Published on LinkedIn on January 31, 2018 When we study, one-on-one, with great individuals, groundbreaking people in any discipline, there is an exchange of essences that is magical in its power, and not the equal of any other educational experience. On those occasions we dwell in an “Ether of excellence.” This medium is vital to the chemistry of great teaching and great learning. And it has been, since Socrates taught Plato, and Aristotle instructed Alexander. -Dr. Gary S. Goodman Waiting for a train from London to Edinburgh, I spotted a book kiosk and ambled over. “DRUCKER” announced one cover in outsized print. Leafing through it, I was captivated. I lucked upon a section called “The Fallacy of Creativity,” which instantly resonated for me. It says the best ways to do a job are not intuitively obvious. And contrary to what the employee empowerment ethos maintains, those closest to the work are least capable of discovering improvements. What a find! As a widely engaged consultant, this seemed to be a full-employment rationale for folks like me. Consultants are precisely NOT close to the work. From afar, we bring perspective and a fresh frame to what could be in plain sight but still invisible to those in the fray of the everyday. (Ideally, we hail from very, very far away, and then our ideas are embraced with awe and sincere appreciation. As a journalist once quipped, “A consultant is an ordinary person from more than 100 miles away.”) I read the final pages of DRUCKER and noted he was a professor at Claremont Graduate University, which was about 50 miles from where I lived at the time: Commuting distance! World renowned and super-successful, was it possible he was still teaching? I phoned and to my delight he was. I studied with him over the course of two and one-half years, earning an MBA in the process. I took every class with him that became available and we got to know each other. On Saturday afternoons, I served as his unofficial chauffeur from campus back to his home. He learned of my work and thought enough of it to recommend me to his consulting clients. And naturally, we had some great, memorable chats. I read everything I could get my hands on that he authored, including his not widely known novel, The Temptation To Do Good. As you can imagine, I have volumes-worth of quotes from his classes and books. But these are a very small measure of Peter F. Drucker's contribution. Most significant is the face-time we invested in each other. When we study, one-on-one, with great individuals, groundbreaking people in any discipline, there is an exchange of essences that is magical in its power, and not the equal of any other educational experience. On those occasions we dwell in an “Ether of excellence.” This medium is vital to the chemistry of great teaching and great learning. And it has been, since Socrates taught Plato, and Aristotle instructed Alexander. I’ve sought out thought leaders in various topical areas with whom to study, including Donald C. Bryant, in Communication, and Albert Ellis, in Psychology. In each case, the chemistry works. I find myself in a state of heightened receptivity, not unlike a learning-trance, where I invite in new information and theories. And I’m transformed, renewed, motivated, and my own creativity is accelerated. Studying with the greats is a gift for a lifetime. I wholeheartedly recommend you give it to yourself. You, too, might be lucky enough to become a chauffeur. Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a dynamic keynote speaker, seminar leader, and the best-selling author of more than 20 books and audio books. Gary’s programs have been hosted by corporations and trade associations around the world. He can be reached directly at: gary@drgarygoodman.com or at (818) 970-GARY (818-970-4279). Comments on Dr. Gary S. Goodman’s article Ronald Bell The lineage continues — I had the pleasure of engaging Gary to work with me in setting up telemarketing for a Xerox group selling high end ERP solutions. Within six months, we were sourcing half of the prospects in the pipeline, a stunning growth!! When you really excel at something, like Gary, he makes it look easy, even magical. While my experience with Gary is perhaps only a sliver of his experience with Peter Drucker, it has stayed with me a lifetime. Thank you for sharing. Comments are closed.
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