3 Life Changing Questions About Fences

I saw this fence blocking the sidewalk at the school where my daughter attends and it got me thinking...

1. What fences are in my way right now?

2. What would happen if I removed those fences? What if I could walk easily, at a steady pace, with no resistance, towards the life I dream about?

3. Why am I not doing it? Why do I keep putting up fences where none existed before?

That's what's on my mind tonight.

What do YOU think about these questions?

The Climate in Your Head: Brain Tornadoes or Blue Skies?

Tonight I decided I was just going to write a stream of thought.

No preparation here. Just seeing what comes out. Could be typos and lousy grammar but that's cool.

Lately I've been resonating with the idea of climate. I'm not talking about the actual climate, such as that in the photo to the right. (The cloud formations on the drive up to Barrie last Friday were pretty cool though).

Chartered Accountants?

This morning I was the kick off presenter for an audience of 60 Chartered Accountants (CAs). As part of my mission to empower quiet guys I have been actively looking for introverted professionals to engage with. I'm still not clear which quiet guys actually care about what I care about but I'm really interested in finding out!

I contacted the local chapter of the CA association, presented options for topics and was gladly invited to participate in their learning day today. The topic they chose was about the importance of building a climate for creativity and change.

What is climate?

The concept of 'climate' = the attitudes, behaviours and feelings that reflect what people experience everyday.

There are three levels of climate to be aware of: Individual psychological climate (the one in our heads), team climate and organizational climate. They are all interconnected within a workplace environment.

A creative climate (in a business context) is one that enables people to make new connections and generate ideas to satisfy the dreams, aspirations, hopes, wants, needs etc. of some group of people willing to pay for them.

In a recent study by IBM, 1,500 organizational leaders around the globe were interviewed. These leaders stated that the number one issue facing them today is increased complexity. And the number one competency  was creative leadership, the ability to thrive despite the ambiguity and uncertainty that is part of life as we know it today. I would suggest that creative leadership or creativity is something everyone can tap into, especially introverted men.

The key point in my presentation was:

If increased complexity demands increased creativity then we must understand how to enable creativity to flourish. One key answer is to become aware of and deliberately shape the climate in your head and workplace.

As I was preparing for the presentation it struck me deeply how important this message is. And I also become even more aware of the climate between my two ears.There are times when the doubt and fear swirls like a tornado, but then it is gone just as quickly. But I can feel the trail of debris it leaves. Yet in another flash the sky is blue and the sun is shining brightly. When it's like this I'm productive and want it to stay as long as possible.

Last night I stumbled upon an old journal I had written some notes in and low and behold the words below were written in it:

• Improving state of mind is the big competitive opportunity
  
• We all want relief of mental stress
  
• People seek trusted advisors because they relieve mental stress
  
• People want to know how you are going to make them feel better
  
• Improve the quality of life inside their heads
  
• Every transaction is about healing psychic wounds, not just buying a product or service
  
• We must understand the state of mind the consumer is after
  
• What do they want?
  
• How do you want them to feel? 

The words hit home for me. They reinforced the importance of this climate idea.

The bottom line is that I'm going to start focusing more deliberately on understanding the current climate in the heads of people I work with and live with. I'm also going to attempt to understand the state of mind that they are seeking. Of course I'll continue to notice the climate in my head and how it impacts my life at work and at home.

I hope you find this concept as empowering as I do.

Sunday Reflection: What is your transformation experience?

When I read the sign as I drove through Alma, Ontario last week it got me thinking...

If you don't know about Alma let me paint a picture for you. It is a small village in South-Central Ontario with one main corner. It's a place you can easily miss if you blink as you drive through.

However, there is a restaurant in town called Marj's Village Kitchen that is somewhat famous around these parts for it's home cooking. It is a rustic little spot and it was surprisingly jammed packed when I arrived at 2pm for a late lunch last Friday.

I sat at the counter because all of the tables were full. I observed the hustle and bustle of the staff serving up large platters of home cooked goodness, mugs of hot coffee, slices of freshly baked pie and a ton of good feelings.

This isn't really a restaurant review so I'll cut to the chase on this Sunday morning and let you sit with a question.

I was transformed by Alma and the experience of Marj's Village Kitchen.

When I walked into their restaurant I was transported to a physical and emotional space swirling with comfortable, warm, nostalgic feelings. It felt like home, even though I was a stranger just passing through.

Their slogan says it all: 'Welcome when you're here. Missed when you're not!'. 

I'm a fan for life. When I left Marj's I felt a bit heavier in my belly and a lot warmer in my soul. I stopped to take the picture of the Alma population sign because of the 'Population Growing' statement. It reinforced the optimistic feeling that enveloped me as I drove home that sunny fall afternoon.

Here is a Sunday Reflection for you to ponder.

Visualize the experience people have with you and how they are transformed as a result of who you are. This is a powerful technique to recharge your self-esteem and get clarity about the value you provide for people.

Start by picturing someone important to you (your spouse, your boss, a colleague, a client etc.). Then imagine they are transported into a space where YOU feel the most alive and at peace with yourself.

This is a place where you feel very powerful and your vision of what you are here to do in the world is crystal clear. It is also a space that allows you to express and share the greatest gifts you are here to offer others. You have no hesitation or fear in this space.

Look around the space.

What do you notice? What do you see, smell and hear? How does the space feel? What are you wearing? What are you doing? How are you feeling?

Now visualize your person arriving. You meet them with your heart wide open. Notice how they are carrying themselves. You can read their mind. What is on their mind? What concerns are weighing heavy for them? What are they excited about? What do they secretly crave more than anything else? What do they wish you would do for them that others have not been able to offer?

Imagine yourself at your best. Saying and doing whatever it is you do to deliver the greatest gift you are here to offer. What would you do? What would you say? What would they be doing and saying?

Visualize the transformation that occurs and how they are carrying themselves as they leave your space. What do you say as a send off to sum up what you are about and the gift they have just received? What might your slogan be? Imagine what they are thinking and feeling as they head back to the reality of their lives.

Let this experience bubble inside and see what pops up for you today. Feel free to share your experience on the blog.