I know there is a lot of information, but go through it slowly and think about it. At some point I will have a PDF of the interviews for download. While reading, jot down the information that applies to your unique situation. How would you answer the interview questions. After you have read the interview extract what you perceive as five great ideas.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a 48-year old woman, married to a Danish man. We have four children together ages 9-23. Our daughter is the oldest and only the two youngest live at home. I am from Houston, Texas, and moved to Denmark (to a small town north of Copenhagen) in 1985.
Since 1988 we have lived in an old house, built in 1922, which we have refurbished and continue to change and maintain. We also have a fairly big lot, by Danish standards, and one rooster and 11 hens. I spend a lot of money on organic vegetables and fruit as well as milk. I have cut down on the amount of frequency of our meat consumption. I also whole-heartedly support Obama and am very concerned about the environment.
How do you integrate your personal and professional life?
I have had domestic help for years. We just got an au pair and that has really helped. Housework is important but boring, time consuming, and perpetual. (Note from Avil: au pairs share responsibility for the family and some of the housework)
What’s a major regret that you’ve had in life?
That I haven’t travelled more. Still so many places I haven’t seen.
What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?
- Learn to listen.
- It is better to give than receive, especially when it’s unexpected.
- The golden rule still applies.
- Love is infinite—your children teach you this.
- Good health, physical and mental, really is priceless.
When you have some down time, how do you spend it?
Food, friends, family, films
What process do you use to generate great ideas?
Swimming laps, jogging, and listening to great talk radio.
What’s your favourite quotation and why?
There’s a better way to do it. Find it! Thomas Edison
How do you define success?
I think it has something to do with being honest, realistic, and altruistic to an extent.
In your opinion what’s the formula for success?
Devoting time to focus on the right things
What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?
Not so sure that I have but I do keep up and change the content of a course to be as relevant as possible.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?
If you don’t love it, leave it. Do something else. There are a lot of options.
If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?
Nelson Mandela, Obama, Bruce Springsteen, Albert Einstein, Peter Drucker. I wouldn’t say much, just listen and feel
Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply? Did you have an emotional or intellectual attachment to this book? Why?
Maybe Robert Pirsig’s Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because it is so brutally honest and goes into such depth about quality.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you and why? Summarize the book in two sentences.
Books I haven’t read yet. Comprehensive books about philosophy, literature, history, art and science/technology
What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?
That’s really tough. It would have to be something that didn’t make me feel lonely.
What excites you about life?
Having choices, freedom and happiness
How do you nurture your soul?
Eclectic choices in reading, music and food
If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for? Or, if I gave you a magic wand, what would you use it for?
That the natural aging process on my body wasn’t so overt
Complete the following, I am happy when…..
I feel loved
What are three takeaway from Lynn’s interview? How can you apply Linda’s interview? Which aspects resonated with you? What are your five great ideas? Here are 10 great ideas that I pulled from the complete interview.
10 Great Ideas
- Simplify difficult to understand information
- Understand the different learning styles so that you can improve communication (Three learning styles are visual, auditory and kinesthetic)
- People have different perspectives on what they perceive as being important
- Read, read, read
- Travel and see the world
- Keep improving the way you do things. Thomas Edison said, “There’s a better way to do it.”
- Focus on the things that will take you where you need to go
- Change to remain relevant
- You always have options
- “If you don’t love it, leave it. Do something else.”
Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please comment. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.
About Lynn Kahle
Originally from Houston, Texas, Lynn has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark since 1985. She holds a degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University and worked in industrial sales (pipe, valves and fittings) in Texas and joined Brüel & Kjaer in Denmark in the electro-acoustics department, heading up sales and marketing of studio microphones.
Since 1989, Lynn has been an associate professor of international marketing at Copenhagen University College of Engineering, global business engineering department, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Copenhagen Business School’s marketing department. Her topic is Experience Innovation, which is what led her to the GEL (Good Experience Live) conference and Creative Good. She produced euroGel2006 in Copenhagen and is the moderator for Executive Council 9.
Lynn is married to a Dane and they have four children, an old house, and lots of Wyandot hens and one rooster.
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The Invisible Mentor Interviews Lynn Kahle Part Two http://bit.ly/78nz6m