Our next LPG meeting is a vision re-alignment meeting in which we will get everyone to review, re-think and voice what we want to get out of LPG. Donna will moderate the brainstorming session. You might think of this meeting as practicing Habit 2: Begin with the End In Mind.
Here is a link to our existing LPG program as background to the meeting.
Look forward to seeing everyone there.
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More Sharpening the Saw Examples:
Last Saturday a number of LPGers got to do more networking with what the community has to offer. A number of us attended Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce's Diversity in Business Conference. sponsored by Think, Rochester Area Foundation, Merrill Lynch, Rochester Women and IBM, among others.
Not only did we get to hear great presentations on things like how to start a business, how to finance your business, we also got to network with many resources and people who can help us explore different business ideas and to make progress to persue our own plans.
Out of the conference, I myself got more inspired to move forward and so did a number of friends who really got a jumpstart to do more toward their dreams. We even start to talk about starting a "mind-mapping" group for like-minded folks to motivate and help each other to flesh out our business ideas and to push each other to keep moving forward.
An event like that is clearly an example of Sharpening You Saw in the social dimension and has the potential to spring more ideas and actions.
Showing posts with label saw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saw. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
What set of topics or book should we do next?
Now that we have completed another cycle of Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,
I am soliciting discussions and suggestions on what book, or sets of topics we as a group should study.
So, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please post them here.
Google Blog has a label feature to categorize blog entries. I have labeled this entry "Begin" because it has the feel of working on Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind.
Deciding what next book or set of leadership topics to study and practice probably require us to also contemplate and visualize what the core value of LPG is. Our next meeting will be facilitated by Donna to revisit the current LPG vision and spirit to see if it needs to be realigned or evolved now that our current group structure has been changing since the beginning of year.
In any case, it won't hurt to start listing what books might consider using for the Phase 2.
Suggestions so far:
8th Habit--Find your own voice and helping others find theirs by Stephen Covey
Developing the leader within you or The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership or Becoming an person of influence by John C. Maxwell.
If you have any suggestions feel free to post.
I am soliciting discussions and suggestions on what book, or sets of topics we as a group should study.
So, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please post them here.
Google Blog has a label feature to categorize blog entries. I have labeled this entry "Begin" because it has the feel of working on Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind.
Deciding what next book or set of leadership topics to study and practice probably require us to also contemplate and visualize what the core value of LPG is. Our next meeting will be facilitated by Donna to revisit the current LPG vision and spirit to see if it needs to be realigned or evolved now that our current group structure has been changing since the beginning of year.
In any case, it won't hurt to start listing what books might consider using for the Phase 2.
Suggestions so far:
8th Habit--Find your own voice and helping others find theirs by Stephen Covey
Developing the leader within you or The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership or Becoming an person of influence by John C. Maxwell.
If you have any suggestions feel free to post.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Sharpening the Saw - Session 2
Despite a meeting conflict with IBM Toastmaster speech contest, we had one of the best turnouts in today's LPG meeting--Session 2 on the habit of Sharpening Your Saw led by Jingdong.
Attendees include: Tracy, Roger, Hung, Al, Ji-Yun, Manjusha, Joe, Hannah, Jingdong, Jingli
Points brought up include:
In the mental dimension, might try:
a. Hanna mentioned telling positive stories to yourself to overcome the mind's self-doubts
b. Jingdong reported learning a new programming language .. Perl
2. In social dimension
a. Al reported making attempts to connect to some one who now works at U of M.
Regarding socializing between management and staff, how do we make the relationship more trusting, open and two-way. Comments:
a. There is an Asian cultural element of observing hierarchy which makes it difficult for staff to "talk up"
b. But, Tracy said hold on ... not just Asians, even American employees have difficulty to initiate a social relationship with their manager
c. Trust, openness is key. How?
d. Al "got on the soap box" a bit :-), and reminded all that ... Yes, there are probably all kinds of good reasons (excuses) not to initiate a relationship with someone (whether your manager or anyone). Reasons include culture, personal or otherwise that puts up cautions such as one must observe perceived hierarchy or got to wait for the boss to initiate a socializing ritual. But, we are in LPG to live a "leadership life" and to practice effective habits. Habit 1: Be proactive says we own it. We don't have to wait. We take responsibility. It is not easy to initiate a talk to someone or to be vulnerable... but if we are true to our journey, we must continue to stretch ourselves. Sometimes, we just need to be a bit uncomfortable. Sharpening your saw is about continuing doing these things and it will get easier. Was I too preachy?
Other noteworthy points:
Handle doubts ... "You fake it until you know it." In other words, develop a belief or a habit that says, "Things always work out for me."
"Managers like all people appreciate being asked to help."
"What is the harm in asking for help?" Except one's pride, or ego, or fear of being turned down.
Homework assignment ... watch ourselves and our behavior to sharpen our saw to network, eg.
To reply to email more promptly; instead of texting or emailing--pick up the phone and call the person.
Attendees include: Tracy, Roger, Hung, Al, Ji-Yun, Manjusha, Joe, Hannah, Jingdong, Jingli
Points brought up include:
In the mental dimension, might try:
a. Hanna mentioned telling positive stories to yourself to overcome the mind's self-doubts
b. Jingdong reported learning a new programming language .. Perl
2. In social dimension
a. Al reported making attempts to connect to some one who now works at U of M.
Regarding socializing between management and staff, how do we make the relationship more trusting, open and two-way. Comments:
a. There is an Asian cultural element of observing hierarchy which makes it difficult for staff to "talk up"
b. But, Tracy said hold on ... not just Asians, even American employees have difficulty to initiate a social relationship with their manager
c. Trust, openness is key. How?
d. Al "got on the soap box" a bit :-), and reminded all that ... Yes, there are probably all kinds of good reasons (excuses) not to initiate a relationship with someone (whether your manager or anyone). Reasons include culture, personal or otherwise that puts up cautions such as one must observe perceived hierarchy or got to wait for the boss to initiate a socializing ritual. But, we are in LPG to live a "leadership life" and to practice effective habits. Habit 1: Be proactive says we own it. We don't have to wait. We take responsibility. It is not easy to initiate a talk to someone or to be vulnerable... but if we are true to our journey, we must continue to stretch ourselves. Sometimes, we just need to be a bit uncomfortable. Sharpening your saw is about continuing doing these things and it will get easier. Was I too preachy?
Other noteworthy points:
Handle doubts ... "You fake it until you know it." In other words, develop a belief or a habit that says, "Things always work out for me."
"Managers like all people appreciate being asked to help."
"What is the harm in asking for help?" Except one's pride, or ego, or fear of being turned down.
Homework assignment ... watch ourselves and our behavior to sharpen our saw to network, eg.
To reply to email more promptly; instead of texting or emailing--pick up the phone and call the person.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Pizza Night and Sharpening the Social Saw
It seemed a long time ago that during our practicing of Habit 3: Put First Things First that in responding to Roger's question about the one thing each of us might do that would make a big difference toward our life purpose that I said:
"To look for and join a non-profit volunteer organization that serves others."
After looking at several clubs and on Roger's invitation and encouragement, I finally joined Rochester Kiwanis West.
It has already opened many opportunities for me to sharpen my saw on the social networking dimension. I have learned about community projects like:
Coyote Ridge Summer Camps, Highway Clean Up, JM 4-H student of the month, etc.
I have also re-connected with some old IBM friends who are playing significant roles in local businesses and higher education programs. I guess I must be making progress in Habit 7 in the social/emotional area.
And if you are looking for an opportunity to do Habit 7, here is opportunity to join us at our fundraiser night on September 22 and contribute to worthwhile humanitarian causes, such as:
For an evening of fun and great food!
"To look for and join a non-profit volunteer organization that serves others."
After looking at several clubs and on Roger's invitation and encouragement, I finally joined Rochester Kiwanis West.
It has already opened many opportunities for me to sharpen my saw on the social networking dimension. I have learned about community projects like:
Coyote Ridge Summer Camps, Highway Clean Up, JM 4-H student of the month, etc.
I have also re-connected with some old IBM friends who are playing significant roles in local businesses and higher education programs. I guess I must be making progress in Habit 7 in the social/emotional area.
And if you are looking for an opportunity to do Habit 7, here is opportunity to join us at our fundraiser night on September 22 and contribute to worthwhile humanitarian causes, such as:
Head Start ● Child Care Resource and Referral ● Ability Building Center ● Christmas Anonymous
Read Around The World ● Crisis Nursery ● Kids Against Hunger
Pizza Night
Rochester West Kiwanis Fundraising Event
Join the Rochester West Kiwanis Club
For an evening of fun and great food!
Pizza Ranch
1580 2nd Ave SW
Stewartville, MN
Monday, September 22, 2008
4:30pm – 9:00pm
A portion of the evening’s profits and all tips will help the Rochester West Kiwanis Club to support the area’s children and youth through programs such as:
Head Start ● Child Care Resource and Referral ● Ability Building Center ● Christmas Anonymous
Read Around The World ● Crisis Nursery ● Kids Against Hunger
Monday, September 1, 2008
Labor of Patience
How would you like to make 100 dollars in three hours of doing nothing.
Imagine the offer ...
Sounds too good to be true. And what is the catch?
Last night, my wife, my daughter visiting from Chicago and I went downtown for a quick bite to eat. One thing about Rochester downtown is that on the night before Labor Day, the town is really quite quiet, especially so on a Sunday night. Many restaurants seemed to know that it would be a slow night and were closed. But this new restaurant we wanted to try was open and it got benefited from little competition downtown on a Sunday night. Benefit was not the right word, it was caught unprepared.
After quite a wait, when we got to our table, the owner confided in us that they are really understaffed tonight. "We had no idea on a Sunday night and on a Labor Day weekend, we would have a full house," he said, "Service was going to be slow."
We said OK. We smiled we understood. We have been too slow restaurants before, we could be patient.
Time ticked by. More than two hours later, the owner gingerly came and told us, "We have a slight problem."
They had to prepare more ingredients for our order and it would take another 2o more minutes. To make up for the inconvenience, he would give us a 50 dollar credit for the next meal which he promised would be quicker. He also gave us a choice whether we would stay for another 25 minutes or not as they finish preparing the ingredients for our meal which he would give to us free.
We looked at each other and decided why not. We had no place to go. The place is nice. In the last two hours we sat at the table, we we had settled into a pretty good conversation about politics, work, life and books--things that as a family we seldom found time to talk about.
Finally, when our meal did show, it was delicious, maybe we were just hungry. And we were the only customers left at the restaurant. Looking around, there just us us three and the people who ran the restaurant left -- it was as if we had become their family.
After we finished, the owner and we had a good conversation. We found out he came from Mexico. and had worked at Dell in Austin. He found out I was retired. He took my wife's business card. We got to know a new friend. He was very sorry about the service. He was sincere, nice and warm. I am sure that his restaurant will get better once he gets a feel for the traffic. We had a great meal for free and also got a 50$ couple to come back.
So, that's how you can make 100 dollars for just being kind and patient for three hours, in other words for doing nothing. Besides, we really had no place to go to anyway and might as well appreciate what the universe had to offer.
And that was probably a spiritual act.
Imagine the offer ...
You get to have drinks, sit in a nice room, enjoy the artwork on the wall, watch and appreciate actors who perform various shows with great dexterity. At the end, you will have a nice meal and get to have conversations with loved ones that are deeper than anything you have done for a long time and meet some really nice people. And yes, at the end you will have earned the equivalent of one hundred dollars.
Sounds too good to be true. And what is the catch?
Last night, my wife, my daughter visiting from Chicago and I went downtown for a quick bite to eat. One thing about Rochester downtown is that on the night before Labor Day, the town is really quite quiet, especially so on a Sunday night. Many restaurants seemed to know that it would be a slow night and were closed. But this new restaurant we wanted to try was open and it got benefited from little competition downtown on a Sunday night. Benefit was not the right word, it was caught unprepared.
After quite a wait, when we got to our table, the owner confided in us that they are really understaffed tonight. "We had no idea on a Sunday night and on a Labor Day weekend, we would have a full house," he said, "Service was going to be slow."
We said OK. We smiled we understood. We have been too slow restaurants before, we could be patient.
Time ticked by. More than two hours later, the owner gingerly came and told us, "We have a slight problem."
They had to prepare more ingredients for our order and it would take another 2o more minutes. To make up for the inconvenience, he would give us a 50 dollar credit for the next meal which he promised would be quicker. He also gave us a choice whether we would stay for another 25 minutes or not as they finish preparing the ingredients for our meal which he would give to us free.
We looked at each other and decided why not. We had no place to go. The place is nice. In the last two hours we sat at the table, we we had settled into a pretty good conversation about politics, work, life and books--things that as a family we seldom found time to talk about.
Finally, when our meal did show, it was delicious, maybe we were just hungry. And we were the only customers left at the restaurant. Looking around, there just us us three and the people who ran the restaurant left -- it was as if we had become their family.
After we finished, the owner and we had a good conversation. We found out he came from Mexico. and had worked at Dell in Austin. He found out I was retired. He took my wife's business card. We got to know a new friend. He was very sorry about the service. He was sincere, nice and warm. I am sure that his restaurant will get better once he gets a feel for the traffic. We had a great meal for free and also got a 50$ couple to come back.
So, that's how you can make 100 dollars for just being kind and patient for three hours, in other words for doing nothing. Besides, we really had no place to go to anyway and might as well appreciate what the universe had to offer.
And that was probably a spiritual act.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Habit 7: Sharpening the saw
Jingdong led the Session 1 of our discussion (his slides can be found here) and our practice of Habit 7: Sharpening the saw. Covey teaches that there are four dimensions to Sharpening the Saw:
1. It's hard to sustain an exercise program
2. Not easy to find time to improve skills. How about from time to time look at your calendar and see how much time was devoted to learning?
3. What is the spiritual dimension?
- Mental: reading, visualizing, planning, writing
- Physical: exercise, nutrition, stress management
- Social/emotional: service, empathy, synergy, intrinsic security
- Spiritual: value clarification & commitment, study & meditation
1. It's hard to sustain an exercise program
- Some do this a bit better than others; some of us go to an athletic club, some have before but fallen out of the habit, some walk; some of us would go to the gym saying that "I would take it easy this time. Just to relax and go to to the hang out or do the sauna". and once there, would talk ourselves into doing more and end up doing exercises. One has to trick one's mind once in awhile.
2. Not easy to find time to improve skills. How about from time to time look at your calendar and see how much time was devoted to learning?
3. What is the spiritual dimension?
- Some follow a religious tradition; some do not or are agnostic.
- But there seem to be a common core that says we may be more mysterious, more meaningful, more majestic than simply our physical makeup of cells and matter. Regardless of what we call that, there is a sense we are deeper and more noble. Spiritual renewal connects us to that sense. Technique such as meditation, taking a walk in the nature, noticing and sensing we are one with nature and with other beings renews that connection. Humans at moments of stillness would recognize acts of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and compassion as something higher than our own worldly concerns of individual survival. We have a conscience. Being aware that we have a conscience may just be a spiritual experience. Spiritual renewal lets one be connected to that sense oneness. More practice would enable one to be less judgmental, live with less regret, with more focus on the present moment.
- Practice small acts of kindness, open the door for someone, smile at someone, wait in line with more patience, appreciate everyone including those who appear to be rude and difficult, take time to rest your mind. let go, forgive someone ... doing these things may just be the exercise to be connected to our spirit.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
New Members to 8/22 LPG Meeting
After so many times using the 006-2 conference room, it was refreshing to meet at the IBM lobby conference room. Thanks, Roger for setting it up. The room is a keeper.
It was my first time coming into IBM as a guest. The lobby receptionist has been acquainted with me for many years. Nonetheless, she smiled and I smiled as she insisted on seeing a picture ID from me to prove I was indeed the person my guest badge said I was before she would give the badge to me.
Who am I is a good question to ponder over (I think I will blog about this as part of the spiritual dimension of Sharpening the Saw).
At the meeting we welcomed back Ji-Yung. Also, we were really glad that Vardhini and Tracy attended LPG for the first time.
Vardhini, like Ji-Yung, came to know me and about LPG from our association with Rochester Diversity Council. We three have recently got "certified" to be facilitators for K-12 prejudice reduction workshop. There is obvious synergy between DC and LPG.
Tracy saw LPG on FaceBook and made the connection this is a good group to join. She used Facebook's "request to join" function to ask to be part of LPG.
Since I didn't quite remember Tracy but noticed that she and Brian were friends on Facebook, I asked Brian and our LPG advisory members to second the membership request. Even before Brian was able to email me how glad he was with Tracy joining, Sandra already sent me a reply saying that "what a small world" ... Tracy sits close to her at IBM and yes she will be a great addition. Brian's seconding email -- when it did arrive -- became a resounding second of Sandra's second. Indeed, Tracy, welcome to LPG.
I had to tell this story because it speaks to me about the synergy of connecting the dots. It confirms once again when we send good will to the world, it will come back.
It is a small world.
It was my first time coming into IBM as a guest. The lobby receptionist has been acquainted with me for many years. Nonetheless, she smiled and I smiled as she insisted on seeing a picture ID from me to prove I was indeed the person my guest badge said I was before she would give the badge to me.
Who am I is a good question to ponder over (I think I will blog about this as part of the spiritual dimension of Sharpening the Saw).
At the meeting we welcomed back Ji-Yung. Also, we were really glad that Vardhini and Tracy attended LPG for the first time.
Vardhini, like Ji-Yung, came to know me and about LPG from our association with Rochester Diversity Council. We three have recently got "certified" to be facilitators for K-12 prejudice reduction workshop. There is obvious synergy between DC and LPG.
Tracy saw LPG on FaceBook and made the connection this is a good group to join. She used Facebook's "request to join" function to ask to be part of LPG.
Since I didn't quite remember Tracy but noticed that she and Brian were friends on Facebook, I asked Brian and our LPG advisory members to second the membership request. Even before Brian was able to email me how glad he was with Tracy joining, Sandra already sent me a reply saying that "what a small world" ... Tracy sits close to her at IBM and yes she will be a great addition. Brian's seconding email -- when it did arrive -- became a resounding second of Sandra's second. Indeed, Tracy, welcome to LPG.
I had to tell this story because it speaks to me about the synergy of connecting the dots. It confirms once again when we send good will to the world, it will come back.
It is a small world.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Sharpening the Saw References
Some references on Sharpening the saw:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2004/11/sharpen-the-saw/
Some quotes I like:
Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he and should be. Goethe
Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth. -- N. Eldon Tanner
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2004/11/sharpen-the-saw/
Some quotes I like:
Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he and should be. Goethe
Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth. -- N. Eldon Tanner
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
LPG Group on Facebook
I am learning more about how to manage group on Facebook. Here is link to LPG group.
This is in keeping with the habit of Sharpening the Saw that we will be focusing on for the next two weeks, starting with next Friday's meeting.
Social networking platform, like Facebook, is the de facto way for people to collaborate. In addition, applications developers are offering app's that add to the platform.
Pretty cool!
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