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[The Power of Clarity]
Posted[] by [von Löwenstein]
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The Power of Clarity: Knowing what you wants gets you ahead
Most people have a hard time in keeping things simple. This is so crucial, not only for companys but also for ones own life. For every well running enterprise it is important that everyone from top to bottom knows exactly what he has to do. In reducing tasks down to the essential, errors are reduced and efficiency can rise. The more complicated instructions become, usually the higher the misunderstandings are on lower levels. Therefore it is important that instructions are
short on point precise
Additional to that the grand vision of an enterprise has to be communicated repeatedly and openly. In sharing the dominating goals a company has, everyone knows what he is working for and can adjust his task to this shared goal.
“Mystification is simple; clarity is the hardest thing of all.”
– Julian Barnes
The power of clarity in personal and private life: For a company it is usually the best to define the goal as to “deliver the best product/service in our branch”. For an individual that has to recap his goals on a regular basis its best to keep it the most simple: e.g. Fitness, Money, Business.
Clarity is not only key, but power
Clear goals and objectives are essential to the success of any business, and this is no less true of building your own career. If you don’t take the time to get really clear about exactly what it is you’re trying to accomplish, then you’re forever doomed to spend your life achieving the goals of those who do. In the absence of a clear direction for your life, you will either meander aimlessly or you will build a career that you don’t feel good about.
You may make some money, and you may do some interesting work, but the end result will not resemble anything you ever made a conscious decision to build, and ultimately you will be left with the sinking feeling that maybe you took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. Use the power of clarity and examine where you are and where you want to go.
Posted in [Business], [Leadership] | Tagged [Business], [Clarity], [clarity is power], [clarity of goals], [clarity purpose], [Power], [power of clarity], [the power of clarity] | [Leave a reply]
[Theories on the creation of the Universe]
Posted[] by [von Löwenstein]
[Reply]
Theories on the creation of the Universe
As far back as recorded history goes, there have been two sets of opposing ideas, beliefs, theories, or teachings about the origin of the universe. It has either existed eternally with no beginning or end, or it was created at some point in time and will eventually come to an end. In the first part we examined the early cultural, religious, and somewhat philosophical views of how the universe began. We’ve also spent a little time looking at some ideas about our own beginnings from a religious and scientific point of view. In this section, we’re going to take a brief excursion through the various theories that science has put forth to explain the origin of the universe.
“Religion teaches men how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.”
– Galilei Galileo, c. 1630
By far the most popular theory in science today is the big bang theory, the idea that the universe came into existence at a certain point in time roughly 15 to 20 billion years ago. In the last 25 years this theory has moved to the forefront of cosmology. You’ll meet some of the key figures whose theories have laid the foundation for the big bang. However, as you’ll see as we move through this section, this theory is not only a product of science but also of the times in which we live. And although science would like to consider itself removed from outside influences, it can’t help but be affected by the people who work in the field.
The Cosmological Pendulum
I don’t think I have to reiterate for you again the two major ways in which the study of cosmology can be approached, I’m sure you remember what they are. In our present day, these two methods have manifested, and in some cases crystallized into two distinct areas of science: experimentation and mathematical theory. Theorists often have nothing to do with actual experimentation and the same can be said of experimenters. And it is this distinction that has been a source of disagreement between various scientific groups who put forth one view of the origin of the universe over another. To see exactly what I’m talking about, let’s trace the development of the big bang theory through its various stages. Along the way you’ll get a chance to meet an opposing theory, and examine some of the reasons why the big bang was developed in the first place.
Science as a methodology likes to see itself as a revealer of the true nature of the universe, as sort of a seer that can look beneath the veil of appearance. Yet science is practiced by scientists, human beings who bring with themselves a whole set of predispositions, values and beliefs. And as in any cross section of our society, some will be seriously invested in their positions and viewpoints, taking themselves rather seriously and purporting the “correctness” of their views. Of course, there are as many who don’t take this stance and seek to move beyond any personal attachment to who they are and what they’ve discovered.
Much of the history of cosmology and its theories are a reflection of these types of people and the cultures they lived in. Often the most widely accepted theory becomes exactly that, because of the forceful personality behind the ideas. And while science tries to remain free of influence from things outside of it, the scientists who practice it are still a product of the culture and the times in which they live. In other words, in relation to the theories in cosmology, whether the universe has always existed or began with a bang, can’t be separated from the influence of the zeitgeist, or spirit of the times. While there isn’t enough time to go back through history in detail and show you how the cosmological pendulum has swung from one theory to the other, I can give you a rough outline and a few examples of some time periods in which this occurred. Just remember that there are always many factors impacting how any specific paradigm develops.
In ancient Greece the two basic concepts of the empirical (observation and practical application) and deductive (theoretical and mathematical) methods were intimately linked to the conflict between free citizens and the slave populace. The empirical system developed alongside the free craftsman and traders, while the deductive method, which can disregard observation and practical application, arose with the slave master’s disdain for manual labor.
“What makes God comprehensible is that he cannot be comprehended.”
– Tertullian, c. 200 C.E.
The Ptolemaic system was strongly influenced by the deductive method (theory and math as opposed to observation). Also at this time, we find the introduction of today’s central theme in cosmology, the origin of the universe out of nothing. This ideology was developed out of the somewhat pessimistic and authoritarian worldviews of two founding Church Fathers, Tertullian and St. Augustine. The doctrine of creation ex nihilo served as the basis for a religious social system that saw the world as decaying from a perfect beginning to an ignominious end. During the rise of science, two central concepts of medieval cosmology were overthrown—the idea of a decaying universe, finite in space and time, and the belief that the world could be known through reason and authority. The deductive, finite Ptolemaic system was replaced with the empirical, eternal, and infinite universe that was evolving by natural processes. It was a universe knowable by observation and experiment. The triumph of science was linked to the overthrow of the feudal system, out of which developed free labor and a society of merchants, craftsmen, and free peasants who questioned authoritarian power—religious, political, and economic. Today’s view of cosmology is much closer to the systems of Ptolemy and Augustine than Galileo and Kepler. The big bang universe is a finite one that will eventually end in either the big chill or the big crunch, (we’ll examine both of these theories in “Supersymmetry, Superstrings, and Holograms”) which like the medieval cosmos is finite in time. The universe of popular cosmology is the product of a single unique event, dissimilar from anything else that has ever occurred—just as the medieval universe was seen as a product of creation.
And finally just to show you how what I outlined above can be revealed in the lives of the people living at some of those times, here are a few quotes from some famous people.
“If I can’t laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there.”
– Martin Luther, c. 1460
Mind-Blowing Theories About Reality
Reality isn’t as plain and simple as we often like to think. Several things we take for granted as true are, in reality, patently false. Scientists and philosophers have done their best to overthrow the theories of common sense—as you’ll see by the ten examples below:
Big Freeze
The “Big Freeze” is a scientific theory of the end of the universe. Though it doesn’t entail gigantic tubs of ice cream drowning everyone, it does spell disaster for everyone. The universe has a fixed amount of energy in it, and as this energy runs out—so the theory goes—the universe slows down. In other words, there is a slow loss of heat, because heat is produced by the movement of energy particles. There is also a slowdown in movement, and supposedly, everything would eventually come to a halt. Which brings to mind the lines by T. S. Eliot: “This is the way the world ends: not with a bang but with a whimper.”
We may now be near the end of the search for the ultimate laws of nature.”
– Stephen Hawking, 1988
Solipsism
Solipsism is a philosophical theory which states that nothing can be verified except the existence of one’s own mind. This seems silly at first; and who, after all, would wish to deny that the world around them exists? The only problem is that it’s impossible to verify the existence of anything except your own consciousness.
Don’t believe us? Take a moment to remember all the plausible dreams you’ve ever had in your life. Couldn’t it be possible that what you see around you is nothing but an incredibly elaborate dream? But we have friends and family whose existence we can verify, simply by touching them, right? Wrong. People on LSD, for example, sometimes report seeing (and touching) the most convincing hallucinations—yet we don’t assume that their illusions are real.
“The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.”
– Steven Weinberg, 1977
So what can we verify, then? Well, not even the chicken drumstick we had for dinner, nor the keyboards at our fingers; only our own thoughts can be proven by each one of us to exist. Have fun sleeping tonight!
Idealism
“Idealism” is the belief that all things exist as an idea in the mind—or more specifically, as an idea in someone’s mind. George Berkeley, a famous idealist philosopher, found that his views were dismissed as idiotic by some of his peers. It’s said that one of his opponents closed his eyes, kicked a stone, and stated: “I refute it thus.”
The point was that if the stone really existed only in the man’s mind, he should not have been able to kick it with his eyes closed. Berkeley’s refutation of this was a bit troublesome, especially in modern eyes. He stated that there existed an all-powerful and omnipresent God, who perceived everyone and everything simultaneously. Plausible or not? You decide.
Plato and the Logos
Everyone has heard of Plato. He is the most famous philosopher around—and like all philosophers, he most definitely had something to say about reality. Plato claimed that in addition to the world we’re all familiar with, there exists another world of perfect “forms.” All the things we see around us here are merely shadows, imitations of the real thing. By studying philosophy, we can hope to catch a glimpse of the originals.
“The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.”
– Albert Einstein, 1935
To add to this bombshell, Plato, being a monist, tells us that everything is made out of a single substance. This means that (according to his view), diamonds, gold, and dog poo are composed of the same basic substance arranged in different ways—and according to modern science, this theory may not be too far from the truth.
Sources
http://listverse.com/2013/04/15/10-mind-blowing-theories-about-the-universe-and-reality/
http://www.infoplease.com/cig/theories-universe/scientific-origins-universe.html
Tags
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Posted in [Reality Creation], [Training] | Tagged [different theories of the universe], [origin of the universe theories], [origins of the universe theories], [theories creation of the universe], [theories for the origin of the universe], [theories of creation of the universe], [theories of origin of the universe], [theories of the creation of the universe], [theories of the origin of the universe], [theories of the origins of the universe], [theories of the universe], [theories of the universe creation], [theories on origin of the universe], [theories on the creation of the universe], [theories on the origin of the universe], [theories origin of the universe] | [Leave a reply]
[Set The Example]
Posted[] by [von Löwenstein]
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Set the Example – Leadership requires commitment
A leader who shows professional competence, courage and integrity sets high personal standards for himself before he can rightfully demand it from others. Your appearance, attitude, physical fitness and personal example are all on display daily for your team. Techniques for setting the example are to:
Show that you are willing to do the same things you ask them to do Maintain an optimistic outlook Conduct yourself so that your personal habits are not open to criticism Avoid showing favoritism to any subordinate Delegate authority in order to develop leadership among subordinates Leadership is taught by example
You should always be nice and positive. Don’t put others down and don’t make fun of them. You should always be supporting and seeing good qualities instead of bad ones.
The most persuasive Leadership skill is the personal example of the leader. A good leader sets a positive example in these ways:
Following instructions. Following instructions, obeying the law, and carrying out tasks in the recommended manner points out that rules and procedures are important. Trying hard. The leader must work as hard as–if not harder than–any member of the group. Leadership by direction is not as effective as leadership by example. Showing initiative. A good leader must do what has to be done without waiting to be told or forced to act. An effective leader respects the good suggestions of the group members and encourages each person to show initiative. Acting with maturity. An effective leader shows good judgment. The group members see that the leader’s personal behavior is directed toward accomplishing the task. Knowing the job. Generally, a leader should have a mastery of the skills to be used. If not, the leader must apply the resources of the group toward achieving the task. Keeping a positive attitude. A positive attitude is vital as an example to group members. The leader’s personal frustration or discouragement should never be apparent. Failure should be considered a potential learning experience. Enthusiasm is contagious. Employees often will copy the actions and behaviors of leaders they like and admire. They will literally walk, talk, and act as the example set by the leaders of their unit.
Your attitude matters more than everyone else’s. As a leader, they are looking to you, watching for clues and modeling your attitude. Remember that someone must inject the positive attitude, must smile first, and must make it ok to think about problems proactively. If you don’t do it, who else will? If you aren’t doing it, what are you waiting for?
Set the example and employ these skills
Learning
Every leader wants those they lead to be learning, developing and growing. It is hard to convince them to do so if they don’t see you doing it. If you want others to be learners, you must be one first. Besides, the role of leader is complex enough that there is always something you can learn; always something you can get better at.
Expectations
The expectations you have for others will impact their performance, positively or negatively. Which way will it be? Are you going first by raising your expectation of others so they can build confidence, urgency and discipline to reach those expectations? It won’t happen automatically. Set your expectations of others, let people know you believe in them, then watch them grow!
Change
If you want to affect and implement change you must be a champion of it. If you want the change to be successful, you must lead people towards it. This goes beyond corporate initiatives and major projects. Are you open to trying new things? Are you flexible in your approaches? If you want others to be, remember who they are watching . . .
Trust
If you want to build more trust in your organization – or with specific individuals, you must go first. Offer them trust. Be more trustworthy. Waiting for others to take the lead, could be a long wait. Extend and offer trust first. Occasionally you will get hurt, more often greater trust will build.
Questions
If you want the input of others, stop talking and start asking. Ask questions first. Ask questions often. Good questions promote learning, information clarity and exchange and engagement. If you want these things, stop talking and start asking.
Listening
Certainly, once you ask a question you will be best served by listening to the response. Listening is such an important behavior because it not only allows for information to be successfully shared, but it communicates to the other person that you care about their thoughts, the facts and who they are. For these reasons and many more, listen more!
Provide Direction
As the leader, it is often your fault if an endeavor does not succeed. Demonstrate your proficiency and expertise in the area by offering suggestions and direction for people who are having trouble completing their tasks. Give clear and concrete steps and check back periodically to see how things are going and provide more direction if needed.
Chip In
Just because you’re a leader, that doesn’t mean you are exempt from chipping in to help when the people who work under you are bogged down. If a competent employee has too much on his plate, help him with it. People will take notice of your servant leadership and be inspired to help each other as well.
Be Visible
Let others see what you are doing and how hard you are working by maintaining a steady presence. Your example of strong leadership will not be of much use if nobody notices what you do.
Establish a Clear Vision
A good leader must know where he is leading his employees. Therefore, you need to establish a clear vision for the direction of the company and for individual projects. Share the vision with others to give them examples of what vision casting looks like. As the company or market changes, adjust your vision as needed and share the new vision to model flexibility.
Communicate
Maintain clear lines of communication among yourself and the people who work under you. Leaders need to be able to effectively point others in the right direction and the only way you can do that is if you talk with people, share ideas and respond with concrete communication when changes are occurring.
Key Points
Good leadership takes strength of character and a firm commitment to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. This means doing what you say, when you say it. If your team can’t trust you, you’ll probably never lead them to greatness. Leading – and living – by example isn’t as hard as it might sound. It’s really the easiest path. If your team knows that you’ll also do whatever you expect from them, they’ll likely work hard to help you achieve your goal. Mahatma Gandhi and Alexander the Great helped change the world because they lived by example – and, as a result, they accomplished great things.
Tags
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setting an example, setting example, setting examples, setting the example
Sources
http://www.noyelling.net/set-the-example.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Set-a-Good-Example-for-Friends
http://www.whitestag.org/book_leadership_skills/sb213.htm
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_60.htm
http://usscouts.org/leadership/setting.asp
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/seven-keys-setting-example-good-leader-30616.html
Posted in [Achievement], [Business], [Leadership], [Management], [Organization], [Profit], [Skill], [Team] | Tagged [Apollon], [Example], [set a good example], [set an example], [set example], [set examples], [Set the Example], [setting a good example], [setting an example], [setting example], [setting examples], [setting the example] | [Leave a reply]
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