Video of the Day

Quote from: Lou on 16-Dec-10, 03:15:44 PM

Ann,

Thanks for your thoughtful response! I sometimes like videos that provoke higher level of thinking and that's why I shared this. ( I also like the simple fun videos!). After reading your message, I couldn't help but think of Stephen Covey's message contrasting abundance mentality with a scarcity complex. Here's some of what he says:

"Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else.

The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit â€“ even with those who help in the production. The also have a very hard time being genuinely happy for the success of other people.

The Abundance Mentality, on the other hand, flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity."

IMHO, I agree with Covey: If A has money and B has money, there really isn't less available for C.

Lou

Lou,

Thank you for your rejoinder, Lou. Frankly, I expected the discussion to come to a full stop with my modest diatribe or that I would be called one of those so-called "socialists" from that country to the north... So you can imagine my pleasure in receiving a response with some solid thought in it. It's not that I doubt that anyone in this group could make a good reply, could in all probably could do better than I, but that I don't think they would bother... So, thank you.

The minute I saw the video, I will admit that my back went up... I've seen and still see, too many similar circumstances, as described in the video and, as a Socialist (yes, I will admit it, and no I'm not a Communist!) I reacted rather strongly to it. So I am very interested in your thoughtful response.

I will admit that I've never heard of Stephen Covey, but you peaked my curiosity. So I went and did some research on who this man is and what his basic statement is... Is he a realist or a dreamer. Can he back up what he says or is he just blowing in the wind. And after a somewhat fast perusal, I think that I can say that he is a man of principle, who is wise in the ways he divides factions up, making good clear examples of how he views the world. I certainly will read some of his books -- the most interesting one to me, first off, being "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". I may get back to you on what I think of him and his ways...

His division of people, who see life as only one piece of pie (the Scarcity Mentality) vs those who see enough pie out there for everyone (the Abundance Mentality) is curious to me. If the former group represents those who cannot happily share and are not happy with the success of others, as they are always having to protect their position, and the latter group, those who confident enough to share and be happy for everyone around him, then I have trouble placing these people who have $250,000, a car and a home in this city of ultimate achievement.

I feel that in a way, they see the world as a place where they've pulled themselves up, perhaps/probably stepping on others as they climbed, to achieve this small, but big to them, achievement -- a place in this special winners' circle, and that would make them members of the Scarcity Mentality. They have grabbed their piece of the pie to join other people, who have also grabbed their piece. And to heck with what that leaves over for anybody else below them. And, too, they guard their position strongly, for fear of someone coming along, who has an even bigger piece of the pie, who gets the bigger house and threatens the level at which they have been forced to stop. I'm sure the rivalry in this kind of community is high all the time, a constant "keeping ahead of the Woos" battle going on. For if the Woos have 2 cars, where does that leave the Chows with only one car? Frankly, I can't see it as a comfortable place to live, as the constant, constant competition must be wearing... I certainly see this kind of community in Toronto, such as Forest Hill and Rosedale. When studying them, you can practically feel...sense the constant rumblings, shifting going on as one threatens another, not physically, but by displaying one-upmanship... Yes, people are proud of their address, but happy â€“ only if they are very secure in their opinion of themselves!

And yet, if I'm reading you correctly, you would put these renowned house owners in the Abundance Mentality... From this point on my counterpoint to the situation will crash, if I've read you wrong...and I will apologize... But I believe that you are seeing these people, as those who have a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. That they represent an outstandingly clear example of what will result from the sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making, which opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity." And I say that you are dreaming, if you thing that this is what is going on... If you think these people are going to share with the population of China, to ultimately create one big city for all to be equal and recognized as such, I really canâ€™t see it.

No, I just can't... Just from the basic principle of why these specific people are where they are and others aren't, plays havoc with organizational tributes you are giving these people. I'm sorry, but I just can't see that picture. I've seen and studied, from a socio-economical view point, too many such communities. They may be sympathetic to the little people, who have only a tiny slice of the pie, they may even share a little bit of their pie. But, basically, they are where they are and can do whatever they do, only because they believe there is only one pie and heaven forbid that someone with only a medium portion should try to become "one of us"!! I just canâ€™t believe that the general collection of these homeowners fall into that category of the Abundance Theory... Just from what we saw in the video, these are high achievers, who have no real respect for non-achievers, and have no love whatsoever for the middle achievers, who might threaten their position...

Perhaps I'm being cynical in my old age... Perhaps I'm just a double doubter. Perhaps I didn't listen carefully enough to the video...pick up some vibes... But the way I see it, we still have a "have" community, surrounded by a country full of "have-nots"... A few successful individuals, who have their good sized piece of the pie and the rest, who have little, probably always only have at small share, and....Never The Twain Shall Meet!

IMHO Anne in Toronto

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