Even a toothpick has worth.

                                                        

Sleep has alluded me tonight. Perhaps it is the heat here in Istanbul, as it is getting hotter by the day. Perhaps my mind is too active, processing lots of thoughts, asking questions, reviewing the previous daze I have had.

I have a toothpick in my pocket, I think I will need this to prop my eyes open as I face another ten hours of delivering training for the NLP Master Practitioner and helping the participants learn English.

I gave the NLPer's a task with the toothpick. They were to go out into Kadikoy, here on the Eastern side of Istanbul, and trade the toothpick in for other items.

They were not allowed to exchange or use money, only the toothpick and anything resulting from any trade-ups.

It was a joy to see how their belief systems in themselves had changed since the first day I had met them. Some still had the doubt in their head that this task was beyond their capability, but a few encouraging words and embedded commands, and everyone went off to do the task.

I wondered around the town, keeping my eyes open, using Phillip's Sausage, to see if they were OK, and spied one or two who had initial apprehension, but once they started, they were away.

The result was all came back with items ranging from a delightful pen, a hat, shoes, a marking pen, a piece of chicken, a book, an offer of a meal, a large box of chocolate cakes.

All was done without the exchange of money, trading-up, leaving the people they exchanged with happy, as they gave worth to whatever the transaction was.

They negotiated their way, they used the BATNA, I had studied at Harvard Business School. Yes I have been to Harvard to study.

I am pleased with the outcome as were the participants, smiling all over their faces with the success they have achieved.

I will still need my toothpick to keep awake, so mind will have worth too.