News Updates

News Updates. 

Congratulations! Saskia de Winter, Ana Cortes, and Lourdes "Lulu" Lopez of Mexico City have completed Samurai Game® facilitator certification to lead the Game worldwide.   Nine Mexican citizens now serve Mexico with this simulation created by George Leonard. Four candidates from Mexico will soon enter the facilitator training process.

May 18-19. "The Spiral for Success" a seminar company based in Tyumen, Russia, hosted a Samurai Game® weekend. This was the Game's first delivery in Siberia, opening the door for owners Konstantin and Elena Volzhan to make it an ongoing offering in the region. Konstantin begins his certification training next month in Petaluma, California. Also attending the Tyumen weekend program were two other Petaluma bound Russians, Marina Klimova of Rustov and Yana Tyzhnova of Moscow. Yana served as translator for the May Tyumen program. Welcome!

July 8-9. The Poconos of Pennsylvania. A successful second annual leadership program was hosted by East Stroudsburg University's Upward Bound Program. "These are skills that can only be learned through actual practice. There is a practice that goes beyond just books", stated Uriel Trujillo, ESU's Upward Bound Director. The program engaged sixty youth from the region in aikido based movements and the Samurai Game® for the purpose of enhancing communication, influence and personal effectiveness.

Using Step #2 of The Five Step Path

 

Diana Montiel Contreras completes Samurai Game® facilitator certification February 24 in Mexico City

   

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor

do the children of man as a whole experience it.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."

-Helen Keller (from The Open Door, 1957)

Rachel is new to the aikido mat, late 30's, attentive and quick to adjust to input. She's often self-critical. Yet, her movements are surprisingly aligned, unified and relaxed for anyone at this stage of the game. She has yet to purchase a gi (training uniform). Taking that step, while practical (right clothes for the environment), is also bold. It's a statement that says, "Yes, I'm in. I'm scared, but stepping across this line anyway." We keep an eye on Rachel. We let her know that we once walked (and still do) the same path that she's on. Knowing this we understand that she'll probably take her next step.

Nate got his new trumpet just like he wanted, but his first experience of the town's youth orchestra was terrifying: too many people, and too much happening. Christian, the orchestra leader, was keen to Nate's talent. He knew his fears and asked him to stay afterwards to talk about what was going on. Christian listened and basically said nothing. Then just before Nate was about to leave Christian offered, "I know you want to quit and you can, but I think you're doing great - I see it in your timing. Come to one more session and then decide. When I'm afraid I'm in the same spot you're in right now ..." Twelve years later Nate is accomplished in many instruments. Along the way he served two years as band president at a major California university. Today, he works as a corporate merchandising manager. Music is not his profession. It IS his life. He's guided numerous students of his own, and he's led hundreds of others to excellence.

Both of the above stories are true. I know Rachel and Nate, but by different names.

Taking a small step to move across the thin line of fear is HUGE. It's a matter of intent, spirit and heart. 

In the last issue of The Ronin Post we addressed Step #1 of the Five Step Path. This month we look at Step #2. And, as with last month, we'll reframe it for personal reflection and organizational self-assessment.

Recall the three crucial practices that support the overall process:

1. Be present with people and situations.
2. Make external focus your mindful practice.
3. Simultaneously, stay connected with what's happening for you, i.e. physically (your body responses), mentally (your mind chatter & images) and emotionally (the flow of your feelings).

STEP #1. You need to be always looking for strengths and uniqueness in others. This creates the essential connections for rapport, respect and growth, and kick starts the process.

Step #2 requires an understanding of some basic distinctions important to one's ability to move the process forward. These distinctions should not be taken for granted. As with buying a gi or coming back to one more band practice, Step #2 transcends the realm of being a witness. Step #2 requires ACTION.

STEP #2. ENCOURAGE and INPRIRE others to DEVELOP, PRACTICE and UNLEASH their own strengths and uniqueness.

Encourage - from courage - springing from cor (Latin) - heart - supporting people with respect to engaging their own fears. Courage is just a word until fear is present. To encourage others you must allow them to have and to articulate their own fears (concerns, worries, self-doubts, etc.) and in the midst of that having and articulation - you must assist the steps for action.

Inspire - to breath [life] into.  You must actively walk your talk when it comes to your own fears, concerns, worries, etc., and you must being willing to be seen as someone who moves into and through your own fears.

Develop - grow

Practice - repeatedly apply

Unleash - release from restraint

STEP #2 requires actions of opportunity, yet Step #2 has nothing to do with being an opportunist. You must be willing to sincerely put other people first. You have to be able to consider their needs beyond your own self-interest. You must understand that your mission is to move other people to become stronger, perhaps even stronger than you will ever be. The Native American people of long ago called this as becoming, "a give away person". Give for the sake of giving and so that others might grow and gain.

This attitude can seemingly run contrary to the idea that giving is an ingredient to gaining, which, of course, it is. But you can't be thinking about getting something for yourself. Thoughts directed at personal gain, that whisper, "What's in it for me?" - empty your mind of these. With practice this is possible, and if you are vigilant you may find yourself swept into a dynamic (and different) reality dedicated to art of servant leadership, a world of possibility within which you can and will develop other leaders.

On the other hand, if thoughts of personal gain dominate The 5 Step Process, then the process becomes self-defeating. Giving for the sake of giving is expansive and generative. The spirit of your efforts will attract others and extend into the world. Giving for the sake of getting is contractive. That kind of spirit ultimately reduces things to a standstill. In a word, giving for the sake of getting - sucks.

As a method of projected self-reflection Step #2 is turned inward as follows:

Imagine that your friends, neighbors, relationships (old and new), enemies, children, colleagues, etc., were to show up here today for the sole purpose of revealing to you what they have witnesssed to be true about WHAT ENCOURAGES AND INSPIRES YOU. What would they say?

As was discussed when it comes to your own strengths (your Step #1) you may find yourself denying what you hear, and you may have been selling yourself short - or you may not have noticing how it is that you go about seeking encouragement and inspiration.  But take the time and reflect: What would your parents and children say? How about an ex-husband or ex-wife? Set aside any need to be small about this.  Observe in your imagination what these people may have seen regarding you.  What is the internal dialogue you have about this?

As a process to enhance organizational development and assessment Step #2 is turned inward like this:

Suppose your employees and staff (past and present), co-workers, colleagues, clients, vendors, customers and competitors - all of the people who have comprised your professional life - suddenly convened. How would these folks honestly and straight forwardly describe your what ENCOURAGES and INSPIRES YOU professionally?

Think about this. Use your imagination.

Here's a challenge.

For the next fourteen days commit ten minutes of every day to writing the answers to the above two questions, i.e. as a way of personal reflection and as a way of organizational or professional assessment. Add this to your ongoing examination of personal and professional strength and uniqueness. Heck, if you followed last month's step you know that two hours of your time spread over two weeks is not that hard of a thing to do.

We'll address Step #3 of the process in the next issue of The Ronin Post. But for now, spend some time looking at what encourages and inspires you - and take one small step across a line some line of your own to develop, practice and unleash a strength of yours... just for one month.

What do you say?

"Whether our action is wholesome or unwholesome depends    

on whether that action or deed arises from a disciplined

 or undisciplined state of mind."

-Dalai Lama XIV, (The Art of Happiness)

© Lance Giroux, April 2013

Using the First Step Path

 

Lawrence Warry certified as a Samurai Game® Facilitator  

   

"There is more to life than increasing its speed"

-Mohandas K. Gandhi

It's March 24^th and I sit with eight others upstairs in a Den Haag (Netherlands) pub. We've just ended an aikido class in nearby Leiden with Lawrence Warry teaching, this after just debriefing the weekend's Samurai Game. Lawrence played a huge part in that Game. He was responsible for creating the workshop. Plus, it was this weekend that he co-facilitated and completed his training to be certified as a Samurai Game® facilitator. Tonight, toasts and stories abound. We laugh and relax.

We end our evening reflecting on what we noticed about those who attended with us, particularly their strengths, not just at the Game but on the aikido mat as well. Fitting - because before speeding off to the aikido dojo this is also where we ended our workshop, i.e. exercising The Five Step Path to Effectiveness and Leadership. It's a process I sketched out twenty years ago when working with a woman whose natural ability to influence was obvious to me but unseen by herself. Her name is Betty Sue. Our interactions, spread over a one year training process that created a cornerstone and has greatly assisted my ability to serve others ever since.

In the interest of time, and needing to get this month's Ronin Post off to you, I'll only cover Step #1. Then I'll reframe it as we did today at our workshop, so you can use it for personal reflection and as an organizational self-assessment tool.

There are three supporting practices to using the process:

1. Practice being present with people and situations.
2. Practice being externally focused on those you are attempting to influence.
3. Practice being simultaneously aware regarding what's happening for you, i.e. physically (your body responses), mentally (your mind chatter & images) and emotionally (the flow of your feelings).

To engage in Step #1 you must realize that it is really quite simple and basic. Like a switch, it kick starts the entire process, and it does so in ways that generate profound and continuous learning for you and for others

STEP #1. Spend the majority of your time looking for strengths and uniqueness in others, especially those you are attempting to lead or influence, e.g. your staff, your children, your clients or potential customers, even your adversaries or what you may call your competition. STRENGTH is what you're looking for. This perspective will open your creative and intuitive abilities to relate to people and processes. You will gain insights into what these people have to offer - not only to you, but to the world and environment around both you and them, and to the future. It is by looking for strength that we can and do establish rapport, and very importantly we build relationships of respect.

As a method of projected self-reflection Step #1 is turned inward as follows:

         Imagine that your friends, neighbors, relationships (old and new), enemies, children, colleagues, etc., could show up here today with the sole purpose of revealing to one another, as well as you and folks neither of you know, what they have learned to be true about YOUR STRENGTHS. What would they say? You may not want to agree with what comes out of their mouths. You may have some secret need to remain in denial of some of this stuff, i.e. selling yourself short - or you may have been speeding so quickly through life that you just haven't been noticing these things about you. But take the time and reflect: What would your mom or dad say? What about your son or daughter? How about the ex-husband or ex-wife? Sure, and why not? Scrape away the emotionality of old issues and simply observe what these people may have seen about you that they would call "Your Strengths and Your Uniqueness". What floats to the surface of your mind?

Next, as a method of organizational development and assessment Step #1 is equally provocative when turned inward. It goes like this:

         Suppose all of the employees and staff (past and present) of your organization suddenly convened in a large room. And there they were met by your customers, your clients, your vendors, and YES - your competitors. How would these folks honestly and straight forwardly describe your organizational STRENGTHS, your product STRENGTHS, and your service STRENGTHS?

Think about this. Use your imagination.

Here's a challenge.

For the next fourteen days commit ten minutes of every day to writing the answers to the above two questions, i.e. as a way of personal reflection and as a way of organizational or professional assessment. Heck, that's just two hours of your time spread over two weeks, and rather slowly done.

We're going to address Step #2 in the next issue of The Ronin Post. But for now, spend some time addressing.

Are you wiling to give this a try?

There's nothing to lose, just a lot to gain.

"How would you like to quickly learn my secret and do what I am able to do FAST?

Ah, you all answered YES! Great! (he smiled) Then let me tell you truthfully the secret is -

TO PRACTICE S-L-O-W-L-Y. "

Mitsuge Saotome, Shihan (Master Aikido Teacher)

spoken at Two Rock Aikido Dojo, Petaluma, CA

© Lance Giroux, March 2013

STRETCH

 

"In the simplicity of things we find the extraordinary.

Alas, many people being uninterested in simplicity,

walk right past what they are seeking."

- Papi Conpelo

Randy Cheek is known throughout Sonoma County for his work as a marriage and family counselor. A founding member of The Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, Randy works locally and travels globally encouraging and teaching therapists, financial professionals and attorneys to work together is service to folks engaged in the entanglements of dispute.   In the early 1990's our kids entered kindergarten at Petaluma's Wilson School. It was then we met. We've been friends since. Randy is a colleague in thoughtful practice. We self published a small pamphlet, "Rising Above Conflict".

Randy listens. He serves. He inspires. He always leaves me thinking. Occasionally, though not often, we meet for coffee, catch up on life, share stories along with accompanying laughs (or tears). Saturday afternoon December 29, 2012, we sat and talked a while at Acre, a locally owned spot downtown. Our topics: childish adults, grown up kids, amateur mountain climbing as a metaphor... and believe it or not ...stretching.

On the subjects of childish adults and grown up kids - this was entirely about me and some folks who my youngest son and I know.

Regarding mountain climbing, however, Randy related the story of a recent adventure. One day near the beginning of 2012 his friend, John Martin, asked, "Randy, how'd you like to climb Mount Whitney this year with me?" Randy shot back a quick reply - "Sure!" And so an adventure began ... stretching each into months of prep... working out ... losing weight ... securing equipment ... scheduling time ... increasing cardio strength ... more working out ... recons, etc. Finally the trip came and their base camp was established. They made an extreme early morning rise (1AM) to ascend. Along the way met some interesting characters: two old men, one tree, a young woman and the marker.

Two Old Men. In the dark, trail lit with headlamps, Randy and John encountered two old men. Over the next hours paths crossed and separated. Each pair ran out of trail, got lost, wandered back, found the other pair, then joined together to walk a while until their steps again diverged. This happened a few times. Morning light began to grow - colors shifted - reds became orange then yellow and on and on. One of the old men decided to give up his trek. The other walked him part way down the mountain passing Randy and John on their way up. Then the fellow leaving went his way, and his old partner turned uphill deciding this was his one-and-only-chance-left-in-life-to-make-the-climb, he linked up with Randy and John and continued.

A Tree. "You know Lance," said Randy, "the scenery up there is incredible." I asked what inspired him the most. "The vastness and the ruggedness." Hmmmm. "But one thing truly caught me off guard." What? "It was a tree." How so? "Its narrow roots that sprung long ago from one seed, barely wedged in rock, somehow survived extremes of temperature and pressure and over the years a sapling stretched to this huge old tree. It's still there supported by a narrowness of root and rock crag." Wow! "Yea, goes to show you how important being firmly grounded really is."

One Young Woman. On final ascent Randy found himself doing some serious huffing and puffing. A full year of prep. Aerobics. Working out. Increased cardio performance. Yet, this final stage was still a strain. Every step, a trudge of its own - until he heard something moving swiftly behind him. "The air was thin, I thought I was hallucinating an angel's voice." He turned and there she stood. Twenty-eight years old. No pack. No equipment. Walking steadfastly at a rapid clip.

(Randy) "Uhhhh ... Where'd you come from?"

(She) "Oh me? I decided to walk the John Muir Trail this year and found myself here today. So, hey might as well climb this."

Then off she went.

Randy - he got inspired. "You know," he said, "you'd be amazed what something like that can do for your attitude on a climb like this. I got my wind. I stretched my legs ... and off I went too!"

The Marker. At the top of the Mt Whitney sits a marker. Randy enjoyed his climb along with the young woman and John.   There along with tens of others they rested. Then came a loud yell. "Where is it?!?" All eyes turned. The old man, this new climbing companion, had arrived and was shouting. Everyone cheered and pointed as he sprinted at 14,000 plus feet in altitude - his last final steps to stretch and hug the marker. "I'm 80 years old. This has been one of my life's dreams."

Randy and I continued to talk and drink coffee. When we were almost complete we reflected on the lessons of our "catching up". Randy offered I watch something that he said would be profound: a TED Conference presentation by Dr. Amy Cuddy, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. So I did.

As with the story above, I'm passing a recommendation along to you. It's about involvement, the mind-body connection, and making a difference in your own life. And interestingly - it has real science behind it. Randy shared that along with his Mount Whitney climb, this TED presentation was one of his profound findings of 2012. As a clinician Randy put to the test what Dr. Cuddy offered in her presentation. The result? He now uses the simple practice for his own wellbeing; and he has his clients similarly engaged. All have produced extraordinary results.

GO HERE --- Sit, watch, listen and enjoy! Then, take action yourself. (OR walk on by - your choice). Two old men. A tree. One young woman. The marker. All quite simple. So is what you'll see and hear. Stretch out. Do something!

   

In the morning

Stretch

Reach into the day

From the night that wrapped, warmed

And welcomed you

Gracefully into her arms

Stretch

Listen

Sunlight teaches you

To touch the earth around you slowly

Heed this

Stretch

The day will be here soon enough

Welcome it

But no faster than the caress that nurtured

Releases you from her eternity

Into daylight's moment

The gladiator knows

From whence comes strength

To that place She gladly returns

Throughout the battle

Stretch

Linger a while

The dance and fray

Will greet you soon enough

Meet both on terms

Filled with memory of a hand

That touched you throughout the night;

Even when you slept alone

You didn't

You never do

Stretch

Remember

You are always returning somewhere

Let it be to the Peace

That knows you

Stretch

This day will adjust around you

And you can

Send it on its way

© Lance Giroux, January 2013

On Motivation- A Return to Basics

 

"Step away from your schedule," suggested a colleague. "Sit quietly with me a few minutes to watchThe Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, a Dan Pink RSA talk." This colleague respects my time, so I took her advice.

Dan Pink departs from conventional reward and punishment motivational models. He offers something beautifully and artfully put, and it makes a lot of sense. I enjoyed him so much that I felt it worth passing along to you here at The Ronin Post. I believe you'll like it. Beyond that, it could inform your own practices aimed at effectiveness and influence. At the end of this article I'll invite you to pass it along to others.

But before you view it, here are some thoughts I'd like to share.

As I watched this piece I found myself recalling days spent with a long-ago mentor who often addressed MOTIVATION. He offered that once we subtract survival, sex and fear from the mix of motivators there basically exists three, especially when viewed from within a professional context: Money, Recognition and Cause.

1. Money - a tangible, medium, a touchable reward (stone, clam, dollars yen, RMB, pesos, etc.) that is exchanged for products and services;
2. Recognition - an acknowledgement of individual or group effort that carries emotional weight and says, "You and what you have done matters, you and it have been noticed and valued";
3. Cause - an ideal or "ism" that touches one's sensibilities of something greater - duty, vision or honor, often seen in connection to others and/or adding a deep meaning to life, and often opening to something we call spiritual or moral.

These motivators are impersonal. They carry no inherent significance. All significance is assigned by the individuals involved in the process - i.e. either those who motivate or those being motivated. While time, history, story, craftiness, etc., can establish scenarios that imply inherent significance, if you take the time to peal the stories aside you will find that significance comes down to individual decision making. Moreover, each of these motivators can be used in constructive or destructive ways depending on the individual or groups taking action and their desired outcomes. They achieve a wide array of results. Some we label "good". Others we shake our heads and frown at ... or worse.

Money buys stuff.   This stuff can make you healthy or it can destroy health and kill you. It can encourage life-giving results. "Let's till this ground and grow some good food for the people who live in this town." - OR it can lead to behavior considered abhorrent. "Let's train our players by rewarding them each time they actually hurt someone on the opposing team". I'm not referencing the New Orleans Saints. Take a look.

But money yields to very short-termed rewards. It comes; it goes; i.e. it's rather cerebral, intellectual and not very sustainable.

Recognition can also be displayed in constructive and destructive ways. A young barista feels the compliments that come from her boss, coworkers and her regular customers. She consistently goes the extra mile. She comes in early, helps new hires distinguish between irate self-important clients and those who enjoy good service. She stays late and helps after everyone else has punched the clock and gone home, but she doesn't have to.

She appreciates hearing a sincere Thank You when it comes, and she loves it when someone says, "You make this place somewhere I want to be" - as long as it's honest. At the end of the quarter she's named Top Regional Employee - something she didn't know existed. But now she does. So do her co-workers. They take note, pitch in a bit more and create a better work environment.

By contrast there are those who work with or for someone who attempts to motivate through words that only berate, or whose positive words are actually shallow, canned and memorized in order to get things to go my way. This person hasn't a clue as to why those around him act out negatively at every opportunity. We might do well to check out Bob Hoffman's Negative Love Syndrome.

But here's the reality - a dose of recognition (positive or negative) actually lasts longer over time. Much more than money, recognition touches the emotional feeling nature and takes longer to dissipate.

Cause, as with the two motivators already mentioned, can be viewed in terms of aspects both bright and dark.

"We can end the hatred that divides these neighborhoods," one leader said, "if we will just hang in there and keep a Dialogue going that seeks common ground."

"But," came the reply, "no one cares, we're broke - in fact, everyone around us is broke; and no one is noticing us anymore."

"I know," continued the leader. "That's why we have to keep going. History teaches us to not give up. Let's get out there and talk with people in ways that open them to possibility, dignity, respect, hope and mutual understanding."

OR

"We can put an end to this coming together of neighborhoods, this insane notion that basically we're really the same," the leader said. "If we hang in long enough and keep disagreements going we can force them out and keep this all to ourselves."

"But," came the reply, "no one cares, we're broke - in fact, everyone around us is broke; and no one is noticing us anymore."

"I know," continued the leader. "That's why we have to keep going. Now get out there and see if you can stir things up, muddy the waters, create some confusion, disinformation and misunderstanding. For crying out loud insult someone - step on their dignity."

Truly we all have to discern how it is that we use what we really believe in. We must all ask, "To what end am I using My Cause?" - and - "To what end am I being used by Someone Else's Cause?"  

Recently the sensei at our aikido dojo called a student out onto the mat to perform under the pressures of multiple-attack. He did this to help the individual prepare for an upcoming exam.   There was a moment when the student lost his presence of mind and mumbled aloud to himself, "What am I doing?" Sensei heard the words (as did we all) and immediately replied, "I don't know, but that's a good question!"

NOW, back to where we started. For the next ten minutes shut the door, ignore your mobile phone, don't engage in some Pavlovian response to the blings of incoming email. Do yourself (and those you value in life) a favor. Sit with Dan Pink. Start here and enjoy!

When you're done consider how you might put into practice what Pink's presentation brings to the surface for you. Then I hope you'll share this marvelous talk with others to serve whatever it motivates within you.

©Lance Giroux, November 2012