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November 2005 |
The Ostrich and the Owl |
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Welcome to the Conscious Communication Chronicle, sharing how Conscious Communication results in success, and how you can achieve yours. Enjoy!
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Kind Ambition:
Kind Ambition
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Circumstances will always be
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"Kind Ambition
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Conscious Communication: bringing communication up from "auto-pilot" and reactive, to thoughtful, responsive, and above all, intentional.
The Ostrich and the Owl represent two very different approaches to life. The ostrich is known for hiding his head when sensing trouble, much like a small child hiding his face behind his hands. The rationale being “if I can’t see you, you can’t see me.” As we get older, we learn that doesn’t work, yet often continue to apply that philosophy to our jobs and lives. We feel as though if we don’t look at something disturbing, it won’t get to us. On the other hand, the owl has phenomenal sight, and rotates her head almost all the way around like a radar dish, to pick up every bit of information available. Although she doesn’t have to act on everything she sees, no opportunity gets by her either. There are a number of reasons we avoid pursuing information, even when we know it’s in our best interest. We do similar things for different reasons as often as we do different things for the same reasons. Our motivations are driven by the way we see and understand the world around us. Here are some solutions to the more popular reasons for putting our heads in the sand. 1. Face the Fear Factor. Fear may be one of the most popular reasons for avoidance. Either we’re afraid of what we’ll see, what we’ll have to do to change, embarrassing ourselves, or what we knew all along, but didn’t want to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we’re afraid to cause conflict, be criticized, get someone mad at us, or create a rift of some sort. The boogie-man is only scary in the dark. Think of checking in as turning on the lights. 2. Breach the Boundaries.
We are often very conscious of our comfort zones, and the
desire to not make others uncomfortable. Sometimes we’d
like to check in and verify our information, but it feels as if
we’d be prying or being too personal. Remind yourself of the
common goals you share. Pursuing information to help achieve
those goals can be done in a respectful manner, keeping the
goals pre-eminent.3. Out of Sight is Not Out of Mind, So Go Ahead and Look. We get into a rhythm and have momentum in what we’re doing. To stop, look up, and gather information feels as if it takes us
off task and slows us down. We could just keep going, and unless something is terribly wrong, we may not have to deal with it. Virtually nothing is solved by avoiding it. Letting
something continue to go wrong almost ensures that the
problem will worsen.Your best solutions will always come from having as much information as possible. You don’t always need to act on that
information, but if action is necessary, you don’t want to miss
the opportunity. The owl doesn’t need to leave her perch every time she sees movement, but being aware means never missing a meal.This level of awareness can have a powerful and positive affect on your life. One of my clients was having some difficulty several years ago. Our work showed her how examining her efforts and revenues would show where she was winning and drowning, but she found herself avoiding this. Her internal “talk” told her that change was dangerous and that she should feel shame about getting into this position in the first place. The great news is that as soon as she did look at the information, although the problem became real, so did the solution! We illuminated a niche in the market that she was uniquely suited to fill. She catapulted her business from just another fish in the pond, to the only fish of its kind in the pond. The glory of the solution always outshines a problem in the dark, so go ahead; look around, know what’s going on, and take advantage of the opportunities that await you.
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Kind Words for “Kind Ambition:”
“...easy to use guide for anyone who wants to
achieve real
-Romanus Wolter -
Author: Kick Start Your Dream Business
"
We all face obstacles in our lives and careers. Some of these -Margaret Heffernan – Author: The Naked Truth: A Working Woman's Manifesto on Business and What Really Matters Syndicated Columnist: Fast Company Magazine
“A scientifically-based, spiritually-awake, (and smart and funny) guide to making the most of your life. Ian Blei provides the know-how, the inspiration, the structure and all the tools you need in this straightforward and inspirational book.” -Lisa Betts-LaCroix, Past President of SF Coaches Star of Unapix film, “Dance Me Outside”
" Ian Blei shares his deep insights in simple and straightforward ways. His work continues to inspire me whenever I feel I'm getting stuck in some area of my life." -Roy King, III, Director Pacific Development Partners
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