Up there and out there

Day 42 (Monday 11th January 2016)

42 degrees from a light source is the required angle of view, of airborne water droplets,
for the vibrant arc of a rainbow to appear. A rainbow is an optical illusion and the spectrum
range we see is caused by the human eye's ability to perceive colour.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Tony Jackson, the author of today's inspirational post. Tony is the founder and Managing Director of Chelsham Consulting Limited (http://chelsham.co). You can read his blog via the company's website and also see more of his stunning photography (there are some examples as part of the post below - I am not responsible for any of the beautiful illustrations that accompany this piece, other than the song at the end). Tony started training to be an accountant on leaving university, but soon realised that he preferred people to numbers. Via recruitment he came into HR and has worked for some of the world's leading professional service firms (including PwC and Simmons & Simmons), before moving into not-for-profit as Head of HR for Macmillan Cancer Support. He established Chelsham Consulting in 2013, on leaving Macmillan, and is now a highly valued coach, facilitator and specialist consultant on OD and people-related matters. Tony is cultured and creative - he enjoys travel and learning more about people and places around the globe. You can connect with him on Twitter, his handle is @JacksonT0ny.

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Up there and down here.

Yin and yang.

Me and you.

Comet tails and coal dust.

Out there and in here.

It took me a while to find my way to this blog. And to be honest it’s a reworking of one I have written before. About where one finds one inspiration. For me it’s unquestionably out there.

When I need solace or inspiration my amateur photography can be an excellent ‘third place’.

In 2015 I started experimenting by including some of the results in my and my company’s Twitter feeds – without a particularly obvious objective other than to share and maybe to introduce people to the idea of seeking inspiration in new and different places.

For me there has always been something truly inspiring about wandering around – for example through the streets of a city – and finding views, angles, perspectives.

I’ve blogged before about how this can lift my spirits. Lift them out of the dust

It can be challenging arriving into a new place with me – I am less interested in the ‘set pieces’ than I am in the people, the colours, the ambience, the vibe, the unexpected and the sky. Oh the sky! Some say there is too much of it in my shots. Well I just love the sky.

In a museum or art gallery I’m soaking up the overall impact and keen to see what’s in the next room whilst others are methodically studying each individual item on display. That’s OK by the way – I’m happy doing what I’m doing and I’m right here if you need me. Right here.

Plonk me down at an outside table with a book, or a loved one, or a new friend and (crucially) a view and I can be at my best. Happened again not so long ago – a really productive conversation which would have been that bit less productive if I hadn’t had the stunning sea-view from a rather nice restaurant in Brighton.

There’s evidence for this in my MBTI profile. Off the scale on E (energy from the world around me etc.) with that very telling OOPS on Intimacy – so I can be energised by being on my own or with a small group of people whilst surrounded by the inspiring world at large. Also a clear preference for N so don’t bother me too much with the detail in the gallery, don’t ask me to study any one thing for too long.

At its extreme I end up doing things like taking a photo of the cupola outside the open window whilst everyone else is excited by the fresco on the wall in the room inside. Yes this happened this year:

When I’m stuck on something in my home office I pop out into my local area to see what’s going on. And often end up running back to capture the resulting ideas.

Some of my clearest ever thinking has been inspired by the mountains and sky in Andalucía (again I have previously blogged on this subject Complete.Clarity.Of.Thought )

As an HRD you would catch me “wandering around”. People notice what leaders do of course. For me it was combining a desire to be visible and ‘grabbable’ as the HR guy, whilst also seeking an infusion of ideas & thoughts by simply being out and about. So I would tour the floors without a specific destination. Some would say that’s a waste of time – I think it was some of the best time I ever spent.

My preferred way of breaking an impasse (ER or other) would often be a walk around the park or along the river with someone.

And to this day I can be inspired by what is going on outside the meeting room. Don’t worry – I’m right here but I might just be at my best if the world is more present in the room.

Anyway back to the photography – my Twitter feed is now dominated by my and other people’s photography. It’s part of who I am, so I am revealing the authentic me. I have woven my own photos into my company’s brand and its new website. But crucially some of them really show me (and you) where I get my inspiration from. The things that are ‘out there’……

That building, that fountain, that statue, that shadow, those puddles, the clouds, the sky. Oh the sky! Those comet tails!

That’s me. And you? Where does your inspiration come from?

"Out there" from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Weekly Walk - Day 41

Day 41 (10th January 2015)

41-gun salute is only for special people
The standard Royal salute is 21-guns and is reserved for Heads of State.
When the salute is given from a Royal Park
an extra 20 guns are added, hence the 41-gun salute.

Today is a post close to my heart, as it is by my youngest son, Hamish, who, having read some of the wonderful pieces that have been published to date decided that he would like to be involved (OK, maybe there was a slight parental nudge).

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Most Sundays I walk the ten minute long path to or from the Winchester train station and my boarding house.

Winchester Station

In the mornings, after my dose of compulsory chapel, it’s a brisk march for the soonest of the train times that a helpful parent texts me. I never miss trains. I’ve run up that hill to the station in under two minutes, and collapsed on a seat, pouring with sweat (much to the delight of the guy next to me), but I never miss my train.
 

Buster Keaton catching the train in The General, 1926

This morning march is usually chilly, as is Winchester’s way, and filled with the thought of a breakfast when I get home, a break from the school’s usual fry up. Sometimes I hum a hymn from the service as I walk. Halfway up the hill, there’s an old arch I used to go through. 

Winchester Westgate Arch

Recently I saw a shard of flint tumble off of the top and crash onto the pavement. I walk the other side of that path now. There are a few people around in the mornings. When it’s very cold, we dig ourselves into our clothes as we pass, and the most you will ever see is a pair of eyes displaying a sense of mutual suffering. When it’s warmer, some people bring their children out and I sidestep their scooters and buggies.

To be avoided

In the evenings, after some lunch, some family news and some supper, there’s first a leisurely drive to Clapham Junction. At least, it’s leisurely for me. I’m always told to rush my soup and to go find my wallet, because ‘if the traffic’s really bad, we won’t make it’. I think that’s true for any journey, but things always seem to turn out fine. We usually listen to the radio. There was a very good American writer who talked about episodes of his life for a while, but he’s gone now, and most of the other programs just blend into the thick audio porridge that is ‘The Archers’. ‘By God, they have to sell the cow!’, ‘Stop worrying Margie; you did everything you could to save him!’ There probably isn’t even a character called Margie... I don’t know what the main age demographic of this blog is, but don’t misinterpret this as the view of our jaded youth, I’ve seen similarities between The Archers and programmes that some of my friends watch.

Game of Thrones' Archers

Regardless, once I’ve caught the train that comes to a screeching stop on the exclusively non-polished platform nine, it’s soon time for the same walk, which Sunday began with, but now in the other direction back to the boarding house.

Winchester High Street (at Christmas)
Photo by Tim Smith  - used as Christmas card by Night Shelter Charity

Near the station it’s actually more active than in the morning. Whereas there’s a trickle of students catching different trains home at different times in the morning, on their way back to school you can guarantee they will all be there at roughly the same time, as we all try to squeeze in as much time at home as we can, before we have to be back at nine. 

Curfew Bell, French 14th centuryThe usual procedure at the sound of the curfew bell: burning logs removed &
hot ashes swept to the back and sides. The cold ashes
were then raked back over the fire so as to cover it and/or a "cloche' placed over it. 

Sometimes I’ll recognise a colleague and they’ll recognise me and we will talk about our Sundays or about school. I’m not innately antisocial, but I don’t like it when this happens, nor when I’m noticed on the train, as there’s something about this journey I’ve become accustomed to, and now slightly enjoy, making on my own. Farther away from the station, as the boys part ways to find their different boarding houses, it becomes a quieter path than in the morning. The few people around can hardly see each other, unless illuminated by an advert for fried chicken, and it feels peaceful. To think that I used to see this as an inconvenient commute.

There are numerous studies into both the mental health benefits of walking, as well as the more obvious physical ones. Many writers, such as the Flâneurs, and authors go out for walks and record themselves while on the go, to then write it down when they get home. Whatever your regular journeys may be, appreciate them and perhaps make time for some new ones.

Think Goose from "The Aristocats" by Disney

Linked to the above, weekly experience, my Christmas gift from Hamish was the following poem:

Silver and garnet pendant of Persephone by Sergey Zhiboedov

Persephone

Six days a week,

She works like summer,

Growing Banyans from trunk to trunk, 

And meeting deadlines, 

And sending emails, 

'Till that Seventh day. 

When she waits for him to arrive, 

While he waits to arrive and waits for the moment 

When their eyes meet through the bluish glass, 

And light up at the sight. 

For whatever happens; 

Wherever they eat, 

Whether they talk, 

Or just listen to the radio 

Content with their company, 

They've seen each other, 

They are secure in that 

For the rest of the week. 

So he climbs into his carriage, 

Cracks open the bottle of still chilled pomegranate juice, 

And a smile cracks over his face.

It made me cry. 

Persephone - Expecting Winter - image by photographer Erik Johansson

Don’t Get Stuck, Take a Walk! - Day 21

Day 21

21 - the total number of spots on a standard die

Photo depicts dice from ancient Pompeii - same design as now

Dice are the oldest gaming implements known to man.

Originally people used knucklebones (even today the Arabic for knucklebone is the same as die)

Ed Griffin, HR leader, recognised expert, progressive thinker, acclaimed author, inspirational speaker and all-round great guy is the writer of today's post. I first met Ed when he was a leading academic, specialising in strategic HR at Roffey Park. He was one of the few who has tried to rub off some of my very rough edges and taught me how to achieve results within the corporate world. We have remained friends and, over the years, have seen each other's lives change and careers progress. Reading Ed's post I think I should introduce him to the founders of Street Wisdom. Ed is not very active of Twitter, but you can follow him via @EdjGriffin. I know that he has a very exciting year ahead.

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When Kate told me the theme of this year’s Advent Blogs was Paths & Perceptions, I was immediately interested and particularly drawn to writing something about “paths”. “Paths” prompted two responses in me; one was to think of the the metaphors that paths represent, the other was the simple pleasure of walking. Paths have a particular allure for me - a feeling of setting out on an adventure or being set free. I also realise that paths are a frequent themes in the photos I take. In this short piece I’ve decided to be greedy and explore both the metaphorical and literal meanings for me of Paths.

I was lucky to have a father who introduced me to the countryside at an early age and, with it, a sense of adventure in going walking. By the time I reached university, we would go off to walk in the Lake District and elsewhere. Part of the joy was the anticipation that came from pouring over a map looking for an interesting and challenging route. When it came to the actual walk, our choice of route could often change because of the weather, our way-finding skills or another path simply seemed more appealing. There was nothing quite like following a path that you could see and disappearing into low cloud and the uncertainty of what was to follow. And then at the end of a good day’s walking, winding up in a warm pub with aching legs - perfect! Thanks to his influence I am now someone for whom a path offers opportunities and freedom. Following a path can be both about having found your way but also about losing yourself - paths offers choices and you don’t always know where they will lead you.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost, The Road not Taken.

In his book, The Songlines, Bruce Chatwin described the idea that when you’re walking you can’t have problems - that really resonated with me and I’ve been struck many times that after going for a walk I’ve been able to solve a problem or make better sense of a difficult situation. When walking outside we literally have our horizon broadened and we get a new perspective.

I noticed that when my father developed Alzheimers and was losing the ability to cope with once familiar tasks, one thing that gave him pleasure and focus was to go on a walk. As long as he could see the path he would keep going - perhaps there were neural pathways that stayed healthy whilst others hardened and died.

In organisations people often get bogged down and can’t seem to find a way out of a situation. At the same time organisational cultures often often leaves employees inhibited in breaking out of the mould and doing something different that could deliver a better outcome. When we’re stuck in some way, it’s often time to find a new path to follow. There’s a lot to be said for the benefits of taking a walk when you’re at work. John Medina in his book “Brain Rules” talks about our brains being designed for walking and suggests that businesses should think about the design of the workspace to encourage employees to walk.  A good friend, Anthony Baring, who is FD of a consultancy business, takes people out in London for walking meetings - that feels like a path of possibilities and unexpected turns. I think we risk losing the confidence to step out on new paths - we all have a smartphone with apps to show us the way. Sharing the path with someone else can create a sense of a shared journey and the possibility of a more human relationship.

I believe that we need to get lost every now and again to truly find ourselves - perhaps if you have that family tradition of a Christmas walk, this year it may be time to try a different path.

Christmas Walk
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licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence