The Tak Team Blog

Spain observed by foreign reporters; more cultural diversity in one book is sheer impossible.

“Vaya Pais,” the original title is coordinated by a Swiss journalist (Werner Herzog) and portraits the country and its people by means of eighteen short stories. Written by the same number of journalists from nine different countries (The UK, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the US, France, Mexico, Italy and The Netherlands). The book is presented by a journalist from El Pais, under the title; eighteen pairs of eyes and a single “Amor”…

IT is the same “AMOR” - does it need a translation? - that recently has been elected as the most beautiful Spanish word. (http://www.escueladeescritores.com/modules.php?name=Actividades&file=tienes-la-palabra).

“Amor” or not, this book is a jewel for everybody interested in Spain or culture. You will read about Spain as a country full of controversies, but you are also given insight in the culture of each of the author. One of the most striking details is that a few journalists wrote their article in their own language, whereas most wrote in Spanish. And language is where it starts with if you are to understand any country.

This (language) theme is written by Herzog himself and deals with the so-called “egocentrics” of the language. Where in most languages we say - “I’m coming or I’ll be with you in a moment,” this viewpoint is switched in Spain; where they utter the same in a different way - “I’m going to you”. Now or shortly. So it’s not the other person who gets the center of attention, but the subject who is expressing the phrase - mentioning that he will leave soon. (You just have to wait for him).

In fact this is not only a Spanish issue, but equally true for most South and Middle American dialects.
Spaniards do not get drunk. That is also interesting, more if you know who raised this topic. One of the brilliant habits is that people in Spain eat nearly always when they drink. First they eat and alcohol comes second. Ok, I can tell you that there are these minor exceptions, but it does seem true most of the time.

Most people how dell on this territory for some time know that it is one of the most noisiest countries in the world, after I think lead by Japan. And it is just Masako from Japan raising this topic. But she mentions the difference with the inward drawn Japanese where Spaniard are much more outgoing, not only in frequenting restaurants, cafes and bars, but also referring to being more extraverted. It is nearly impossible to find nobody on the street during whatever hour during the day.
Catalunya is mentioned a few times in the book, together with the struggle for independence. And about the special relation between Catalunya and Holland in this (soccer) area, due to the influence of Johan Cruyff. Who is also very fond of the Catalan Community, but this love didn’t influence him to learn the Catalan Language.

The book is full of short precious anecdotes and other contributions for example from Portugal; about the Iberian Peninsula “that seems to stop at the Portuguese border.” About the demonstrations that “do not exist here. In France, we raise our voice about anything we do not agree with.” Its about solidarity “up to a certain level.” About information - “sometimes there is just not any available,” very annoying if you are used that it is there. About the Spanish patience when there is a roadblock. And about the soap you can write down when you have lived in an apartment for some time; never a dull moment. And about the talk shows where you should really try hard figuring out who is talking; all at the same time…

Indeed; what a country. It’s hard to understand this country, the people. But this book gives you some more clues. Con Amor…

- Vaya Pais, Werner Herzog (coord.) Aguilar 2006 -

© 2006 Hans Bool

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management advice. Astor Online solves issues in hours what normally would take days.
You can apply for a free demo account.

I have decided to start with this text as simply far too many people have said to me I should - it clearly has an enormous following of people who found the message rang true for them.

In the introduction to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Covey talks about how we perceive reality based on certain beliefs or paradigm.

As an example, he tells the story of a ship in a fog, apparently on a collision course with another craft. The captain, having become quite agitated at the other crafts refusal to alter course, experienced a significant paradigm shift when it was realised that the other craft was a lighthouse. The captain then faced a situation in a new light(no pun intended). His reality and behaviour altered by the new understanding. The message is that often we forget that what we think is reality, is only what we see. Just ask any magician!!

A strong thread through this first section is that people don’t do things to you. They are acting on their reality in the same way as you are seeing motives behind their actions based on what you can see. When the feeling of being “done to” rises we too often look to blame something external. What Covey is saying, is that only by understanding the perceived reality of the do’er, can we find the common reality necessary to both appreciate the true middle ground.

This is not easy. When I have been in the position where I was sure someone was doing something just to get back at me, I struggle to even consider their position in any unfiltered light. I have needed someone I trust to take me aside and say “Listen Steve, no matter what you think, this person is doing this because they truly believe it for the good of the group”. This was something I would not even had heard from the person in question, and frankly was not that easy to hear from my then trusted coach. Covey has a great quote “What you are shouts so loudly in my ears I cannot her what you say” -how many times has that been the case?

He speaks of an “inside-out” approach to problems, that means to start with ourselves and what?s happening on the inside. As an example this approach says that private victories precede public ones, that keeping promises to ourselves precedes keeping promises to others.

“Character is a composite of our habits”

“habits are the intersection of Knowledge, Skill and Desire.”

These statements under pin the rest of the book.

Covey talks about three levels of maturity. Dependence where everything is about “you”(someone else) that we are dependent upon. Independence, where its all about I - I am responsible and I can do it. This is where I feel many leaders stop. With the confidence of only themselves they try to drive others to their dreams.

Interdependence is where its all about we. Being a natural introvert, this is something I have to learn. I am far more comfortable doing my stuff on my own. The thought of having to rely on others for part of my dreams does not feel natural. That may be a bit harsh, in fact there are a few individuals I have worked with where is has not been an issue of leadership, more of partnership. My issue is to expand these to a wider number of people.

Covey talks about how interdependence can feel like dependence and therefore not a step forward. Often phrased as “doing their own thing” or being liberated people move back from potential interdependence to independence.

The rest of the book is divided into three main parts. The first three chapters deal with taking people from dependence to independence. Now if you are like me, you think this is a step you have already taken. This maybe so, but these chapters are going to heighten our self awareness and cement us at or above the level of independence. Covey describes these as “Private Victories”.

Habits four to seven are the “Public Victories” that will move us from independence to interdependence, and the last habit is about continuous improvement.

Covey then talks about efficiency as the necessary balance between return and investment. Or as he calls it Production and production Capacity (P/PC). An interesting quote here for me was “..always treat your employees as you would have them treat your best customers.” He speaks of how you can employ people but the extra special part of the individual has to be won, passionate employees are there for more than the money, is the way I see it. This is where the interdependence and trusting those you work with all starts to come together.

The final message of the introduction is:

“No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be opened from the inside”.

For me this is a moment of commitment. I feel that I have a choice here and now. I can leave the gate closed and go on as before, or open it and dive into the rest of this text… “and see how deep the rabbit hole goes” as Morpheus said.

Be brave, be famous.

Cheers Steve

Come with me as I discover the keys to surviving sudden leadership… http://2leadership.com

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Bebe Moore Campbell weaves a tale of unrelenting love and pain in her latest novel 72 Hour Hold. 72 Hour Hold tells the story of Keri, a successful owner of an upscale Los Angeles Boutique whose beautiful, intelligent 18 year old daughter has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Quite gifted and on her way to Brown University, Trina’s life has come to an abrupt halt as her disorder overtakes her and Keri tries everything, legal and illegal, to try to save her daughter from this debilitating disorder.

Moore Campbell does an excellent job of portraying the hell a family has to go through when a loved one has been diagnosed with a mental illness. The struggles with the health care system, the erratic behavior, the toll it takes on the healthy family members, are all told in breathtaking detail and roll off the pages in a fast paced, rollercoaster ride that keeps you guessing from beginning to end.

The best part about 72 Hour Hold is that it manages to never come off as preachy or judgmental. There’s some scathing commentary on the problems with the mental health industry in this country and the novel handles that discourse in a way that allows you to understand both sides of the issue from patients rights, to the needs of the families trying to save their relatives and the overworked and under-funded system we have in place to deal with some of our most troubled citizens. Moore Campbell offers insight into a world that few are privy to or want to admit they are a part of and in so doing challenges all of us to do something to better the treatment and understanding of those who suffer from a mental disorder, whether we are personally affected by it or not.

The one criticism I have of the novel is how the main character, Keri is very difficult to sympathize with. She is judgmental, unforgiving, arrogant, short-sighted and all around a person that is very hard to like. She is incredibly inconsiderate of those in her life and completely unaware of the needs and desires of others. I spent the whole novel being amazed at her sense of entitlement and superiority. At the same time I found Keri’s character trying, I also recognize that making her such an imperfect person, one who expects and has attained success it makes her daughter’s illness all the more devastating and ultimately makes the novel much more dynamic and interesting.

Bebe Moore Campbell has always been good at creating characters and stories that are compelling and believable. Her characters jump off the page and feel like they could be people you know in your own life. 72 Hour Hold is no exception. It’s a great read and excellent social commentary on an issue that doesn’t receive near as much attention as it deserves.

(C)T.S. Johnson 2005

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