How To Reboot Yourself.
Edition #166
Introduction
Welcome to The ContraMind Code.
The ContraMind Code provides you with a system of principles, signals, and ideas to aid you in your pursuit of excellence.
The newsletter shares the source code through quick snapshots for a systems thinking approach to be the best in what you do.
The Code helps you reboot and reimagine your thinking by learning from the best and enables you to draw a blueprint on what it takes to get extraordinary things done. Please share your valuable thoughts and comments and start a conversation here.
Take a journey to www.contraminds.com. Listen and watch some great minds talking to us about their journey of discovery of what went into making them craftsmen of their profession to drive peak performance.
If you have been reading our weekly newsletter - The ContraMind Code, regularly, you will see that it has a section on reflection, which can also be called ‘Introspection.’
In an article written by Christopher Jones for the British Psychological Association, he reiterated the importance of reflection: ‘If you don't use reflection, you should take a long, hard look at yourself…’. Reflection is a ‘purposeful mental processing’ of information you receive continuously. What reflection does, according to Christopher Jones, is that ‘reflection transitions you from a passive observer to an active agent. What matters is the insight gained from an event, not the event itself.’
Therefore, receiving our weekly newsletters is only an event, but you need to pause and reflect on what insights you have gained. In an age of information overload, it’s always a good idea to pause and reflect on some of the thoughts we have learnt and shared over time. Also, we thought we must start looking at our reflections as a ‘cluster of integrated ideas.’ rather than independent silos which can be powerful and life-changing.
Starting this week, we will periodically cluster and curate key reflections that we have shared with you in the past. Read them, think about them, synthesize these thoughts and if needed, take some notes to see what and where you can apply them.
Here are the five key thought starters on ‘How To Reboot Yourself’ specially curated for you from our archives to reflect this week.
The Hard Truth About Career Transition.
Career transitions significantly change one’s life, requiring more profound thought and introspection. It’s pretty shocking and sad that most people pay peripheral attention to this.
The hard truth is that career transition is not always as simple as ‘ I got a better offer.’, ‘I am getting a better role.’, ‘Gives me an opportunity to travel and work abroad.’, ‘This is a new project or an exciting area I will be working on.’ etc. Some of the questions, articulated by Stella Garber, are often never asked by the person looking for a career transition. If not deeply contemplated, this leads to dissatisfaction from the candidate and the company’s side, leading to quick attrition.
You'll be able to read and reflect on this here.
What are your thoughts about career transition? Would love to hear your comments here.
Develop A ‘Non-Conformity’ Muscle.
Right from a very early age, you are taught to conform - starting with what and how you must study, how only good grades define your intelligence and success, where and how you must work, what defines career success, what is the generally accepted way to communicate, etc.
If you have to be a non-conformist -both in your mind and head- you must have a ‘deep conviction and a sense of reality’ to pursue the path irrespective of what others around you feel or say.
You'll be able to read and reflect on this here.
What are your thoughts on building a ‘non-conformity’ muscle? Would love to hear your comments here.
Constantly Find Ways To Scale Yourself.
If businesses need to scale, people must find ways to scale themselves.
You'll need to look at areas where your strengths lie and see which skills you need to reboot or upgrade to handle scale. Often, you need to move from ‘being an expert’ to ‘grooming others to be experts’. You will need to build capacity and capability in your team to take up larger tasks and goals. Your strategic and visioning skills take precedence over good operational skills. Your ability to spot opportunities and trends far ahead of others will become vital. Spotting and grooming talent will require a significant investment of your time. You must be willing to learn and apply these new skills in ways you may have never done before. Being flexible, adaptable and open to new ideas is essential.
You'll be able to read and reflect on this here.
What are your thoughts on how to scale yourself? Would love to hear your comments here.
Building An Enduring Habit Begins With Conviction Of Purpose.
Building a habit becomes very difficult when your purpose is not authentic and if you are not brutally honest about what you deeply believe in and want to do - irrespective of the outcome and rewards it may result in. Hence, this may not lead to a consistent practice of that habit over time. So, though you may have short-term support like a mentor or a coach, markers or motivators to keep doing it, over time, you tend to lose steam in cultivating that habit and stop doing it.
You'll be able to read and reflect on this here.
What are your thoughts on what it takes to build an enduring habit? Would love to hear your comments here.
With Success, We Underestimate The Effort Or Time.
‘The Curtains behind the Success Moments’ will teach you more than the ‘Spotlight of Success Moments’.
When you want to replicate or learn from the success of a person, idea, or concept, go to the beginning of the starting-up journey to trace what led the idea to where it is today or what took the person to reach where they are today.
You'll be able to read and reflect on this here.
What are your thoughts on how people underestimate or overestimate as to what would it have taken the person to achieve success? Would love to hear your comments here.