In the old days of the circus, trainers had a way of conditioning elephants to stay put that involved nothing more than a thin rope. A rope tied to nothing.

When the elephants were babies, their trainers would tie one of their legs to a heavy post. Being so small this worked to keep them in place. Eventually, the elephants became conditioned to knowing they could not move with the rope around their leg.

As the elephants grew, their conditioning remained. With a rope around their leg the elephants thought they were immobilized, even if they were tied to nothing. These powerful animals no longer had a mindful presence of their true strength and freedom.

As people, we often fall into similar conditioning. We react and limit ourselves out of fear, resignation, habit, and close-mindedness. However, if we create an accurate awareness about our true situation, we may find that we're not tethered to those limits. Simply being mindfully present will help us break through.

Q: What could you benefit from getting your hands on?

Every great doctor should be skilled with their hands. Certainly, surgeons spend plenty of time diagnosing, strategizing, and researching the best course of treatment. But, if surgery is required they'll have to rely on the skill of their hands too.

Depending on their professional position, some doctors move more towards decision-making than actual patient interaction.  But does this mean they are hands-off with their cases?  Even if they aren't to hold a scalpel, great doctors are hands-on with their cases.  They may have a team supporting them but their hands will know the work.

As leaders we should work with the four elements of the Head, Heart, Hands, and Spirit.  While it's good not to micromanage, to be hands-off can be detrimental.  Getting in and doing work with our teams in a hands-on way can help connect our work with the Spirit of why we do it.

Q: Are your Outer Self and Inner Self aware of each other?

What was your best conversation last week?  Ok, what was your most peaceful moment?
 
Like most people you may have trouble answering one or both questions.  Many of us struggle living on one side of a wall between our Inner World and our Outer World.  Our Inner World includes things like our worldview, our intellect and generally a mindful presence.  The Outer world is everything from our relationships to our work.  
 
Disconnecting from either will keep us from balance and our true potential.  Busyness: living from moment to moment focused on output only may seem productive but isn't purposeful.  On the other hand, living in our own heads, never connecting our ideas, our genius to the activity of our lives and work is all purpose with no production.  Our true potential means breaking through this wall.

Q: How are you causing "miracles" to happen?

Do you remember watching the 1980 U.S.A.-Soviet hockey showdown, and hearing the enduring question, "Do you believe in miracles?"
 
The Americans had a team of untested college kids, and the Soviets had a team of hardened veterans at the peak of their careers. The young Americans upset the champion Soviets, in what many called a "miracle on ice." What looked like a "miracle" was actually the result of a strategy engineered by U.S.A. Coach Brooks to capitalize on the Soviets' weaknesses, and build on the Americans' strengths.
 
In business, "miracles" seem to happen all the time, but they're almost always the result of careful planning toward a specific goal. These "miracles" are often successes against near-impossible odds - the start-up against an industry leader, the rookie goalie against the veteran power forward. These successes look both incredible and effortless to outsiders, but insiders know the intellectual blood, sweat and tears that went into the achievement.