The video is similar to ones we have seen, but if you watch enough of Ben Zander’s speeches you’ll notice he reuses a lot of his speeches.
Ben Zander re: Landmark Education & The Landmark Forum
Chapter 7: The Way Things Are
My AP Biology class is a bit down lately. I don’t know if they are just depressed or if the combination of school, home, and college applications has them stressed to the point of depression. I think that Roz’s story about learning to ski on ice will be perfect for them. Many of my students are top-notch students and when they keep receiving less than perfect grades they become frustrated (and consequently they start to complain). As many times as I tell them to realize these mistakes are correctable they still become frustrated. (I don’t blame them – I would be too.) Perhaps life experience and perspective gained through time will help them realize that the mistakes they make now are going to help them in their career 10 fold! I hope when I read them Roz’s story tomorrow some of them will realize that they are learning and they need to take a different approach to learning in a class. Please cross your fingers!
Okay so this chapter started off quite well but then I noticed a change where the authors began to start talking about the power of thought. It reminded me of that terrible book (and video) The Secret. I understand that there are people that benefit from self help books and perhaps someday I will too, but for now I just don’t understand how “thinking” good thoughts will help someone literally bring good things to them.
Chapter 8: Giving Way to Passion
The thing that most struck me about this chapter was the idea that one must stop being kept back by barriers and fully participate (Zander & Zander, 2000). I think it may be easier for me to break down the barriers; however, being fully immersed and totally focused is difficult for me. I think this stems from me being too overcommitted and thus busy. Perhaps what I need to do is say “no” more often. The remaining chapter again became hokey for me much like chapter 7.
Chapter 9: Lighting a Spark
For me this chapter reminded me that my own optimism could start something great. I can take on something bigger than myself and help other people in the process. I needed this chapter and I am sure I will need this inspiration in the future too.
Chapter 10: Being the Board
My favorite line from this chapter is printed on page 143, “Grace comes from owning the risks we take in the world by and large immune to our control” (Zander & Zander, 2000). We as a society are so quick to blame each other for our poor luck that it sickens me. Granted it is easy for me to say the previous now, when something bad happens to me I will obviously struggle to not automatically blame someone else.
Chapter 11: Creating Frameworks for Possibility
Chaperoning is the most stressful thing for me. I feel a huge amount of responsibility when I chaperone as I am now in charge of someone else’s children. I have had students break rules, but I have always thought about making a point of following the rules set forth in the contract that the students signed before we left for the trip. Ben’s story about four students on the roof on a trip helped me frame how to handle the inevitable future problems I will face!
Chapter 12: Telling the WE Story
For this chapter I have decided to comment on one of my comment’s blogs. Please see my next post for my reflection.
Resources
“Ben Zander re: Landmark Education & The Landmark Forum” posted by contributetosomeone on April 24, 2007 to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r57r534apRo Retrieved on 10.20.09
Zander, R. S., & Zander, B. (2000). The art of possibility: Transforming professional and personal life. New York: Penguin Group.
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Another great summary. Yes, I also see the possible problem of wandering too close to the New Age belief systems, but even in my most pragmatic moment I can recognize that when I get out of bed and push the envelope to do a good thing, that I have to expend a lot of mental energy to takes those steps and take those risks. Now, I also recognize that I pretty much over-think everything and that there are probably more people doing good things who don't think a thing about it before hand and just jump out there and do it. That's not me, so for something good (or bad) to happen I have to put some mental force behind it before it happens. It doesn't necessarily happen because of mental thing but it probably won't happen, for me, without it. So, it's not a new-age-y kind of thing, for me. I guess it's part of wanting to approach life with as much purpose as possible. No huge plan, no mystical guiding principal, just want to do good with the small bit of time that I will have in my life, today.
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