Win Win
A long time ago, a former manager introduced me to a very good book entitled, The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, by Steven Covey.
Much of the content of the book is common sense, but Steven lays it out very clearly and it makes a great deal of sense.
I found the book to be a rather long read, so I picked up the audiobook version and listened to it each day on my hour-long commute to/from work. The audiobook version I had was from one of Steven’s presentations at the time and unfortunately seems to no longer be available. The newer version is very much a studio, author reading version and definitely lacks the original enthusiasm and tone that Steven presented — which is a shame.
Anyway, the reason I mention the book is one very important habit Steven mentions is the concept of win/win. Steven take it one step further and adds: win/win or no deal.
Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial, mutually satisfying. With a win-win solution, all parties feel good about the decision and feel committed to the action plan.
Win-win sees life as a cooperative, not a competitive arena. Most people tend to think in terms of dichotomies: strong or weak, hardball or softball, win or lose. But that kind of thinking is fundamentally flawed.
It’s based on power and position rather than on principle. Win-win is based on the paradigm that there is plenty for everybody, that one person’s success is not achieved at the expense or exclusion of the success of others.
Win-win is a belief in the Third Alternative. It’s not your way or my way; it’s a better way, a higher way.
– Steven R Covey
That is, when negotiating anything, the deal should be a win for both sides. Sometimes this is not possible. In which case, both parties agree to disagree and the result is no deal. And there is no shame in walking away from a losing deal. In fact, it is much better, because it opens the door for better deals or opportunities in the future.
Those of us who dislike conflict *raises hand here*, tend to lean towards the side of a lose/win deal. In that, we compromise or give in in favor of the other winning.
And sometimes we try and convince ourselves of a fair win/win deal… The mind is terrible that way — justifying our decisions regardless if they are correct or not. Simply because our ego refuses to say we were wrong. Quite silly really.
It’s funny, but my manager introducing me to this book was one of the primary reasons I left the company and decided to start my own company and work independently.
So I put forth this concept today in hopes that it may help in any decisions you are faced with. If you cannot see a win in the situation for both sides, don’t be afraid to speak up and say what is not a win for you. And if the other side cannot reciprocate and come to a compromise, then by all means, respectfully accept that no deal will result.
/bow
Sun
Does This Path Have A Heart
A suitable quote for a Thursday evening…
Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question. This question is one that only a very old man asks. My benefactor told me about it once when I was young and my blood was too vigorous for me to understand it. Now I do understand it. I will tell you what it is: Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good. If it doesn’t, it is of no use.
– Don Juan, in his teaching to Carlos Castaneda
Best wishes in 2010… may you find your path.
/bow
Sun
The Value of a Good Story
There is something truly amazing and powerful about a great story — Even better if the story is well narrated.
I didn’t grow up in the era of the radio show. But I can certainly see the charm and wonder of what it brought. And the stories that were crafted in that medium allow the listener to create their own impression, vision, and interpretation of the story in a way that is blatantly absent through television or video.
If you have never heard of Stuart McLean and his weekly radio show, the Vinyl Cafe, I would highly recommend you take the time to check it out on CBC. You can also subscribe to the pod cast of just the stories.
I just finished listening to the October 10th show: The Arthur Awards. I love the concept of the awards and this was a truly inspiring show!
If you always wondered what makes a Canadian tick, listening to Stuart McLean will give you the insight you seek.
Highly recommended!
/bow
Sun
Just a Pet… Perhaps
I think anyone who has played the hunter class in WoW, as a main or for an extended period of time, will tell you how much they are attached to their pets.
I mentioned this some time ago, while I sat in a tree in the Barrens, looking for a particular black lion by the name of Hummar the Pridelord. This wonderful cat still runs with me… although I’ve renamed him Makesh to honor another hunter I used to play with.
Makesh (Hummar the Pridelord)
The same is true for Mithril, a wonderful tiger from the frigid hills of Winterspring.
Mithril (Rak'Shiri)
The thing about these wonderful companions, is they each hold their own story — How they came to know a lonely hunter in his travels. They each share a wealth of adventuring time together battling the toughest creatures and dragons that cared to cross their paths. They threw themselves in the path of those trying to harm Tenzin or any of his friends.
Well, it seems a wonderful new creature has chosen to join Tenzin in his travels through Azeroth and beyond. A chimaera by the name of Nuramoc.
Khorium (Nuramoc)
While traversing the energy-charged landscape of Netherstorm with my good friend Gavynn, Nuramoc choose to fly over us and we convinced the awesome beast to join the cause of the Alliance. 
I have yet to name Nuramoc — I always prefer to join my companions for a time before they choose to tell me what their name should be. But I really like him so far and hope to have him join me for some time.
Being a rare-spawn pet, similar to Hummar and Rak’Shiri, there are not many hunters in Azeroth with such a unique and beautiful creature at their side. And it makes it even better that I happened to find and tame Nuramoc on my friend Gavynn’s birthday! Happy birthday wonderful pally!
/Raises an ale in honor of good friends and battles yet to be won!
/Bow
Tenzin
Edit (October 20th): Nuramoc seems to match the rarity and beauty of the metal Khorium — a fitting name I believe! 
Still Here!
I apologize for the lack of posts lately.
Between catching up at work and recoving from the vacation, things have been very busy of late.
I have been crazy busy at work and things are just starting to slow down a bit now. I’m certain they will pick up again shortly.
I’ve been spending a fair bit of time in WoW lately and, as I mentioned earlier, it is really great to reconnect with my friends there! I am in a small guild and we have the philosophy of doing the best we can with what we have. And we have a great deal of fun in the process.
Well, we decided to challenge ourselves last weekend and attempt the new Onyxia encounter with the players we have. For those who don’t play world of warcraft, Onyxia is a very large dragon who breaths fire and other wonderful nastiness. It is designed as a 10-player encounter.
This means Blizzard tuned the encounter to have 10 players attempting it. So for us to try it with 5 is pretty crazy and near impossible. Especially considering our members are not the best geared (running mainly heroic item and what emblem gear we can muster).
Well, I’m very proud to say, we downed Onyxia after several attempts! Our amazing healer and priest, Murasaki, captured this epic battle and has posted it on Youtube:
I am that crazy hunter with the wolf pet.
Mura also posted a great forum entry about our guild philosophy and accomplishment on the WoW forums. There is some very nice feedback from the WoW community there.
Well, that’s all for now. We may try some other interesting stuff this weekend. There has been talk of trying the Onyxia 25-man version of the encounter with 8 players — we’ll see.
I’ll try and post a little more often as time permits.
Stay well!
Sun
