The proud and the selfish

To be proud of yourself for works that are either ordinary or extraordinary is still the same: it is selfish.

Becoming selfless is taking the "me" out of the equation. By removing the self, one becomes a servant. To serve others unconditionally is a noble goal and a great achievement of the heart, mind and spirit.

Who do you serve and how?

How can you serve others daily?

Enjoy!

Yet Another Foiled Attempt

How many times have you failed? How many more can you fail? As Anthony Robbins asked, "how many attempts do parents allow their newborns to try to walk before throwing in the towel?"
Sounds profound, but in all sincerity failing is learning. Learning to fail is learning what not to do.

The important thing to learn about learning to fail is not failing to learn the lesson.


At the end of a project having time set aside to review what happened to a great habit to get into. The value in allocating this time is definitely Quadrant 2 in the Steven Covey time matrix and in a busy business environment, many times the last thing people want to do at the end of a project is to get together and talk about it.

But make the time to talk about it. The last thing needed is repeated wasted effort. Innovation cannot take place when there are bad habits fossilized. The habits need to be rooted and new systems installed.

Again, easier said ...

However, just like the baby learning to walk it takes baby steps. Giving up is not an option, failing is not negative unless we don't learn from the failure. Try taking some small steps and not worry about falling. It's liberating.

Thanks!

Matthew, MB

Beat your Mental.

More on Pure Thoughts

The title sounds a bit reminiscent of the KISS rule, Keep It Simple Stupid; but the pun is unintentional.

Your thoughts are your business but the idea that you become those thoughts over time. Then the business of your mind becomes public domain. This was the case and still is the case of many writers. This is the intention of said writers. To exercise the thoughts from their mind into a tangible medium.

In the case of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (AD 161–180), his intention was just that, to take the thoughts out of his head and attach it to a tangible object. His diary, Meditations, was intended for his eyes only. It is a rare glimpse into the world of a man who had a difficult job bestowed upon him. He had to rule the Roman Empire. And rule he did. Classified as the prime example of the golden age of Rome, he did a great many things in his time. The driving force he used was a set of principles that held him accountable not only for his actions but his thoughts as well.

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly; and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue, and reasonable nature." —Marcus Aurelius

In order to create anything, having a clean slate to start with is ideal. Often times this is not always possible, but it is an ideal nonetheless. Having clear thoughts is the first principle on how to achieve your goals.

Going back to the idea of the importance of clarity, if we take it a step further we can see how we can actually improve resolution. By having a clear mind going into a project, the outcomes will be limitless. By going into a project with an agenda, these barricades will obstruct clarity.

How then is the best way to go into project? Of course we have an idea of what we want to or would like to accomplish. Otherwise why would we have a meeting?

If the meeting to tell the other side what we (as a group) are going to do, then it is not a collaboration, but a directive. If we first seek to understand each other and offer solutions based on the needs analysis of the situation, then we are a step closer to having clarity.


In Pulp Fiction, Uma asks "Are you the kinda person that waits to speaks, or listens?"


Do you really listen?


Thanks!

Matthew, MB



Beat your mental.

The Elegant K I S S

My junior high school art teacher was a funny man. I could tell you many jokes he told us, but I'd rather remember him for his rules of simplicity in design rather than his sailor mouth.


He introduced us to the KISS rule. His version was Keep It Simple Stupid! Sure it was negative, but that didn't keep Walter Matthau from bossing The Bad News Bears into a winning season.

I digress.

The KISS rule works if all you want to do is simplify. However, in complex situations does this rule still work?

In trying to achieve simple solutions to complex issues the wave of mutilation must first be surfed. The process of learning all that can be learned about a problem will ideally result in the satori of solutions, the elegant solution.


This effortless outcome that seems so obvious it is not even dared questioned.

When this idea falls in line with things that contain beauty with simplicity and functionality coupled with harmony, this is the frame work for ideal idea generation.

More on this later.

Beat your mental!


Matthew, MB

5 Reasons for a Structured Concept Phase

The concept phase, the most important phase in any project, is critical in determining not only the success of the project but as well as the health of the team. A healthy team can think quick but direct, can make serendipitous connections, and have the stamina to put in the extra time when needed (this is always the exception, never the norm). Overall productivity and quality increases. As a result, the following side effects are likely to happen.

1. A non-reactive environment
2. Serendipitous occurances
   
3. Over deliver
   
4. Team can anticipate next move(s)
5. On the spot needs analysis
   

This can only come from controlled repetition.

Creating this structure and discipline will have future benefits of unknown proportions. It allows for clarity, stability, and flexibility when needed. It is like a craftsman moving effortlessly through his or her process.

"Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect."
- John Pancott
and - Vince Lombardi

For more information try the following:

An Introduction to Concept Mapping for Planning and Evaluation

William M.K. Trochim
Cornell University

Beat on!