One of my favorite little stories

"This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out.

"A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?'  The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

"Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

"Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'" 

This is from the West Wing (Episode #32 entitled Noel) and is spoken from one character to another.

May we all be fortunate enough to have friends like this. 

Sometimes

Sometimes we get what we want, other times we don't.

Sometimes we get what we need, in spite of not wanting it.

The trick is to see the value in each.

It's all about Attitude

I do a couple different types of work - leading groups of people in both business groups (corporations), and leading groups enrolled in academic courses.  The materials vary and until recently, I might have concluded the differences at that.  But the variations in these tasks run deeper, and they're different in an audience expectations sense I think.

I believe that the nature of how we approach things when 'forced' is very different than when we willingly embrace a chance to learn.  The attitude (in general) of these groups is not the same.  Business people attend with the understanding that the organization wants them (tells them) to do this.  Some approach it with open minds, and others don't.  I find myself often using a saying I picked up from something Seth Godin wrote that goes something like this: "Learning cannot be forced, it has to be choosen".  When saying that, I'm trying to get the audience to have an open mind.  Clearly they all don't, and despite what their expectations are, I recognize that what I offer tends to be in their best long term self - interest.  Not everyone can see that however.

The difference in approach (the audience attitude) really struck me this week.  I was teaching in an academic setting, and everyone there had freely enrolled hoping to pick up new ideas that they could bring back to their roles and workplaces.  They weren't an easier audience in any sense, arguably they pushed me harder than I normally get pushed...but they did it from hunger and desire to know more.  That was refreshing.

I know from following up with a few of them they they got something from what we discussed.  It wasn't all pertinent -  and they made those choices, but they did get something because they were looking for it.

There's an interesting lesson for any of us here I think.