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I’d like to make Team of Rivals, next month’s read for me. After reading the review, it appears to be a great book.
The premise is to surround yourself with people who think differently than you do. However, the name of the book makes the concept seem more calculated than I believe it to be.
Recently, someone told me this concept was a bad idea. I can see how one might think this, however, I personally really appreciate banter and opposing view points. If we are able to listen to one another and really understand where the other person is coming from we have an opportunity to bridge the divide. If we only surround ourselves with like thinkers we become isolated “same think.”
So to all my family, friends, and colleagues, thank you! Know that I always appreciate your feedback – especially when it is from another point of view. I never mean to offend nor am I easily offended – just looking for thought provoking friendly banter.
An extra special thanks to those that keep me grounded and inspire me…you know who you are…I appreciate our diversity.
all the best,
angel
Currently reading Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. I’m interested in feedback from others on this book.
Since I’m tackling the Unabridged version, it may take me a little while to get through it, but I’d welcome comments/discussion – anytime.
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A little about the book and Ayn Rand:
With this acclaimed work and its immortal query, “Who is John Galt?”, Ayn Rand found the perfect artistic form to express her vision of existence. Atlas Shrugged made Rand not only one of the most popular novelists of the century, but one of its most influential thinkers.
Atlas Shrugged is the astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world–and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged stretches the boundaries further than any book you have ever read. It is a mystery, not about the murder of a man’s body, but about the murder–and rebirth–of man’s spirit.
* Atlas Shrugged is the “second most influential book for Americans today” after the Bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club
As individuals, we are the product our circle of influence. How we choose to process what we see, read, and hear is critical. If people believe anything they are told over and over – we become pawns in the game of life. So it is important for us to choose our circle of influence wisely. Someone recently told me “You can trust no one.” My philosophic view: it’s not about to Trust or Not to Trust – it’s about understanding (by asking, listening, and acknowledging how their experience may impact their perception). I often believe that even the seemingly worst of individuals have some rational for what they do – often their circle of influence promotes/fuels their behavior. Does this make them evil? This is a great question to really debate. Try numerous different scenarios – and see how this may challenge your existing views. If anything it should remind us to forgive and BE MINDFUL of the manipulative minefield we live in.
grace and blessings,
angel
A crucial conversation is one that occurs between two or more people in which the stakes are high, emotions are strong, and opposing opinions are present. Each day we are faced with situations, which if avoided or if not handled well, could lead to disaster.
At work these difficult situations might include:
• Talking to a coworker who behaves offensively
• Critiquing a colleague’s work
• Talking to a team member who isn’t keeping commitments
• Giving a boss feedback about his/her behavior
The key to handling these conversations well is the ability to be 100% honest and 100% respectful to the other person. While maintaining honesty and respect under such circumstances is challenging, it can be done!
There are courses at Cornell University on the description above. There is also a great book called Crucial Conversations and another called Crucial Confrontations and yet another called The Influencer. So many resources to choose from when looking approaching this subject. One book I found particularly helpful in objectivity is A New Earth.
If you are having difficulty working with people – seek these source for better skills. Even if you can’t change the other person, you can change yourself (which provides you the most benefit). Learning not to be offended by others is the best blessing – trust someone that feels a million times happier in life after learning this.
No one is perfect, remember this before you open your mouth or start typing to blast someone else for their short comings. We are surrounded by people that need this message. I have personally experienced how forgiveness can free your heart of anger. Grace is given to those that forgive and love thy enemy.
Many Blessings,
Angel
I hope this post causes you to reflect on yourself, it originated from one of my Facebook contacts “Hope.”
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Hope’s Post:
Loving your enemies: transforming your heart
Reasons to love your enemies
God commands us to love.
Here are some key Scriptures (Bible verses) on loving your enemies:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).
We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it (1 Corinthians 4:12).
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble (1 John 2:9-10).
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35).
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:18).
Jesus loved his enemies. Make him your example.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! (Luke 13:34).
Hints to help you love your enemies
Realize that you may have misinterpreted the other person’s words.
He or she may be distracted.
He or she may be busy.
He or she may be going through a personal crisis.
He or she may be sick or exhausted.
Realize that you may be right: The other person may be your enemy.
However, if someone insults you or dislikes you, respond in a Christ-like manner. Don’t take things personally or give in to hurt feelings and let your emotions control you. Instead, see the other person as someone with a problem who needs God’s help and your prayers.
Determine what part you played in the problem.
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (Matthew 7:5).
See problems as opportunities to grow in Christ.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2).
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Forgive . . . even if your enemy does not apologize.
Follow Jesus’ example: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).
Follow Stephen’s example: Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:60).
Pray for your enemies.
When you feel irritated about someone:
Pray for the other person’s needs.
Pray that God will help you forgive.
Pray that God will help you love him or her.
Evaluate your love for your enemies
How well do you practice the following verses?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Score yourself from 0-10 on each of the following.
“0″ means, “I need a lot of improvement.”
“10″ means, “I’m great at this.”
____ I am patient.
____ I am kind.
____ I do not envy.
____ I do not boast.
____ I am not proud.
____ I am not rude.
____ I am not self-seeking.
____ I am not easily angered.
____ I keep no record of wrongs.
____ I do not delight in evil.
____ I rejoice with the truth.
____ I always protect.
____ I always trust.
____ I always hope.
____ I always persevere.
____ My love never fails.
________so how did you do?______________
Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.
