The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
~ Albert Einstein
I've often marveled at wild animal trainers and the courage they display on stage or in the arena. Surrounded by 3000 pounds of raw flesh eating power, trainers and performers display a calmness and cool that I could only imagine. I've seen 10 tigers bow to a 180 pound man in a cage. I've witnessed a bear roll over at the simple wave of a hand by a 140 pound women. On television, we can watch in awe as a man sticks his head in the open jaws of a full grown crocodile. Our rational mind tells us that with training, patience, and perseverance, we can overcome any fear and accomplish anything. Our intuition fails us sometimes as we forget we are talking about WILD ANIMALS! It takes the occasional reminder on the Animal Planet series, When Animals Attack, to keep things in perspective. I suppose Mr. Einstein could have been talking about leadership when he put this quote together. In hindsight, I bet we could all explain a bad decision we've made that was more heavily weighted on our rational mind than our intuition, affectionately referred to as our 'gut feeling'.
My challenge to you this week is to invoke your intuitive mind in a major decision you must make this week. Perhaps this decision will take place in the voting booth or maybe even the doctors office. The dictionary defines 'intuition' as a sense of something not evident or deducible; an impression. The dictionary defines 'rational' as having or exercising the ability to reason (in other words, using logic, analytic thought; intelligence). My rational mind would tell me that it is indeed possible to train a crocodile to allow me to put my head in his mouth without him snapping it off. We have data to prove this is possible and I've even witnessed it. Besides, more people die from being struck by lightening than being eaten by crocodiles. Of course my intuitive mind is the reason I've never done it. While I'm not advocating to reduce the amount of logic and data you use to make decisions, I am supporting Mr. Einstein's recommendation that we stop ignoring our gift of intuition. This gift could prove the difference between success and failure.
Alonzo Kelly
Q: David's father had 3 sons: "Snap, Crackle, and ?"
A: David!
Q: If you were in a race and passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in?
A: 2nd Place!
I love those jokes! The main reason I love them is because they point out just how fast our mind works and how silly we look when we ignore the obvious. My wife likes to point out that I am really quick to make assumptions about what she is going to say or what she is thinking. I of course deny that until she actually does tell me what she's thinking. Those conversations usually end up with me saying something like, "Oh, I see, oops, my bad.". The same thing happens when I'm having a serious discussion with my daughter. I'll instantly assume that she knows what I'm talking about because we've had the conversation before. When she explains her behavior, I again end up saying, "Oh, I see, oops, my bad". You would think that enough of these types of conversations have happened to me that they wouldn't occur as frequently as they do. My biggest fear is that something important will happen at work and I will immediately respond with what appears to be the obvious at the time without further exploration or assessment. I'm happy to report this doesn't happen often but its probably because of the fear of getting it wrong and having to stand in front of my team saying, "Oh, I see,…..". You get the point.
My challenge to you this week is to ask one clarifying question of your peers or leader during a discussion. Practice the art of seeking clarity. Your students, classmates, clients, or fellow team members will pick up on your behavior and do the same. The result is a dialogue rich in meaningful discussion and expectations being made clear. We as leaders shouldn't wait for others to take the lead on ensuring we are able to execute on goals which are clearly defined and ready to be achieved.
Q: How many books can you put into an empty back pack?
A: 1; After that the back pack is no longer empty!
Alonzo Kelly
Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. ~ Rear view mirror warning
I bring you this quote from my weekly Weight Watchers class. Yea, I said it, I'm on Weight Watchers. For the record, the thought of a rear view mirror in weight watchers class understandably scared a few. Anyway, I couldn't help but think about what else would be in my rear view mirror if I took a careful look. Past learning experiences, failures, or let downs would be there. But previous family gatherings, uncontrollable laughter episodes, and overwhelming times of joy would also be in sight. What I love about the warning on our car door mirrors is the fact that although objects are reflected from an angle of the past, they are not all that far away. The warning to not assume that you are in the clear or have entirely lost something is a lesson about life. I saw a poster in church this past weekend that said, "If you're not sure where to find God, start at the place you last spoke". Perhaps you can't seem to figure out how to laugh again or simply relax. Maybe you're struggling with a relationship and need to reflect on why you care so deeply about the person in the first place. A quick glance in the rear view mirror will reveal that what you think is in the distant past, isn't really all that far away.
My challenge to you this week is to take a quick glance in the rear view mirror. As a leader, take a peek at some of your past successes and failures and reflect on what you've learned. Make a personal pledge to recapture the lessons from the past that guide your thinking and behavior today. If we are unwilling to reflect on our past experiences, we are destined to make poor decisions based on misguided information and blind assumptions. I don't know about you, but if the driver in front of me on the freeway insists on changing lanes without using his rear view mirrors, I have no choice but to do one of the following; either refuse to follow them and let someone else put their future in his hands, or pass him entirely and keep an eye on him while he's following me. It would be a mistake to think your staff or students aren't doing the same about you!
Alonzo Kelly
I bring you this quote from my weekly Weight Watchers class. Yea, I said it, I'm on Weight Watchers. For the record, the thought of a rear view mirror in weight watchers class understandably scared a few. Anyway, I couldn't help but think about what else would be in my rear view mirror if I took a careful look. Past learning experiences, failures, or let downs would be there. But previous family gatherings, uncontrollable laughter episodes, and overwhelming times of joy would also be in sight. What I love about the warning on our car door mirrors is the fact that although objects are reflected from an angle of the past, they are not all that far away. The warning to not assume that you are in the clear or have entirely lost something is a lesson about life. I saw a poster in church this past weekend that said, "If you're not sure where to find God, start at the place you last spoke". Perhaps you can't seem to figure out how to laugh again or simply relax. Maybe you're struggling with a relationship and need to reflect on why you care so deeply about the person in the first place. A quick glance in the rear view mirror will reveal that what you think is in the distant past, isn't really all that far away.
My challenge to you this week is to take a quick glance in the rear view mirror. As a leader, take a peek at some of your past successes and failures and reflect on what you've learned. Make a personal pledge to recapture the lessons from the past that guide your thinking and behavior today. If we are unwilling to reflect on our past experiences, we are destined to make poor decisions based on misguided information and blind assumptions. I don't know about you, but if the driver in front of me on the freeway insists on changing lanes without using his rear view mirrors, I have no choice but to do one of the following; either refuse to follow them and let someone else put their future in his hands, or pass him entirely and keep an eye on him while he's following me. It would be a mistake to think your staff or students aren't doing the same about you!
Alonzo Kelly
It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." ~ Abraham Lincoln
This past Friday, like many millions of people around the world, I tuned into the first Presidential Debate. They've been debating for over 18 months now but the media said this was the first. I listened very carefully for their plans and strategies to take our country to a better place. I kept a keen eye on body contact, body language, and signs of frustration or angst. I watched the moderator cleverly encouraging them to talk to one another rather than the audience. For 90 minutes I was able to drink from the cup of euphoria and imagine a world with peace and prosperity. I enjoyed hearing both candidates say that our systems are broken and they both had the answers to fix them. For that hour and a half, all was right with the world. Then, like being suddenly awaken from a dream, the debate was over. I was left to fend for myself in the madness of life. I realized that if I don't pay my bills on time, there's nothing either candidate could do to fix the credit crisis. If I don't properly educate myself and my children, there's nothing anyone can do to break the cycle of poverty. It became clear in all of one minute that the feelings I had during the debate shall pass if I don't make myself part of the solution. President Lincoln didn't need wise men to provide the sentence that any of us could have provided. 'This too shall pass' is a phrase that if not used appropriately can enable us to accept our current state of sad affairs. I agree that most difficult times will pass, but they'll be back if we don't demonstrate we've learned something through the experience.
My challenge to you this week is to reflect on a difficult situation that you simply let pass away without addressing it head on. Reflect on how the situation may rear its ugly head again if you continue to ignore it. Leadership requires knowing when to fight and knowing when to walk away. Walking away however is not a solution if the other party doesn't believe you are aware of what's going on. If you appear to be naïve or simply blind to the issue, both the problem and problem source will reintroduce themselves very soon. Teachers shouldn't ignore difficult students, doctors shouldn't ignore difficult patients, and managers shouldn't ignore difficult employees. "And this, too, shall pass" is a great saying when recovering from a difficult situation. Shame on us all if we dismiss the opportunity to learn from it.
Alonzo M Kelly
This past Friday, like many millions of people around the world, I tuned into the first Presidential Debate. They've been debating for over 18 months now but the media said this was the first. I listened very carefully for their plans and strategies to take our country to a better place. I kept a keen eye on body contact, body language, and signs of frustration or angst. I watched the moderator cleverly encouraging them to talk to one another rather than the audience. For 90 minutes I was able to drink from the cup of euphoria and imagine a world with peace and prosperity. I enjoyed hearing both candidates say that our systems are broken and they both had the answers to fix them. For that hour and a half, all was right with the world. Then, like being suddenly awaken from a dream, the debate was over. I was left to fend for myself in the madness of life. I realized that if I don't pay my bills on time, there's nothing either candidate could do to fix the credit crisis. If I don't properly educate myself and my children, there's nothing anyone can do to break the cycle of poverty. It became clear in all of one minute that the feelings I had during the debate shall pass if I don't make myself part of the solution. President Lincoln didn't need wise men to provide the sentence that any of us could have provided. 'This too shall pass' is a phrase that if not used appropriately can enable us to accept our current state of sad affairs. I agree that most difficult times will pass, but they'll be back if we don't demonstrate we've learned something through the experience.
My challenge to you this week is to reflect on a difficult situation that you simply let pass away without addressing it head on. Reflect on how the situation may rear its ugly head again if you continue to ignore it. Leadership requires knowing when to fight and knowing when to walk away. Walking away however is not a solution if the other party doesn't believe you are aware of what's going on. If you appear to be naïve or simply blind to the issue, both the problem and problem source will reintroduce themselves very soon. Teachers shouldn't ignore difficult students, doctors shouldn't ignore difficult patients, and managers shouldn't ignore difficult employees. "And this, too, shall pass" is a great saying when recovering from a difficult situation. Shame on us all if we dismiss the opportunity to learn from it.
Alonzo M Kelly
There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it. ~ Denis Diderot
I am a member of many organizations that are committed to community service and leadership. We stand side by side and proclaim to reject all that is wrong in our community and be models for all that is right. We profess to reject violence, discrimination, every 'ism' you can name, and infractions against humanity. In other words, we reject what my daughter describes as 'mean people' and the mean things they do. Why is it then that more often than not, it gets harder to hear this unified voice of peace and unity? I suspect that for every person who is truly trying to do the right thing, they are trumped by the scores of people who simply don't have time to join them. I'm careful not to say they don't care because I believe most people do. As this weeks quote highlights however, doing the right thing absolutely involves some element of doing the convenient thing. I've often wondered how leaders are able to use the word 'fantastic' to describe their mood EVERY DAY! After the fifth day I walk away wondering what they've avoided addressing in order to keep their harmony. While I shouldn't assume that they've avoided anything, it is something that gives me pause considering the plethora of issues we need to address in our places of business and community.
My challenge to you this week is to do one thing for someone that you know needs to be done but is inconvenient for you personally. You may choose to help an elderly person register to vote, take your neighbor grocery shopping, or give someone feedback that they absolutely need to hear. For all the things that make our leaders great, both past and present, it is their ability to do what is too inconvenient for the rest of us that stands out most. I dare say that everyone reading this email is great. What we must do this week is practice the skill of embracing inconvenience to be ready for anything that comes our way. It’s the inconvenient times, not the smooth times, that our leadership is needed most.
Alonzo Kelly
I am a member of many organizations that are committed to community service and leadership. We stand side by side and proclaim to reject all that is wrong in our community and be models for all that is right. We profess to reject violence, discrimination, every 'ism' you can name, and infractions against humanity. In other words, we reject what my daughter describes as 'mean people' and the mean things they do. Why is it then that more often than not, it gets harder to hear this unified voice of peace and unity? I suspect that for every person who is truly trying to do the right thing, they are trumped by the scores of people who simply don't have time to join them. I'm careful not to say they don't care because I believe most people do. As this weeks quote highlights however, doing the right thing absolutely involves some element of doing the convenient thing. I've often wondered how leaders are able to use the word 'fantastic' to describe their mood EVERY DAY! After the fifth day I walk away wondering what they've avoided addressing in order to keep their harmony. While I shouldn't assume that they've avoided anything, it is something that gives me pause considering the plethora of issues we need to address in our places of business and community.
My challenge to you this week is to do one thing for someone that you know needs to be done but is inconvenient for you personally. You may choose to help an elderly person register to vote, take your neighbor grocery shopping, or give someone feedback that they absolutely need to hear. For all the things that make our leaders great, both past and present, it is their ability to do what is too inconvenient for the rest of us that stands out most. I dare say that everyone reading this email is great. What we must do this week is practice the skill of embracing inconvenience to be ready for anything that comes our way. It’s the inconvenient times, not the smooth times, that our leadership is needed most.
Alonzo Kelly
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