Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Recap of The Words of Aspire



When I first discovered Kevin’s book Aspire it was apparent that this was a gem that would prove to be a valuable resource for many years to come.  I remarked once that “I have just finished reading this book, but I’ll never be finished reading it.”

So true.  It is the kind of book one will want to dip into from time to time. 

Now, here is a recap of the eleven words of Aspire.



#1  Genshai:  Means “you should never treat another person in a manner that would make them feel small, and that includes yourself!”  


#2  Pathfinder:  A pathfinder is a leader.  “The first part of leader is lea – which means path; the second part – der means finder.”  A Pathfinder sees and shows the way.” Being a leader means finding the path, but before you can help someone else find their path, you must know your own.”


#3  Namaste:  The essence of the meaning of this word is … “You are an unrepeatable miracle”.  Your fingerprint and your footprint are unique to you alone.  You eye can be used for identification because of the unique patterns found inside.  Even your voice vibrates at a frequency unmatched by any other on earth.  You are unique.  You are special.  You have a touch of divinity flowing within you.  That is “Namaste”.


#4-Passion:  Passion is paying a price.  Kevin says, “When one discovers what he/she is willing to pay a price for, then we have discovered our life’s mission and purpose.  Passion is being willing to suffer for what you love.”


#5-Sapere Vedere:  Sapere means knowing how, Vedere means to see
Sapere Vedere is knowing how to see.  In Tennessee, I often heard the phrase “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”  Kevin says, “Those with sapere vedere say ‘I’ll see that bridge before I cross it’.”

#6-Humility:  “The origin of “humility” is the Latin word “humus”, meaning soil, specifically rich, dark, organic soil.  When a seed is planted in fertile soil, it transforms into something far greater.  It is the giant oak awaiting in the acorn, or the next great idea read in a book by a hungry student. 

#7-Inspire:  “The meaning of the word ‘inspire,’ comes from the Latin ‘inspirare.’  ‘Spirare,’ means to breathe, and ‘in’ implies intoTo inspire is to breathe into.”

#8-Empathy:  “Empathy is another word that springs from the soil.  ‘Pathy’ comes from path, and ‘em’ is in.  Empathy is walking the path of another.”  If you don’t get on another’s path, if you don’t go where he or she has gone, you can’t truly understand what that person is experiencing.”


#9-Coach:  Coach means something or someone who carries a valued person from where they are to where they want to be.  Coaches are teachers.  They see potential where it is but a small, seemingly insignificant bud poking its head through the dirt.


#10-Ollin:  Pronounced All-in is derived from “yollotl” meaning heart and “yolistli” meaning lifeOllin means ‘to move and act now with all your heart’.  Ollin is also connected to “opportunity”.  The root word is “port”, meaning the entryway by water into a city or place of business.  Only those who recognized the opening could take advantage of the open port.  Ollin people not only go and strive but they also recognize openings, passageways to other opportunities awaiting their discovery.


#11-Integrity:  “Integrity” comes from the Latin “integer” which in math refers to a whole number.  Integrity of one’s word means our word is whole and complete.  

“Being whole and complete with our word entails living one hundred percent of our word, one hundred percent of the time.”


My hope is that this has been a worthy word study for you in your pursuit of an Aspiring life.



P Michael Biggs
Hope and Encouragement in Sight
One Word at a Time

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Integrity - The Words of Aspire (#11 of 11)



Integrity
Lesson #11 in an Eleven-part series based on Aspire by Kevin Hall




Integrity is one of those strong words that a lot of people toss about as a badge of honor to be worn.  And it is an honor to have the word “integrity” attached to your name.  Usually, it happens at the end of a life well lived.  Individuals build on the good things they do in their lives, and especially the character traits they exude, and if we are fortunate, when we are reaching for the finish line, the plaudits sound like this:  “He/She is a person of integrity.  He/She lived a worthy life.  He ran his race well.”

What a tribute. 


What is this word Integrity all about?  Let’s dissect it with Kevin’s help.  

“The popular modern definition of integrity is one of being honest and having strong moral conviction, but its roots go much deeper.  “Integrity” comes from the Latin “integer” which in math refers to a whole number.  Integrity of one’s word means our word is whole and complete.  

“Being whole and complete with our word entails living one hundred percent of our word, one hundred percent of the time.”  In other words, our word is our bond.  We can be bound by our words. (MB)

Kevin continues:  “Integrity is a revered quality that brings extraordinary worth and value to one’s life.  One of the highest compliments one can be paid is to be called a person of complete integrity.” 

Kevin and others have talked about sine cera – without wax.  Listen to how Kevin relates this concept.

“In old Italy, unscrupulous sculptors would hide flaws in their work by filling them with wax, thus presenting their sculptures to be what they were not.  It was only a matter of time until the wax would melt or crumble away, revealing the flaw in both the work and the artist. 

“Authentic artisans began identifying their artwork as genuine by stamping each piece with the Latin words “sine cera.”  “Sine” meant without, and “cera” connoted wax.  A ‘sincere sculpture’ was one made without wax.” 


William Shakespeare knew a thing or two about putting meaningful words together.  He once said:  “This above all; to Thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

“Integrity means a life of wholeness.” 

For eleven weeks I’ve known that this word was coming.  I confess that I am one of those desiring to have the word “Integrity” attached to my name and the person of P Michael Biggs.  I would not presume yet to claim that title for I am still a work in progress.  I’ve had moments of great integrity.  Yet I’ve had moments of less than stellar performance. 


Integrity is a journey, not a destination.  I am on the path in search of it.  Every day I set my foot in its direction and get to make choices that will either lead me to it or cause me to lose sight of it.

What a worthy pursuit.

-My prayer for all of us is that we lean into Integrity

-May we go after it with diligent consistency

-May we focus on living a quality life,
and may we honor our word,
our commitments, and our calling.


Will you join me in this pilgrimage toward INTEGRITY?


P Michael Biggs
Hope and Encouragement in Sight
One Word at a Time

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Ollin - The Words of Aspire (#10 of 11)



Ollin
Lesson #10 in an Eleven-part series based on Aspire by Kevin Hall

Are we half-baked or are we well done? 
Do we go all out or do we try with half a heart?
Are we do-or-die people or are we “also ran” people?

Ollin people go for the gold.  No half-heartedness found here.  They demonstrate keen focus, energy, and drive.  If an Ollin person somehow falls short, it won’t be for lack of trying.  Half-heartedness is truly only half of what an Ollin person gives.


They may reach the end of the charge and be exhausted, drained, spent and tired, and they may have to be carried off the field, but Ollin people give their all.  They run, they climb, they strain, and they go where no man has gone before.  Ollin people give everything for the cause.

That is Ollin.

Ollin, pronounced All-in is all of this and more.  An Ollin person puts all of his or her weight behind whatever it is they choose to do.  It’s all about go, do, strive and win.

A bit of word history:  Stemming from the ancient Nahuatl language, “Ollin” is derived from “yollotl” meaning heart and “yolistli” meaning lifeOllin means ‘to move and act now with all your heart’.


Ollin is also connected to “opportunity”.  The root word is “port”, meaning the entryway by water into a city or place of business.  Only those who recognized the opening could take advantage of the open port.  So, Ollin people not only go and strive but they also recognize openings, passageways to other opportunities awaiting their discovery.


I love the analogy that Kevin uses here.  “When an earthquake or great storm shook the earth, the ancient Aztecs described such power by using the word ‘Ollin.’  The storm was giving everything it had and then some.”

Ollin is power.  It expresses an immense depth that conveys intense and immediate movement.  Ollin isn’t something you do part time.  You practice it every day of your life.

Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”  That is Ollin.

When we practice Ollin we leave our comfort zone.  We go all out.  We get into the thick of things with total commitment.  

May we practice Ollin in the important relationships and activities of our lives.  May we be present, may we be focused, and may we be Ollin when it matters the most.


P Michael Biggs
Inspiration in Sight
One Word at a Time

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Coach-The Words of Aspire (#9 of 11)


Coach
Lesson #9 in an Eleven-part series based on Aspire by Kevin Hall


The word “Coach” is prevalent in today’s vernacular.  The old west had “stage coaches”, we travel in “coach class” on a train, and we sit in “coach class” on an airplane. 

We have “coaches” in sports, and today the in-vogue idea is to have personal coaches in all areas of our lives.  Harvey McKay, famous for the book Swim with the Sharks” has about a dozen personal coaches.  He has a coach for tennis, ping pong, running, writing, business, golf, and a few others. 

Coach means this:  Something or someone who carries a valued person from where they are to where they want to be.

Our American term is “Coach.”
In Japan it is a “Sensei”.
Sanskrit:  “Guru”
Tibet:       “Lama”
Italy:        “Maestro”
France:    “Tutor”
England:  “Guide”
Greece:   “Mentor”

All of these words describe the same experience:  One who goes before and shows the way.  Coaches guide us, steer us, lead us, teach us, and equip us.  They help us avoid pitfalls, muddy places, and dangerous bends in the road.  They help us avoid lousy habits that slow our growth, dead ends that lead nowhere and a thousand other traps in life.

Coaches come in all sizes and shapes, and with a wide scope of labels:  mother, father, teacher, guide, mentor, friend, professor, just to name a few, and the wonderful thing is they all have carried us to places we could not get to on our own. 

We need coaches. 

Ah, we do indeed need coaches. 

Coaches are teachers.  They see potential where it is but a small, seemingly insignificant bud poking its head through the dirt.  Oh yes, the potential is there.  It is quietly growing and waiting.  Waiting and growing.  It’s just looking for an opportunity, a nudge, a dose of instruction.  It just needs to be nudged in the right direction and taught the essentials.

Teachers show the way.  They model the how and explain the why. 

Kevin sums up the idea of a coach in this way:  You can’t teach what you don’t know, and you can’t guide where you don’t go.

When you light someone else’s path, you see your own more clearly. 

What do you say?  As for me, I want to be a coach.  I’ll hold the light for both of us.  Together we will tread the path to better - together.


P Michael Biggs
Encouragement in Sight
One Word at a Time



Tuesday, May 1, 2012

EMPATHY - The Words of Aspire (#8 of 11)


Empathy
Lesson #8 in an Eleven-part series based on Aspire by Kevin Hall

Kevin’s word-smith friend Arthur helps us better understand our word for this week.  The word is Empathy.  Here is how Arthur puts it:


“Empathy is another word that springs from the soil.  ‘Pathy’ comes from path, and ‘em’ is in.  Empathy is walking the path of another.”  If you don’t get on another’s path, if you don’t go where he or she has gone, you can’t truly understand what that person is experiencing.”


Empathy!  What a beautiful mix of the strong and the tender. 

It is strong in the sense that empathy is a strong action.  When you show empathy you move from where you are to a position of support.  Support is all about strength. 
You are giving someone a measure of your strength. 


It is tender in the sense of being able to understanding another person on a deeper level.  Understanding is a soft skill.  It is less about the words said and more about what the heart hears and feels and understands.

When we demonstrate ‘empathy’ it is a form of communicating.  “Communication” comes from the Latin ‘communicare’, which means to share in common.  To share in common requires coming together on common ground.”


Top sales people have an amazing ability to anticipate the needs of others.  They learn the art of being able to talk about benefits - what the product or service can do for the customer.  The old sales training adage is “speak in terms of your customer’s wants and needs”.  That is empathy.


I love what Stephen R. Covey teaches.  “Nothing is more validating and affirming than feeling understood.”  He goes on to say “Empathy is to the heart what air is to the body.”  


We all want and need to be understood.  It is a fundamental wish of every human heart.  Understand means to stand among.  It doesn’t mean to stand beneath or below.  It means to stand with.


How many individuals in our daily path need a good demonstration of empathy from us? 

Let’s spread a bit of “understanding” this week.


P Michael Biggs
Encouragement In-Sight
One Word at a Time