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Belief & Imagination
Suspending disbelief
open us up
to imagine
without believing.
And if we have trouble imagining
we can seek support
just as artists do
from the very material with which
we’re trying to imagine
by asking them questions
and working with them
to see what we can learn from them.
The Reason Why?
Often times,
what we need
is a story,
based on facts,
with which we can
realize empathy
As long as the story is based on facts,
whether that story is actually the reason
or not is less important.
What matters is that
we can understand and appreciate
why
in a way that depersonalizes us
(if the reason why certain stories are not acceptable or hanunting us is
because it personalizes us
it faults us.
The story right now is mom left me because she thought I was worthless
if I can appreciate her story of how much fear she felt of the thought of raising a child,
then I can understand,
but appreciation has to come first
not understanding
because even if we understand that someone is doing something because they’re insecure
without appreciation of the insecurity
we can easily judge the insecurity
as a weapon to say “well, they shouldn’t be so insecure if they’re CEO!”
The Rhythm Section
When I first learned to play
the guitar,
I only learned how to play
so that I can sound
good.
Years later,
I learned from Victor Wooten,
that there is a different kind of learning,
which is to learn how to play
so that other people
can sound
good.
The art
of support.
To Fire or Not to Fire
The challenge
of whether or not
to fire someone
is rarely a challenge
of whether or not
to fire them.
The real challenge
may not become clear
until we acknowledge
the emotions we feel
confronted with the prospect
of firing them.
Guilt
Regret
Gratitude
Conflicted with
Certainty
The need to maintain relationship.
Am I Doing Enough?
Sometimes
asking ourselves
am I doing enough
may mean
that we dont have enough trust
in the people around us
to do their share.
Some results need to be achived
and if we are not the one who can achieve those results
but they can only be achieved through others
or we’d rather have others achieve those results
So the question isn’t am I doing enough
the question is
who can I entrust to do something
that I am not doing
or I am not good at doing
or I do not want to do.
Disrespect
“What do you remember
as the single most
disrespectful event
you’ve experienced
as an employee?”
the founder asked.
“Being treated
as a means
to the company’s
ends”
I replied.
“But isn’t that
natural?”
she asked.
“From the company’s perspective,
perhaps.”
I replied.
“But from the employee’s
perspective
I’m sacrificing my time and energy
to be with you
when I could be
with someone else
Too Much to do
We say
we have too much
to do.
When it may be
that we choose to do
more than we can
handle.
There are times
when taking responsibility
restores the power we need
to take charge
of our lives.
Golden to Platinum
Compassion without realization of empathy
can easily lead
to manipulation.
Direct Reports
“Can you coach
one of my direct reports, too?”
asked the founder.
“Only if
you’re willing to accept the possibility
that they’ll feel empowered
to leave your company.”
I replied.
Too Fast or Too Slow
Fear
can inspire behaviors
either too fast
or too slow.