Do you sometimes wonder why you don’t get more ideas? Or why your employees or colleagues are not more creative? Today, gain some insights into these questions by studying the character portraits of two businesspeople. Which of the two persons comes closer to you?
Portrait 1
“I am a successful businessman, having a big title and working for a big, renowned company for what other people believe is a big salary. Few people know that behind the outer facade of my “success,” I am full of doubts, worries and fears. I am afraid of making mistakes, of losing a client or an important deal, of not living up to the expectations of my colleagues and boss, of losing my job in these shaky and very competitive times. And I am afraid that others will notice all my insecurities and weaknesses behind my mask.”
“I’ve made many mistakes, so I’m very critical toward myself — and to others. I often criticize and judge people who are less smart, smooth and successful than me. I am quite negative and cynical about the future. Look at all those problems and uncertainties around us! I worry about my job and security in the future. Work and life are so serious!”
“I am quite good in my job — but in secret: I don’t really like it. Deep down inside, I know that this is not my ultimate calling, but I am too afraid of doing something else. So why do I hang in there? It’s all about the money. I hope to get a big bonus, but I am afraid of falling behind my peers in the eyes of my boss.”
“I am admired for my analytical skills and my logical judgments by my colleagues and clients. I make tough decisions based on numbers and facts, and I coolly see these through against opposition.”
“I am considered to be an expert, and although I don’t really enjoy it, I read many books and do more training in my area of specialization to know more details and learn more specialized skills that help me to stay ahead of my peers.”
“I am quite rigid and fixated in my ways. I dislike change and am worried about all the changes that are taking place in the industry. Often, I spend time thinking about the good old days, then wishing to correct past chances that I missed. I hope that things will get better in the future and dream of all the good things that will make my life comfortable and secure. Hence, I work hard to move up the career ladder, so no wonder I am always busy. I am doing-doing-doing something all the time. Even in my lunch breaks, I check out and answer e-mails while munching a sandwich or take customer calls. Sometimes, I feel burned out, but I keep on going — I am too afraid that my boss thinks I am not working hard enough.”
Portrait 2
“I believe that I am here for a reason that is greater than myself. My belief gives me the courage to follow my own drumbeat, to do what I think is right, and to persist on my course in the face of adversity and temporary setbacks.”
“I love and fully accept myself. I am created unique. Never before was nor ever will be in the future anyone exactly like me. Understanding my originality gives me the freedom to simply be my best self, regardless of what other people think of me.”
“I am very open and curious. Like a young child, I constantly ask questions to learn more and have a playful and positive approach to life. For me, the glass is always half-full, and I look for the opportunity in every problem. Whenever I fail, I see it as a chance to learn and get better and better. I believe that everything happens for a reason and ultimately serves my purpose.”
“I love what I do! I really work a lot, but for me, it doesn’t feel like work. I enjoy what I do so much that I would even continue doing it if I did not make a lot of money with it. I know that what I do adds meaning to others and is important, and I sense that there is a higher purpose of why I am here and why I need to follow through on my path.”
“I’ve cultivated a beautiful whole new mind that balances logic and magic. I further both my analytical rational mind and my creativity, imagination and intuition, knowing that this balance enables me to succeed on my path in the fast-moving business world of the 21st century.”
“I love to learn more — about my area of specialization and about any other topics that interest me. Knowing that everything connects to everything else, I collect a lot of dots (knowledge, skills and experiences) outside my expert domain to connect to the dots in my expert domain.”
“I feel confident in the face of open-ended, ambiguous or paradoxical situations, which enables me to flexibly adapt to unexpected change. I understand that life happens now and apply myself fully to the task at hand, whether it is writing, reading, teaching, conceptualizing, planning, analyzing, imagining, ideating, sketching or mapping. I enjoy every moment and experience the beauty of life with all of my five senses.”
“I have largely freed my inner self from the tyranny of time and take a long-term view on what I want to create and contribute to society. Every day, I diligently work very hard on creating output that brings me closer to my future objectives. Why? As I told you earlier: I really love my work! At the same time, I make sure that every day, I balance doing with being, knowing that busyness does not mean effectiveness. I regularly take breaks from work to relax, to nurture my body and soul, and to reenergize myself. And guess what? It’s in these breaks when I get my best ideas — and if I am very lucky, I will get a breakthrough idea and experience another “Eureka!”-moment. Then, I feel one with creation.”
Postscript: By the way, did you recognize who the two persons I portrayed are? Both portraits describe me at different points in my life: ten years ago and now.
© Dr. Detlef Reis 2010. This article was published in parallel in the Bangkok Post under the same title on 21 January 2010.