Learn To Play The Space
Edition #157
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.
A Letter To My Younger Self: On Regret, Resilience, And Dealing With The Messiness Of Life.
One of the questions that always comes up to many of us is, ' If we were to start all over again in life, what would we do differently?’ It is a fascinating thought when you are told you have the power to go back and start all over again. Steve Magness is a performance coach who works with athletes, entrepreneurs, executives, and teams on mental skills development. He has written a fantastic article in his blog, specifically on this topic.
There are some amazing thoughts which are uncut, raw, hard-hitting and it will provoke your thinking:
You will go against your values. What matters is how you respond.
Who you surround yourself with matters more than you think.
Learn how to care deeply but be able to let go. The thing that makes you great eventually gets in the way.
Separate your identity from what you do.
Don’t chase accolades, achievements, and medals. It’s all bullshit.
Remind yourself of your principles.
Life works out if you let it. Don’t force things.
Embrace the messiness.
Own your story.
No one gives a shit.
Explore more. Go broad.
Each of the above lessons has a great story, context, and experience from which to learn. Read the entire article here.
Daniel Levitin: Music As Medicine
In this podcast, neuroscientist and musician Daniel Levitin shares insights from his new book, I Heard There Was a Secret Chord. He discusses the power of music and its impact on the brain with American actor Alan Alda. Daniel discusses how music not only lifts our spirits but also moves us emotionally.
Here are some thoughts from the conversation that can help you consider and reflect on Daniel's ideas.
A recent discovery about the brain reveals that it wants to daydream. Few are aware that this is the brain's default mode. When we try to overcome it, it starts to affect our concentration and longevity.
When we play or listen to music, there is always a tempo or rhythm to the music. The neurons in the brain fire in synchrony with that beat!
Music can become the external timer and impetus for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.
The book's research reveals that remembering things from when we were ten years old can have a real effect on us.
There is a strong correlation between improvisation and life. Musical improvisation is like having a conversation. We must learn to improvise in conversations because if you want people to hear you, you have to make them ‘feel’ heard.
‘Playing the space’ is vital in music. What a musician does not play is as essential as what they play. They have to allow space for the music to breathe!
Music plays a role in reactivating the memory of words. There is a momentum and rhythm in music that does that. You tend not to remember individual notes but phrases.
You can listen to the entire conversation on:
Decoding Success - Conversation With Indra Nooyi
In this video, Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of Pepsi, talks to Suparna Mitra, the CEO of Titan's Watches and Wearables Division, about her career journey and some of the most crucial life principles she learnt and practiced in her career.
Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:
You need to dig deep into every aspect of your job function and then zoom out to understand how your job fits into the overall fabric of the company.
The best leaders understand their job the way the frontline sees them.
You must believe that no job is below you. You must be open to learning to do every job, if necessary.
It takes a secure leader to do succession planning.
Always be insecure about your knowledge.
It’s only when you are doing well, that you should have a healthy dose of fear.
Successful companies have a day 1 culture.
Earn your right to be in the company!
Sr. Management positions are not for those with a weak heart who cannot endure the stress and strain.
When you are building talent in your company, follow this principle - ‘Buy, Build and Bounce’
You can click on the above video and watch it.
Learn To Play The Space
In his conversation with Alan Alda, David Levitin expresses a beautiful thought about how great musicians understand that what they don’t play is as important, if not more important, than what they play. They allow space for their music to breathe! What a phenomenal thought!
When you use this analogy to your work and life, there are some lovely interpretations for us to apply this thought. Here are some of the key questions we must ask ourselves, and perhaps some honest answers to these can help us appreciate the power of this idea and practice them every day.
Do you set aside blocks of time at your work daily to be ‘unbusy’? These ‘unbusy’ times help you develop new ideas and solutions to problems.
How many minutes a day or what percentage of hours in a week do you plan to have ‘unmeetings’ time in your calendar? These chunks of time can help you do deep work. They can take you to a ‘flow’ state if done right.
If you are a senior leader, do you have phases where you ‘unlead’ your team more often rather than constantly looking over their shoulders?
Often, the ‘Unspoken’ words have a more significant impact on people than a litany of spoken words to gain key stakeholders’ attention. It’s not what you say, but what you don’t say that stays in people’s minds and drives a change.
Silence creates more space. It also attracts focus and attention. It allows you to expand time and broaden your view. It helps you see new meanings and patterns.
Some of the lessons we learnt from this week’s mission:
Learn to own your story.
Silence and not playing are also essential parts of music.
Earn your right to be in the company.