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The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back#

Number 47

The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back


Until a few years ago, I was always rather confused when it came to the old adage 'the straw that broke the camel's back'. It perplexed me that a single piece of practically weightless straw could do such damage to the desert's equivalent of a monster truck. It wasn't until I travelled to the Middle East and asked one of the locals about the actual meaning of this saying that I came to understand the true depth of the phrase.

I was told that apparently, a straw really did break a camel's back. The camel had been piled up with so many loads of bags, sacks, pots, rugs and other items that when the final handful of straw was placed on top, the camel simply collapsed.

I often feel just like that fully laden camel must have felt. There are times when I feel like I am so heavily loaded with not sacks of rice and bags of wheat like the camel, but with approaching deadlines, feelings of frustration, organisational disagreements, differing of opinions and so on. And there seems to be a reverse correlation between the heavier my load gets and the less I express my frustrations. Because unlike the camel, I have the ability to express the reasons why my 'back is breaking' and do something about it. It all comes down to another adage: Confront or Conflict.

Never be afraid to confront issues before they become conflicts, especially if the other person involved is a close friend, colleague or relative. True friends are those who tell you how they really feel. We may hear good news every day from strangers, but it takes a true friend to be comfortable enough to confront you with your best interests at heart.

Before our load becomes too heavy, we must try to remember that if someone's actions are causing us frustration, or if a friend, family member or colleague is doing something that annoys us, we must confront the issue before it turns into a conflict. In other words, we must speak up before a whole lot of issues build up on our back to the point where one small and somewhat insignificant matter becomes our proverbial 'straw'. There is a limit to how much people can bear, we must be vocal about this limit.

Please take a moment to ponder... if we do not confront what is annoying us, it will inevitably lead to conflict. And if we are confident enough and comfortable enough to confront those things, then we must remember that it is the issue, not the person, that we are confronting.

Improve your management and leadership style; enhance your communication skills; and resolve the issues that are piling up and becoming a burden. Confront or you will conflict.


Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark


Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

Interesting story? How about sharing?
 #
Monday, January 19, 2009 9:03:42 AM UTC #    Comments [1]  |  Trackback

 

Thursday, February 05, 2009 9:26:09 AM UTC
Dear Mr. Bismark

I would like to express many thanks on behalf of all
QI IRs from Kazakhstan, Almaty. Thank you for being with all of us even through hundreds of miles. This is real support we can feel.
Sometimes we do not stop to think over though the biggest wasting of time is when we have no time to ponder.
Thank you for reminding this.

warmest regards, Botagoz.


Botagoz M.
Comments are closed.

QuestNet Mr Joseph Bismark

Profile

When Joseph 'Japadas' Bismark became the Group Managing Director of multimillion-dollar global conglomerate QI Group of Companies in December 2008, the face of the organisation that he co-founded a decade ago began to change immediately. His role of Executive Chairman of QI Group's subsidiary QuestNet also took on new life.

Even as Mr Bismark took over the mantle from his partner, he had already established a firm channel of communication with employees of the organisation and thousands of entrepreneurial aspirants through his popular Gem of Wisdom (GOW) series.

A firm believer in the power of teamwork, he has repeatedly stated, "I am only as good as my team".

A man of immense spiritual character and inspiration to his family, friends and business partners worldwide, Mr Bismark's leadership style is as unique as the man himself. His views and actions serve as a constant reminder that success is not just built on material achievements, but also on spiritual growth, inner satisfaction and peace, which we acquire through meaningful service to others. His musings on this Gems of Wisdom blog help ensure that employees and customers of the company never lose focus of the fundamental values on which the QI Group was built.


What are the Gems of Wisdom?

"Welcome to the blog of the Gem of Wisdom (GOW) series. This is the place where I am able to share my thoughts and reflections on life with all of you. My treasured employees within the QI Group have long been privy to these Gems through an internal QuestNet company email I send out a few times a week, as well as through the QI Group intranet. As many of the email and intranet's readers have shared the GOW with their friends and associates outside of the company, I have had more and more requests to make my little Gems available to a wider audience.

It seems there are many people out there who want to take a more proactive approach in analysing the world around them and their place within that world, both literally and spiritually. And so, here I am, entering the online universe in a humble attempt to spread a bit of what my own life experiences have taught me through these Gems of Wisdom. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them; such is the joy of sharing. Please join me in not only sharing my thoughts, but in sharing your own thoughts, comments, feedback, and even your own Gems of Wisdom, with me."

-- Joseph Bismark

Gems for All

True to that philosophy, Mr Bismark has empowered his team to give a voice to the changes they seek, helping him to lead the organisation into a new decade of excellence. Gems of Wisdom is that voice through which even the most junior employees of the group are able to take part in the evolution of the company and share their personal thoughts. By turning his Gem of Wisdom series into the Gems of Wisdom blog, Mr Bismark has opened that channel to everyone.















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