Dr. Sam Lam » The Art of Possibility http://lfp-blog.com Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:53:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 The Art of Possibility 15 of 15: Zander on Ted.com http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-15-of-15-zander-on-ted-com/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-15-of-15-zander-on-ted-com/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:00:20 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5363 I want to end this blog series by having Mr. Zander speak for himself.  There is no more passionate or inspiring person that I have met than Mr. Zander, and I am fortunate to have talked with him, joked with him, and listened to him.  Here he is in a shortened lecture he gave on one of my favorite sites about new ideas, ted.com.

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-15-of-15-zander-on-ted-com/feed/ 3 The Art of Possibility 14 of 15: Nelson Mandela and the Art of Possibility http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-14-of-15-nelson-mandela-and-the-art-of-possibility/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-14-of-15-nelson-mandela-and-the-art-of-possibility/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:00:48 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5353 sb10063389dc-001Everyone knows that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years in South Africa. (Curiously, tomorrow Mandela celebrates his twentieth anniversary of freedom, as he was set free February 11, 1990.) What people may not know is that 15 years into his prison stint, he was given the chance for freedom.  Mandela asked on what conditions.  He was told that he would need to give up the hope for a free South Africa.  Upon hearing that, Mandela turned back to his cell to serve the remainder of his 27 years.

Here are some words that Mandela shared about the art of possibility:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous-
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
Won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some of us: it is in everyone,
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
Give other people permission to do the same.

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-14-of-15-nelson-mandela-and-the-art-of-possibility/feed/ 3 The Art of Possibility 13 of 15: Second Fiddle-itis http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-13-of-15-second-fiddle-itis/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-13-of-15-second-fiddle-itis/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:55 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5350 89828844Second fiddle-itis is commonly known as playing second fiddle.  The second violinists are oftentimes viewed as inconsequential players in an orchestra.  However, Zander looks to them for the same leadership and contribution as the first violinists.  Many times their contribution can bring out the majesty in a musical piece that would not otherwise be there.

How often do we think what we do is inconsequential?  “Oh, what she does is so much more important than what I do.  I am just here passing my time to get to a better place in life.”  If we start to think about how we can contribute in any small or big ways, we can get over our second fiddle-itis and begin to make a difference in our life and those who are fortunate enough to meet us.

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-13-of-15-second-fiddle-itis/feed/ 9 The Art of Possibility 12 of 15: How Fascinating http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-12-of-15-how-fascinating/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-12-of-15-how-fascinating/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:00:06 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5347

93002093In the blog about “one-buttock playing”, we talked about how passion can change the world and unleash one’s own desire for life and for living, how ailments can disappear, and how our world can be shaped differently.

Why then do we not live this way?  Oftentimes it is out of fear:  fear of living differently, fear of failing, fear of letting someone else down, and fear of letting ourselves down.

Zander helps us to see things differently.  He encourages us when we make a mistake to throw up our arms way into the air and exclaim, “How fascinating!”  I now have my staff say the same thing.  We need to encourage passionate living so that we can accept our own mistakes and those of others more easily.  “How fascinating!”  Try it!

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-12-of-15-how-fascinating/feed/ 11 The Art of Possibility 11 of 15: The Monk’s Story http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-11-of-15-the-monk%e2%80%99s-story/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-11-of-15-the-monk%e2%80%99s-story/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:00:37 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5344 78025932An Abbott in a far away forest was opining the decimation of his monastic order down to his own being the last branch.  He visited a Rabbi in a nearby hermitage for advice.  After a nice luncheon, the Abbott turned to the Rabbi and asked, “Do you have any advice for me on how to save my order that is slowly dying since obviously the spirit of the people is absent?”  The Rabbi turned to him and said, “I am experiencing the same problems as you are.  No, I have no advice for you.  However, I have to tell you that one of you is the Messiah.”  The Abbott puzzled returned to his monastery to share this news.

Everyone began to wonder in hushed tones who it could be.  Of course, it must be the Abbott since he has been our leader for so many years.  It couldn’t be Brother Thomas because he is so passive.  But somehow Thomas always shows up at the right time for those in need.  Hmmmm.  How about Father Peter?  He is so crotchety but he is so wise.  What if it is I?  Could I be the Messiah?  Surely not, but maybe yes.

After a while, the monks began to treat each other with great respect and adoration in fear that they would mistreat the Messiah among them.  Then they started to treat themselves with the same respect in case he himself were the Messiah.  Occasionally, people from the town would stop by the forest to picnic.  As tales were told of the friendly monks, more and more people began to picnic and spend time in the forest near the monastery.  Some men actually joined the order to be part of what was going on.  Then more and more people joined the order and greater throngs spent their free time in the forest.

How often do we treat ourselves and others with disrespect?  What would happen if we only saw the best in others and the best in ourselves?  How would that change the world?

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-11-of-15-the-monk%e2%80%99s-story/feed/ 2 The Art of Possibility 10 of 15: It’s All Invented http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-10-of-15-it%e2%80%99s-all-invented/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-10-of-15-it%e2%80%99s-all-invented/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:00:59 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5341 600px-New_Jersey_68.svgZander recalls a Taiwanese student who came to attend his class and was given an A (as explained in the previous blog the way that Zander does for all students.)  The student expressed profound confusion since he was told in Taiwan that he was no. 68 of 70 students, the real bottom of the barrel.  He could not reconcile how he could be no.68 but at the same time Zander’s A student.  Then one day he realized he was much happier being an A student than no.68 so began to see himself as an A.

Zander’s expression “It’s All Invented” refers to the idea that we literally invent our life as we choose to see it.  Like the two British salesmen sent out to Africa to find out about business opportunities, one coming back saying no Africans wear shoes and the situation is hopeless versus the other coming back and saying no Africans wear shoes and glorious opportunities abound, we can choose in every life circumstance a downward spiral or a land of unbridled opportunity.

How are you going to invent yourself?  If we remember the catchphrase, “It’s All Invented” we can begin to assume a much cheerier outlook on life, one in which “glorious opportunities abound” rather than one in which we face the dismal prospect of a hopeless future because it truly is all invented.

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-10-of-15-it%e2%80%99s-all-invented/feed/ 3 The Art of Possibility 9 of 15: Partnership in the Pit http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-9-of-15-partnership-in-the-pit/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-9-of-15-partnership-in-the-pit/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:00:07 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5327 AB62976Zander recounts when he went down to Cuba to conduct with the local maestro a combined orchestra of American and Cuban players.  The Cuban maestro began the orchestra trying to play a difficult piece that highlighted the Cuban rhythm.  None of the Americans could get the swing of it.  In frustration, the Cuban maestro screamed out, “Enough.  They can’t do it.”  Zander lept to the stage and asked each Cuban orchestral player to teach his/her adjacent American counterpart how to play the piece.  With a lot of pride on their faces, the Cuban players zealously taught the Americans, and in a short while to the amazement of Zander and the Cuban conductor, the Americans and the Cubans played together flawlessly.  The Cuban conductor nodded in assent.

Then it was time for Zander to lead the orchestra.  He had picked a very complex piece by Bernstein, “the Overture to Candide”, of which the score he had sent 3 months earlier to give the Cubans plenty of time to practice to get it right.  Startled to find that the score had languished at the Cuban post office, Zander turned ashen at the prospect that the orchestra would not be able to master such a complicated arrangement so quickly.  However, he thought brilliantly that now the Americans could instruct each of their Cuban counterparts on how to play this difficult piece, and again the playing went forward without a hitch.

I like the saying leaders lead leaders.  I try not to create followers but leaders who can lead even better than I can.  That is my passion and my undying vision for my practice, my building, and for all of you faithful blog readers!

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-9-of-15-partnership-in-the-pit/feed/ 6 The Art of Possibility 8 of 15: Mahler’s 9th http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-8-of-15-mahler%e2%80%99s-9th/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-8-of-15-mahler%e2%80%99s-9th/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:00:55 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5323 91594583One of Zander’s violinists, Anne Hooper, brought back on her vacation a tape of Mahler’s 9th symphony to be played for her enjoyment on a boom box.  Her little 5-year-old niece, Katrine, asked her aunt what the music was about.  Anne spun an elaborate tale as the music played about a princess who was captured by a fearsome dragon and who was eventually saved by a handsome prince.  With that invention, Katrine imagined this storyline and asked to listen to the music again and again, enraptured by the musical passion of it all.

The niece then asked her aunt, “Auntie Anne, is that really what the composer intended when he wrote this piece of lovely music?”  Anne truthfully replied, “No, actually Mahler grew up in a household where sickness ruled and his seven siblings all died from illness during their childhood.  His father was an angry drunk who terrorized the house, including his invalid mother. Mahler’s four-year-old daughter also died, and he never quite got over it.  He lost his beloved job at the Vienna Opera House because he was Jewish.  Shortly before writing his piece, he was diagnosed with a heart condition, for which he was told he had only a short time to live.  This symphony was an expression of how Mahler imagined himself dying and that is why it ends in a whisper.  Mahler was also a happy man in his life who laughed loud and loved long swims!  Let’s not forget that.”  Katrine went on to listen to Mahler’s 9th over 100 hundred times that summer.

Later that fall, Katrine and her family made the four-hour drive from upstate New York to Boston to hear Mahler’s 9th at Jordan Hall and was mesmerized throughout the performance.  Katrine scrawled a thank you to Zander on a small notecard:  “Ben Zander, Love Katrine.  Thank you for Mahler Ninth.  I loved it.”  This note, Zander carries with him wherever he goes, as a reminder to how often we don’t give children an A, who deserve it.  We too often give failing grades to everyone around us because that is what we are accustomed to do.

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-8-of-15-mahler%e2%80%99s-9th/feed/ 4 The Art of Possibility 7 of 15: Lessons in Leadership http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-7-of-15-lessons-in-leadership/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-7-of-15-lessons-in-leadership/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:00:16 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5320 82830930Zander was going to conduct a world-class violinist in Israel that night at a sold-out concert.  That morning, he exhorted his students for whom he saved 30 seats to attend this performance.  That night, on the podium, he saw that up in the balcony all 30 seats had remained vacant.  He was blisteringly angry and bitter.

The next morning, he called his wife and declared how angry he was.  His wife’s first response was “You better apologize.”  Zander replied, “Better apologize?  For what?  Did you not understand that these 30 kids stood me up?  For a concert that has been sold out for months now!”  His wife explained, “You did not inspire them enough to come to a concert to hear a world-class violinist that they will probably never again get a chance to hear that could literally have changed their DNA.”  Zander humbly acknowledged his failings as a leader.

How often do we fail to inspire others to greatness?  How often do we expect someone to see our vision when we never captivate their imagination?

]]> http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-7-of-15-lessons-in-leadership/feed/ 2 The Art of Possibility 6 of 15: Last Words http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-6-of-15-last-words/ http://lfp-blog.com/the-art-of-possibility/the-art-of-possibility-6-of-15-last-words/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:00:18 +0000 dr. lam http://lfp-blog.com/?p=5316 76092577Zander recounts the story of a fifteen-year-old girl who accompanied her 8-year-old brother on the train ride to Auschwitz.  On the way, the boy accidentally dropped one of his shoes through onto the train tracks never to see it again.  The sister reflexively screams at her younger sibling, “This is so like you to lose a shoe.  You are so irresponsible.  We will never get that shoe back!”  Those were the last words that she uttered to her brother, as her brother never survived the concentration camp and she never saw him again after they arrived.  When she left the concentration camp, she made a vow never to say words that could not stand as your last to someone.  That is a beautiful goal to aspire to for all of us.

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