#262: Don’t add to the cold
It’s cold out there. No, I’m not talking about the weather. I’m talking about the vibe.Please, people, this is not the time to add to the cold by viewing others as competition; by ignoring them; by isolating yourself in fear and misery.I know it’s easier said than done, but I’ve been there, twice. And made the same mistakes, twice. I once started a business with a friend and promptly lost my wife, my house, and my self-esteem. Other friends stepped in, new friends appeared, new clients, new wife, new house, new children and new money. We gave up the money, the house and the country to move to the USA. New country; new clients; new money.It was very difficult, twice. And twice I had to learn the same two lessons. One, get out there. Two, accept help when it’s offered and if it’s not, ask. Not doing so is simply nonsense.
I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#261: Saved from a lioness
I was once charged by a lioness in the African bush. Obviously, I got away from her because here I am telling you about it. So what saved me?Leadership. Leadership in the form of the game ranger.Although he carried a rifle, he did not shoot her. When we asked him why not, he said that if he had shot her, then he would have lost his job. His job was to protect the wildlife, not kill it.What then saved us? Trust. Our trust in the ranger and, because of that trust, our willingness to comply with his shouted instructions.
And there you have the problem in organizations, especially in times of fear and uncertainty - compliance without trust. As hierarchies of power, organizations are good at demanding compliance but ineffective at building trust.The catch, of course, is that you must be good at both... if you want to escape the lions out there.I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#260: Struggle easier
Are you struggling to find a new job? Well, maybe you should stop struggling.Many of us were taught that life is a struggle. We heard adults say silly things like ‘no pain, no gain’ and ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again’.You might be older now, but are you any wiser? Look around you. Nature has many examples showing the success of the easy way. Like rivers. Rivers don’t struggle to reach the sea, they simply find the easiest downward path, even if it means going in the ‘wrong’ direction now and then.If at first you don’t succeed, don’t try and try again. Fail if you must, then try something else. Even if you must go in what seems to be the wrong direction.Above all, don’t program yourself with those silly sayings every time your success isn’t immediate. Do what nature does - if at first you don’t succeed, try something easier.
I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#259: Changed by a lioness
I was once charged by a lioness and the experience changed me. For one thing, it gave me an insight into leadership.Have you ever been charged by a lioness? No? Well, I guess that makes me the expert. And if a lioness suddenly appeared in your life, you will look to me for expert advice. But the real question is this - will you do what I say?That, after all, is leadership - people look to you and they follow you.There you have it - the leadership insight I gained in the African bush. The mere fact that I am the relative expert when it comes charging lionesses does not make me a leader. Unless your trust in me overcomes your natural inclination to run, you won’t do what I say, you won’t follow my lead.And as you will discover too late, it is not a good idea to run from a lioness. Nor from your leadership problems.I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#258: We’re in this together
Last week I said that humans are strange. We dominate our planet because we can work together and yet we compete with each other like crazy.Here’s another bit of crazy. We don’t mind so much if bad things happen to us as long as the bad things happen to all of us.You don’t believe me? Look around. Considering all the bad things happening at the moment, how many really unhappy faces do you see? How unhappy are you, really?But if you were the only one struggling financially, the only one without a job, how would you feel?Unfortunately, the opposite also happens. When others are successful, and we are not, we become resentful. Like lobsters. A man asked a fisherman carrying a bucket of lobsters, “Won’t the lobsters climb out?” “No”, replied the fisherman, “When one gets near the top, the others pull him back down.”Now you know why politicians tell us daily “we’re all in this together”.
I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#257: Set your compass
We drove to Baltimore recently to see a show but we almost didn’t get there on time. My wife had printed out detailed directions and assumed these would be good enough.Detailed directions are normally good enough. But if you come across unexpected construction detours, or if you miss a turn, what then?Sometimes, in life and in business, setting a compass bearing can be more effective than relying on detailed directions.When you seek security in detailed directions, then every obstacle will frustrate you and every detour will intimidate you as you lose your way.A compass bearing might not bring you exactly to your planned destination. But slight deviations from a rigid plan can trigger new learning and uncover unexpected opportunities. Why? Because your people will be more alert and aware.And as you get closer, you can always use your GPS, if your original target is still important.
I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#256: Cooperating to compete
People are strange. We dominate the planet mainly because of our ability to work together and yet we compete with each other like crazy.Our ability for premeditated team work has enabled us to expand our horizons beyond our wildest dreams. And as our reality has expanded to match our dreams we have increased our need to know where we fit in the scheme of things.Here’s the really strange bit. Our sense of self-worth is mostly based on comparison with others. I measure myself against my neighbors and colleagues.Sadly, what this often comes down to is that my success depends on your 'un-success'.Here’s the real paradox: ‘I win if you lose’ but ‘We survive if we work together’. We have survived and developed because we tend to resolve this paradox by finding meaning beyond the expense of our neighbors and colleagues.
Remember this as you compete your way out of this recession.
I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#255: Weave with purpose
Have you had the opportunity of watching a drunk struggle his way home?Well, I recently watched something similar - a guy with a metal detector combing an early morning beach. I was standing on a balcony which gave me a bird’s eye view of his progress. As I watched I realized something interesting.Have you ever watched a guy working a metal detector? And have you watched a drunk working a side-walk? Did you notice something interesting? Correct! Both weave, but one zig-zags all over the place, while the other one weaves with purpose.That’s exactly the strategy you should adopt this new year - weave with purpose.Many organizations are punch drunk, zig-zagging and stumbling about. The risk is that they will seek stability by developing rigid plans with inflexible strategies. But things are simply too uncertain for that to work.Better for you to be clear on the outcome you want and then to weave with purpose.I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#254: Symbolic resolutions
Another year, another bumper sticker: May your bad luck last as long as your New Year's resolutions.Many of us had bad luck last year and so I hope that this bumper sticker applies to us. But then again, some of us had bad luck because we did not stick to last year’s resolutions.I wonder, why do New Year's resolutions seldom stick around longer than the hangover created at the same time? Is it because our resolutions are unrealistic, the implementation too painful, or our memories conveniently faulty?Here’s what I think. New Year's resolutions don't stick because the act of making the resolution has more significance than the resolution itself. We put too much meaning into making a resolution and too little resolution into our actions.Today holds less ritualistic pressure than the first of the year. Time to rework your resolutions. Put less emphasis on symbolic intention and more on resolute action.I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#253: Hoping for faith
If this is the time of peace and goodwill, then what went wrong? Financial stress. Financial stress destroys peace of mind and saps feelings of goodwill, especially towards those who have abundance.Nevertheless, this is the season to be jolly and hope always rides along with peace and goodwill. So here’s hoping that 2009 will bring you peace and goodwill.
Oops! Hope is not a strategy.Faith could be. Here’s how. Have a vision, then go at it with purpose and a steady faith that you will succeed.
Faith in doing; not faith in hoping. People gain faith in you through your actions and deeds, not through your words of hope. Funny thing is, when others have faith in you, then yours will grow.
Remember, always act with faith in your own abilities. If you don’t believe in yourself, no-one else will. And then hope is all that you’ll have left.I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
#252: Summoned by cell phone
Oh, the benefits of technology, especially during holidays. Are you have a good time visiting family and friends? You are? Then you are surely not playing with your cell phone.That’s right, there’s an inverse relationship between the two.Let me explain. Long ago, we had a real family doctor. Back then there were no cell phones, not even paging devices. Nevertheless, our family doctor had a plan to cope with boring social engagements. He asked his nurse to call him one hour into the event. If he was having a good time, he would ‘solve’ the fictitious crisis on the phone. If he was bored, he would excuse himself and leave.Some people try this trick using their cell phones, even in meetings at work. However, an ‘urgent’ call on your cell phone is not as dramatic nor as convincing as being summoned to speak on an old fashioned wall telephone.So, remember that before your next boring meeting or family gathering.I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
