Why TOC?

I realised I was a convert today!

Funny that's how I discovered I was a Calvinist too, by saying what I said and I get pigeonholed.

Someone in the audience asked if there were social work professionals who could feedback as to what they think of TOC tools for them or their clients. The point made was that most professionals in the helping services were armed with tonnes of skills and each has his/her own expertise in solving problems. We should first understand how they work and see how TOC could be used in their fields.

I said we were not here to hard sell the tools but if the professionals want to try something new, they could check this out. I identified myself as a socialwork professional and school counsellor for a long time. and how I found the three tools useful and that a friend who recently completed her post graduate studies in Counselling also asked for the tools. This man said "But you are a convert!"

I was pleased and wanted to ask him why he thought I would use the tools especially if I am a qualified social work professional and practicing counsellor ... what do you think?

Doron's donkey story

I met Doron at breakfast and told him I've had an awakening kind of experience and here's his story. The best is to hear the story teller himself, but hey the next best is this!

There was a farmer and his wife who bought a donkey to help them on the farm. They loved Donney, fed it, cleaned it and did all that good masters do. Donney was happy and perfect in all ways except work. They just could not get him to work!

After all the failed attempts they came to the town's Donkey Expert. He agreed to help on the condition that the couple would not get involved at all and remain quiet and at a distance at all times. This was very hard for the couple but they relented as they were at wits end.

DE took up a stone, aimed at Donney and threw it at him. No sweat, Donney was cool and remained non-chalant. DE carried a larger stone - the size of Donney's nose and aimed again. The farmer and his wife were shocked. How could DE do such a thing? But they agreed not to interfere so they held their breath and each other. DE was right on target but hey, Donney was fine ... he was a strong animal.

For a while the couple wondered where DE went. Then to their horror, they saw him up a cliff and was pushing a huge, gigantic rock over where Donney was. This would be the death of their darling Donney and they were in tears. Yes the rock came down and down went Donney.

It took three days for Donney to get on his feet and when he did, he was not recognizable! He went straight to work and was able to accomplish the tasks of 3 donkeys!

"Why DE? What is your secret?" the farmers asked.
"Well ... before you tell him anything, you just need to get his attention."

Why Odyssey?

It is a time where I can be totally selfish ... just think of myself, my gifts, my purpose (why am I here) and my goal (where I want to be at) in life ... and make a plan to reach it. Can't say I was not clear before, but it is important, in view of the shortness of time and the uncertainties of life to make sure ... try some other way to check and discover friends along the journey.

First instalment of reward:
Actionable step: Find checkers to help me be a scientist in my approach to life, people who will challenge me, question me, prove me wrong ... and its OK cos a scientist will be surprised if his first prototype is a success! These are people who love me and care about my half baked ideas and see to it that I have covered all negative outcomes that I did not think about. I have four of them now. I call them flies over my head, so I have F1-F4 :)

Second instalment of reward:
Odyssey Part II: Could not complete the process in 5 days and have F1 to continue the process here! It is such a privilege to have sustained and keen follow-up.

And the journey goes on.