Mahatma Gandhi - Mindset

"Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong" - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi understood the power of inner motivation and the strength of conviction. He was able to move people - yes, an entire country - towards a better and more self- determined future.

Mindset has that power. You can do what you think - if you really, really believe in it. So why is mindset such an underrated discipline among leaders? Why do we not train more on finding the right mindset in our schools and educational system? What are we scared off? The power that will be unleashed spread can change how we interact. 
One of the things I have noticed - more and more - are the mindset that young entrepreneurs have. Most of the young entrepreneurs have the courage and mindset to go their own way, even when it gets difficult. Like Gandhi.

I believe the mindset should be trained in schools, highschools, vocational training institutes and throughout University. Even in Management programs there is very little focus on this discipline, despite the fact that mindset alone can mean the difference between failure and success in most companies. And I am NOT talking about the old-fashioned CEO-bullshit culture that some of the ageing management gurues a prominent exponents of, where power lies in the top, and the rest just have to follow and perform. 

No, I am talking about the Inner strength that can spread in an organization where each individual have a deeper sense of their personal responsibility and the meaning of their tasks. This is the future described so vividly by Frederic Laloux in "Reinventing Organizations" and showcased in a number of new startups around the World.  

The new generation of workers all over the World demands to have more meaning in their work-life and a grasp of the bigger picture. And they want influence in how things are being done. The understanding of WHY I am doing what I do will be increasingly important to us. If you have doubts, then read some of Simon Sineks excellent books.

So how do we develop organizations, leaders and educational system that includes this in training, courses and education? Well, we could start with MINDSET as an independent subject that we train in, just as well as we train in Math, Language or Computer skills. - In my humble opinion. 

What do you think. Is Mr. Gandhi once again in the center of thing?

Do you work to live - or......

Live to work? What is the balance in your life. Are you preoccupied with results or are you into the process that life is consisting of?

I am in the last category. I have learned this the hard way, because I used to be in the first category. 

I was so much into producing results and all the time trying to reach for a higher goal. Coming from a background in elite sports with three Olympic participations have naturally influenced my life.  I had an inner need to go for results that almost became a drug for me. I ventured into all activities with the intention of winning, which means that there was a winner and a loser in my equation. Moving forward I became obsessed with performance - on a very personal level, and with the result that my ambition drove me from one position to another in private sector companies. And yes, I did produce a lot of results. Not alone, but with different teams of very different backgrounds. But always with the intent of winning.

Somehow my focus changed dramatically along the way. The reason - or the facilitator of this - is Jørgen. My Jørgen. I met Jørgen back during my stay in Scandinavian Airlines in 2005 - 10 years ago. He became my coach and mentor. On so many levels. Not so much because of what he did, but more what he did not do. He did not tell me what to do - or how to think. But he challenged me by asking questions and give me tasks to investigate on a personal level. Three C-level jobs later I have evolved into a more holistic person with emphasis on process and not just result. A healthy balance, where I am aware of my own strengths as a facilitator, coach and mentor - to create processes that make change happen. On an individual level and in teams. 

So what is my point here?

Well, thanks to Jørgen I have realized that I only use a fraction of my potential capacity. And that I live to work - in a healthy balance that is sometimes filled with RUSH - but not DRUG.

Thanks for letting me in on a secret, Jørgen

Meaningfulness is essential

Meaningfulness is essential

This summer has been so meaningful for me. I think it has something to do with my own mindset and where I am in my life.

After a storm there will come a sunny day. Somehow this makes a lot of sense to me this year. I have had a rough end of year 2014 and beginning of year 2015 with an inner process where I have done quite a lot of soulsearching, and perhaps have found new meaning in my life.
For one I have learned the hard way that I need a balance between work and my private time. The so-called work-life balance, which is kind of a strange word, since work is also life and life is sometimes work. Well, in any case I have come to value a more balanced way of life, where my work takes less space and time. I have prioritized more time with my family, my friends and even my work-time colleagues. I have also spent more ME-time, where I can think and perhaps even practice a little philosophy about my future life content and personal goals. All in all I have focused more on what is meaningfull in my life, and found out that this has to be a continuing priority.

Nature and experiences in nature is a must-have for me. I have spent most of my adolesence in Greenland and is thus a nature-junkie. There is so much meaning in being surrounded by the most extreme nature, where you are just a tiny creature in a vast landscape. Greenland is extreme, nature in Greenland is extreme - and I do believe this has a significant impact on how we Greenlanders view ourselves and the World. We are humble about the meaning of life and death. We are close to the nature on a daily or weekly basis.

I am currently in East Greenland where the nature is nothing less than awesome. There are huge glaciers pounding into the deep fjords. There are spiked mountains ranging up to more than 3000 meters and there is ice - and lot's of it. To be surrounded by such amazing scenery I am impacted into the core of my being. I am embedded in nature - and it gives so much meaning to me.

So what is my point, you might ask?

Well, nothing really - except that you have to find meaning where it makes sense to you, and then act on it. Take it in - treasure it, and be sure to make it meaningful.