I gave a Grounded Workshop to a strategy class at Valdosta State University. This class is a required course for all Business School seniors. It is an inter-disciplinary with students majoring in accounting, economics, business, finance, and marketing all mixed in together. The professor is Dr. Jon Krispin.
Jon is a good friend; we go to church together, and he was an early reviewer of Grounded and provided valuable feedback in shaping the final form of the book. Jon introduced me, and I proceeded to paint a picture of strategy, leadership and decision-making using the three shipwrecks of the Grafton, the Invercauld, and the Alacrity as the canvas.
I had previously met with Dr. Krispin and had captured the key elements that he wanted the students to get out of the presentation. The students asked good questions, and I was overall pleased with the outcome of the session. Jon indicated that he thought I hit home on all of the points we discussed, but the best part of the whole session was what Dr. Krispin told the class AFTER I was finished.
Jon thanked me for my presentation and told the students, “What I didn’t say to you in David’s introduction was that I went sailing with David back in May of 2015. There were three couples, but my wife and I were the only ones without sailing experience. We are at anchor the first night, after an amazing first day of sailing and snorkeling in and around Norman Island in the BVIs.
We were all sitting on the sailboat, having hors d oeuvres and drinking a cool adult beverage when David tells the story of the Alacrity shipwreck. And I’m thinking ‘hey, why didn’t I know this BEFORE I agreed to get on a sailboat with this captain’? But I will tell you right now; we had a great week, and I am ready to go sailing with him again”.
The students had a good laugh over that. And Jon’s right, some information is important to have before we make decisions. Like whether your captain has been in a shipwreck. Would it make you more or less nervous to know that? Would a captain that has experienced a shipwreck be more careful, more cautious than one that has never been in one?
I believe that I am ever vigilant to potential dangers based on my experience. But you should always ask probing questions that will yield valuable information before you make important decisions. Here’s a question that I frequently ask in that situation: What questions that I didn’t ask would yield important information about this situation? I get a lot of useful information I wouldn’t have thought to ask by using that type of question …
Want to check out Grounded for yourself? You can get a copy of it HERE.
