Roadturn

Featuring The DEEP and How to LIVE

Photo of Aijalon Mahli Gomes

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I don’t know whether the post is accurate, but the photograph appears to be authentic. It comes from the “Free Robert Park” blog, where the story line includes this:

Robert Park will be on hunger strike at the nearest place to the White House in Washington, DC, beginning sunrise on March 25th, for the release of his friend and brother in Christ, Aijalon Gomes. He begs President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to intervene on Mr. Aijalon Gomes’s behalf.

If it is true, perhaps Robert Park will soon speak out concerning his recent ordeal as a North Korean detainee. The blog also says that Robert and Aijalon Gomes are “closest friends.”

I feel confident about the photo because of this post on the ROK Drop site. It shows a different picture, but of what appears to be the same person, identified as Aijalon Gomes. That article also says that Robert Park and Aijalon Gomes are acquainted. Here are a couple of blips from ROK Drop:

A Boston man detained in North Korea is a quiet, devout Christian so concerned about an American missionary held in Pyongyang that he was moved to tears at rallies protesting the communist regime, fellow activists said today… activists in Seoul said he was an acquaintance of Robert Park, a fellow Christian from Arizona…

It is a developing story, one that I certainly have no sway over. I am reminded of a maxim: Prayer is normally the last, but should be the first, thing we think of. Robert Park and Aijalon Gomes, I don’t know you, but I sure admire the depth of your convictions on behalf of humanity. May God continue to bless and keep you both. It may be that your reward in Heaven is considerably greater than what you have thus far endured on Earth.

Aijalon Mahli Gomes, Robert Park and Motivation

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A current primary topic for me concerns motivation–how do I get myself to do that which I desire? This morning, I was proceeding along that trail and had arrived at a point where I was considering the importance of the strength of the desire. I recalled the maxim, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” That which we want badly enough will come to pass. I might want to get out of bed earlier each day, but have a hard time doing it. Set the house on fire, however, and you can get me on my feet at any hour.

It was then that I saw a news flash about an American, Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who is being tried in North Korea for illegal entry. “Who is he,” I wondered, “and what in the world is he doing trying to infiltrate North Korea?” I can’t answer that for certain, but a little bit of research gave me a few big clues. “Aijalon” comes from the Biblical book of Joshua. It is the place where Joshua defeated five kings–and where the Creator even stopped the progress of the sun and moon to help him. “Mahli” is a Biblical name, as well–a son of the house of Levi.

The next clue was the clincher. It is from a post left on a Korean website last August. It is a question about hair removal by someone who signs the post like this: “Love and God Bless, Aijalon G.” I don’t know about where you are from, but my experience is that “God Bless” is a buzz phrase for Christianity. Putting those, albeit slim threads, of information together, it would seem that the young American now imprisoned in North Korea went there on a Christian mission in support of the Gospel. This is pure speculation, of course. I could be way wrong.

A primary source of informationwas the ROK Drop site. The conclusion there is that Aijaon Mahli is another Robert Park–and that he is likely to “get the same treatment.” Now, that is disturbing. Robert Park (see photo) walked across a frozen river from China into North Korea on Christmas Day, 2009. Witnesses say that he was shouting, “I am an American citizen. I am bringing God’s love. God loves you.” Robert Park was carrying a letter to the North Korean Supreme Leader, Kim Jung-il, calling for human rights in the country. Here is a blip from a Reuters interview with Robert Park the week before he crossed over: [Read more…] about Aijalon Mahli Gomes, Robert Park and Motivation

7 Habits gets a 10

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I attended a The 7 Habits for Managers: Managing Yourself, Leading Others, Unleashing Potential seminar this week, and I don’t regret a second of the time investment. It was good stuff, well presented. My recommendation is that, when you get a chance, sit in on one; it will stir up what you already know, at the least, and very likely will give you some fresh insight and ideas about leadership.

By the way, who is a manager? All of us are–we manage ourselves (and we lead others.)

One concept Covey uses is WIG, an acronym for “Wildly Important Goals.” The The 7 Habits for Managers: Managing Yourself, Leading Others, Unleashing Potential idea is this: Plan weekly and implement daily.

A helpful part of the workshop is that each participant is given a CD with pdf and ms-word forms on it. The WIG form encourages the user to write down the top three WIGs for the week, then list objectives and tasks for each. I’ve been doing that on my computer (I call them PGA’s, though–Primary God-given Ambitions), but I see the value in writing them on paper and carrying it in my pocket. Sunday being the first day of the week, I’m going to sit down with my printed out WIGs (PGA’s) and go at it.

Try it; you’ll like it.

Harvard? Yale? Fake, but Believable…

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If you have ever heard or read anything about motivation and goal setting, you’ve probably come across the 1979 Harvard study (or was it a 1953 Yale study?) You know, the one where the graduating class was asked whether or not they had written goals, and the ones who did (only 3%) had achieved more success (i.e. money) than the other 97% combined. It makes a great story and a powerful reason to set goals. Pundits like Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, even Zig Ziglar have used it repeatedly. The problem is that neither of the studies cited actually took place. They are fake. Sham.

At least, that’s the best that I can determine. I could be wrong.

The tale seems to have begun, or at least have received a big boost, from a 1986 book by the late Mark H. McCormack: What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School: Notes From A Street-Smart Executive. Fast Company ran an article on the subject, in 1996. They began by speaking with Jay Rifenbary, who had cited the Yale study in his 1995 book, No Excuse! Incorporating Core Values, Accountability, and Balance into Your Life and Career. Jay’s staff couldn’t document the reference, but pointed to the numerous motivational consultants who refer to it. So the Fast Company researchers sought the council of Tony Robbins. Here’s a blip from that article:

The CDU turned next to the reigning guru of personal achievement, chisel-jawed infomercial king Anthony Robbins. There, on page 200 of the 34th printing of his best-seller, Unlimited Power, Robbins writes, “The difference in people’s abilities to fully tap their personal resources is directly affected by their goals. A study of the 1953 graduates of Yale University … ”

To find Robbins’s source, the CDU contacted Robbins Research International (RRI) in La Jolla, California — only to learn that the files concerning Unlimited Power had “met a disastrous end.” RRI referred the CDU to personal effectiveness consultant Brian Tracy, who directed the CDU to the dean of motivational speakers, Zig Ziglar.

Sure enough, in the middle of his best-selling video, Goals, Setting and Achieving Them on Schedule, the evangelical Ziglar drops to his knees and cites — you guessed it — the study of the Class of 1953. “Those 3%,” preaches Ziglar, “accomplished more than the 97% combined who had not set those goals.”

But where had Ziglar found the study? It would be hard to pin down, explained a spokesperson from Ziglar’s Dallas headquarters: “Mr. Ziglar is always reading. He reads more than two hours a day!” One possible source — “Try Tony Robbins.”

Now, look, don’t get me wrong. I don’t share the magazine’s derision of Robbins, Tracy, and Ziglar–I admire those guys, every one of them–but, you must admit; it’s a funny story. Here’s why I tell it. Here’s an important thing to remember: Don’t believe everything you hear or read–even if the source is someone you have trusted for years. They could be wrong. They could be repeating something they believe, but is absolutely untrue. Check the source, and if there is no credible source to be found; beware.

What really amazes me is how two people can witness the same event and come away with two different stories. Has that ever happened to you? What causes that? The first time it happened to me, I just figured that the other person was deluded. The more I’ve reflected on the phenomenon, though, the more I think it is this: We believe what we want to believe. In a major way, we create our own reality–and God help anyone who tries to convince us otherwise.

The bottom line for Turnaround Theory is this (straight from Brian Tracy’s book, Goals! How to Get Everything You Want–Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible🙂

You become what you think about most of the time… successful people think and talk about what they want, most of the time. Unsuccessful people think and talk about what they don’t want, most of the time.