There once lived two brothers, who were the best of friends.
The older brother was a man of ambition. He left the village to seek his fortune in the bustling city, where he became a successful businessperson. The younger brother, chose to stay in the village, embracing a life of tranquility and spiritual growth.
Years passed, and the brothers became estranged, their differences driving a wedge between them. The older brother saw the younger brother’s peaceful existence as a sign of weakness, while the younger brother viewed his older brother’s pursuit of wealth as a hollow endeavor.
The older brother’s business empire crumbled, leaving him bankrupt and broken. With nowhere else to turn, he returned to the village, seeking refuge and solace. His younger brother, ever compassionate, welcomed his older brother with open arms, despite the pain he had caused.
Both brothers began to open up, learning to let go and live in the present moment. Above all, they learned to listen to each other with an open heart. Their reunion inspired them to embark on a new journey, spreading the teachings of peace and compassion throughout the village and beyond.
The tale of two brothers reminds us that even in the darkest of times, reunification is possible when we use our energy to let go of our differences, give our wounds permission to heal, and rediscover the beauty of our shared interests.
Reunification is sometimes a political agreement, like October 3 for the Germans. Yet for most of us, personal and professional reunification takes place when the value of being connected is more important than the need to be right. Although this sounds simple, this does not mean it is easy. And if you decide not to reunify with someone or something, at the very least make peace with it.
Enjoy your October news2use and I trust you’ll find one idea you can carry forward in your personal or professional life.
Regards,
Dan
“Relevant & pragmatic ideas, tools and insights to play at your best.”
For You
Have you ever wanted to apply for a new role, approach a new challenge, or even step into a new industry, yet were unsure how to deal with your lack of direct experience in this new area?
Alan Mulally was confronted with this situation many years ago. Mulally had left Boeing and had just been named the CEO of Ford Motor Company, the first true outsider as a Ford CEO. Listen to how he dealt with questions about his lack of automotive experience in his first press conference as Ford’s newest senior leader.
All of us have a unique and special set of skills and experiences that we bring as an outsider. Don’t let being an outsider be perceived as a liability, use your experiences and imagination to create your own rationale about what you bring to both inside and outside situations.
Many years ago, as an optimistic and recent university graduate, I had my “Mulally Moment” during the interview process for the role of sales specialist, potentially my first step into the corporate world!
Towards the close of the interview, the Regional Sales Director turned to me and said, “Dan, I’ve already interviewed a half a dozen other people this week, some with up to five years of experience, and honestly speaking, you are fresh out of college with no business experience, why should we hire you?”
I paused for a moment, leaned forward, and said, “Rick, this is exactly why you should hire me. You see, I have no bad habits, everything I learn from you and from others in the company I will execute with perfection. I am a fresh talent, ready to learn your way of doing things and you won’t have to waste time sorting out bad habits I learned somewhere else.”
The interview was on a Friday morning, the following Tuesday I was offered my first position as a sales specialist.
Develop your Mulally moments and don’t let novel opportunities pass you by.
For You & Your Team
“We could have done so much better,” she said.
A statement we have all heard before, perhaps even from our own lips.
This person measured her performance against an ideal she imagined, and in her mind, articulated through her words, she came up short.
This is called the gap perspective.
The gap perspective is measuring what you achieved against the ideal or best possible case that could have occurred, the impossible best you might say.
Another way to look at what you achieved is called the gain perspective.
This means looking at what you’ve learned, from the standpoint of where you started and adding up the development and achievements you have made since starting.
You’ll never be enough if you measure your progress against an impossible ideal (gap perspective). Be realistic with yourself and others and see your progressive steps as improvements and gains. (gain perspective)
For You, Your Team & Your Business
There is little in life more powerful, more motivating, more effective than to be in the presence of someone who takes ownership of their personal development and growth. Over the years, I witnessed many leaders who talked about the importance of personal development and growth and then I have watched other leaders tell painful stories about their struggles and what they learned from such struggles.
It is the latter type of leader, the one who shares their struggles that brings people to the edge of their seat.
Which type of leader are you?
People, Places & Technology
Effective large group company off-sites are powerful because 1) they remind people why they work for the organization, 2) reunite people behind the mission and strategy of your business and 3) enable people to truly connect — especially since most employees aren’t going into the office every day. Yet not all large group off-sites achieve their desired outcomes, even when much money and time is invested. In this NORENBERG’S NINETY SECONDS, see how this CEO learned to transform mediocre off-sites into transformational experiences.
Thought for the Day
“The beautiful thing about learning
is nobody can take it away from you.”
-BB King