Comments on: Know Thyself http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/know-thyself Equipping Managers via Requisite Organization Systems Design. Talent Management, Leadership, Organization Design. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:30:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Michelle Malay Carter http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/know-thyself/comment-page-1#comment-275 Michelle Malay Carter Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:40 +0000 http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/know-thyself#comment-275 Hi Bo and Mike, Thanks for the heartfelt comments. I believe we are all developmental beings. We all learn, grow, and change. Bo and Mike, I can see why you take exception to my comment, "You can only be what you are." When I say you can only be what you are, I am including undiscovered and untapped potential which you both mention. I agree with you. I didn't make myself clear on that. When I say we can only be who we are, I am talking in a more global, spiritual sense of finding our place of flow and purpose. If you were to ask me if I'm the same as I was 10 years ago, I would say NO WAY. Over time, the way I view the world has changed. That, with some "standing outside myself", has modified my reactions to the world and to others which has modified my behavior. So the way I experience the world has changed, my behavior has changed, and likely others' experience of me has changed, but fundamentally I don't think "who I am" has changed. For example, on my ACT college entrance exams, I scored more highly on the math section than the english. Of the four areas, english was my lowest score, yet, I am a writer in my core. I may have a head for math but I don't have a heart for it. Another example, blogging is the perfect storm of who I am - a writer, a person of high conviction, a person who likes to research, a person who enjoys design, a person who is passionate and knowledgeable about a subject (organizational design and leadership). Because of this, I am able to sustain my blog and I am slowly building an audience. I blog from my core and it works. Blogging is en vogue these days for a variety of reasons, but of all the blogs out there, very few are maintained on any regular basis. When we work from outside who we are, it is not sustainable nor does it come off as authentic. Thanks for the feedback. It is most appreciated. Regards, Michelle Malay Carter Hi Bo and Mike,

Thanks for the heartfelt comments. I believe we are all developmental beings. We all learn, grow, and change.

Bo and Mike, I can see why you take exception to my comment, “You can only be what you are.” When I say you can only be what you are, I am including undiscovered and untapped potential which you both mention. I agree with you. I didn’t make myself clear on that.

When I say we can only be who we are, I am talking in a more global, spiritual sense of finding our place of flow and purpose.

If you were to ask me if I’m the same as I was 10 years ago, I would say NO WAY. Over time, the way I view the world has changed. That, with some “standing outside myself”, has modified my reactions to the world and to others which has modified my behavior. So the way I experience the world has changed, my behavior has changed, and likely others’ experience of me has changed, but fundamentally I don’t think “who I am” has changed.

For example, on my ACT college entrance exams, I scored more highly on the math section than the english. Of the four areas, english was my lowest score, yet, I am a writer in my core. I may have a head for math but I don’t have a heart for it.

Another example, blogging is the perfect storm of who I am – a writer, a person of high conviction, a person who likes to research, a person who enjoys design, a person who is passionate and knowledgeable about a subject (organizational design and leadership). Because of this, I am able to sustain my blog and I am slowly building an audience. I blog from my core and it works.

Blogging is en vogue these days for a variety of reasons, but of all the blogs out there, very few are maintained on any regular basis. When we work from outside who we are, it is not sustainable nor does it come off as authentic.

Thanks for the feedback. It is most appreciated.

Regards,

Michelle Malay Carter

]]> By: Mike King http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/know-thyself/comment-page-1#comment-273 Mike King Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:29:43 +0000 http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/know-thyself#comment-273 In some ways yes, but in others no. There is certainly truth to the fact that many of us spend a big chunk of time simply discovering who we really are, but there is many a times that we change ourselves and truly become someone knew, whether that's through learned actions, tragic events, or life changing faith and spirituality. Perhaps all of those combined! Its not always there to begin with, but there is certainly something there, something to discover and something to reveal, and perhaps if we've wise enough something new to find that enables us to change who we currently are! In some ways yes, but in others no. There is certainly truth to the fact that many of us spend a big chunk of time simply discovering who we really are, but there is many a times that we change ourselves and truly become someone knew, whether that’s through learned actions, tragic events, or life changing faith and spirituality. Perhaps all of those combined!

Its not always there to begin with, but there is certainly something there, something to discover and something to reveal, and perhaps if we’ve wise enough something new to find that enables us to change who we currently are!

]]> By: Bo C http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/know-thyself/comment-page-1#comment-272 Bo C Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:17:01 +0000 http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/know-thyself#comment-272 Not sure if I completely agree with that strict of a premise. By saying that you can only be what you are says that there is never any underlying or undiscovered potential. I am a huge believer in the necessity of knowing thyself as best as you can, but we are evolving creatures. At the age of 20 there were a lot of things that I could not do and subsequently a lot of things I could not be. My opinion, for what that is worth, is that current self-awareness has to be grounded in current reality and that if a new reality is desired self-deception will not help it to occur, but honesty with one's self may get you as close as you can get given your known abilities and opportunities. Most of this of course is based on my personal belief that no one's potential can ever be measured while they live and walk above ground! It may be estimated, but not measured! Not sure if I completely agree with that strict of a premise. By saying that you can only be what you are says that there is never any underlying or undiscovered potential.

I am a huge believer in the necessity of knowing thyself as best as you can, but we are evolving creatures. At the age of 20 there were a lot of things that I could not do and subsequently a lot of things I could not be.

My opinion, for what that is worth, is that current self-awareness has to be grounded in current reality and that if a new reality is desired self-deception will not help it to occur, but honesty with one’s self may get you as close as you can get given your known abilities and opportunities.

Most of this of course is based on my personal belief that no one’s potential can ever be measured while they live and walk above ground! It may be estimated, but not measured!

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