All In a Minute or Less

I met Ken Blanchard when I was at Cornell University in the US. I took his “One-Minute-Manager” course when his book by the same name was really hot on the best-sellers list. I believe that was in 1992. Since then more than 18 million copies of this book has been sold. Ken Blanchard had many other books out since then, and many of them have been translated to Turkish.

Recently I have been reading one of his books that have been out in Turkish last October. “Leading At a Higher Level” is the title. Since I do life coaching and consulting, I read and follow the new books and methods by various teachers and consultants around the world. Tom Peters is also one of my idols. His books changed the way I thought when I was in college. Being an engineer and operations research specialist, his approach to production and business seemed so different, I believe to the whole world as well as me.

I am not going to write about business or management techniques today. Maybe I will in the coming weeks. Through mentioning these teachers, I would like to say that a few days spent with a good teacher in 1992 still continues to create a positive influence in my life, 16 years later. Ken Blanchard is not the only one. I cannot forget the day I met Steve Jobs. That was in 1989. I was a freshman in engineering and the Macintosh seemed even more amazing in those pre-Windows years. Steve Jobs was cool, ultra smart and so casual. As I kept on meeting these knowledgeable, hard working and smart and accomplished people through life, I believe my expectations from life and from myself radically changed. I lived what we call the importance of role models. My father and my mother were great mode models; however having met some of the teachers that I did made a big difference.

I like going to the theatre. There is something beautiful and strong in being in the same atmosphere with talented artists. I love going to concerts. For the last couple of years Istanbul has been welcoming great performers around the world. I hope that one day we will be able to watch them in Fethiye as well. There is a different magic in watching excellence performed. This alone teaches more than we can image. Seeing a living example of someone of doing something has effects beyond most understanding. We can teach a kid or an adult that something is possible and even teach them the techniques of mastery. Even though they may learn it all perfectly, unless and until they believe that they can do it, it will not happen. That is what role models are especially for – to show that it is indeed possible. Efforts of years may then give fruit in a second...

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Messages of the Week from Susan Jeffers:

+ Awareness let’s you know it’s time for action:
Once you are aware of the Chatterbox, at last you can do something about it (even if it is driving you crazy!). When you are unaware of this mischievous little voice, you are at its mercy.

+ The paradox of genuine giving:
When we give genuinely, with thought only for others, we often find that more comes back to us that we could ever have imagined.

+ Giving diminished fear:
When you focus on giving, you lose your neediness and you fell “full-filled”. As you give, your sense of power and love gets greater and greater and greater.

+ Give away praise:
Often the people we find most difficult to praise are those closest to us. Yet praise is a wonderful way of releasing anger and resentment. Praise can take down the barriers to love and connection.

+ Are you a complainer?
Complaining is a very common activity of everyone’s Lower Self. Complaining is also a big clue that you are not taking responsibility for your experience of life.

+ Positive affirmations: a wonderful tool.
An affirmation is a strong, positive statement telling you that ‘all is well’. With constant repetition, affirmations help you drown out the negative messages of the Chatterbox. Confidence restored!

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I wish you love, luck and confidence...
Zeynep
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Angel of the Week: Openness

Affirmation of the Week:
“Everything is how it needs to be right now. I look past the illusion, and see the underlying order.”
By Doreen Virtue

Quote of the Week:
“May you live in interesting times.”
Chinese saying


Zeynep’s Book Recommendation of the Week:“Leading At A Higher Level” By Ken Blanchard
This book is available in Turkish under the title: “Liderlikte Çıtayı Yükseltmek”.