G.b. Patterson

Haiku for Professionals: Eastern Philosophy in the Western Work Day G.b. Patterson

The genesis of Haiku for Professionals is the simple mental exercise performed when deep in thought or when concentrating on an issue of importance. Ancient Japanese thinkers and poets alike used the art of Haiku to shed away all pretense, overt obscurity and window dressing to express the root of a thought, belief or feeling. Haiku is simply a concentration of thought. There is usually a reference, in some form, to nature. In business, as in Haiku, the 'less is more' principle, holds true. Often concepts get lost in a sea of useless 'business-speak.' It's a challenging mental exercise to take a thought and concentrate it into three lines. When you do this, you use your mind to create a highly insightful focus, within the form of an ancient art form. There is a spiritual element that arises as well. This highly insightful focus is often referred to as a 'Haiku Moment.' This is common with an exceptional Haiku. As you read one or create one, there may come a moment of deeper understanding or revelation. It is when you think to yourself, "Oh yes, that's it exactly!" This is the Haiku Moment. The fulfillment of a Haiku Moment is taking the understanding or revelation into action toward a more fulfilling life.