What You Must Know About Flexible vs Inflexible Thinking #Think

What You Need to Know About Flexible vs Inflexible Thinking

Being flexible is such an important thing, especially today more than ever before. This is because there seems to be a direct relationship between flexibility and being effective in an ever-changing, highly dynamic world.

The scientific formula or law for this would be - the more dynamic things become and the more swiftly things change requires an directly-related level of flexibility in order to effectively interact with and respond to such an environment.

This also means that the more rigid and less flexible we are, the less we will be able to survive in such a world full of change, and the more likely our efforts will fail. Our rigidity will collapse and break apart under the pressure.

A Strong Rigid Oak Tree or a Thin Flexible Palm Tree Analogy

A great analogy is that perhaps in the past, a strong oak tree could have withstood a thousand years of a more stable environment. However, today, oak trees are more easily dying in light of the rapid and unpredictable nature of the environment. Trees like the palm tree, which seems more flexible, remain.

Just the same, in the face of a hurricane, a palm tree that remains flexible and bends with the storm will probably survive. An oak tree would just crack and crumble and be quickly uprooted, for its

This is why, if asked in an interview what kind of tree I would be, I would say a palm tree. A palm tree gets to enjoy the sun and the beach, but more importantly, is flexible enough to survive a hurricane in many cases, to survive and prosper.

These Are Useful Analogies for Flexible Thinking - Agility

Our thinking, to survive the constant pressure of change and dynamics of today's environment, must also be flexible, fast, highly adaptable and resilient. All of these can perhaps be summed up in one word - agility - the ability to be agile - which means the ability to flex and adapt and roll with changes quickly, in order to survive and prosper.

Therefore, seek to be flexible and agile in your thinking and in your arrangements and organizations. Leave options open. Avoid all-or-nothing thinking. Follow the 80-20 rule and "general rules" Leave enough room to move, maneuver and change. De-couple things a bit to eliminate centers of gravity and single points of failure.

Stay flexible - for it is the key to your survival and prosperity in today's environment, where things change quickly. Learn the lesson from the palm tree and stop being like the old oak of yesterday’s time, unsuited for today's environment.

Do or Do Not There Is No Try Yoda Quote Meaning #Quotes

Do or Do Not There Is No Try Yoda Quote and Meaning

Most of us have heard the saying before that goes "do or do not, there is no try". I once knew someone who loved this saying. But I didn't appreciate it much at the time, as much as I do now. 

This is a saying that is especially useful to for those who think that their best is good enough. For some situations, maybe. For many others, not so!

This is again an example of not following all-or-nothing thinking, as a general rule. This saying, "Do or Do Not, There Is No Try” has since grown on me and now I agree with it in a way that I think it was meant to be seen. 

Too many people out there "try" and then fail. Then they become bitter, cynical, jaded naysayers, complainers, critics, unbelievers or they might just be too lazy to try hard enough and well enough.

Why Do vs Try?

They tried, and they failed. So they gave up. They may have even tried 100 times and failed and given up. Am I telling them to try again? NO! I instead will tell them what Yoda said, "Do or Do Not, There Is No Try".

Let me make my point using this analogy: if someone asked you to hold their baby, and said don't drop my baby, would you tell them, "I'll try not to?" Dropping a baby is something that you cannot do, EVER. It is simply unacceptable.

Same logic goes for "Do or Do Not, There Is No Try." There are some things that you just don't fail at. It's called simply doing the things you MUST do them, in order to be successful, no matter what. It is a level of assurance or perhaps "mission assurance" that some of you who were military probably understand well.

When Good Isn't Good Enough

If you tried and failed, maybe it means that your "try" is not a great effort, and your try is such a weak and incomplete effort that it serves only as an excuse, a crutch, and no real proof that you really tried your heart out.

Giving 110%, your maximum effort, your best in all you do - this is how you overcome the "try" attempt at something. You apply yourself fully. That's what all those teachers meant when they said of someone "they could have been good or great, had they "applied themselves."

I'm a firm believer that if you want something bad enough, in most cases you can have it. While there are always exceptions to this, in many and perhaps most cases, it depends not on whether or not you try, but rather on the quality of how you try, how hard, how smartly, how diligently and persistently? 

The quality of your "try" might need a boost! Here is how:

• You must try hard enough.

• You must try using the right tools, methods, ideas and plans

• You must try the right things

• You must try after seeking it out and finding the thing to try

• You must give it ALL you've got once the above criteria for "trying" have been met

In other words, when Yoda said, "Do or Do not" he was saying, as I see it:

• You're already defeated if you come here with an "I'll try my best" attitude

• You come with less than your best, and that is like Sun Tzu, you lose the fight before it even begins, you lack commitment to truly see it through

• You need to come with an "all in" attitude, willing to commit fully, do what it takes, within reason, and get it done

• You need to have everything lined up where "making it happen" and "doing it" not just "trying" is the name of the game. So do this...

• Be decisive. Be exact. Be sure. Do it. Do or Do Not, There Is No Try! 

Let’s now look at another area of personal effectiveness, which is called the error or all-or-nothing-thinking in my article The Mistake People Make With All-or-Nothing Thinking. #Yoda  #GTD   #Quotes

Brevity is the Key To Communicate Effectively So Keep It Brief #Brevity

Brevity is Something Everyone Should Learn In Order To Communicate Effectively

Always figure out the best way to make a long story short.  People just don't have time for the long version of anything these days.  Save the extra details for their questions.  If they don't ask any, you've done well, so go about your merry way and value their time.  They'll sincerely appreciate this.

Also, it seems those in leadership and management positions have one thing in common - their attention span is extremely short and they lose interest quickly.  This is because they (and you) are pressed for time.  So respect their time, and yours, and keep it brief.

If you can get your point across quickly and directly, with tact and professionalism - you'll become a highly valued person in the organization.  No one likes those who ramble on and on, wasting everyone's time.  Today, more than everm time is of the essence.

One more thing - be careful not to allow what you say to be read into, as you keep things brief and concise.  Strive to make things crystal clear, avoid confusion, and keep it simple - because less is more!

Next, find out why you should learn to say things in 30 seconds or less - this is a must read, so subscribe and don't miss it!  #Brevity  #GTD