tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81486372274135585032024-03-05T04:41:12.782-08:00Operate AuthenticallyJames M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-41396894453819366462017-11-29T10:16:00.000-08:002017-11-29T10:23:04.371-08:00The Things We Think We Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">If we are to be authentic, we must be genuine and sincere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does this really mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are to look these terms up, they often refer to one another in their definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let's choose one, sincere, and delve a little deeper into the etymology:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"pure, unmixed," from Middle French sincere (16c.), from Latin sincerus, of things, "whole, clean, pure, uninjured, unmixed," figuratively "sound, genuine, pure, true, candid, truthful," of uncertain origin. The ground sense seems to be "that which is not falsified." Meaning "free from pretense or falsehood" in English is from 1530s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, it is thought that the Latin origins started with the meaning "without wax" (*sin cerae) in regard to sculpture flaws and blemishes that were commonly coverd-up with wax.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have always been very sensitive and aware of my being highly authentic as well as when others were or were not conducting themselves in an authentic manner - intentionally or not. When my daughter, whom I admire greatly, recently declared that she does not like technology, I questioned her on her basis for such a bold declaration, particularly since it is so inconsistent with how she lives her life daily (SnapChat, texting, FaceTime, YouTube, Google Docs, laptops, iPads, iPhones and so on).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This made me think further, was this merely an accidental misstatement of the fact that she is not wholly enamored with technology to the degree that I am, or was it perhaps a sentiment picked-up along the way and adopted because it sounded good. She was not sure, which brings me to the point I want to make.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be truly authentic, we must know ourselves, and to do that, we must question whether our own thinking is coherent, cohesive, and truly our own - self-awareness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How many people do you know where you perceive that they are not being authentic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you find that their philosophies, beliefs, and behaviors are inconsistent with one another and changing from day to day or under varying circumstances?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this intentional, or are they not aware that they have given themselves away and instead, they have become nothing more than the malleable parrots of other's slogans and sentiments, not by choice so much as a byproduct of being fearful to be themselves?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be keenly self-aware, you must start with observing yourself. As you meet new people, engage in work meetings, and spend time with different social groups, try to observe how you feel in each situation. Leaning to be more observant and self-aware will allow you to recognize when you are feeling uncomfortable, understand why you are feeling uncomfortable, and signal to yourself to intentionally draw upon your authentic self, which in itself, may take some discovery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Authentic people are impeccable when they speak to themselves, about themselves and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a healthy approach to life by knowing there will always be naysayers, and their opinions don’t matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Authentic people create their own rules based on the standards that resonate with them. They have the courage to live their lives based on what they believe is right. Not to turn this into an exercise in etymology, but courage is a key concept in being authentic. Courage comes from the French word, coeur (heart), and it means to follow one's heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Authentic people don’t allow their fears to prevent them being themselves. If you are focused on being true to yourself in every moment, you are less concerned about the potential for rejection from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be truly authentic, we must know ourselves, and to do that, we must question whether our own thinking is coherent, cohesive, and truly our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot be fearful of rejection, for nobody can actually reject us without our permission, even if they do not agree with our perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To truly be authentic earns respect and admiration because, in reality, we all know that it takes courage and strength to be consistently true to yourself.</span></div>
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James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-28499096488543330312013-08-25T17:48:00.000-07:002013-08-26T10:19:10.722-07:00The Point of no Return<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">We
go through our lives functioning in the world as we have come to know it through
various forms of learning. That learning
is comprised mostly of explicitly obtained knowledge from various modes of
education and also experiential knowledge, obtained through our daily
lives. We don't always have ways, or even the inclination, to
validate whether this information, meaning our paradigms, are accurate or not. In fact, we are often certain that our
paradigms are grounded with fundamental truths.
When we operate in accord with these paradigms, and things don't work
out, we may even be tempted to rationalize that any and everything is to blame
but our own paradigm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">However,
it is critical that we remain receptive the potential need for changing our paradigms. Short of that, when our defenses are down, new information
may sneak up on us and catch us off guard before we can put up a defense. No matter how it happens, once we have a
realization that one or more of our paradigms was inaccurate and needing to be
changed, or even replaced, everything is different from that point on. We often call this an 'Ah-ha' moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Some
'ah ha' moments are smaller refinements, while others can be life
altering. I can remember a couple of key
'ah ha' moments that were huge game changers for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">One
was when I wanted a motorcycle as boy, and the only way I could make that
happen was to buy a rusted pile a junk and rebuild it myself. Much greater than the joy of finally riding
my rebuilt motorcycle, was the power of the realization that if I could make
this happen for myself as boy in 5th grade, I could do anything, and the world
of possibilities unfolded right before my eyes.
I consider that realization a tremendous gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">A
second 'ah ha' happened for me in college. I have to admit that I coasted
through high school and into college.
The work was easy enough to complete without ever taking a book home,
and typically achieving A's and B's for my final grades. My Chemistry Professor must have spotted
this, and whenever I would go to hand in my lab assignment, he would snatch it
up from his lab assistant and say, "I will grade Mr. Sims lab
assignment." He would find some
detail that was in error, even something like leaving off the date, and fail my
assignment so I would have to come back another day and redo the lab. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">This
repeated for a couple of weeks. At first
I was starting to get pretty irritated
and then I declared war (but in a good way) and determined that I would beat
him at his own game. I resolved that my
work, not only in the lab, but everywhere else, would be absolutely
flawless. Of course, this was not
anywhere as easy as what I had been doing all through school up to that point;
I had to study endlessly, I had to triple check my work, I had to maintain a
discipline of doing whatever it took, and then, just a little bit more. When it was time to hand in my work, I would
refuse to give it to anyone other than the professor. And you know what, he won! Because now that I had discovered a new work
ethic and that I could turn in consistent A's for Chemistry, I realized that I
could do the same for Calculus, French and Sociology. At that point, there was no turning back
because I changed my paradigm forever. I
could not un-discover what I had learned about my capacity to do top notch
work!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Now,
as we get older, and wiser, we don't necessarily need mentors to set us up to
trip over these 'ah ha' moments, we can even set ourselves up to go through the
next paradigm revisions we need to achieve for our continual growth and
evolution. Furthermore, it is now our
turn to offer these opportunities for life altering realizations back to the
next generation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">That
is what I spent most of yesterday on. I
hope, for at least some of the 15 local high school seniors we spent the day
with yesterday, that they will have come away with one or two valuable 'Ah ha'
moments. It would give me great joy, on
behalf of our organization, to have’ paid it forward’. But in addition to the obvious opportunities
presented by young students who have temporarily lost their way, we need to be
aware of how we can help our staff find the ‘ah ha’ moments they need to keep
progressing towards greater and greater contribution and achievement.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-76983990480664485162013-08-18T17:01:00.000-07:002013-08-26T10:21:01.449-07:00Realizing Our Potential<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Self
Actualizing, in the broadest sense, means realizing one's full potential. However, this sort of very broad concept
remains just that, a concept, unless we bring it into more concrete terms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Realizing
one's full potential must be preceded by clearly identifying one's full
potential. I have been thinking about this lately because I believe it is incumbent upon my role as a manager and leader to help my staff achieve at their fullest capacity, and to that, we first have to cleave through the quagmire of good and bad external
inputs that have been accumulated over the years. This endeavor undoubtedly
includes a thorough evaluation one's personal values and guiding
principles, since they are so foundational to our daily behaviors. This introspection would
reveal in anyone, that at least some of our values and guiding principles are
not truly of our own design nor choosing, rather, they have merely been imprinted
upon us through various life experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">I bring
this up, as it is not unusual to have accumulated some idea of our potential,
or more likely, the limitations of our potential, through our life experiences,
including opinions or even projections laid upon us over the years, at least
some of which may have been consciously or even unconsciously accepted, and
then subsequently re-enforced as personal limitations. I assure you, that none of these limitations
are real, though some aspects of our potential may be less easily realized than
others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">So, to
realize our true potential, we must first remove the self-imposed, or at least
accepted, limitations we have picked up over time and have since continued to
apply and re-enforce. Re-enforced you
say? Yes, haven't you ever heard someone
say, "Oh, I could never do that!", well, it just isn't true! Yet we accept these notions of our
limitations, and then, unwittingly re-enforce them without even questioning
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Having
questioned and removed these limitations, thereby discovering a new and greater
potential to realize for ourselves, we must then embark on the second
challenge, which is how go about achieving self-actualization. By far, the
greatest barrier to self actualization is overcoming our own fears, expressed
most commonly by finding it impossible to even begin. It is so ironic, that the reality is in plain
view, like the nose on our face, and just as we have lived within falsely
imposed limitations regarding our potential, we live within the notion that the
realization of our potential is inaccessible to us. The truth is that all we have to do is begin! Like
walking across a balance beam, we must begin, and even if we falter, or even
fall, there is nothing more required than to get back up and continue, and
before you know it, you are at the other end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">I often
tell people, when discussing this sort of challenge, that, "I don't know
how to do my job; rather, I know how to do things I don't know how to
do". What is meant by this is that
I do not undertake my role in a formulaic manner, like following the recipe for
a cake, as everyday bring new challenges, and requires adaptations, both small
and large, to do the job well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">The
realization of each of our potential is so close and accessible, yet it can
seem virtually impossible. I think of
people that I have offered to help in learning to play the guitar, and how they
are commonly discouraged after the first half an hour. Guess what; everyone, I mean everyone, is a
complete clod in the beginning. However,
with just a little more perseverance, such as practicing three chords, twenty
times each, each evening for a week, huge progress will be discovered. Likewise, the realization of each of our full
potential begins with one step, and then another, supported by the courage and
belief that you can and will ultimately achieve your objective. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I know
this about myself, and I have no less confidence in each and every one of
you. I invite and encourage you to tear
away those falsely applied limitations and to begin anew, to truly realize your
full potential. Seek the support and
partnership from those around to fortify your courage and commitment, calling
upon your friends, family, coworkers and myself. Stick your neck out, be
adventurous, explore beyond those artificial horizons you have lived within so
far, and revel in the discovery of just how amazingly capable each of your
really are!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-83390937528348645892013-08-10T11:39:00.001-07:002013-08-26T08:03:28.961-07:00'Thinking Outside the Box' or 'Outside the Nine Dots'<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What does
'thinking outside the box or outside the nine dots mean to you? We have to be careful that these sort of catch
phrases do not become such a cliché, through overuse as trite slogans and
advertising tag lines, that we do not take the time reflect on the powerful
concept that they are meant to encapsulate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Thinking outside the box</b> is to think differently, unconventionally or from a new
perspective. This phrase often refers to novel, creative and smart
thinking. This is sometimes called a
process of lateral thought or divergent thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The "nine dots" puzzle.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, where am I going with this? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGu5X1iQ5rxaKc112zQ4xOG1CFVlXtu2eAV3vCEEbj4qNBBbivxSRK-DNIQZF0oh8DQ-z3yefQqnr3g9mfJM3A9TOBwpcAuTh9OSBQ2Qk6utnQsmutJE64Tym95apZRJlC34h7yc8cf4/s1600/Ninedots+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGu5X1iQ5rxaKc112zQ4xOG1CFVlXtu2eAV3vCEEbj4qNBBbivxSRK-DNIQZF0oh8DQ-z3yefQqnr3g9mfJM3A9TOBwpcAuTh9OSBQ2Qk6utnQsmutJE64Tym95apZRJlC34h7yc8cf4/s1600/Ninedots+1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">The goal of the puzzle is to link all 9 dots using four straight lines or less, without lifting the pen and without tracing the same line more than once. One solution appears below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0wlYH6y8kcF6XClmoGWrM5yLxxyOgFL6iQmKheDA2gNzS9rBJFe3qPeq8Ae2PRGgEVDMHWtj-MHrsOSGKN_IFAEWY2OCfl2JgKjKsWfZloq4LMw8beS51PEmVWMzuct8GwGLctkqnlQ/s1600/the-nine-dots-puzzle-solution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0wlYH6y8kcF6XClmoGWrM5yLxxyOgFL6iQmKheDA2gNzS9rBJFe3qPeq8Ae2PRGgEVDMHWtj-MHrsOSGKN_IFAEWY2OCfl2JgKjKsWfZloq4LMw8beS51PEmVWMzuct8GwGLctkqnlQ/s320/the-nine-dots-puzzle-solution.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many solutions to this puzzle is to go beyond the boundaries to link all dots in 4 straight lines.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you recall, I recently spoke on the topic of 'You are what you eat' which highlighted that we
really do create our own destiny, whether we are aware of it or not. Well, this month I would like to discuss how
we must not accept a destiny that has merely happened to us, if not even thrust
upon us. Let me elaborate...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We
recently had a consulting firm come in and perform a DNA screening for everyone
in the department. Guess what we
found? You are all extraordinary people with
the potential to do anything you choose.
Inadvertently, our antiquated, educational system has trained us to
believe there is only one answer, and it can only be found at the back of the
book. Sadly, we have had our creativity
and zeal drummed out of us be the time we complete our education, having been
churned out the system in batched, by year, like a factory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heresy
you say? Let me give you an
illustration. Not too long ago, there
was a study in human intelligence and creativity. They evaluated our capability for divergent
thinking. For example, they took a
simple question such as, "what uses can you come up with for a paper
clip?" This study was conducted across 1500 people. An average person would typically come up
with 10-15 uses, and at the genius level, people would come up with over 200
uses. The first group that was tested
were children in kindergarten. How do
you suppose they did? 98% of them scored
at the genius level. Now this test was
performed over the same group over a number of years; at ages 8-10, and once
more at 13-15. Their creativity
deteriorated greatly as they progressed through the educational system, until
they finally arrived upon the same average results as everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now,
please don't hear this as an indictment of our educational system, as that is
not my intent, rather, hear that we are all gifted with the capacity for
unbounded creativity, and it is only through prolonged training that we become
fearful of anything but the correct answer found at the back of the book. But that is not who you are, and it is not
what I require of you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If we are
to truly deliver singular value to the enterprise, then we have to tap into our
creativity, as the answer at the back of the book is not going to be
enough. But be prepared, as true
innovation is risky, we are going to have to make some mistakes along the
way. But how can we make mistakes, in an
enterprise where we measure every financial transaction down the 100th of a
percent? Well, we have to be creative in
a very rational, business minded way.
Now I know I am raising a lot of questions here, and it may even seem
that I am speaking out of both sides of my mouth. But I am not!
We must have the courage to think outside the nine dots, and the
discipline to carefully mitigate our risks in such a way that successful
execution is assured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, to
recap, you are all brought into this world with a genius capacity for
creatively thinking outside the box, I
am not only giving you permission to do so, I require it, and the only
limitation that I am applying it that we have ultimately employ business
rational thinking to ensure that our creative ideas truly deliver value and
that we have done all we can to mitigate the risks and ensure successful
execution and delivery. Now before you
look at me as though I have just asked you to leap an entire building in a
single bound... you’re not really saying that you are willing to be shown-up by
a bunch of kindergartners, are you? And
besides, doesn't that sound like great job description?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not
fail? Ok, now let's go do it anyway!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-57702394390588655612013-08-04T11:00:00.000-07:002013-09-05T06:32:08.996-07:00Achilles Heel<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWa9ymgw3Wq-AzDwaVPNyyT4n1Bt92_kMog80F-WgOW8PZPK4kLZnpGtZX1XaKzKSmpeF0lFUUIYIQZRMP-AgBK9g1YnXV8Qafn10tfMwN0wNerKovY8xTlA1H8s2IuoEZFz4R6McNcE/s1600/Julia+Xenodream.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWa9ymgw3Wq-AzDwaVPNyyT4n1Bt92_kMog80F-WgOW8PZPK4kLZnpGtZX1XaKzKSmpeF0lFUUIYIQZRMP-AgBK9g1YnXV8Qafn10tfMwN0wNerKovY8xTlA1H8s2IuoEZFz4R6McNcE/s320/Julia+Xenodream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Origins<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In
Greek mythology, when Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die
young. To prevent his death, his mother Thetis took Achilles to the River Styx,
which was supposed to offer powers of invulnerability, and dipped his body into
the water. But as Thetis held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed
over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who
survived many great battles. But one day, a poisonous arrow shot at him was
lodged in his heel, killing him shortly after.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In
the workplace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We
use 'Achilles Heel' in the workplace as a metaphor for the single most critical
weakness that will likely prove to be one's downfall. Unlike Achilles, we are
in a position to assist one another and our staff to identify our 'Achilles
Heel' and therefore remedy that otherwise fatal weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Listed
below, are some of those fatal weaknesses that I have observed as somewhat
recurring patterns in the IT professional arena. The more able we are to
recognize these issues in others, or ourselves, the faster and more effectively
we will be able to help start to work through a remedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go
to the icebox, get the cheese<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This
challenge exists where people are only willing to take on tasks where others
lay out the steps, and even then, they do not think through the steps and apply
energy to ensure that the desired result is achieved. This can result from a
combination of being lazy, undisciplined, unengaged and entitled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is
our challenge to engage others, not in the steps, but the outcome, then, no
matter what level of instructions are offered, they will undertake to ensure
that the steps they follow are complete, accurate and coherent and truly engineered
to deliver the intended result.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You
didn't ask me that<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This
challenge if very similar to the previous one. If the individual is not vested
in what is ultimately trying to be achieved, then they will only think hard
enough to meet the minimum criteria towards satisfying the question. This is a
far cry from giving a thoughtful and complete answer, which is still short for
first understanding the context for the question and what the ultimate
objective is, and then giving and answer that is truly intended to ensure the
objective is meet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Again,
it is our challenge to engage others, not in merely giving an answer, but
taking ownership in a successful outcome, therefore endeavoring to truly be of
assistance with an explanation that we support the intended outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
don't have an issue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This
perspective presents a huge challenge because it presents a "you can't get
there from here" paradox. What happens is, largely due to insecurities and
lack of trust, the individual is totally unreceptive to constructive criticism.
This lack of receptivity creates a total impasse in terms of growing and
evolving, let alone quickly resolving critical issues in terms of behaviors and
skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is
up to us to go through the steps to forge trust to a degree that level of trust
will override the insecurity trigger response to become defensive and shut down
all receptivity in others. This takes time and effort, there is not shortcut,
as pushing harder, or even threatening will only heighten the very barriers
that we need to address first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Tunnel
vision' and 'target fixation'<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Tunnel
vision' (the issue of maintaining too narrow a perspective, and therefore not
being able to see the full spectrum of opportunities) and 'target fixation'
(the issue of fixing our vision on an obstacle, as if in terror, and thereby
constraining our ability to see the way around the obstacle) are very similar
issue. This is a result from a lack of experience where an individual has
self-identified this challenge and/or a reluctance to employ the measure needed
to address it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We need
to help others recognize their tendency towards this sort of issues and how to
invoke the discipline of stepping back from the challenge, gaining a fresh
perspective, and perhaps collaborating with others to break out of our tunnel
or target. If we truly wish to excel, and not be impaired by this challenge,
then we should be willing to do whatever we have to do to overcome it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
don't need to take notes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can
easily cleave and group of people into two by nearly any criteria. For example,
in a meeting, you can easily identify those that are more mature and successful
by the fact that not only are they are taking notes, but the way they are
taking not that is oriented towards actions such as, information I need to
relay, commitment I need to follow-up on, something I need to learn more about
and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we
are conveying information to peers and staff, unless they have been endowed
with the gift of an eidetic memory, they should be taking notes, especially
where action is needed. This is a result of a lack of discipline, maturity,
responsibility, engagement and ownership plus a lack of pride and sense of
commitment. We need to help others recognize that issues occur as a result of
their shortcoming in this regard, and that is not acceptable, but even more so,
from a personal sense of pride, don't they want to show up as a top notch
professional that is full engaged and ready to absolutely deliver?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Single
threaded<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even
many of our individual contributors no longer have the luxury of single
threading their tasks. We all need to employ the discipline of some sort of a
task list, maintaining it and applying our efforts appropriately throughout
each and every day based on what is on our list. The only thing that varies
with seniority is the size and complexity of our task list and the further
challenge that our day is sliced into greater slices of smaller bits of time
that we still need to effectively apply to our task list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This
challenge is related to the previous one in the sense that you must first
establish a task list and properly record tasks. But it in this case, we need
to help people understand how they can apply various techniques to ensure that
they do not become solely absorbed in a single task without properly designing
how they are going to attack their task list. This is definitely an issue of
discipline and maturity. As we move through our career, if we have not already
learned to multi-task, we will have some long-lived habits to overcome via a
daily planning exercise, with that plan revisited whenever new factors arise
throughout the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'I
sent them an email' and 'I tried'<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These
scenarios are not uncommon, and a bit not unlike 'you did not ask me that' in
that there is minimal effort applied just to the point that an individual
believes they now have a valid excuse to not have worked any harder. But these
excuses are far short of success, and success is measured in a binary manner (i.e.,
you either were, or were not successful, nothing in between).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We need
to help people understand that these sorts of postures on any task reflect a
lack of maturity, integrity and are totally unacceptable. We need to help them
understand just how pathetic this sort of response is, and that is illustrates
either an unwillingness or inability to think around even the most trivial
obstacle…. Is that really what they mean to project about themselves as IT
professionals?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's
not my job<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This
attitude is infuriating to the mature IT professional because we know that it
is all, all of our job, to be successful together. There is no being successful
on our own. There is nothing wrong with holding others accountable for their
part, but we cannot stand by and predict, or even observe their failure in the
meantime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have
to help them see this big picture, but we have to manifest it in our everyday
practices by celebrating success together and also bearing the weight of our
failures as a team, and holding those accountable, who had the
responsibilities, or had the opportunity to help ensure success, and did not do
so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shinny
Ball<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of
us lean in one direction or the other, towards the routine, or that which is
new and different. Whether we are distracted by the new shinny ball, and do not
fulfill our routine duties, or whether gravitate towards that which is known
and comfortable, instead of conquering that which is unknown, in either case,
this gets back to discipline, maturity, and work prioritization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Regardless
of your preferences, we probably all have parts of our job that we really love,
and parts that we do not enjoy so much, yet, we have to find the strength to
get it all done properly and on time. Anything short of this is a failure, and
if we recognize this, then we are likely on our way towards applying the
discipline necessary to avoid this sort of failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Promises,
Promises…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We so
often find reluctance towards making a promise, recognizing that the needs to
be a commitment made or even worse, not realizing that a promise is implied,
and therefore, failure is imminent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We need
to help other to recognize how this occurs and how they not only can, but must,
negotiate till they are setup for success, and then absolutely positively
deliver on that deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Problems
don't get better with time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WIFM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All
of this depends first, on our ability to identify the issue(s), and secondly,
our skill to help others recognize it in themselves and to see value in
addressing those issues. The question of WIFM (what's in it for me) must be
answered or there will be no effort applied towards a resolution. A mature
professional will more likely recognize the issue more readily and also see the
value of the remedy on their own. A less mature individual, or someone who is
challenged with 'I do not have an issue' will have a harder time arriving upon
the Ah-Ha moment and may also have a harder time seeing enough value in the
remedy versus the effort that it will take to affect that remedy. This is part
of our challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WAC'em</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My department's management team has read 'The Power of Positive Confrontation' together. From that book, we
have learned how to more effectively deliver a constructive criticism. Armed
with that skill, and the greater clarity of the classic 'Achilles Heels' that
most commonly challenge our staff in their ability to be the top notch
professionals that they all have the potential to be, it is incumbent upon each
of us to more quickly and effectively identify these issues, clearly and directly
WAC'em, and then coach, mentor and guide them through to remedy.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-11991007943072047762013-07-28T20:53:00.000-07:002013-07-30T05:35:41.722-07:00Curiosity<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDT6wrMwfEiZhhXUKozHXzPwdumV7tBF8a5AGQzF44fSSNxXY7utv86Xj54_2z4tm5QorZkNkq1OJxVc0DM1DHIthxdVg9tvtsqvkZM1kUkHQQIDYzwq9ymyIuQ0qFCb7iX5fDNVNqqM/s1600/Curiosity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDT6wrMwfEiZhhXUKozHXzPwdumV7tBF8a5AGQzF44fSSNxXY7utv86Xj54_2z4tm5QorZkNkq1OJxVc0DM1DHIthxdVg9tvtsqvkZM1kUkHQQIDYzwq9ymyIuQ0qFCb7iX5fDNVNqqM/s320/Curiosity.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;"><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;">Call to action for my team to revitalize that curiosity which powers each of our intellect.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Curiosity is an important trait of a genius. I don’t think you can find an intellectual giant who is not a curious person. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein were all intensely curious people. But why is curiosity so important? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are four reasons:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It makes your mind active instead of passive - Curious people always ask questions and search for answers in their minds. Their minds are always active. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes your mind stronger and stronger.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It makes your mind observant of new ideas - When you are curious about something, your mind expects and anticipates new ideas related to it. When the ideas come they will soon be recognized. Without curiosity, the ideas may pass right in front of you and yet you miss them because your mind is not prepared to recognize them. Just think, how many great ideas may have lost due to lack of curiosity?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It opens up new worlds and possibilities - By being curious you will be able to see new worlds and possibilities which are normally not visible. They are hidden behind the surface of normal life, and it takes a curious mind to look beneath the surface and discover these new worlds and possibilities.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It brings excitement into your life - The life of curious people is far from boring. It’s neither dull nor routine. There are always new things that attract their attention, there are always new ‘toys’ to play with. Instead of being bored, curious people have an adventurous life.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">H</span><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ow do we ensure that we have not put a lid on our native curiosity, and instead, cultivate and nurture it:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keep an open mind - This is essential if you are to have a curious mind. Be open to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Some things you know and believe might be wrong, and you should be prepared to accept this possibility and change your mind.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t take things as granted - Question everything and don't just accept the world as it is without trying to dig deeper. Never take things as granted. Try to dig deeper beneath the surface of what is around you.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ask questions relentlessly - A sure way to dig deeper beneath the surface is asking questions: What is that? Why is it made that way? When was it made? Who invented it? Where does it come from? How does it work? What, why, when, who, where, and how are the best friends of curious people.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t label something as boring - Whenever you label something as boring, you close one more door of possibilities. Curious people are unlikely to call something as boring. Instead, they always see it as a door to an exciting new world. Even if they don’t yet have time to explore it, they will leave the door open to be visited another time.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See learning as something fun - If you see learning as a burden, there’s no way you will want to dig deeper into anything. That will just make the burden heavier. But if you think of learning as something fun, you will naturally want to dig deeper. So look at life through the glasses of fun and excitement and enjoy the learning process.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Read diverse kinds of reading - Don’t spend too much time on just one world; take a look at another worlds. It will introduce you to the possibilities and excitement of the other worlds which may spark your interest to explore them further. One easy way to do this is through reading diverse kinds of reading. Try to pick a book or magazine on a new subject and let it feed your mind with the excitement of a new world.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-80934484980002416202013-07-21T20:23:00.000-07:002013-07-29T20:34:11.377-07:00Your Personal Learning Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kehwu8kR8SU0oFlfeP7gMOAfDDCu01rEDdBLo_AiDJuHvMJ6rcAFWbPWuHIMHhJtOqNQ6RDhkOX9Hn_lrfjXAIZCdPllzzL45zh_3iUtMPULdzG2GNG1YTnUBkFLOw-EE4YSS8DiM48/s1600/Learning+Style.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kehwu8kR8SU0oFlfeP7gMOAfDDCu01rEDdBLo_AiDJuHvMJ6rcAFWbPWuHIMHhJtOqNQ6RDhkOX9Hn_lrfjXAIZCdPllzzL45zh_3iUtMPULdzG2GNG1YTnUBkFLOw-EE4YSS8DiM48/s320/Learning+Style.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;">Discussion with my department on how to identify, appreciate and leverage their unique learning styles.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Previously, I have talked about personality types and how we
should appreciate and embrace the unique value in those that have personalities
different than our own. This is because
they bring vital attributes to contribute to a team that are different than
what we bring. Similarly, we will
further excel, as individuals, and in working with others if we understand
differences in learning styles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Understanding Your Personal Learning Style<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Learning styles are a combination of an individual’s
preferred <b>learning modality</b> and <b>learning type</b> –
or the way one <b>physically processes and deals
with information</b>. The better we
understand learning styles (modalities and types) in general, and more
specifically, what our learning style is, the better we can set ourselves up
with the ideal conditions for learning, and know that we will need to adapt,
when those conditions are not possible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every person – young or old – has a preferred learning style. Your
learning style influences both the way you learn and the way you interact with
other people. <b>As an adult you have likely learned over the years to
adapt your learning style, at least to some degree,</b> to better
facilitate personal interaction, communication, and instruction that are not
presented in your preferred modality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3 Primary Learning Modalities Every Person
Uses<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Learning modalities are the ways in which we physically take in,
process and remember information. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Learning modalities include:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Visual</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Auditory</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kinesthetic</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All people start out as kinesthetic learners. Babies explore the
world through touching and tasting their world. <b>Children typically
become more visual and auditory learners as they grow older</b> and
throughout their school years – learning by what we see and hear in addition to
what we are physically able to touch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Children enter kindergarten as kinesthetic and tactual
learners, moving and touching everything as they learn. By second or third
grade, some students have become visual learners. During the late elementary
years some students, primarily females, become auditory learners. Yet, many
adults, especially males, maintain kinesthetic and tactual strengths throughout
their lives."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even as we learn to utilize multiple learning modalities in our
daily lives, most people favor one predominant, or preferred, learning
modality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Visual (65% of adults): </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Visual learners need to
read, see, watch and observe information – <b>their eyes are the key to
learning</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Visual learners prefer pictures, graphs, charts, and diagrams to
make sense of information. They prefer to read the text themselves, rather than
have it read out loud to them. Visual learners spend time reading information,
examining pictures, illustrating ideas and taking notes. And visual learners
benefit from assignment notebooks, to-do lists and calendars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Auditory (30% of adults): </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Auditory learners need to
hear information – <b>their ears are the key to learning</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Auditory learners prefer sound and verbalization, even if it is listening
to themselves talk out loud. Auditory learners often use talking aloud to work
through problems verbally. Auditory learners excel when a traditional auditory
teaching approach such as lecturing is used. Auditory learners benefit from
reading information and directions out loud, varying voice tone and voice
inflection, and assignments requiring speeches and other oral presentations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kinesthetic (5% of adults):
</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kinesthetic
learners need to interact with information – <b>their hands and bodies are
the key to learning</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kinesthetic learners prefer doing, touching and direct
involvement. Kinesthetic learners have a difficult time sitting still for long
periods of time. Kinesthetic learners enjoy exploring the concepts and
information they need to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember, although most adults are not kinesthetic learners, all
young children start out as kinesthetic learners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4 Foundational Types of Learners<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Learner types can be considered a more of a learning
"personality" than a learning style. Learning type involves
organizational style, personality, and ways of dealing with information rather
than how individuals process information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Concrete Sequential:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Concrete sequential learners tend to be very straight-forward and
down to earth in their approach to life. Concrete sequential individuals are
particularly good at working systematically, establishing routines and
processes, being in tune with expectations, paying close attention to details
and following a schedule or plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Concrete sequential learners are typically:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">organized</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">factual</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">practical</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">task-oriented</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">predictable</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">orderly</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">thorough</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">detailed</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversely, concrete sequential people often struggle with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">casual discussion</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">working in groups</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">functioning in a
disorganized environment</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">making sense of abstract
ideas</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">using their imagination
and questions that don’t require a black and white answer</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abstract Sequential:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abstract sequential learners are naturally very objective and like
to debate. Abstract sequential individuals are very good at gathering data,
analyzing ideas, analyzing information and research.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abstract sequential learners are typically:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">logical</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">scholarly</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">analytical</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">rational</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">theoretical</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">academic</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">argumentative</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversely, concrete sequential people often struggle with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">sharing emotions</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">being sentimental</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">being diplomatic</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">allowing others time to
speak</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">repetition</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">rules</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">time constraints</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abstract Random:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abstract random learners naturally attract other people because of
their strong interpersonal skills. Abstract random individuals are very good at
listening to others, paying attention to emotions, conflict resolution,
building rapport, and focusing on themes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abstract sequential learners are typically:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">imaginative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">thematic</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">colorful</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">flexible</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">empathetic</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">emotional</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">interpretive</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">very sensitive</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversely, abstract sequential people often struggle with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">having to explain
themselves</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">remaining focused on one
thing</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">dealing with criticism</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">providing details</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">unfriendly people</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">competition</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Concrete Random:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Concrete random learners are good at thinking fast on their feet,
being accepting of others, discovering creative ways to solve problems and
complete tasks, thinking outside of the box, identifying options and solutions,
and providing inspiration to others. Concrete random individuals are driven to
learn more, know more and take risks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Concrete random learners are typically:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">daring</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">divergent</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">original</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">independent</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">curious</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">intuitive</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">investigative</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversely, concrete random people often struggle with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">restrictions and
limitations</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">routines</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">having no options</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">re-doing work</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">formal reports</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">explaining how they got
an answer</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recap:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Learning modalities</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> include:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Visual – learning by
seeing</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Auditory – learning by
hearing</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kinesthetic – learning
by touching or doing</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Learning types</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> include:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Concrete Sequential –
organized, practical, orderly, and detailed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Abstract Sequential –
logical, rational, academic and argumentative</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Abstract Random –
imaginative, flexible, interpretive and sensitive</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Concrete Random –
daring, independent, intuitive and investigative</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Excerpt Resource: </span><a href="http://www.mindworksresources.com/"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">www.mindworksresources.com</span></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-2099947851050908192013-07-14T19:44:00.000-07:002013-07-29T20:33:59.997-07:00Operating by Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj71Wwau7z9zAn7i5c6gSYeQVwTOy4ClSh5X-J3ATAFkSCGYRbhAWySEbOTqE_E9REukEQE4pk_NjWfDZgiDMGfa75VzUltea049icz50uXBNMYZ064k6vkUu_j2Zwoer5iJRjP-RCgzE/s320/Operating+by+Design.png" width="320" /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0in;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have the opportunity to actually design how we will operate in our lives, and then actually live by that design.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever gone
through the exercise of thoughtfully considering exactly how you want to
manifest in this world. What sort of affect do you want to have on your
family, your friends, your coworkers, your community and so on? This
might be a more challenging exercise than you think. But I bet once you
create a draft, reflect on it, and go through a few revisions, that you will come
up with a very personal and genuine design; some of which may be how you
operate today, and some of which may be a goal not yet reached. Once it is in writing,
and you periodically meditate on it, you will find that you will be fulfilling
that design more and more effectively, as a natural part of how you are
conducting your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As personal as it is, I
don't mind sharing my design for how I will conduct myself, as it only makes it
something which I am that much more committed to fulfilling every minute of every
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> I
will:</b></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Provide a stimulus for
discovery and positive change in people's lives</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Be a source of joy and
happiness for those around me</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Be readily available and
reliable when my support is needed by my family, friends and coworkers</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Create and sustain a foundation
of trust with all whom I interact</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Continue to learn and practice
the joy of selfless giving</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Transform each new experience
into greater wisdom</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Serve as a example for how
constructive and positive thinking yields greater happiness and
fulfillment while I continue to learn to do this better myself</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Always say what needs to be
said, but do so with kindness and humility</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Leverage my hyper awareness and
sensitivity to be more insightful, compassionate and empathetic</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Take the necessary steps to
sustain my physical and mental health</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Continually seek new ways to
expand and enhance my effectiveness as a leader and apply these skills
when and where needed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Always conduct myself with the
utmost sincerity and authenticity</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Leverage my ego as a driver for
greater achievement of my entire mission statement</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Become better and better at
being loving, patient, supportive and a best friend to my wife, family and
closest friends</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Continue to improve my life
balance, inner peace and sense of sufficiency while helping others to do
the same</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Always operate with
intelligence, insight, integrity and humility</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Grow and improve my skills as a
coach and mentor and offer them whenever needed and appropriate</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Continuously question,
evaluate, learn and grow in all dimensions of my life</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Continuously expand my
creativity in writing, crafts, arts and music</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Maintain an adventurous spirit
both outwardly and inwardly</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Continually forge and grow
strategic relationships within and outside the enterprise</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Employ empathetic listening by
first seeking to understand others, then seeking to be understood</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
</ul>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-40524600622333913222013-07-07T18:18:00.000-07:002013-08-26T08:01:57.709-07:00You Are What You Eat<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfb2Z76SGs0YynxtHtevJqblCvj45ZlgGyWYvxzwoO3m-EOG9_Sq1SWuhVlMxKkSRhA3HX0zvdC5vWb0ZKeAI6bNGZ_tIltq7SaWX3j1ylIw3GEKJlv-uriOts76UXZtTOoa1vnOMlf4/s1600/Mandelbrot+3D+Fractal.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfb2Z76SGs0YynxtHtevJqblCvj45ZlgGyWYvxzwoO3m-EOG9_Sq1SWuhVlMxKkSRhA3HX0zvdC5vWb0ZKeAI6bNGZ_tIltq7SaWX3j1ylIw3GEKJlv-uriOts76UXZtTOoa1vnOMlf4/s320/Mandelbrot+3D+Fractal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Entreating our team to sign up for the idea that all we have to do, if we want to have a better day, is choose to do so.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever heard
the axioms, "<span style="font-style: italic;"> You are what you eat</span>"
or "<span style="font-style: italic;">You reap what you sow</span>"?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I bring this up,
because we sometimes feel that things are not going our way, perhaps even
poorly, and we are tempted to assign blame for these conditions, everywhere
but ourselves. Yet, these are time tested truisms, which clearly transcend their
literal meaning; in their broadest sense, they mean that we create our own
destiny. I wonder how you feel about
this. Would you agree that much of what
today brings and how we feel about it, is driven by what we create, wittingly
or not, and how we choose experience it?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How about this quote?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“<span style="font-style: italic;">Watch your thoughts, for they become words.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Watch
your words, for they become actions.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Watch
your actions, for they become habits.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Watch
your habits, for they become character.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.</span>”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We can find whatever
we choose to see. If we choose to see
things in a light that is not positive, then we will find evidence that support
it - just as we suddenly seems that everyone else just bought the same car that
we just bought! Have you ever noticed
how that works? It is kind of scary
isn't it,.. Scary that it could be that simple?
If we choose to see ways that our day could go better, that we could be
happier, that we could be an even better parent or spouse, that we could be more successful in our work, then we will
see them. But we have to truly choose to
go down that path, and when we do, the payoff will come to us in ways that we
might not have ever imagined.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By way of
illustration, I want to share a recent experience with you. I was in a restaurant for breakfast a while
back, and when the waitress brought the check. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I went to hand her my credit
card, but, she said, in saddened resignation,
"Oh no, they don't let me handle the money". I said, "That makes sense now that I
think of it." And she looked at me startled. Then I said, "You are probably much too
valuable doing what you do so well, it would be a waste of your talents to have
you troubled with this sort of thing."
She beamed and said "Thanks."
Since then, every time I go there, she finds me and greets me with a big
smile, even if I am not seated in her area.
Imagine what sort of day we would all have if we decided to choose the
more positive perspective in everything we do?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, to bring this
thought home to each of us right now, there is a lot of change that is going
on, with challenging economic conditions having profound impacts on everyone
around us, and everything we do. Look at
all the changes that we have been through in the last few years here at work:
doubling in size, store closures, store openings, new banners, new
organizational structures and new responsibilities. We all have the opportunity, really, the
responsibility, to experience these changes in a positive way. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For example, I know
that my wife and I have taken these times as a signal to clear out a lot of
'stuff' we have accumulated over the years, and to take fresh look at our own
finances. We found that we had slowly
accumulated some recurring expenses that were not necessary. Now, we feel somewhat renewed having shed
both some unnecessary 'stuff' and some unnecessary expenses. Similarly at work, I am seeing these times as
a period to return to some more basic values by truly focusing on each you,
your happiness and well-being, and also all of us together, as a community if
you will. Interestingly, in so doing, I am becoming a better human being. So I now have to ask you, how are you
choosing to experience all this change?
Are you choosing to see it as an opportunity? If not, I truly hope you can, as all it that
is required, is to choose to do so.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am
including some thoughts from an article I came across on recently that I hope
you find beneficial. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.375in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">10 Attitudes of Successful Workers</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By Kate
Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why do
some people seem to reach the top of the corporate ladder easily, while others
remain stuck on the middle-management rung? You might think that it is just
because those people have more of what it takes to succeed, like brains, talent
and powerful people in their corner. But there is something else that is just
as important: attitude. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dr.
Martin Seligman, an authority on optimism, discovered that attitude was a
better predictor of success than I.Q., education and most other factors. He
found that positive people stay healthier, have better relationships and go
further in their careers. And he even found that positive people make more
money. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone
can adopt the right attitude. No matter where you are from or how much innate
talent you have, the right attitude can make a difference in your career. Try
adopting these 10 attitudes of successful workers: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. I am in charge of my destiny.</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you
spend your entire career waiting for something exciting to come to you, you
will be waiting a long time. Successful professionals go out and make good
things happen. So commit yourself to thinking about your career in an entirely
different way. You will make it to the top, and you are in charge of making it
happen.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Anything is possible.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Think
that there is no way you will ever be at the vice-president level? Then you
definitely won't. Remember: If you think you can't, you probably won't. Adopt
the attitude of The Little Engine That Could -- "I think I can." </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. No task is too small to do well.</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You
never know when you are going to be noticed. That is one reason to take pride
in your work -- all of it. One public relations executive in Chicago said that
her first task in the PR department of a ballet company was reorganizing the
supply closet. She tackled the project with gusto and was immediately noticed
for her hard work and attention to detail. Remember this the next time you feel
like slacking because you are working on a menial task.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Everyone is a potential key contact. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While
you do need to be aggressive in the workplace, you can also go far by being
nice to those around you. Do you think it's unimportant to establish a good
rapport with your boss's secretary? Well, just try getting your meeting
squeezed onto the schedule when you really need it. Be courteous to those
around you -- you never know when your past contacts will play a role in your
future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. I was made to do this job... and the one above me.</span>
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you
spend your days feeling like you are not cut out to do the work you are
responsible for, your performance will suffer. Your job may not be the perfect
fit, but successful workers act like they are in their dream job, no matter
where they are. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. It's not just what I know, but who I know.</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Successful
workers understand the importance of networking, both in and out of the office.
You need to proactively establish professional contacts. Invite a colleague out
to lunch. Go to the after-work happy hour. Join your professional association.
Do your part to establish a networking path for your future.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. What else can I do?</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since
you are in charge of your destiny, it's your job to look for ways to improve
your professional self. Volunteer to take on an extra project. Learn a new
skill that will make you more marketable. Stay late to help your co-workers.
Successful workers don't just complete the job and sign out -- they look for
additional ways to make their mark.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Failure will help pave the way to my success.</span>
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While it
seems like some people never experience setbacks, the truth is everyone fails
from time to time. The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is
how they deal with failure. Those who find success are the ones who learn from
mistakes and move on. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. I am my own biggest fan.</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you
been waiting for someone in the office to recognize your talents and efforts?
Maybe it's time you start tooting your own horn. Step up and talk about your
accomplishments and what you have done for the company. Successful workers know
how to point out their achievements without sounding boastful.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">10. My opportunity monitor is never turned off.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes,
there will be days when you will want to just be happy with the status quo. But
remember that successful workers are always on the lookout for opportunities to
improve. Keep your eyes, ears and your mind open to new opportunities -- you
never know when you will discover the one that will change the course of your
career! </span></div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-12103127792957420582013-06-30T17:56:00.000-07:002013-08-26T08:02:10.137-07:00No Matter How You Slice It?<div style="text-align: right;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;">Challenging the members of my department to take a larger perspective on their role in our collective success, well-being, and happiness.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever thought about how we tend to slice our world into two parts based on a myriad of criteria - tall or short, old or young, rich or poor? How about parent or child, or along the same lines, giver or taker? Many of you are parents and of course we've all been children. As parents we often find ourselves in the position of being a selfless giver. We make tremendous sacrifices in every regard to ensure that our children's needs are fulfilled. And as a result, our children are under the mistaken impression that as parents, we exist solely to fulfill their every need, and in return, they have little or no responsibility back towards us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Certainly this varies with parental style, but in general, it starts out this way, and then over time we begin to socialize our children towards adulthood. And in doing so we begin to educate them that their role, purely as a 'taker' is no longer appropriate, and that they need to both give and take in every dimension of their life.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is easy to slip back into the comfort and simplicity of that childhood ideal, where our responsibilities are low and it is up to others to be responsible, engaged, and to provide. At different times in our adult life we may have even done this to our spouses, whom I might point out, will quickly rectify the situation and remind us of our responsibilities to be both the giver and taker.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This even translates into the workplace. And in a funny way, as a manager, there are some similarities to the parental role. As a manager it is absolutely one's responsibility to look out for and tend to the needs of our staff. And I'm talking in much larger way than the obvious sort of things such as a suitable place to work, supplies, a desk, and a computer. People are not machines, nor livestock, rather, they are highly complex emotional beings, and as such their emotional well-being is an important aspect of their overall productivity and the productivity of those around them. So there are other ways that we as managers need to look out for and care for the rest of the organization. But as we do that, we create the risk that at least some of our staff may unconsciously and inadvertently, slip back into that childhood ideal of a 'taker' with little or no responsibilities as a giver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But we are all adults here, and members of a shared community. Our success, our happiness, and our prosperity are all inextricably intertwined with, and dependent upon, the happiness, well-being, positive attitude, and productivity, associated with each of the others in our department, and really, across the enterprise. This is both a far reaching and also very personal topic, and it may be uncomfortable for you because you may hear it as though I am criticizing you. However I am not. What I am attempting to do is to remind all of you as adults, and very intelligent professionals, that we are all in 'it' together, and being in 'it' is a much more complex issue than merely showing up at eight, being busy till five and then leaving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is about honoring and respecting yourself, and everyone around you, as human beings with a job to do and feelings of pride and self worth about what we do and how well we do it. It's about being empathetic and compassionate with regards to each of our challenges, our successes, and failures. It's about working together, shoulder to shoulder, hand-in-hand to achieve a common goal. We are absolutely in this together, and it would be foolish to think otherwise. It's about thinking in a larger way than just showing up to do your job, and instead, thinking what can I do to enhance our workplace, our job, our spirit, and our chances for greater success. And in doing so, we increase our own chances for greater happiness and prosperity.</span></div>
</div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-27604162950518105432013-06-23T20:53:00.000-07:002013-08-26T08:02:23.771-07:00Transparency<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A passionate call to action presented to my staff based on recent challenges where we could have performed better.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
recently read an article about Square, the start-up company that enables mobile
payments to merchants. They have a Town
Square meeting every Friday, where they welcome new employees, discuss key
accomplishment for the week, and generally, share everything that is going on
in the company. Without breaking any
rules in our privately held company, I would like to extend the same gesture of
transparency to you. I perceive that
there is the feeling that "we don't know what it going on in our
department or our company", or worse, people are making things up.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
would much rather you ask me in front of everyone, since others will likely
have the same question? If you really
must, you can come see me anytime, as my door nearly always open. But what I really can not tolerate, is
filling the blanks in on your own, and coming up with some pretty negative
stuff, that is absolutely not true! So,
here is your chance, what do you want to know? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How Do You Know?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This
is a good question to ask ourselves; how sure are we about the accuracy and
completeness of the information we are basing a decision upon, whether it is in
our personal or professional lives?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
am talking about: testing the myths, cutting through our assumptions, getting
up off our 'seat cushion' and really, truly getting the facts, because nothing
short of rock solid verifiable facts will serve properly, if nothing short of
absolutely positively making it work the best we can, will suffice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here
are some illustrations:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There recently was an issue
where something had expired and needed to be renewed, and our Vendor told
us that the only way we could refresh the expiration date would be to
reboot the entire system. But had
we not challenged each other and tested this assertion in various ways, we
would have knocked all our users off the system in the middle of business,
instead, we found another way,
plus, we also found we could temporarily get around this expiration via
another route.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had an issue at a store the
other day that we thought was the result of a failing UPS, but it turned
out that is was an electrical problem, furthermore, it was proposed that
this UPS issue would be resolved over time because there is a project to
replace them, but there is not.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a group of users that
told us that a critical Cloud solution was running incredibly slow and
they needed our help. Our initial
response was that it was not our network, and that they needed to work
with the vendor for that Cloud solution.
When others challenged that assertion, it was demonstrated that the
slowdown truly did occur within our network, or as a result of our
network, and from there, we were then able to come up with a solution.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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</span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
am not at all trying to make any one person or team feel bad, and that is why I
am intentionally being vague in these illustrations. On the
other hand, I am asking all of us to strive for complete and accurate
information, and to use that to unflagging drive towards, and achieve, proper
performance and function of our systems.
We can not tolerate mediocrity, so when we get even a hint of it, we
need to go after it and kill it off, rather to assume, explain or rationalize
it away!</span></div>
James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148637227413558503.post-40450584414891110392013-06-09T21:13:00.000-07:002013-12-27T14:40:40.812-08:00Swim Like a Shark<div style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in;">
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;">
</span></i>
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;">A challenge to my staff to never stop seeking new knowledge.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You probably know that
many species of shark need to continually swim forwards to keep a fresh flow of
water across their gills, else they may perish.
Well, you might think this is an odd metaphor, but I think there is something
similar that happens to us. If we don't
keep ourselves challenged and moving forwards, both intellectually and
spiritually, we will also perish in the sense that when we are not growing and
evolving, the depth and dimension of who
we are begins to contract and diminish.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of us are
extremely fortunate that the nature of our work in IT requires that we study,
research and explore new technologies and concepts all the time. This aids in naturally providing challenges
in one aspect of our ongoing professional growth. But we need to grow as people too, both
professionally, and in the larger context of being better coworkers, managers,
spouses, parents, members of our communities and in general, better human
beings.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How does one go about
this daunting exercise? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just a little
over two years ago, a group of us in this department undertook to read 'The
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' and to sincerely go through the exercises
put forth in the book. One of the most
powerful exercises was to write our own personal Mission Statement. I found this to be a genuinely trans-formative exercise and I continue to challenge myself to live up to mine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I encourage you to
consider reading this book and genuinely undertake the challenges it
presents. I guarantee that in doing so,
you will be rewarded a richer, more fulfilling life and the benefits will even
extend to those around you</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></span></div>
<br />
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James M. Simshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849220029663945828noreply@blogger.com0