elephants in Philippines in the first place?” I have encountered  only one in Manila Zoo in my 31 years of dealings with that country.

15. Get a Good Secretary. She will keep you out of trouble and make your life easy. (Advice from JZ when I got my first management job in 1980 and asked him for advice)

 

Wednesday April 22nd is Administrative Professionals Day. Remember all those who made your life easier and helped you in many ways - whether they worked for your department or another department.

Games Indecision Makers Play #4

 

From the Games Indecision Makers Play -
"Throw irrelevant monkey wrenches"

Music can change the world because it can change people (Leaner of the LEAN tools?)

"I explained to her that math and music are processed by the same part of the brain, and that people who love math frequently have the same love of music because the logic and structure of music appeal to them intuitively.  Music is math with an added emotional component, and that's why it's so fundamental to human history and culture." - Jim Mulready in conversation about his nine year old who is good at math and also quick in learning music.
 

Story Line:

In the late '90s, our friend Cari Shim introduced me to the movie 'The Shawshank Redemption'. It is ranked amongst the greatest films of all time. The plot is about a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), falsely accused of murdering his wife and imprisoned for life. In jail, he develops friendship with another prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman). The story is about: maintaining integrity amongst hard core criminals and corrupt guards, redemption, true friendship, Hope and most importantly person's outlook in life. In the harshest of circumstances one person can feel free or in the freest of circumstances another person can feel imprisoned depending on one's outlook.

The movie is worth two hours of one's time, more so in current environment. But today's theme is about one scene from the movie that shows the impact music has on people in highly stressed environment and the power of universal language that music conveys.

The scene: Andy, the prisoner, is working in Warden's office. The guard who is supposed to watch him is using toilet. Male voice in the background is that of his friend Red. Here we go ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se8TM696HRY&feature=related

 

Reflection:

If one of the major causes of health issues in personal life and productivity loss in corporations is Stress then it is worth pondering the role music (Leaner of the Lean Tools?) can play in curing or preventing those ailments. Yes, requires some Out of the Box Thinking but may be worth the time.

For those interested further in the movie, here are two more short clips:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtwXlIwozog&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K30e9O3Nng&feature=related

 
 

Games indecision makers play #3

From the Games Indecision Makers Play -
"Let people who have no skin in the game be directly involved in playing it"

Change is in the air

 

"All leadership comes down to this: changing people's behavior. Why is that so damn hard? Science offers some surprising new answers -- and ways to do better." - Alan Deutschman

 

Story Line:

About year ago, C P Low, a reader and an OBT master recommended an excellent book, "Change or Die" by Alan Deutschman. The book is captivating and also very relevant for the current times. Last week I came across an excellent review of this book by Robert Paterson. So instead of writing my version, I am sharing Robert's review in this FR:

"Change or Die: I am convinced that the central belief of our age, that we are parts of a machine that works only in an economic sphere, is the single most dangerous threat to the future of our species and our planet.  This threat is made more dangerous by the fact that there is no work more difficult than trying change deeply held beliefs."

http://smartpei.typepad.com/trusted_space_books/2007/01/change_or_die_a.html

 

Special Feature:

People all over the world has been through turbulent times and lots of changes since last October. But one thing that has not changed through the ages is the ability of good music to provide relaxation and relieve stress. Since Spring is in the air, let us enjoy some good music created by great artists. Enjoy the beautiful music and relax.

 

April Flowers Show by Andre Rieu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcMiKulC1rI&feature=related

 

Sound of Silence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hUy9ePyo6Q&feature=related