Category: Social – Society, Business

Seth Godin explains how to catch “the Wily Fox” in The Icarus Deception.”

“Build an eight-foot-long wooden fence in the forest.

Lay out some bait and then go away for a week. 

The fox is too crafty to be caught in a simple trap, and he will smell you and avoid the fence for days. But eventually, he’ll come and eat the bait.

At the end of the week, build a second length of fence at a right angle to the first. Leave more bait.

The fox will avoid the fence again for a few days, then take the bait.
At the end of the second week, build a third wall and a gate. Leave more bait.

When you come back at the end of a month, the fox will be happily prancing in his safe enclosure, and all you will have to do is close the gate. The fox will be trapped.”

Yes Seth, this “happened to us.”  To me anyway.  No, not all at once, and oh Yes! I was seduced by the glittery prizes, the security – uh, “apparent security.”  I agree that the industrial age continues to fade and the connection economy skyrocket (See “Elbow of the Curve”).  Now you tell me “the fence has been dismantled.” That “It’s Gone.”  Interesting.  It doesn’t feel that way – I must be like the dog with the electronic collar and invisible fence!  As Spencer Johnson would say “Who Moved My Cheese?!”

Part of me wants the fence gone SO BAD!!  I AM the Wily Fox.  Crap – I got caught.  I want uncaught!  What to do, what to do!  I’m kinda secure (as one can be in today’s wobbly world).  I’m certainly older, am I wiser or just plain scared to lose my stuff?

If I have people around me that love me; encourage my wily nature, egg me on even – who cares about stuff.  But then what about the old age / health dilemma?  Must I sacrifice my mischievous, rascally self so I don’t end up a bag lady?  No. Already laid that one to rest; not going to happen. Although I’d be a darn great wicked bag lady.

I can express my authentic voice in the business world and in my writing.  Just takes courage; courage to be brave enough to push my comfort zone.  Oh – and luck; which I have with a jam-up Mentor who agreed to work with me on this objective in 2015.  She’ll make sure I’m not so whacked I alienate my audience; at least not too bad.  Courageous, lucky – and maybe smart enough to know I’m not alone in this.

So – here’s to freeing the Wily Fox!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson (quoted in The Icarus Deception)

I was interrupted while I was speaking during a business meeting/ conference call this week by a colleague who whispered loudly: “You are yelling” …

It is disconcerting to be interrupted like that mid-speech, in front of people, whether or not they could see (or hear) the exchange.  I don’t think his motives were bad; he probably meant to help.  My initial reaction was annoyance.  Of course I had to keep talking (being mid-sentence), but I was definitely thrown.

Days later I was still bugged.  Was I really that loud?  WTH?  Do I need to do something?  Say something to him?  How do I handle this unsolicited feedback?  Is it him or is it me?  Could my annoyance be signaling a past wound?  My ex-husband used to call me “Bullhorn Hawk” when he wanted me to quiet down.  Do I have unresolved issues there?  Why is this bugging me so much?

AAARRRG!!!  Please stop the voices inside my head!!! 

Michael A. Singer says in The Untethered Soul that if I’m smart, I’ll “take the time to step back, examine this voice, and get to know it better.”  Although I may not be to objective (since it is literally in my face/ head) – so I have to step way back and just “watch it converse.”  I am not that voice.  I am who notices that the voice exists.

When I step back and watch I find my mind constantly jabbering about something.  Singer says the best way to free myself from this nonstop noise is to simply stop and listen to it – observe it.  I can’t stop it by force of will.  It is not me.  The only way out of this trap is to know that it is not me.  So by being conscious I can decide that I’m not going there – into the snare of not me and I will let go of all that junk.  Singer also suggests:

“If you truly want to grow spiritually, you’ll realize that keeping your stuff is keeping you trapped.  Eventually you’ll want out, at any cost.  You will then realize that life is actually trying to help you.  Life is surrounding you with people and situations that stimulate growth.  You don’t have to decide who’s right or wrong.  You don’t have to worry about other people’s issues.  You only have to be willing to open your heart in the face of anything and everything, and permit the purification process to take place.  When you do this, the first thing you’ll see is that situations will unfold that hit your stuff.  But, in truth, that’s exactly what has been happening your entire life.  The only difference is that now you see it as a good thing because it’s an opportunity to let go. 

 So thank you dude for helping me!