Choices

When it comes to your personal image, the places where you choose to live and spend your time say a lot about you. Of course you may not be staying in your first-choise-home at the moment, for various reasons. Still, your home at the moment gives a clue about who you are.

I am spending the weekend in Rättvik, one of the most beautiful places in Sweden. As I am looking out over the lake Siljan and the blue mountains beyond, I think about the people who have chosen to live here. They get this fantastic view every day. It is probably an important part of their wellbeing. The stress of a larger city is far away from this idyll. There may be other issues to relate to though.

Since the world is growing smaller based on our well developed technical aid, we can live almost anywhere and still stay in touch with knowledge and social networks. I am happy that some people choose places like this to be their home.

Learn from the geese

"If you ever happen to see (or hear about) geese heading south for the winter – flying along in “V” formation – you might consider what science has discovered about why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew by itself. Any goose that falls out of formation suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into position to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the set and another goose moves up to fly point. And the geese in the back honk to encourage those in front to keep up their speed. Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen teammate until it is able to fly or it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own – or with another formation – to catch back up with their group.

Like geese, people who share a common direction and sense of community, who take turns doing demanding jobs, and who watch out for one another, can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of their teammates. Geese are defined by how they stay connected with one another. Successful teams – and excellent leaders – are defined the same way. "

Lee J. Colan