Think The Opposite
These excerpts are taken from a book by the enigmatic Paul Arden - interesting and inspiring points of view.
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In 1975, the Czech artist and animator Jan Svankmajer had his work suppressed by the communists.
Had he the wrong point of view?
Or was it the right point of view seen by the wrong people?
Today, he is a national treasure.
Is he now right and they were wrong? Or is he still wrong and they were right?
It is exactly the same work, but seen from different point of view.
The prevailing one being what the majority think.
People are like sheep: they follow the leader. It is the leader who has a point of view about which way they should go.
Having an original point of view is a novelty.
Recognizing its value is intelligent.
Having the courage to stand up for it in the face of public opinion, is what makes you a winner.
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Everyone wants an exciting life, but most people are afraid to take the bull by the horns.
So they take an easy option for an exciting life.
They live their excitement through other people.
By aligning themselves with famous rebels, a little bit of glamour rubs off on them. They imagine they're like John Lennon, Ernest Hemingway, George Best, Liam Gallagher, Lenny Bruce, Janis Joplin, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, etc.
The difference being, these people when faced with a decision took the outrageous one, not knowing where it might lead them, but knowing that the safe decision had danger written all over it.
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The corporate non-risk taker rises fast on the freshness of youth; an open mind, a pleasant demeanour and good looks will accelerate his rise.
His superiors are pleased to promote him since it reflects well on them.
The candidate reaches a platform of responsibility, not something to be treated lightly.
After all he is now a manager, albeit a junior one.
His salary rises in accordance with status, not ability, and he reaches board level.
It is now time to appoint a joint or deputy managing director. Our man is considered to be a good company man, but he is a bit dull. He doesn't produce innovation: he doesn't do anything for the image of the company.
There's a very good young man in his department earning a third of his salary, who younger members of staff respond to.
Our man at forty is moved sideways, and at forty-seven, he is out.
He didn't reach the top of the ladder, he has fallen and there is no climbing back.
He's finished, yet he has done nothing wrong.
That is the problem.
He has done nothing wrong.
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"It's the goal of every Englishman to get to his grave unembarrassed" - John Cleese, actor
****************************
In 1975, the Czech artist and animator Jan Svankmajer had his work suppressed by the communists.
Had he the wrong point of view?
Or was it the right point of view seen by the wrong people?
Today, he is a national treasure.
Is he now right and they were wrong? Or is he still wrong and they were right?
It is exactly the same work, but seen from different point of view.
The prevailing one being what the majority think.
People are like sheep: they follow the leader. It is the leader who has a point of view about which way they should go.
Having an original point of view is a novelty.
Recognizing its value is intelligent.
Having the courage to stand up for it in the face of public opinion, is what makes you a winner.
**********************************
Everyone wants an exciting life, but most people are afraid to take the bull by the horns.
So they take an easy option for an exciting life.
They live their excitement through other people.
By aligning themselves with famous rebels, a little bit of glamour rubs off on them. They imagine they're like John Lennon, Ernest Hemingway, George Best, Liam Gallagher, Lenny Bruce, Janis Joplin, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, etc.
The difference being, these people when faced with a decision took the outrageous one, not knowing where it might lead them, but knowing that the safe decision had danger written all over it.
*********************************
The corporate non-risk taker rises fast on the freshness of youth; an open mind, a pleasant demeanour and good looks will accelerate his rise.
His superiors are pleased to promote him since it reflects well on them.
The candidate reaches a platform of responsibility, not something to be treated lightly.
After all he is now a manager, albeit a junior one.
His salary rises in accordance with status, not ability, and he reaches board level.
It is now time to appoint a joint or deputy managing director. Our man is considered to be a good company man, but he is a bit dull. He doesn't produce innovation: he doesn't do anything for the image of the company.
There's a very good young man in his department earning a third of his salary, who younger members of staff respond to.
Our man at forty is moved sideways, and at forty-seven, he is out.
He didn't reach the top of the ladder, he has fallen and there is no climbing back.
He's finished, yet he has done nothing wrong.
That is the problem.
He has done nothing wrong.
**********************************
"It's the goal of every Englishman to get to his grave unembarrassed" - John Cleese, actor
posted by Stingrayz | 2:03 PM
2 Comments:
Personally, I agree with the conclusion of the first excerpt. A bit sceptical with the second excerpt, because by nature I'm a risk-averse person (except in some little ways.heh.)
Third excerpt..hmm. To me, it shows that you need to make mistakes in order to learn from the outcomes and subsequently be a better person. But..define mistakes.
Suara:
Interpretation of these excerpts and the lessons we take from them will differ from person to person - as we all have different perspectives and approaches to life.
I think all Paul Arden was trying to do, was to provoke us to think about it.
And I don't think there's a way to define mistakes.
From foresight, all perceived mistakes are only assumptions - we only know for sure that things are a mistake on hindsight.
And we know this because sometimes, our assumptions are proven wrong, at a different point in time, in future.
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