W. Edwards Deming Believed That Asking Naive Questions Promoted An Open Mind
The consultant widely credited for being the architect of postwar Japan’s economic recovery was W. Edwards Deming whose famed “Deming System” became the gold standard of strategic consulting for decades. Deming was an author, consultant and advisor to governments and multinational corporations, and he believed that all organizations are holographic of their leaders. With all […]
Where In Your Life Would Adopting Beginner’s Mind Be Most Beneficial For You?
In Zen Buddhism, there is the concept of beginner’s mind. This is a state of openness and receptivity as if one were just beginning – no matter how long you might have actually engaged in a particular activity or faced a specific situation. There is less analysis and judgment about whether or not something is working. […]
The Costs Of Risk Avoidance
Among the best-known quotes about risk is this observation by author, Anais Nin: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more powerful than the risk it took to blossom.” We humans have spent so much time protecting our assumptions of safety that we have often lost sight of […]
“There’s A Crack In Everything: That’s What Lets the Light In” – Leonard Cohen
I had the privilege last week of seeing the great poet and songwriter, Leonard Cohen, live in concert. He said many things that night, but among the most striking was, “There’s a crack in everything. That’s what lets the light in.” Most of us have had issues with perfection. We live in a world where […]
How Do You Define Financial Security?
Perhaps, for purposes of this discussion, we can accept that absolute security does not exist . . . in order to allow a practical conversation about relative security. A very simplistic way to define SECURITY is FREEDOM FROM CONCERN OR WORRY. Let’s take on financial security first. Do you consider yourself financially secure? Why or […]
“Habitual” Thinking Versus Objective Thinking
Habits are simply patterns of behavior that occur almost without thinking . . . kind of like living on automatic pilot. We conclude this week’s conversation about changing habits with thoughts on habitual thinking – i.e., pre-existing assumptions, perceptions, and attitudes. Can you think of any situation or person where you have had a limiting […]