A recap on some important messages.
One of the great benefits of being a team of authors is that we, too, are learning from each other. So on that theme I wanted to review some of the Posts that have been written by my fellow authors as a reminder of some powerful motivational ideas.
When asked about his approach to climbing Everest at the third attempt in May 2009 and, at age 65, the oldest Briton to do so, he captured the full spirit of separating actions from goals when he said:
Plod forever! Don’t expect to get there. Don’t think there is going to be a top to this mountain. Just plod forever!
Watch the video.
The personal strengths that I have used to achieve my Polar goals are no different to the strengths that people need to meet the challenges that they face at work, especially during this time of economic turmoil. People need to be focused, committed, resilient and able to perform at their optimum.
The truth is that if you had asked me what my strengths were before I embarked on my adventures I would have had difficulty naming any. Like many people, I had several self-limiting beliefs and low expectations.
That all changed when I was given an opportunity to become part of a female relay team going to the North Pole. I had many doubts but I suddenly realised I could do many things – and I did.
By the way, in case you are waiting for the “dogs” connection, there isn’t one: she does not use dogs. She and her team mates “man haul” everything on sleds that weigh up to 250 lbs, including over jagged pressure ridges of ice up to 30ft high.
She walks, skis and (wait for it…) swims to the poles!
In the following interview, she reveals a variety of aspects of her exploration:
Just put aside an hour and watch the video. You are worth the investment of one small hour.
The title of the Post comes from Zander’s powerful presentation. Video quality not so good (but good enough) but messages highly motivational. It really is worth watching – and passing on to others.
Likewise watch Tim’s presentation to the British Institute of Directors.
Now closer to home …
Jon Lavin
Jon, one of our authors, specialises in personal development especially within business:
Jon’s success is his understanding of people and how they are in relationship with each other. This requires that people are able to self-reflect and be willing to examine behaviours that are no longer fit for purpose. Many life problems originate from the difficulties we create through our own behaviours and then inflict them onto other people.
By bringing this realisation into our everyday lives, it becomes possible to create desired change which has the potential to have a huge impact. With this change can come a freedom from old patterns and a choice to be how we want to be. This clearly can have a powerful and positive influence on business performance where managers and teams actively participate in this type of personal development. In the current business climate, the importance of this has become even more apparent as companies cut staff and expect more from fewer people.
And still staying close to home …
Sherry Jarrell
Sherry is another author. Just see how important words were to her:
My brother was now in graduate school in Chicago, and he and I were talking on the phone one night. Ours was an awkward relationship, particularly in person. It was much easier to talk on the phone or write letters. Less personal maybe. More safe.
The fact that we didn’t speak often and weren’t warm and comfortable in person made his comment to me all the more unexpected and memorable and, as it turns out, life-altering. I was telling him about some academic articles I had studied in class. The articles were about economics and regulation, and were so intellectually challenging but accessible and clear. They were written by Sam Peltzman and George Stigler. My brother said to me, “Sherry, both of those men are professors here at the University of Chicago. You should think about applying to the Ph.D. program. I can see you going here. You can do it!”
All of us, without exception, have to fight those demons in our minds that make us want to give up (resignation) or blame our circumstances on things external to us (anger). But as Dr David Hawkins once wrote, “You can’t give away what you don’t own.” If we ‘own’ a willingness to change, to find opportunities (possibilities), to smile, to be grateful, to embrace the world and all the other attributes demonstrated in this Post then You CAN do it.
By Paul Handover
Learning from Dogs 