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“Certain things in life are better done in person.”
- - Ben Zander, quoting his father Walter Zander, from The Art of Possibility
Chapter nine of The Art of Possibility, Lighting a Spark, brought tears to my eyes as I read, through the chapter. Through the stories in this chapter, I reconfirmed that making connections with others and lighting a spark has amazing potential to create a huge blaze of success in any venture. I learned, confirmed and reinforced many things in my mind by reading this chapter. I have had some experiences similar to the one described by Roz and I was hugely inspired by her story of the bicycle incident. Thinking in terms of possibilities instead of impossibilities is a refreshing paradigm shift. I like the way she explained the dynamics of the shift in perception as the three people involved changed their perception and transcended an impasse. The remainder of the chapter is an incredible description of events surrounding the development of a music intervention program for a failing school. Though Ben sought to enroll another in his venture, he became enrolled in a bigger venture that encompassed his own. I learned that enrollment on either side of an interaction equation has within it the tremendous power of synergy. The creative venture of the collaborating members is limited only by the imaginations of those involved. The quote above that I chose from this chapter was very inspiring to me. The story of Ben’s father and his remembrance of the lesson he learned on personal interaction came into play beautifully, when he chose to approach and enroll Rostropovich, the renown cellist. I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter and I plan to apply the lesson of lighting a spark and enrollment in my life and work.
“You can always grace yourself with responsibility for anything that happens in your life. You can always find within yourself, the source of any problem you have.” - - Rosamond Zander, from The Art of Possibility
Chapter ten - Being the Board, “You move the problematic aspects of any circumstance from the outside world inside the boundaries of yourself.” Chapter ten is about taking responsibility for what happens in your own life. Not blaming others and not blaming yourself for circumstances and situations but viewing negative events from a new perspective. I like this chapter because I feel that it is empowering to think in these terms. The alternative is, being frustrated by problems, giving control of your life to others, and being a victim of circumstances. This chapter shows how a simple adjustment of perspective can change the course of events in ones life and open up new possibilities. The stories and examples in this chapter clearly illustrate the dynamics of being the board and taking responsibility by asking the simple question: “How did this situation get on the board that I am? From this vantage point, it is easy to reassess a situation and create new possibilities that will turn the tide and get things moving in a different direction, more advantageously.
Chapter eleven, the eleventh practice of Creating Frameworks for Possibility is about resisting the “downward spiral” that can easily draws us into a negative system of thinking, sowing and reaping. The chapter begins with a mention of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King and describes a leadership role as touching others and creating a chain reaction that opening up possibilities for the greater good. I appreciate the notion that everyone can be a leader in any situation and create a framework that allows for the fresh air of new possibilities. This type of leadership has the power to transform situations from negative/stagnant to positive/dynamic. The stories and examples in this chapter provide excellent insight into the use of the practice. I particularly appreciate the explanation of the difference between a “visionless” mission statement and one that contains a vision that will provide a springboard to possibilities as opposed to a springboard to the downward spiral. One of my favorite quotes, a quote by Nelson Mandela, was provided in this chapter:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous – Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone, and as we let our own life shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” - - Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love, (New York: Harper Collins, 1992) - - as quoted in The Art of Possibility (Formatting has been changed)
This chapter was inspirational in that it made me think about my creative resources and ability to structure a framework for amazing outcomes.
Chapter twelve, the final chapter of The Art of Possibility, Telling the We Story is about human connections and the fact that we are all part of the same story in one way or another. Often, making meaningful connections means coming to terms with historical injustices and forging new possibilities based on a renewed collective vision. This chapter drives home the fact that there is always more than one perspective to an event or experience involving people. I particularly liked the account of Ben Zander’s father relating the histories of the Jewish people and the Arab people going all the way back to Abraham and culminating in Palestine in 1947. The resulting quote from a student provided a profound realization that things can be different if people are willing to look for opportunities to converge and appreciate the strengths one another other possess. Thereby, they can work together for the good of all. The story of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, TRC in South Africa also provided a profound realization about the power of people to connect and rise above the role of perpetrator and victim, to reconciliation and the possibility of a brighter future. This chapter was very meaningful for me in that it reminded me that possibilities mean that we are never alone and there is always a “we”. The We Story can be a formidable force to employ in bringing about the bright future that we envision, hope for and work toward. The Art of Possibility is a “must read” for anyone interested in being proactive about creating a life of their dreams with unlimited opportunities and possibilities.
