9.28.11

"The Fringe Benefits of Failure" J.K. Rowling

This was my contribution to the class blog, and I still stand by it wholeheartedly:

One of the greatest benefits of failure is that it has to the potential to push us in a new direction. At the pinnacle of despair, we are often at such a low that our only choice is to try something new or continue down the path of failure. At this point, imagination can be our greatest asset.

Rowling mentions one definition of imagination as “the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not.” Every day we are presented with opportunities to see more than just the world around us. We often try to see beyond our limited experiences and imagine an alternate reality, usually far better than the one we are experiencing. However, as Rowling points out, we cannot end on that definition. The key to letting imagination transform our world is to act. If we are able to imagine a better life or a better world, yet we take no steps in that direction, we are no better off than we were before.

Rowling is a wonderful example of this in the way that she rose from what she considered her darkest moment. According to her, “imagination is indispensable when we have failed.” Through her experiences we learn that sometimes through the most difficult times, we learn about human goodness in unexpected ways. Imagination thus serves to do more than give us a positive outlet, it gives us the power to learn and understand without having experienced. It gives us the opportunity to change our reality based on our ability to learn. As Plutarch stated, “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”

Putting aside an already great admiration for J.K. Rowling, her words in this speech make me like her even more. Despite the great fame she has achieved, she is still incredibly real. I love that about her, and I think it can be attributed to the experiences she has had with failure. In her life, she was not afraid to fail, and that meant she went through hard times, but it also meant that she would become the passionate, strong woman that she is today. I hope that I can pursue my dreams as bravely as she has. 

9.14.11

"How to Start a Movement" Derek Sivers

"How Great Leaders Inspire Action" Simon Sinek

I think the most important thing that we as HCSC members can take from Derek Sivers' talk is that we can't be leaders if we don't have any followers. We are vulnerably reliant on someone, anyone, to be brave enough to be a follower and join in what we're doing. If one person follows, others will as well. In all of the events and projects we plan this year, we will have to rely on people to participate. We can call ourselves leaders all we want, but until someone follows, it won't mean anything. The problem is: How do we get people to follow? I think first we have to be followers and participators ourselves. If we don't remain active and involved in the activities other groups put on, how can we expect them to support us? As we show our willingness to jump into things and bravely participate, others will see us and follow our lead. I think it's important that we don't expect people to care about what we're doing unless we care about what they're doing as well. I believe that one of the ways we can do so is through Twitter. There are dozens of clubs and organizations and departments on campus that need help getting the word out about what they are doing. As we help them and share information, others will help us as well, and slowly I think that this method of communication will become very effective.

I appreciated Simon Sinek's words about leadership and the keys to success. I'd never thought about it that way, but his reasoning actually makes some sense. Why would anyone ever care about what we could produce if they didn't know how much we cared about it? I think before we do or plan anything, we have to ask ourselves why we're doing what we're doing. What is our purpose? If we don't know why we do what we do, why would anyone listen to us? According to Sinek, "people don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." Within the Humanities College we have a slight advantage because we are doing business with people who believe what we believe. Humanities majors believe that their studies are worthwhile despite what others might say, and they want to be reassured that that is so. They've spent the last few years trying to convince their parents and friends that an English degree or a Humanities minor isn't useless. For the most part, they believe in what they're doing, and they need to know that we do too. When we plan activities or service projects, we can't just be in pursuit of the result. Our measurement of success can't come from numbers alone. While working at the Involapalooza booth, I didn't base our success off of how many people stopped by for candy or a shirt. I saw success after we shared our love of the Humanities College with a two freshman girls who were interested, but didn't now where it could take them. They could see our passion for what we do, and I think some of our excitement transferred over to them. When one of the girls walked away saying "I think that was definitely my favorite booth" it wasn't because we had really awesome Snickers bars, it was because we believed in what we were saying, and we showed it. Long story short, all we have to do is stick to what we believe and we will succeed. People are going to come to Humanities events because of what they believe, not because they really care how much effort we put into planning it. They'll come to reassure and benefit themselves, and we just have to hope that they leave knowing what we believe.