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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Who wants to improve?

by Rick Baker
On Mar 21, 2016

Who wants to improve? 

Some people do - they seek out motivational speakers and courses. These people want something and recognize the status quo isn't going to bring that something. 

Some people don't - they more or less do the same things day after day. They discount or ignore the advice they receive (regardless of how it is delivered). Sometimes, they blame others for their predicament...as victims do. 

But - is that actually true? Do some people truly have no interest in improving? Or, is that just what they say...their style of victim-speaking...their way of justifying lassitude or laziness or lack of ambition?

Regardless, there seems to be a disconnect between the people who want to improve and those who do not. The people within each group tend to understand one another, however, there’s a huge thinking-gap between the two groups. Here’s a couple of key indicators:

  • People who say and act like they want to improve seem to expect everyone wants to improve.
  • People who say and act like they do not want to improve seem to want to left alone …’let be’…not pestered by others who expect them to want to ‘change for the better’.

Most businesses contain people from each group. So, most businesses contain a major communication and performance rift between those who want to improve and those who do not. We will all be much better off if we can span these communication gaps and improve business performance. We can accomplish these improvements…first, with knowledge…then with communication laced with quality questions and quality listening.

Humouring your demons

by Rick Baker
On Mar 3, 2016

Most of us, at least from time to time, are troubled by our little demons. Some of us, occasionally, are troubled by our large, persistent DEMONS.

Either way, there is value in humouring our demons. As I write the word 'humouring' I'm thinking in terms of 'tolerating'. I'm also thinking about 'lightening things up'...perhaps even trying to have some fun with our demons. (It's possible we may be able to extract some benefits from the wisdom embedded in that saying, "Laughter is the best medicine.")

We don't run to the door to welcome our demons when they knock. Most of the time they sneak up on us...then, they consume our minds. Our demons are not welcome but they show up anyhow as personal agonies and automatic negative thoughts - ANTs. Personal agonies and ANTs can invade our thoughts...these demons spoil our thoughts and remove our ability to focus on the things we want to focus on.

What are we going to do about that?

What are you going to do about that?

One thing you can do - you can humour your demons:

  • You can choose to tolerate your demons - Be present, observe your demons without giving in to them...be calm and civil with your demons...but do not accommodate them…treat them with the courtesy you would extend to an unwelcome but harmless guest
  • You can choose to inoculate your demons with humour – Are you courageous enough to put your demons into a humorous perspective? To throw a little humour their way? If you think you can do that then plan ahead. Think about your top 3 demons and plan some humorous surprise messages for each of them. Practice your delivery of the 3 humorous messages. Enjoy the secret - you are armed with demon-neutering humour.

 

 

Who wants to improve?

by Rick Baker
On Feb 29, 2016

You probably spend quite a bit of your time watching people perform and noticing some people tend to do things really well while others tend to do things poorly. At least from time to time, you probably think about people making changes and improving…learning how to make fewer errors, figuring out how to have more-positive attitudes, etc.

But, do you ever step back and consider the question – Who wants to improve?

You know some people do want to improve – you see them seeking out motivational speakers and courses. These people want something and recognize the status quo isn't going to bring that something.

You know some people don't want to improve – you see them more or less doing the same things day after day. They discount or ignore the advice they receive (regardless of how it is delivered). Sometimes, they blame others for their predicament...as victims do. For example, you may have heard people say things like, “I like being poor. I am supposed to be poor. I have no desire to change anything.”

But - is that actually true?

I mean - do many people truly/sincerely have no interest in improving? Or, is that just what they say...their way of victim-speaking...their way of justifying lassitude/laziness/lack of ambition…their way of blaming Fate or Destiny for their shortcomings?

Certainly, some people have this mindset: life has beaten some people down.

Other people believe in the overarching control held by Fate or Destiny or other beyond-our-control things that place limits on people’s accomplishments.

Whether we agree with these sorts of beaten-down or fatalistic mindsets or not, we can understand how other people can think that way. For example, we can understand how lingering, serious health problems can wear down the spirit and cause people to give up on life.

However, aside from extreme cases that provide reasonable justification, are people being sincere when they say they do not want to improve?

It's all a matter of mindset

by Rick Baker
On Feb 25, 2016

Life is states of mind.

Life is a relentless stream of states of mind. Business life is a relentless stream of states of mind. States of mind cover a huge range: some pure ecstasy; some pure agony. States of mind can change quickly and radically. 

Some people maintain ‘even keel’ mind states as their lives unfold…rarely, if ever, experiencing the ecstasy or the agony…only experiencing moderate states of mind.

Some people’s mind states are like never-ending roller-coaster rides…series of ups and downs…sideways jerks and irrational re-directions…lots of noise and lots of stomach churning.

Most people experience periods of ‘comfortable’ mind states intermingled with periods of extreme positive mind states and periods of extreme negative mind states.

Few people understand they possess the power to alter their mind-state habits.

Even fewer people do what it takes to use that power to choose their mind-state habits then do the hard work required to build the mind-state habits they have chosen.

That said...

What mind states have you chosen? 

 

If I could only help you focus...

by Rick Baker
On Feb 12, 2016

My friend Lorie Saxby taught me about the 7 pre-frontal cortex activities known as Executive Brainsmarts:

  1. Focus, 
  2. Initiate, 
  3. Plan, 
  4. Organize, 
  5. Shift, 
  6. Monitor, and 
  7. Regulate.

Focus is at the beginning of the list. Lorie and I created a definition for Focus that fits Spirited Leaders' philosophies, i.e., 

Focus def'n - to control one’s attention and thoughts then actions to align with goals [this definition developed with Lorie Saxby PhD].

I see you struggle with Focusing.

I know you understand the merits that Focus brings. I know you want to Focus. And, I know you work at Focusing. Yet, you struggle with Focusing and those struggles consume much of your energy.

You talk about your struggles. It seems things need to be 'a certain way' before you can Focus. And it seems that timing must be 'just right" before you can Focus. And, it seems your best Focus plans can be quickly side-tracked by interruptions, disturbances, and even the smallest of day-to-day problems.

I'd like to help you build Focus skill. I'd like to have the key that would free up your ability to Focus. I'd like to be able to package my message simply, clearly, and in a way that encourages you.

However, I don't think there is a magic formula for Focusing. I think the ability to Focus can be a learned skill and, clearly, some people have to work much more diligently than others to improve at Focusing. To develop skill at Focusing (or any other skill), belief is a powerful starting point. Even better - a reality check, which accepts the current situation coupled with belief that things can and will improve...that's a good starting point. 

Tags:

Brain: about the Human Brain | Change: Creating Positive Change

Be There, Be Positive.

by Rick Baker
On Feb 8, 2016

Sure, we can be distracted or negative but let's remember we have these other two choices: being there and being positive.

If you are not naturally inclined to ‘be there’ and ‘be positive’ it will take some time and effort to adjust your mindset into those zones. 

Being There: It is easier to 'be there' when you are curious, tolerant, and truly interested in other people.

Being Positive: It is easier to 'be positive' when you are genetically predisposed toward optimism, hopeful about the future, and creative enough to envision alternatives and possibilities.

Perhaps, you are not at this time blessed with any of these traits.

Regardless, you can become an expert at 'being there' and 'being positive'.

Yes, any normal human being can become an expert at 'being there' and 'being positive'. It will, of course, require some effort. It will require some thought. It will require some education - ideally, self-education over a patient period of time. In addition, it will require a desire to grow and excel as a person. And, a good sense of humour will help you along the way.

There is no perfect approach to developing the abilities to 'be there' and 'be present'. These abilities are built over time, by trial and error, and you will make missteps along the way.

It seems to me one of the most important considerations is 'control'. To fully succeed you must understand and (wholeheartedly) believe you can control yourself. To fully succeed you must understand and (unconditionally) accept you cannot control other people or situations. The more you believe in and practice self-control the greater your ability to 'be there' and 'be positive'. The more you accept the limitations around your ability to control other people and situations the greater your ability to 'be there' and 'be positive'.

To be clear - I'm not talking about 'fundamentalist' perfectionism...or about taking huge leaps or about making major sacrifices.  I'm talking about taking some initial small steps aimed at 'experiencing the moment' as an observer. I'm talking about setting personal desires/goals aside for brief moments...long enough to listen to one other human being. I'm talking about imagining another possibility that isn't laced with annoyances (or doom-and-gloom thinking). I'm talking about trusting others. I'm talking about thinking between the lines of other people's comments/actions rather than jumping all over them and proving you are right and they are wrong.

 

PS: Now this all makes sense doesn't it? I mean, it makes sense at least until all that adrenalin and cortisol kicks in.

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.