Are you a Why or a Why Not? Think carefully. Your future may depend on it.

 Are you a why or a why not?

Think carefully. Your future may depend on it.

Are you afraid of change? Don’t like your current situation but can’t face the future with something different? Then you have a fixed mindset.

Or, do you welcome change as opportunity? Risks yes, but possible rewards outweigh them. Then you have a growth mindset.

Do you prejudge the future as if you can predict it? Do you defend the present as “we have always done it this way?”

Here’s the key question—please think about it. Are you a why or a why not?

The answers to these questions will most likely determine the course of your career and your relationships.

The most famous case of failure due to a fixed mindset is the case of Detroit in the 1980’s as told in Richard Halberstam’s The Reckoning. “Doing things the Detroit way” lost American carmakers the dominant share of market—forever.

One of the best movies of all time shows the paralytic, destructive and even tragic consequences of a fixed mindset: How Green Was My Valley, John Ford’s 1941 masterpiece telling the story of a Welsh mining town (which could be anywhere) that is so tragically stuck in their mindset so that the only way out is—out.

I recommend you watch this movie on YouTube or wherever you get your media. Then come back here and comment about your takeaways from this film. As with all films of that time, the focus is on acting, not effects. Great performances and a great story won this film 5 Oscars. It is one of my all time favorites—it entertains and teaches if you pay attention and open your mind.

Finally, answer the question for yourself: Are you a why or a why not? Are you happy with your answer? What will you do to change it if you feel change is needed.

Here is the link to the movie on YouTube: How Green Was My Valley?

Next article: an approach you can take to improve your mindset.

  

Lotus & MIchael Road trip 1- To the Outer Banks (OBX)

“Want a road trip?” One day Michael suddenly asked, who had been inspired by his friend’s recent road trip.

“Road trip?” I felt interested, “Go where?”

“Down to the south along the east coast. We can go to Savannah, perhaps even Miami. We can leave it open, see how we feel then.”

Thus, we started the packing right away: One basket for our clothes, one basket for our drinks and fruit, one basket for the toiletries. Next morning, with a full tank of gas, our “wide-eyed” little green mini carrying us set off toward the south, where the sun shone blazingly.

 

Our first stop was the north Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills. Sea, beach, palm trees, and sun-tanned people. Michael was born and grew up by the sea, so being with the ocean, listening to its roaring or rumbling, letting the refreshing sea breezes pass through his hair, he felt like he was back to his deep soul. While to me, who so lacked experience about the sea and beach, I was captured by the ocean aura immediately. Yes, the Ocean does have its particular aura: It is calm, yet wild; it is open, yet mysterious; it is clear and gay, yet salty and bitter. 

With our toes in sand, while watching the tides, I thought of a Chinese poem. It goes:

“Starting from tomorrow, I shall be a happy man--

Feed my horse, chop my firewood, and travel around the world;

Starting from tomorrow, I shall care for my crops and vegetables,

And build a house, facing the sea, enjoy the blooming spring.

Starting from tomorrow, I shall write to all my friends,

Telling them my happiness.

Whatever I get from that flash of happiness,

I shall tell everyone.

Give each river, each mountain a heartwarming name;

My dear stranger, I will offer you my best wishes as well--

May you own a prosperous future,

May you obtain a good ending with your darling one,

May you eventually find your happiness.

While I, I only hope to be facing the sea, enjoy the blooming spring.”

In my case, beside the sea and blooming spring, I will build a garden as well, a most magnificent sea garden. I already started it with a small collection of shells and stones that I took away.