Are the Hunter Or the Hunted?

Are you a hunter, or the hunted?

I do not mean these terms to be used in the ‘stalking’ sense. Before we were immersed as denizens of the Digital/Technology Age, we were evolving from the hunter-gatherer role. We hunted for wildebeest to attain our dietary needs. These hunting skill-sets became ingrained into our DNA, and hunting became a recreational or recruiting pursuit. Invariably, we become mired in adventures such as ‘house-hunting’, ‘bargain-hunting’ and ‘hunting down a good deal’.

As an avid reader and collector of magic literature, my library catalogues over-500 books, including manuscripts and booklets. I have hunted down rare and out-of-print books – some of these procured through private collections and online bids. One first edition book cost multiplied in value ten times; my most expensive book is valued at least US$2,000 on eBay. I am not in a rush to sell these nuggets, as I value them for the knowledge and the pleasure of owning them. My friend, entrepreneur and magician Francis Ng is probably the owner of the world’s largest collection of cups-and-balls (used in magic). His vast collection includes collectibles, limited-edition pieces and those owned by the greats in magic. He revealed that he has hunted many pieces of these finely crafted goblets on his travels.

Executives search professionals, or headhunters as they are traditional called, seek and convince potential employees to attend job interviews. Certainly, potential candidates who are sought after by searchers have often been researched. Valuable human resources are those who are values for their unique and exquisite sets of people and functional skills. In his pursuit of his dreams and aspirations, my friend Matthew has committed one year of his life seeking further education and higher learning. 

Leadership Lessons: What have you hunted for lately? How do you feel when you are involved in a hunt? As a collective, what were the experiences you earned whilst working on a team project? How do you position yourself to be spotted for your talent, abilities and competencies? How often are you hunted down for your capabilities and expertise?

Leading with Discomfort: When Push Goes To Shove

There is innovation in desperation. They say that ‘invention is the mother of necessity’.

Today, I join many of the TNF100 runners that hobbled down steps, or anything with a sheer drop of more than 10 centimetres. Eccentric action, or movement with the muscles stretching under load, is painful for me. This pain is caused by several physical and physiological responses:

1)    Landing on the slopes (eccentric action)

2)    Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) – most severe 48-72 hours after cessation of the activity

3)    Buildup of inflammation (as a response to strenuous muscular activity)

So, the last 48 hours (the NorthFace100 event was on Saturday, 8.00am-3pm for me) was spent reducing the inflammatory response of my body (as a natural response to healing) to a minimum. I resorted to the following active and passive methods of recovery and recuperation:

a)    Consumption of carbohydrates and protein from a wide variety of natural food and supplements (whey protein from Tiger Milk – which Chrissy Wellington uses)

b)    Increased consumption of antioxidant-laden foods (vegetables, berries, pomegranate juice, ginger); 100% pomegranate juice has the highest antioxidant/phytochemical value compared to berries, cherries and red wine

c)    Walking (low intensity for at least 20 minutes), cycling and water-jogging

d)    Deep stretching poses (hip flexors, glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, soles)

I am still sore in my thighs, however the pain is bearable. I walk with knees partly extended so as to provide temporary relief when walking. I know that the pain will subside fully in another day or two, as it has in the past. Stiff muscles in masters-class athletes are expected, so there is more work involved to stay in the game for a longer time. Two books address this in interesting perspective: Roy M. Wallack’s Run For Life (which focuses on the aging athlete), and Dr Phil Maffetone’s The Big Book of Endurance Training & Racing. I recommend that you read them for more interesting training and recovery choices.

I am glad that my online conversations with members of the running community have yielded their shared solutions for managing their post-exercise pain? We share much in common, yet there is uncommon sense that prevails and that works! Our personal discoveries when shared can reveal a wider net of affirmation and confirmation.

Leadership Lessons: How do you work past your discomfort? What are doing to stay ahead in your game? How creative do you get when you face challenges and difficulty? How do you seek solutions to problems that have plagued you? How much do you read and ask, and apply to practice?

Take the Lead To Inscribe and Describe

Writing is part of the trilogy of communication mystery. The other two are speaking and reading. Mastery of language involves the relationship of visual, auditory and kinesthetic, which is to see, hear and feel. When we write, we do more than communicate our message – we also express ourselves through personalities and writing styles.

Writing can be therapeutic, so it has been prescribed as writing therapy. Just writing down our thoughts and feelings can help us refocus, feel better and gain better clarity.

With audio-books, we can hear the author speak their written words. It lends another dimension to the medium of ‘the written word’.

You can be a better writer by reading regularly and extensively. This can go beyond reading the newspapers. Increase your knowledge base with bestselling books, journals, literature, letters and essays. Take every opportunity to write properly and with clear intention. Write your best even on Social Media 2.0.

Here are a few books that I am reading, and will follow up with book reviews.

This book (by bestselling author, Steven Johnson) is about the history of innovation and the evolution of thinking, through cross-disciplinary linkages. Reeves Lim presented this book to me as a gift as part of our collaborative research into corporate innovation and innovative practices.

This is an inspiring read about strengthening relationships through challenges and hardship. I met the authors, Sue & Andrew O’Brien at the Gold Coast Marathon in July and they are also keynote speakers.

This is one of my favourite authors on magic – Jamy Ian Swiss. I attended a magic workshop with him in 2004, and he is a critical thinker, honest book critic and a literary writer. This is his latest book on the performance and art of magic.

All the books are available through Amazon.com