If Newfoundland was a separate country we’d all go visit it as a fascinating historical culture. Newfoundland’s problem is it’s part of Canada. I’ve been in this country since forever and never bothered to travel to the Maritimes. Newfoundlanders are quick to point out they’re not part of the Maritimes. Look, you’re east of Ottawa, that’s good enough for me.
Subway’s bad food is a nice fit with Air Canada’s poor service. Sort of a brand uniformity thing. You can fly first class on Air Canada, but you’re still on Air Canada, - how does that work? (Note to self. Google Air Canada and verify whether their first class section has been moved to Westjet yet.)
I visited my other amazing daughter out there who is almost finished with her naval engineering degree, and met a lot of Newfies. Most of them friendly and great people with a few annoying exceptions. We have them here in Vancouver as well, those annoying people who, no matter what you say have to top you with a better story. You might be working with one right now. It’s also why our September seminar, “I love my job I hate you” is what it is. How to work with jerks.
People who always want to go one better, the defensive ones, are fixed mindset people who believe their abilities are static. They will always defend what they know and who they are. Sometimes they think they’re “naturals.” They avoid challenges, fear failure and are protective about who they are.
The other group, the growth mindset people think change is possible through personal effort, and tend not to be defensive. They accept more challenges despite the risk of failure. Tiger Woods is a growth mindset type. He won eight major championships and decided his swing needed an overhaul. Who does that unless you believe you can change who you are? Not a fatalist.
The management problem is spending time coaching a fixed mindset person who’s only focus is on protecting their fragile ego. Bringing in change initiatives to a bunch of people that believe in fate. Motivating a sales person who gets protective, and believes you’re revealing their weaknesses. Hiring people for your next big project who don’t think change is possible.
We’ve done a lot of work to establish which type a candidate or an employee is before you invest in them further. If you’d like to know more, attend our next seminar or ask us for more information. Spend time on people who accept change and growth. Don’t waste your time on people who inherently hide from challenge or growth. Choose wisely.
Newfoundland? Great experience, go visit it. Feels like Europe in some places. At times I was having a King Arthur moment in the heather. Although Arthur looked a bit like Sean Connery.
See you for breakfast!
Wolfgang
P.s. Good books, read them. Source: “Mindset, the new psychology of success” by C. Dweck. “Switch, how to change things when change is hard,” by Heath and Heath.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Why Dogs Don’t Talk
Do you think changing people is hard? I don’t think it is.
At age three, my parents bundled me up, put me on a refugee freighter and our family came to Canada. A big change from post war Germany, but all of us looked forward to our new home! Canada. That was a big change and it was easy!
When I was five, I went to school and assume, I spoke English. Don’t remember learning English, but also don’t remember having any problems. No ESL teacher, no special attention. I was a kid. Kids pickup whatever language is around them in about 15 min. That was a big change and it was easy!
On the morning of my 16th birthday at 7:50 am I was at the motor vehicle branch to get my driver’s licence. Two hours later I was a licensed driver. My life changed. I was driving everywhere. No more buses, walking, or hitchhiking. That was a big change and it was easy!
What about marriage, cell phones, the internet, ATMs, changing jobs? Well, there is a best seller management book that caught my attention. Entitled “Switch, - how to change things when change is hard.” By Chip and Dan Heath. Two brothers both teaching in universities. Nicely written, two smart young guys. The big idea is that to say change is hard, doesn’t reflect what’s going on. Change turns out to be easy, if it’s the change you want. Change is difficult if it’s not what you want. So it’s not about change.
They tell a story about the conflict between the emotional and logical mind. Logic is the rider. Emotion the elephant. Nice picture, yes? The rider gets tired directing the elephant. The rider wants a beach body. The elephant wants another Oreo.
You get the idea, read the book. Stop with the logic. Emotions move people. The reason you can’t change people is because you’re using your head. The reason marriages fail is because people go to counsellors who make them talk. When couples shut up, and simply act nice to each other the marriage will be saved. Emotions move logical people. Not logic.
Sept. 15th is entitled, “I love my job, I hate you.” I’m going to teach you how to change your people and make them think it was easy! Can’t we just all get along? You bet we can and I’ll show you how.
At the end of the seminar you’ll say, “that was a big change, - and that was easy. I can do that.”
See you for breakfast,
Wolfgang
p.s Talking is an industry, it’ not a solution. I believe dogs can talk, but they choose not to. If dogs could talk, the SPCA would be overflowing with homeless dogs. Dogs know that and that's why dogs don't talk.
Talking is how sincerity is lost. Your dog is his actions, period. Words would only mess that up. Just look at us humans.
At age three, my parents bundled me up, put me on a refugee freighter and our family came to Canada. A big change from post war Germany, but all of us looked forward to our new home! Canada. That was a big change and it was easy!
When I was five, I went to school and assume, I spoke English. Don’t remember learning English, but also don’t remember having any problems. No ESL teacher, no special attention. I was a kid. Kids pickup whatever language is around them in about 15 min. That was a big change and it was easy!
On the morning of my 16th birthday at 7:50 am I was at the motor vehicle branch to get my driver’s licence. Two hours later I was a licensed driver. My life changed. I was driving everywhere. No more buses, walking, or hitchhiking. That was a big change and it was easy!
What about marriage, cell phones, the internet, ATMs, changing jobs? Well, there is a best seller management book that caught my attention. Entitled “Switch, - how to change things when change is hard.” By Chip and Dan Heath. Two brothers both teaching in universities. Nicely written, two smart young guys. The big idea is that to say change is hard, doesn’t reflect what’s going on. Change turns out to be easy, if it’s the change you want. Change is difficult if it’s not what you want. So it’s not about change.
They tell a story about the conflict between the emotional and logical mind. Logic is the rider. Emotion the elephant. Nice picture, yes? The rider gets tired directing the elephant. The rider wants a beach body. The elephant wants another Oreo.
You get the idea, read the book. Stop with the logic. Emotions move people. The reason you can’t change people is because you’re using your head. The reason marriages fail is because people go to counsellors who make them talk. When couples shut up, and simply act nice to each other the marriage will be saved. Emotions move logical people. Not logic.
Sept. 15th is entitled, “I love my job, I hate you.” I’m going to teach you how to change your people and make them think it was easy! Can’t we just all get along? You bet we can and I’ll show you how.
At the end of the seminar you’ll say, “that was a big change, - and that was easy. I can do that.”
See you for breakfast,
Wolfgang
p.s Talking is an industry, it’ not a solution. I believe dogs can talk, but they choose not to. If dogs could talk, the SPCA would be overflowing with homeless dogs. Dogs know that and that's why dogs don't talk.
Talking is how sincerity is lost. Your dog is his actions, period. Words would only mess that up. Just look at us humans.
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