Eeyores, Tiggers, and Piglets

INTRODUCTION

In which thePresenter Talks Briefly About

Himself

@wcolgrove @threespot

FOREWORD

In whichWe Talk About a Very Magical

Place

Talking about your career can be difficult in familiar surroundings.

CHAPTER I

In whichWe Uncover the

Origin of this Talk

#TaoBother

CHAPTER II

In whichWe Begin By Asking

the Room “Who,” “Why,” and

“Wherefore?”

CHAPTER III

In which theCharacters Are Introduced and the Problem with Christopher

Robin is Discussed

CHAPTER IV

In whichWe Introduce the Idea of

the Uncarved Block

It is a state of pure potential which is the primordial condition of the mind

before the arising of experience.

Points to perception without prejudice, i.e. beyond dualistic distinctions such

as right/wrong, good/bad, black/white, beautiful/ugly.

“I’m just trying to figure out what it is they want me to be

for them.”

CHAPTER V

In which theSupreme Fatalist is

Observed

Eeyores are pessimistic, gloomy, depressed, and have a poor opinion of

others, describing them as having “No brain at

all, some of them.”

Grumpy ≠ Depressed

Fire Your Eeyores

Is Eeyore really worth the effort? Does this type of personality

know that it’s time to move on but can’t

take the step?

How do you engage and motivate someone who always sees the glass as half-empty?

CHAPTER VI

In whichWe Address the

Joyous Overconfident

Tiggers are energetic, optimistic, and overconfident to

a fault.

“For of all the things which he had said Tiggers could do, the only one he felt really certain about suddenly was

climbing trees.”

Control your impulses, or they will control you.

The feeling of accomplishment that

eventually comes when one persistently applies

one’s will to the attaining of non-immediately-

reachable goals.

How can you try to harness, not to mention guide, such enthusiasm?

Today, in your career, would you hire yourself when you first started?

CHAPTER VII

In whichWe Discuss a Very

Small Animal

Piglets are generally timid in disposition, they hesitate before

acting, and are generally unsure of

themselves.

Sooner or later we are bound to discover some things about ourselves that we don’t like.

1. Get rid of them.

2. Change them in to other things.

3. Use them in beneficial ways.

The easiest way to get rid of a minus is to change it into a plus.

Once you face and understand your limitations you can work with them.

How do you encourage without overprotecting?

“You can’t want it for them more than they want it for themselves.”

CHAPTER VIII

In whichWe Talk About Nothing

and Not Doing

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”

“Handsome bell-rope, isn’t it?” said Owl.

Pooh nodded.

“It reminds me of something,” he said,

“but I can’t think what. Where did you get it?”

What we need is usually right at hand.

So in regard to the idea of Nothingness, is it possible to do “nothing” and still

be an effective leader?

I have an example.

CHAPTER IX

In whichWe Discover That Leadership

Demands Courage

The highest virtue is to act without a sense of self

The highest kindness is to give without a condition

The highest justice is to see without a preference

From caring comes courage.

If you don’t love it, don’t do it.

EPILOGUE

In whichWe Part Company and the Presenter Thanks

You All

APPENDIX

In which aKnow-It-All is

Observed in Action

Rabbits are highly opinionated, like to be in

charge, are often quite bossy, and frequently cause

trouble for others.

“…suddenly, we wake up one morning and, what do we find?

We find a Strange Animal among us.”

“Rabbit’s clever,” said Pooh thoughtfully.

“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit’s clever.”

“And he has Brain.”

“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit has Brain.”

There was a long silence.

“I suppose,” said Pooh, “that that’s why he never understands anything.”