Response to Donita Massing 201005 wk3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010
FSO_MAC_W3_From the downward spiral to possibility
Reading Ben Zander's book and watching videos of him working with his students has proven one thing to me that I believe all teachers must possess: the ability to absorb the poor attitudes around us into fuel for positive change by leading others.
I realized that I have a tendency to push students to achievement through comparison or by berating them. After all, that is what I do to myself and it's true about being your own worst critic.
One of my former teachers once said "you can't push a chain." I believe him. You must allow the "links" to hook up and follow; not necessarily always following the official teacher but following the passion for finding deeper meaning for themselves.
I believe myself to be fortunate in that most of my students enroll in my program because they have an interest in the visual communications industry. It should be easy to move them from the downward spiral way of thinking towards the spirit of possibility by igniting their passions. But, it's easier to snuff their spark than ignite it.
People have an inert voice that real estate investor and educator Greg Pinneo, whose philosophies inspire my husband and myself, calls the "itty bitty shitty committee." Pinneo (live seminar, 2005-2008) says that this voice is the resonating negativity absorbed from every person in one's life who have belittled their passion or told them they can't do something.
Ben Zander believes that this voice is the voice of "no." The voice then becomes your own and strips you of the confidence to transcend the critical self he identified in his book.
In order to truly "achieve what you're dreaming," Zander says that one must "give way to passion" by quieting that irritating little voice and take a risk by removing the barriers.
References
Zander, B. and Zander, R. (2000.) The art of possibility. Boston: Harvard business school press.


Posted by Dee M at 1:46 PM
1 comments:
Mr. Rainey said...
Their is always the possibility of directing the students out of the position to have a downward spiral and allow themselves to grow. I to believe that my students want to be there in my class room, but when they tell me they don't that also starts me down my spiral and that is just the way and I pick myself up and continue to adventure with my class. Give way to passion and to inspire those to join the ride!!!
May 29, 2010 5:11 PM