OBLIQUITY

          ‘Trying to be happy is a recipe for misery’. When you think you have to be happy and think about all the necessary things you need to be happy, it may seem a lot or unreachable. But like a mountain climber if you aim small, difficult but manageable targets, you may reach midterm targets more easily because successful small targets keep you happy and motivated to reach bigger ones. Take language learning; If you think the whole language or even all the skills, it may seem impossible. But you take only reading for a good start, after some time you will realize that not only have you improved your reading skills but you have also developed some grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and improved your speaking skills indirectly. If you think about all of them one by one you may give up even without managing one of them.

            Another sample on the topic might be speaking on a topic or giving a speech. Before speaking we usually have a plan at least in our mind. But while talking because of a word, a phrase, a story you use or a question you are asked, you often leave your path and start talking about something else. Even this secondary topic may inspire you or your listeners more and some new ideas that have never come to your mind before may dawn on you.  In organizations also, you may have a main target and a plan to succeed in it but sometimes on the way we have to change our plans because of the new situations and you may succeed in something else while reaching the main target.

            Another important idea of the book is that when you give everybody in a organization or team the same big target, people may get lost. However, small but well-achieved targets can gradually build the big picture.

by Ibrahim Can Korkut

IMMUNITY TO CHANGE

Today, we discussed about Chinese goods how they are quality or no quality.

If we are talking about Chinese goods, usually we have some prejudice to them as Florian mentioned in the class. Why?

As you remember we saw some examples in the lecture of “immunity to change”. Our beliefs affect what data we select next time and we take actions based on our beliefs. I have prepared an example for Chinese goods and maybe that picture can be good example for this.

Burcin,

DO NOT READ IT
Dear friends
I just wanted to get your attention. I will keep short. Thank you for sharing your ideas at the lesson and in the blogger. I really learned a lot and I am happy about it. By looking at our group I realize that Albania is in good hands. All our books at the course were devoted to change. Let us do what we can with what we have where we are to get closer to the CHANGE. Thank you everybody!  
 

"Obliquity"

Obliquity is necessary because we live in an world of uncertainty and complexity; the problems we encounter aren’t always clear – and we often can’t pinpoint what our goals are anyway; circumstances change; people change – and are infuriatingly hard to predict; and direct approaches are often  unimaginative

My experience says that all those direct concepts they taught me provided a great framework, but as I have discovered they could not help me enjoy things  as should be

In addition ,I have realized that the most important goals in my life are achieved  indirectly. Every time it happened I called it:

“ a miracle” - now  I have discovered that this theory confirms what I have been doing and experiencing. 

How to change the world

     This book influenced me a lot. Plenty of stories read or lived come to mind. I think when you help even one person of the world (help does not always mean money, it is more your care, love, your genuine belief in somebody you help, your devotion and sometimes courage that matters) it is the beginning of big change. In my opinion, small changes always lead us to greater ones if you don’t give up.

     What can you do, for instance, if you are teacher? First, make your students believe they can change many things around if they try. Then show them your own example without teaching or forcing them. Three  years ago I suggested my students cleaning the territory around our school because at that time it was in terrible condition. I said that it is absolutely voluntary decision and will never change my attitude to them if they don’t come. To my great surprise nobody said or showed negative reaction and 90% of the girls came. We took necessary instruments and started working. Passersby were looking at us with interest but we didn’t care because our intention was clear. After great work we thanked each other and happily went home. After this activity my girls think twice whether to throw rubbish outside or not.

     Let’s not wait when government or some people come and change something for us. Let’s think what we can do first.

FOLLOWERSHIP

Followership is a term which can be used in several sectors: football, art, politics, business etc… when the followers get together, they can be supporters but also damagers. The last occurrences in Tirana can be the best example for “followership” The opposition party followers together with opposite to the government party. They made a huge trouble in Albania. The leader of opposition party Edi Rama `s one declaration was enough to trigger explosive protest. In a few words leaders can create big followers.

SWAY

Rational people may perform irrational things. Human being is oriented to doing things not rational. Rational people are not always rational. Shopping is very important for women. They lose themselves when they are shopping. May be they have no need for clothes or shoes but however they buy them. It may be just a hobby but sometimes it transforms in a very bad thing. The women spent all the money, all their salaries buy doing shopping. Talking about the men, they like electronic things, they are fond of football. They can spent all their spare time by buying electronic equipments or watching football match. Regarding the examples the above we can clearly see that hobby cannot be always called positive. Spending a lot time with a hobby should be fobby.