Comments on: Lessons from my trip around the world http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/09/lessons-from-my-trip-around-the-world/ on lean culture, transformational leadership, and entrepreneurial excellence Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:37:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jon Miller http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/09/lessons-from-my-trip-around-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Jon Miller Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:34:11 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/?p=312#comment-7 I read an interesting short article recently that summarized "how to think like a futurist" in three areas: #1) Global vs. local #2) Long-term vs. short term #3) Scenario planning I think for the most part Americans do #3 well. Some do #2 well. But as with Jamie's and Tom's stories, it really takes going overseas into different environments and cultures to get #1. We don't all need to be futurists, but someday the future will be "now" and it's best that we plan ahead, so maybe we do need to. I read an interesting short article recently that summarized “how to think like a futurist” in three areas:

#1) Global vs. local
#2) Long-term vs. short term
#3) Scenario planning

I think for the most part Americans do #3 well. Some do #2 well. But as with Jamie’s and Tom’s stories, it really takes going overseas into different environments and cultures to get #1.

We don’t all need to be futurists, but someday the future will be “now” and it’s best that we plan ahead, so maybe we do need to.

]]> By: Jamie Flinchbaugh http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/09/lessons-from-my-trip-around-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Jamie Flinchbaugh Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:54:52 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/?p=312#comment-5 Great story Tom. I had a similar experience just in this last trip. While in Malaysia, they took every opportunity to show how appreciative they were of my visit. It was so much stronger than I've ever shown appreciation, or experienced in the States, it actually made me uncomfortable. I was amazed at how generous they were in expressing appreciation. A great reminder for me in the value of that, and that it really is hard to overdo it. Great story Tom. I had a similar experience just in this last trip. While in Malaysia, they took every opportunity to show how appreciative they were of my visit. It was so much stronger than I’ve ever shown appreciation, or experienced in the States, it actually made me uncomfortable. I was amazed at how generous they were in expressing appreciation. A great reminder for me in the value of that, and that it really is hard to overdo it.

]]> By: Tom Jackson http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/09/lessons-from-my-trip-around-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Tom Jackson Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:05:48 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/?p=312#comment-4 International travel. Wow. Reading Jamie's post, I'm speechless, because I have never experienced anything like it. I totally agree that we should leverage the strengths of every culture we encounter. As a practical matter, this often means that the strength of a given culture often highlights a weakness in our own. That can be deeply humbling. For example, I consider myself a "people person," with a relatively high EQ. Go figure. Anyway, a year ago I took my family on a 15-day trip to Italy, where I am fortunate to have a good client. Holy moly. Talk about EQ. The Italians are all geniuses--well, more than your run-of-the-mill Americano. Don't get me wrong. I'm no brute and I love my country. But as the result of working with the Italians, I look at myself quite differently. I have a better understanding of my strengths (analysis, teaching), and a much better understanding of my weaknesses (empathy--beyond intellectual understanding, and political savvy). This is such a gift! Because, now I can change and grow. International travel. Wow. Reading Jamie’s post, I’m speechless, because I have never experienced anything like it. I totally agree that we should leverage the strengths of every culture we encounter. As a practical matter, this often means that the strength of a given culture often highlights a weakness in our own. That can be deeply humbling. For example, I consider myself a “people person,” with a relatively high EQ. Go figure. Anyway, a year ago I took my family on a 15-day trip to Italy, where I am fortunate to have a good client. Holy moly. Talk about EQ. The Italians are all geniuses–well, more than your run-of-the-mill Americano. Don’t get me wrong. I’m no brute and I love my country. But as the result of working with the Italians, I look at myself quite differently. I have a better understanding of my strengths (analysis, teaching), and a much better understanding of my weaknesses (empathy–beyond intellectual understanding, and political savvy). This is such a gift! Because, now I can change and grow.

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