Had a wonderful day yesterday with some positively “electrical” folks in Tampa FL as we talked about CHANGE.  We discussed the things that we do that make CHANGE harder than it needs to be.  And of course we also talked about things that we do that makes CHANGE easier. 

One of the ideas we discussed was the importance of quickly seeking to understand and align ourselves with the desired outcomes of organizational change so we could avoid becoming a stumbling block to the change efforts of others or the organization.  If we don’t get on board quickly we risk earning the label of those who are not ”bought in” - we also risk getting trapped in some sinister cynical cycle of criticism.  We must seek to align ourselves with the change by seeking to understand it’s necessity and desired outcome (we are not required to like it, agree with it, or even be excited about it…at least initially). 

We certainly don’t want to join those sitting back with their arms folded across their chest conveying an attitude that “I’m not sold on this change yet, and until you satisfy all my issues and resolve all my concerns I will be digging in my heals and becoming a sulking, hulking obstinate obstacle.  That all about me, self focus stops us from seeing and serving the potentially greater needs of others and in fact selfishly makes the change they are trying to get through even harder.

Change can often be very difficult.. letting go, beginning again, now knowing how it will end and many other factors can make it hard.  But almost always it is our own attitudes and choices that end up making change much harder than it needs to be.

Instead we must take the focus off of ourselves and how it is going to affect “us” - and as quickly as we can start reaching out to assist others in understanding and aligning themselves with the needed / required change.  Any time wasted complaining or whining is just that…”time wasted”.  And since time is simply a measure of life…that is life wasted.   Granted some people need more time than others to process things….but processing need not be filled with negative energy, nor take excessive amounts of time.

Assisting others in and through challenging change is one of the best ways I have ever found to aid my own journey down that same changed path.  How about you?  What helps you deal with challenges of change?

Kirk Out

When I orignally shared this T4D about influence in 2002 Pete McGarahan responded with this wonderful example….

Kirk,   I had a high school basketball that forced us to play summer BB games with guys that were older, bigger, stronger and better players than we were. It was frustrating at the time. We were the worst ones on the court. After awhile we built-up our strength, our skills, our knowledge and our experiences of how they played the game at their level.

When we returned to play BB for the regular season against teams with kids our own age we clearly dominated because we had left our comfort zones and we better for it.

Thanks for sharing.  - Pete

INFLUENCE/ASSOCIATION by Jim Rohn

There are two parts to influence: First, influence is powerful; and second, influence is subtle. You wouldn’t let someone push you off course, but you might let someone nudge you off course and not even realize it.

We need a variety of input and influence and voices. You cannot get all the answers to life and business from one person or from one source.

Attitude is greatly shaped by influence and association.

Don’t spend most of your time on the voices that don’t count. Tune out the shallow voices so that you will have more time to tune in the valuable ones.

“No” puts distance between you and the wrong influence.

You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay?

Don’t join an easy crowd; you won’t grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform are high.

Some people you can afford to spend a few minutes with, but not a few hours.

Get around people who have something of value to share with you. Their impact will continue to have a significant effect on your life long after they have departed.

Make it a Great Day, It’s Your Choice.

Kirk Out

The phrase “I don’t care” is not allowed in our family.  It is on equal ground with many other phrases and four letter words that are also a not a part of our family culture.   Leaving off the list a few of the most obvious ones here are few other powerless and dis-empowering words & phrases we seek to avoid.   

Should and “should have”  - I have heard more than one speaker talk about how people “should all over themselves”  Below is a contrasting list of words. 

Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world.  For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.  Margaret Mead

Care enough to change the world.  We can start by caring enough to choose our words more carefully.

Do you have words or phrases that you avoid or discourage in your home, your work and your life?

Kirk Out

THANK YOU - Jennie Ankney for sharing this with me… I so very much enjoyed it.  And I know you will !  http://sivers.org/ff

I think the transcript is brilliantly concise… and wonderully insightful.  Enjoly insights and leadership Lessons from the “Dancing Guy”…or actually from Derek Sivers.   I am not pasting it here…. I think going directly to his site is most appropriate.  That way if you feel so inclined you can leave a comment or read some. 

And Dance, like a nut or Join a Dancing Nut today!

Kirk out

“When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you King for a day; just go to a mirror and look at yourself, and see what that man has to say.  For it isn’t your father or mother or wife, whose judgment upon you must pass; the fellow whose verdict counts most in your life, is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may think you’re a straight-shootin’ chum, and call you a wonderful guy; but the man in the glass says you’re only a bum, if you can’t look him straight in the eye.  He’s the fellow to please; never mind all the rest, for he’s with your clear up to the end. And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test, if the man in the glass is your friend. 

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life, and get pats on the back as you pass; but your final reward will be heartaches and tears, if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.”

Dale Wimbrow 1895-1954

   “Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your mind. Put your whole soul to it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson - 1803-1882, Essayist, Philosopher and Poet

Most people are more enthusiastic than they let shine or show.  Why?  Because they are surrounded by cynics, naysayers and blood sucking, joy stealing corporate vampires who sadly seem to be standing by with huge buckets of water just waiting for someone to light some little candle of hope so they can drown it out. 

Hey, we know these people are going to be there… so rather than give in, or give up our hope…let’s be deliberate and determined.  Deliberate means… we bring an umbrella to keep our flames lit and our hope alive.  Determined to let our light shine and our enthusiasm show…no matter what!

The world needs your light…. and your contagious enthusiasm.

Kirk Out

Recently returned from a wonderful bit of training and personal time in the UK.  I learned much and sought to inspire some learning as well.  Unlike the cartoon above… I expected to learn quite a bit and have a wonderful time…and Iwas not surprised when both expectations were realized.   I just recieved an e-mail from a long time UK friend and fellow life long learner Lynne Nash who kindly passed along a bit of wisdom she acquired at a conference of her own.  (Do you have any wisdom you want to pass along? - do it by commenting on this T4D at www.kirkweisler.com/t4d)

Kirk,   I was at the Learning & Skills Group conference and picked up a couple of quotes. Not sure to whom they should be attributed but I liked them.     “We learn best what we feel the most”    -   “Learning = Work = Learning”

“Have high expectations of people and they will live up to it.  Have low ones and they will live down to them”

“Do not seek to teach, simply encourage people to learn”

Have a great day!

Lyn

Day by day, what you do is who you become.

  Just recieved this today and found it to be a wise and timely reminder as we seek to keep a positive perspective on the often difficult personalities we deal with each day.

“Whenever encountering a troublesome person, do not identify him as being cruel or stupid or rude or anything else like that. Instead, see him as a frightened person.” ~ Vernon Howard 1918-1992, Author and Philosopher

Kirk Out
 

   Nothing is more endangered in the modern world than the powerful combination of hard work toward meaningful goals joined with an exuberant embrace of the present moment.  ~ — Tom Morris

Today let us struve to embrace the joy of hard work… or at the very least the blessing of our ability to do it.

Kirk Out

   “Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.” ~ W. Clement Stone

Association and assimilation… someone once told me…”Be a friend to everyone, but choose your best friends wisely.  Jim Rohn speaking on the same principle invites us to ask ourselves - “What do our circle of friends have us thinking and becoming?” 

Kirk