Saturday, March 19, 2005

How do people climb trees? - Part 2

After reading my article a friend of mine told me something amazing

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Among native Americans there is a saying about "how to climb trees" (remember this is about all kinds of "trees" - social, economical, knowledge etc.):

You can climb the biggest trees* in two ways:
1) you choose one of the oldest trees (and the tallest) and try to conquer it ... is a difficult task ... but, in the end, you might succeed it.
2) you can choose to plant a seed, take care of the new plant and stick with her while growing in a tree. All this time they remain on top. The results are amazing - if you take really good care of the tree it can beat any of the already known tall trees, it's your own achievement and its easy to gain altitude - you grow in height together with the tree
.... ... ...
*Please note that "the biggest trees" were, for native Americans, sequoias
... ... ...

With some extent we can try to describe a characteristic of the well known dual model "manager - leadership".

Managers try to achieve the best from the already existing, are attracted more about easy or short terms achievements. For short periods of time they might reach the top ...but they have a constantly endangered position, which, today, rarely can be defended for more than 3-5 years.

Leaders grow their own ideas, are attracted more towards a vision, which usually involves long term, sustained, inspired effort. It's easier for them to remain on top, because they are always on top on their own creation, and usually have a broader view ...being always on top ... they can see the hole picture ...at least for their business.

Now ask yourself ... you usually go for the results, or for the ideas? Do you prefer improving, or you prefer improvising? You want to reach the highest of what is ...or you stubbornly and passionately try to reach the highest of what might be?

We are all motivated by success and none of the two ways is wrong - is just a matter of choices and personality.

And remember: "Success is a measure of how high you bounce when you hit bottom" (George S. Patton)

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