Thriving in Chaos
by TSK. Raman
Thriving in Chaos - was a book by Tom Peters, called : Handbook for a Management Revolution. This book was first published in 1987 and the edition I read published in 1989, however the content remains just as appropriate as it is today.
This is the crux
1. Re-frame your thoughts.
Actions and emotions are the result of one’s thoughts, so the second
a negative thought enters your mind, push it out and replace it with a positive one. One way to let go of a negative thought is to label it.
How you see a problem may just be the problem, so by re-framing your thoughts you can see old challenges in a new light.
2. Speak to the positive.
Eliminate contractions from your vocabulary. Instead of saying, “I don’t want to go to [dinner]” try, “I would rather eat dinner at home.” This exercise helps your brain constantly look for the positive in everything. After all, nobody wants to be the “Negative Guy/Gal.”
3. Take the 30-day challenge.
Every day for thirty days, write down three things you’re grateful for. That’s it. Sounds pretty easy, right? The only catch is this: there can be no repeats. So, if you’re thankful for your cat who doesn't cough up hairballs all over the place, find something else to be grateful about regarding little kitty next time. Studies show that for a habits to take effect requires roughly three weeks of consistent repetition. The purpose of this exercise is similar to number two above, where you train your brain to look for the smallest glimmer of positive in everything because, believe it or not, the 30-day challenge is not easy. You will find it gradually more difficult to generate new ideas every day.
4. Give yourself a mental boost.
Set small goals for yourself that allows you to feel a sense of achievement. Never quit during an evolution, since that's when motivation is at a low point already (similar to not going shopping at the grocery store while hungry). When you set a goal, no matter how large or small, it provides a sense of victory that helps boost your self-efficacy, thus creating a spiral of motivation leading you to set larger, more aspiration goals.
5. Socialize.
Surround yourself with like-minded individuals because the old saying that “misery loves company” is true. Strong relationships can fill the gap where stress is concerned and help people perceive situations as less stressful to begin with. Additionally, personal connections lower cortisol levels—a hormone in the brain related to stress—which means you can recover faster from work-related stress and thus better inoculate yourself towards such stressors in the future.
I wonder if Raja Mouli of 'EEGA' fame will get to read this version of mine.
This morning I scripted a small story, my version of "Thrive in Chaos".
It's a simple one with of course lessons available for the learner and the story goes like this
At the edge of a forest a cow was grazing and while it snorted it blew the ants into the air. Just then a strong gust of wind blew the ants right onto a bee-hive. The ever busy swarming bees, sensitive and reactive as they are, got disturbed and took to their wings in a state of utter "chaos."
They left their work and the hive and took to flight. They saw a fox and went after it. The fox realized the bees had taken to it's tail, started running deep into the forest. They went some distance before the bees saw a tiger, so they left the fox for the tiger. The tiger began to run and it went further deeper into the forest. This too went on for a while and a distance till the bees saw a lion. They left the tiger for the lion. The lion began to run, and this too went on for a while and distance till the bees hit a wall. It wasn't a wall actually was an elephant. cool as it was the elephant started going forward with some pace till it got to a river and dived straight in. Accustomed as it can stay under water for long spells of time, the bees which were swirling over the water didn't know what to do thereon and next, got frustrated. They got to the nearer side of the river bank and tried to regroup themselves on a tree, but just couldn't as they got very tired. They had even lost their sting and started falling down dead in heaps, thus became a "bonus" stock for ants as it was more than they expected storing for the approaching winter.
Simple as the story stands, the lessons it leaves us with are
1. Do not be reactive whatever the situation
2. Do not lost 'focus" of your job on hand
3. You plot your own downfall when you lose the sense of your reasoning
4. Know your purpose in life
River and time will flow by just once. Learn to use both of them well to make the best for yourself.
A nice colony of bees gives us "honey" only when they stick together and each does it's bit to make our lives "sweet."
