Are We Kidding Ourselves?
I have been privileged to have met many thought-provoking people while jaunting around the globe sharing “The Latent Cause Experience.” One of these people is Scott Renton, a Canadian who currently works for Ledcor Contractors in Fort McKay, Alberta. During one of our several discussions during the class, I suggested that he put his thoughts in writing. He sent me the following article.
After you read this, please share your thoughts right here on the blog by writing a sentence or two
1) summarizing what you think Scott is saying, and then
2) stating whether or not you agree with him.
Here's Scott's article. Thanks Scott!
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Growth. Human nature seems to thrive off of it. As long as we have existed we have been growing, developing, and expanding. Has there ever been a time where humanity has stayed still?
As humans, growth is what builds us to be the individuals that we ultimately become as adults. But it can be difficult to measure. In simplistic terms, it could be defined by results: how big, how strong, and how much. But what is often overlooked is the process in which results are achieved. After all, who really cares why something costs less?
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What matters is the savings.
With this pressure on us, how can we measure our growth as individuals? If we are only measured by worth that can be seen and compared, then we think this is all that matters. There is precious little room left for pondering ourselves -- who we are and why we are the way we are. We need to keep up, and “who cares how we do it so long as we can show results?” To slow down and invest in developing our thoughts, our feelings, and our social maturity takes time that we are taught to think we don’t have. After all,
What matters is ‘the savings.'
Examples of this can be found everywhere. Advertisements tell us that we are falling behind simply if our computer or television is out of date. Our neighbors and peers affirm this for us when celebrating our financial and material successes.
But has a person ever been praised for turning down a promotion because they felt they weren’t ready? If we couple this with the assumption that if we get promoted at work or elevate our social status in life it demonstrates a complete readiness for the new role, then what do we create? It could be easily argued that we create an immense pressure on ourselves to prove how far we have come and how much we have grown so that we can hold it up for the world to see far in advance of us getting there maturely as an individual.
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In other words, to admit that we are smaller, slower, less intelligent than the world that we have built for ourselves is terrifying, and the world is still growing. The more we are pressured to ‘keep up’, the stronger the urge will be to project an air of confidence in lieu of stopping and asking the right questions when we don’t understand.
Who among us is willing to stop, when we could be left behind as a result?
Who among us is willing to admit that we don’t understand, when we have projected for years that we had everything ‘under control?’ Another way of asking this, is:
Who among us is willing to trade who we appear to be for who we really are, when the cost could jeopardize our position in life?
In summary, it seems that we are creating an imbalance between our projected self and our own personal identities. We are willing to trade life experience for material profit, because so long as we believe that the only way to demonstrate our growth is by what we can hold up in front of us, our projected self will always be more important.
Scott Renton
12 comments:
The Oracle at Delphi once proclaimed that Socrates was the wisest man in all of Athens. Socrates was doubtful of this, so he began an inquiry as to why he was viewed as such. He questioned his peers, scholars and philosophers. No one could give him a satisfactory answer as to why he was not the wisest man in Athens. He finally realized the Oracle could be right. Not because of what he knew, but because he was willing to admit that he DIDN'T know and question the nature of truth.
-Joby Gonsuron
Hi all, having read Kenny and Scott's post I now have to ask, how to we reconcile what Scott's original article message was and the message of Bob's paper, "The Revelations of Asphaliah"? They seemed to be opposed to each other to me.
Kenny zeroed in on the materialistic side of things. I was reading Scott's article from the safety, RCA, Process Hazard, aspect of my job. My reading was more work focused and less life focused. Its all perspective.
Bob, have you ever used "The Revelations of Asphaliah" as a discussion topic on the blog? If not, I think it might be a good one!
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments. It's been an honour to have this posted, although most of the credit has to go to Bob Nelms- as I'm sure you all know he has an incredible talent for inspiring people and was the driving force behind me putting these thoughts in writing!!
Wow Kenny, I spent the greater part of the day trying to think of a good response but I am glad I waited. Well said. I couldn't add more than that if I tried, thank you!
What is the measure of a man? Is it what we acquire or what other people think of us? Is it the position we hold or the influence we have had on a business venture or the lives of others? While those things may be important, they sometimes leave us empty. How can this be when the world tells us that wealth, social status and fame are all that matters?
I believe this is what Scott Renton is writing about. Man has an inherit desire to understand, to learn new things and to be filled with awe at new found knowledge. You say, “I know lots of people who have no desire to learn anything knew". I agree... But they did not arrive in this world with such a mindset. Observe a new born baby or young child. Their every waking moment is about learning.
My wife teaches Montessori to small children. Some might say it is simply a babysitting service or like any other public education for preschoolers, but it is not. Babysitting is about entraining and protecting a child for a period of time. Public education is about conformity. True Montessori is about supporting a child in their desire to learn and helping them develop a lifelong love for learning. I have watched a small child spend hours intently focused on one of the learning materials. They will work with the material until they perfect their skill our understanding and when this occurs they light up. Perfecting the work is self-reinforcing and provides a great deal of personal satisfaction. Once the skill or knowledge is perfect, they are ready and excited to move on to another challenge. The interesting thing about Montessori is not all of the children chose to continue their learning in the same way. One might be more inclined toward art while another toward math and yet another toward language. Each child is allowed to express their personal nature or bent. The longer a child is allow to develop in such an environment the more likely they are to develop a love of life time learning.
Why do I bring the love of learning into this conversation? Because I think the love of learning and satisfaction with one’s life are intertwined. Lifelong learners tend to be more satisfied, they tend to have greater influence and in many cases they tend to be more successful.
So how do we get out of this rut where the world has convinced the masses that wealth, social status and fame are all that matters? The first step is to stop blindly following the path before you, then to consider your natural strengths. Are you able to apply your natural strengths in your current job? If not, begin developing your strengths. This is the beginning of the learning process. As you focus on your strengths you will find that learning, contrary to what you have been told, is interesting even fun and definitely fulfilling. Look for ways to apply you new skills/knowledge. If you work within an organization talk to you immediate supervisor and other people about your goals/desires. You will be surprised at the doors your new zeal and enthusiasm may open.
Yes there is risk in leaving the herd… But the reward may surpass your wildest imagination.
Do not be content with just existing. Dream big dreams, write them down as goals, develop an action plan and get started.
Well, having been to Fort McKay, Alberta doing some work there - I can certainly appreciate some negativity in Scott's thoughts. (For all the rest of you - realistically, you have to have been there to understand). Again, anyone from a city USA or Canada for that matter wouldn't understand.
In any event, being able to say I'm not sure how to do this or perform that - isn't all bad. Expertise comes from working through the crisis and asking questions of people that know and learning from each event one step at a time. Good on you Scott and we might meet for supper some time down the road in camp.
Corporations spend a lot of money sending people to class in order to learn how they are perceived by their peers. A confidential poll is conducted before hand so that everyone is put in a box. I have set through several of these seminars. I am always fascinated by the people who are totally surprised by their results. You may be fooling yourself and you might fool your boss, but your peers know who you really are.
Good response, Bret. I hope that Scott takes the time to respond to your comment. As for myself, I'm an "eternal optimist," and yet I most certainly see the truth of what Scott is saying in just about all facets of life. Moose, bears, and yes humans. But aren't there some things about how we are as human beings that we are supposed to "raise above?" Just thinking aloud here.
1. To me Scott is saying we are ALL superficial.
2. No. Measuring ourselves (pun intended) is basic to nature. Antlers, bears scratching on trees, plumage of a Peacock. Yep, all males! And the examples go on and on. So in my mind, measuring superiority is natural. Maybe my perspective comes from where I have lived compared to Scott. My experiences haven’t been as negative as his article comes across to me. Oh, I have met some egos (sometimes in the mirror), charlatans, etc.
I would be curious to know if Scott wrote this at a low point in his career or personal life. Does he feel this same way today? Is he a pessimistic person by nature?
Me? Yes, I have been accused of being a “glass half full” kind of person.
Paul, knowing you the way I do I have to say that there are very, very few people who see things the way you see them and value the things you do. Until we have more people like you (in your positions), the "Scotts" of the world will have a very rough time. Thanks for the post!
You are describing quite a bit of disfunction and social misdirection that may be the prevailing context in many companies, but not the good ones. To answer your question: “who cares how we do it so long as we can show results?” We do! We focus on the how because it matters just as much. Leaders who don't "slow down and invest in developing thoughts, feelings, and social maturity" in themselves and those they lead will fail miserably and be formally evaluated as such. In addition, we promote knowing that we can allow people to grow into the role because the team won't allow them to fail. Humility rules the day.
Great Article.....Its a scary thing to face the fact that we are usually not as big as we think we are, but when you turn and face the beast its not scary at all.
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