• Find a Project Mantra

  Filed under Focus
  Dec 18

  Audio:  Find a Project Mantra [Time - 5:07, File Size - 4.7 MB]

  “In my experience, there’s only one thing that will always steer you toward success: That’s to have a vision and to stick with it… Once I have a vision for a new venture, I’m going to ride that vision until the wheels come off…” [Law Number 1: See Your Vision and Stick With It.]” – Russell Simmons in Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve

  Simmons also says:
  “The word mantra comes from two Sanskrit words man, (‘to think’) and tra (‘tool’). So the literal translation is ‘a tool of thought.’ And that’s how mantras are used in Buddhist and Hindu practices, as tools that clear your mind of distractions. Because when you focus on repeating that mantra over and over again, soon the noise will die down and all you will hear is your inner voice.”

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  Greer’s Challenges…

  Reflections

  Reflect on these questions:

  • What is your project vision?
  • What key thought or symbol or logo could best embody your project?
  • Can you (or your team) easily articulate this vision in the form of a mantra?

  Team Challenges

  Ask your team:

  • What key thought or phrase or symbol or logo best embodies this project?
  • When things go crazy and issues are whirling all around or it seems like we’re getting lost in minutia, what phrase or mantra could we repeat to return us to our central vision?

  Project Manager Challenges

  • When things get all frenzied and confused, encourage everyone to take a breath, step back, and repeat the project mantra.
  • If it makes sense, create an artifact (e.g., paperweight, engraved pen, rubbing stone, cartoon, poster, whatever) that embodies the project mantra and can be displayed in every team member’s works space.

  Learn More…

  • Go to PhilosophersNotes and get the full notes & MP3 on Russell Simmons Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve
  • Get the 5 hr. abridged edition audio of Do You! from LearnOutLoud.com
    
  • Check out Simmon’s book on Amazon

  Tagged as: Do You!, logo, mantra, project mission, project vision, Russell Simmons, vision
  
  2 Comments

2 Responses to “Find a Project Mantra”

1. 

   Carolyn Malton said on June 8th, 2010 at 9:48 am

   Really good site, where did you come up with the knowledge in this blog post? I’m happy I found it though, ill be checking back soon to see what other articles you have.

2. 

   Michael Greer said on June 8th, 2010 at 11:40 am

   Hi Carolyn – Thanks! I’m influenced mostly by Brian Johnson’s PhilosophersNotes. See this page:
   http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?page_id=16
   Best regards.
   Mike

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