Another great week with a class of
incredibly talented AV geeks getting their CTS credentials. This was another unique class because it was
for a manufacturer, so the depth of knowledge in projection and image quality
was unparalleled. I learned a lot from
this team of professionals. Along the
way I learned some things I didn't expect to learn.
In a couple of late night conversations
with a very high executive in the company I was training, I was asked some very
pointed questions and statements. These
conversations ended up hitting me in the core of who I am and what I am
doing. In this few days’ worth of time,
I ended up learning more about myself than years of therapy. The highlight of what I learned has to do
with Connecting and the Volcano.
Connecting – One of our late night
conversations was more of a question and answer session. The executive I was talking with wanted to
learn more about me and the company he was working with. So he asked me a lot of questions. The
question that hit me the hardest and made me realize I was on the right track
with grAVITation TECHnologies was when he asked “what is it that you are trying
to do, are you trying to make these people understand and learn the CTS topics
and pass the test or are you trying to help them learn more about the industry
and best practices?” I thought for a
second and answered. “Neither. I am trying to connect with them.” As those words came out of my mouth I
realized why I do what I do. Yes, I love
to learn and I love to share my knowledge.
Yes, I love to teach and see people improve. But, above those things, I love
to connect with people. My satisfaction
comes from people coming up to me years after a class and telling me how I
changed their life or their approach to something and how something I said
stuck with them. I love the idea that
when I spend time with people in any environment (classroom, office or on the
road) that I get to connect and we SHARE information and grow TOGETHER. By answering that seemingly simple question,
I learned (or reminded myself) more than I had realized in a long while.
The Volcano – As our discussions went on,
the executive I was talking to referred to me as a Volcano. I took this as a compliment because I see
volcanos as powerful. I also liked this
statement because the result of volcanos erupting can be beautiful; tropical
islands and luscious and fruitful lands.
It wasn't until I got home and pondered what he was trying to tell me. I now think that I learned a small bit of
what he was trying to say (and I am sure there is much more to this). I ended up contemplating on this a lot more
and even doing some research. I realized
that this new friend was telling me that I have a balance of many talents and
traits (like the volcano has all the elements: earth, wind, fire, water and
air). The challenge someone like me
faces is that I can be forceful and dominant in letting go of these elements at
times. The result is not the island
paradise I was hoping, but a wasteland and destruction. The beautiful paradise takes a long time of
rebuilding. However, If I hold back and
allow the forces to remain in balance and only release in small doses when the
time is right and only when I need to show appropriate passion about key
things, then people will get from me what they need and I will get what I need
- connections. If we continue to
consider the actual volcano as the metaphor here, there are many beautiful
cities that exist near active (although dormant) volcanos. I believe this is because the inhabitants
gain much more than they perceive the risk to be. I learned that I may have the force of a
volcano I must learn to control that force and remain dormant (and control the
eruptions) so that I can provide a luscious and fruitful area around me. Otherwise,
the volcano can destroy the environment.
Who knows? I could be completely off on what my new
friend was trying to relay to me, but the good thing is, it doesn't really
matter. I took what I could from it and
learned something and hopefully I will grow a little more because of the week I
spent contemplating connections and volcanos.
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