Revolution of the Mind

Session Outline:
Objective:To get people thinking and challenging themselves to be more open minded and successful
Agenda: 1 hour total, small groups (5-7 people each), handouts to each person.
Intro.: 5 min-Facilitators act out "Nan-in" story below before the entire plenary (with narrator).
Plenary: 5 min-Go over objective of session and delegates role in it
5 min-Distribute handouts to delegates & divide into small groups
Group: 30 min-Work through #1-4 in a group and use questions to help guide group discussion
Plenary: 15 min-Bring groups back together. Ask what (if anything) was learned from the session.
Ask if they can apply these ideas when interacting with other cultures, with LCs, NCs, AI,
project, programmes, with other people's ideas & with themselves.
Note:

This session outline is provided to delegates so that they can repeat the session if they
want back in their own countries

Group Exercises:
1. Read over the story below. Are you a "full cup" of your own opinions & speculations, that
nothing more can go in?
"Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1968-1912) received a university professor who
came in to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. 'It is over full. No
more will go in!'
'Like this cup.' Nan-in said, 'you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show
you Zen unless you first empty your cup?'"
From The Learner Within, IBM
2. Read over "50 Excuses of a Closed Mind". (from the "Learner Within")
Do you find yourself using one or more of these excuses?
When do you use them?
What are some "Sayings of an open mind" that you could use to help shape new ideas and
make them even better, rather than "kill them".
3. Read over "50 Successful Thoughts". (Author unknown)
Do some of these attitudes and actions apply to you?
Which of these ideas do you see as most helpful in helping you be successful?
4. To become more open minded and allow greater capacity for learning, there are two main skills
needed: reflection and inquiry.
& Reflection is the deliberate exposure and surfacing of our thinking processes to become more
aware of how we form our mental models / paradigms / perceptions.
& Inquiry is the holding of conversations where we openly share views and develop
knowledge about each other's assumptions.
Read over the "Ladder of Inference" concept (from The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook).

 What instances can you think of that you "climbed the ladder" of inference?
The examples below are real situation common in AIESEC, how might you address them when
you see them happening? What are alternative explanations from the ones below?
Situation: AI judged by delegates
I will just ignore what AI
is doing and do my own
things
AI's activities are not
relevant to me
AI is out of touch with
what is happening at LCs
& NCs
AI is not providing what I
need at conferences
AI refuses to change the
conference agenda for me
I'm not getting what I
want from this conference
The conference agenda is
presented to the delegates

Delegates judged by AI
We must have more
sessions
on
AIESEC
philosophy
They don't understand
AIESEC's purpose
All the delegates want to do
is drink, party and sleep
They must be at the
conference for something
else
Coming late means they
don't care about the session
AI notices some delegates
are coming late to sessions
Sessions are late getting
started

Person judging other culture

I will never loan anything to
someone from ___ country
People from ___ country
are untrustworthy
This person cannot be
trusted
This person is not being
open & honest with me
Shifty eyes mean the person
is hiding something
One person doesn't look in
the other's eyes when
talking
Two people from a different
cultures meet

What other situations of "climbing the ladder" do you notice in AIESEC or beyond?
How are some strategies to help you be "climb" or get to the "right" conclusions in different
situations? How can you ensure you get to the "right" conclusion with other people you
interact with at this conference?

Fifty Excuses of a Closed Mind

1. We tried that before.
2. Our situation is different.
3. It costs too much.
4. That's not our responsibility.
5. That's not my job.
6. It's too radical a change.
7. We don't have the time.
8. We will need too much help.
9. Let's discuss it in the morning.
10.Let's test it thoroughly.
11. It's not practical or realistic.
12.___ will never accept it.
13.We've never done that before.
14.It's outside our organizations
policy.
15.We don't have the authority.
16.That's not the main problem
17.Let's get back to reality
18.It works now, why change?
19.Is this your own idea?
20.Could you put it in writing?
21.You're right, but...
22.You're ahead of your time
23.For you, yes, for me, no.
24.We're not ready for that.
25.It isn't in the budget.
26.Can't teach an old dog new
tricks.
27.Good idea but impractical.
28.Send me a memo about this.

Fifty Successful Thoughts

1. Live your ideal life ... now & every day.
2. Do things that are extraordinary and
nearly impossible.
3. Believe that: If it's to be, it's up to me.
4. Think BIG. Dream lofty dreams. Plan.
Act.

29.Leave it with me.

30.Has anyone else tried it?
31.I don't see the connection.
32.What you're really saying is...
33.If anyone could do it, you
could, but...
34.You know as well as I do that...
35.That's confidential at the
moment.
36.That's not the way we do things
37.When you've been here as long
as I...
38.You know I'd help if I could.
39.Let me give you some advice.
40.I take it you want me to be
honest...
41.We're too busy at the moment
42.Let's give it more thought.
43.Just think of all the paperwork
44.It is being looked at already...
45.Our organization is different
46.Let's form a committee or task
force.
47.We don't have the people for
that.
48.Our organization is too small.
49.Let's learn more before we
start.
50.We've always done it this way.
5. Keep in contact with the best, meet
people engaged in the best, experience
the best.
6. Be your own boss. Do what you love.
7. Duplicate your efforts and receive a
percentage on other people's
productivity.

8. Increase your smiles daily ... whether

you work, play, or sleep.
9. Do what you do so well that people
enthusiastically refer others to you.
10. Inspire others by your example.
11. Build your reputation for honesty,
integrity, quality, and superb service.
12. Aim for excellence in your field.
13. Support others in achieving their goals.
14. Develop friendships world-wide.
15. Take total responsibility for your past,
present, and future experiences.
16. Strive to accomplish more with less
time, money, and energy.
17. Do and say things that benefit all
concerned.
18. Be open to new ideas, relationships,
and experiences.
19. Realize that all events happen for the
best.
20. Take calculated risks.
21. Read books by and about exciting
people.
22. Simplify your life; have more fun per
hour.
23. Know that you are equal to everyone
and everyone is equal to you.
24. Accept people the way they are and the
way they are not.
25. Forgive and love.
26. Do what you feel is right, no matter
what people think of you.
27. Give something away daily ... a
postcard, letter, gift, smile, hug,
compliment

28. Collect pictures of what you want to be,

do, and have in life.
29. Do not criticize, condemn or complain.
30. Act as if it were impossible to fail.
31. Value quality above quantity.
32. Do things you will never regret.
33. Take a weekend vacation (often).
34. Dress to look and feel great!
35. Collect quotes that motivate you.
36. Speak and write only positive words.
37. Be curious...constantly explore and
challenge the world, ideas, & life
38. Learn something new every day.
39. Exercise at least 20 minutes daily to
achieve and maintain your ideal body.
40. Eat mostly fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts,
grains.
41. Minimize alcohol, tobacco, sugar, salt,
white flour, coffee, pork, beef,
unnatural foods.
42. Avoid saying: can't, hard, difficult.
Say: I can, it's easy, it's simple.
43. Keep your home, desk, closets, car ...
clean, neat and organized.
44. Use a simple time management system.
45. Listen to music which motivates you.
46. Spend more time with nature.
47. Act as if all your goals are already
accomplished.
48. Explain your vision for the future in the
present tense.
49. Consistently escalate your goals.
50. Be true to your values.