In Myers-Briggs Type Indicator class some years ago, I learned that there are “mountain people” and “valley people.” The valley people need the mountain people to detect outside threats, and the mountain people need the valley people to produce food. Neither vantage point is more “correct,” as neither can survive without the other.

Donald Rumsfeld expressed another vantage point conundrum in his famous statement about the danger lurking in “not knowing what you don’t know.” Corrective action is straightforward when you know what you don’t know. However, where do you seek information when you don’t even know what questions need to be asked?

Steven Covey in “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” shows a drawing of a woman. On first glance from my vantage point the woman appeared to be beautiful and young with a finely appointed nose. However, viewed from a different perspective you could see a witch with a horridly ugly hooked nose. Covey characterized the ability to adopt a new vantage point as a paradigm shift, which enables one to see everything entirely differently.

As I face turning 60 next year, I ponder the vantage points I have missed and I yearn to explore. From what perspective do the Japanese, Chinese and Indians view the international issues that dominate our headlines? How do the resource rich Australians view the U.S. dollar crisis as their dollar soars? How do Scandinavians approach health care, and how successful is it really? How do the Russian people feel about environmental issues, given their experience with Chernobyl?

How do people of various religious backgrounds view human rights or global politics? How does a country’s predominate religion affect its adaptation to the increasingly interconnected world economy? How does the U.S. wrangling over its skyrocketing debt look from other perspectives?

Or, to Rumsfeld’s point, what questions have I totally neglected to consider because I don’t know what questions to ask?

During the next year my wife, Marilyn, and I will travel to Asia, Australia/New Zealand, rural parts of the UK, Scandinavia and Russia to immerse ourselves in new environments. We will observe how the perspectives of local people are influenced by their geography and culture. How will we take advantage of this knowledge? What is the relevance to philanthropy?

As I blog throughout these travels, I will identify vantage points worth sharing. Part of my learning will be to observe how my own writings progress, change and possibly mature. Part of my learning will be to hear your comments.

So, be on the lookout for Bobby’s Blog from distant shores, and share your own vantage point along the way.

Posted in
(5) Comments | Permalink

Return to the blog »

---

---

---

---

---