Posted by Dave Buck on February 18, 2008 under CoachVille Caffeine | 
Feb. 18 2008
On CV Caffeine today Coach Terri Z and I discussed this article from yesterday’s (2/17/08) NY Times Magazine.
The tagline for the article: It’s deeper than gender, seriously (sometimes dangerously) fun and a sandbox for ideas about evolution and human development.
The article is wonderful with some very interesting research studies and theories about play.
I think at time it leaned too much on “scientific” research that included studies of rats, but the human examples were thought provoking.
The key point in this for me is that it seems clear that humans love – even need – play when they are learning, growing and evolving. With the pace of change in our lives, it is clear that we need the benefits of play at all ages, at all times. I believe we can play in every area of life – including careers, business, romance, family and health.
Read the article and share your thoughts. I would love to hear from you.
Also, on CV Caffeine today, we discussed transformation of PLAY! #6 Learn-Ability.
see the earlier post
Posted by Dave Buck on under | DAVE BUCK |
Transformation #6: Relationship to Learning Shift
I Should Know Already to Learn-Ability
Your relationship to learning is the way you feel when you are doing something poorly – or not as well as you desire to.
Most adults resist learning new skills because they are uncomfortable not knowing. (most people say they LOVE learning, but they are referring to ideas not skills) For most people, just the idea of doing something poorly will stop them in their tracks. Another point here is that many people have an underlying assumption that they should know how to do this already. Or that they can develop new skills in a 2-hour or 2-day workshop.
Your learn-ability is based on the truth that developing a new capability begins with experiences of failure. And then expanding a capability only happens through ongoing practice. One of my mentors Marshall Thurber often says: “Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly – at least for a little while.” Players love trying new things and aren’t afraid to mess up a bunch of times until they get it just right.
Great players express their learn-ability by learning new and building existing skills and are willing to mess up a few times – or many times – in the process.
Share Your Story: When did you have a breakthrough in allowing yourself to learn something new as an adult? What was the experience of doing it poorly like for you? Have you supported a client through this experience? What happened?
Posted by Dave Buck on under | DAVE BUCK |
Feb. 15, 2008
Transformation #5: Relationship to Evaluation Shift
From Losing to Feedback-AbilityYour relationship to evaluation is how you seek and respond to feedback, standards of performance and keeping score.
Most people abhor evaluation because of unfair past judgments, bad experiences of not measuring up to someone else’s standards and a host of other reasons. They also resist keeping score or being measured (also forms of feedback) because of the risk of losing or falling short.
Feedback-ability is based on the truth that the best way to learn and grow is to get rapid feedback and to play toward some standard of excellence. They know that the benefit of playing for a high standard far outweighs the risk of losing or falling short sometimes. They seek feedback from other players, coaches and the world to accelerate their growth as a player who gets results.
Great players build their feedback-ability by reaching for standards of excellence and getting feedback as often as possible.
Share Your Story: When did you experience receiving feedback in a way that really helped you improve your game. Have you ever been in a rapid feedback environment? Have you created a rapid feedback situation with a client? what happened?
Posted by Dave Buck on under | DAVE BUCK |
Feb. 14 2008
Transformation #4: Perception of Challenges Shift
From Set Backs to Enjoy-Ability
Your perception of challenges determines how you feel about yourself and your life.
Because of our project orientation unexpected events and challenges are perceived as setbacks creating the impossible desire to CONTROL EVERYTHING.
The Play orientation embraces unexpected challenges because they are what make a game fun and interesting; they spark our desire to learn, grow and expand in capability.
Enjoy-Ability is based on the truth that great players seek and enjoy challenges both planned AND unexpected and find a way to leverage them. Life is FULL of unexpected events and challenges. So our lives will be more joyful and fruitful when our perception embraces and leverages them rather than resists them.
Great players build their enjoy-ability by seeking new challenges and being open to lifes’ unexpected events as an affirmation of their expanding capabilities.
Share Your Story: When did you have the experience of shifting your perspective on a challenge from a set back to something you could leverage and even enjoy? Where did you help a client do the same? What happened?
ps. Enjoy your Valentines day and have fun PLAYing the Romance Game!
Posted by Dave Buck on under | DAVE BUCK |
Feb. 13, 2008
Transformation #3: Purpose of Activity Shift:
From Pursuit of Objectives to Master-AbilityThe purpose of activity opens the question: why are you doing the things you do?; To reach objectives or to become masterful?Reaching objectives is a good thing. The problem with focusing on objectives is that we tend to become dominated by projects and tasks. Think about your never ending to-do list!
The important distinction between project tasks and practice activities is essential here. Both are important. However, out culture has become project dominated and objective obsessed at the expense of the pursuit of mastery. We focus on our projects and let the little daily things go. The problem is, it is the little daily things that actually get us where we want to go.
Master-ability is based on the truth that most of our results AND happiness come NOT from the objectives we pursue and occasionally reach, but from the ongoing pursuit of mastery in daily activities through practice. Mastery is about creatively expressing your unique talents.
Great players build their master-ability every day and reach their objectives as a byproduct.
Share Your Story: When have have your found yourself or one of your clients stuck in task after task trying to complete a project and lost sight of the crucial daily activities of your game that make the real difference? What did you do about it?
