This week’s theme involves ‘scraping away the barnacles’. Most of us are weighed down by excess baggage, both physically and emotionally We have ‘blind spots’ and we need to consciously set time aside to rigorously inspect all aspects of our lives to make sure that we are the best we can possibly be in every domain or ‘stream’.
In ‘Management Mess-ups’ Mark Eppler provides an excellent metaphor. Walking along the beach in Ireland he noticed that the fishermen were not out fishing that day, but had their boats upside down on the beach. He was curious as they were losing a day’s income. He asked and they explained that one day a year they keep their boats on the beach, turn them upside down and scrape them. It still didn’t make sense. They went on to explain that they needed to ‘scrape away the barnacles’. Now he was really intrigued and asked more questions. The explanation was that over time, the barnacles gradually multiply, building up under the boats, weighing them down. Thus, if left unattended, the increasing weight of the barnacles would result in the fishermen using up to 40% more fuel to reach the fishing areas. In addition, the boats would be much less manoeuvrable.
Doesn’t that sound just like our lives? We use more energy to achieve our goals and our decreased agility means that we are less likely to recognise and move towards opportunities. In addition, the heavier our burdens, sometimes the harder it is to move away from threats or negative situations. So, we need to take action – Now! But first, we have to ‘see’ through our ‘blind spots’. Film director, poet, healer, fellow coach and cherished friend, Naahid Nakidien describes this beautifully in ‘Challenges’.
Challenges
In darkness we sit,
Too scared to see
We’re all afraid to face
Those challenges we need to meet
Deep inside we find
A scary patch of fear we hide
Feelings despondent
Too scared to act
Answers to find
Too scared to embrace
Veils to lifts
Too scared to see
Crying,
Almost Dying
Always Lying
As we reach in vain
The time has come to tackle those demons one by one
The silence needs to find a voice
That’s been paralysed by fear all this time
Reach out with vigorous appeal
To release this anxiety
Courage,
Pain,
Sincerity,
Dig deep and take one step to reality.
Crawling,
Sitting,
Standing
Stepping out
Reach to the world with eyes that see
No more secrets
No more confusion
Only determination and full responsibility
To accept each new challenge
One at a time.
© Naahid Nakidien
Brenda Eckstein and Naahid Nakidien, guest speaker at the PwC Women’s breakfast in Pietermaritzburg.
If you’d like more information on ‘leadership development’ or ‘executive coaching’ please contact me - brenda@146.66.90.172, Phone: +27 33 3425432, Mobile: + 27 82 4993311.