A Normal Guru

Sometime around 2005 (identities not disclosed)

'This can't really be happening', I thought!

We were working with a client and they had brought in a real life guru to be part of one of the sessions of this months long initiative. At the time, this person was the top of the heap of OD consulting. Best selling books, concepts and ideas known worldwide.

When I heard we would be working together I had to pinch myself, more than once!

They were great to work with! Listened, were open to our ideas and design and suggested how they could best fit for the day in this longer initiative. They were just kinda normal!

So the day arrives, they show up early for prep; again just kinda normal!

They load their slides onto my computer for ease of transition. I notice a slide with a model I'm very familiar with. That model was created by another, though not so well known guru; a guru that just happened to be quite critical of the guru standing beside me.

On our presentation table, I also have the book by the guru where the model is illustrated!

So, as casually as possible I say, " Hey, I see this model here and I've worked with it." Are you familiar with where it comes from?"

"No, I'm not, but I saw one of my client's working with it and liked it and thought it might fit in here." they said.

So I showed them the book, very briefly as it was almost time to start our session. I didn't mention the author was a critic!

They said, "Can you send me the info on the book?"

"Certainly can", I said!

The day was great, the guru was great! Participants learned stuff.

As I reflected on the day; I was working with a guru who had content that could fill many, many days. They used their stuff and other stuff that seemed to fit for the client. They acknowledged the original author even though they were not familiar with them.

Kinda normal!

Maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised...