Benjamin Zander on Possibility and Vision
Tanmay Vora
Last day of year 2008 – time really flies.
On this day, I want you spare 20 minutes and watch this video from Pop!Tech where Benjamin Zander takes a 15 year old cellist’s performance to next level and demonstrates what it means to live in world of possibility. I am indebted to Rajesh Shetty for sharing this. Benjamin Zander is a great teacher and author of a book – “The Art of Possibility”. As a part of his speech, Benjamin Zander tells a great story about looking at possibilities – having an eye for abundance. The story goes like this –
“In year 1900, two shoe salespeople were sent to Africa to open up new markets. Three days after arriving, one salesperson sent a telegram to his boss and said, “Situation hopeless. Stop. No one wears shoes here.”
At the same time the other salesperson sent a telegram to his boss telling “Enormous opportunity. No one has shoes here yet.”
According to Zander, these statements/conversations are not about assessment of circumstances – they are a reflection of attitude. Awesome.
We were told in Management Development Program that everything happens twice – first in human mind and then externally. We see a stone, and a sculptor sees a beautiful statue waiting to be discovered. Sculptor first envisions a statue and creates a print in his brain – and then he begins sculpting. Sculptor sees a possibility. On the same lines, Zander mentions a great quote from Michelangelo which goes like this – “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
What is your vision for 2009? What possibilities are you ready to explore? This is a good time to ruminate and connect.
WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Very true! I strongly believe that “everything is created twice, first in mind and than in physical form!” It is the attitude, the thinking that makes obstacles as opportunities for some and hurdles for others. There is nothing that is difficult in life – it is actually our thinking that makes things difficult. I remember some one telling me few years back – half of the sickness and health issues are due to our mind and attitude!
@Shivangi, Thanks again for commenting.
I also read a research which linked physical/mental health with overall psychological set up. You are right when you say that a lot depends on our thinking. I heard someone say “Life is not what happens to you, life is about how you take it”.
Thanks and Keep Reading..
Cheers!