During workshops and training sessions, I needed a logical sequence of thoughts to build an idea of what this state of involvement in certain activities is. I was curious to see how it is possible that some things we do willingly and others we put at the end of our to-do lists. Observing myself and others, I came to the conclusion that this is a sequence of decisions that we make internally, leading to the trigger of events – based on internal motivation. Then, when I was thinking about it, for the first first time I associated it with “the road”. As the “road” metaphor is very often used in personal development training, I did not want to repeat myself after other teachers, so I finally decided to associate this sequence with the word “path”.
It was strongly justified, because when we enter the arena of getting to know ourselves, before discovering the “broad paths”, we notice at the beginning smaller “paths”. They are narrow, winding, sometimes clear, visible and sometimes disappearing. Green, because I associated it with a good, positive energy of flow. Possibility to move in the designated direction. Green light also mean GO! This is a good time NOW! If you want to move on, you have permission! The universe is in your favor! Yes, I associated the green light with the open road. Consent to be active in a certain direction.
Since I have been dealing with the discipline of SELF MANAGEMENT for many years, I thought: I have a new arena, more detailed: Managing myself on the GREEN PATH. I was very happy after the first lectures, during which I started to use the new concept that students, adults and parents were “buying” as a model that helps them understand what natural predispositions and talents are. After two years of lectures and exploring the topic, one of the professors approached me in the corridors at Kozminski University in Warsaw (Kozminski University) and asked: Mrs. Renato, can we talk for a while? Could you please explain to me and tell me what this Green Path Model is, because I admit that I don’t know it. I was looking and I didn’t find it anywhere … And when I asked the students, they said: – Professor, this is Renata Gut’s model … It was a very warm feeling, because not only the model worked in the imagination and knowledge of my favorite MBA students, but it was alive and practical a tool in their everyday reality. I implement this philosophy in every training and lecture, and I see people find their own personal examples of GREEN PATHS – and even better – decode their RED PATHS. It’s an honor to be the author of a practical tool that works and allows you to discover your own directions of motivation, talents and strengths.
My GREEN PATH MODEL has stages. I describe them below:
1. WHEN I HAVE A CHOICE, I CHOOSE WHAT I LIKE.
If we have time and free will, we can decide … If we don’t have to do anything and we can take care of ourselves, then from many activities and tasks we choose to do things that we simply like. Why? Because we enjoy doing them. We see the point in doing something that we like and that interests us. A very good example to associate this type of activity is, of course, our hobbies, passions and choices of sports, scientific, artistic and other activities…
2. I AM HAPPY TO SPEND TIME TO TRAIN THE THINGS I LIKE TO DO.
If I do what I like, I spend TIME TRAINING this skill, this task. By training in THIS area I am getting better. The number of repetitions makes that THIS SOMETHING just gets better and better.
3. AWARENESS THAT I HAVE AN INFLUENCE builds my SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM.
When it’s getting better and better for me – I HAVE A SENSE OF INFLUENCE. Thus, my SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM IS GROWING. I love my work internally, I am aware that I am good at it. And even if my self-esteem does not grow, it at least remains stable. This is a great value: knowing for myself that I am OK. That I can do something, that SOMETHING is getting better and that other people can appreciate and notice it as I do.
4. I DECIDE INDEPENDENTLY. WHAT I DO MAKE SENSE FOR ME.
I am turning-on my INTRINSIC MOTIVATION. Since I decide to do SOMETHING, I obviously activate intrinsic motivation to perform the task. Motivation is EMOTION. I have an internal emotional state to work and act on it. Even if difficulties arise, I have inner strength and power to continue doing. I do not stop, I am interested in the final effect. Even if I take a break because something is not working out for me… I’m looking for new solutions. When something stops me, I come back with a feeling of wanting to finish the job or task I have started.
5. I AM EAGER TO CONTINUOUSLY LEARN, I WATCH OTHERS.
I am looking for GURUS AND AUTHORITIES. Sometimes I lack the knowledge and skills to complete the task I decide to do. Then, at the being of Green Path, I have curiosity, I have a passion for cognition. Something urges me to look for other people who may know it. I watch them and learn willing. This is a natural process of looking for MASTERS and authorities. Usually I find such people who share their knowledge with me, seeing my commitment and willingness to act.
6. DOING THIS OBSERVES ME, I HAVE A LOT OF FLOW AND I EXPERIENCE THE PHENOMENON OF LACK OF TIME.
If I do what I like, it makes sense to me and I activate the phenomenon of intrinsic motivation, a state appears in which doing SOMETHING consumes me completely. It is a state of mind, body, emotions and spirit. I am ONE. Just like children are absorbed by play, training of an athlete, research work of a scientist or a teacher of lecture with passion. Time ceases to exist. We are in timelessness. We have a dream that this moment will never end and last forever.
7. LEADING EMOTIONS – ARE RATHER ALWAYS POSITIVE.
Because on the Green Path I do things that I like and experience, rather positive emotions. Of course, there is also a whole range of emotions. I can also be very tired physically, but… in the end, the emotions at the end of the day are positive. The balance is on plus. We then experience some kind of personal satisfaction with completing the task. This kind of contentment allows me to get back to it in a while. Do this SOMETHING again. Feeling happy with myself.
8. MY POSITIVE EMOTIONAL STATE IS CONTAGIOUS. BECAUSE EMOTIONS ARE CONTAGIOUS I PASS MY POSITIVE EMOTIONAL STATE TO OTHERS.
People around me perceive my positive state of well-being. People who study or work in areas where they are passionate about something, are very visible to others. Their passion, joy of action and commitment are contagious. They have a high level of creative energy, they are creative, satisfied with themselves and their work. You can definitely see them in the background. We can recognize them quickly. I came across the term: “They shine.” Their eyes are sparkling, their bodies feel in action, their minds are sharp.
9. I INSPIRE OTHERS. THEY ARE WATCHING ME AND AT THE SAME TIME TRIGGER THEIR OWN COMMITMENT.
Because I am committed, I have a high level of life energy – I inspire my surroundings and encourage to act. Performing various activities with passion is a great example for other people! That YOU can! It’s worth it! That efficiency and achieving goals exist! In a word, you cannot be indifferent to a person who lives with passion.
10. I AM THE MASTER. GIVE ME A STUDENT! I CAN TEACH HIM THIS!
And finally, when someone carries out his activity for a long time, learns a skill for a long time, he reaches the state that he has gained in education and in business as Personal Mastery. If I am a MASTER, it does not mean that I am the best at it in the world and that is why I stop doing it. Rather, it means that I am good enough to be able to teach others. Of course, I am still learning myself, but – I can teach others. Why? Because I have a passion, because I know how. Because I have practice, because I made mistakes. Because I can estimate the risk, because I have already done it. I just can do it. My action in this area is predictable and repeatable. And one more plus. The state of Personal Mastery allows the teacher to judge the student fairly quickly by careful and careful observation. It allows him to give quick clues as to whether that particular student is in the performance of a certain activity on the Green or Red Path. Does he have PREDISPOSITIONS AND CAPABILITIES FOR THIS SOMETHING? How does it know? He knows what resources are needed to perform the task, what is worth observing in the student and what results the student should achieve at the next stages of learning.
Autor: Renata Gut – Founder and manager at Flashpoint Talent Institute. Executive business coach and leadership team coach. Article is coming from the book “Generation Y. Self-management on the Green Path.” (Gut & Gut 2016).
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