Important work

You may have seen them, the stories in the papers about what to do during the downturn.
According to all the big media players, the world is experiencing a major retraction in growth. Some think it is a good and sensible retraction and that unrestrained growth was insane and only heading for collapse.
Your own view will depend on a number of influences, including your type of business, your region, your town, your resilience, your background, and your innate personality make-up.
But it certainly serves no purpose, if you are in a lull, to sit around and mope. Now is a good time for reflection, personal development, staff development and change.
It was during such a time that the writer of this blog set out to become a practitioner of Jungian psychological models, in particular the Myers Briggs brand and others, all born out of the work of Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung.
And so began a major shift.
From making a living primarily as a comedian, MC, professional speaker, actor, journalist, I moved into a new income stream: the delivery of Jungian psychological models, from quite complex models of 16 and 32, to simple and easy to grasp four profile models.
This is now the bulk of my work.
Clients have included a range of major corporations, small businesses, industry groups, education bodies and I have a regular engagement with the Curtin Business School's Centre of Entrepreneurship.
Business people from small to major organisations turn up during their Growth Program and spend a day with me as we explore psychological differences, our strengths and weaknesses, and learn why others both annoy, intimidate and engage us.
It is an ideal way to learn how best to influence those not like you and to discover that you are not alone, that others use language and understand it in the same way you do.
Given this blogger's own personality profile and his background in standup comedy and story telling, participants are assured of plenty of fun, engagement and anecdotes.
As well, of course, because there are always others present not like him, plenty of facts, figures, graphs, general information and pointers to further research.
There may well be a recession on, but that is no reason to stand still, or to hang your face and let your mood follow.

Please let me be

I have many introverted friends. Many I love dearly.
I am not one of them. Extraversion is my preference.
When they, on many occasions, extravert with gusto, I am thrilled and sit in awe as they take over a room, work it, squeeze it, toss it up, let it fall, then rework it all over again.
Fabulous.
When they are done, one thing I never do is sidle up to them and ask: "You all right? Wow, such a performance. You're not ill, are you? Is everything all right? You sure? Have I upset you, intimidated you? There's nothing wrong, is there?"
Why would there be?
It's clear:
- they are with friends
- they feel comfortable
- they feel confident
- they enjoy the rush
Ok, what is my point?
Good question.
It sometimes takes me time.
Some of these friends, in particular those very close to me, if I happen to introvert for a period, an hour, or more, or a week, ask me: "Are you ok? Is there something wrong? Have I done something to upset you? Are you upset about something I said?"
If there is nothing wrong, and for the most part there is not, I reply: "No, I'm introverting. From time to time I need a break. I cannot extravert, constantly, each and every day, forever, without a break. And this is me, doing it, introverting, which means I go quiet, I go inside myself, reflect, think before I speak, you may know about such things. And I like doing it. Gaining more and more confidence each time I do it. It is not my natural preference. It will not last. But I like it. Please let me do it."
Phew.
Recently I finished writing a book, an adult novel, this required much introversion with accompanying reflection and associated research.
In order to write this I had to withdraw, almost completely for periods of intense writing, and I lost count of the number of time I was asked: "Are you sure you are all right?"
Now, when asked, I burst into song:
I am all right
There is nothing wrong
I'm happy
Happy as hell
And leaving for a light meal
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh how I need to eat
All to the tune of Leaving on a jet plane, the Peter Paul and Mary hit.
It seems to do the trick.
Thanks for listening.