Dear All,
I would like to share with you all a story that you all may like and could be used in training programmes as deemed fit.
An old man lived alone in Minnesota. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:
Dear Son,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me if you weren't in prison.
Love, Dad
Shortly, the old man received this telegram: "For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!"
At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.
Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened and asked him what to do next.
His son's reply was: "Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad. It's the best I could do for you from here."
Moral: NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART, YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS, NOT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE THE PERSON IS.
From India, Madras
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14I would like to share with you all a story that you all may like and could be used in training programmes as deemed fit.
An old man lived alone in Minnesota. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:
Dear Son,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me if you weren't in prison.
Love, Dad
Shortly, the old man received this telegram: "For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!"
At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.
Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened and asked him what to do next.
His son's reply was: "Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad. It's the best I could do for you from here."
Moral: NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART, YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS, NOT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE THE PERSON IS.
From India, Madras
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It is a beautiful example of presence of mind undoubtedly. But how do you propose to incorporate it in training programmes? Can it be generalised? regards, Jogeshwar
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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Hi,
Very good one. This reminds me of a long-time old story told by my grandfather. One clever person (you can assume it as Tenali Rama) wanted to attend a wedding with his wife and children. He saw some thieves lurking in the bushes nearby. He brought a huge steel box, filled it with stones, and dropped it into the deep well, telling his wife that after all, the best safekeeping method for valuables is indeed the deep well. He, of course, took the valuables with him. In the meanwhile, the thieves were very busy draining the well and irrigated the field for three full days.
The intention here was to outwit the thieves somehow, which you can't always be doing.
Cheers,
Raghavan
From India, Pune
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Very good one. This reminds me of a long-time old story told by my grandfather. One clever person (you can assume it as Tenali Rama) wanted to attend a wedding with his wife and children. He saw some thieves lurking in the bushes nearby. He brought a huge steel box, filled it with stones, and dropped it into the deep well, telling his wife that after all, the best safekeeping method for valuables is indeed the deep well. He, of course, took the valuables with him. In the meanwhile, the thieves were very busy draining the well and irrigated the field for three full days.
The intention here was to outwit the thieves somehow, which you can't always be doing.
Cheers,
Raghavan
From India, Pune
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Dear Raghavan, Do you think HRM is basically story telling, no matter whether or not the theme can be generalised? regards
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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Dear Dr. Jogeshwar,
I believe that when the shift is too far from the central point, whether it is a story or any kind of suggestion, it will trivialize the main idea. When difficult points are related through epigrams, more abstract matters come into proper relationship with the immediate.
Best regards,
Raghavan
From India, Pune
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I believe that when the shift is too far from the central point, whether it is a story or any kind of suggestion, it will trivialize the main idea. When difficult points are related through epigrams, more abstract matters come into proper relationship with the immediate.
Best regards,
Raghavan
From India, Pune
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Dear Dr. Jogeshwar,
I believe that when the shift is too far from the central point, whether it is a story or any kind of suggestion, it will trivialize the main idea. When difficult points are related through epigrams, more abstract matters come into proper relationship with the immediate.
Best regards,
Raghavan
You have put two categories. When I narrate the story of Angulimala and then I sing for Angulimal: "Ish duniyane hamko diya kya, ham ishki parwa karen kyon?" I emphasize how emotional decisions turn great assets of society into a dreadful liability of society. I think it comes in your second category.
So far as the opening story of this thread is concerned, I think it falls into your first category. So, I have sought clarification on how the initiating author suggests incorporating the story into training programs. No clarification has been posted as yet.
Regards
From India, Delhi
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I believe that when the shift is too far from the central point, whether it is a story or any kind of suggestion, it will trivialize the main idea. When difficult points are related through epigrams, more abstract matters come into proper relationship with the immediate.
Best regards,
Raghavan
You have put two categories. When I narrate the story of Angulimala and then I sing for Angulimal: "Ish duniyane hamko diya kya, ham ishki parwa karen kyon?" I emphasize how emotional decisions turn great assets of society into a dreadful liability of society. I think it comes in your second category.
So far as the opening story of this thread is concerned, I think it falls into your first category. So, I have sought clarification on how the initiating author suggests incorporating the story into training programs. No clarification has been posted as yet.
Regards
From India, Delhi
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Dear Dr. Jogeshwar I am glad it was of some use. I gave a reply to you on Yoga. Regards Raghavan
From India, Pune
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From India, Pune
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Jogeshwar:
This story can be narrated during training to highlight human nature—and how one who understands it well can 'manipulate' it to suit his ends. Human nature is such that everyone thinks that he is cleverer than the other. We could stress how the prisoner has capitalized on this thinking process by making the FBI agents and the local police feel that they have been smart in unearthing (pun intended) the truth.
This story could be used to caution people not to jump to hasty conclusions. Any cool-headed, rational thinker would have been able to see through the prisoner's gambit—someone who was 'clever' enough to pull off a robbery would not be that naive to think that others (especially the police, considering he is in prison) would not be reading his telegram.
This story could be effective for driving home the point that if you are focused on the objective (getting the garden dug, in this case), solutions can be found almost anywhere.
We see that the prisoner, in his telegram, has NOT mentioned what is purported to have been buried in the garden. In all these three cases, we can state that the prisoner has not explicitly told a lie, but that it led people astray.
Sanath
From India, Mumbai
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This story can be narrated during training to highlight human nature—and how one who understands it well can 'manipulate' it to suit his ends. Human nature is such that everyone thinks that he is cleverer than the other. We could stress how the prisoner has capitalized on this thinking process by making the FBI agents and the local police feel that they have been smart in unearthing (pun intended) the truth.
This story could be used to caution people not to jump to hasty conclusions. Any cool-headed, rational thinker would have been able to see through the prisoner's gambit—someone who was 'clever' enough to pull off a robbery would not be that naive to think that others (especially the police, considering he is in prison) would not be reading his telegram.
This story could be effective for driving home the point that if you are focused on the objective (getting the garden dug, in this case), solutions can be found almost anywhere.
We see that the prisoner, in his telegram, has NOT mentioned what is purported to have been buried in the garden. In all these three cases, we can state that the prisoner has not explicitly told a lie, but that it led people astray.
Sanath
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Dr. J,
I liked Sanath's reply. I would like to share another analogy to this story and how it relates to our own imprisonment. We often build that prison with our "Can Do" and "Can't Do". We will have a million and one excuses for why we can't do it and why we are unable to achieve. We forget our dreams and fill in the prison we create for ourselves. The son in the story had the love and desire to help the father dig up the garden, and although he is in prison, his desire and love lead him to achieve his goal. It is the use of our minds to "focus on the solution and not the problem".
Anthony, it is a great story and a reminder to me that if I can think, I can do.
Love and Peace
From Malaysia, Johor Bahru
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I liked Sanath's reply. I would like to share another analogy to this story and how it relates to our own imprisonment. We often build that prison with our "Can Do" and "Can't Do". We will have a million and one excuses for why we can't do it and why we are unable to achieve. We forget our dreams and fill in the prison we create for ourselves. The son in the story had the love and desire to help the father dig up the garden, and although he is in prison, his desire and love lead him to achieve his goal. It is the use of our minds to "focus on the solution and not the problem".
Anthony, it is a great story and a reminder to me that if I can think, I can do.
Love and Peace
From Malaysia, Johor Bahru
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Dear Noel,
Thank you for drawing my attention. I have already thanked Sanath Kumar, but I am writing this message to illustrate how unity may not be possible but harmony is possible.
Still, I am not sure in what context I can quote this episode. But I am comfortable as many trainers in this thread can use it.
So far as the presence of mind is concerned, every day we hear about the presence of mind of Birbal, Tenali Rama, and Gopal Bhand. Virtually, Gopal Bhand was illiterate. But the propagation of stories on their presence of mind does not produce the next. Rare occurrences are not replicable.
Regards
From India, Delhi
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Thank you for drawing my attention. I have already thanked Sanath Kumar, but I am writing this message to illustrate how unity may not be possible but harmony is possible.
Still, I am not sure in what context I can quote this episode. But I am comfortable as many trainers in this thread can use it.
So far as the presence of mind is concerned, every day we hear about the presence of mind of Birbal, Tenali Rama, and Gopal Bhand. Virtually, Gopal Bhand was illiterate. But the propagation of stories on their presence of mind does not produce the next. Rare occurrences are not replicable.
Regards
From India, Delhi
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The point about using stories like this in our training is to illustrate a point and make it easier for the course participants to understand the material a little more easily. The key here is to find appropriate stories relevant to what you are teaching.
Sometimes when we are training, we have to teach difficult or abstract concepts. If you can find a story that highlights the concept, often it leads to greater understanding and clarity. But it needs to be a story that is simple and easily understood. If you have to explain the point of the story, then the effect is lost.
The aim is to trigger "the lightbulb moment" for your trainees - where in that instant, they suddenly discover for themselves the point you are trying to impart to them. I have also found that using a humorous story often works better and also re-energizes the group after a good laugh!
John in Oz
From Australia, Melbourne
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Sometimes when we are training, we have to teach difficult or abstract concepts. If you can find a story that highlights the concept, often it leads to greater understanding and clarity. But it needs to be a story that is simple and easily understood. If you have to explain the point of the story, then the effect is lost.
The aim is to trigger "the lightbulb moment" for your trainees - where in that instant, they suddenly discover for themselves the point you are trying to impart to them. I have also found that using a humorous story often works better and also re-energizes the group after a good laugh!
John in Oz
From Australia, Melbourne
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Presence of Mind.pdf
Presence of Mind Test.doc