Leading At The Edge Chapter Three: Wrong Turns

   Right at the second page of this chapter, I was reminded of a saying that I heard sometime long ago. The passage was about how Shackleton embraced Darwin's belief that natural selection leads to perfection even during a time when he was stuck during an expedition because of a blizzard. This gave me a random flashback...to a time I don't really remember but was very memorable (I'm sorry I'm not making sense here). The saying went somewhere along the lines of, "Enough wrong turns can lead you in the right direction". This really touched upon me. It was more than an inspiration. I felt like these words alone could give me hope. Ever since, these words have been something that I've basically lived by.
   People say that you have to be optimistic; you have to keep your head up high. But to be quite frank, I find that an incredibly hard thing to do. Looking back to the 19 years of life that I have gone through, I don't think I've met one person who was able to stay purely positive during times of hardships. We have to admit it: We tell everyone around us, "Hey, you know its going to be alright. Just forget about it and move on", knowing that if we were in his/her position, we wouldn't be able to cope with the stress to smoothly either.
   We all know that ultimately, since there is almost no way to forget about the current problem, we have to figure out a way to turn that into a positive. I may be saying the most obvious things but I think it was worth reminding ourselves. Even if we keep making the wrong moves, we should know that someday, it will lead us to the place we were always striving to get to.

9/27/13: When something's really gratifying.

   Today, at Bakayama, my group and I discussed what each of our gratifications were. A lot of us talked about how music really helps keep our mind off things. We agreed that it was one of our main sources for inspiration and motivation. In addition to the characteristics listed on the sheet, we also thought that perhaps gratifications can also negatively affect people. For example, I used to be on the track team during my middle and high school days. Running was a source of relaxation for me. At certain times, I felt so comfortable running long distances that I almost got high on it. I loved running.
   But just as much as I loved it, I hated it at the same time. It might have been one of the main reasons for my random mood swings back then. Whenever I was unsatisfied with how practice went or when I had a bad race, it really motivation out of me. Discouragement, shame, depression, are words that I could use to describe the emotions I felt during these times. But as everyone knows, it's when you get passed through these adversities that makes you feel like you've achieved something.
   I feel that a gratification doesn't become a gratifications unless you suffered somehow in the process of achieving a certain goal.

  Do Wurk Do Wurk:)

Leading at the Edge Week 1: RINKIOUHEN?

   After reading the first three parts of Leading at the Edge, I was reminded of a certain Japanese phrase, "臨機応変 （りんきおうへん）". It's used when someone or an organization knows how to react and take measures during certain situations that require important decision making. Reading about the importance of "finding a new mark" really got me thinking about this phrase. I thought it was a good way to explain its meaning in English. Leaders have to know exactly what to do in order to set a positive mood for his or her organization when at the edge.
   Reading further made me think about this expression even more. In the last few pages of the first chapter, Perkins talks about the importance of distracting someone when he or she feels troubled in order to help the person forget about the problem(s) at hand. This, I realized was a great method that I can use when I lead dancers in a certain group later on.
   I realized that after reading these chapters, I felt that being a great leader does not only require intelligence but experience as well. I think that one must always try to react take measures most suited to the occasion. However, not everyone can do the right thing in the beginning. It takes loads and loads of mistakes before once can really get used to taking situations under his or her control when at the edge. I feel that great leadership doesn't really result from hours of studying. It takes a huge chunk of time and practice.
   Which is why I'm looking forward to studying about and actually experimenting with leadership skills this term with Ken:)

Class on 9/20/13: Literally at the Edge

   During the last 10 minutes of class, Inoken asked each group to talk about a time when we were at the edge of a situation. This was too easy. I had a sudden flashback right at that moment. This might not have to do with *leading* at the edge but I was certainly out of my comfort zone. This is what happened:
   I was on my way home from tennis practice that day. I was a 7th grader sitting on the passenger seat in my Mom's car. After getting off the car, my mom and I took out a bunch of grocery bags from the trunk of the car and walked up the staircase to our front door. Mom opened the door and we both entered the house. Right then, a black shadow sprinted down the staircase from the second floor. Thinking that it was my dad, mom called out my dad's name. No answer. A pause.
  This is when my body started taking control on its own. I told mom right at that moment that we had to get out of the house immediately. Without even bothering to let go of our grocery bags, we ran out the door screaming for help. Luckily, we were able to get into my friends house that was nearby.
  It turned out that we walked in on a robbery. We got in the house before almost nothing was taken. But who knows what could have happened if I hadn't told mom to run out the house. I was literally at the edge of my life (haha). Experience of my life I tell you. I won't ever forget.

Interpersonal Communication: It's All About Impressions

   To begin with, I was more than delighted when I first found out that I was going to study about leadership in RW this term. I do not mean to brag but there were a couple times in my life where I was chosen/volunteered as a leader for certain events/groups. I would have to say that the most profound experience I had being a leader was when I was the 部長 (bucho) for the dance club that I took part in during the second year of high school. I remember myself trying ridiculously hard trying to get that spot on the roster during my days as a first year. Knowing that I had to leave a good impression on my senpais for them to like me and eventually choose me as the next bucho,  I tried harder than anyone in my grade in terms of skill, character, and last but not least, leadership.  It was all about appeal.
   As a result, I was successfully able to become the leader of the team and my dream had been realized. However it wasn't all about appeal anymore. I had to make sure my team mates were getting the attention that they deserved. I had to start contacting leaders from other clubs and teams. I had to check if what I was doing as a leader was being approved by the guys on my team. Before all of this had begun, I was used to just leaving a good impression on my peers through talking to them in a friendly manner and just trying to be happy and funny. I entered a whole different world. This is when I realized that there were just so many requirements for a like-able leader. I feel that I can write about all the experiences I had during my time as a bucho in a different blog post so I'll stop this entry here. But I believe I have changed dramatically over the past two or three years starting from the first day I became bucho. I plan to learn about what I had experienced and what I will experience in the future in Inoken's class:)