On a lighter note, Marvin Minsky walked through a couple of half-serious ideas for combating the population explosion -- ideas that he seemed a little surprised that no one was yet exploring. My favorite: make people smaller! If we're going to be able to genetically engineer ourselves, maybe we should work on shrinking ourselves down so the planet can fit more of us. As Minsky pointed out, a 6-inch person is a thousand times smaller, volume-wise, than a normal-sized one. Of course, he didn't get into the crucial corollary problem we'd have to solve if we pulled this off -- namely, Giant Killer Squirrels -- but I'm sure with time we could solve that one too.

The first day ended with a one-two punch that you probably won't see again. DJ Spooky as an opening act for Freeman Dyson. I loved Dyson's idea that if the universe doesn't turn out to be teeming with life, perhaps then it should be up to us to plant the seeds, by sending out extremophile sunflowers capable of thriving in the cold vacuum of space.

- Posted by Richard Chlopan - 3:42:57 PM -

THE LISTENING LEADER

"Lifting Listening Leadership Awareness and Action Worldwide"

DANGER!! THE INTERRUPTION!!

The following excerpt is from "Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind" by Nancy Kline:

What is it about the interruption that is so tantalizing? We seem unable to resist doing it. I once asked a group what they were assuming that made them interrupt their colleagues.

They listed these things:

• My idea is better than theirs.
• If I don't interrupt them, I will never get to say my idea.
• I know what they are about to say.
• They don't need to finish their thoughts since mine is an improvement.
• Nothing about their idea will improve with further development.
• I am more important than they are.
• It is more important for me to be seen to have a good idea than it is for me to be sure they complete their thought.
• Interrupting them will save time,

There is a cost to each of these items. They all can be summed up with the expression - "It's all about me."

LISTENING LEADER LESSON: Why not check yourself in the interruption category? Let others experience bliss by knowing that you will not interrupt them.

[The Listening Leader]

I'm guilty of this far more often that I would like.  Especially given my wholehearted belief in Stephen Covey's 5th Habit Seek first to understand, then to be understood.  I guess it's just hard.

- Posted by Richard Chlopan - 7:26:51 AM -