Archive for October, 2008
Friday, October 31st, 2008
Overcoming Adversity and Leadership: Profile of Blenda Wilson, Ph.D., President, Nellie Mae Educational Foundation
By Howard Edward Haller, Ph. D.
This groundbreaking leadership research by has received extensive endorsements and enthusiastic reviews from well-known prominent business, political, and academic leaders who either participated in the study or reviewed the research findings. You will discover the proven success habits and secrets of people who, in spite of difficult or life threatening challenges shaped their own destiny to become successful, effective leaders. The full results of this research will be presented in the upcoming book by Dr. Howard Edward Haller which is titled -Leadership: View from the Shoulders of Giants. The nine initial prominent successful leaders who overcame adversity that were interviewed included: Dr. Tony Bonanzino, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, Monzer Hourani, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, Dr. John Malone, Larry Pino, U.S. Army Major General Sid Shachnow, Dr. Blenda Wilson, and Zig Ziglar. The data from these nine research participants was materially augmented by seven more successful leaders who overcame adversity interviews including: Jack Canfield, William Draper III, Mark Victor Hansen, J. Terrence Lanni, Angelo Mozilo, Dr. Nido Qubein, and Dr. John Sperling. Additionally, five internationally known and respected leadership scholars offered their reviews of the leadership research findings including: Dr. Ken Blanchard, Jim Kouzes, Dr. John Kotter, Dr. Paul Stoltz, and Dr. Meg Wheatley. This is a short biography of one of the principal participants who generously contributed their time and insight for this important research into the phenomenon of how prominent successful leaders overcome adversity and obstacles. This Blenda’s story: Blenda Wilson grew up in a small New Jersey town in the 1950s. Most people believed that the best Blenda could hope for was a low-paying office job, and that college was unrealistic and beyond her economic reach. Blenda’s family had experienced racial discrimination. Her mother “was a bright black woman who had graduated from ‘normal school’ in the racially segregated deep south” of America, during the Depression. According to Blenda, her mother was a “very, very intelligent woman, [with a] powerful mind and fortitude.” She said, “My mother moved from Georgia . . . the north didn’t accept normal school [teaching] credentials, and so she became, throughout her working career . . . a white-collar worker, [a] salesperson at Sears, an elevator operator . . . [and] a girls’ supervisor in a juvenile detention home.” Blenda’s father “went to technical vocational school . . . completed the [electrician] certificate, and in those days, to become an electrician, you had to be apprenticed. He was black and he could never get an apprenticeship, so he could never be an electrician.” He became a laborer instead of an electrician. Blenda shared that her mother, who had experienced racial discrimination, insisted that her children “didn’t go out of the house dirty and slovenly . . . because she [had] lived in a really segregated south.” Her mother shared “stories where, if they were in town, and a white person was walking down the street, black people stepped off into the curb.” Blenda then described her own experiences with racial, gender and age discrimination.
Despite her membership in the National Honor Society at her high school in Woodbridge, New Jersey, her guidance counselor refused even to talk to her about going to college. Blenda’s comment was, “God, she was really mean to me. She never, ever gave me any counseling about college; she never invited me to college prep stuff.” Wilson said that on the contrary, “Actually, she told me to ‘take a typing class’ . . . then said, ‘You’re nice looking, and you might be able to become a secretary.’ Now that’s supposed to be a compliment.” Wilson recalled, “Fortunately, I was riding a bus and heard some women talk about college opportunities, and how they had heard that women’s colleges were providing scholarships for smart black students. I thought, ‘That’d be me.’” Their conversation convinced Blenda that she could find such a college for herself and a way to pay for tuition, books, food, and housing. Wilson wrote many colleges, seeking more information, applied for admission, and asked for full scholarships. “I got admitted to all of the colleges I applied to, and these were the colleges you know, they were the ’seven sisters.’” She received scholarship offers from several major colleges, but initially they offered only one-year scholarships with a series of renewals. Blenda commented, “I would just write them [the college] back and say, ‘I’d really love to come, but you have to give me more money!’” She continued, “I was determined to get a full four-year scholarship, to ensure that I could get completely through college, since I knew my parents could not afford to pay for me to go.” Ultimately, “Cedar Crest guaranteed me four years’ tuition, [a] travel budget, and a job.” She graduated from Cedar Crest College with a major in English and Secondary Education. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Education from Seton Hall, and then a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Boston College. Early in her career she experienced gender and age discrimination from African American males, both in the community and within her organization. Though she was more qualified and more educated than her competition, some people were vocal in their opposition to her getting the job as Executive Director of the Middlesex County Economic Opportunity Corporation. Blenda said, “The African American men in the community were pissed off that a woman would get this role. . . . One of the criteria was that they wanted someone with a Master’s degree. I had one. None of the African American men did.” Blenda said she experienced several kinds of prejudice: “There’s prejudice from men, there’s prejudice from black men, there’s prejudice from white people.” Wilson said taking a leave from her local high school teaching position to become the Executive Director of the Middlesex County Economic Opportunity Corporation “actually changed my life. I started doing the Head Start program. There was political turmoil. This was all in the ’60s, with the war on poverty, the Office of Economic Opportunity. I was going to change the world.” Blenda “was youngest Senior Associate Dean in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard,” and once again she encountered age discrimination. Wilson shared that she had “worked with and was tutored by Dr. John Gardner” after leaving Harvard. After she left Harvard she became Chancellor of the University of Michigan. After that she became the President of California State University, Northridge for seven years, from 1992 to 1997, and led the university’s recovery from the Northridge earthquake in January of 1994.
In addition to having served as a Getty Foundation Trustee for over a decade, Dr. Wilson is the President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Educational Foundation in Quincy, Massachusetts. She is also a past chair of the American Association of Higher Education. Dr. Wilson serves as a trustee of the College Board, and she is Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Dr. Blenda Wilson still takes time out of her busy schedule to mentor and coach select prospective female prospective leaders. Copyright 2006 © Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D.
Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D. Chief Enlightenment Officer The Leadership Success Institute www.TheLeaderInstitute.com
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Thursday, October 30th, 2008
The Japanese have a word for death by overwork:
Karoshi. A recent survey said 40 percent of all Japanese
workers fear that they will actually work themselves to
death.
Karoshi is not my idea of success. Sure, I talk about
“Never Settling for Success,” but that’s not a prescription
for becoming an obsessive or a workaholic. That type of
single-mindedness is more likely to lead to burnout than peak
performance. Never settling for success simply means that you
commit to maximum effort within the hours of your life that
you’ve allotted for pursuing a particular pursuit. And you do
that in spite of the 1001 excruciatingly attractive reasons,
excuses, distractions and temptations that you can find for
doing less.
Tip: Focus is a good buzzword. Multi-tasking is a bad
one. Computers multi-task, and usually lose efficiency when
they do. When people do it, it’s usually not multi-tasking at
all; it’s usually that older cliché, spreading yourself too
thin.
Tip: During working hours, consider working.
Tip: During non-working hours, consider doing something
else.
Now obviously given the realities of life today, there
are likely to be times when you’re going to have to work
during what you would like to be non-working hours.
Sometimes. But you’ll never fill the glass unless you can
find a way to be comfortable with the amount of your life
you’re devoting to the job. Then you make those hours as
productive as possible.
“If I worked as much as others,” Stephen Wright said,
“I would do as little as they.” There’s more than a grain of
truth to that statement.
Fortunately, as a society we’re finally beginning to
realize that chronic overwork is not a badge of honor, it’s a
sign that somewhere, something is wrong.
Tip: If you find yourself proudly bragging about your
hours or your workload, you’re probably putting in more time
than you should.
Tip: Intelligent people don’t brag about being
overworked. They complain about being overworked.
Tip: If you don’t have something in your life more
worthy of bragging about, find something.
“Working hard has always been a measure of success in
the office,” says Alie Hochchild author of The Time Bind.
“Now we’ve internalized it. So instead of the boss harassing
you to work more, we do it to ourselves.”
The better the manager, the less time it takes him to
do his job. A good worker takes care of his health and his
sanity, and is as productive as possible during the hours he
is working. An astute company values its people and doesn’t
abuse them or any other asset.
Yet on consulting assignments, I keep hearing remarks
like, “Around here, if you don’t show your face early
mornings, late nights and weekends you’re not considered
committed.” I’ve seen low level managers cowering in their
cubicles, pretending to be busy, afraid to leave the office
before their boss leaves: no matter how late it gets, no
matter how little they’re accomplishing. If they do leave
first, it’s commented on the next day, either by the boss or
by their peers.
I remember an executive who made a great show of
carrying home armloads of work every night. Sometimes he had
so much he had to make two trips to the car. After I got to
know him, he admitted he never worked on any of it. He just
lugged it home at night, then lugged it back the next day.
“Don’t laugh,” he said, patting the pile he was
gathering for that night. “I’m considered one of the hardest
workers in the office. And it’s always a lot easier to
influence the guy I’m working for with reputation than with
achievement, believe me.”
Activity vs Productivity
The idea (for those of us who sometimes forget) is to
get the job done as well and as efficiently as possible. I’m
always in favor of letting your results do the talking. And
of measuring subordinates by the results they achieve. When I
was an employee I wanted to be so good at what I did that I
didn’t have to worry about trying to impress anybody any
other way. That saved me a lot of wasted energy: energy that
probably helped improve my productivity.
We should never confuse activity with productivity. No
matter how many hours someone puts in, no matter how much
they appear to be working, the only measurement that really
matters is the results.
The refreshing news is that, nowadays, among all the
people bragging about their long hours, we’re also beginning
to hear a few executives boasting that they’re good enough at
what they do to be able to leave at a decent hour, to get
more done, and have time to get home and refresh themselves
so they can put in another efficient day’s work the next day.
Tip: Never let your company, your clients, your boss,
your boss’ boss or anyone else make you feel guilty that
you’re not a workaholic.
Workaholics are people with problems. Do you feel
guilty that you’re not obsessed by sex (okay, would you feel
guilty if you weren’t)? Or by chocolate? Do you feel guilty
that you don’t want to spend your entire life playing golf or
loafing, or reading or watching TV? Or that you’re not
addicted to alcohol or narcotics? Why should you feel guilty
that you’re too well rounded an individual to want to spend
your entire life working?
Barry Maher speaks on management, motivation, communication, leadership and sales. His book, Filling the Glass has been honored as “[One of] The Seven Essential Popular Business Books” by Today’s Librarian magazine. And when it comes to sales training, Selling Power magazine says, “to his powerful and famous clients, Barry Maher is simply the best sales trainer in the business.”
Sign up for his free newsletter and contact Barry Maher on his website at http://www.barrymaher.com. For an inspiring keynote speaker, a great workshop or seminar leader, an expert trainer and a first rate motivator for your next meeting, conference or convention.
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Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
“If her past were your past, her pain your pain, her level of consciousness your level of consciousness, you would think and act exactly as she does. With this realization comes forgiveness, compassion, peace.” — Eckert Tolle
Judgmental people wish their beliefs, their habits, their way of life on others. They look down their nose at people who don’t live up to their potential. But, your way feels right, you say. Well, your way feels right to you because of who you are, and it IS right for you. But, it is arrogant to think that others should act, be, and make the same choices that you do. For all of our differences, as long as we aren’t out there raping, killing and molesting, we deserve love, respect and acceptance.
During our personal-growth travels, we’ll inevitably find things we don’t like about ourselves. Many of us will learn that we are judgmental of others. We will realize that if not conquered it will erode our pathway to enlightenment. But, how does one change from being a judgmental person to being a person who accepts others for who they are?
To start, re-read the preceding quotation. Once you realize its truths, you’ll accept others without judging them. Secondly, just in case this is your first venture into self-improvement, don’t be hard on yourself. It’s only when you realize your short-comings and do nothing about them that you should feel guilt or remorse about not putting forth the effort to learn how to be a better person.
Keeping the quotation in mind, say you see someone in line at the post office. She wears faded-gray sweat pants, a ratty T-shirt, and dirty tennis shoes. In your judgmental days, you’d be aghast that she could leave home looking like that. You’ve judged her to be uncaring of her appearance, or you’ve judged her to be poor, or you’ve judged her in some other way. But, now that you are a student of personal growth and are trying to get rid of this unfavorable side of yourself, you see that there could be a myriad of reasons why she chooses to present herself that way. Perhaps she’s a beauty and she’s tired of all the leering. Perhaps she’s in deep grief from a personal loss and so she does not care about her appearance. Perhaps she was doing some gardening when the post office called about a package she was eager to get. It could be any reason. The point is that she is who she is and you are who you are. How one presents themselves in public is none of your business, nor is it up to you to dictate how another person runs her life. Your way is right for you. Her way is right for her.
Another example: Someone speeds up to your bumper and rides there until it is barely safe to pass. Your prior self would have judged her. You might say to yourself or your passengers, “She is one disorganized person. She should have left home earlier.” Your new self realizes that she could be rushing to help her elderly father who just called to tell her he fell and thinks his hip is broken. It could be anything other than your perception that she is just not as organized as you are. Even if she IS a disorganized mess, who says she needs to be more organized? You? You are a stranger to this driver. You haven’t lived her life; you cannot know what shaped her into who she now is. All you can do is empathize. When you’re empathetic, you have no reason to feel bad thoughts about others.
Now that you know how to not be judgmental, when the urge to be judgmental rears it ugly head, just think of all the reasons this person might have for doing what you deem to be the “wrong” thing. Soon, you’ll have a new habit of going around with compassion in your soul for the people in which we share this world.
As a student of personal growth, your payoff is huge, and when you become non-judgmental you will indeed gain “forgiveness, compassion and peace.” It’s a wonderful feeling to be unsaddled from thinking ill of others. This is not to say that others will quit judging you just because you aren’t judging of others. After all, they may not yet know that there is such a thing as being non-judgmental or of becoming a better person! It’s sad, but they may never know. You just continue on your journey. Remember, it’s none of your business whether they are on a path of enlightenment or not; your business is with building a better you. Keep it up.
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Friday, October 24th, 2008
I have heard those words so many times and always find them to be so comforting. On the weekend I went to several garden centres here to pick up lots of beautiful trees, vines, herbs and flowering plants for my balcony garden. I have been wanting to purchase a PASSION FLOWER plant for some time now. Passion flowers are exotic and mesmerizing. Small round fruits follow after the exotic flowers.
I saw one a few weeks ago but it was $75.00 which I thought was just a little bit too expensive for one plant. But I really, really wanted a passion flower plant. I had strong emotion around it and whenever I really, really want something, I always get it. I didn’t want to pay that much for it however.
Last Saturday, in one of the garden centres, I found the most beautiful passion flower plant I had ever seen. It was covered from top to bottom with an abundance of beautiful buds and many flowers which were already in bloom. My friend held it up in the air so that I could take a closer look and at just that moment, one of the long tendrils on the plant literally reached around and over to me and attached itself to the button on my blouse.
I was stunned and my friend’s jaw dropped. And then I remembered the words I had heard so often. “What you are wanting is wanting you”. I knew this plant was for me. We belonged together. It was just waiting there for me to come and pick it up. So I purchased it right on the spot as a birthday gift to myself since my birthday is tomorrow, May 19. And it only cost $39.00!!!
So YOU might want to ask yourself what it is that YOU – REALLY, REALLY WANT and then be on the lookout, because you are sure to get it.
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Friday, October 24th, 2008
The main prominent decision with internet broadband choices is that you locate the correct selection for yourself. What is straightforward & fantastic regarding Compare Wireless Broadband is that they only supply impartial at home Wireless Broadband & mobile internet broadband guidance. Contrary to all the other companies Compare Broadband UK provide free recommendations in a choice of particular contractors, Compare Broadband assist to find the greatest provide for you, and so you should pay out the least amount of funds possible and nonetheless still receive a fantastic agreement from your company.
Mobile Wireless Broadband is the up to date name used to describe many forms of gadgets that provide you with the most up-to-the-minute faze located in technology, this is wireless broadband high speed mobile internet access without the wires and without a fixed line connection. Mobile broadband gives you the convenience to use your mac book where ever you are sitting. All you are required to do is put in your universal serial bus modem and off your able to go, unproblematic wireless wherever you are. There are numerous great types of offers to go for amoung many types of suppliers. The providers are O2, Vodaphone, and Orange. These traders have all taken the lead with supplying broadband internet, although these mobile phone networks have initially focused on marketing the service to I book users.
Wireless has developed into being particularly famous and almost three million UK broadband clients nowadays connect wirelessly to the internet at home. This is a number that is constantly mounting as tons of people get wise to both benefits of wireless internet. Wireless Broadband uses high speed internet broadband access this because it frequently has a high rate of data transmission. Not only is it 10 to one hundred times speedier than a dial up account it doesn’t tie up the phone line so you can make and pick up calls normally while you use the Broadband You will pay a simple monthly cost for a permanently on connection consequently there is no need to dial one hundred to get online, just turn on the laptop and you’re connected. Get super fast broadband with Orange Broadband.
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Friday, October 24th, 2008
“Know Yourself” That’s what the big guy said way back when? Was it Aristotle, Plato or Socrates? Anyhow, that’s the essence of what this article is about.
You are a “self-help” seeker and user. You want resources to advance yourself in your life, to feel better, stronger and more successful. You’re not satisfied with how things are. And you’re not complacent about it. You’re motivated. Therefore, you’ve come to the right place.
We’re going to take you through this guide to instruct you on a few matters that relate directly to your goal of having the best self-help resources at your disposal. No more trial and error. This is it. We’re going to get focussed.
OK, be sure you’ve read our article on “Assessing Your Self-Help Needs,” (also available here at Ezine Articles) especially the part that distinguishes between “categories of distress” and
“categories of achievement.” These are arbitrary definitions. We use them to help our readers differentiate between “goals to be achieved” vs “problems to be solved. This ensures that we are all on the same page.
Let’s identify a few symptom problems under categories of distress. We start with the big ones and work our way down.
Top of the list in Problems to be Solved (categories of distress) is Anxiety. Always your number 1 source of pain and stress. Anxiety permeates everything, affects your sleep, how you feel about yourself and your circumstances in the World.
- Do you have Confidence?
- Do you feel Effective?
- Are you feeling Lost or Unsure of Yourself?
These questions take us back to anxiety, the root symptom underlying all of our Stress.
You see, if we have anxiety as a problem, then Stress Managememt is a possible solution. We see that Stress is experienced as Anxiety first. It becomes Stress after occupying space within us for any length of time. That is, it is something we experience and live with everyday, and it now colors our way of viewing the world.
MOVING ON!
Another big one, in the disabling symptom category is Depression. This is the second most common symptom in the whole arsenal of disabling categories. It’s amazing how many people are depressed today. Well, walk into any bookstore and count how many books are devoted to Depression.
When I travel and wander through Airport bookstores I see more books on Depression and Anti-Depressant Medication than any other subject. And this is supposed to be the Age of Super Abundance!
Why is Depression so common? And why is it so difficult to overcome? Well, the stress of “acquiring more” and “making it” is behind this. Yes, some stress is necessary, even desired, to bring out our best performance in work or other activities.
But being overwhelmed by Stress is all too common today. Therefore, Anxiety and Depression walk hand in hand with those of us geared to the SuperAbundant lifestyle. Depression is the most commonly diagnosed “mental condition” today. And where there’s Depression, there’s Anxiety. The pharmaceutical industry makes a Fortune off these two categories alone.
Yes, Depression and Anxiety are interlinked. They are part of each other and show up whenever “Stress” is the assessed root problem.
We can now see why Stress, under categories of distress, as also so prevalent in the language and experience of our current culture. Stress dominates our Era.
From the pressure to succeed and to raise our kids perfectly, to the global effect of “The War on Terrorism” we are all subject to Stress. Some would argue that our government leaders like it that way. We are easier to control and motivate toward a particular end. But I digress. “What would the USA be
without a “War to fight?”
MOVING ON…
We are learning now that Categories of Distress are Global. Anxiety, Depression and Stress occupy our minds and thoughts daily. They are a top priority in our consciousness and underly all our Major Illnesses, including Cancer.
Getting happy is about getting Healthy in the plural sense of all parts of our lives.
Anxiety – Stress – Depressive States – Universal Tragedies!
What else can we feel when 200 Spaniards are killed by terrorist bombs on their way to work one morning? When everyday, another U.S. soldier or two are killed while involved in some action around the World.
Every day there is Stress – Kids, Jobs, Debt, Bad News, and so on… There’s plenty of stress to go around.
Back to Our Topic . . .
Categories of Distress
Anxiety, Depression, Stress – The Top Three! All other symptom categories derive from these 3.
Where can you find Relief?
“The Self-Help Advisor” Website, among others, has lists of great resources for the above-mentioned categories. There are also Coach resources on the net, books of course, and many other sources of help. Your community likely provides every kind of resource available. Assess yourself first. Do a thorough review of your strengths and weaknesses, browse our Links Page at The Self-Help Advisor to find resources and solutions to these problems.
And READ! The more you know, the better off you are. Ultimately you have to be responsible for your life. What you learn can’t hurt you, and likely will help.
Maurice Turmel has a PHD in Counseling Psychology and was a practicing therapist for nearly 25 years. Self-Help issues are dealt with regularly in his monthly Ezine “The Self-Help Advisor.” Dr. Turmel likes to use parable stories to illustrate important points. He has authored 3 books and is also a performing songwriter. He can be reached through his Website at: http://www.mauriceturmel.com
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Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
In a recently conducted probe it was revealed that up-to-the-minute smalls are undoubtedly the swank personal items proven to lead members of the fair sex – young and old – to experience themselves as being enticing. Naturally, being the number one in the extravagant women’s sleepwear business, Myla is a British business residing in London subscribed to outfitting members of the fair sex – young and old – to feel beautiful and positive in up-to-the-minute intimate apparel.
For the unsurpassable in tempting joy the Myla company shop promotes delicate smalls exclusively fashioned from precious materials which extends to high gloss satin, lightweight chiffon, tatted lace including, in addition, sheer gossamer mesh. Indulging flirtatious members of the fair sex you can buy brassires along with silk ruffle tie-side hipsters, padded balconettes along with fitting frilled thongs and brace or, simply, enticing sportive lace-trim babydolls exclusively fashioned from lightweight chiffon and tatted lace. Expectably, this wonderful range of articles promotes structured lace basques, silk hipsters, sheer chemises including, in addition, long silk satin halter nightdresses.
Tailor made for the chamber, there’s a top-drawer selection of pure satin and lattice tulle corsets, silk ruffle tie-side hipsters, cache-sexes, marabou thongs and strops. Should you want very appealing bedroom pleasure accessories pick clitoral stimulation gear, satin high heels, fishnets, suspender belts and seductive scented passion candles. Tease and tempt with mini feather ticklers, satin tie-ups, tease blindfolds, aphrodisiac scented massage oil, heavenly body paints made from chocolate sauce or a sportive paddle.
For the unsurpassable very appealing designer vibrators, the Myla company shop promotes a product line of erotic pleasure toys designed exclusively by a legion of excellent artists and designers. Devotees can choose from a broad product list which extends to Rachel Wingfield’s vibrating Sphere, Scott Henderson’s C-Shell with its multiple vibrating surfaces that contact the body in several places simultaneously or Paris based Australian born Marc Newson’s unbelievably voluptuous Mojo.
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Sunday, October 19th, 2008
At about the same time I started to think about building my own website, I considered my personal strengths and resources. It occurred to me that it might be a good idea to make a list of all the things I have in my life, as well as the things I have learned and skills I can use. This could help me come up with new directions for my personal development. After I’ve started writing these things down, I decided to call it “Power Maps” as they outline my sources of power, and could also show me ways to turn my strengths into more powerful actions. In this brief article I will try to demonstrate how I do this, hoping you can do the same. I use my own Power Map as an example, so you also get a chance to know me better…
I began by writing down the major categories of things I do and am related to. Here is what I came up with:
- Family & Friends
- Places I know
- My Studies & Work
- Languages
- My Hobbies & Pastimes
Try to make your own list now. It doesn’t have to be similar to the one I made or even have the same logic or structure. Just try to think of the major things that make up the person that you are.
Next, I added more details to each major category – ending up with many of the things I consider to be my sources of power and knowledge. This is what it looked like by now:
- Family & Friends
- My wife
- My children
- My mother, sisters & brother
- My friends
- Places I know
- Israel
- Europe
- South America
- Argentina
- Chile
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- South East Asia
- My Studies & Work
- Human Resources
- Management skills training
- Thinking, Innovation & Creativity
- Philosophy
- Computers
- Web programming
- Database planning
- Online & computer games
- Myself as an employee
- Languages
- My Hobbies and Pastimes
- Capoeira
- Diving
- Board games
Seeing all that I have in my favor, I already started to feel stronger!
If you want to get the same feeling – take a few minutes to list many of your own sources of power.
Turning power into action
Now it was time to start thinking how I could turn all those resources into something I could make or contribute. In other words – come up with new and useful things I could do with all I have. What I came up with was consisted of things I did before and could do better or on a larger scale; things I haven’t done before but believed I could do; and some other ideas that just came up.
In order to distinguish these action ideas from the resources I already listed, I underline the action items. I am sharing some of these with you:
- Family & Friends
- My wife
- Help your wife pursue her dream
- My children
- My mother, sisters & brother
- My friends
- Places I know
- Israel
- Knowing what it’s all about
- Europe
- South America
- Argentina
- Chile
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- South East Asia
- My Studies & Work
- Human Resources
- Management skills training
- Tools for planning
- Small Business Handbook
- Thinking, Innovation & Creativity
- Improved Memory Techniques
- Building a Personal Thinking Center
- Philosophy
- Computers
- Web programming
- Database planning
- Online & computer games
- Principles of development
- Review best games on the web
- Myself as an employee
- Languages
- My Hobbies and Pastimes
- Capoeira
- Diving
- Board games
- Playing tips
- Designing & Inventing
Now I had something I could work with. There were other things on the list – this is just to show you the general idea. I am sure that if you try to complete your own Power Map now – you’d have many action ideas.
Bringing it all together
With such a detailed Power Map, you can start looking for practical ways to harness all that power to interesting development possibilities. The strongest ideas would be those that combine as many strengths and action items as possible. Consider this website I have built, for instance – it combines my power at: English, Internet, Creativity, Management training, and more.
I truly hope this can help you become stronger, more creative, and ultimately happier. If you liked this article and the Power Map tool, you should sign up for my email newsletter and receive many more things – a new set of ideas each month; easy-to-learn creative tools; updates on new ideas and tools available on this website; and other crazy things I will come up with in time… – it’s at www.best100ideas.com
Amir Elion is a management and innovation consultant and facilitator. He was a part of a group that developed a unique method for training diverse skills through the use of board games. He has a degree in Philosophy and General studies and an MA in organizational behavior.
His website on creative ideas for business, workplace and personal use is at http://www.best100ideas.com
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Sunday, October 19th, 2008
I looked up the definition of “to dither” before writing this article. It is to be agitated and in a nervous state.
My definition, however, as it relates to a job seeker is that some people will spend many minutes and hours, seeking a way out of looking for a job. It is a neighbor of procrastination.
But “dithering” also can mean, going from one activity to another. For example: Writing down names of people to call about jobs, but never making the calls or putting one’s attention onto other things.
All kinds of motions/actions are made to find a job.They all add up to busy work and the active tasks are left out.
How will a person stop this aimlessness and get something done on their own behalf? Setting goals with a definite timeline to achieve them, are what job seekers HAVE to do.
“Dithering” is good for butterflies and birds, but not for job seekers.
Marilyn J. Tellez, M.A., Certified Job & Career Transition Coach–Email: doitnow@nwinfo.net Web site is: www.doitnowcareers.info Phone: (509) 469-3514
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Sunday, October 19th, 2008
A legacy is more than a gift that lives on after you. Certainly, a legacy is a contribution to humanity. A legacy provides value to future generations. However, if you are creating your ideal legacy, it will also make your heart bubble with passion and excitement today!
Louisa Alcott wrote:
“When Emerson’s library was burning at Concord, I went to him as he stood with the firelight on his strong, sweet face, and endeavored to express my sympathy for the loss of his most valued possessions, but he answered cheerily, ‘Never mind, Louisa, see what a beautiful blaze they make! We will enjoy that now.’ The lesson was one never forgotten and in the varied lessons that have come to me I have learned to look for something beautiful and bright.”
Emerson left future generations with a philosophy of creativity, spiritual development, and individualism. He saw value and quality in each moment of life. His writings continue to share the message that people have the mental and spiritual capacities to achieve their dreams. He lived a philosophy that continues to benefit humanity.
The building blocks of your legacy are the ideas and philosophies that you live and value. Your contributions will provide something beautiful and bright to cherish during this lifetime. They will increase your sense of aliveness and fill you with the energy of a unique purpose for which you were born. They make up the quality of your life now.
How can you begin creating and living your ideal legacy today?
1. Decide What You Value the Most
Write down all the things that you value, and select at least five core values: those things that provide the foundation for your actions, beliefs, and philosophies. Examples of values are love, health, spirituality, family, career, adventure, peace, and community.
2. Draw a Time Line of Your Life
Draw a long line and mark it by years and months beginning with your birthday. Extend it for decades after your life will have ended. Include all the things you have done and things you want to do. Include the benefits future generations will experience from your contributions. Show how your life’s work will actually continue after you. Your timeline is a very eye opening exercise. Spend adequate time with it and fill in as many details as possible. Then return from time to time to update your timeline and add extra details.
3. Write a Purpose Statement
Notice the themes running through your timeline. They can help to reveal your purpose if you are not already aware of it. A purpose statement is a simple, private statement that guides your daily actions. For example, you might write, “I help others to live happy and healthy lives” or “I create art that brings spiritual awareness.” Do not confuse a purpose statement with a mission statement, which is a more specific way you might fulfill your purpose.
4. Focus on Today
Your timeline presented a large picture. What is your focus just for today? Spend sufficient time focusing on your current steps as well as on the future. How are your actions in each moment supporting your values and contributing to your purpose? If you are on purpose, you will feel authentically happy and fulfilled.
5. Move Forward with Gratitude
Live your ideal legacy by taking positive steps each day toward your vision for a better world. Savor the small treasures in your relationships with people. Live with gratitude for each contribution you have received and created. Give thanks even for the setbacks that ultimately reveal clearer paths forward.
Evangelist, Billy Graham said, “The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives.” What legacy does the quality of your life reveal today? Envision your ideal legacy. See your role in creating a richer humanity. The legacy you share and live today can create a better world for future generations.
© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com
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