Iron Curtain versus NLP Modelling

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In the months immediately following the end of the Second World War, the United States was slow to realize the threat to international peace posed by the Soviet Union. In an effort to warn his American compatriots of this danger, the former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, just as he had warned the world of the threat posed by Nazi Germany, came to the United States to deliver this speech, with the hopes that his warnings would be received more succesfully. The result was this address, which became for west and east alike a landmark in what was to become known as the Cold War.

"An iron fence has descended," he complained.

Churchill must have liked the sound of that phrase.

But perhaps it wasn't quite completely right. After all, fences do not descend.

The Iron Curtain speech, perhaps more commonly known as the Sinews of Peace address, was delivered by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on March 5th, 1946 at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. The audience numbered around 40,000. In this speech, Churchill talked about how wrong it was that the Russians were occupying European countries. He spoke of all the terrible things that were going on within these countries, and of the threats and dangers of Communism. Churchill also described an "Iron Curtain" which prevented all communication and connection between the Soviets and Europe and which hung around many European countries. The Sinews of Peace address was a speech which attracted a lot of attention from the media (and so from the people) because of the revolutionary new concepts, phrases and ideas which he introduced in it.

Here are some excerpts from the Iron Curtain Speech:

"When I stand here this quiet afternoon I shudder to visualize what is actually happening to millions now and what is going to happen in this period when famine stalks the earth. None can compute what has been called "the unestimated sum of human pain." Our supreme task and duty is to guard the homes of the common people from the horrors and miseries of another war. We are all agreed on that."

"A shadow has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory. Nobody knows what Soviet Russia and its Communist international organization intends to do in the immediate future, or what are the limits, if any, to their expansive and proselytizing tendencies. I have a strong admiration and regard for the valiant Russian people and for my wartime comrade, Marshal Stalin. There is deep sympathy and goodwill in Britain - and I doubt not here also - towards the peoples of all the Russias and a resolve to persevere through many differences and rebuffs in establishing lasting friendships. We understand the Russian need to be secure on her western frontiers by the removal of all possibility of German aggression. We welcome Russia to her rightful place among the leading nations of the world. We welcome her flag upon the seas. Above all, we welcome constant, frequent and growing contacts between the Russian people and our own people on both sides of the Atlantic. It is my duty however, for I am sure you would wish me to state the facts as I see them to you, to place before you certain facts about the present position in Europe."

"If now the Soviet Government tries, by separate action, to build up a pro-Communist Germany in their areas, this will cause new serious difficulties in the British and American zones, and will give the defeated Germans the power of putting themselves up to auction between the Soviets and the Western Democracies. Whatever conclusions may be drawn from these facts - and facts they are - this is certainly not the Liberated Europe we fought to build up. Nor is it one which contains the essentials of permanent peace."

"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent."

"Let no man underrate the abiding power of the British Empire and Common-wealth. Because you see the 46 millions in our island harassed about their food supply, of which they only grow one half, even in war-time, or because we have difficulty in restarting our industries and export trade after six years of passionate war effort, do not suppose that we shall not come through these dark years of privation as we have come through the glorious years of agony, or that half a century from now, you will not see 70 or 80 millions of Britons spread about the world and united in defense of our traditions, our way of life, and of the world causes which you and we espouse. If the population of the English-speaking Commonwealths be added to that of the United States with all that such co-operation implies in the air, on the sea, all over the globe and in science and in industry, and in moral force, there will be no quivering, precarious balance of power to offer its temptation to ambition or adventure. On the contrary, there will be an overwhelming assurance of security. If we adhere faithfully to the Charter of the United Nations and walk forward in sedate and sober strength seeking no one's land or treasure, seeking to lay no arbitrary control upon the thoughts of men; if all British moral and material forces and convictions are joined with your own in fraternal association, the high-roads of the future will be clear, not only for us but for all, not only for our time, but for a century to come."

Half century is gone.

NLP Modelling is all about finding a model of excellence and then discovering how you can replicate that in yourself and others.

Most modelling is about taking a small slice of behaviour and being to replicate it, for example one element of a sales pitch…closing for example. This has a lot of value and another part of modelling is about the beliefs, values and attitudes that drive a person to perform the overall task. If I stick with the sales example it would be what drives a particular individual to be an expert sales professional, as opposed to just analysing one small element of what they do.

Romilla has the ability to look on experiences as a learning vehicle. This gives her permission to make mistakes, ask questions and ask for help. Also it is a different frame on the mistakes that are inevitably going to happen with a new project.

We are back at Pavlov.

Pavlov's description on how animals (and humans) can be trained to respond in a certain way to a particular stimulus drew tremendous interest from the time he first presented his results. His work paved the way for a new, more objective method of studying behavior.

Having taken and used these elements myself I have noticed some interesting results. I am now in the habit of writing about 2000 words a day for various projects. I am not sure how it got to be this much, but it does not take any real effort and nor does it take too much time out of the rest of my day. Virtually all of what I write is usable in its first draft barring some typos and grammar elements. And more importantly it all seems to fit with my overall game plan.

Here is the connection ... Social Media, Blogs, Twitter, Facebook.









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