FC Experts Blogs
June 27, 2007
Leadership: Experiencing Breakthrough
Have you had a breakthrough lately? It’s very different than making small changes in your life, career, or ways of being that might or might not be sustainable; it’s the tipping point that shifts paradigms permanently. It changes the way you process thought, the way you tackle something and interact, deal with issues, lead others,…it’s all of it. You’ll never be the same or 'go back' because the fundamental way you think will come from a different place altogether.
To use an analogy, picture being in a room surrounded by tinted glass, an enclosed room muffling everything around you. All of a sudden something comes along that smashes the glass. It’s not removed, it’s eliminated or destroyed. There are no more barriers, no filters. All of a sudden the walls are opened up, they're no longer boxing you in allowing light, or illumination to stream in. It's the epitome of the 'AHHA!' moment bringing absolute clarity and direction.
Take that analogy and apply it to your life, your leadership, your perspectives. Now what would it look like? And if you have experienced breakthrough, what did it look like?
Donna Karlin • Executive and Political Shadow Coach™ • Ottawa, Canada • •www.abetterperspective.com
Posted by Donna Karlin at June 27, 2007 4:35 AM | Topic: leadership |
8 Comments
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Donna,
What really caught my attention was not the content of your article but rather the wonderful, new phrases you came up with, like
"Tipping Point" and "Shifting paradigms". These might make great book titles.
David
David....these are terms that have been used by coaches for years! Nothing new about them. They're good though, aren't they? They bring so many concepts and perspectives to mind.
There is a book called the Tipping Point which is fabulous. Not sure about the Shifting Paradigms one though. But I think you can pretty much take any term these days and find a few books on the subject.
You'd better believe I'll search to see if there's a Shifting Paradigms book though.
Best!
Donna
Donna,
I've been trying to explain to friends and former co-workers why I left corporate life and struck out on me own. Not only just leaving corp., but also going in altogether new direction (new media) than my traditional comfort zone. In one concise post, you've hit it exactly.
Thank you,
Rick Mahn
Rick...
Often enough it's difficult to open yourself up to breakthrough as it can be scary in a way. Then comes dealing with the ramifications of that breakthrough which is always wayyyy outside one's comfort zone. Add to that friends, family, colleagues who say they don't 'get you' when usually they do but are envious of the fact you did something about your life when they may not have.
A good story to illustrate...Mexican Crabs...
Mexican crabs are very interesting creatures. When a friend was in Mexico watching a fisherman catch these crabs, he noticed there was no cover on the basket. He thought the crabs would escape so asked the fisherman why he didn’t use a different basket....one with a cover on it.
The fisherman told him "These are Mexican crabs. If one tries to escape the others pull it back in".
There are many in life who try to do the same thing....keep others back because they’re not growing in their own lives, jobs, whatever.
Oftentimes it's not that they don't understand you. They don't understand themselves and why they're not jumping into making changes with both feet. Kudos to you! And perhaps, through example, you'll show them it's possible.
Best..
Donna
Donna, you beautifully recreated the leadership experience.And I like that. I got a question for you: you casually mentioned,'and something comes along...' What i'd like to know is how does one CAUSE this something. Is it a casuality or a happening phenomema. From your analogy I understood it to be the latter. Pls enlighten, thank you.
Dhanraj....
Something comes along can be anything....an experience, a person, a moment in time. It's whatever is that last tiny thing that tips the scales. How can one cause this? To be open to possibility...to look at what you don't know, to speak to people you've never spoken to before and listen to their stories. It's paying attention to life and not planning ever moment of it, but leaving empty space to let things unfold and show you what you haven't seen before. Does that make sense?
The Attraction Principles at their best. When you open yourself up to what's possible and let yourself articulate even to you what it is you want in life, and if you're truly open it'll happen. I live it. My clients now live it and are no longer falling into a life of convenience but living a life the love. It's awesome really.
Best, always
Donna
Donna -
Like Rick I am quitting my job next week, moving to Nashville and starting a new company. I have no idea if we'll make it, but I am giving it 100%. I figure I've been making the impossible happen for someone else for 7 years, time to do it for me! There is something very very sobering about having no idea where next paycheck will come from.
Ledge...
Many years ago I was quoted in Fast Company Magazine (amazing how I've come full circle : ) and someone who was featured in the magazine that issue called me up out of the blue once he found out what I was doing and asked "Why in the world are you working for someone else? What are they doing for you? (to which I answered nothing really). Then start on your own and make a name for yourself!"
The next day I did. It's 12 years later and you know what? I truly believe the secret of being successful is to not even consider NOT being successful. It never occurred to me it wouldn't work. I believe in the Attraction Principles whereby what you say, believe, imagine and are fundamentally passionate about you will attract back ten-fold. It happens to me on a regular basis.
Good luck. Blow everyone away (including yourself). You have to really believe it's going to work for it to work and that enthusiasm will permeate every conversation, every smile, movement and action and it wouldn't occur to everyone else not to want to be a part of that in some way. I don't know what you'll be doing but I'd love to hear how you're doing.
Go for it and best of luck!
Donna