The only target against our eyes
“Ve Samta Oto KeMatara LeNeged Eynekha”. This means: “And you placed it as a target against your eyes. Keep your goal as a target against your eyes. Not in your mind. Not in your heart, but “against your eyes”. In constant sight, in continuous sight, against your eyes. Total, undivided attention and focus on the goal. Stay focused”
I learned these words from Gerald Westerby, a former secret agent in the Mossad; Israel’s famed elite special operations organization in a book I read years ago.
I think we are living difficult times in Puerto Rico and we need to find our focus. We can’t function as a society and be successful dealing with all the challenges we have facing us in the near future if we don’t focus on what matters most.
We have a budget deficit beyond belief, even though our government is supposedly taking steps to reduce it, we have a real big problem with drug trafficking and crime, our schools are not as good as they should be, we have thousands of homeless people, and our main university is always under a constant threat of a strike by students or employees.
We have taken our eyes off the goal. We are not looking at the target right against our eyes. And if we don’t do this, our island will face disastrous consequences. The people of Puerto Rico do not deserve this. They went out to vote in higher numbers than most other democracies in the world and elected representatives and senators and a governor. I think the people deserve better.
We have an underground economy estimated to be more than 25% of the whole economy. It is estimated that millions and millions millions of dollars are not reported which costs close to two billion in losses to the government. These figures do not take into account criminal activity. There are around 1500 drug points, maybe more (puntos de drogas) in the island as I was told by a prominent economist recently, and on average they each clear over 1,000.00 a day. Take out a calculator and multiply 1,500 times $1,000.00.
I have been told that in Puerto Rico only 15,000 people report incomes of more than $100,000. Twelve thousand of these fifteen thousand are salaried employees. This means that only 3,000 professionals in Puerto Rico make more than $100,000. Isn’t this amazing? So many Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Architects and other professions and only 3,000 make more than $100,000! It is rather hard to believe.
In fact, around 90% of tax payers report an income under $50,000. This island must be populated by magicians, people that don’t make any money but can afford multimillion houses and apartments, Mercedes Benz and BMW’s with very little income. How did they qualify for those big mortgages? Now, of course, they are hurting and hurting bad. Many over extended and are now losing properties. Others have lost money in the stock market. Those that invested in our local banks, and still hold the shares, are hurting bad, I know it because I have close friends with this problem.
Even so, we most stop kidding ourselves? Most people steal from the government and that is something that hurts everyone and it most stop. On April 15th we all have to pay our taxes. You must take advantage of whatever deductions you are entitled to, but don’t cheat because you are cheating everyone else, you are cheating your country.
Are we a welfare state? How can it be explained that one out of three salaried employee works for the government? Why would a small Caribbean island need over 140 government agencies, almost 80 legislators and municipalities each with a big bureaucracy. How can we afford more than a thousand municipal legislators? We waste so much money!
Don’t you think that our government officials know this? Don’t you think that most citizens know this?
Don’t you think that our police department knows exactly were the drug points are all over the island? Why isn’t the problem solved? We have placed a man on the moon and we don’t know how to solve this situation? Of course we do. We just lack the will to do it because the common citizen doesn’t get involved and doesn’t demand it from our elected officials.
I constantly hear people tell me, “ I don’t read the news any more”, “I don’t get involved in politics”, “There is no solution to our problem”, “All our politicians are crooks” “Decent people don’t get involved in politics” and on and on.
With this mind set, we will never be successful in solving our biggest challenges.
Everyone assumes something. The world couldn’t function if you didn’t. You assume that the sun rises in the east over Fajardo and sets towards Mayaguez. You assume that thunder follows lighting. You assume that night follows day. And you are right in these assumptions.
But what about assuming that a man loves his wife? That a child shall die before his mother and father? That a politician knows what is best for the people? That a politician knows the right course of action? That promises are going to be kept?
Well, here you must proceed with caution. And the best way to do this is to limit the number of assumptions you make. When you make assumptions for which you have no independently gained experience and when the consequences of a failed assumption are significant and costly, you should not substitute someone else’s experience and knowledge for your own.
Our grass roots organizations, Chambers of Commerce, PRTHA, SME, Rotary, the Convention Bureau, Retailers Association, the Industrials, Manufacturers and many others must get together and demand that our elected government officials do what they need to do. The common citizen must get involved also.
We must not assume that things will work out by themselves or that praying together will do it. We can’t assume that the government will solve every single problem we have.
We need action right away and if action is not taken, we will all be guilty and we will have to face the consequences.
As Gandhi said, “change must start with you”.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Did the most intelligent kid in your class achieve success?
Did the most intelligent kid in your class achieve success?
I wonder how many of you have even thought about what happened to the student that got the highest grades in your graduating class. Why don’t you find out? It might be quite a surprise besides satisfying your curiosity.
The old assumptions that intelligence and creativity are 100% innate, that the learning process is strictly logical, objective and linear and basically dependent on how much time you spend in class are wrong. The technology of pen, paper and textbooks as the only means of learning is also wrong.
I admit that academic success involves for the most part independent study, focused work, concentration on the subject at hand and a lot of writing. But entrepreneurial success, which depends quite a bit on intelligence also, involves discernment, reason, understanding in many different disciplines such as interpersonal skills, working with others, how to handle constant distractions and interruptions, leadership, verbal skills and many others.
I totally agree with the words of professor Ken Robinson, an educational reformer and a lecturer in TED: “Employers are already saying that a degree is not enough, and that many graduates do not have the qualities they are looking for: the ability to communicate, work in teams, adapt to change, to innovate and be creative. This is not surprising…The traditional academic curriculum is not designed to promote creativity. Complaining that the system does not produce creative people is like complaining that a car doesn’t fly…it was never intended to. The stark message is that the answer to the future is not simply to increase the amount of education, but to educate people differently”
Even more dramatically, Professor Robert Sylwester expressed it this way: “Get rid of that damn machine model. It is wrong. The brain is a biological system, not a machine. Currently we are putting children with biologically shaped brains into machine-orientated schools. The two just don’t mix. We bog the school down in a curriculum that is not biologically feasible...
What these two eminent professors are telling us is that our system of education was engineered with a strong cultural bias toward left brain thinking. The left brain is the one that provides us with linear, sequential logic. Now, neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists and those in the “mental” professions are discovering that the right hemisphere, the intuitive, “artistic” half of the brain, is maybe even more important to a human being’s success than the logical left side.
To be fair, in this article I have chosen to assert or support the right brain perspective only because right brain contributions in our society are minimalized because of the domination of left brain types.
I don’t want in any way suggest that the left brain or “realistic” perspective is not extremely valuable. The truth is that to be successful, it takes both left brain and right brain processes functioning most of the time.
I love the story when Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Watson went on a camping trip. After dinner and a few glasses of wine, they called it a night and went to sleep. A few hours later, Holmes awoke and poked his sleeping friend. “Watson, look up and tell me what you see”. Watson replied, “I see many stars sir”. “What does that tell you” asked left brained oriented Holmes. Right brained Watson reflected for a moment. “Well sir, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially millions of planets. Astrologically, I can see that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I infer that the time is approximately 3.15 am. Scientifically, I can see that the universe is magnificent, sir, and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Mr. Holmes?
Holmes was silent for a minute, and then replied. “Watson, you idiot. It tells me that someone has stolen our tent”.
Yes, left brain thinking definitely has its place.
I am also addressing this article to our educational and academic community. Puerto Rico and the United States are facing great challenges now and in the future. We will only be successful to deal with these challenges if we have well educated people ready to tackle them. Our present system of educating them is not effective.
A man I have always admired, Nobel Laureate Professor Richard Feynman, addressing the problems of educating our children strictly on left brain methodologies remarked, “Everything was entirely memorized, yet nothing had been translated into meaningful words. The students were all sitting there taking dictation and when the professor repeated the sentence, they checked it to make sure they wrote it down right. Then they wrote the next sentence, and on and on. So you see, they could pass the examinations, and “learn” all this stuff, and not know anything at all, except what they had memorized”.
This is what happened to me thirty years ago when I went to school and sadly it is exactly what is happening to our students today, in the Twenty First century.
With forty five million Hispanics in the US, maybe even more, those that speak English have a definite competitive advantage. All of us that have studied in Puerto Rico, especially those of us who attended college, went through school using English books.
We are in much better shape than millions of Hispanics that don’t speak any English at all. We have excellent private schools that although expensive, when students graduate, they qualify to study in the best universities in the United States. And yet, the fact that it is estimated that more than 50% of our population doesn’t speak English is absolutely shameful and anybody involved in our educational system should take responsibility and do something about it.
I wonder how many of you have even thought about what happened to the student that got the highest grades in your graduating class. Why don’t you find out? It might be quite a surprise besides satisfying your curiosity.
The old assumptions that intelligence and creativity are 100% innate, that the learning process is strictly logical, objective and linear and basically dependent on how much time you spend in class are wrong. The technology of pen, paper and textbooks as the only means of learning is also wrong.
I admit that academic success involves for the most part independent study, focused work, concentration on the subject at hand and a lot of writing. But entrepreneurial success, which depends quite a bit on intelligence also, involves discernment, reason, understanding in many different disciplines such as interpersonal skills, working with others, how to handle constant distractions and interruptions, leadership, verbal skills and many others.
I totally agree with the words of professor Ken Robinson, an educational reformer and a lecturer in TED: “Employers are already saying that a degree is not enough, and that many graduates do not have the qualities they are looking for: the ability to communicate, work in teams, adapt to change, to innovate and be creative. This is not surprising…The traditional academic curriculum is not designed to promote creativity. Complaining that the system does not produce creative people is like complaining that a car doesn’t fly…it was never intended to. The stark message is that the answer to the future is not simply to increase the amount of education, but to educate people differently”
Even more dramatically, Professor Robert Sylwester expressed it this way: “Get rid of that damn machine model. It is wrong. The brain is a biological system, not a machine. Currently we are putting children with biologically shaped brains into machine-orientated schools. The two just don’t mix. We bog the school down in a curriculum that is not biologically feasible...
What these two eminent professors are telling us is that our system of education was engineered with a strong cultural bias toward left brain thinking. The left brain is the one that provides us with linear, sequential logic. Now, neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists and those in the “mental” professions are discovering that the right hemisphere, the intuitive, “artistic” half of the brain, is maybe even more important to a human being’s success than the logical left side.
To be fair, in this article I have chosen to assert or support the right brain perspective only because right brain contributions in our society are minimalized because of the domination of left brain types.
I don’t want in any way suggest that the left brain or “realistic” perspective is not extremely valuable. The truth is that to be successful, it takes both left brain and right brain processes functioning most of the time.
I love the story when Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Watson went on a camping trip. After dinner and a few glasses of wine, they called it a night and went to sleep. A few hours later, Holmes awoke and poked his sleeping friend. “Watson, look up and tell me what you see”. Watson replied, “I see many stars sir”. “What does that tell you” asked left brained oriented Holmes. Right brained Watson reflected for a moment. “Well sir, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially millions of planets. Astrologically, I can see that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I infer that the time is approximately 3.15 am. Scientifically, I can see that the universe is magnificent, sir, and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Mr. Holmes?
Holmes was silent for a minute, and then replied. “Watson, you idiot. It tells me that someone has stolen our tent”.
Yes, left brain thinking definitely has its place.
I am also addressing this article to our educational and academic community. Puerto Rico and the United States are facing great challenges now and in the future. We will only be successful to deal with these challenges if we have well educated people ready to tackle them. Our present system of educating them is not effective.
A man I have always admired, Nobel Laureate Professor Richard Feynman, addressing the problems of educating our children strictly on left brain methodologies remarked, “Everything was entirely memorized, yet nothing had been translated into meaningful words. The students were all sitting there taking dictation and when the professor repeated the sentence, they checked it to make sure they wrote it down right. Then they wrote the next sentence, and on and on. So you see, they could pass the examinations, and “learn” all this stuff, and not know anything at all, except what they had memorized”.
This is what happened to me thirty years ago when I went to school and sadly it is exactly what is happening to our students today, in the Twenty First century.
With forty five million Hispanics in the US, maybe even more, those that speak English have a definite competitive advantage. All of us that have studied in Puerto Rico, especially those of us who attended college, went through school using English books.
We are in much better shape than millions of Hispanics that don’t speak any English at all. We have excellent private schools that although expensive, when students graduate, they qualify to study in the best universities in the United States. And yet, the fact that it is estimated that more than 50% of our population doesn’t speak English is absolutely shameful and anybody involved in our educational system should take responsibility and do something about it.
A big threat to your organization: mediocre employees
A big threat to your organization: Mediocre employees
Many businesses and companies I deal with seem to lump their employees into what I call the “mediocre middle”… some might be good enough to promote and some day manage others, and some are not bad enough to let go. Why do they do that? Because they are in the comfort zone!
If someone working for us shows promise and is good enough to promote, then it is obvious that we have to spend time with them, coach, council, mentor, and invest money to train and develop them and this is just too much bother, so we just lump them into the “mediocre middle”.
If someone working for us is bad enough to let go, then we have to let them know we need to sit down and have a not very nice “talk” with them about terminating their employment and since for most people, not including those with a sadist streak, doing that is one of the most unpleasant tasks managers need to do, why not just lump them into the “mediocre middle”? So now, lots of employees are in the “mediocre middle” and our life is much more pleasant and we just coast along… or so we think.
What I tell my clients in talks and seminars is that everyone on their team either adds value or they are part of the problem! With competition, world competition, the way it is today, companies can’t afford to have a “mediocre middle”. It is simply too costly and it will prevent you to be lean enough to move fast and do what needs to be done to better serve your clients. You need well trained, proactive employees or you will get beaten by your competitors.
Companies must treasure and hold dear those employees who are good enough to promote. They are your present and your future. You must create a career path for them or they will look for employment someplace else. Train, educate, and develop them.
Challenge them with interesting projects that will develop their intellect, talent and skills, credit them when they do a good job and reward them fairly. You will reap great benefits and rewards if you do this and it will be a win-win situation for all.
On the other hand, if an employee is not creating value for your clients and for your bottom line, they my friends are part of the problem. If they are costing you money through mistakes, inefficiency and damaged and tarnished customer relationships, they are part of your problem. A big part of your problem I might add. If their negative attitude, their lack of enthusiasm or commitment to the company is affecting the morale of other employees or other members of your team, they are part of your problem. If they can’t be on the team that will get your business to where you are planning to be within the next couple of years, they are a big part of your problem.
All of the employees in the “mediocre middle”, “part of the problem” department, usually fall into one of two categories…
Those who can be “rescued” with a reasonable amount of effort, commitment and resources, and …
Those who can’t.
Make a commitment right now to take a list of all your employees and beside each of their names, write a T for team or an M for mediocre.
Then, make a plan to develop, train and utilize the talents and skills of your T employees and decide which of your M’s can be rescued, can be saved if some time and effort is invested with them.
Then, and this is the sad part, deal firmly and humanely with those pour souls who can’t be rescued. Don’t feel that bad about it because if you think about it, you are doing them a favor. If they are not performing and they are not candidates to be rescued, it means that they either don’t have the talent or they don’t feel passion for what they are doing.
Anyone following their passion and talents will always do great in a work situation that utilizes their strengths and talents. Those that are not following their passion and talents, yet they are working with you, are doing so because they need the money, they don’t have anyplace else to work or they are looking for another job that utilizes their talents.
They have fallen in their comfort zone and hurting themselves and hurting you and your business. Deal with them firmly and humanely, jolt them out of their comfort zone so that they may find their calling in life and subsequently, their happiness. Always remember, if employees aren’t motivated, the fault is with managers and the organizational practices of the organization, not the employees, unless, they are the wrong employees.
Many businesses and companies I deal with seem to lump their employees into what I call the “mediocre middle”… some might be good enough to promote and some day manage others, and some are not bad enough to let go. Why do they do that? Because they are in the comfort zone!
If someone working for us shows promise and is good enough to promote, then it is obvious that we have to spend time with them, coach, council, mentor, and invest money to train and develop them and this is just too much bother, so we just lump them into the “mediocre middle”.
If someone working for us is bad enough to let go, then we have to let them know we need to sit down and have a not very nice “talk” with them about terminating their employment and since for most people, not including those with a sadist streak, doing that is one of the most unpleasant tasks managers need to do, why not just lump them into the “mediocre middle”? So now, lots of employees are in the “mediocre middle” and our life is much more pleasant and we just coast along… or so we think.
What I tell my clients in talks and seminars is that everyone on their team either adds value or they are part of the problem! With competition, world competition, the way it is today, companies can’t afford to have a “mediocre middle”. It is simply too costly and it will prevent you to be lean enough to move fast and do what needs to be done to better serve your clients. You need well trained, proactive employees or you will get beaten by your competitors.
Companies must treasure and hold dear those employees who are good enough to promote. They are your present and your future. You must create a career path for them or they will look for employment someplace else. Train, educate, and develop them.
Challenge them with interesting projects that will develop their intellect, talent and skills, credit them when they do a good job and reward them fairly. You will reap great benefits and rewards if you do this and it will be a win-win situation for all.
On the other hand, if an employee is not creating value for your clients and for your bottom line, they my friends are part of the problem. If they are costing you money through mistakes, inefficiency and damaged and tarnished customer relationships, they are part of your problem. A big part of your problem I might add. If their negative attitude, their lack of enthusiasm or commitment to the company is affecting the morale of other employees or other members of your team, they are part of your problem. If they can’t be on the team that will get your business to where you are planning to be within the next couple of years, they are a big part of your problem.
All of the employees in the “mediocre middle”, “part of the problem” department, usually fall into one of two categories…
Those who can be “rescued” with a reasonable amount of effort, commitment and resources, and …
Those who can’t.
Make a commitment right now to take a list of all your employees and beside each of their names, write a T for team or an M for mediocre.
Then, make a plan to develop, train and utilize the talents and skills of your T employees and decide which of your M’s can be rescued, can be saved if some time and effort is invested with them.
Then, and this is the sad part, deal firmly and humanely with those pour souls who can’t be rescued. Don’t feel that bad about it because if you think about it, you are doing them a favor. If they are not performing and they are not candidates to be rescued, it means that they either don’t have the talent or they don’t feel passion for what they are doing.
Anyone following their passion and talents will always do great in a work situation that utilizes their strengths and talents. Those that are not following their passion and talents, yet they are working with you, are doing so because they need the money, they don’t have anyplace else to work or they are looking for another job that utilizes their talents.
They have fallen in their comfort zone and hurting themselves and hurting you and your business. Deal with them firmly and humanely, jolt them out of their comfort zone so that they may find their calling in life and subsequently, their happiness. Always remember, if employees aren’t motivated, the fault is with managers and the organizational practices of the organization, not the employees, unless, they are the wrong employees.
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