The Wisdom in Turning Back!
12/02/03
Karyn Proudhorse, a friend and a colleague, ended a recent e-mail with this Turkish Proverb: "No matter how far you have gone down the wrong road, turn back."
As we come to the end of the year, are you and your team stuck going down any wrong roads? Every improvement is the result of change, but not every change results in an improvement. Far too many leaders are trapped into proving themselves right instead of being locked into getting strategic results. Every mistake, once acknowledged, has the potential of fueling new profitable course-corrections. Be preoccupied with excellence rather than ego. True respect is gained by how you handle defeats and dead-ends, not just your victories. If you are not sure whether you're on the wrong road, don't be afraid to ask for directions from your team. Often our people are the first to notice that their emperor has no clothes! They may even know the right road to take. In short, instead of wasting any more time, discuss how you can better invest your team's time and resources starting this week.
A PAULSON QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Be preoccupied with excellence rather than ego. True respect is gained by how you handle defeats and dead-ends, not just your victories." --Terry Paulson, Ph.D.
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
Today's mirth comes from Nancy Lefkowitz, our Director of Client Services. As dog lovers, it is only natural that we would promote "The Creation Story as Told by a DOG!" Enjoy:
On the first day of creation, God created the dog.
On the second day, God created man to serve the dog.
On the third day, God created all the animals of the earth (especially the horse) to serve as potential food for the dog.
On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that man could labor for the good of the dog.
On the fifth day, God created the tennis ball so that the dog might or might not retrieve it.
On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the dog healthy and the man broke.
On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but He had to walk the dog.
(an addition by the neighborhood cat....) On the eighth day, God noticed that the dog was eating things it wasn't supposed to and digging in the garden, so God created cats so that dogs would not be left alone to do mischief without being tormented!
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...