I read an excellent book recently by Mathew Syed called "Bounce". I can recommend it to anyone who is interested in gaining renewed focus, clarity of thought and peak performance. While Mathew Syed's book focuses mainly on sporting excellence, his theories and observations can be applied to most areas of human endeavour and life.
One example in the book kept haunting me though and so I felt compelled to write a few words to expand on my own thoughts on the qualities of true champions and how the same principles might help those dealing with the aftermath of the recent floods in South East Queensland.
The section I am referring to can be found on page 160 when Mathew Syed quotes top French Golfer Jean Van de Velde who says that "Tiger Woods is the most remarkable sportsman he has seen in terms of self belief." Van de Velde goes on to say that "He" (i.e. Woods) "has the ability to fully commit to the shot. On ten foot puts he believes that he will nail them. On forty-foot puts, he knows deep down, he is unlikely to hole them, but he is able to focus his entire mind on the possibility of success rather than the probability of failure. And at the moment he hits the put, his conviction is total. It is a remarkable skill".
There is no doubt in my mind regards the power of that special ability and champions like Tiger Woods, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Mathew Syed demostrated that ability to the letter. For the most part I agree with that philosophy in its commitment to complete focus. In my opinion though, that level of focus is something that goes beyond the goal, or the end result and it is that something which separates true champions from the rest of the field.
In my opinion, to focus soley on the desired result leaves room for failure and self doubt. If the end result is the only point of focus then mental picture and pressure of the task ahead may seem so great and much more complex that the individual aspects of the journey. Depending on the importance of the outcome one's mind might be distracted by questions of doubt and an overwhealming potential for risk and disappointment. If the result is the sole objective, then there is also a much bigger and more involved picture to deal with. This added pressure may in turn force small errors in judgement and may even deprive the person from arriving at the destination or outcome as intended.
Where I believe champions excell is not as much in their ability to give their undivided attention on the result, but rather in their ability to block the empahsis of the result from their mind and to give their total subconscious attention and ability to the very moment they are in, as it occures, without distraction and then onwards through to the logical conclusion. To be in the moment with that kind of clarity, allows a lot more of the subconscious ability to do what is does best, which is to perform in the zone where anything is possible.
As for the final outcome, the champion is by default usually more relaxed and when they invariably cross the line, the outcome is less about the magnitude of the task, but rather just another part of the journey. Of course the outcome is important, but the time to reflect, stress and or to savour the moment comes afterwards. In other words, winning more frequently becomes a by product, or a yardstick along the champions path not the objective.
The potential for failure is always going to be a fact of life, especially in competition. The greatest champions are clear on this reality. When they 'fail', it is less about the emotional or the negative for them and so they recover quickly. I believe it is more about the level of clarity in each moment that guides champions to achieve such high standards of performance.
When champions make their mistakes, which they do, they have already created the mind space and clarity of thought to quickly recognise those situations as they unfold. In doing this they can make the required small corrections as they go and so they make their efforts look easy. Almost by default therefore, they win more often. Are they any better than you or I?... I'd like to think that they have simply discovered a better way of asking the same question, when it matters most.
In the same way I would encourage those affected by the recent floods to be like true champions and to develop the clarity of thought of being in the moment of the rebuild process and to treat each effort as a single completed moment rather than falter because of the enormity of the task ahead. What has happened is done and now is the moment in which to act.
It is true that this is a time of great loss and heart felt pain. There is simply no getting away from that fact. Now is the time to experience that clarity so that great things can happen and to allow life and living for those most affected to go on.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
God Bless.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, December 17, 2010
Zen and the art of being 'Oblivious'
Have you ever been in a car with someone who is completely unaware that their driving is causing other motorists to swerve and panic brake because they don't feel safe around your car? I was a passenger in such a situation recently and I am happy to admit that the experience was more thrilling (not in a good way) than any sideshow ride than I had enjoyed as a child. Maybe it was because I'm little wiser these days, but for some reason I wasn't enjoying the experience in quite the same way. What made the 'white knuckled ride' even more hair raising was the fact that my driver was seemingly unaware of how close we had been to causing an accident, or at the very least, being on the receiving end of some very inconvenient road rage.
Now don't get me wrong, I was being chauffeured around and so was very appreciative of the friendly service and good company, but in between helplessly gripping at the upholstery and blurting out "You don't have right of way!!!!", I felt an uncontrollable urge to say "Do you mind if I drive"... Having the presence of mind to remain calm, I stopped myself from risking the offense. Having survived the journey, I can now comfortably admit that for one of the few times in my life, I had joined the ranks of those with acute NPS (Nervous Passenger Syndrome).
Perhaps it was just me, because 'our' vehicle was also carrying a tribe of children in the rear who seemed completely oblivious to the potential dangers flashing around us. I am more inclined to think though that children are generally unaware of much of what we as adults see and perceive from our years of experience and hindsight.
But hang on a second!! The driver was a responsible adult!!.. How then could all this be happening?.... Having spent a bit of time competing on race tracks, as well as having the benefit of being a long time car nut and 'navel gazer', I had some thoughts on the topic..
Driving technique and habits play a big role in such circumstances... In this case it was the habit of driving off the edge of one's bonnet that might have been the cause. In other words, where the drivers range of view is consistently limited from between a few feet, to a couple of car lengths in front of their own car's front bumper. It is not difficult to spot this driving style because they are the ones making unpredictably abrupt and erratic corrections and turns. These are also the drivers who demonstrate an uncanny ability to hit every pot hole, or other obstacle in their path as well. You will know when you are inside such a vehicle because you will feel an uncomfortable lack of harmony or rhythm in the car's motion. Depending on the degree of severity, ingyou might also feel a sense of forboding warns you that danger is close at hand.
Sometimes such happenings can be corrected by simply making the driver aware of what they are doing and asking them to practice a longer depth of view technique. But that doesn't always work. One might also ask, how did or could such a habit develop in the first place, as nothing could be less natural for those who intuitively drive with a broader range of view.While all this might seem obvious to those in the know, it is obviously not quite so clear to others.
This brings me back to the title of this epistle "Zen and the art of being 'Oblivious".... What about those who remain blissfully oblivious to what they are doing?... What then?... Well if you have any further errands to run that day, you might try convincing everyone that a long walk might be nice.
Now don't get me wrong, I was being chauffeured around and so was very appreciative of the friendly service and good company, but in between helplessly gripping at the upholstery and blurting out "You don't have right of way!!!!", I felt an uncontrollable urge to say "Do you mind if I drive"... Having the presence of mind to remain calm, I stopped myself from risking the offense. Having survived the journey, I can now comfortably admit that for one of the few times in my life, I had joined the ranks of those with acute NPS (Nervous Passenger Syndrome).
Perhaps it was just me, because 'our' vehicle was also carrying a tribe of children in the rear who seemed completely oblivious to the potential dangers flashing around us. I am more inclined to think though that children are generally unaware of much of what we as adults see and perceive from our years of experience and hindsight.
But hang on a second!! The driver was a responsible adult!!.. How then could all this be happening?.... Having spent a bit of time competing on race tracks, as well as having the benefit of being a long time car nut and 'navel gazer', I had some thoughts on the topic..
Driving technique and habits play a big role in such circumstances... In this case it was the habit of driving off the edge of one's bonnet that might have been the cause. In other words, where the drivers range of view is consistently limited from between a few feet, to a couple of car lengths in front of their own car's front bumper. It is not difficult to spot this driving style because they are the ones making unpredictably abrupt and erratic corrections and turns. These are also the drivers who demonstrate an uncanny ability to hit every pot hole, or other obstacle in their path as well. You will know when you are inside such a vehicle because you will feel an uncomfortable lack of harmony or rhythm in the car's motion. Depending on the degree of severity, ingyou might also feel a sense of forboding warns you that danger is close at hand.
Sometimes such happenings can be corrected by simply making the driver aware of what they are doing and asking them to practice a longer depth of view technique. But that doesn't always work. One might also ask, how did or could such a habit develop in the first place, as nothing could be less natural for those who intuitively drive with a broader range of view.While all this might seem obvious to those in the know, it is obviously not quite so clear to others.
This brings me back to the title of this epistle "Zen and the art of being 'Oblivious".... What about those who remain blissfully oblivious to what they are doing?... What then?... Well if you have any further errands to run that day, you might try convincing everyone that a long walk might be nice.
Friday, December 10, 2010
On the matter of "Integrity"
Back to the habitually dishonest and or criminal elements among us and the question of whether they have integrity... Well certainly in my opinion some of them can and do and it is only one's perception, or rather misunderstanding that might create space for disagreement on that point. Note the use of the word 'perception' rather than say 'stated fact', or 'reality'. The key to understanding this topic is in the word "perception" and while that is another subject matter on its own, "perception" is in my opinion, one of the greatest causes of confusion, compromise and hypocricy in peoples lives. In other words, that which deminishes one's integrity.
So to keep things simple here it is; "To be of sound integrity a person needs to be consistently true to one's self and to maintain that same standard in the outward expression of one's actions, regardless of circumstances, environment, or the expectations of others." To the majority of 'decent' citizens that intuitively might include the benchmarks of truth, honesty, fair minedness, courtesy, respect, do unto to others, etc, etc, etc.. To others it might mean something very different. Regardless of where someone is on the Integrity / Hypocricy scale of life, it is the applied consistentcy of one's internailised belief system that defines the substance of their integrity. To do less is to be a hypocrite and sadly the world is full of those, be they of inherently strong or weak character, good or bad.
Hence why the 'integrity' question featured regularly during my interviews. I always made sure to note the respondents replies and it became one of the key reference points to assist in my decision of whether to call them in for a second interview, or later during reviews, to assist in my decision if they stayed on the team or not. I'm not talking about platitudes, or them spruking conveniently lofty ideals that they thought I might like to hear. I mean getting to the very foundations of who people are, their strength of character and their compatibility with the culture and envirnoment that was necessary for the business to succeed and so that I could sleep easy each night.
I've never had great difficulty in employing and retaining a good team of people. I put this largely down to the substance or their integrity.. Thank you guys.
So to keep things simple here it is; "To be of sound integrity a person needs to be consistently true to one's self and to maintain that same standard in the outward expression of one's actions, regardless of circumstances, environment, or the expectations of others." To the majority of 'decent' citizens that intuitively might include the benchmarks of truth, honesty, fair minedness, courtesy, respect, do unto to others, etc, etc, etc.. To others it might mean something very different. Regardless of where someone is on the Integrity / Hypocricy scale of life, it is the applied consistentcy of one's internailised belief system that defines the substance of their integrity. To do less is to be a hypocrite and sadly the world is full of those, be they of inherently strong or weak character, good or bad.
Hence why the 'integrity' question featured regularly during my interviews. I always made sure to note the respondents replies and it became one of the key reference points to assist in my decision of whether to call them in for a second interview, or later during reviews, to assist in my decision if they stayed on the team or not. I'm not talking about platitudes, or them spruking conveniently lofty ideals that they thought I might like to hear. I mean getting to the very foundations of who people are, their strength of character and their compatibility with the culture and envirnoment that was necessary for the business to succeed and so that I could sleep easy each night.
I've never had great difficulty in employing and retaining a good team of people. I put this largely down to the substance or their integrity.. Thank you guys.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A funny thing happened the other day..
The prodigal son/clan has returned.... I have an extended family to reaquaint with. My brother, his wife & two children, their pets (yes they brought their animals too) and lot's of stuff being shipped back to the "land of milk and honey"... Ok so the 'milk and honey' is of the fat free variety these days, but let's not quibble about politics and the economy.. They've arrived safely and all is well. That's what really matters.. 'Safe n Sound'....That was at least until we waved them off in their car and they drove away on the right hand side of the road... Americans....sigh!!!!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
"The Integrity Myth"
Ask someone what the word 'Integrity' means to them and you might be surprised at the answers you receive. Don't believe me... Give it a try.
If you are in business try asking the question next time you conduct an interview and see what you get back...... The more usual replies include the perceived ideals of 'honesty', 'truthfulness', "do no harm to others" etc etc...While it might be true that these values can form part of one's integrity, in reality they have little to do with the demonstrated meaning of the word in people's daily lives.
Semantics can be a funny thing and no less so when it comes to understanding a single word. It stands to reason though that if people are unable to quickly and reliably interpret the various layers of meaning and application that exist in daily life, then it's not a long stretch to appreciate why there is so much conflict and confusion between people. This is why I refer to the topic as "The Integrity Myth".
Clear as mud right!... I'll give you a little clue; Do you think it might be possible for a habitually deceptive and or criminal mind to have greater integrity than a seemingly regular and decent person. Challenging?.... Well of course the answer is YES! they can.......... Allow me to explain..
I've had a bit of fun with the "integrity" question in the past when interviewing and training staff and more often than not I would get the usual platitudes in reply, or more to the point, what the person thought I wanted to hear. It became clear to me that at the very least there was much confusion about the applied meaning of words and perceptions.
The above didn't mean that I interpreted these people as inherently dishonest or less than good, but it did cause me to question the day to day applied meaning of human integrity and how individuals might perceive reality. I came to the conclusion that if people didn't have a clear grasp what words mean, then how could they be expected to conduct themselves in a consistently reliable way. I concluded that this outcome was A) Not good for me, B) Not good for my business and C) Neither was it good for the very team of people that I relied upon to make my business run smoothly and successfully. That same philosophy has formed a very integral part of my own decision making when I make choices in business and similarly in other areas in my life as well.
Keep in mind the motivation behind this philosophical naval gazing was to improve workplace relations and to develop a compatible team of people who valued a mutually aligned system of internalised values. In a word 'harmony'. As an employer, it certainly helps to have a crystal clear grasp of such things. Why?... Well if the the head sherang doesn't get it, or can't clearly communicate the goal, then is it any wonder why so many businesses struggle to recruit and retain good staff and subsequently fail to succeed. Needless to say, the exact same principles apply in our daily lives and relationships as well.
This is a facsinating and involved topic and I have written and presented numerous training seminars on the subject.... What I will do before I jump on to my soap box is to ask if you would like me to contiune with this blog.....Please post your comment or check the 'interesting' box to let me know..
Christmas is only a few short weeks away. A time to remember and give thanks.
Cheers.
Ron
If you are in business try asking the question next time you conduct an interview and see what you get back...... The more usual replies include the perceived ideals of 'honesty', 'truthfulness', "do no harm to others" etc etc...While it might be true that these values can form part of one's integrity, in reality they have little to do with the demonstrated meaning of the word in people's daily lives.
Semantics can be a funny thing and no less so when it comes to understanding a single word. It stands to reason though that if people are unable to quickly and reliably interpret the various layers of meaning and application that exist in daily life, then it's not a long stretch to appreciate why there is so much conflict and confusion between people. This is why I refer to the topic as "The Integrity Myth".
Clear as mud right!... I'll give you a little clue; Do you think it might be possible for a habitually deceptive and or criminal mind to have greater integrity than a seemingly regular and decent person. Challenging?.... Well of course the answer is YES! they can.......... Allow me to explain..
I've had a bit of fun with the "integrity" question in the past when interviewing and training staff and more often than not I would get the usual platitudes in reply, or more to the point, what the person thought I wanted to hear. It became clear to me that at the very least there was much confusion about the applied meaning of words and perceptions.
The above didn't mean that I interpreted these people as inherently dishonest or less than good, but it did cause me to question the day to day applied meaning of human integrity and how individuals might perceive reality. I came to the conclusion that if people didn't have a clear grasp what words mean, then how could they be expected to conduct themselves in a consistently reliable way. I concluded that this outcome was A) Not good for me, B) Not good for my business and C) Neither was it good for the very team of people that I relied upon to make my business run smoothly and successfully. That same philosophy has formed a very integral part of my own decision making when I make choices in business and similarly in other areas in my life as well.
Keep in mind the motivation behind this philosophical naval gazing was to improve workplace relations and to develop a compatible team of people who valued a mutually aligned system of internalised values. In a word 'harmony'. As an employer, it certainly helps to have a crystal clear grasp of such things. Why?... Well if the the head sherang doesn't get it, or can't clearly communicate the goal, then is it any wonder why so many businesses struggle to recruit and retain good staff and subsequently fail to succeed. Needless to say, the exact same principles apply in our daily lives and relationships as well.
This is a facsinating and involved topic and I have written and presented numerous training seminars on the subject.... What I will do before I jump on to my soap box is to ask if you would like me to contiune with this blog.....Please post your comment or check the 'interesting' box to let me know..
Christmas is only a few short weeks away. A time to remember and give thanks.
Cheers.
Ron
Motor Sport Trivia time
In terms of upcoming birthday celebrations what do Formula One drivers Jack Brabham, Piers Courage, Jim Clark, Derek Bell, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt & Chris Amon all share in common?
Lakeside Raceway
What did these drivers all have in common?... They had all competed in F1 events at Lakeside Raceway (north of Brisbane) back in the 1960's..... That may not mean much if you're not a motorsport fan, but I can assure you that it is no small claim to fame for any motorsport complex. Let alone one so close to Brisvegas. (a.k.a. Brisbane)
The 2011 Australian Motorsport Calendar has a significant birthday to celebrate come the New Year. Lakeside Raceway, now part of the Queensland Raceway group, turns 50. First built in 1961 the Lakeside circuit has had a very exciting and colourful past including being host to rounds of the world formula one championship during the 60's and early 70's as well as the Australian Touring Car Championships. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlYnMFtzQe8...
The complex fell into disrepair during the 90's and was closed in 2001 after rising debts, deminished use and competition from a new circuit at Willowbank, Queensland Raceway.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcdsDcEgCeo&feature=fvst After several years of neglect the circuit was once again reopened in 2008 and has since undergone major reworks, upgrades and repair. We are all very fortunate to have the Lakeside complex open and accessible once again for all to enjoy. Unlike many circuits, Lakeside is a great spectator circuit and you can see most parts of the track and the action from just about anywhere you chose to stand. Being compact you can also move around quite easily to change your viewing post throughout the day. Catering and facilities are good and it is an excellent venue to take the family to enjoy and appreciate motorsport. The celebrate Lakeside Raceway's 50th anniversary there will be four dedicated events throughout 2011 held at the motorsport complex. April 8-10, May 28-30, July 22-24, Aug 12-14 http://www.qldraceways.com.au/main.php?menu=qrl0
Happy birthday Lakeside.
The 2011 Australian Motorsport Calendar has a significant birthday to celebrate come the New Year. Lakeside Raceway, now part of the Queensland Raceway group, turns 50. First built in 1961 the Lakeside circuit has had a very exciting and colourful past including being host to rounds of the world formula one championship during the 60's and early 70's as well as the Australian Touring Car Championships. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlYnMFtzQe8...
The complex fell into disrepair during the 90's and was closed in 2001 after rising debts, deminished use and competition from a new circuit at Willowbank, Queensland Raceway.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcdsDcEgCeo&feature=fvst After several years of neglect the circuit was once again reopened in 2008 and has since undergone major reworks, upgrades and repair. We are all very fortunate to have the Lakeside complex open and accessible once again for all to enjoy. Unlike many circuits, Lakeside is a great spectator circuit and you can see most parts of the track and the action from just about anywhere you chose to stand. Being compact you can also move around quite easily to change your viewing post throughout the day. Catering and facilities are good and it is an excellent venue to take the family to enjoy and appreciate motorsport. The celebrate Lakeside Raceway's 50th anniversary there will be four dedicated events throughout 2011 held at the motorsport complex. April 8-10, May 28-30, July 22-24, Aug 12-14 http://www.qldraceways.com.au/main.php?menu=qrl0
Happy birthday Lakeside.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)