The Workedge Blog
Mark's RemarksHow to Train a Dragon
Annie had transmitted her emotional state and words to Lukas without even trying. He picked up on her signals and was able to reproduce everything. What particularly caught my attention was his ability to repeat her speech.
This kind of unintentional teaching likely occurs frequently in workplaces, communities, and families.
I find this very profound. It reinforces much of the research I have been reviewing over the past quarter-century: nothing drives an organization, family, or any other group like the emotional state of the leader and its transmission to others.
This excerpt highlights the powerful, often unnoticed way that attitudes and emotions are passed from leaders-whether parents or managers-to those around them.
1961— The Predicted Future for Electronics
In 1961, Kurt Vonnegut wrote a short story called Harrison Bergeron. It was a fanciful tale that envisioned a future in the United States where the Constitution mandated everyone be alike. In this society, no one could be smarter or more athletic than anyone else. The government even designated officials to ensure everyone had the same abilities and outcomes.
For example, if someone displayed a higher IQ, that person was required to wear an earpiece that buzzed loudly every 20 seconds. This device would emit various sounds to interrupt the individual’s thoughts, ultimately reducing their IQ to average.
[Sarcasm Alert.] Let me get this straight. In a fictional story written nearly sixty-five years ago, an electronic device could supposedly reduce a person’s IQ by constantly bombarding them with distracting sounds, vibrations, and signals. Impossible–that could never happen!
Hang On To Your Shot
Recently, we lost the legendary Gene Hackman, a star of many incredible movies. One of the favorites among movie fans is Hoosiers, a classic tale based on a true story about an underdog high school basketball team in a small town in 1950s Indiana.
Maris Valainis, who grew up in Indiana, loved basketball like many boys his age. He had a very good shot, but his size and poor defensive skills undermined his attempts to make his high school basketball team. Every year, he attended tryouts, and every year, he was cut.
But he hung on to his shot…
Conscious + Subconscious = Problem Solved
The next time you encounter a complex problem, consider writing it out, brainstorming, researching solutions, and then stepping back. There’s a good chance your subconscious mind will come up with a resolution—even if your conscious mind has not.*
Daydreams and Stories
How much time do you spend daydreaming? In his book Business Made Simple, Donald Miller states that people typically spend 30 percent of their day daydreaming. As a matter of fact, he writes that “much of the time we are talking with others, listening to speeches, scrolling through our phones, and even eating a meal, we are completely checked out”….
Hurt and Be Hurt
The clue that this was a bigger deal than I thought came at his passing. I usually feel some emotion when a person passes away—sadness, relief if they were suffering, or even a sentimental sorrow for someone I did not know, along with their surviving family. But in this case, I felt…nothing.
All of this reminded me of something I have learned. In a fallen world, it is hard to navigate life without someone else hurting you. It’s just going to happen. It’s a given.