We change brains as we exchange information, yet we rarely change minds. Joe Raasch -- a conversation partner and frequent contributor to this blog -- tagged me with the Think Different Challenge.
My challenge back to you is to think different about changing minds in your connection-making activities. The more tools we have to become connected, the less we learn to value the true meaning of connection. Are we in fact commoditizing connection? LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and heaven knows what else next -- knowing how to connect with the human being on the other side of the conversation requires more respect, tact, sense of timing and purpose than ever.
We can throw words out in the excitement of potentially greater visibility, but are we truly adding value? Think different about how genuine you are as you leave comments on blogs -- who is the comment for? What to make of the heated discussion between Chris Anderson and readers about PR blockage? Were people trying to think different about changing minds?
How about when everyone gets in your way of getting your own blogging done? Rebecca Thorman shares from her experience -- it could be any of us. The only mind that matters is the one that wants to change itself, whether that be ours or someone else's is a matter of individual choice -- the point is "want to", not have to, must, need, etc.
And something in between PR and leadership. Because brands give us identity, stimulate our senses and enrich life experiences, it's human to affiliate and surround ourselves with things we know, trust and aspire to be. There is great resistance to changing minds even about brands, as Jack Trout writes.
My work sits at the intersection of all these disciplines, where the conversation is a departure and not an arrival.
"Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it." [Herman Hesse, Siddartha]
The Challenge
The Think Different Challenge is all about finding something in your life you currently have negative thoughts or feelings toward (e.g. work or your mother-in-law), and deciding to look at it differently. It is about realizing that some things are just a part of life, so we may as well try to find the positives in them. Follow the link to Joe's blog up top to find the rules for this writing project.
And now the fun part. I tag:
- Skellie at Skelliewag -- if this blog is not in your RSS reader, check it out
- Ann Michael at Manage to Change -- motto: ideas need to add up before the multiply
- Liz Strauss at Successful and Outstanding Blog(gers) -- because she can think different
I'd love to continue the conversation on thinking differently about changing minds here.