Project 1725 – Sharing your Wisdom

In previous generations knowledge and wisdom were shared via interaction, from elders to children around camp fires, around dining tables and other instances of interaction.  Grand parents, parents and elders telling stories and sharing wisdom, calmly guiding the young into their life of responsibility.

Wisdom was transferred from one to another in the form of information within context.

Today there is Google.  People, young and old visit Google as the ultimate information source, without knowing that not all information in Google can be trusted, or it can be completely out of context – resulting in poor understanding and decision making.  Google does not understand context, it does not know why you asked the question.  We don’t talk anymore.

Why Project 1725?  We are making the most far reaching and life changing decisions during the ages of 17 to 25.  We decide on career, a life partner, buying vehicles and a house, to start a family; all while we are not really up to it.  Think about it, how prepared were you when you were faced with these issues when you were 17-25 years old?

Project 1725 is a challenge to create a pool of wisdom (on any topic), which we can freely attribute to and share.  A pool of wisdom or life’s lessons which will assist others with common sense in decision making, guidance in building of relationships, frames of reference to assist with thought and actions.

Call for action; what is your role?  Send JCC Projects an email and we will collate and share.  Send an email to johan@jccprojects.co.za and answer two questions:

1. What was the best advice ever provided to you?
2. Where you are now, what is the best advice you can provide for a 1725er?

You make a living with what you have.  You make a life with what you give!

Share as much as you like!

Hedgehog or Fox?

I've been blessed with the ability to do almost "anything".
I've been blessed with a career which lead me throughout the country, enabled me to work at almost every level of an organisation and in a production as well as advisory role.
I've been blessed to meet a large number of people (and learned to like most of them).
I've been blessed to have the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience, as well as to provide direction to individuals, teams and organisations.
I've been blessed with a keen ability to see what other do not see (especially wrt behaviour).
I've been blessed to be very skilled in terms of facilitating individuals and teams through difficult situations and projects.
I've been blessed to empower and support people in their quests.

I'm frustrated with people continuously asking what your core competence is; what is it what you really do well, only to frown when I explain what I do .... to be knowledgeable, to see the bigger picture, to guide people on their road to success, to stand between foes, to be the buffer, to make you look good, to make things happen - without kicking people in their teeth (well, sometimes they need it).

The fox and hedgehog concept is based on the Greek parable that states: "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."  Many a writer built on this and divided people and organisations into these two concepts - emphasising that the hedgehog wins or becomes great on one thing.  Applying the model goes through the process of (1) understanding your passions, (2) understanding what you can be best at (3) understand how to generate sustained cash flow and profitability, (4) identify the overlap between the above and then (5) review/make your strategy and plans.

Do I differ from the above; no, I do not!  It is a good model and does make a lot of sense, I used it to help a number of people, and it worked.

But I differ as well.  You see, the challenge lies in the balance of things.  If you only have staff that is very good at one thing, there will be no integration and lots of misunderstandings.  Being very good at one thing also poses challenges of staying up to date with continuous change, you can becomes so focused on that one thing that the world/market passed you by!

I believe that success lies in the blend of foxes and hedgehogs.  In the blend of products and services.  In the correct compilation of teams.  There is no "or", you need both.  There is a "need layer" between these two - foxes need hedgehogs and vise versa.

Are my blessings turning into a workplace curse?  No!  It however does pose some challenges when I need to sell my services, when I need to explain what I do!  However, in all the things I can do and do well, facilitating (taking people on a journey) is the one thing I can do best of all ......