“Observe the masses and do the opposite.”
– Walt Disney
I found myself on business in the beautiful city of Barcelona for part of last week but managed to get some time to visit the incredible Sagrada Familia – the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world.
Construction started in 1882 and is due for completion in 2026.
This phenomenal building was the vision of the legendary architect Antoni Gaudi who had a dream of building a ‘church for the people, by the people.’
He was inspired by his three passions of architecture, nature and religion and his work defied conventional logic in many ways. It truly is a sight to behold.
I was in Barcelona running a workshop for the leadership of a global business team – helping them to develop critical inner leadership skills for their work and life. I believe these skills will become increasingly vital in a world that is more volatile and uncertain.
One of the participants made a comment that I hear often:
‘You know, everything you’re talking about is the opposite to the way society is going.”
I was covering things like:
- Enabling clarity of mind regardless of circumstance
- Improving Focus
- Enabling peace of mind and happiness
- Minimising distractions
- Managing State of Mind
- Adapting to the environment
- Cultivating inner resilience and creativity
As a wise mentor of mine said to me years ago, “Shane, if everyone is going in one direction, start looking in the other. That’s where the opportunity lies.”
Easy to say, hard to do.
But that is truly where the opportunity lies.
Visionaries like Antoni Gaudi followed the path less travelled. I’d encourage you to as well.
Where can you do so this week? Where can you start?
Shane
