Quantum Entanglement.

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent." ~ John Donne.

When you think about the world, people, and how we interact, relate to, and treat each other ~ Doesn't it make your head hurt a little bit? We search for meaning, a why, by simply trying to put things in a nice little box, with answers that tie it all together. It's human nature. We need to make sense of all this stuff and cause and effect solutions certainly seem to help us deal with the insanity ~ So we link stuff.

Now along comes a concept that, scientists believe, explains a whole heck of a lot. They call it Quantum Entanglement and it's pretty cool. Now I don't understand it as well as I should, and the concept is certainly a bit of challenge, but it seems to break down like this ~

All systems become entangled and they cannot be described without considering the objects they become entangled with.

They are talking about quantum physics but, from my perspective, it covers so much more. It just seems to me that this concept puts a damper on the whole "each man is an island" pitch we give ourselves each day and adds a little accountability to every one of the thoughts, words and actions we throw out into the world ~ Perhaps it's not just physics ~ Perhaps it's saying something much more profound?

Perhaps it's saying that our every thought, word and action effects everyone, and thing, and we can't be described without considering...

The 'objects' we become entangled with.

Here's a Wikipedia Link (Have an aspirin ready though). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement

Want To Learn?

"Gibbs doesn't teach. You watch and learn." ~ NCIS.

Ok this one is going to be controversial - but what the heck. Verbal communication and questions are overrated. There I said it. ~ Go ahead, let loose the hounds from hell. But from the old school business mentor who would chase me away with the words "Shut up and watch what people do". To a special forces soldier who never seemed to sleep, complain or rest, the best lessons I've ever learned in life came from watching good people do stuff better than the rest of us.

Wasn't it a deaf, dumb and blind kid who saved the world in Tommy?
If You Want To Learn. Find someone who does something really well ~

Then just shut up and watch.

If you're a salesperson - find a good one and watch. If you're a supervisor or leader - find a good one and watch. If you're an artist, musician or creative person and you believe it's a solitary endeavor and all about you - My response is "Who's your inspiration? - If you need motivation it doesn't get any better than a great example.

If You Really Want To Learn ~ Shut Up And Watch.

The Secret To Sales.

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. ~ Dale Carnegie.

Over the years people have come up with some pretty good sales tips, processes and 'secrets' to success in the noble art and science of selling. Books, webinars, consultants and salespeople, a heck of a lot better at selling than me, have volunteered their insights on how to get better in our chosen profession. So what is the bullet point summation of what the very best do? ~ What Is The Secret To Sales?

It's simple really.

Instead of trying to be the most interesting man in the world.

Strive to be the most interested man in the world.

Interested ALWAYS Beats Interesting My Friend.

What We Believe.

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"Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is."
~ Johann W. Van Goethe.

Ask the father of a fallen Navy Seal what his son believed and you get the answer "He would say I owed it to..." Ask the young rioter in London what he believes and you get the answer " They owe me..."

Take a moment to really listen to anyone, anywhere, and their belief becomes clear ~ Some believe they owe and some believe they are owed. Regardless of our station in life. Regardless of our circumstance. Whether in business or life some look to take and some look to give. Some contribute more - and some feel they deserve more. Those that feel they deserve more rarely contribute more than self interest dictates. The true victim rarely considers themself a victim. The true contributor strives to give more.

Want to know what kind of candidate, employee, friend or person is sitting across the table from you? Ask them what they owe others ~ Then ask what others owe them.

Understanding Pain.

"Pain is as diverse as man. One suffers as one can." ~ Victor Hugo.

What's the thing we hate the most about politicians? Is it the gray area of compromise they inhabit? Is it their knack, and habit, of saying some thing that really says nothing. Is it the belief they have that in order to make a difference they have to get elected and so their goal is to get (and stay) elected - rather than make a difference? It's probably a little of all of them but more than anything else I think the reason we hate politicians, and those who remind us of politicians, is:

They claim to understand our pain.

If you've ever started a business and held on during tough times does a person who hasn't done that understand? If you're a single parent who has persevered, put a child through college, and dealt with very personal challenges does someone who hasn't had exactly the same experiences understand? If you're a soldier who has carried the burden and horrors of war does someone who has not been in those boots understand? If you're a salesman who supports his family with the sales he makes. Who goes to work every day for straight commission, without a cent of salary to fall back on. Does the person who hasn't worked that way understand his pain?

Yet people say it every day don't they? A salesman says he understands the difficulties of running a business in order to build rapport with his prospect. A doctor says he understands the suffering of a patient diagnosed with cancer in order to comfort them. A civilian says he understands what our service men and women go through in time of war. An administrative assistant says she understands the salesman's challenges as she dismisses him. But do we really understand any of the pain these people go through if we haven't walked in their shoes? Hell no we don't. So why do we say we do?

Why do we have to be politicians? ~ Why don't we just listen?