Some of you expressed your concern in not having a “Son #1 Sighting” in Wednesday’s post. He was there. As you will see today, he’s the one in the white shirt, and was pictured striding out to the surf with “Spike” and Son #2. Son #1 arranged this event, and is therefore responsible for this week’s inspiration. I suppose I should thank him. ~ TommyMom
We left off here Wednesday.
Which brings me directly to…
Point #4. (For the Love of Everything Moral and Decent) Take Adequate Time to Accurately and Realistically Evaluate Situations!
This one point…
is by far and away…
a make or break…
where authenticity vs. performance…
is concerned.
American culture…
has become conditioned…
to a “quick fix”…
an end result “within minutes”…
and often values…
perception over realism.
Anyone…
emphasizing something…
that is different…
is different.
To get genuine results…
you need to come to terms…
with “different.”
And…
deal with it.
This…
takes time.
When you look…
at these photos…
and evaluate the environment…
any sane individual…
that suggests we…
“just send them out there…
on a board”…
is seen as irrational.
And yet…
I respectfully submit…
that culturally…
we do it all the time…
where education…
and life skills…
pertaining to the development…
of individual people…
are concerned!
Heather gave everyone involved beginner boards. What I haven’t told you until now, is that Sons #1 and #2, had surfed with Heather prior to this day. Heather had already established relationships, assessed skill levels, and knew where they needed to go next in order to be challenged. She was confident in what they both knew…and what they needed to know next.
Let it be known…
that there is no such thing…
as complete mastery.
For any of us.
Life is a journey…
built precept upon precept…
and line upon line…
and in this case…
board upon board…
and wave upon wave.
There is simply no arrival.
Leadership Education…
assumes life long learning…
encourages the quest for further knowledge…
and challenges comfort…
“norms”….
and complacency.
For lesson #2…
“Spike” mentored Sons #1 and #2…
who were then joined by #3.
Notice that the mentor…
suits up…
gets in…
and engages.
This would heavily imply…
that the mentor is…
both committed and qualified.
They haven’t…
put learning and improvement of self…
on the back burner.
I asked Heather to tell me about “Spike”.
She laughed.
“Mike Spikeman surfed the circuit…
along with my brother and others.
He and James are great guys.”
There’s an established…
celebrated…
diverse…
community.
And a true community…
is not only committed to one another…
but also embraces new comers.
Mentors…
are committed…
to communicating with passion…
with the individuals…
they are encouraging…
and engaging…
to keep their eye on the goal.
Point #5. Because we are focused on individuality…success will look different for each person involved.
Sons #1, #2, and #3…
were out significantly farther…
than Sons #4 and #5.
Here’s something to ponder:
When was the last time…
you attended a dinner party…
only to be asked…
“When did you master…
(fill in the blank)?”
And…
“Share with me…
exactly where that happened.”
This simply doesn’t…
occur naturally.
So…
one is left to wonder…
why we relegate…
academia…
to these types…
of expectations!
Lastly…
Point #6. It’s okay to “hold hands” with the mentor.
The vastness of the unknown or unfamiliar…
can sometimes be scary. A true mentor is there. Not to judge, mock or condemn for natural insecurities and fears. They’ve been where you are…and they’ve scanned the horizon and are comfortable and familiar with where you’re headed. They wouldn’t think of discouraging intentionally. They aren’t perfect…and are big enough to own their own insecurities and fears as well. Everything they do…is armed with the intent to help those they mentor to succeed.
And…
at the end of the day…
there is always a welcoming community…
with which to celebrate…
both your failures…
as well as success.
Let’s face it.
Some individuals…
are more seasoned…
and others are just beginning.
Either way…
let’s aim for the rip!
Community…
diversity…
and the journey involved…
come together…
in a huge swell…
that celebrates…
freedom for all…
when the Rip…
allows us to all exclaim…
Cowabunga!
Heather Pine can be reached at learntosurfwithheather.com
Dr. Shanon Brooks is a leading authority on producing a Leadership Rip!
He will be speaking on reclaiming America and the basic tenets of Leadership
Education Friday, September 16, 2011 at Las Palmas Community Church, 47783 Monroe
Street, Indio, California 92201 7-9 p.m. Admission is free. For information regarding
other Southern California dates, please click here.
These surfing posts make me so terribly homesick!
You comparisons and explanations were great. I enjoyed them very much.
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Who knew that there were so many life lessons to be learned through surfing! I love the idea of mentorship. Thanks for challenging me.
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