Different only happens when you do what you do differently.

"Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result"

This is the popular urban definition of "insanity", and I suppose a formula for frustration, and definitely insight into the truisms of the universe and a window into the contradictory relationship between the desire for sameness and the need to do something differently. 

Although most certainly debatable, I will say it is the randomness of the universe and the free will that's inherently found in all of us that explains why everything is always in flux — sure there are universal laws that come into play, but it's randomness that has it rain on that outdoor party you've been planning for three weeks or it's free will that explains why a lawyer decides to quit his job and open up a coffee shop that puts your favourite haunt out of business. For good or bad, right or wrong, the world around us is always changing — it's something we are constantly dealing with and something we are constantly trying to control. We work very hard to create an environment that is understood, familiar, consistent and dependable, and this is crucial for our well-being, security, and quality of life. We need the familiarity of "sameness" when we get home after a long day or when we are manufacturing 1,000,000 widgets.

And so the dance begins as we hold on to that "sameness" we have created and then forever struggle to protect it from the randomness and free will in the world — and even crazier still, we intuitively know that as the world changes, we need to change with it. It's this contradictory dance that allows us to create that environment of "sameness" we so very much need to progress over the long run. It's important to point out the tools we use to maintain control of that familiar, consistent and dependable environment are not the tools we need to change with the world — and this brings it back to the quote "doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result" (which it seems, and rightfully so, is truly the definition of insanity).

The tools we need to "change with the world" are all about doing things differently; not doing it the same.

• The mindset to understand the need to do things differently.
• The ability to communicate why it is important to do things differently.
• The ability to actually do what you do differently.

It's in understanding we need to think and do things differently that we are actually closer to controlling a perpetually changing world.

iamgpe

Moments — reflections in the window

One day it was there and the next day it wasn't — what had looked like a successful small business was now empty. The sign in the window didn't offer any insight as to why but rather that the owner was off to his next adventure.

IF "YOUR" READING THIS   IT'S TOO LATE... SORELLA TORONTO

ON TO THE NEXT ONE

It may have been the result of an increase in square footage or maybe the new competition that was literally two doors down (or maybe one of the dozens of other issues that face a business each and every day). Whatever the reason, all that was left was a hand written sign in the window and the reflections of a business that once was

This hasn't been the only one of late — there is an obvious transition going on between the old and the new in the neighbourhood.

As I mentioned, I can only hazard a guess to why this happened, but after reading the last line on the notice I can't help believe that the why is secondary to the acknowledgement that things happen, and that you have to keep moving forward.

ON TO THE NEXT ONE

It is a reminder that "no one" said it was easy, and that things are not destined to go your way, and what is "working so well today" may not "work so well tomorrow"... it is a reminder to move forward no matter what has happened. 

And I suppose, a reminder that how you handle a situation is really a reflection of you.

iamgpe

Spelling doesn't count on flip charts...

Many life times ago I was in a working session about something that literally wasn't memorable enough to remember, except for a comment about my spelling on a large flip chart. Having thought about this recently I've come to the conclusion there are two general categories of "things" that guide us —

1. Things we are good at and things we are not good at
2. Things we like to do and things we don't like to do.

In this context I'm not a good speller (a little better now) and I don't like to scribe on flip charts (this still holds true). Frankly I also don't like taking minutes either, but let's stay on point.

The word that was called out was "acquire" (or its misspelled cousin "aquire"). To be honest I cannot remember how I spelled it but ultimately it was considered an appropriately spelled alternative (or maybe just not that important to spend anymore time on). About two years later I found myself in yet another working session, and as the recorder picked up the marker to scribe she said in a matter of fact tone, "Spelling doesn't count on flip charts". I fell in love with her there and then, and this has been my modus operandi ever since. 

I had been given permission to continue my semi illiterate and illegible "flip charting ways" — no harm, not foul, because spelling doesn't count on flip charts.

It's probably important to mention I have always been impressed with those people who are able to capture the thoughts of the room for all to see with perfect penmanship, spelling and grammar — it's akin to a piece of business art in my mind. It does lead to the question as to why I took the easy way out with my newly acquired "flip chat rule" instead of improving my to skills to create my own business art.

My rationalization over the years has been penmanship, spelling and grammar are all secondary to the importance of capturing the idea raw, and I did not want to interrupt the flow of the conversation for the sake of style... and besides, someone has to transcribe it again to some sort of word document. This isn't a particularly robust rationalization (and slightly nonsensical) as to why I didn't raise the bar for myself, but as I've said, "I really don't like being a scribe".

Don't even get me started about the games I used to play when taking minutes in a meeting,

iamgpe

PS — I am well aware that there is a little bit of personal sabotage in all of this, and definitely a missed opportunity to develop some skills, but again I have to reiterate, "I don't like scribing".

PPS — I also know "not liking something" is the worst reason not to do it — particularly when you know it's good for you.