Discovering New Horizons
C. S. Lewis made a statement in Mere Christianity, bk 3, ch. 6, where he was referring to the idea that it’s often more enjoyable and fulfilling to learn and grow in new experiences rather than continuously chasing after the nostalgia and longing for past experiences. I was reminded of this comment when it was restated in A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis. Here is what he said: “It is because so few people understand this that you find many middle-aged men and women maundering about their lost youth, at the very age when new horizons ought to be appearing and new doors opening all round them. It is much better fun to learn to swim than to go on endlessly (and hopelessly) trying to get back the feeling you had when you first went paddling as a small boy.” He was suggesting that instead of trying to recreate the same feelings and emotions we had in our initial experiences, we should embrace the process of learning and adapting to new situations, which can bring new and different joys in life.
We need to work at keeping new horizons appearing and diligently watch for new doors opening throughout our entire life:
- Embrace change: Change is inevitable, and embracing it can open up new opportunities and experiences. Be open-minded and willing to step out of our comfort zones.
- Continuously learn and grow: Always seek new knowledge and skills. This could be through reading, attending courses or workshops, or even pursuing new hobbies or interests. One of those opportunities for me most recently has been the opportunity to be a Scholar in Residence at The Kilns for the C.S. Lewis Foundation and take classes at the University of Oxford.
- Cultivate a growth mindset: I believe in our ability to learn and adapt. See challenges as opportunities for growth and see failures as learning experiences.
- Network and connect with others: When we surround ourselves with diverse individuals who can offer different perspectives new doors to exciting and new opportunities are opened.
- Set goals and challenges: Having clear goals and regularly setting new challenges for ourself can help keep us motivated and open to new possibilities.
- Practice gratitude and mindfulness: Appreciate the present moment and what we already have. This can help us stay grounded and open to new experiences without constantly longing for the past.
Remember, life is a journey, and there’s always something new to discover and learn. Embrace the unknown and enjoy the process of exploration and growth.
Finding Our Own Place To Apply Our Vision
“Unfortunately, he had a strong aversion to the status quo whenever the status quo wasn’t as good as he thought it should be.” This was said of Dee Hock, founder of the Visa Credit Card, in VISA: The Power of An Idea by Paul Chutkow. This young leader didn’t have the resume’ yet and was searching for his place in the financial industry. Long story short, to solve a number of issues with credit cards, at the time, in 1979 he brought together a global group of friends called the visa family and rebranded a credit card called Visa. This enabled this young leader and entrepreneur to find a place to apply his vision.
Finding our place to apply our vision involves self-reflection, exploration, and a willingness to take risks. Here are a few steps that can help:
- Self-reflection: We must take the time to understand our passions, values, and strengths. What drives us? What are our core beliefs? This self-awareness will guide us in finding a cause or field that aligns with our vision.
- Explore different areas: Trying out different experiences, internships, or volunteer opportunities in fields of interest will give us a taste of different environments. This helps us understand what resonates the most.
- Seek mentorship: Find mentors or individuals who are already working in areas aligned with our vision. In Hock’s case, he put together his Visa family. They can provide guidance, share their own experiences, and help navigate the path toward goals.
- Embrace a growth mindset: Be open to learning and adapting along the way. Our visions will involve learning and evolve as we gain more knowledge and experience. We must stay curious and embrace new opportunities that come our way.
- Take calculated risks: Applying our personal vision may require us stepping outside of our comfort zone. We must not be afraid to take calculated risks and pursue opportunities that align with our goals. Remember, setbacks and failures are part of any journey, so don’t get discouraged.
- Connections and collaboration: Build connections with like-minded individuals or organizations. Again, think back to Hock’s Visa family. Collaborating with others who share a similar vision can help amplify our impact and open doors to new opportunities.
- Stay committed: Finding our place to apply our vision(s)can take time and persistence. We need to stay committed to our goals and keep taking steps towards them, even if the path is not always clear. If we trust in our abilities and believe in the impact we can make, we will make a difference.
Remember, finding our own place to apply our vision is a personal journey. It may take time and experimentation, but with determination and perseverance, we can find the right path to fulfill our vision.
Being Influenced By What You Said
C. S. Lewis said, “The very man who has argued you down will sometimes be found, years later, to have been influenced by what you said” in A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis (p. 150). I have found this to be so true. In fact, I’ve been on both sides of this, as the arguer and the argued. It just really reminds us how everything we do has a role in our evolution. We evolve with every conversation and action we take. I can actually think of some things that I have successfully argued for in my policymaking life that I have now come to disagree with myself on and argue against using the arguments and reason of those who argued against me in the first place.
Lewis believed in the power of persuasive arguments and the potential to change people’s minds over time. He suggested that even if someone initially disagrees with our viewpoint, they may still be influenced by our argument and come to see things differently in the future. His thoughts emphasize the importance of presenting compelling and thought-provoking arguments, as they can have a lasting impact on others.
The Power Of The Invitation
There is so much power in an invitation. An invitation holds power because it is a gesture of inclusion and connection. I was reminded of this a couple of weeks ago during the National FFA Convention. Ambra Tennery, Associate Director, Educational Development & Evaluation Programs, had her seventh grade middle school FFA member daughter, Brinley, at convention. Up until convention, I had not spent a lot of time with Brinley. Then, on the first day of convention when I got back to the convention headquarters from doing an administrator’s workshop Brinley had just sat down for lunch and called over to me and said, “Byron, will you come sit by me and have lunch with me?” “Of course,” I said. I was blown away. The power of the invitation! We had an incredible conversation and I was reminded how good it feels to be invited. When someone extends an invitation to us, it signifies that they value our presence and want us to be a part of something. It can make us feel wanted, appreciated, and included.
Additionally, an invitation can also have the power to open up new possibilities and experiences for us. It can give us the opportunity to step outside of our comfort zones, try new things, and meet new people. An invitation can also create a sense of anticipation and excitement, as we look forward to what the event or gathering might bring. Yesterday, at an Utah FFA leadership conference I told the story of Brinley’s lunch invitation and asked if anyone had been invited by another member to attend the conference. One young lady was quick to respond, “Yes!” I asked her how it made her feel. She said, “Very special and I am getting a lot out of today because I feel privileged to be here.” Let me tell you, that is how I felt when asked to sit and have lunch with Brinley – special!
Furthermore, this proves how important it is to make sure our students are having real world conversations and interactions with adults. As I mentioned, Brinley is a seventh grader but can carry on a conversation better than many adults I know. Having had the honor to hang out with Brinley quite a bit during convention it was like I was conversing with a college student. Her parents and agriculture teacher/FFA advisor have done a great job of making sure she is having the important opportunities to observe and learn from adults. Clearly these experiences offer valuable insights and help students develop important life skills. Interacting with adults can broaden students’ perspectives and expose them to different ideas and viewpoints. This can help them develop critical thinking skills and enhance their ability to understand and empathize with others.
Let’s never forget the power of an invitation lies in its ability to foster connection, create new opportunities, and evoke positive emotions. Also, we don’t want to forget how important conversations and interactions with adults can contribute to the holistic development of young students, fostering personal growth, learning, and positive relationships. Who do you need to invite?
The Limits of Language
I had the opportunity recently to read Ludwig Wittgenstein’s seminal work in philosophy, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. I love philosophy and this book did not disappoint. Yesterday, because of work I am doing in Southwest Utah for the Utah FFA, I had the opportunity to do some exploring in Zion National Park. I have to say that Zion National Park might just be one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. And not to mention there is a 1.1 mile tunnel with galleries, or windows, cut into so we get glimpses of the unsurpassed beauty while driving through. I was there in the afternoon and as the shadows highlighted the beautiful formations, I had a realization of what Wittgenstein meant when he said, “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” In other words, whatever can be expressed in words constructs the boundaries of our knowable reality.
As I took pictures and was texting them to friends and family I thought to myself, “These pictures don’t even catch a fraction of the real beauty and scale. Wittgenstein argued that we can’t meaningfully discuss anything beyond language’s pictorial nature. Language can only portray hard facts and logical interconnections. It can’t capture subtle metaphysical truths, ethical imperatives, or subjective aesthetics. This philosophy seems sound to me. There are truly unsayable truths in the underlying existence that reveal the frontier between language and lived reality. As person who embraces all the advantages that augmented reality and the metaverse bring to us in education and all industries, I don’t want us to forget the power in actually being present. As Wittgenstein said, “What can be shown cannot be said.” It is certainly hard for me to put into words what I saw yesterday, but it can be shown and experienced.
Ludwig Wittgenstein believed that the limits of language prevented us from adequately describing a beautiful landscape. He argued that language is limited in its ability to capture and convey our subjective experiences and emotions accurately. Wittgenstein believed that there are aspects of beauty that are ineffable, or beyond the reach of language, and therefore cannot be fully articulated or described. According to him, language is not sufficient to capture the full richness and complexity of aesthetic experiences. Now, I know great writers that can transform us to a location with their words. This is a talent I am envious of, but still there are those things which words or even a picture cannot do justice.
Succeeding And Failing Just Enough
In my daily reading this morning I came across the phrase, “he succeeded and failed just enough.” This phrase in Bond of Union: Building The Erie Canal and the American Empire by Gerard Koeppel really intrigued me. It made me wonder if there is a sweet spot of successes and failure in life. If so, what is it? Furthermore, how would we plan for that? In the context of the book, Koeppel meant the person in question had a mix of successes and failures, and in just the right balance to end up being successful. But how do we determine the right balance? It implied that they achieved some level of success, but also experienced failure. Really that probably describes all of us. Those involved in getting the wild idea of the Erie Canal approved, get the funding, do the engineering (remember, engineering didn’t even exist yet) had to be willing to fail a lot.
That willingness to fail was just the ticket and necessary for their growth or learning. There were people who thought these people proposing the canal were lunatics. I know I have proposed ideas along the way that made others believe I was crazy. But when you think about what the canal did for our country and the commerce of the east, we realize how important it is to have these crazy people who are willing to fail. The construction of the Erie Canal had a transformative and positive impact on both local communities and the nation as a whole.
The construction of the Erie Canal had numerous positive effects on both local and national levels. Firstly, the canal revolutionized transportation and trade by providing a direct and efficient route for goods to be transported between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. This significantly reduced shipping costs and time, boosting economic activity and facilitating the growth of cities along its route. Additionally, the canal opened up new opportunities for settlement and development in the Midwest, as it allowed for easier access to previously isolated areas. It also played a crucial role in fostering cultural exchange and communication, as people from various regions came together and shared ideas and experiences. Furthermore, the Erie Canal became a model for infrastructure projects in the United States, inspiring the construction of other canals and railroads, ultimately contributing to the nation’s overall progress and industrialization.
So let’s not forget trying to find a sweet spot between success and failure that can contribute to the overall progress or development of those things we are passionate about and move us toward fulfilling our purpose.
Do Not Be Jealous Of Your Competitors
As a result of my exploring the original Erie Canal and the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, New York last month, I am reading the great book Bond of Union: Building The Erie Canal and the American Empire by Gerard Koeppel. Koeppel quoted Theodore Roosevelt as saying, “He was too jealous of all of his competitors” of DeWitt Clinton. Clinton played a role in making the Erie Canal a reality. Clinton was a major political figure in New York and served as Governor from 1817 to 1822 and from 1825 to 1828, and presided over the construction of the Erie Canal. He was never able to secure his ultimate goal of being President of the United States. I found Roosevelt’s description of Clinton’s fault of being too jealous of his competitors and interesting one, and one we should be aware of. An excessive and unhealthy fixation on what our competitors are doing can be detrimental to our own lives and businesses because it distracts us from focusing on our own strengths and unique value propositions.
“As a bond of union between the Atlantic and Western states… it will create the greatest inland trade ever witnessed.” ~ DeWitt Clinton
When we are too jealous of our competitors, we may constantly compare ourself to them, feel threatened by their successes, and try to imitate their strategies without considering if they are suitable for our own context. This can lead to a lack of authenticity and differentiation, which ultimately hampers our ability to stand out in the market.
Instead of being excessively jealous of our competitors, it’s important to maintain a healthy level of awareness and observation. Stay informed about social and industry trends and what our competitors are doing, but use this information as inspiration to improve our own messaging, products, services, and strategies.
We need to be focused on our own strengths, unique selling points, and needs of those we serve. By emphasizing our own value proposition and continuously innovating and adapting, we can establish a strong position in the market and attract customers based on the merits of our own offerings.
Curiosity
Professor Smets told us in my University of Oxford Saïd Business School class this week that “You can’t hate something if you are curious about it.” This statement is important because it highlights the role of curiosity in promoting understanding, learning, and compassion. When we approach something with curiosity, we open ourselves up to learning and gaining new insights. This helps us see beyond initial judgments or prejudices and allows us to understand different perspectives. By being curious, we challenge our preconceived notions and create opportunities for growth and empathy. Ultimately, this statement suggests that hate is often rooted in ignorance or misunderstanding, and curiosity can be a powerful antidote to hate.
When we are genuinely curious about someone or something, we seek to understand rather than judge. We ask questions, listen actively, and try to put ourselves in their shoes. This not only promotes understanding but also fosters a sense of connection and empathy. Businesses that foster a curious mindset are more likely to attract and retain top talent. Curious individuals are naturally driven to seek out new challenges and opportunities for growth, and they thrive in environments that support their curiosity. Curiosity also fosters a culture of learning and continuous improvement. It encourages employees to seek out new knowledge and stay updated on industry trends, which can lead to the development of new skills and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
As leaders, we should encourage curiosity because it fuels innovation and drives growth. When employees are encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas, and challenge the status quo, they are more likely to come up with creative solutions to problems.
Adversity Can Sharpen Us
Yesterday, I heard Purdue University’s head football coach, Ryan Walters, in an interview prior to the Michigan game react to the adversity surrounding the allegations of Michigan’s signal stealing. This post is not about those allegations or any of the drama surrounding that. It is about his comment and what we can take away from it. Coach Walters said that he told his team to, “Let the adversity sharpen you.” I loved this comment because we all face adversity at some point or another. This idea of letting it sharpen us is one we should take to heart.
The phrase “Let the adversity sharpen you” means that when faced with or difficult situations, you should use them as opportunities to grow and become stronger. Walters even discussed letting it sharpen the team’s focus. Instead of letting adversity defeat us, we should let it shape us into a better version of ourself. It implies that adversities can be seen as stepping stones for personal growth and development.
Value Added Education
Yesterday during a workshop I was doing at the National FFA Convention the superintendent, John Niehues of a Kansas school district made the comment that what he was trying to create at USD 200 Greeley County Schools and what we were doing in agriculture education and FFA was “value-added education.” This is so true! It was so great to have him in this session where I was working with teachers to help them develop relationships and learn how to best work with their administrators. His insights were invaluable to all, including myself, in attendance. I love that we have so many administrators attending convention. Value-added education refers to an approach in which the education system focuses not only on providing knowledge and skills but also on adding value to students’ overall growth and development.
Value-added education goes beyond traditional academic subjects and aims to cultivate a range of qualities in students, such as critical thinking, problem-solving skills, creativity, empathy, communication skills, and a sense of responsibility. It emphasizes holistic learning and aims to prepare students for real-world challenges and success in various aspects of life.
In value-added education, the focus is on developing well-rounded individuals who are not only academically competent but also possess essential life skills and values. This approach recognizes that education is not just about acquiring information but also about fostering personal, social, and emotional development. It’s about applying what is learned. That is why work-based learning and apprenticeships are so important. In our agriculture programs we use Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) For All to give students the opportunity to explore passions and career interests. SAE For All is broken into two components:
1. Foundational SAE: career exploration and planning, employability skills, personal finance management, workplace safety, and agricultural literacy.
2. Immersion SAE: this is where students gain real-world, hands-on experience within their chosen career path. Students will enhance their agriculture industry knowledge, gain financial independence and management skills, and determine whether the career choice aligns with their interests and abilities. They do this in either placement/internship, entrepreneurship, research, school-based enterprise, or service learning.
Value-added education encourages active learning, student engagement, and the application of knowledge in practical settings. It promotes lifelong learning, self-reflection, and continuous improvement. By providing opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop their talents, and engage in real-world experiences, value-added education aims to prepare individuals for future success and contribute positively to society.
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