Sunday, August 17, 2008
SIGNIFICANCE books & movies
What books and movies would you recommend to someone strong (or weak) in Significance?
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Donald Clifton, Ph.D. 1924-2003
Father of Strengths Psychology and Grandfather of Positive Psychology
Peter F. Drucker, 1909 -2005
"The idea that there are "well-rounded" people, people who have only strengths and no weaknesses ... is a prescription for mediocrity if not incompetence. Strong people always have strong weaknesses. ... And no one is strong in many areas."
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Peter F. Drucker Quote:
"People-decisions are time-consuming, for the simple reason that the Good Lord did not create people as "resources" for organizations. They do not come in proper size and shape for the tasks that have to be done in organization - and they cannot be machined down or re-cast for these tasks. People are always "almost fits" at best. To get the work done with people (...) therefore requires lots of time, thought and judgement."
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The Devil’s Advocate
I rarely go to the cinema. That’s probably because I hate standing in lines and hearing the noise of people eating popcorn and other smelly or noisy things. But the one movie that I went to see three times in the cinema was “The Devil’s Advocate” with Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino. I could see this movie again and again without getting bored. Ok, I still have to find someone who did not like this movie. But I have always been wondering why this movie struck such a strong chord with me. If I had Believe or Connectedess high, I would relate it to these talents, as this movie touches many interesting value questions. But I do have Significance high and I have come to the conclusion that this may best explain my fascination with this move. I guess that I am fascinated by the role of Keanu Reeves, the fast rise of this smart young lawyer, his encounter with the even more impressing Al Pacino, and then his fall into a deep “Significance quake” when things get bad with his wife. It raises a lot of interesting questions of what Significance means for us who crave for it!
For Learner (and also Input, Individualization, Significance)
I am reading the great book "Learning Journeys - Top Management Experts Share Hard-Earned Lessons on Becoming Great Mentors and Leaders" from various editors and contributors. I quote from the front flap: "As the contributors of this book demonstrate, truly effective leaders have learned how to learn: they learn from all of life, all their lives long. ... They seize opportunities to learn wherever they find them." Among the contributors are Stephen Covey, Warren Bennis, James Collins, Nathaniel Branden.
Let me quote from the excellent Amazon book review of Michael Erisman which convinced me to buy this book: "The book is divided into eight different categories, including what were in my opinion the most insightful; "Unlearning what you thought was so", "Pain is a great teacher", and "Seeing yourself as others do". What makes this such an interesting read is that all these short essays within the eight topic areas reflect very personal insights into the people themselves. What events helped them learn and grow, what successes, or failures, helped them become who they are today?
We are given a rare glimpse into some very real personal experiences, in which we all can relate on some level. I was struck time and again at just how "normal" these leaders are, and behind the names, the publications, and the prestige of being well known and a leader in your field, are some remarkable stories of struggle and perseverance."
Movie: "The Game" with Michael Douglas
I quote from Amazon.com:
"It's not quite as clever as it tries to be, but The Game does a tremendous job of presenting the story of a rigid control freak trapped in circumstances that are increasingly beyond his control. Michael Douglas plays a rich, divorced, and dreadful investment banker whose 48th birthday reminds him of his father's suicide at the same age. He's locked in the cage of his own misery until his rebellious younger brother (Sean Penn) presents him with a birthday invitation to play "The Game" (described as "an experiential Book of the Month Club")--a mysterious offering from a company called Consumer Recreation Services. Before he knows the game has even begun, Douglas is caught up in a series of unexplained events designed to strip him of his tenuous security and cast him into a maelstrom of chaos. How do you play a game that hasn't any rules? That's what Douglas has to figure out, and he can't always rely on his intelligence to form logic out of what's happening to him. Seemingly cast as the fall guy in a conspiracy thriller, he encounters a waitress (Deborah Unger) who may or may not be trustworthy, and nothing can be taken at face value in a world turned upside down. Douglas is great at conveying the sheer panic of his character's dilemma, and despite some lapses in credibility and an anticlimactic ending, The Game remains a thinking person's thriller that grabs and holds your attention. --Jeff Shannon"
Similar to "The Devil's Advocate", I think this movie touches many issues that may be of concern for people with Significance, Competition, and generally a high proportion of thinking talents in their top 10 talents. It challenges you to think what really matters in life, and that not everything is about rational logic.
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