Live in the past at your own risk, but not at the risk of others.
Live in the present and think about life as it is –today!
Live in the future with a third eye scanning all horizons, minds and environments within the reach of your imagination and curiosity.

As we look at what is happening in the immediate space of our lives, we often find ourselves captured by our selective memories.  It is not the big issues of the day we remember, but those slight events which still trigger emotional recalls.  The range of the thoughts seek boundaries, but those are limited by the spread and depths of our life experiences.  More importantly, much must be said by our silent and secret passions to ponder our pasts:  full of regrets, pleasures and so on and on.

Yet, our futures are often informed by both simple and complex thoughts full of lessons, hopefully never forgotten in our lifetimes.  Yes, we can hope, but there are no guarantees! This process takes a well disciplined set of practices, embedded in our daily activities of living and continually learning about our world(s).

The blogs of Worldwise Learning are formulated to create a depth of field of thought.  Specifically and forcefully requisitioning the full range of acquisitive critical thinking of a human being with an exploratory mind. (By the way, we are talking about a serious thinker.  She is someone who is curious about her world, with an insatiable appetite for new information; which also accumulates value in her understanding of the world far beyond her historic experiences).

A serious and critical thinker can attest to having an open mind, whose thoughts are not set in long deep ruts of repetitive and time worn beliefs, too often disguised as incontestable truths.  Incontestable truths make great homes for minds that don’t want to think about new ideas, nor take responsibility to ponder ideas which generate questions. New ideas are dangerous to already accepted ideas deeply embedded in cocoons of accepted ways of thinking.

Where is your thinking leading you along the potential of many pathways?

Copyright 2012 Michael Mason Norman

What was I thinking?

1 minute 56 seconds

Some individuals may still be under the delusion that they can retire on the job. Such thoughts were allowed during hyper busy economic times, when companies were flush with revenue. If you haven’t noticed, those times are now gone for years to come. As written in earlier blogs, we are going through a transition recession, but we are also going through a once in a lifetime economic correction. It means that in the past you were right to think you could get by doing only a minimal amount of work, but now, well things have changed.

The caption under the cartoon ask, “What was I thinking?” The answer: You were thinking only about yourself and not those with whom you work, thus, not about the organization where you work. So, I could add another line to the caption and it would go something like this: “What was I doing?” Of course, the answer could be many things, but let me provide a couple plausible statements. First, you were doing nothing! Second, you weren’t doing what you were suppose to do. Now, you have put yourself in the middle of a pack of disconcerted colleagues, or should I say former colleagues.

They have been picking up after you, covering for you and just pandering to your inattentiveness. Now, your good old days are gone, they have left the building, and you are in the middle of a mess of your own making. What more can be said? Probably a lot, but this is a G-rated blog.
Michael Mason Norman

A lot of managers, HR officials and practitioners of work routines, think r e a l hard about performance. I think their obsession with focusing on the easy to understand objects, keeps them from dealing with substance. For some reason they never look for the “beef.” You do know what is substance? Of course, of course you do. So, let me introduce you to a couple of problems, hidden away in the cores of modern service operations. Just sit back for a moment or multi-task if you like. The story is all about DISPLAYS!

In your mind’s eye, or if you are at work, look around at how people are working. For a moment close your eyes and watch them move around in fast-forward motion. They skitter, they scatter all about seemingly going somewhere and doing something important. But, watch what they do when placed in chairs, at desks, where we assume they are task focused. Look, their heads drop with eyes angled down at a display. It could be paper, a screen or just blank air with a surface as a backdrop. It doesn’t matter what they are looking at as long as it seems they are working, doing what they are expected to do best. Occasionally, one cube-mate pops up to survey the scene. Like a prairie dog checking for predators, the head swivels three hundred or so degrees. Satisfied with the personal report the head descends back to his head down position. Again, the display, which we will call the HDD or heads down display, begs for his undivided attention. Dutifully, he submits to its quiet murmur of nothing.

The cubicle is his burrow and the HDD is a window on reality. All day long he sits and stares, eyes fixated on what ever is down there for him to see. It could be blank and as easily filled with moving images. Ultimately, the content is not important, only the position of his head matters and the time invested in maintaining his HD place. This is his world of work and he is very good at watching the HDD. But, strain and stress accompany this practice too. It takes a silent toll on all aspects of his life, from morning through night, day after day.

In our mind’s eye we wonder why a person would spend his career just looking down at things? What is he learning by closing himself off from the rest of the world? An interesting point to bring up, but we will explore it another day. For now, lets look at the opposing display called the HUD or Heads Up Display.

To explore the characteristics of this device we will open our eyes and look out at the world around us, and see everything close enough to examine. Our HUD lets us see information about what is in our view, plus the view itself. As we stretch our view we let our mind tag images with essential thoughts, facts, etc., as they are displayed before us. Our view moves and eventually nourishes our curiosity with answers and more questions. This is as it should be, for we must let expanses before us expand our sense of being and knowing. If we confine our lives to living in holes, we pedal our futures into the shapes of silos. Whereupon, our lives tour down and rarely, oh so rarely find time for mental daylight. Eventually, we become blind to what lies outside ourselves.

Thus, when we pawn our time away from a HUD, and bargain for exclusive rights to our personal HDD, we permanently evade the future.

Where do you spend your day?
Michael Mason Norman

November 29, 2010
I had a long talk this morning with another consultant, who shared some very wise insights on consulting and other habits of making a living. He pointed out features of our world of work, I already knew, but a short refresher course is never turned away. (Resilience to the rescue) Over the span of an hour we discussed clients, attitudes and perspectives of our connections with people. The following themes unfolded in a matter of a few minutes: humility, clients aren’t stupid, they have a picture of what ails their organizations, they want fresh viewpoints and suggested solutions, and they want honest feedback–no matter how much it might hurt. On that last point, I must admit I really lean heavily towards being direct. Sugar-coating is for those who fear telling the truth.

It was a well timed conversation, for I was feeling down about my chosen field; ironically, it is a field which also chose me. Besides, this economy has been tough on everyone; it has been the toughest I have ever worked in over forty years. Yet, I have also learned to not look down nor look back. So, as we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st century, I ask you to take a few minutes each day and work on a new destiny for the 2nd decade of the century. Seek the best facts available on the trends of the economy. Evade the influences of showcase opinions, used to sell advertising.

In a recession we must remember that Reality Advertises Only Reality. Its message: Change!

Rudely, crudely, and without remorse, a major recession changes the landscapes all around us, no matter what kinds of blinders we wear, or filtered visions we choose to see. Now, look at your old CPS (Career Positioning System,) it needs new batteries and new maps. Therefore, regardless of your age, honestly establish new, thoughtful directions for the future. Power-up your dreams. And yes, when you actually take time to look at your career. you have more than one direction. Finally, before January 1, 2011, start moving your world towards your new directions. Invest a couple hours in December to begin creating a more profitable future and satisfying career. Don’t walk, don’t crawl, just run! But, by all means try flying, only if you can get frequent flier miles.

Write and share what you decide to create for your new directions. You might be surprised to hear others hadn’t thought about your new paths. From Dr. Michael Mason Norman, aka Mike Sensei (Sensei is Japanese for teacher or professor)

Please check out audio clip above.