Below are some quotes and a story from Thomas Dismukes. I am always happy to see his newsletter appear in my inbox and enjoy the quotes he provides as well as his stories. This weeks is no exception.
As I read the news, I am more convinced than ever that we are becoming like a row- boat with one oar. We will row our hearts out and get nowhere. We as humans are tied to our needs to first insure that our basic needs are met. When times are difficult, as they most definitely are and have been for sometime, we are looking and grasping for security and leadership. I don't see it on the horizon but I am hopeful. Please enjoy Mr. Dismukes story and look him up to see more of his wit and wisdom.
“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my ax.” A. Lincoln
“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” A. Lincoln
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” A. Lincoln
“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” A. Lincoln
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” A. Lincoln
“I am a slow walker but I never walk back.” A. Lincoln
“The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.” A. Lincoln
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” A. Lincoln
“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” A. Lincoln
“As our case is new, we must think and act anew.” A. Lincoln
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I am fascinated by the similarities between nature and human communication. Though my first experience with horses was riding one upside down in an international bareback rodeo competition, I soon gained a great admiration for the animal. A fascinating quality about these animals holds true to human interaction as well. Every horse looks for two things, security and leadership. To break a horse or as Monty Roberts calls it “joining up” you must first show the horse that you will protect it and it is secure in your presence. Secondly, you can and will, lead the horse. Those same characteristics are what human beings seek as well. Am I secure in your presence and will you lead me to greener pastures? Napoleon Bonaparte, said ba sically the same thing, “Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.”
Even insects display the same desire for security and leadership. Have you ever raced termites? Next time you’re out in the woods, grab a few termites under a rotting log. Put them in a container; find yourself a sheet of paper and a “Bic” ink pin. (A few other brands will work as well, but you’ll have to experiment.) Place a termite on the sheet of paper, being gentle not to crush the little fella. Many insects secrete a pheromone leaving an invisible “trail” for others to follow. You’ll notice this phenomenon with a line of ants. Termites do the same thing, but it just so happens that the chemicals in a Bic pen are similar enough to the termite’s pheromone that you can trick it to follow you wherever you lead it.
Once you place the termite on the sheet of paper, let it walk around a minute or two. At this point the termite has no direction to follow. It is desperately searching for the security of its colony and the leadership to get there. As the termite walks the paper, start a line of ink just in front of the predicted path. It may take a few tries but the termite will soon follow the ink line wherever you draw it. If you draw a circle the termite will just keep going around and around. If you want to get creative, get a few friends over and have a termite race! But do you understand my point? People are desperately searching for leadership. Leadership they can follow because of the character you have established.
(Excerpt from “A Leader’s FOCUS” by Thomas Dismukes
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