It was a great summer.
I did many things.
I spent time with my family, and we went on vacation to Africa.
My youngest and I climbed a mountain.
I saw lions.
I moved house.
My oldest went off to school.
I had fun.
I worked a little.
I wish it was still summer.
By Steve
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Are There Similar Challenges in Technology Adoption for Schools & Sales ?
One might see many similarities in the challenges that affect formal education as they relate to technology adoption, to the world that I primarily work in - helping sales people excel, often through the use of technology. Not surprising perhaps as learning and technology are both ever-evolving so represent moving targets on both counts.
A number of salient points were raised a little while ago by Larry Cuban (an American teacher and education expert) and Mr. Cuban goes onto describe two divergent views in his post - worth a read if you're as fascinated by how key learnings in one area can apply to another as I am.
The primary issues that Mr. Cuban highlights through a reference to another expert are technocentrism and pedagogical dogmatism.
Technocentrists ... seek “educational uses for particular technologies.” Instead, “educators must focus upon how best to assist students’ learning.” to quote his post. While pedegogical dogmatism is to put it in a dull fashion - "my way or the highway" - an educator with an unbending view of the way things should be done. This lack of a flexible view combined with singular focus on the way to embrace technical change is problematic - image that!
This issue isn't unique to schools, it runs rampant in the sales training world as well I'll suggest. I see it in the lack of depth of offering at 99% of the providers in the space, and the eyes of customers who have experienced one too many poor executions of sales methodologies captured in software of some sort.
Granted this is a difficult nut to crack, but first a few needed assumptions have to be to acknowledged :
A number of salient points were raised a little while ago by Larry Cuban (an American teacher and education expert) and Mr. Cuban goes onto describe two divergent views in his post - worth a read if you're as fascinated by how key learnings in one area can apply to another as I am.
The primary issues that Mr. Cuban highlights through a reference to another expert are technocentrism and pedagogical dogmatism.
Technocentrists ... seek “educational uses for particular technologies.” Instead, “educators must focus upon how best to assist students’ learning.” to quote his post. While pedegogical dogmatism is to put it in a dull fashion - "my way or the highway" - an educator with an unbending view of the way things should be done. This lack of a flexible view combined with singular focus on the way to embrace technical change is problematic - image that!
This issue isn't unique to schools, it runs rampant in the sales training world as well I'll suggest. I see it in the lack of depth of offering at 99% of the providers in the space, and the eyes of customers who have experienced one too many poor executions of sales methodologies captured in software of some sort.
Granted this is a difficult nut to crack, but first a few needed assumptions have to be to acknowledged :
- Not everyone optimally learns the same way
- Some people are "computer impaired", some are "process challenged" and a few are both
- Learning is about the student, not the teacher and that's as true in the meeting room as it is in the classroom
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The trees the trolls the loons and the lake
There's a lake in Canada's Algonquin Park that's quite special to me. Just about all of them are beautiful - ethereal and silent, capable of both anger and grace. But one of them is also quite magical - to my family and I anyway.
This one particular lake, deep within the park's wilderness is home to loons and trolls and wind and the trees that do their bidding. It's a long involved story that goes on for generations and I won't go into, for if you haven't been there you won't truly appreciate it. Paddling this lake though, seeing and smelling and feeling it - where the hills climb sharply from the water's edge and the forest has eyes reflecting off the lake that watch you as you glide atop it's deep waters, you know the place you are in is solemn and the stories must be true.
It's a rare place that instills quiet in your soul, and allows you to sense dimensions that aren't obvious most anywhere else. I won't share the location or name of this place, for fear it'll be found and spoiled. For while the loons and trolls and trees have been there for a long long time, people haven't and our privilege of witnessing this isn't a right, its a gift.
My wish is that each of us has such a place that we can literally visit, and use as a source of internal peace when we need it.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Long View
As the Rolling Stones put it (to music) - we can't always get what we want. Being neither as musical or lip-endowed as the Stones, I wanted to try to tackle the questions of what to do with disappointing news in this context instead.
The temptation as taught through many old movies growing up was to find a bar and bury your heart in the bottom of a bottle. Fair enough, though the picture painted was rarely as ugly as that is in real life. Drunks are neither pretty or entertaining unless said drunk happens to be you. The result afterward? (without the intervention of the Hollywood fairy) the same problem, and a hangover.
Ruling that out then, when you find you didn't get that job, promotion, date or other significantly hoped-for result, what's a good response ? I decided a few years ago with some guidance from some folks whom I respect, that I wanted to try to emulate what I would say to one of my kids in the same situation.
We all acknowledge that we learn more from our failures than we do from our successes, so the first reaction I try to make is to assess what can be learned when the situation doesn't end in the desired outcome. (Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me). The most pressing thing to determine is to how to avoid the exact same outcome - in other words what needs to change if the situation were to present itself again. Not all situations require this to be determined quickly, but some are.
The next step and very important perspective to embrace is the long view. The long view is the big picture perspective beyond this immediate interaction. If you are trying to get a date with someone you like and they say "no", take the long view and keep up the efforts to make a positive personal connection. That's the long view. When you don't get that promotion, work extra smartly and hard and ensure your efforts are noted - that's the long view. Any situation really can get a long view - it's a determination to keep trying to achieve your desired outcome without quitting. It speaks to perseverance, determination and a willingness to go that extra mile. All good stuff.
The long view is the key to me - it turns negative outcomes into bumps in the road. It helps us see past our need for immediate gratification that we're trained to expect and instead understand that sometimes things are worth working hard to get.
The temptation as taught through many old movies growing up was to find a bar and bury your heart in the bottom of a bottle. Fair enough, though the picture painted was rarely as ugly as that is in real life. Drunks are neither pretty or entertaining unless said drunk happens to be you. The result afterward? (without the intervention of the Hollywood fairy) the same problem, and a hangover.
Ruling that out then, when you find you didn't get that job, promotion, date or other significantly hoped-for result, what's a good response ? I decided a few years ago with some guidance from some folks whom I respect, that I wanted to try to emulate what I would say to one of my kids in the same situation.
We all acknowledge that we learn more from our failures than we do from our successes, so the first reaction I try to make is to assess what can be learned when the situation doesn't end in the desired outcome. (Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me). The most pressing thing to determine is to how to avoid the exact same outcome - in other words what needs to change if the situation were to present itself again. Not all situations require this to be determined quickly, but some are.
The next step and very important perspective to embrace is the long view. The long view is the big picture perspective beyond this immediate interaction. If you are trying to get a date with someone you like and they say "no", take the long view and keep up the efforts to make a positive personal connection. That's the long view. When you don't get that promotion, work extra smartly and hard and ensure your efforts are noted - that's the long view. Any situation really can get a long view - it's a determination to keep trying to achieve your desired outcome without quitting. It speaks to perseverance, determination and a willingness to go that extra mile. All good stuff.
The long view is the key to me - it turns negative outcomes into bumps in the road. It helps us see past our need for immediate gratification that we're trained to expect and instead understand that sometimes things are worth working hard to get.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Adam Smith vs Arthur C Clarke
Think of it as literary wrestling or the class struggle of ideas and fictional idealism.
Smith famously wrote Wealth of Nations (the actual title is longer as was the norm in the mid 1700's) and this book laid the groundwork in political economics and is our foundation of modern economics arguably. Concepts such as the invisible hand, self interested competition and early ideas around opportunity costs were all introduced by this gentleman who had brilliant insights.
So how does an 18th century political economist and general thinker end up at odds with a 20th century science fiction writer ?
Arthur C Clarke is amongst the most talented, and creative minds of the last century (He's died two years ago, living in Sri Lanka), and gave the world tangible science - he contributed to the development of radar systems in WWII and later is credited with the core ideas behind satellite technology, geostationary orbits and space flight. But it's the creative side that has made his name more well known. Famously the creator behind such works as 2001: Space Odyssey and other foundational elements of science fiction writing, Clarke imagined worlds and superimposed the human condition upon them in a way many could relate to.
One of his books was required reading for me in school - a piece of fiction known as Childhood's End brought into the curriculum by a teacher who understood the need to make literature and reading enjoyable. In this book, a world is imagined where humanity evolves through a helping hand (not Smith's invisible hand) and it proposes a world where production is handled automatically and offered freely by the state. People have no need to work to survive, rather work is done out of the joy of doing so, or to gain extra material possessions. There's a particular line or two that has stuck with for over 30 years, and it goes like this - "....was considerably less of a burden than the providing for the armies of ticket collectors, shop assistants, bank clerks, stock brokers and so forth, whose main function, when one took the global point of view, was to transfer items from one ledger to another." I love that small piece of writing as it sums up our entire political economic system and dismisses it elegantly and simply. Witnessing these two great thinkers and being present as they might have discussed ideal "systems" would be a wondrous thing. It may have even gotten physical.
Smith famously wrote Wealth of Nations (the actual title is longer as was the norm in the mid 1700's) and this book laid the groundwork in political economics and is our foundation of modern economics arguably. Concepts such as the invisible hand, self interested competition and early ideas around opportunity costs were all introduced by this gentleman who had brilliant insights.
So how does an 18th century political economist and general thinker end up at odds with a 20th century science fiction writer ?
Arthur C Clarke is amongst the most talented, and creative minds of the last century (He's died two years ago, living in Sri Lanka), and gave the world tangible science - he contributed to the development of radar systems in WWII and later is credited with the core ideas behind satellite technology, geostationary orbits and space flight. But it's the creative side that has made his name more well known. Famously the creator behind such works as 2001: Space Odyssey and other foundational elements of science fiction writing, Clarke imagined worlds and superimposed the human condition upon them in a way many could relate to.
One of his books was required reading for me in school - a piece of fiction known as Childhood's End brought into the curriculum by a teacher who understood the need to make literature and reading enjoyable. In this book, a world is imagined where humanity evolves through a helping hand (not Smith's invisible hand) and it proposes a world where production is handled automatically and offered freely by the state. People have no need to work to survive, rather work is done out of the joy of doing so, or to gain extra material possessions. There's a particular line or two that has stuck with for over 30 years, and it goes like this - "....was considerably less of a burden than the providing for the armies of ticket collectors, shop assistants, bank clerks, stock brokers and so forth, whose main function, when one took the global point of view, was to transfer items from one ledger to another." I love that small piece of writing as it sums up our entire political economic system and dismisses it elegantly and simply. Witnessing these two great thinkers and being present as they might have discussed ideal "systems" would be a wondrous thing. It may have even gotten physical.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Overqualified
This is a term used in job searches primarily and means "having more education, training, or experience than is required for a job or position".
It does have negative qualities about it though and I might suggest these are undeserved, for they are one-sided at best.
For the employer, having an employee who is over-qualified might lead to that employee's boredom or distaste for a given job that they might perceive was beneath them. Realistically the employer gets a staff member who should be well capable of performing the role in question given that they probably offer significant experience and qualifications.
Importantly, it's the employee's choice to accept a role for which they are perceived to be over-qualified. But, it is their risk, and the downside is really all theirs. When would an individual choose to take on such a role..? When they want to mentor, (and can't get a job at a Biz school!) or when they want to blow away a known set of goals and love an industry. Or perhaps, it could be that they really admire the company in question, and just want to be along for the ride.
It does have negative qualities about it though and I might suggest these are undeserved, for they are one-sided at best.
For the employer, having an employee who is over-qualified might lead to that employee's boredom or distaste for a given job that they might perceive was beneath them. Realistically the employer gets a staff member who should be well capable of performing the role in question given that they probably offer significant experience and qualifications.
Importantly, it's the employee's choice to accept a role for which they are perceived to be over-qualified. But, it is their risk, and the downside is really all theirs. When would an individual choose to take on such a role..? When they want to mentor, (and can't get a job at a Biz school!) or when they want to blow away a known set of goals and love an industry. Or perhaps, it could be that they really admire the company in question, and just want to be along for the ride.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Dear Daughter..
All too often milestones in our lives go unnoticed and unappreciated. This wasn't one of those times, and that probably made it more difficult, as it was a clear, defined change in your direction and how things will be in the future.
As a parent, my role has been to prepare you and to ensure you're able to stand on your own two feet and be a happy, productive member of society. As your Dad my job has been to protect you, care for you, provide for you and ensure that you know you are loved. As you have gone through this change in your own life, it's also time to assess where I stand, and to determine how I did as well, on both the parental and paternal fronts.
As I can't live your next days for you, and in fact I can't even be there to watch you (which is difficult), let me address the change from my own perspective and observations only.
You are intelligent and able to be employed. Case in point, you have held a job for years and were a promoted individual and your skills and abilities were independently recognized by others at the ripe old age of 16. You have succeeded in virtually every role you have tried, and throw your passion and energy into tasks that you take on this way. Outside of formal employment, you have a wide and deep circle of people you socialize with, being appreciated for your sense of humour and the ability to organize friends - a thankless task relating to teenagers everywhere. So, are you a productive and happy member of society at large, and have you demonstrated the potential to keep this going into the future ? The answer is definitively yes - so much so that different countries should be soliciting you to be their citizen.
On the more personal front, I think we did pretty well. You never came to harm outside of normal kid stuff, and despite your trim figure, were never at a loss for things to eat, or a roof overhead. You experienced exposure to other cultures, and have even enjoyed a few accents already in your own life. You seem happy - that's very changeable understandably - but you are rarely at a loss for a smile or the ability to pass along a small kindness. Children and dogs like you which is always a sure sign of good things. So, with your state of being, I'm pretty happy and comfortable.
Which brings me back to the impact that big milestones have in our lives - and this is a big one. We can prepare, but won't know if were really ready until we can look back at the experience. Hindsight alone is 20/20. We can learn to bear down and do what it takes to succeed when faced with new obstacles, and I see you doing that - using your experience and knowledge that has guided you well in the past. That's no guarantee of success of course, but one of the last lessons I'll offer is that there isn't ever a guarantee of success. We do what we think we need to do to successfully move though life's stages - and you've already demonstrated wisdom in how you're approaching this change.
I'm proud of you, and for what it's worth, I reserve the right to continue to do the Dad stuff. But know this - I've no fear that this change will be too much for you, or that it will be too difficult. You are ready for this.
Dad xo
As a parent, my role has been to prepare you and to ensure you're able to stand on your own two feet and be a happy, productive member of society. As your Dad my job has been to protect you, care for you, provide for you and ensure that you know you are loved. As you have gone through this change in your own life, it's also time to assess where I stand, and to determine how I did as well, on both the parental and paternal fronts.
As I can't live your next days for you, and in fact I can't even be there to watch you (which is difficult), let me address the change from my own perspective and observations only.
You are intelligent and able to be employed. Case in point, you have held a job for years and were a promoted individual and your skills and abilities were independently recognized by others at the ripe old age of 16. You have succeeded in virtually every role you have tried, and throw your passion and energy into tasks that you take on this way. Outside of formal employment, you have a wide and deep circle of people you socialize with, being appreciated for your sense of humour and the ability to organize friends - a thankless task relating to teenagers everywhere. So, are you a productive and happy member of society at large, and have you demonstrated the potential to keep this going into the future ? The answer is definitively yes - so much so that different countries should be soliciting you to be their citizen.
On the more personal front, I think we did pretty well. You never came to harm outside of normal kid stuff, and despite your trim figure, were never at a loss for things to eat, or a roof overhead. You experienced exposure to other cultures, and have even enjoyed a few accents already in your own life. You seem happy - that's very changeable understandably - but you are rarely at a loss for a smile or the ability to pass along a small kindness. Children and dogs like you which is always a sure sign of good things. So, with your state of being, I'm pretty happy and comfortable.
Which brings me back to the impact that big milestones have in our lives - and this is a big one. We can prepare, but won't know if were really ready until we can look back at the experience. Hindsight alone is 20/20. We can learn to bear down and do what it takes to succeed when faced with new obstacles, and I see you doing that - using your experience and knowledge that has guided you well in the past. That's no guarantee of success of course, but one of the last lessons I'll offer is that there isn't ever a guarantee of success. We do what we think we need to do to successfully move though life's stages - and you've already demonstrated wisdom in how you're approaching this change.
I'm proud of you, and for what it's worth, I reserve the right to continue to do the Dad stuff. But know this - I've no fear that this change will be too much for you, or that it will be too difficult. You are ready for this.
Dad xo
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