Focus on Life™

Everybody talks about it and still we don’t seem to get our house in order. How can we make our planet a better place for all of us? Talk is cheap and so far we have been too ignorant to get rid of the whole issue in large scale enough.

How do you deal with a harassing and aggressive person in your neighbourhood? You let the person know that his or her behaviour is not accepted or supported by others. All of us together define the rules and the accepted behaviour in our societies. By our very actions or non-actions we create our surroundings every day. Our ignorance and tolerance for aggressive and hostile intentions enable them to exist and flourish.

There is a very easy way to stop wars. Just follow the money. Who finance the wars? Who makes the final decisions to declare them? A war does not happen if people are not supporting nor allowing it to happen. Passive and ignorant attitude towards aggressive intentions in massive scale make us sheep that are lead to things that individuals in a personal level would not allow to happen. Our political systems are not stable–they are tilted towards reckless and irresponsible behaviour. All this is possible because of so called collective responsibility and financing—very few decide and gain but everybody pays the consequences, and nobody is personally liable. Things just happen—almost automatically. We cannot control them. Or this is how we are made to believe. The truth is that we just hand over our personal power to other people who are willing to use it, even against us. Organisations, political systems, or ideologies do not fight—only people do. Just think about it.

If you study the history you will find that most of the wars are declared by some sort of concepts or entities called nations, governments, or rulers. But only a handful of people cannot make entire societies into brainless killing machines that just destroy themselves beyond belief and any sense. How do you call a leader without followers? A person taking a walk. There are no wars if there are no people who are willing to fight. There are no wars if there are no enabling financing or weapons. Who makes the weapons? We do. Who finance the wars? We do. Who fights the wars? We do.

As long as we believe in some great archetypes of visionary and omnipotent leaders, rulers or administrative bodies that know what is good for us and tell us what to do there will always be people taking the lead and readily telling others what to do. Responsibility seems to be a very difficult lesson to learn. Similarly using one’s own common sense and reasoning are also rare skills. Why it is so hard to see that there is no such a thing as something for nothing or free lunches without paybacks?

Peace is possible only when we appreciate our own personal power and freedom so greatly that we are not willing to give it away or tolerate violent and aggressive behaviour from anyone. How do you declare wars if there are only people? And more importantly who would declare wars if there are only people minding their own business and protecting their personal freedom against any aggressor. Peace is a sign of ultimate strength—not weakness. So far we have only managed to destroy and create havoc. We have not deserved peace yet—we have not appreciated it enough to make it a reality for us. We have been driven by our personal greed, jealousy, and hate. Peace cannot be imposed—you have to live it.

We love routines and predictability even if we are not openly admitting it. They give us the feeling of security and being in control of issues. Still, we are only thinking that nothing changes while everything around us is in constant move and a state of flux. We just do not register incremental shifts—and therefore we are often taken by surprise with more or less radical consequences.

Business world is a good case in point about continuous change. Organisations tend to get used to their positions and organisational charts showing how the business is structured and is supposed to be run. But customers do not like to repeat things over and over again without improvements or even trying something entirely different. This creates the urge for adjustments and new ideas. If there is no demand there is no organisation either—in the long run. No matter how nice the current business unit, division, or team you are having but if it does not serve any real need anymore it must go.

Voluntary change requires a lot. You need to be active, open, sensitive, and humble for new ideas—even radical ones. In addition, boldness and courage are in great demand in order to carry out the required changes in a swift manner. Detachment is as important for a business organisation as it is for personal development. If you fall in love with your position or routines you will lose the game in the future. Sensitivity for the unknown and being constantly listening and observing are the only ways to ensure that you earn your current leadership position over and over again. Humility is the only friend of success.

Large masses tend to move very slowly first. But even icebergs melt in wrong climate. The same applies to corporations that are looking today’s world through their rose-coloured glasses of past success. They see what they want to see and even pretend not to notice the signals of change. Delaying issues do not make them to disappear—often things just get worse. Massive layoffs and organisational restructurings and turnarounds tell their story of inevitability of change—you either adjust sooner or later or you just simply disappear altogether.

How to remain dynamic and flexible without clinging too much in the past? Focus on your capabilities and competences. Everybody needs to keep learning new skills and enrich their know-how and experience, all the time. If you regard change as a fact of live that enables you to do new things and have exciting opportunities you are less likely in need of panic actions or last-minute reactions. Do you enjoy what you are doing? Are you delivering good value and the best possible quality in your job? We tend to drop the ball way before we admit it to ourselves. We are not motivated and life seems boring, because we are stuck into our routines. This should be a very good warning sign that you have snoozed. Each morning after you wake up draw either a happy or sad smiley in your calendar for a month. Check the results and count the amount of happy faces full of anticipation and excitement for the new day. If you find way too many sad faces you may need to reconsider your priorities—change is only a thought away.

Credit is something we prefer to get—at least when we want to pursue new projects and need financing. But how do you gain recognition and support for your projects? Are you looking for in other people what in actuality should lie within yourself?

Credit is a recognition of your past achievements and track record. It is your history talking loud and clear by your actions and deeds. You represent the things you have done and let other people to evaluate your performance by your past success. Where you come from is a good indicator to where you are heading as well, but not more—we change all the time. A good track record means nothing if you are not performing any more. Like in the fashion business: you’re only as good as your latest collection.

When you talk with your bank manager she is not giving you credit—you already have it. She just extrapolates your past achievements as a token and promise of a future success. In other words you are trusted because of your history. No wonder it is very hard for people doing things the first time!

And don’t take your credibility as just some ‘great’ achievements you have accomplished. You are a walking history of your past experiences. Everything you do, talk, think, express, wear, and even your very presence broadcast the message about you. It is not solely the clothes you wear nor any other single item. Some people can manage to get things done with their shorts and old t-shirt on where for others a nice expensive suit cannot do the trick. Do not confuse competence and experience with the appearance. It is easy to make window dressing but a bit harder to accomplish real action points. Which one you prefer: talking about the things you are going to achieve or demonstrate the things you already have done as a proof of your competence?

Small things lead to great achievements. Often it is more important to start doing things than just to wait for the perfect time and circumstances. Your actions are a good proxy of your intentions and dedication. Are you willing to take risks and stand behind your words? Wisdom is something that is derived from first-hand experience. Knowledge can be learned but it is not a proof of profound understanding and sound execution skills. Many things look easy but are a bit more complex when you get involved with the details. Credibility comes from the things you have indicated of doing and later have accomplished successfully. It is a sign of trust given by others of your future intentions based on your past experiences. You are your own credit!