This young man epitomizes keeping a positive attitude, even in the middle of a living nightmare. It also shows the power of loving family and friends.
He is truly living into his Best DNA, and inspiration to us all.
Browsing Tags inspiration
Rebalancing our negativity bias
I explain some of the most helpful research I’ve read, with some tips… followed by a goofy outtake
Getting More Yeses than Noes
My favorite story in Whit Mitchel’s book “Working in Sync” is about Hans Stander.
This is for three reasons (the first one is silly). 1) I love doing handstands. 2) Hans has a passion for empowering others that I can relate to. 3) He is a master at using compelling stories to get people to agree to unlikely goals. I love that.
Hans works to get funding to people in poor countries to build their businesses. This capital becomes a foundation for their thriving, helping the local economy, and (in my opinion) even strengthening global civilization.
Hans knows that you have to appeal to people’s hearts as well as their minds.
Whit describes this powerfully,
“Small goals, small dreams don’t have the power to ignite people to make the leap from thought to feeling. Only big ideas have the power to align people’s hearts with their heads. And when that is achieved, great achievements are possible because “intellectual and emotional conviction” combine to sustain the effort… So make the linkages clear and understandable between the commercial aims and the larger, more laudable purpose that is built on the shared values and beliefs of the team or community. “
This is similar to what I describe colorfully in “Energize” as ‘getting their ACT together’. I.e., motivating the three critical parts of our brain by “Calming the Caveman” (regarding fears about the goal), “Energizing the Artist” (igniting passion with stories, etc.), and “Convincing the Thinker” (giving rational plans and facts). All three combined are fifty times more powerful than any one of them alone. And the research shows that stories are the most powerful way to do this.
I recommend that you get your hands on “Working in Sync”, not only for the powerful, real life success stories, but also for the wise and pragmatic coaching ideas that Whit proffers. I’ve known Whit for years and his insight, skill, and motivation have been a professional boon to me countless times.
A happy sense of purpose is good for our genes — who knew?
I love those wonderful discoveries that show how doing what we love is good for us physically.
Click on The New York Times to read this fascinating, and heartening article.
This is particularly exciting for living into what we call our “Best DNA“.
“Energize” from a CEO’s perspective – radio interview
Bob Faw, interviewed on NEDD Radio by Tom Raffio, head of Northeast Delta Dental
Interview about Energize – NEDD Radio
Energize Performance
Feedback biting you in the …backside? Try feedforward
Feedforward is usually far easier to give than feedback. Most of the time it is more helpful: specific, clear, actionable, and positive. Learn what it is, and how to do it well. Improve relationships at work and home. Achieve success more easily.
This video is Bob Faw teaching how to use feedforward, in performance management, and elsewhere in life.
Karyn saved the day … with the Positive Change Questions
Karyn Myers, in a leadership training course of mine, used the “Positive Change Questions” and “Positive Reframing” to help solve a high-stakes family challenge. I think it’s a wonderful story.
Positive Change Questions
- Goals:
- What works?
- What else?
| Situation: | My son’s wedding. The wedding party was meeting for the rehearsal the day before the wedding at 6:00pm. During the rehearsal we realized that there WERE NO FLOWERS at the spot where the couple were exchanging vows. The bride thought in May that there would be flowers grown in where the arbor was but there was nothing. Needless to say, chaos ensued. Cavemen came charging in with Freeze (the bride), Fight (moms and others), Flight (Groom). |
- Goals: Decorate the area or get flowers and make sure everyone was still speaking at the rehearsal dinner (which was in 45 minutes).
- What worked: Asking everyone what we could do in the time that we had to fix the situation. Everyone kept coming back to why/how did this happen, why didn’t someone think of this, how could this happen, etc.
Meanwhile, the time is ticking by with nothing happening and everyone blaming. I came back a number of times asking for ideas to make this special for Melissa and Andrew (the bride and groom). Responses, at first, started with, “I can’t believe this is happening…”. I tried to refocus them by saying that this gives us a great opportunity to do something for the couple and have a part in creating their ceremony. That seemed to be the comment that started to bring people around. Then ideas started coming from people about what they had at home, who could run to the store, florists in the area to contact right then, who could pick up if we found a florist, who would be in charge of setup. It really drove home the positive concept for me because as soon as people realized that they could contribute in a meaningful way and knew what the end goal was things started to come together. It was beneficial for me because I would not have handled this situation this way if I had not participated in this course. I also would not have seen the situation in quite the same way – I would have been too involved in the emotions and blame.
3. What else?: This really wasn’t a situation where this applied to the group, but I was able to see positive change in action and had a part in its direction and seeing it evolve. It was interesting to see the different personalities (Caveman, Artist, Thinker) come into play.
Question from Bob: Where can you save the day using these questions?
Pep talk from Kid President (wisdom in a small package)
This Kid is my motivational speaker idol now! Move over Tony Robbins! I’m moving over. Let Kid President take the stage.
I can’t wait to see what he does next.