Last time I explained that SignifiCats are focused. You can read it here, if you missed it. This time I am explaining that SignifiCats are Insightful.
A SignifiCat is someone who lives a life of greater significance. SignifiCats aren’t content with addressing only symptoms. SignifiCats work to address root causes.
When living our legacy, we aren’t content with short term “band-aids.” This short term approach doesn’t leave a legacy behind. The fix disappears all too quickly. Sure we might give out meals to hungry people, but we care too much about people to stop there.
We want results that are long lasting. A great example of lasting results is with the story of Eugene Lang.
Example
Eugene Lang, a successful business owner, went back to the elementary school he attended as a kid, Public School 121 in East Harlem, to address the students there. His plan was to give a motivational speech on how to succeed if you work hard. Just before he went up to give his speech, the principal told him that 75% of the 6th graders would not graduate from high school. Before he addressed the students, he ripped up the notes for his speech, because he realized that those words would not cause the long-term change he wanted for those kids.
Instead of giving his motivational speech that day, Eugene Lang told the kids that if they graduated high school, he would pay for their college. Consequently, 90% of the kids graduated, and 60% pursued higher education afterward! Of the 61 kids, 54 stayed in touch with him. Eugene Lang caused long-term change. In fact, he went on to create the “I Have a Dream Foundation” where he continues to bring about long-term change in people’s lives. You can check it out here.
Insight
Lasting change requires insight, but insight doesn’t come immediately or naturally. So we keep an eye on the lasting results we want to see. Then we keep adjusting our efforts until we begin to see the results for which we are aiming.
This “try, evaluate, adjust” cycle over time gives SignifiCats great insight into people, cultures, and systems. The goal is to create long lasting results that have a ripple effect beyond what the SignifiCat can do by himself or herself.
What about you? What is the most useful insight you’ve gained from experience?
