Lesson from the Geese

We have all seen a flock of geese flying overhead in their “V” formation.  There is a lesson to be learned from them.  Did you know that as each goose flaps its wing, it creates "uplift" for the birds that follow?  By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.  Pretty interesting fact!  I am not sure how someone actually calculated the 71% but the concept make sense.  The same is true of people who work together.  People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Are the teams you work on flying in the same direction and in formation?

Assumptions

We have all heard the old adage about what it means to “assume”; it makes an ass out of u and me!  Making assumptions is human nature.  We just think we know what someone meant.  We think someone heard us the way we intended.  We believe that others think like we do.  We assume some will handle a situation the same way we will.  We think and we assume and we go on down the road ignoring that wake left by these assumptions.  In its most effective form communication leaves no room for assumptions.  In fact, when we communicate effectively assumptions are not needed.  Assumptions are noise in the communication channel.  They lead to confusion and distrust and missteps.  Don’t assume.  Ask for clarification.  Confirm what you believe to be the case.  Communicate effectively.  Consider the below quote from the “Fonz.”  Don’t make an ass out of u and me!

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.”
-Henry Winkler

Action

I have written before about the importance of taking action.  Nothing good happens unless an initial step of action occurs.  Action, initiation, implementation, these are the starters of all things good.  They lay the foundation for success.  Good things can be talked about and theorized on at great length.  We can plan and prepare forever.  It takes action and movement for good concepts to be turned into reality, and reality into success.  Consider this quote from the very successful Conrad Hilton.

Success seems to be connected with action.
Successful people keep moving. They make
mistakes but they never quit.
--Conrad Hilton

Don’t overlook the part of the quote referring to mistakes.  Successful people make mistakes.  They cannot be avoided and are in fact part of the process of success.  Do not let the fear of mistakes keep you from taking action!

Go take some action!  Have a blessed week.

Attitude & Perspective

Many a MMM have dealt with the power of one’s attitude and perspective on life.  It is easy to forget how much control we have over our happiness.  Does that me that we can control all of our problems and their outcomes?  Nope. What it does mean is that we can control how we respond to them, what we learn from them, and the attitude we have while working through them.  Life is not about what happens to you, it is about how you respond to what happens to you!  Consider these two thought provoking quotes…

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

-       John Wooden

“You either ride life or it rides you. Your mental attitude determines who is the rider, and who is the horse.”

-       Napoleon Hill