Perspective
I gave a talk recently to a group of students at Tech Elevator. Soon I’ll have some footage for you, but this post is about perspective. The kind of perspective found in pouring out into those students in a way that left me in awe. When you look back on what you’ve learned, and what makes you thankful, it leaves you humble. Here’s a conclusion I came to today:
If I achieve nothing else from this point forward, I have learned and been blessed in a way that is beyond what I could have expected.
During the talk with those students, I helped them with a process of looking back for perspective. It was designed to give them reference points for a tough journey ahead. Often, we go into storms with no account of what we can handle. It’s as if we just react to whatever comes our way. Sometimes this works out, sometimes we’re left exposed. Please understand:
Storms are as normal, and frequent, as sun and good times.
Here are some key opportunities you can take away from looking back for perspective:
- Looking back for perspective shows you’ve learned some things. This, of course, is dependent on you giving yourself a break and claiming the learning
- Looking back for perspective is a strength-building exercise. It builds in you a sense of what you can handle and what you can persevere through. You’ll need this when it’s dark
- Looking back for perspective allows you to see other people as they truly are. You might find they’re not as bad or as great as you once thought
- Looking back for perspective, if done regularly, helps you take responsibility for your choices.
- Looking back for perspective creates a spirit of gratitude, and gratitude will take you to good places
Reach out to me directly if you would like more.
Dehumanizing the Employee
In my last post, I rang the bell about the gap between human development and the advancements of technology. The disharmony is evident to many. Within the large and mid-market organizations, there is another disturbing trend afoot. We are witnessing the dehumanization of the employee.
Dehumanizing the employee occurs as many employers are looking to advance efficiency and innovation. It’s a false belief that those twins can move human development the way technology does with automation or research.
One area worth looking at is the process many organizations use to hire talent. Keep in mind that the talent is made up of flesh and blood. I realize this can also be a source of real frustration for those in talent recruitment. Technology has convinced many senior leaders that vast problems are solved in the hands of inventive software.
The idea of using screening software has a place. However, it’s proven, the folly of hiring based on keywords. The old saying, “we hired your resume, but what we got was you” is on mark here. More critical thinking in this spot is what we need. Seems like that would remedy the incongruent state of the talent recruitment processes.
So the dehumanizing continues. What do we do now that the horses are out of the gate?
- Put on your big boy pants or big girl skirt, and be a leader with integrity and vigor
- Change the culture. This is not for the faint of heart, but if you do the first bullet it will increase the odds in your favor
- Stop listening to the marketing
- Trust only those who’ve been hurt deeply. They will be honest and real
- Close it down, quit, move on, if that’s what it takes. Better to live to fight another, than die while still breathing
The Problem with Technology
There are so many cool things about technology. To be living in this time you might feel lucky. If you’re someone like me, who lives with a chronic disease, your literal life may be impacted by the advancements technology brings. I am thankful.
However, there is a problem with technology.
As the advancement has moved at warped speed, so has the decline in the state of human beings. The state of:
- integrity
- wellbeing
- economics
- status quo
- culture
The above 5 are just my mine. Would you add something to the list? Do you agree? Do you see the trend? Do you see the danger?
I met with a development officer from a local university a few weeks ago. The research group she helps is doing some really intriguing things in the world of diabetes care, more specifically finding a cure. Their work runs the gamut, from islet cell therapy to using 3d printing as a tool to further expand breakthroughs.
By the time she had completed her story, my head was spinning. It gave me hope and it made me pause.
What good is the work if beneficiaries are determined to kill themselves despite the prospects of a better day?
I told the development officer that some of the dollars raised should be used to fund solving the problem of poor choices. Its the 800 pound gorilla. Would solving that problem fix everything? I’m not smart enough to say, but it’s clear much of what plagues us inside our head would be improved dramatically.
This irony didn’t begin yesterday.
What About Now?
You’ve got plans, I’ve got plans. Most of these plans relate to the future. It’s a future that no one can be certain of. Watch out for those who say otherwise.
What about now?
You can be certain about now. The now is 100% certain. Are you shocked by how little attention we pay to it? The now is often treated as a person we meet at a party, who might be the best connection we could make, but we’re preoccupied with the anticipated arrival of the beautiful one. Always looking past to get to something else.
Do you find yourself looking past your now?
I understand many will wait and let life come crashing in with some big disruption, before turning their heads. The irony is we’re warned every day to live now. Few heed this because of an arrogance marketing and innovation often produce. And by the way, it’s not the fault of marketing and innovation. The fault lies with us. We pervert and corrupt, in order to convince ourselves the lies are true. Even Eric Schmidt declared that robots will one day be omnipresent in our lives. Into the future we go, be damn the warped logic. Humans doing what humans do.
Is it time to pay attention to the now?
I search out each day to find beauty and wonder. Yes, it is soft and it is an art. That’s one way I embrace my now. I also own it. If I’m going to be surprised by an impromptu appearance by death or some debilitating disease, I want to be found in my now. Mine equals ownership and all the responsibility that comes with it.
Here are some things that are found in the now:
- God
- Beauty
- Love
- Music
- Breakthroughs
- Tolerance
- Understanding
- True Hope
- Success
- Integrity
Planning for the future can be virtuous, but not being able to stop in the now is a recipe for distraction and regret. I know you’ve heard this before. Thing is, you and I are terminal, we should live that way.