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    The Highest Goal

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf
    291 views104 pages

    The Highest Goal by Michael Ray

    Uploaded by

    richard87b
    The Highest Goal

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Highest Goal The Secret That Sustains You in Every rent Michael Ray Copyright© 2004 by Michal Ray “Agu re No pro ar unin maybe pode dete ot eal ee en eyed aii wie ea ‘Fe mahal mec nine he pr wien price of he pbb ‘rain hc of gunn cd ca ie snd eras hee Stoel pred by cope Fr pmo out he ble teen: Pomme Corinne tte sais bab Ben Ker ibe ne Since CA sya, Teka showke Fa ad eam renin Ordering Information (Coe nt Spl re er el pe by pes, ‘Socom shes Fore conc he Spel Ser Depa” che ‘ot Rar le hve (edd ees err Rai pico rte hugh ma ena ‘hey cans be rend Seely om Bene Rae Tes oo) sara ‘so 8,568 wembcnneran co Onn fr cle teal option nF cnt: Bet Kas “sol spa ere Hoy ‘Onde by US. ra bso on fend Pw cones Phe Gp We ‘ofa Ser Behe. Case Tk laa Pr) ss Be Knead he BK ogre dea of Bore Kotler liber ne ‘eer brs pine on logan pope When lie, tw chne pper t h ten artic einen repent ron “hoe my ald ges gown suri meting ej pp ee ee aria tae on eee Leary of Congres Catone tebe Dat Tells hh oe mame Mi Ry sae gpa ner li Salant) 2 Gal Oa «Tie Brey 2o moe sone ins a FeCl Da refer Hein enn (Copy Ee ei eo Td Moto Nash Posi is, Peso ‘To my sudens and teachers: May the flow of giving and receiving continue without end. ‘This isthe true joy of Lif, che being used for a purpose recognized by yourself a a mighty one... the being a force ‘of Nature instead ofa feverish, selfish litle clo of ailments nd grievances complaining that che world will not devote itself to making you happy. — GB Shaw Dedieatory Letor in Men ond Superman Ino us, who? IF not here, where? 1Fnot now. when? IF no for the kingdom, why? Dare the deem. — Anonymous adapted from Rabbi Hillel Contentment isthe highest gol ~ Cheese Proverb Contents Foreword by Jim Collins Prefice Inwoduetion Chapter | Go Beyond Passion and Success Chapter 2 Travel Your Own Path ‘Chapter 3 Live with the Highest Goal (Chapter 4 Find True Prosperity ‘Chapter 5 Turn Your Fears into Breakthroughs ‘Chapter 6 Relate fom Your Heart ‘Chapter 7 Experience Synergy in Every Moment Chapter 8 Become a Generative Lender Appendix Continue the Journey Append B Live-Withs Notes Selected Bibliography Index “About the Author ~ 6 9 7 6 a7 Pa 5 69 m ™ a Foreword pre munis yantreaial O: eigcbdeeecee ere areas he Sn MBA propa Md nw oni sae aropeen veueeeth ee Sel Cty Buln“ a yn gh iealgamabancsecrraiets Saree ieee renin Sensntaracthcoa fata anima tase! Besrisipcist aia oes ree de ling ptron Mchad Ry Rciesp Bee fem aa hic Salting tape Bai ee dnd Resin one Reeeter ets priy tie sca acya Deere esau ces Sih ose Ry Foe prac at rb ee a bg ene eee lt age tae ey RM eet in cpa Reeser ie | The Higher Goal immediately began flipping through the course catalogue for a replacement. My absorption in couse listings was interrupted bby Michael Ray starting us on a meditation exercise. "Breathe deply, and slowly. sid Michal, “Sense the energy in the toes of your right for. Fee it begin to move through your foot. Concentrate on your right foot. Nothing to do but sense your right foot...” Somehow, i scemed to me, Id made avery bad misake. "That evening I tld my wife Joanne cha [had a great class schedule, “except for this one course that I'm going to drop” I wold ther about Rochelle and het muumuu thing, and about Michael— ‘who reminded me of Yogi Beatin 2 rumpled professor’ suit only later did I discover that he ell sa yogi, as in spiritual guide) — Jeading us in mediation exercises. I'd majored in applied math in college, Td worked at McKinsey. I had (and sill have) a passionate love affair with dats-driven analysis and research. Joanne listened and then said simply, “T chink that course might be realy good for you. Why dont you say in and jusc see what happens?” ‘What happened is simply this: I would nor be where [am today, withthe wonderfull Tve been given, without that cours. ‘And I am not alone in this experience. Not a year goes by when I do not un into other graduates who fel usta Ido, grateful that they had the course carly in ther lives. We did not know ita the time, but the experience would be the frst step in a lifelong journey toward che topic of this book: finding and pursuing with courage and perseverance one's highest goal Sill, che experience proved challenging fr an insecure data ‘eck, “When are we going to get some techniques for being creative, Feerword xt ‘or management methods for making innovative product?” I chal- lenged a couple of weeks inco the couse. I wanted cools, echniques, methods—something practical and useful ‘Michael responded with the story ofa businessman who vis- ited a Zen master seckingelightenment. They sat down fo tea, he businessman babbetng on about ll the sues and challenges in his lif, and his ques for achievement and direction and meaning and purpose and... the master said nothing, pouing tes. With the cup fal, he maser kept pouring, the ta owing into the sauces, onto the able, and ily inc the mai lp. “Hoyt What are you doing” yelped the businesiman, leap- ing up athe scalding hot water seeped into his pants. “Your cup isto full sid the master "You add and adel and ad and ad ond ad and ad to your life. There it no room for colightenment unl you empy your cu.” ‘Michael and Rochelle explained that tis would not be & journey of adding sills and knowledge, but one of aking avay ba- "ets to creative potenti. They operated from the premise chat there sno such thing at an “uncreative person,” but aly those whore cr- atv is covered up. They endeavored to show ur that we had box ofereatve treasure inthe atic, and al we had to do wat a diplined Spring cleaning—tosing aside all the junk covering up the reaute bos thar we could open i up and lok inside. The very poi of ical layin a fundamental challenge ised teach of ut: Mate your Wfeinl a cretive work fart. Tn the years since, 've come to believe that there are wo approche olf. The fst followed by mos. isthe “pane by nar bets it” approach to life. You do what other people se. You follow ir The Highs Goat swel-traveled path. You stay within the lines. And you end up with 4 nice, prety—and unimaginative—picrure, The second, followed by few sto sare with a blanc canvas and try to pinta masterpiece. I isa vskier pat, a harder pat, a path filled with ambiguity and creative choice. But ii the only way to make your life iself a ere- ative work of art. To paint a masterpiece requies a concept, 2 place ‘to begin, a guiding context in the absence ofthe comforting num- bets and lines inthe premade kit. That guiding frame of reference is the highest goal, and bringing ic into your life with the help of “Michaels discoveries is wha this book i all about. ‘When I took the creativity course in 982, Professor Ray had ‘ot articulated the notion ofthe highest goa. Yet the idea was there all along, as an overarching famework, hidden architecture forthe fichael has identified and made visible chat previously invisible meta-concept, and he brings i forth in these pages ‘Acote proces-—both in the course and in tis book —is the idea of “live-with” heuristics. Thee are mantas of living that you implement fora period of time (usualy a week or more), and reflec ‘on the experience. At Stanford, we were challenged wich such live swith assignments as: If at First You Donit Sueceed, Surrender. Pay ‘Autention! Ask Dumb Questions. Destroy Judgment, Create (Curios. Don't Think About It Be Ordinary. And the hardest live= ‘with of all: Do Only What Is Easy, Efordess and Enjoyable. This last one came right at midterms and posed a problem: IF did only what was can ffortless and enjoyable, 1d skip my midterm exams. ‘So how could I Fulfil che asignment inthe creativity clas without failing my other classe centie creativity experince. Now, ewo decades later, Feo 7 1 decided to view midterms like the fourth pitch of the [Naked Edge rock climb in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado. The Naked edge has some of the most beausifl and spectacular climbing in all ‘of North America ic is a perfect climb—except forthe fourth pitch. Every time I climb the Naked Edge, I dread the fourth pitch. You have to limb up into an overhanging, downward flaring slot and ‘wedge your body like climbing up the inside ofa bell—your fet slip and slide on the ovechanging wall inthe opening ofthe bell bottom, ‘while your shoulders gee all tuck and wedged inthe tight upper cav- ity of the bell es an odd combination of claustrophobia and inse- ‘cutiy; made worse by the fact that none of the protection gear on the pitch is bomb proof (it’s entirely posible iyou fill out the bor- tom of the bell hat some or all ofthe gear would pullout, and you'd take a long, pethape bone-shatering fill) Yee despite the fourth pitch, Tve dimbed the Naked Edge pechape thy times. Taken ‘alone, the fourth pitch i jue stress and drudgery. Taken in context ‘of being in an amazing location on 2 beautiful day with great com- rade as climbing partner, doing a spor thar [ove—wel the fourth pitch becomes part of an overall joyful day. I reframed midverms to be lke che fourth pitch ofthe Naked Edge and sailed through with A much-improved frame of ming. ‘Michac’s idea ofthe highest goal akes this idea vo a much ‘deeper level, a philosophical and spiritual answer to the question: ‘Whac is your Naked Edge in life? What higher aspiration and put- Poe can you pursue with such passion that you can endure and gain ‘srength forthe stress and drudgery—the fourth pitch —required for the attainment of worthwhile and meaningful work? 0 The High Goal The Higher Gal's te diilaion of yas of accumulated wvisdom from 3 great eacher wha has he humily to view is tour sands of students as his teachers. What Imes vale about tis book is i penonal orientation. Profesor Ray speaks diet tothe ind- vidual, about what you can do to discover and follow your highest palin fe. eis a deply subversive work: if yu fellows teachings ‘oth logical conclusion, you willalmost craily make sigifcant changes in how you oxen your li. In my own ease, Michael and Rochelle alleged mein my mid-ewenies wo forgo te sites of 2 eadional pach, and wo eave my own unique pat in if. Their roding etme on a path to find a happy productive increction lbecween pasion what Hove wo do), genetic encoding what was ut ‘hereon thseat wo do) an economics (what can mak aiving a). I divcvered in other word the path o my highest goal. Pehaps, ‘trough the pages of this Book the ame wil happen fo you. Jim Collins Boulder, Colorado January 22004 Preface [on 4 LoNc Time Ihave been hungering ro share che secret of the highest goal with a broader audience. I've been on the ral of this discovery for several decades, distilling the essence of insights gleaned fom twenty-five yeas of teaching the Personal CCeeativigy in Business course at Stanford Univers ‘The journey hast always been a direct one. The word has changed dramatically since I began taching the course. Is become 4 more complex chaotic and, in many ways, more dangerous place. Ac times I delved into other means of conte ‘movement coward a more humane and creative society. I searched cing tothe growing for ways to help organizations transform inta new paradigan busi- esses, to encourage people to make choices that would sustain the planet, ro stimulate new approaches ro leadership development, and ‘to rear neeworks and support systems for chang. Eventually [found chat what was needed most was the work was already doing, No one else seemed tobe offering away for cach ‘of us to bring our connection to our highest goal into out work, our _ organizations, our ives, and our world. So about ren years ago, I dropped everything other than the vty work. My colleagues and I continued to teach the ces at Sanford and other schools. Several of us also formed a and developed software to offer the course ro organizations individuals ouside of academia. We were acounded at the | The Highest Goa ‘impact ofthe creaivgy work on people in businesses. Client old us thatthe return on investment wat at lest one hundred and some times two hundred to one. Tat is, every one thousand dollars spent generated one hundred thousand to rwo hundred thousand in return, Bat the benefit went beyond short-term Financial results People who hadn't spoeen up or consibuted much beyond their ob descriptions started to blossom, Organization members who were about to leave decided to stay and contribute in a new way COuutanding individuals joined che organization because it tured {nt the kindof workplace they wanted. It became a community— ‘community of individuals who welcomed all participants; chrived ‘on diversity, fought gracefilly; took the staff of leadership when nec- essary and treated each other with compasion, acceptance, appresi- ation, and respect, ‘The Secret “What vas going on here? Why was this course having this effet? ‘Could I apeueits essence so that could be wansmitted ro more peo- ple? To answer these questions, I drew on my own and my colleges decades of experience teaching the course at Sunford and other schools, as well tthe results from businesses and other organizations. | ound that che impact of che course went beyond its truce tur, procedures and exercise. It touched something very deep people. They made discoveries about themselves tha informed their actions and transformed thee lives. Even though we never mention icin our teaching, they discovered their highest goal—the secre that ‘would sustain them, come what may. As one participant pu it years afc taking the course, “This is ansformation thar works and lass.” Price | 1 recognized this same essential resource a work in other people who live ereatvely: They havea sere that centers them and makes thee lives accomplished and fulfilling. Many ofthe hundreds of guests we have welcomed 0 the creativity course are peopl who have discovered theithighe goa. “They ae architects, artists, actviss, war heroes, academics, singes, composes, dancers, entepreneus, engineers, sciendns, financiers, psychologists, politicians, and monks. They hav achieved enormous success by most standards, often amassing huge fortunes. Many have seared new industes and changed the fice of American and world culture. Sail others have revolutionized the way we work and relate to others on an everyday bass ‘When they vise the Personal Creativity in Business css, they tlk about what go them where they ae, and they describe their crave process and interior life. They share who they are at ‘core and what they se a8 the purpose of their existence. ‘As Tve listened to these people, and worked closely with thousands of students and participants, Tve come to recognie the transforming power ofthe highest goal. When facing lifes mos y- ing tess, people rely on this secret to sustain thera, When the workd seers tobe going crary around them, these people are abe to tap their inner resources, creatively serve othes and bring thes best ro the wodl. ‘They leamed—most carly in hei lives but many mach Jater—through a crisis or though experiencing love and a connection to something higher that if they ive for this connection, they keep pong cova igh rt. They a open ian iw at an adventure. They dont et caught up inthe exhortations ofthe soc | The ghee Gol media the news ofmpending doom, che "should of thie family and. friends, or their own—often negaive—mental meanderings Instead they see each situation and their potential coe in it fiom a higher perspective. They take cheir time. They focus with iention. New posbilities open for them. They depend on a sort, ‘of grace that comes to them. They act creatively fom this source. ‘This book focuses on this secret: your highest gol, some thing thai always dhere for you beyond the ondinary definitions of ‘A Radically Different Model of Success ‘When my colleagues and I developed Stanfor's creativity course, we thooght ofc as «complement co oer busines courses. Four sa- dens could beter acces their rate side, we resoned thar would tp them leverage the analytical woos they wee getting fom ves ally all heather courses in ou shook Eventually we reaiaed, however that these other courses actully promoted way fife through the unspoken fundamental assumption that economic succes, together with is appngs, the kimate gal The premise of our couse was gute differen: We wanted students ro experience ther inner wisdom and authority and the connection they had with ll beingy—anothe kind of aces. alogeher. Wihoutrezing it we were not only fein sining, program fora acw way of doing business, but aloof living in the wwotd Students who discovered thei een inner resources and the ultimate purpose of thei exitence found they could do thet ‘work and liv cher ives in ways hat conebuted co postive change Price | 204 inthe world. Alumni came back ro tellus how they lived from that, purpose and maintained their focus using the structure they had learned in our course. A few examples: + Denise Brosseau buile on her discovery inthe course that, in exsence, she i a connector She cofounded ‘the Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) 000 afer graduating from Stanford in 1993, chang. ing the game for women entrepreneurs by helping them find funding and develop networks. For instance, one of her FWE conferences alone raised ‘more chan $185 million for tweary-sit women-run sareups. ‘+ Jeff Skol, who took the course in 1995, credits it with teaching him to lok inside hirmself, He amassed 3 considerable fortune at eBay, earning a spot as one of, the five richest people under forty in the United Sates. He then founded the Skoll Foundation, with the “mission of investing in, connecting and celebrat- ing socal enteprencurs.” "+ Dominic Houlder, dean ofthe Sloan Program atthe London Busines School, has become quite prospet- ‘ous both financially and in other ways in bis career ‘ Jn business. He has also developed into a Buddhist teacher. In his recent book, Mindfulness and Money The Buddbict Path of bwndance, he writes that tis seit | The Higher Goal ‘course “opened many students eyes ro spitting in business...” ‘When che course was offered vo widows of victims ofthe 9/81 anacks similar kinds of stores emerged. Though these women faced incredible life obstacles, the invocation ofthe highest goal is helping them take steps they never thought they could tke. They inspite ‘others ro ive lives cha change the word for the beter. ‘An Urgent Need Sociey’s Fundamental assumptions too often lead co negative our comes, We se the evidence in the growing gap berween the haves and have-nots, increasing violence; endemic poverty and starvation; ‘environmental degradation; the breakdown of values, integrity, com- ‘munication, and community: a sense of unhappiness and fers and ‘oor health among people in even the richest mations. ‘Many of us fel an urgent need to change che staus quo and contribute toa new postive diecton. The world needs us all con tribute our bese, But how can any individual affect what seems to be a massive concatenation of fores andy at the same time, face the challenges of his or her life? “This book answers that question. In this ime of global tran formation, we must act creatively and courageously from our deep- cx knowing and compassion, Only if we are living in service ofthe highest goal in whatever way we experience it, can we meet the chal- lenges of our times and fshion ives that work. And only if we di cover ways of translating thi highest goal into new way of living, can it be practical and expansive for all. Paes | ak ‘Acinowledgments In many of the work spi tadiions, the feminine provides the mami, creative aspect of if. So it stat aspect that 1 wish humbly thank fist. Women founded, created and sustained the course on which this book sted. Rochelle Myers pu er wil, creative aed uncanny teaching abily int our cout from the beploning She planed the seeds tha others of us have ben nur ingall hese years. Loma Card ook up the torch ef by Roclle as she went on to simplify her life. Lorna started as a student of this mmarerial and then became a primary teacher and developer of it. Sandhya Abee bought many innovations into the couse a8 we taught ic rogether for several yeas and moved this materia ito a leadership dae. Jackie McGrath (working in the ealy going with Sheri Lesa who introduced several innovations), perhaps more than anyone, helped to fshion the couse in a way that i ould be brought o thousands of people outside of academia “ivo women have brought the highest goal to my if and Jt the coure though the years, eventhough they didnt partici pein is eching, GurumayiChivilasanands has guided me wth hher teachings and nurtured the flame of my path from the time of ‘my awakening inher waion, By her grace Thaveexpecenced this couse as ny en, ny spiciual sevice. "Saal Ceecia Ray, my lie parses, brings the highes ino ‘ny life and challenges me olive wih i because of her carty and Tat for life Everything in my lie has changed since out fst mee Ting over twenty-five yeats ago. She illustrates that ove is che highest and mote specially she stp a system ad made scifces made it posible for me to do the wating. sate | The Highs Gol Others, male and female have taught the course and taught ‘me 30 much through the years—Stephen Milles, Steve Curis, Hal Louchheim, Tom Kosnck, Todd Porte, John Verceli, Pat Jordan, Jim Collins, Michelle Jurika, Frangise Netter, William Miller, ‘Douglas Pressman, Fred Fischer, and all our Creaivisy in Business ‘rained teachere— Athena Katsors, Bruce Koren, Cheryl De Chants, David Newman, Ginger Geant, John Davis, Julia Romaine, Julie Daley, Julie Saltonstall, Karin Albert, Kenton Hyatt, Lakiba Pitman, Martha Tijard, Molly For, Pam Mayes, Paul Mlocok, Ron Nahser, Seema Khan, Sue Blondell, Tevis Trower, Theresa Lets, and Wayne Roberson—many of whose stories youl find in this book. Theie maturity, expeience and energy are bringing this wok vo anew evel ‘hat takes people ro life with the highest goal a an ever-fater pace. “They give me fut inthe future, and foe dha Iam grateful ‘Then there ae the students and participants in our courses at Stanford and elsewhere, Some of chem are mentioned in this book, but many are not, People like Steve Westley, Gary Marenzi Michelle Barmazel, Stephen Philips, Guillermina Castellanos, Shannon Williamson, Stephen Fields, Stephen Glickbarg, Larry ‘Smith, Bob Moog, Gilberto Carresquero, Charles Breser; Lisa Philips, Barry Sudbury, Jennifer Jss-Bradley, Brian Dowd, and (Christopher Foreman repeesenr so many others who are not men tioned in this book but have taken the course and become my {fiends and teachers. Ichas been an honor anda gift wo know them. ‘Thank you also to Anne Durram Robinson, Lucia Marinelli, the late Father Peter Salmon, the Siddha Yoga swamis, Marilyn and Bill Velizop and their Pathfinder Circles members, Patricia and Craig, Neal and their Thought Leader Gatherings, FireHawk and Pele Pete | oer Rouge, John Renesch and his Presidio Dialogues, and Father Mark Stes for your inspiration, This book would exit without the vision and guidance of _my agent, Carl Roth, suey an author's best rend but also a yogis best friend, And all the people ax Berret-Kochler were kind enough to make me part oftheir ream and guide me and make thie book ‘work of art (although Tim not too sue about the visual chey picked forthe cover). Steve Piesanti, Jeevan Sivasubramaniagn, Rick Wilton, ‘Michael Crowley, Ken Lupoff, Dianne Planer, Pat Anderson, and Robin Donovan took this project on wien ic was at alow point and ‘made it into something completely new and exxing, And Il never forges the great developmental editing by Chris Lee (her collabora- tion turned 2 manuscrip into a book), the tough bus illuminating carly reviewing by Valerie Andrews, Joseph A. Webb, and Eileen Hammer, copyediting by Judith Brow, interior design by Laura Lind, proofreading by Hensieta Bensusen, indexing by Medes ‘Minnich, and production administration by Linds Jupiter Finally, 1 chanke my family, from my parents, Evelyn and ‘Michael, my brother Dick and his family and all he Ray and Slvie telaives (some of whom are mentioned inthis book specifically), co all ofthe people in Sarai family who have welcomed me with such ‘gc, to my six children and their families, inclding, my eight ‘Wandchildren (the latest of whom, Eva Lucia Corral, is only aday ‘old a I write eis). ‘There is no way co thank you all sulficendly. You are the “Righest goal in living beings. May we be together again and again. "May all be happy and living inthe highest goal Forvee. Introduction weenie trace trttapiiyes M== as binaicap thes er ines em Sena Sepmepcap lag acter Pe ey oe rs oie pete prepilin SU ep opapminerrieneena esc ce pail Rie cll ieee foci expos Capa) ee a Phere that supported trust, community and creativity, Word-of- Been Bee as etemee ost eee cca | “Td Took into the mirror in the morning,” he confess, “and | Sey ehaepaairapiad iret 2 1 The Higher Gel catvty But through ial, his sense ofthe highest goal would snap him back into focus. “He remembered thatthe highest goal fr him translated into cone word: Teacher, He got energy and felt a connection with some- thing higher when he was teaching in the broadest sense. He knew that he could serve others ifhe drew on this srength. He knew that if he sayed in 2 giving, generative, collaborative role, he could nav- gate the worst situation and create a meaningful life. Having profound faich in himself and his highest goal, he slowly tamed things around. He persevered through the stu of COO nightmares. He: ‘ook drastic measures, ying off ninety percent ofthe workforce, He rallied those who remained, and their values and high level of rust carried them through adversity. Inspired by his resolve, his people pulled together to reinvent the company. ‘Within a year che sreamlined company began to grow a it. served a completly different client base. Within two year, twas the industry leader, and ic stock rose accordingly. Eventually the com= pany merged with Tera Tech, and Michael became the president of the rerling division, ‘Through ial, he sayed ere to he principles of this books He drew strength from his highest goal He ended his tlk o us by.

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