Comments on: Values, Principles, and now, Virtue

By: Rosa

Rosa — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:29:06 +0000

Interesting James, we’ll click in to Cohesive Integrity and see what you have to say!
If I may expand a bit here for now, certainly nānā i ke kumu, “look to your source and find your truth” is about exercising one’s self-integrity, and looking inward for one’s more proactive responses to those moments of truth which present themselves.

By: James Shewmaker

James Shewmaker — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 16:47:36 +0000

Rosa,
Dwayne’s mentioning of “exercising integrity in the moment of choice” is one of the ways that I will be discusiing in the future of preventing the techniques that I am discussing on “Cohesive Integrity” from becoming adhesive. That article is scheduled for late December or early January.
But for now, let me mention that “exercising integrity in the moment of choice” is similar to the concept of “source” which you describe. (However, I believe that the subjective must always be subservient to the objective.) When faced with a moment of decision, if a person is using a schedule to “tie her hands” then instead of creating the cohesiveness of integrity she is degenerating into the adhesion of self-management. (I will touch on that in Dec. 5th’s posting.)

By: Rosa

Rosa — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:29:18 +0000

Mahalo Dwayne! It was driving me a bit crazy, for I knew I had read it very recently somewhere, and I couldn’t remember where. I should have known to think of First Things First since I’d just re-read it in October as the Ho‘ohana Book of the Month — I took my own Sweet Closure too far ” out of sight, out of mind.
These were the passages I’d marked in that chapter back in October:
— “A moment of choice is a moment of truth. It’s the testing point of our character and competence.”
— “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do,” said Emerson, “not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our ability to do has increased.” As we learn to ask with intent, listen without excuse, and act with courage, we build our ability to live a principle-centered life.”
— “People seem not to see,” said Emerson, “that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” One of the best ways to educate our heart is to look at our interaction with other people, because our relationships with others are fundamentally a reflection of our relationship with ourselves.
Oh, and I think your hearing Mele Kalikimaka was quite cool too!
Steve, we’ll look forward to your Covey stories! It’s a toss up who I mention here more, Stephen Covey, Marcus Buckingham (or somebody from Gallup), and recently David Allen, however the Covey opportunities are very sure to return!
Getting back to Dwayne’s original comment, my own “trigger” for asking the question goes back to the word integrity. For harking back to my post, one part of my email banter with James Shewmaker had been the differences when integrity is thought of as a value or as a principle. Many could argue it’s a virtue too, for the connection to morality and character-building is pretty undeniable.
With those thoughts angling for my brain’s attention, perhaps it’s more understandable that my memory of First Things First was pushed far to the back recesses of my mind ”
Hmmm ” the mental gymnastics for a Saturday evening!

By: Steve Sherlock

Steve Sherlock — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 21:08:51 +0000

Nice string of comments… I have a story or two of Covey as well that I should develop more fully and share.
The timeliness of music and thought is not “just a coincidence” or “spooky”, although it seems that way.
There is only so much our brain can pay attention to that our senses bring to it, what we do notice are these “coincidences or spooky things”. We are making a connection. We are living and learning. Some times, we are just more conscious of it than at other times. We are life long learners, if we choose to live and breath and pursue life.
Thanks for fostering this Rosa! and contributing Dwayne!

By: Dwayne Melancon

Dwayne Melancon — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 20:54:16 +0000

I vividly remember the first time I heard it – at a “First Things First” seminar in August of 1993. At that time, it was “integrity in the moment of truth.”
It’s Chapter 9 in the Covey “First Things First” book – subtitled “Quality of life depends on what happens in the space between stimulus and response.” Very powerful.
Another cosmic nudge – I was in the Franklin-Covey store today to verify that’s what chapter it was in. I picked up the book and *while I was looking through it* the Bing Crosby version of “Mele Kalikimaka” came on – I thought that was very spooky (and quite cool).

By: Rosa

Rosa — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 16:49:57 +0000

I remember your first post very well Dwayne! I had started reading your Genuine Curiosity a bit later, however when I discovered your inspiring blog I could not resist dipping into your archives and reading as much of it as I could.
Your voice has added the music of provocative thought to the Ho‘ohana Community, and I am so very grateful that you share so much with us so freely.
On what you’ve written here: Can you point me more directly to the source of that “trigger” in Covey’s writing about ‘exercising integrity in the moment of choice’ ??? Do you remember where that quote comes from?

By: Dwayne Melancon

Dwayne Melancon — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:36:57 +0000

Great post, Rosa! Your analysis and the reminder of these concepts brought forth lots of strong feelings and fond memories for me. My first blog post back in January was inspired by Covey’s “8th Habit” book, with its encouragement to “Find Your Voice.”
Soon afterward, I read Benjamin Franklin’s biography and posted about his system for tracking his progress in improving his “Virtues.”
And, you may recall that I think of your book as a phenomenal “why to” guide for managers.
Finally, from the stuff I’ve posted here, you may know I’ve been a long-time follower of (and frequent wallower in) Getting Things Done. In fact, I have had some introspective moments trying to figure out how principles applied to GTD.
I’ve come to realize that there is a strong intersection of all of these “systems” and they are actually far more similar than they may seem at first glance. I found my “trigger” in Covey’s writing about “exercising integrity in the moment of choice.”
Making the right choices seems to be the most challenging part of any “time management” system – and those choice can make you wildly successful, but you’ll only feel good about what you’re doing if the choices are consistent with your unwritten rules.

By: Become Unforgettable

Become Unforgettable — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 22:18:14 +0000

Mahalo Nui Loa

Today, Rosa Say, author of “Managing With Aloha” and founder of Say Leadership Coaching, referenced both this blog and my Cohesive Integrity column on her Talking Story blog.
Mahalo Nui Loa, Rosa.