Archive for the ‘Influence’ category

Hyperlinks and life

July 8, 2008

I’ve wanted to write about this for some time now. The world that exists now did not exist several years ago – both in terms of time and in relation to global mentality. Where we once saw life itself as a line within time, we now see life as a multi-layered experience sandwiched inside of other multi-layered experiences within the hologram of Life.

In any given day you will see hundreds of “hyperlinks” on your computer screen. These “hyperlinks” will take you on a journey to another website and another context based on one word. You can continue to follow “hyperlinks” and end up in an entirely different train of thought than you began with. Years ago this would not only have been impossible, but also frustrating.

We are in the middle of a transformation from living “sequential” to living “holistic”. Where we were once happy to have “just the facts” we now want backgrounds and profiles and histories so that we can see the “whole” problem, person or situation.

This switch in perceived needs is changing the development of the next generations mind structure from an old sequential, rational, linear, left brain approach to an abstract, intuitive, holistic, right brain approach to living.

We can see this in many areas of our world, but none more significant than media.  Both in web, print and video we no longer have just “one thing” to look at and understand. Each advertisement, show, special or informative bit has multiple streams that we can connect and disconnect with at whim. I can watch a show or sports game and simultaneously know scores from other games and highlights of news pertaining to all sports…and if the news is big enough, global events – as they happen in real time.

This has to change the way we connect with one another and the way we perceive real connection in our lives. The way we choose to interact with this new perception will also dramatically effect both our perceived and actual influence in this world.

How far?

July 7, 2008

I’ve had this though brewing in my mind about the changes that I see going on in life and around the world. There seems to be a shift in both perception and execution of things. Coming off the heels of Sunday’s talk on Awareness, I’ve been having to answer the question I posed to you guys – “How far are you willing to go?” in regard to becoming Aware.

The ultimate truth is that we are here for a purpose and we are here to live in communal respect with both ourselves (self-respect) and respect to the Creator who put us here to begin with. There is a balance between healthy self-respect based on our existence and feeding Ego with “I am what I do, have, etc.”

I think that this is one of the greatest hindrances we have to overcome as we seek to live and Aware life. Voices from the past creep up and tell us that we are not worthy or not good enough or not “this” or “that”, but the truth is that we are who God, the Source, has created us to be. Certainly we may have made decisions that disappointed family and friends, but those decisions did not shock or surprise God. Let that last sentence sink in a bit.

You are a combination of events and spirit that God knew would collide and form the “you” you are now. Look at yourself and know that you are deserving of respect from yourself and worthy of connecting with the great Power of the Universe.

Once we are able to shake the shame and self-loathing fed by our own Egos, our own light will begin to shine brighter not only to ourselves, but to those around us as well.

Independence Day

July 4, 2008

It’s the fourth again, and with that comes some different kind of feelings around our country. For some they immediately think of the wars going on and have either a positive or negative reaction. For others there is a sense of patriotism – the flag, belonging etc.

Today, I can’t say that any of those emotions have “grabbed” me, yet. I haven’t seen any parades or lit any fireworks, but a sense of interdependence rather than Independence is what has me now.

I am more connected to the space around me now than ever before. That sense of connectedness probably has to do with the talk I’ll deliver Sunday on Awareness, but I hope it will last longer and continue further than Sunday.

To release Independence and individuality and “I’ll do it my own way” to interdependence on the Central Force of the Universe and simply allow myself to flow with the waves of creative energy – not striving against it or pushing it forward brings with it a renewed freedom. Not an easy thing to do either. There is the constant tug to control things and “do” what I’m expected to “do”. However, when we allow our “need to be in control” ego’s to sink and our true self to rise to the surface. We come to the surface with a new vision – a new way of “seeing”.

I don’t want to go to far into what some would call “never, never land”, but the best way I can describe it is the way movie companies have remastered old films. They show the old and new versions side by side and the new version shows more color, clarity and details. That’s what happens when we become “Aware” of the world around us and really “see” with new eyes. One thing is for certain, once you have seen things in their renewed brilliance, you don’t want to go back.

Stroke of Insight

July 2, 2008

I’ve seen this book, but really didn’t think it would interest me. This week I watched a video from the TED conference in Monterrey, California and it was amazing. Though you guys might want to see it as well.

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When Balance isn’t really Balance

June 27, 2008

I’ve written quite a bit about the importance of being balanced. I feel that to find success in any area of life, balance must be a part of the equation. But what kind of balance? Sometimes I can sit outside or take a day off or go somewhere else and feel like I have found balance. I can begin to hear my internal dialogue and interior silence grow. I can even have  the beginnings of an enraptured feeling where I think I have it “all figured out”.

Is what I’m feeling true or not? You’ve probably experienced this before and wondered the same thing. I think that the only way we know if we are in balance is to be in balance in the regular rhythms of life.

Moments of self-discovery are essential, but can actually be detrimental if we lead a life hopping from one of those moments to another. Everything in life is balanced on the pivot of “now”. I have no control over event in the recent or far past; neither do I have any control over things yet to happen. The only place that I have any ability to “do” anything is right here, right now.

If the only way I can feel “in balance” is to escape living life in community, I have become severely off balance in both perspective and execution of life.

John Maeda is becoming a mentor-at-large. He had a conversation with a colleague about insecurity. And I think it has great significance on the idea of real balance. He said, “The thing about insecurity, is that if you are too insecure, then you don’t grow – because you’re paralyzed by fear of failure. On the other hand, if you have no insecurity, then you don’t grow either – because your head is so big you can’t recognize your failures.” The colleague replied, “Balance in all.” John continued, “If you are in the middle, however, you have to shift towards the edges and oscillate a bit in order to know if you are centered.” He responded, “You can get lost in the middle. You need mentors to give you courage.”

To this John questioned, “But all your mentors tend to go away as you age.” The answer, “Yes, because you don’t need them anymore.”

The key is to embrace the oscillation around center/balance, always checking that the pendulum doesn’t swing too far in any direction.

Small and Simple

June 26, 2008

John Maeda is a genius. One of the most enlightening things I’ve read in a while is his idea concerning small and large items and our expectations about something big or something small.

When we find that something small exceeds our expectations we are amazed and will likely say, “I can’t believe all of that came out of such a small thing!” However, when something large exceeds our expectations, our sense of awe is considerably lower. John says, “The smaller the object, the more forgiving we can be when it misbehaves.”

Something that is larger than us demands a rightful respect, but something small deserves our pity. The science of making an object appear fragile is a skill that has been practiced for ages in art. The iPod is a singularly great example of something appearing fragile but exceeding our expectations based on size.

“Pity”, says John, “gives way to respect when much more value is delivered than originally expected.” This is especially true when, through technology, we can hide functionality within simplistic design.

There is even more. When an object is small and simple and functionality is hidden for the owner to manage the items complexity, the object must also convey an embodiment of value.

The combination of these three attributes creates a unique end result. It can bring us to the place where how the things we own feel actually changes how we feel.

John says it best when he says, “Lessen what you can and conceal everything else without losing the sense of inherent value.”

Tiger Woods – “Yes He (and We) Can!”

June 24, 2008

OK we’ve seen the great Tiger win and win and win. Some have said he made a mistake to play while injured, I just think he is an animal. Also, for the record, I don’t think he’ll be out the entire season.

Chip Brown went to Florida in March to take a look at the Woods phenomenon. Brown looked at the relationship between Tiger and us, and how Tigers greatness fulfills a need for greatness the many of us have deep in our hearts.

Brown writes, “You’re writing about a relationship, and you’re projecting on to him. It has to do with what we bring to the theater. If we didn’t bring that ache, that hunger to see him prevail, then we wouldn’t find it answered in Woods. It’s an equation.”

“The subject himself is actually fairly mundane, especially when he doesn’t have a golf club in his hand.” He focuses on the fascinating thing that is created between Woods and his admirers.

“The poet David Ignatow wrote about that ‘wild third thing’, that thing that two people make in concert.” Brown says that the thing that drew him was the “strange equation between the champion and those who venerate him.”

“Truthfully, it seems only a matter of time before Tiger will be known as the greatest golfer who has ever lived. We will be watching him, needing him to be exceptional so that we can feel exceptional also. Tiger is that rare champion who can ‘carry us beyond ourselves.'”

First Week of One Prayer

June 22, 2008

Lifepoint is a wonderful place. Can I say it again? Lifepoint is a wonderful place. The first week of One Prayer was great. Hearing from someone else and matrixing their point of view with our own has a magical quality about it. Sometimes a whole new perspective is gleaned. Sometimes when we hear something from a third party it carries more weight and we respond better. Think about (if you have kids) when you have told your child to do something and their response was let’s say…lacking.

Now think of times when the same words that come out of your mouth, came out of another adult’s mouth and your children reacted as though that were the first time they had ever heard those words. Same thing when hearing from someone somewhere else. We listen with different ears, and the results can be amazing.

We accomplished the change in the set by using a stencil of one of the One Prayer logos. The effect on the floor was done by using a gloss paint over a flat of the same color.

One of the things I loved about this morning was the baptisms. They have to be my favorite aspect of displayed Christianity. It is such a visceral moment to watch someone you know be baptized. I’m so very grateful to be part of the large story God is telling through the lives and events at Lifepoint.

Can’t wait until next week! I’ll tell you more about what’s coming up later in the week.

Father’s Day

June 15, 2008

How can I not write about Father’s Day. I am a father and it is the best thing in life to have two (I have two) charming princesses to love and help through the heights and depths of life. They teach me about myself and how to receive love, and hopefully I teach them what love is supposed to be about and give them the confidence to reach for the stars.

As I watch them grow and become young ladies I am amazed at the way the word “blossom” is not a cliche, it’s truth. They are becoming masters of subtlety both in observing and interacting. They see things in a different way and consistently astound me. Of course they are both different, but I see their mother in each one and know that because of that they will grow up to be women who know themselves and don’t cower to a set mold. They will be individual, independant and incredible.

As a father, how can I say more, but that each day I am thankful and grateful to be close enough to and aware enough of my girls to watch them transform from girls to women.  What a beautiful mystery to see each day weave the intricate tapestry of my “two princesses of Georgia”.

Insultants

June 14, 2008

Last week I read a book in which a key way to produce action and innovation within an organization is to activate “insultants”. I have to admit, at first I thought he was talking about having people who are free enough to tell you, the leader, the hard things and in fact, insult you. I was wrong.

The author used a different point of view on the idea of “consultants”. Typically consultants originate outside of an organization. They provide valuable insight because they are outsiders, however, that same reason – coming from the outside – blinds consultants from culture nuances and unsaid generally accepted protocols unique to different businesses.

The suggestion of “insultants” – consultants from within the business structure – is a great idea that has implications far beyond work environments. By giving some a responsibility to become aware and constructively question practices and actions, a wealth of information can be gleaned.

We can turn this practice to our own lives. If we do not have someone who knows our quirks and also has the freedom to tell us when we vear close to or cross the line, we should look at our relationship account and consider it lacking and in the red. The most valuable asset we can have are people who can constructively view our lives through the “who we are now” while looking toward the “who we want to be” and help us to get there.

If you don’t have a personal “insultant” hire one and you’ll be amazed at the difference a shift in perspective and a new voice can make.