If I am not mistaken, I've only tried a Rollerblade once in my life. Not a good experience, it seems I am not gifted with this wonderful sense of equilibrium others have (or my instructor was too bad). Anyway, I remember myself sliding all around, like a crazy guy.
Sometimes, when I hear a leader's speech, or any comment made by him, I have the impression they are all lost in Rollerblades. All of them incapable of dealing with it.
We came from that era when leaders could do whatever they want, to a time when they could not all they want, to the present time, when they don't even try to do it. Is it fear of failure? Fear of not being reelected or being fired? I am not sure.
I think the main reason we lost our leaders and our present "leaders" are lost is the fact that nobody really knows what is right and what is wrong. Many things that used to be wrong, are now considered right and vice-versa. Another reason is that they don't have self-leadership. Yes, they have many talents, but they are not leaders for themselves. So, who will listen to someone who does not even listen to himself?
I am not sure there is a clear solution to that. Nobody would like to go to that time (although some are going towards there) when leaders used to do whatever they wanted. But, on the other hand, no-one wants a leader who literally does nothing more than promises and smiles.
Probably best solution is for all of us to develop our own self-leadership, so that we are able to follow the leader as much he/she is correct and follow your own ideas when they are right.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Politics and my inner policy
Whenever you want to learn another language, the worst part is when you have similar words to yours, but with different meaning. All languages have that case unfortunately, and in English I find the case of "politics" and "policy" (if you are puzzled about their difference, check it out here).
Due to the politics, I live in a region of constant tension and conflict. I've come to Colombia about 17 years ago, when the relations with one of its neighbor, Venezuela, not only were good, but excellent. The deterioration is being huge and as I don't believe in blaming anybody, I can say it is because of politics.
The damage it is causing is beyond repair now I guess. Just a small example: last year, whilst travelling to Portugal, I went to Caracas to take my plane (TAP, excellent airline by the way). I think it was some kind of "revenge" by local TAP, but they made me go through luggage manual checking, which meant GETTING OUT to the luggage area. I guess it was about 40 C at least and people there were quite ruthless... until they hear I was not Colombian, but Brazilian. The change was visible, and no damage happened except a shaving cream which was thought to be a drug container...
The damage in the relations of these two countries is beyond economic effects (most of the food Venezuelans used to consume came from Colombia, and many Colombians used to go for holiday there); it is psychological, it is going inside the heads of people who start to really believe Venezuelans or Colombians are bad people.
In these cases you always find exceptions. They are people whose heart is not in politics and their inner policy is to keep a distance of all that noise. I lived a similar situation in Brazil, when our dictators decide Argentinians would be our "bad people". We learned to really hate Argentinians (and not for the same reason some LatinAmericans do), and with no reason, really. Even though I have been working in my own self, I can't say I did not feel a little pleasure with their defeat by Germany which tells about the good job our dictators did.
I feel it is important to create an inner policy, to avoid being influenced by silly or serious things that can damage all of us in the short or long term. And hating another people because their language, religion, skin or government is different, it really has a bad effect on the soul.
When I am able to do it, then I can see things in a more neutral way. I can make decisions with more accuracy. And the results promise to be much better.
Due to the politics, I live in a region of constant tension and conflict. I've come to Colombia about 17 years ago, when the relations with one of its neighbor, Venezuela, not only were good, but excellent. The deterioration is being huge and as I don't believe in blaming anybody, I can say it is because of politics.
The damage it is causing is beyond repair now I guess. Just a small example: last year, whilst travelling to Portugal, I went to Caracas to take my plane (TAP, excellent airline by the way). I think it was some kind of "revenge" by local TAP, but they made me go through luggage manual checking, which meant GETTING OUT to the luggage area. I guess it was about 40 C at least and people there were quite ruthless... until they hear I was not Colombian, but Brazilian. The change was visible, and no damage happened except a shaving cream which was thought to be a drug container...
The damage in the relations of these two countries is beyond economic effects (most of the food Venezuelans used to consume came from Colombia, and many Colombians used to go for holiday there); it is psychological, it is going inside the heads of people who start to really believe Venezuelans or Colombians are bad people.
In these cases you always find exceptions. They are people whose heart is not in politics and their inner policy is to keep a distance of all that noise. I lived a similar situation in Brazil, when our dictators decide Argentinians would be our "bad people". We learned to really hate Argentinians (and not for the same reason some LatinAmericans do), and with no reason, really. Even though I have been working in my own self, I can't say I did not feel a little pleasure with their defeat by Germany which tells about the good job our dictators did.
I feel it is important to create an inner policy, to avoid being influenced by silly or serious things that can damage all of us in the short or long term. And hating another people because their language, religion, skin or government is different, it really has a bad effect on the soul.
When I am able to do it, then I can see things in a more neutral way. I can make decisions with more accuracy. And the results promise to be much better.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The deep lack of thought
One of my favourite moments was my first (and upto now, the only) visit to Trinidad-Tobago, a small island in the Caribbean. I've enjoyed those moments, and I also had the opportunity to serve others in English, a language with which I am still getting comfortable (in fact, I've just learned I speak Globish). During a moment of leisure, I've started to read an article where Peter Senge, whom I've just met a month ago, was clarifying his position.
He was saying how people were looking forward a leader on a "white horse", instead of a leader who could think. More than a decade later, I still agree with Senge.
There is a deep lack of thinking deeply, understanding and reflecting in a world where everything has to be done for yesterday. Ironically, doing without thinking deeply makes people double-do their work. Even their lives.
Did you ever try to think very deeply? I am not saying about a boring thinking process, but something that enriches you and others, something that makes your life more valuable than ever. Try it, and see the results in your life.
Take care!
He was saying how people were looking forward a leader on a "white horse", instead of a leader who could think. More than a decade later, I still agree with Senge.
There is a deep lack of thinking deeply, understanding and reflecting in a world where everything has to be done for yesterday. Ironically, doing without thinking deeply makes people double-do their work. Even their lives.
Did you ever try to think very deeply? I am not saying about a boring thinking process, but something that enriches you and others, something that makes your life more valuable than ever. Try it, and see the results in your life.
Take care!
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