Asking good questions is both an art and a science.
Found a good resource on Wabisabi learning on THE 5 KEY STEPS FOR HELPING YOU ASK GOOD QUESTIONS [INFOGRAPHIC]
Asking good questions
Category: wisdom
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 5 Rules for Success
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb7_E12FFLw&w=500&h=315]
The coach
All managers should, in part, be coaches.
This is from the Picking up the Bill article on The Economist (May 25th 2019). Gallup, a polling organization cites research showing that when managers involved employees in setting their own work goals, the latter are four times more likely to report feeling engaged. Managers are responsible for 70% of the variance in how engaged employees were. (The Economist)
The same article talks about the book “Trillion Dollar Coach” written by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle in praise of their mentor, Bill Campbell.
Once upon a time…
Stories are powerful. Evolution has wired our brains for storytelling. We all love a great story.
For over 27,000 years, since the first cave paintings were discovered, telling stories has been one of our most fundamental communication methods (Source). Stories help us connect with each other and are an important part of our existence. We feel more emotionally connected when we hear a good story, when we could relate our own experience(s) with the person sharing his or her story and when we experience a certain feeling (happy, angry, sad etc). Stories are amazing.
Good read on The Irresistible Power of Storytelling as a Strategic Business Tool
Tools of happiness
Here are some ways that can make you happy.
-Do things you love (even if you don’t get paid for them)
-Spend time with your loved ones (family, friends, relatives)
-Volunteer to a cause that you absolutely feel strongly about
-Travel (does not have to be international, just travel to where you can)
-Read books (any book)
-Spend more time with people than online (technology is just a tool)
LinkedIn Speaker Series: Andre Iguodala
LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner sits down with Andre Iguodala, three-time NBA champion to discuss insights from Iguodala’s new book, The Sixth Man.
Disconnect in weekends
Shoe Dog
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight was a book on my Book bucket list for 2019.
I wrote then “When I went to college, I wanted to work for one company after graduation and it was Nike. This was one of the reasons why I studied abroad in Amsterdam, The Netherlands which was very close to Hilversum where Nike’s European headquarters was located. At that point, I had planned to either get an internship or a field visit to it’s Hilversum office. Neither happened but Nike has always fascinated me. When I heard about this book, I was overjoyed and wanted to read it ever since. “
I really enjoyed reading Shoe Dog. One of the best memoir’s I’ve read. I loved reading about Phil’s journey of starting Blue Ribbon which later became Nike. There are so many gems inside the book-the high’s/low’s of starting a company, sacrifices made, cultural challenges, among others. I could go on and on about the book but I rather you read it for yourself. Enjoy the read.
Beginner’s Mind
In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few. – Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Some valuable wisdom…
I love this paragraph from Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog. It’s about the time when he wrote about the long-term prospects of Blue Ribbon and how he saw the future.
“This last line was wholly truthful. It was worth shooting for. If Blue Ribbon went bust, I’d have no money, and I’d be crushed. But I’d also have some valuable wisdom, which I could apply to the next business. Wisdom seemed an intangible asset, but an asset all the same, one that justified the risk.”
Awareness
The dictionary definition of awareness is the quality or state of being aware: knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists.
As I got older (I’m not that old!), I’ve come to realize that awareness is the starting point to becoming better. If we are not aware of where we need to improve, how will be become better? If we want to become a better manager, a better parent, or a better person, we have got to start out with awareness of our strengths and weaknesses. The first major part of the improvement process is self awareness and then its execution of the action plans towards getting better.
There is no lack of information out there. Anyone who is aware of where he/she needs to get better at can google it. Where to find the information is secondary to self realization of which areas to improve or where to focus our time and energy. At various phases of our lives, we’ll be working on different personal and professional areas. Becoming self aware and taking the steps necessary can lead to your own satisfaction and happiness.
Story of the Buddha
The reflection
Even the best preparation can sometimes not be enough to achieve the results you wanted. There are things that are out of your control. Other times, you know you could have done better in certain areas. Reflection is a key part of moving forward.
The honest self reflection is what’s important. We could flatter ourselves with all the praise yet it won’t make us better or help us improve. If we are genuinely looking to improve, we have to cut the bullshit and be honest with ourselves. What you tell yourself will most likely come out to be true. As the quote goes, whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.
Words have power
Our words have value when we do as promised. They have value when we communicate if we cannot do as promised. They have less value when we do something other that what we promise.
So simple yet we have miscommunication so often. Sometimes we get carried away and promise too much too soon. Other times we promise too much to save face, not disappoint the other party, or just have a habit of speaking a lot. Words have power when we communicate wisely.
Some of my favorite quotes
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali
“Dream is not what you see in sleep, dream is something which does not let you sleep.” – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
“Be thankful for what you have-you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
“The best investment you can make, is an investment in yourself…the more you learn, the more you’ll earn.” – Warren Buffet
Podcasting stats & facts
Digital detox in practice
If you’re looking to digital detox, here are some helpful tips from Jay Shetty. He mentioned these tips in a video conversation with Jim Kwik. Jay breaks down digital detox into three key steps.
First is awareness. Build a digital diet sheet. See how much time you are actually spending on your phone and on social media/email etc.
Second is to build no technology zones and times in your home. Avoid kitchen and bedroom areas where you can enjoy those spaces with people.
Third is not to go from one extreme to another (excessive usage to completely no usage). Take small steps towards a digital detox.
The crazy ones
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.
How to be happy
According to science, there are certain ways that can help you become more happy. To name a few: give yourself a confidence boost, build a growth mindset for happiness, make positive memories, take breaks from social media, and communicate kindly etc. There are 23 ways to become happy as mentioned by Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. in Psychology Today.
Growth feedback
Positive feedback makes us feel good. We feel like we’re walking on air when we hear good things about ourselves. Yet positive feedback does not help us get better or grow professionally. We need constructive feedback.
Here’s a good article How To Take Constructive Feedback Like A Boss