Perspective - what's it worth to you?

I have a vivid memory of my first visit ever to "the Big Apple." It was January, of 1997, and I went to visit a friend who was working for an IB on Wall Street. I was a high school teacher at a time, and this trip took all the time I got for vacation that year (not to mention how much it cost this non-tenured teacher!). It was challenging...

Now, some 10 years later, going to New York regularly is something I expect and accept completely. I'll be in NY in February, March, April, May, July and September this year! Here is a picture I got last year after completing the New York Triathlon.

Now, you can see what an interesting view/vantage point this picture offers...kinda reminds me of the work I was doing this week with the US Military here near Los Angeles, CA.

I worked with a senior management/leadership team for three days (Friday-Tuesday) as a large group starts to manage a "mission-rolldown" project. One of the significant factors: How do we mentor people moving into new responsibilities?

We discussed three points in our brief today:

Achievement
Believe
Challenge

Achievement: It is important, nay critical, that people on the team recognize that what they do is significant; in addition, they need to hear, see and feel they have accomplished something worthy of their time, energy and focus. Celebrate completion.

Believe: The leaders must accept as fact that the people below them are already on their way to greatness; likewise, those who are growing in the organization need to believe they can achieve more then they ever considered possible. The role of a mentor is to see in the mentee what the mentee cannot yet see.

Challenge: Make it difficult. Make it hard. Make it stressful. In all my experiences of growing (as an author, husband, athlete, executive consultant...whatever!), I have learned that the most significant (and longest-lasting) growth happens just after a difficult time. Look forward to learning through challenging experiences. (I don't mean negative or tragic ones; I simply mean the ones that "test" everyone.)

Comments

[Mark Madsen]

"Achievement: It is important, nay critical, that people on the team recognize that what they do is significant; in addition, they need to hear, see and feel they have accomplished something worthy of their time, energy and focus. Celebrate completion."

Great point Jason. My mother always told me to live a significant life and success will follow.

[joe bruzzese]

Love this perspective on perspective. The ABCs you mentioned really connect well with the role parents play in guiding their children during the teen years. I'm going to use your info and make the connection.
Congrats, another win for you and the people you connect with.