Visionary Mind Shifts^{TM
(previously Power To Stand: A Course In Greatness)
Written by Michael Skye for the Vision Force Academy}

Warning:  Each Visionary Mind Shift may be easy enough to grasp at a glance, yet each is a puzzle piece in a larger puzzle called the Vision Force Matrix.  The more you integrate this shift with the other shifts, the more the matrix will begin to emerge.  Your understanding of the distinctions and the matrix itself will evolve as you move through the course.  To speed that evolution, do your best to view each word and distinction as something new, a mystery, rather than by relating it to what you already know.

Subscribe  |  Discuss on Forum Boards  |  Send to a friend

Visionary Distinction:

Position | Stand

Introduction:

This distinction is presented in a very general sense today, but will be developed much further within the coming sessions of this course.  The new revolutionaries see through the weaknesses of all the revolutionaries who came before.  Most tried to stand for a new or better life or world, yet came from a position and were quite powerless to affect lasting change.  Real power comes from a stand. 
 
 
Orientation:

	Position	Stand
General Context	1. A place to defend or attack from;	1. A foundation to build on or create from;
	2. An external fight against	2. An internal fight for
Inner World Context	A defensive reaction to protect oneself from negative judgment (usually after a compromise of one's values)	An action of honoring one's value(s) in the face of inner opposition (fear, doubt, etc.)
Focus	External / dishonest with self	Internal / honest with self
*Nevermind for the moment if this is not fully clear.  This is just the beginning.

 

Related Distinctions: (links coming soon)

The Solution vs. A Tool
Compromise vs. Stand
Compromise vs. Sacrifice
Positionary vs. Visionary
 

Example: 

Tim is an entrepreneur who has a dispute with Sam, General Manager of another company.  Time thinks he should receive a credit, because Sam's company did not deliver the kind of service they had promised.  Picking up the phone to make a phone call to the GM was a scary proposition for Tim.  Sam had already denied his first request for a discount, and reacted as if Tim was being cheap and unfair.  

Tim wanted to stand for what he thought was right, and he didn't want the conversation to turn ugly, but he was scared... and so he prepared for the confrontation, as most anyone would do.  By solidifying his position.

Tim solidified his position by forming his conclusions, judgments and solutions.

Conclusions:  Sam's service was not delivered as expected, therefore Tim does not owe the amount in the contract.  

Judgments:  It was unfair of Sam to not talk this through amicably with Tim.  Sam is unethical, unfair and greedy.

Solutions: Sam should credit Tim's company $1,000.  Anything less is unfair.

Armed with his position, Tim picked up the phone and called Sam.  Although Tim was trying to sound nice and businesslike, Sam instantly picked up the defensive/aggressive tone in his voice.

Sam's mind immediately formed it's own position.  He thought of all he'd done for Tim over the years.  How could he be so ungrateful and cheap?  You can bend over backward for a guy only so much.  No more discounts or credits.

"Well you can call my lawyer then, Sam, because I'm not paying another dime until you credit me $1,000."

"If that's the way you want it, Tim.  You'll be hearing from my lawyer."  Click.  Sam had hung up the phone.

"At least I didn't let that guy overcharge us again," Tim explained to his secretary.  A guy's got to take a stand once in a while.  Otherwise people will walk all over you.

Thousands of dollars in lawyer bills later, Sam and Tim finally settled out of court for a $500 credit.  To this day, their friendship is dead, they are both resentful, and their positions are stronger than ever.  Every time they reflect honestly on how they resolved the conflict, they feel guilt... and then their mind turns back to it's position, and they feel a little more comfortable. 
 

A Key Point: 

We live in a Position world!  It's how we think, how we operate, how we resolve conflict.  And it works miserably.  Our next evolution as human beings is to learn to live from a stand.  (Good thing we're in this course!)
 

Visionary Advantage: 

A visionary operates in such a way that she inspires herself, her team and even her adversaries to greatness.  She calls people to rise above their positions and align on shared values.  She can see through nearly any conflict, and has the confidence of a brazen, unstoppable entrepreneur.  Hers is not a foolish arrogance or the brute force of will, but vision.  The kind of vision that is uncommon to most of us.

She lives from a stand, and is called forward by the resulting vision to keep standing.  She inspires not only herself, but the world around her to greatness.
 

Visionary Dynamic:

The more you come from a stand, the more even your adversaries are inspired by you.  Rather than react to your position with their own position, they are inspired to stand as well.

 
Visionary Challenge:

What is your position about a certain conflict in your life?  Whose right and wrong, and why?  How is your position causing the continued building of your adversary's position?  What might happen if you transformed your position into a stand?

Meet other visionaries and discuss how to integrate this distinction into your life on the Vision Force Forum Boards.
 

Visionary Training:

It's easy to see that positions are quite powerless.  But where can we get training in taking a stand, and living from it?  Where can we get the kind of training that would have us living daily as powerful visionaries in life.  The iStand Experience is not like anything else you've ever attended.  It's a transformational experience in which you re-align yourself with your self--with your values and your vision.  The process feels totally natural, and right.  Are you ready?

The iStand Experience(TM) (LIVE Training Event)

Visionary Mind

 

Download your Visionary Mind!

> The full 8-week program on Audio CDs, professionally recorded by Michael Skye. > 100 page, 3-ring binder Workbook, with comprehensive worksheets and assignments.  > 14+ hours of live recorded conference calls (MP3s) We give you the entire Vision Force 101 program (normally $397) on a digital CD--a perfect supplement to Visionary Mind.  Listen to participants do the exercises and learn from their insights. > Access to private on-line member area, where you can interact with other students for years to come.

Additional Resources:

The Ultimate Measure (Article) Coming soon!

 

Give your friend a Visionary Mind Shift!

Your Name: Your email: Friend #1 Name: Email: Friend #2 (Optional) Name: Email:   Add your personal comments here:   Check this box if you want confirmation of recipient email(s) sent. Check this box if you want confirmation the recipient(s) viewed this site.

If you're not registered for Visionary Mind Shifts, and you'd like to receive them in their entirety for free click here.