I can still see my father moving his lips without words to hear. I would look over and say to him "Earth to dad." He explained to me later that he was thinking about a math problem or some other type of work issue. Two nights ago, my youngest daughter caught me talking to myself in her presence. The key word "presence" I was with her physically, but emotionally thinking of work.
So what does it take to be present in the moment you are in? Obviously, this is a work in progress, but this has helped me:
1) Trusting that where I am at this very moment is where I need to be right now. In other words, let go of what has occurred in the past and focus on what you can create now.
2) The people you are with deserve you being with them in that moment.
3) If you are alone, practice observation. What do you see? What do you hear? How does it feel?
4) Challenge that voice in your head that is screaming for your attention.
5) Imagine yourself enjoying each moment when you are alone.
Life is made up of the moments.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Hierarchy of Needs
If you get a chance, I would not spend a ton of time reading the book Organizational Man, but if you have a long attention span go for it and read the whole thing. If you have a short attention span, read the chapter on belongingness and togetherness. If you don't like to read, then don't read. Do something else more productive.
Anyway, it occurred to me while reading this book, that an organization and its people have a hierarchy of needs. Picture a house with a strong foundation, call it "Sense of Personal Purpose", without a sense of personal purpose, you will struggle to build the strong organizational house. Then build the walls, call them the walls of "Belongingness." If you do not feel strongly connected to the organization you cannot go far with your "Sense of Personal Purpose"
The beams across the top of the house, call those the "Beams of Togetherness" You can feel a sense of "Belongingness" with those around you for all kinds of reasons, but without a common organizational purpose, the walls will eventually collapse.
Finally, the roof, call it the "Roof of Results" Seems like a pretty basic hierarchy of needs, but a model to help you as you navigate the wonders of the organization. It can become wonderful or collapse right in front of you.
Evaluate the four:
1) Sense of Personal Purpose
2) Walls of Belongingness
3) Beams of Togetherness
4) Roof of Results
How are you doing with the foundation? You gotta fight for your own sense of clarity around this.
Anyway, it occurred to me while reading this book, that an organization and its people have a hierarchy of needs. Picture a house with a strong foundation, call it "Sense of Personal Purpose", without a sense of personal purpose, you will struggle to build the strong organizational house. Then build the walls, call them the walls of "Belongingness." If you do not feel strongly connected to the organization you cannot go far with your "Sense of Personal Purpose"
The beams across the top of the house, call those the "Beams of Togetherness" You can feel a sense of "Belongingness" with those around you for all kinds of reasons, but without a common organizational purpose, the walls will eventually collapse.
Finally, the roof, call it the "Roof of Results" Seems like a pretty basic hierarchy of needs, but a model to help you as you navigate the wonders of the organization. It can become wonderful or collapse right in front of you.
Evaluate the four:
1) Sense of Personal Purpose
2) Walls of Belongingness
3) Beams of Togetherness
4) Roof of Results
How are you doing with the foundation? You gotta fight for your own sense of clarity around this.
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