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If for any reason you missed our last newsletter, #95 published electronically in December 2008, you can read it by going to www.congruence.co.za/news. Past articles can be found here. To email us please do not hit the reply button as there may be a delay in us responding. Rather mailto:director@congruence.co.za If this has been forwarded to you, you may subscribe for your own monthly copy by clicking on the link on the top menu bar. Simple unsubscribe steps appear at the footer. I hope you won't! Dear {{FirstName}},
1. Face Reality - a word of caution String a few bell curves together. Join them up. Now sit back and take a look. Sometimes the curves are going up and sometimes down. On balance it works out 50-50. Economies are not quite that predicatable because the time scales vary - but you get the picture? Economically we're collectively somewhere in the middle of a downturn. This is not pessimism, it's reality. This is what is actually happening. For those still sitting high and dry crowing that everything is fine - there is a fundamental truth about markets that says "what goes up, must (eventually) come down". Things are coming down. The petrol price, the interest rates, and most people's financial reserves. It is happening everywhere. These are indeed very challenging times. So for those who are pretending that everything will be alright and that you shouldn't watch the news, go on gardening and put your head in the sand while you're about it. For the rest of us - here is my view. Facing reality is good, because it gives you an accurate platform from which to tackle adversity. Going into paralysis in response to difficulty is bad- and denial is equally bad. Facing the challenge intelligently and calmly yet optimistically whilst equipping yourself with the tools to survive and prosper is a far better response. Very few will remain un-touched. Those who emerge from tough times the best are those who keep their eyes open and their wits about them. For those experiencing smugness at present, please understand that the world has changed and we are all inexorably linked together. Please do not believe the spin. We are not shielded from the world recession. Now, here are some neat ideas.... 2. Violinist in the Metro *** feature article *** This actually happened in the Washington Metro on 12 January 2007. It was an experiment commissioned by the Washington Post. This is an abbreviated version. For the full story, go here. Enjoy it - blew my mind completely, but I understand - I was once a busker! A man stood at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on. In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $59. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context? One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing? Thank you Nigel Babb for forwarding this to me. Nigel is the cartoonist for my 2nd book - see item 5 below. 3. The Big Blue Paradigm Shift is another way of describing Mindset Shift. We might shift our paradigms when we experience "light bulb" moments - or by being taught at a time when we are receptive. A memorable experience for me occured in 1995 during my Advanced Diving course. This was the day when I realised that what you see depends on where you look, not what's around you. The more you survey your surroundings the greater choice you create for yourself, and the more opportunity you will find. It also became clear that there is so much opportunity around us all the time that it is absolutely impossible to take advantage of all of it. People like Richard Banson take advantage of just a fraction of the opportunities that come their way and become billionaires. This insight occurred 33 metres under the sea - or 3.3 atmospheres down. It is where, while controlling my buoyancy, and preserving my air, the concept of Mindset Shift was revealed to me. This same concept is a vital arrow in the quiver of your people in dealing with challenges. Mindset Shift is the skill of reacting differently from the masses, planning strategically, working your plan and attaining your objectives regardles of the state of the terrain. In a few years we'll be dusting ourselves off and looking around to see who's still in business. Some very good outfits are going to go down - not because they were not good enough, but perhaps because their markets just disappeared. If that happens to you, you may need to shift your mindset so that you're ready to fight another day. And those that survive will have done so because they were effective in shifting their paradigms. Consider that some of your friends are going to need your help and support this year. Will you be there for them? That too, may involve mindset shift. I wish you prosperity, perspective and balance in 2009. Paul du Toit, CSP & Mindset Shifter Paul du Toit is Africa's first new Certified Speaking Professional in 24 years. He delivers, powerful mindset shifting talks on Service, Sales, inSpiration and preSentation that radically Shifts Mindsets of individuals, teams and organisations. More info go www.pauldutoit.net or dial 0860 503 191 (RSA). 4. Congruence Public Course Schedule (first quarter 2009) For the full current public schedule including Gauteng, East London and Polokwane, please go here
To enquire or book please visit www.congruence.co.za or phone us share call on 0860 503191 (RSA). These programmes can also be delivered in-house anywhere in the world. Seminar news - George/Mossel Bay: My upcoming public Relationship Selling breakfast seminar will be on Tuesday 3 February at CloudEnd, Glentana - in between George and Mossel Bay. Seats are R679 per person - breakfast is from 07h30 and we end 11h15. For bookings, please phone 0860 503 191 or book online at www.pauldutoit.net. Delegates receive a complimentary copy of my book "Even YOU Can Present with Confidence". 5. It's A Gentleman's Prerogative, of course.... Over 16 years ago I started what is about to become my 2nd published book. It's quite different from the first. For one, it's got cartoons in it. It isn't a business book, its a fun book - and it has to do with relationships, from a male perspective. That's right, you read correctly. This is a world first. Relationships from a gentleman's viewpoint. Fancy that! It is called "A Gentleman's Prerogative: Surviving Women Stylishly" and it will be available ahead of Father's Day (which incidently falls in June each year). Written by Yours Truly, cartoons by the outragiously talented Nigel Babb of Burning Duck, brilliantly edited by Rufus Bulbring and layout by courtesy of the creative genius of cLayton Botha. Tense folk are cautioned to take a chill pill before sitting down to read it with a suitable glass of Cab Sav. Watch this space. Heavens, we're going to need something to laugh about this year! Now, about the 1st book...: “Even YOU Can Present with Confidence” is a wonderful resource! You have left nothing out and it's succinct, focused, and complete and was extremely valuable in improving my presentation content, style, and confidence. I took away a wealth of information that will make me stronger in front of customers, key executives, and my peers. I highly recommend this book for business people and speakers alike. Thanks for a great book!" Grant Vernon – Professional Speaker For more info visit www.presentwithconfidence.co.za |