tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37913499026838411922024-03-12T21:25:08.544-07:00Beauty Of The WordA 52 week exploration of the beauty of words. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-68168478512873982752013-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:002013-09-30T06:00:01.184-07:00Turning Commitment Failure into Commitment Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgHM2Bp1emYVXfbtSx04AKs_n6UImPO1R6Iruyh6oHnHN7hV7nKPuzlVn4KecHT3hU3Gn6deQMkeGKdSknkaMN4q5PeAu2LGvC68wtM1Nope1FDAM2nEYDNKgrdlSXmAM8I48tOrw-i0/s1600/5777843_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgHM2Bp1emYVXfbtSx04AKs_n6UImPO1R6Iruyh6oHnHN7hV7nKPuzlVn4KecHT3hU3Gn6deQMkeGKdSknkaMN4q5PeAu2LGvC68wtM1Nope1FDAM2nEYDNKgrdlSXmAM8I48tOrw-i0/s200/5777843_s.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At the beginning of each chapter of John R. Dallas’s book “<span id="goog_116822869"></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Need-Have-Word-Everywhere/dp/1105305201" target="_blank">We Need to Have A Word<span id="goog_116822870"></span>,</a>” he asks the reader to answer several questions.They are: </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Seeing this chapter’s title word, what immediately comes to your open mind? Do you already have a working relationship with this word? Somewhere inside of you does this word instantly appeal? As a response to a specific situation at-hand, will this word work to your and others’ advantage?</i></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My working relationship with this weeks word Commitment conjures up images of a barren path that is straight with no beautiful greenery, no fun side-trips or surprise revelations. Because, once you commit you can’t change course, right? Au contraire my dear readers! </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Author Tom Robbins, said it best, “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What I noticed about my relationship with Commitment is that I automatically went to the negative-side of my commitments. Not exercising, blowing off attending an event, not fulfilling my volunteer duties. The I more dwelled on the negative, the more inactive I became. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But, when I started focusing on the commitments I do fulfill: work, being there for a friend, cleaning my kitchen each night before I go to bed, writing this blog, I saw that I succeeded. <br />
<br />
What I discovered as I thought about this word, I had another problem. My problem isn’t with committing, it’s with over committing. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In a 2005 study </span><span style="color: #232323; letter-spacing: 0px;">by </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Gal Zauberman, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and John Lynch Jr., PhD, Duke University, they found that when we commit to something we believe we will have more time, more money in the future that will help us fulfill the commitment. </span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">According to Zauberman and Lynch, that’s false. So many things beyond our control are tossed in the way. Bad weather, traffic jams, can all wreak havoc on a commitment. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, do I just not commit to anything? Obviously, that would be impractical. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Among the steps I'm taking to be better about my commitments, is the Tom Robbins approach -- when I do commit, I’ll be flexible with my approach. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And, when I’m asked to commit, I’ll think it over and not automatically say yes as the pleaser in me is apt to do. I’ll ask myself: Is this something I really want to do? Do I <b style="font-style: italic;">rea</b><i><b>lly</b></i> have the time to fulfill the commitment? </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Margie Warrell, a writer for Forbes, who uses the moniker of <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2012/09/26/over-committed-3-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-saying-yes/" target="_blank">“Daring people to work, live & lead more courageously”</a> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">has some great great questions to contemplate in one of her Forbes article. Her first question is a gem,<i> Is this aligned with my top priorities, goals and values? </i>What a great question to get me focused. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As I contemplated this weeks word and answered Warrell's first question, I was motivated to be more focused. Since I last published, I’ve been excersing more, eating better, and most importantly thinking through my ability to follow through before I say yes to any future commitment. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_S8yWNW_sx4MC0Zgl4YC6PWXK1y8eZ7mQDFV-K3e20TvWW_yRtifs3iydSQBaE-Pho7scZ02ieWDJEIq9G2O_tQDPYsoYTD_JaRB_dBXvgWzqTnn-ngziIzgGetpL-krurgrPyvZX14/s1600/11243735_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_S8yWNW_sx4MC0Zgl4YC6PWXK1y8eZ7mQDFV-K3e20TvWW_yRtifs3iydSQBaE-Pho7scZ02ieWDJEIq9G2O_tQDPYsoYTD_JaRB_dBXvgWzqTnn-ngziIzgGetpL-krurgrPyvZX14/s200/11243735_s.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am embracing no more un-focused committing. My new image when I think of commitment, is a lush green winding road with fun side trips, and surprise revelations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
Enjoy commitment!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-41760710937322987442013-08-29T05:04:00.000-07:002013-08-29T05:06:25.068-07:00Birds and Bees Do It<br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFFwKKA0XQjU9NxqLspOV0yM8cLiIl0HMCUngeo8AuD2a5xekkjQnPWhmL3XktWVDwBxZABHAWc16NxWmZalpaR_YP-hkCaEAerk7lcW9UZf5aRZXJhUARSTysY6Z8u-hOC79LMsV9GI/s1600/9548646_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFFwKKA0XQjU9NxqLspOV0yM8cLiIl0HMCUngeo8AuD2a5xekkjQnPWhmL3XktWVDwBxZABHAWc16NxWmZalpaR_YP-hkCaEAerk7lcW9UZf5aRZXJhUARSTysY6Z8u-hOC79LMsV9GI/s200/9548646_s.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Musicians do it, symphonies do it even the birds and bees do it, let’s do it, let’s collaborate. Collaborate,this week’s word. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I googled the terms “best Collaborations” and “worst Collaborations” it resulted in some hilarious musical misfits. Eddie Murphy and Michael Jackson; Bing Crosby and David Bowie; David Bowie and Mick Jagger. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was one titled best duets of all time. It’s an eclectic mix -- there are three Nancy Sinatra duets!</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The most poignant one (and apropos for this week) is a brief clip of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez at the March on Washington in1963 -- you can scroll through this clip <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLwHnNybADo" target="_blank">here</a>. It's number 8. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's such beauty in this collaboration. Not just with Baez and Dylan, but the collaboration of the stage participants, the collaboration of the marchers --- all there to make a statement in a peaceful, yet powerful way. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The longer version is </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLwHnNybADo" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Collaboration can happen unexpectedly. As it did during King’s famous speech. According to CNN Reporters, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/us/mlk-i-have-a-dream-9-things/" target="_blank">Jim Polk and Alicia Stewart</a> (and an example of collaborative writing) in an article about 9 things about MLK's famous “I Have a Dream” speech, they write: </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">King was the last speaker to address the crowd in Washington that day. As he spoke, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson called out to King, "Tell 'em about the dream, Martin." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Then he paused and said, "I still have a dream."</span></i><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Planned or not planned, I love collaboration. There is a euphoria when I work with a group and we collaborate. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’m also guilty of not being collaborative. It’s usually when my ego gets in the way. I wonder what great collaborations I missed.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can’t help myself but end today’s blog on an up note. I don’t know why, every month or so, this tune pops in my head and I start laughing to myself.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please enjoy Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder and Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra doing their special rendition of <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpnxd_parodie-eddie-murphy-joe-piscopo_fun" target="_blank">Ebony and Ivory.</a> </span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enjoy and Collaborate. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-38402996175260125512013-08-14T06:50:00.002-07:002013-08-14T06:50:43.049-07:00Civility, Washington and Ruth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X5uQqv1YtCDI3Aa0BJlIc5tDCSS1-cSnhfHqRmYFLNNBCiSF_1e2Bw86GVdWIWw8AvurQtcHTxvaH5yH-p1LQBNRTVY_Gkd6PQe22E22NhSoe6T3P4ACf59X2Cu_zx0yR4C9QO4hi6U/s1600/11070371_s-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X5uQqv1YtCDI3Aa0BJlIc5tDCSS1-cSnhfHqRmYFLNNBCiSF_1e2Bw86GVdWIWw8AvurQtcHTxvaH5yH-p1LQBNRTVY_Gkd6PQe22E22NhSoe6T3P4ACf59X2Cu_zx0yR4C9QO4hi6U/s200/11070371_s-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;">We need a lot more of it. It is sometimes confused as boring, but I think if there was more civility in this world, it would be in a better place. Welcome to this week’s word, Civility. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One place a dash of civility could be helpful would be in Congress. As we near another debt ceiling crisis, perhaps a bit of civility may help solve the problems. But, do our Senators and Representatives know how to be civil? <br />
<br />
It seems to me that Etiquette -- its history and modern day practices -- which is a hobby of mine, is a big part of being civil. It’s fascinating to me how things have changed in this realm-- some for the better. I can’t imagine having<span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/We%20need%20a%20lot%20more%20of%20it.%20It%20is%20sometimes%20confused%20as%20boring,%20but%20I%20think%20if%20there%20was%20more%20civility%20in%20this%20world,%20it%20would%20be%20in%20a%20better%20place.%20Welcome%20to%20this%20week%E2%80%99s%20word,%20Civility.%20%20%20One%20place%20a%20dash%20of%20civility%20could%20be%20helpful%20would%20be%20in%20Congress.%20%20As%20we%20near%20another%20debt%20ceiling%20crisis,%20perhaps%20a%20bit%20of%20civility%20may%20help%20solve%20the%20problems.%20But,%20do%20our%20Senators%20and%20Representatives%20know%20how%20to%20be%20civil?%20%E2%80%A8%E2%80%A8It%20seems%20to%20me%20that%20Etiquette%20--%20its%20history%20and%20modern%20day%20practices%20--%20which%20is%20a%20hobby%20of%20mine,%20is%20a%20big%20part%20of%20being%20civil.%20It%E2%80%99s%20fascinating%20to%20me%20how%20things%20have%20changed%20in%20this%20realm--%20some%20for%20the%20better.%20I%20can%E2%80%99t%20imagine%20having%20to%20wear%20gloves%20(http://thevintagelibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/10/glove-etiquette.html)%20with%20every%20outfit,%20especially%20on%2090+%20degree%20days.%20Stockings,%20yuck!%20But%20there%20are%20some%20rules%20that%20never%20change.%20%20%20As%20I%20was%20writing%20this,%20I%20vaguely%20remembered%20a%20book%20on%20civility%20that%20I%20purchased%20years%20ago.%20Thankfully%20I%20put%20all%20of%20my%20etiquette%20books%20together,%20so%20it%20was%20easy%20to%20find.%20It%E2%80%99s%20a%20book%20by%20George%20Washington%20called%20%E2%80%9CRules%20of%20Civility%20&%20Decent%20Behavior%20in%20Company%20and%20Conversation.%E2%80%9D%20(link)%20%20Though%20the%20language%20in%20this%20slender%20booklet%20is%20very%20old%20fashioned,%20there%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20one%20rule%20that%20didn%E2%80%99t%20contain%20a%20germ%20of%20truth.%20%20%20%20According%20to%20a%20description%20of%20the%20book,%20%E2%80%9CThe%20rules%20focus%20on%20self-respect%20and%20respect%20for%20others%20through%20details%20of%20etiquette.%E2%80%9D%20Isn%E2%80%99t%20that%20lovely?%20%20%20Washington%E2%80%99s%20opening%20rule:%20%E2%80%9CEvery%20Action%20done%20in%20Company,%20ought%20to%20be%20with%20Some%20Sign%20of%20Respect,%20to%20those%20that%20are%20Present.%E2%80%9D%20%20Hmm.%20%20A%20good%20rule.%20A%20rule%20that%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20go%20out%20of%20style.%20%20%20Washington%20discovered%20these%20rules%20when%20he%20was%20a%20teen.%20He%20copied%20them%20as%20a%20penmanship%20exercise.%20%20%20%20Can%E2%80%99t%20you%20envision%20a%20young%20Washington%20sitting%20at%20a%20wooden%20table%20with%20a%20goose-feather%20quill%20pen,%20probably%20by%20candlelight,%20dutifully%20copying%20these%20110%20rules%20traced%20back%20to%20French%20Jesuits?%20These%20were%20rules%20he%20lived%20by%20for%20the%20rest%20of%20his%20life.%20A%20successful%20life.%20A%20memorable%20life.%20When%20I%20first%20started%20writing%20this%20entry,%20I%20thought,%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20it%20be%20fun%20to%20ask%20everyone%20who%20is%20reading%20this%20post%20to%20send%20a%20copy%20of%20Washington%E2%80%99s%20book%20to%20Senate%20Leader%20Harry%20Reid%20and%20House%20Speaker%20John%20Baynor%20for%20them%20to%20read%20and%20share%20with%20all%20of%20their%20colleagues.%20%20%20Then%20I%20thought,%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20it%20be%20better%20if%20we%20purchase%20a%20few%20as%20gifts%20to%20those%20who%20are%20in%20grammar%20school.%20Those%20who%20may%20be%20our%20future%20leaders?%20%20%20%20%20Having%20said%20all%20that,%20there%20are%20times%20where%20being%20uncivil%20is%20appropriate.%20%20However,%20there%20are%20few%20caveats%20if%20you%20choose%20to%20misbehave:%20%20You%20have%20to%20be%20doing%20something%20for%20the%20greater%20good,%20not%20personal%20gain%20You%20have%20to%20be%20smarter%20than%20everyone%20in%20the%20room,%20I%20mean%20really%20be%20smart,%20not%20just%20think%20you%E2%80%99re%20smart%20You%20have%20to%20have%20researched%20your%20passion%20and%20know,%20really%20know%20your%20subject%20%20In%20my%20career,%20I%20was%20fortunate%20to%20meet%20a%20phenomenal%20woman,%20Ruth%20Rothstein,%20who%20could%E2%80%99ve%20been%20considered%20uncivil.%20%20But%20she%20had%20to.%20When%20she%20started%20on%20her%20journey%20to%20being%20the%20leader%20in%20bringing%20affordability%20and%20accessibility%20to%20healthcare,%20women%20were%20not%20taken%20seriously.%20Their%20roles%20were%20typically%20homemakers%20or%20secretaries.%20%20%20To%20forge%20ahead,%20Rothstein%20had%20to%20be%20disruptive.%20She%20already%20knew%20her%20subject%20manner.%20%20It%20seems%20like%20that%20came%20easy%20to%20her.%20%20What%20didn%E2%80%99t%20come%20easy%20was%20the%20respect%20of%20the%20men%20in%20her%20peer%20group.%20So,%20she%20had%20to%20call%20it%20like%20she%20saw%20it.%20%20%20%20She%20called%20men%20SOBs%20when%20warranted,%20she%20used%20the%20f%20word%20when%20needed,%20and%20disregarded%20naysayers.%20%20She%20shocked%20people%20and%20did%20it%20well.%20%20And,%20she%20succeeded.%20%20%20%20Using%20Rothstein%E2%80%99s%20example,%20if%20you%E2%80%99re%20not%20making%20headway%20with%20your%20cause%20or%20passion,%20being%20uncivil%20can%20be%20powerful.%20%20Remember,%20though,%20to%20be%20effective,%20you%20will%20need%20to%20be%20smarter%20than%20everyone%20in%20the%20room,%20and%20know%20your%20subject%20from%20every%20angle.%20%20%20%20I%20didn%E2%80%99t%20know%20Rothstein%20as%20well%20%20as%20many%20of%20my%20friends%20did.%20%20She%20shocked%20me,%20frightened%20me,%20but%20was%20supportive%20of%20me.%20%20%20So,%20this%20is%20dedicated%20to%20Rothstein,%20who%20died%20(date).%20She%20influenced%20so%20many%20people;%20%20I%20know%20her%20spirit%20lives%20on.%20So,%20look%20for%20some%20uncivil,%20yet%20productive%20behavior%20from%20those%20she%20mentored,%20because%20they%20are%20everywhere.%20%20%20%20Civility.%20%20Share%20you%20thoughts,%20and%20recent%20examples%20of%20(positive)%20civility.%20%20%20%20Enjoy.%20%20%20%20%20labels,%20white%20gloves?%20washtington%20ruth,%20etc." target="_blank">wear gloves</a> with every outfit, especially on 90+ degree days. Stockings, yuck! But there are some rules that never change. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As I was writing this, I vaguely remembered a book on civility that I purchased years ago. Thankfully I put all of my etiquette books together, so it was easy to find. It’s a book by George Washington called “<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1248919" target="_blank">Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation</a>." </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Though the language in this slender booklet is very old fashioned, there wasn’t one rule that didn’t contain a germ of truth. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">According to a description of the book, “The rules focus on self-respect and respect for others through details of etiquette.” These rules got him successfully through a revolution, birth of a nation and two presidential terms.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Washington’s opening rule: “Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.” Hmm. A good rule. A rule that doesn’t go out of style. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Washington discovered these rules when he was a teen. He copied them as a penmanship exercise. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Can’t you envision a young Washington sitting at a wooden table with a <a href="http://www.foundationsmag.com/civility.html" target="_blank">goose-feather quill pen</a>, probably by candlelight, dutifully copying these 110 rules traced back to French Jesuits? These were rules he lived by for the rest of his life. A successful life. A memorable life.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When I first started writing this entry, I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to ask everyone who is reading this post to send a copy of Washington’s book to Senate Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Baynor for them to read and share with all of their colleagues. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Then I thought, wouldn’t it be better if we purchase a few as gifts to those who are in grammar school. Those who may be our future leaders? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Having said all that, there are times where being uncivil is appropriate. However, there are few caveats if you choose to misbehave:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You have to be doing something for the greater good, not personal gain</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You have to be smarter than everyone in the room, I mean really be smart, not just think you’re smart</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You have to have researched your passion and know, really know your subject</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In my career, I was fortunate to meet a phenomenal woman, Ruth Rothstein, who could’ve been considered uncivil. But she had to. When she started on her journey to being the leader in bringing affordability and accessibility to healthcare, women were not taken seriously. Their roles were typically homemakers or secretaries. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">To forge ahead, Rothstein had to be disruptive. She already knew her subject manner. It seems like that came easy to her. What didn’t come easy was the respect of the men in her peer group. So, she had to call it like she saw it. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">She called men SOBs when warranted, she used the f word when needed, and disregarded naysayers. She shocked people and did it well. And, she succeeded. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Using Rothstein’s example, if you’re not making headway with your cause or passion, being uncivil can be powerful. Remember, to be effective, you will need to be smarter than everyone in the room, and know your subject from every angle. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I didn’t know Rothstein as well </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">as many of my friends did. She shocked me, frightened me, but was supportive of me. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, this is dedicated to Rothstein, who <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-08-05/news/ct-met-ruth-rothstein-obit-20130805_1_cook-county-bureau-health-services-health-system" target="_blank">died</a> August 4th. She influenced so many people. I know her spirit lives on. So, look for some uncivil, yet productive behavior from those she mentored, because they are everywhere. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Civility. Share you thoughts, and recent examples of (positive) civility. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Enjoy. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-15007063013731714962013-08-07T06:32:00.001-07:002013-08-07T06:33:30.484-07:00Authenticity: Meaningless to Meaningful<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMbPWpCh4y0uTHHfoqs2oamvVri3pWKQYUMaD7qOCbe4OPHTBLLilQ7_XVAXat_hcm7MnR4P6j9eQyfz00ni6wbEu-iNm-Mm5Kyu0AicxWBhkd8HcoJizsWS6CGk1YeLABluAx5H1TYg/s1600/9214134-the-mona-lisa-dressed-in-a-sombrero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMbPWpCh4y0uTHHfoqs2oamvVri3pWKQYUMaD7qOCbe4OPHTBLLilQ7_XVAXat_hcm7MnR4P6j9eQyfz00ni6wbEu-iNm-Mm5Kyu0AicxWBhkd8HcoJizsWS6CGk1YeLABluAx5H1TYg/s1600/9214134-the-mona-lisa-dressed-in-a-sombrero.jpg" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In J</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">uly, I attended the </span><a href="http://worlddominationsummit.com/" style="letter-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">World Domination Summit</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> in Portland, OR, where there was a lot of discussion about Authenticity. The conclusion is, if you're <i>your authentic </i>self, you'll be successful and have a ton fun in life. Authenticity, this week’s word. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’m looking for my authentic self. I have a vision of me searching in a jungle, all decked out in khaki, </span>complete with the wide brimmed hat. But instead of a real jungle, it is the thick weeds in my brain that I'm hacking through to find my magical authentic self. There I am in the clearing, a cool woman who knows all, comfortable with herself, immune to what others think and having a<i> blast.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Before I get there, I'm riddled with questions. Am I the good girl the nuns told me I should be? Am I the thin blond, the media tells me I should be? Am I the tough aggressive (not assertive) working girl? No, but I know these life-long influences add to my confusion of who my Authentic self is. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So what does any girl who grew up in the Cosmo Quiz age do? She turns to the jungle of modern-day quizzes to help her find her authentic self. The best grown-up one I found is <a href="https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/" target="_blank">StrengthFinders 2.0</a>, which is highly recommended by two people I admire: <a href="http://om/We-Need-Have-Word-Everywhere/dp/1105305201" target="_blank">John R. Dallas</a>, the author of the book this blog is based on, and personal coach, Arlene Butler. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The quiz doesn’t tell you who your authentic self is, but it does identify your top strengths. These strengths, I believe can be an excellent guide you to your Authenticity. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If you know me, I don’t think there was any surprise in the results. My strengths are: Woo, Adaptability, Empathy, Communication, and Individualization.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have to say Woo, (love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over) sounded a bit too whimsical for the real world! But, what is wrong with meeting new people and having them on your side? When I add in being empathetic, communicating well and recognizing their individuality, my woo can be pretty powerful. Therefore, being authentic is powerful. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I recognize that Authenticity is a buzz word. In a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/fashion/for-only-the-authentic-cultural-studies.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0." target="_blank">New York Times </a>article about authenticity, Naomi S. Barton, a linguistics professor at American University, believes that authentic has become a fad. Barton believes that it has been used so often, it's actually becoming meaningless. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">No wonder I’m confused about Authenticity, it means so much and yet now nothing? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I don't believe Authenticity is meaningless, bit overused, but still </span>powerful<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. Take a look at </span></span><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=authenticity" style="font-family: Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Urban Dictionary’s</a><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> definition: Being who you are, listening to yourself and making your own decisions, rather than buying all the crap society foists on you. Keep it real. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let me know how you keep it real in a world that tells you otherwise. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Enjoy being your authentic self. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
And, Happy Birthday to my sister Delia, a true authentic person. </div>
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-31956012386737821172013-07-31T07:03:00.000-07:002013-07-31T07:03:39.682-07:00You Say Aggressive, I say Assertive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnQ8hWAj30NMxfC0VdOYAFO6i09xRBkfQua5zrJSou-RXMMgRuEO17JIiXD3Pw-3xzF5472Qi_zjx37OCgwbIUNmM7Ts61msuOZJLvfiQOpYkcfpBV-e0Zt_PlTY39LENTq6bx6fU5yc/s400/11399163_s-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnQ8hWAj30NMxfC0VdOYAFO6i09xRBkfQua5zrJSou-RXMMgRuEO17JIiXD3Pw-3xzF5472Qi_zjx37OCgwbIUNmM7Ts61msuOZJLvfiQOpYkcfpBV-e0Zt_PlTY39LENTq6bx6fU5yc/s200/11399163_s-1.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Cold, ruthless, harsh. That's the image that came to mind when I saw this week’s word, Assertive. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mass media hasn’t been charitable</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> to women who are assertive. (Just look at the picture above, and this was one of the closest matches of the word I could find.) It appears that TV, newspapers, and magazines don't know the definition. Heck, I didn’t know the real definition. Regrettably, too many times I allow mass media to influence my behavior and thinking. And, their definition of words. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ah, but that's slowly fading away. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In this Twitter world of instant communication, I’m taking time to learn the true meaning of words so I can communicate more effectively. By the way, don’t be fooled by “instant” communication, much of it is well planned. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When I discovered -- through many hours of intense research (aka: surfing the web), of finding the real definition of Assertive, I discovered that I was confusing it with Aggressive. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I learned two excellent definitions of Assertive that I love and am going to work on incorporating into my life from this day forward. They are: </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.clareevans.co.uk/articles/aggressionassertion.htm" target="_blank">Assertive </a>is about being confident in standing up for yourself and your beliefs while maintaining <i>respect</i> for others. I urge you to take a look at this link, Claire Evans has some great communications tips. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/search/american-english/direct/?q=behaving">Assertive:</a> Behaving confidently and able to say in a direct way what you want or <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/search/american-english/direct/?q=believe">believe</a>. </span></div>
<div style="color: #a8397a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What a wonderful word and way to behave! Too bad it’s confused with aggression. Too bad I wasted time confusing the two words and reverting to being “ladylike.” </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There are tons of web sites, geared to both men and women about how to be more assertive. There're even medical studies (one by the famous <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/assertive/SR00042" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>), that shows being more assertive leads to lower stress levels. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Why? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It all comes down to clear communication. I know that when I’m clearer in my communication -- like when I order a venti green ice tea NOT sweetened, I get what I want. When I am not paying attention and don’t include the NOT sweetened, I usually don’t get what I want. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I also practice this in my workl-life. Though I'm better at being assertive on behalf of others, I now vow to be assertive on my own behalf. Which means I have to up my game on clearer communication. Why, or why do my communication skills fumble and my brain scramble? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Somewhere (and I suspect I know where) I was taught not to ask for what I want; I was taught to please. Oy, has that caused me a lot of problems, confusion and stress. As well as way too many over-sweetened beverages. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0px;">So, I am starting to be assertive by baby-steps. When I mis-order or get what I don’t want, I'll politely point out that isn’t what I ordered and be clearer of what I want. Simple. I will also not simmer with a low lever of anger that I never get what I want. Because, I am taking action to communicate in a more clear, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">thoughtful way.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As I mentioned in the beginning, I had a hard time finding a great picture that really depicted the word Assertive. Can you help? Send me some pictures that more accurately portray the true meaning of Assertive and I will post them!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Assertive, enjoy the Beauty of the Word.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-74975925503254109562013-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:002013-05-30T05:00:19.725-07:00What is your secret Aspiration? <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixld_e07avG7e1wtbGq4teBpWgWAMo4gbAi1UNZgdRmxAJGVgfajvfsmMnvdLR5hZCgbQEkXEpUFxOhjXrS86Mrh-ZYTZ0AFt8G_sHiIaPvtA5JYgSEJjqFn_Sc9APe7TO9R3PH9uQykQ/s1600/marx1966myra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixld_e07avG7e1wtbGq4teBpWgWAMo4gbAi1UNZgdRmxAJGVgfajvfsmMnvdLR5hZCgbQEkXEpUFxOhjXrS86Mrh-ZYTZ0AFt8G_sHiIaPvtA5JYgSEJjqFn_Sc9APe7TO9R3PH9uQykQ/s320/marx1966myra.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">We all have them. Some are good, some can be dangerous and others can be darn fun. Some we share, some we keep hidden away in the depth of our soul. What are they? Aspirations. This week’s word. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In John R. Dallas’s chapter about Aspiration* he asks: “What did you aspire to as a child?” When I gave this some thought, two things came to mind. One was my youthful dream of becoming a stewardess. Remember, this was the late 60‘s-early 70‘s -- the glamour days of travel. You wore great uniforms, traveled to exotic places and met men. There were piano lounges, even for those in coach. How divine!</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My other goal was to be a grand hostess. I was in awe of the glamorous movies and their extravagant parties. The elegant dresses, the handsome men who liked to dance and a dreamy love affair. “Philadelphia Story” and the remake of “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049314/" target="_blank">HIgh Society</a>” are wonderful examples. Didn’t Louis Armstrong perform at all of the important parties? </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My grand hostess aspiration was fueled by my favorite Christmas gift, Little Hostess Buffet. I was six when I received the beige plastic furniture with faux molding that had everything a girl needed to toss the most elegant of parties. </span><b style="font-family: Arial; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Not surprisingly, “stewardess” disappeared from my</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">list when I learned you had to clean up after others. Grand Hostess went out as well, because it wasn’t considered a career. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One of the many things that is becoming clearer while writing this blog is that aspirations needn’t be career oriented. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The reason I wanted to be a stewardess or in today’s terminology, a flight attendant, wasn’t because it was a career, it was because I wanted to see the world, meet knew people. The reason why I wanted to be a grand hostess, is because I love bringing people together in a festive atmosphere. Great connections can be made in both entertaining and traveling. Just take a look at Laura Schwartz's book, <a href="http://eatdrinkandsucceed.com/" target="_blank">Eat, Drink and Succeed</a>! Great things can happen when having fun. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I moved away from entertaining, part financial (24 furlough days can hurt a budget--more about that in later blogs), part laziness, and part the fear of leaving someone off the list. Writing this blog holds me accountable. So world, I’ll start regularly entertaining again and let you know the outcome. Perhaps I’ll become a 21st century Pamela Harriman (without the affairs!). </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I continue to work on my aspiration of traveling and reaching the goal of visiting all 50 states. I have ten to go. I’ll knock one off this summer when I travel to Portland, Oregon for the <a href="http://worlddominationsummit.com/" target="_blank">World Domination Summit</a>. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Maybe my aspirations haven’t changed, just the road to get there is different. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Please share your aspirations. Try putting out one that has previously been secret to you only. Perhaps by sharing you may be able to reach them. Enjoy!</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">*For those of you new to the blog, these posts are inspired by </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WeNeedToHaveAWord" style="font-size: 12px;">John R. Dallas</a><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">’ “We need to Have A Word." It's my 52+ week journey of </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">exploring the impact of words in this Twitter world. If you would like to start at the beginning, go to: </span><b style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/oyl69cn" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/oyl69cn</a>.</b></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-41354242848072176112013-05-15T05:50:00.004-07:002013-05-15T05:54:09.351-07:00Mentor and Ascend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs272q5JaPLNCRgQlkKOKzs488Y08EQ7xnRIllSYKMeZjjY1uPxAqAdiDVngM2QdKb6iMIfxTN3mBrIzonw3ETpXp4MF3Q9jxmasyZibwtk3z4pMlaOBXA7-Lj19DhPcNZ7EPIa4YFIeM/s1600/4018376_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs272q5JaPLNCRgQlkKOKzs488Y08EQ7xnRIllSYKMeZjjY1uPxAqAdiDVngM2QdKb6iMIfxTN3mBrIzonw3ETpXp4MF3Q9jxmasyZibwtk3z4pMlaOBXA7-Lj19DhPcNZ7EPIa4YFIeM/s320/4018376_s.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Feminine Mystique. Leaning In. The discussion of women and ascendency are back in the news after a dormant period. Ascendancy, this weeks word. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It's been 50 years since Betty Frieden, wrote “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Feminine_Mystique">Feminine Mystique</a>” A book that defined women’s lack of fulfilment in the home. Frieden"s work started a revolution. It's still going on, when in my mind it should be over. </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11.7px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I'd have to like to think the numbers of women in leadership positions in government and corporate America would've grown by leaps and bounds. But, the glass ceiling is still there waiting for women to take a sledge hammer and smash it wide open. Maybe it’s because women are still raised to not be violent, to be nice, so that taking that sledgehammer to the ceiling so abhorrent. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11.7px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sandberg’s <a href="http://leanin.org/">"Lean In"</a> thoughtfully addresses the reasons why women haven’t achieved the same success that's come to easier to men. And, she gives concrete examples of how women can be more successful. </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One powerful suggestion Sandberg offers is the strength of mentorship. Sandberg’s a strong advocate of seeking out mentors and mentoring -- <i>both</i> men and women. This struck a deep cord inside of me. </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I began to reflect on my career and noticed I didn’t have any true mentors, until now. I received help, advice and guidance from many wonderful people. But I didn’t have one (or two or three) people that I could consistently go to for advice, guidance and help. Like many women finding their way in the 80s, I muddled my way to success. </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That’s why I love and try to make mentoring a large part of my career. I want to help women <i>and</i> men up their corporate ladder. Notice that I say, <i>their</i> corporate ladder. Success and leadership are being redefined. It can still be the goal of becoming the first female President of the U.S. or not We’re in a great age where <i>we define</i> our own Ascendancy. </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sandberg also changes the imagery from climbing up the corporate ladder, to ascending the jungle gym. I think the jungle gym is a heck of a lot of more fun. And, more productive than burning bras. </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ascendancy. What is your jungle gym plan? </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">P.S. My new mentor is Elaine Soloway, fabulous <a href="http://therookiewidow.blogspot.com/">blogger</a> and book author. Check her book out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Division-Street-Princess-Memoir/dp/0929636635">"Division Street Princess."</a> A great book to add to your summer reading list, now that it finally looks like we will have one in Chicago! </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-28630728044593163022013-04-30T05:47:00.000-07:002013-04-30T05:47:01.476-07:00Appreciation. Keep it Simple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDaQS6aOBXgJNE-ML-qQP3-k7Rkkk9MWvNph6S0h-hdCo5WPPIwXUtnYiKOx1BopksUyiAUDl18cBvmtpjbSRUrIj3Dm9ZgUY694OICyz2GPgyVUVPBuvfxQCd1wRDZxj40oOr02f3U4/s1600/11805102_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDaQS6aOBXgJNE-ML-qQP3-k7Rkkk9MWvNph6S0h-hdCo5WPPIwXUtnYiKOx1BopksUyiAUDl18cBvmtpjbSRUrIj3Dm9ZgUY694OICyz2GPgyVUVPBuvfxQCd1wRDZxj40oOr02f3U4/s320/11805102_s.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Appreciation. While watching the coverage of the bombing that </span>occurred<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> at the Boston Marathon, I felt that the most heart warming part was watching the victims as they met their heroes and thanked them. Words were spoken, but it was the gestures and looks that silently shouted their thanks. Appreciation. A word I struggle with. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love to be appreciated, love to show appreciation, love to watch appreciation in action. The act can turn a difficult day into a day to remember. Recently I received a simple handwritten thank-you note from Politico journalist and author </span></span><a href="http://www.politico.com/reporters/jonathanmartin.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jonathan Martin</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> several weeks after we met, it still makes me smile. I also appreciate his writing style, as he has a great technique that lets you feel as if you are there.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Yet I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">continue to struggle to accept and give.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gratefully, I’m getting better at accepting. I realized that if I respond negatively to someone’s appreciation to me, I’m basically calling the giver a liar. Not nice. So, a simple thank you as a response is the best way to go. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the giving end, I either go overboard or underboard. I struggle with the simple act of appreciation. If I become overwhelmed with work and life, often I neglect to give any appreciation. Or, I wind up sending the appreciation months or years later. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, to my brothers-in-law Brian and Mike, thank you for all you do for me. Mike, the free medical advice saved my life and Brian, the free life advice saved my life.You two are the best brothers-in-law, even if you don’t appreciate the classic movie, “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell,_Book_and_Candle">Bell, Book, and Candle.</a>” I am now tempted to go on, but will refrain.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">An immediate effect of mulling over a word a week, as requested by </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=John%20R.%20Dallas%20Jr.&search-alias=books&sort=relevancerank" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">John R. Dallas</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">, Jr, author of “We Need To Have A Word,” is my appreciation for words. When I am more thoughtful about words, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">magic happens.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me know what you appreciate and how you express it. I would love to incorporate your skills into my life. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
P.S. Jimmy Stewart, for those of you of a certain age and don't know, was the star of "Bell, Book and Candle." A truly fabulous movie. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-77956107898027756152013-03-28T14:43:00.002-07:002013-03-28T14:47:42.223-07:00Mercury + Retrograde = Misalignment <br />
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lkc3rPOGiL9762OD4AtkZ-Vf9q3MIyJXr1WbLsq7eUvfir67eve-SU1jJ_-CoIiAbdN9kOSkCf7bdHYTUozebHOmBLuQAMkKNNDL1AmCknsBGaMoiPw3Y91pZ0BPic1q5fHxYrG5g2g/s1600/17945485_s-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lkc3rPOGiL9762OD4AtkZ-Vf9q3MIyJXr1WbLsq7eUvfir67eve-SU1jJ_-CoIiAbdN9kOSkCf7bdHYTUozebHOmBLuQAMkKNNDL1AmCknsBGaMoiPw3Y91pZ0BPic1q5fHxYrG5g2g/s320/17945485_s-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When I started mulling this week’s word,</span><span style="color: #009933; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">alignment, I went directly to misalignment. I experienced an unusual amount of snafus in a short period of time. My three-month old MacBook Air died (delaying the start of this blog); the weather wreaked havoc on travel, leaving me without several speakers that were to present at panels I was organizing; and my mis-spellings went up beyond even my tolerance level. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Welcome to mercury in retrograde (MIR), a period when the planet Mercury appears to be in a backwards motion. According to astrologers, it’s also a time when technology and communications are adversely affected. Hence, my three weeks of misalignment. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I had to go to Google to find out more about this planetary phenomenon. I found a great article and a quirky, yet informative website. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The </span><a href="http://pottstownherald.com/mercury-roman-god-facts-by-a-man-in-pottstown/2017/">Pottstown Herald</a>'s great<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> article about this very the busy Roman god Mercury does a great job of explaining this god's role in the universe. He was a god of trade, commerce, profit, abundance <i>and</i> in his free time he escorted souls to the afterlife. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No wonder when his planet looks like it is going backwards, things go haywire. He just has too much on his plate!</span></div>
<div style="color: #009933; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mercury%20retrograde.">Urban Dictionary</a> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">highlights the astrological effects of MIR and notes several major miscommunications over the years during MIR. One of the more times was when the term "hanging chad" became vogue. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">if you read Urban Dictionary's definition, and </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">find yourself curious to see if a particular incident in your life happened during MIR, here is a link to a helpful table: </span><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.astropro.com/features/tables/geo/me-sta/me-sta26.html</span><span style="color: #009933; letter-spacing: 0px;">. </span></div>
<div style="color: #009933; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">MIR is over for now. My computer is fixed, the panels went well and my mis-spellings, well, I'm only human. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Alignment. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I'm not sure that Dallas, the author of the book “</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Need-Have-Word-Everywhere/dp/1105305201" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span id="goog_2059682626"></span>We Need to Have A Word</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">" and the basis for this blog, had MIR in mind when he chose Alignment as his third word. But, he did stimulate my curiosity and I now have a good cocktail party story about the god, the planet and an optical illusion. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This week's question about Alignment is: How can our government be better aligned? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Until the next word. Enjoy. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">p.s. SNAFU stands for: Situation normal, all fouled up. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-73441576110820535142013-03-20T05:41:00.003-07:002013-03-20T05:41:48.017-07:00A Fish Tale That's True<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbQedjP_6OROKJYf9Va75k2EQ5zSTQKbUeugaw9dKfhyG2A1B4rDeL18BBh0T2QtsFEEfAIrMw627-f7axW0fAP_de3LVB8X0d0FL-mPJ7-QHEhbo91DsRlA2SpkWMBrdAGQupnRf9lE/s1600/IMG_0271.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbQedjP_6OROKJYf9Va75k2EQ5zSTQKbUeugaw9dKfhyG2A1B4rDeL18BBh0T2QtsFEEfAIrMw627-f7axW0fAP_de3LVB8X0d0FL-mPJ7-QHEhbo91DsRlA2SpkWMBrdAGQupnRf9lE/s200/IMG_0271.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wahoo!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I dare you to say that word and not smile. Until I started this blog, I believed it was a feel-good word that you screamed out when something went extremely well. Actually, it's a fish, a highly prized catch among fishermen with great Acumen.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Acumen? Hm, let’s make it this week’s word. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Harrison Rogers has combined his fishing acumen with </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">business and created something quite fun</span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Before I get to that part of the story, I want to congratulate him on catching the prized </span><a href="http://www.hawaii-seafood.org/wild-hawaii-fish/other.../wahoo-ono/" style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Wahoo</a><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> in Palm Beach. Isn't it great to see how the pure joy on his face?</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTeo6GSMtPgjozFg8MOrf3iFa3Kqktg545yT22_6dF8MzMkawgckHdl7AcwxUd0mvt5QSLsfumaClsEDCv3oEnUIO5Lz4LWEkDFJv2fDlk03EF-S-g88a3S8dT5VFQIKSNQC6DcTK6lw/s1600/IMG_0261.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTeo6GSMtPgjozFg8MOrf3iFa3Kqktg545yT22_6dF8MzMkawgckHdl7AcwxUd0mvt5QSLsfumaClsEDCv3oEnUIO5Lz4LWEkDFJv2fDlk03EF-S-g88a3S8dT5VFQIKSNQC6DcTK6lw/s200/IMG_0261.jpeg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTeo6GSMtPgjozFg8MOrf3iFa3Kqktg545yT22_6dF8MzMkawgckHdl7AcwxUd0mvt5QSLsfumaClsEDCv3oEnUIO5Lz4LWEkDFJv2fDlk03EF-S-g88a3S8dT5VFQIKSNQC6DcTK6lw/s1600/IMG_0261.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He told me he likes the excitement of never knowing what is on the other end of his reel. Remember that feeling? Doing something for the sheer excitement and not knowing the outcome? </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What better way to to enjoy your passion than to share it? And that is exactly what Harrison is doing. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Last summer, at the patient age of 13, Harrison did just that by launching a fishing camp business called: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Camp Big Ten. Catching Your Big Ten.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He learned many business lessons. The top two? People and commitment. Ten young fishermen signed up for camp only 6 showed up. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">And, budgeting 101. He didn’t calculate the cost of gas to-and-from the fishing sites. Even with these set backs he came out even. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Factoring these key lessons to improve his business, he </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">immediately </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">began planning</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> for </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">2013 summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I think Harrison’s acumen will only grow. Of course, it may be in his DNA as his mother Caroline, and father Geoff are successful business owners themselves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I look forward to improving my blog acumen and perhaps make some money to take Harrison to Cabo to catch the next fish on his list the Blue Marlin.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The words passion, support and perseverance should also be included in <a href="http://dictionary.com/">dictionary.com</a>’s definition: a·cu·men [uh-kyoo-muh</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">n, ak-yuh-] noun: keen <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/insight"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">insight</span></span></a>; shrewdness: remarkable acumen in business matters. As for author John R. Dallas, Jr., he says that acumen is Wisdom, Courage and Patience Applied. Harrison exemplifies all of these. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Acumen, is there any politician out there that defines this word? Comments please.</span><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-38530062387413098982013-03-12T05:30:00.000-07:002013-03-12T05:30:01.833-07:00Acronym Yourself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrhOuKRt-j3WEjfwZaM02BzZ04PAAkSZcdb6XABJA1dZ6jMsPCeo7TalG1tAp842y1xGIFVrhpNt87ZLEMGYzyFARYCWcgDfc4dOiEfhWzDMH2XTtLoHfpX7liD_nsFLAMuKffMEOCsM/s1600/12857735-teh-word-lol-with-smiley--3d-illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrhOuKRt-j3WEjfwZaM02BzZ04PAAkSZcdb6XABJA1dZ6jMsPCeo7TalG1tAp842y1xGIFVrhpNt87ZLEMGYzyFARYCWcgDfc4dOiEfhWzDMH2XTtLoHfpX7liD_nsFLAMuKffMEOCsM/s1600/12857735-teh-word-lol-with-smiley--3d-illustration.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">LOL, an acronym and the first word in the book, confounded me for a long time. When I started seeing colleagues and friends ending emails with LOL, I wondered, why is a colleague signing off with such an intimate emoticon? When I realized, LOL meant laugh out loud, not lots of love, I laughed. And, then I knew that I needed to pay more attention to acronyms. <br />
<br />
In the book, (We Need to Have a Word), Dallas recalls a meeting where he lost a potential client when he didn't know the meaning of HELOC. Quite arrogant in their dismissal of his services over an acronym. His story reminded me of a colleague using an acronym to sound more in the know then the rest of us. He talked about SEO and how it was the core to a successful marketing program. I was embarrassed that I didn’t know this “new” technique. When I finally Googled it, and saw it meant Search Engine Optimization, something I'd been using for years. I felt a bit stupid I didn’t know the acronym, but smart that I had discovered this “hot” marketing technique many years before. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
I know acronyms are used for good. Such as the medical field to save lives in an emergency. In my world, they are used to be quicker in writing or conversation. However, what ends up happening is that conversations have to be interrupted to explain the acronym thus losing all of the time it took to us the acronym. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In a nutshell, acronyms frustrate me. <br />
<br />
At the same time, I had fun with the exercise in the book to make your name an acronym. This lead to way to much time on the web. My first site was to <a href="http://dictionary.com/"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">dictionary.com</span></a>, a good general resource. I was then delighted to find <a href="http://acronym-maker.com/"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">Acronym-Maker.com</span></a>. Scary that I could spend an hour entering my name just to see what the site could create. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
I found some great acronyms for my name, but none came close to the one my dear friend Catherine created many years ago. When I’m feeling a bit low, instead of singing "These Are Few Of My Favorite Things," I read what Catherine wrote:<br />
<br />
J is for the jewels which you so richly deserve. It also stands for jubilant, jazzy, just, jolly and jaunty. <br />
<br />
A is because you're almost always active. You are also astute, affable appreciative of art, angelic, aesthetically attuned, able ardently admired by all. <br />
<br />
N is for your nimble, noble natural self. You are also nice, nifty, neato, not at all narcissistic, but you are just a bit nutty. <br />
<br />
It does go on with my last name, but I thought that it would overkill.<br />
<br />
Catherine, thank you for such great praise. And, thank you for telling me to get on with this blog and publish. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I would love for you to create and share an acronym that best describes the state of the U.S. An existing one, FUBAR, comes quickly to my mind. I will share them in a later blog. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Oh, HELOC means Home Equity Line of Credit. Enjoy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com3Unknown location.44.087585028245158 54.84375-3.9703479717548404 -27.7734375 90 137.4609375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791349902683841192.post-12045916089914886612013-03-05T07:30:00.000-08:002014-03-07T12:56:59.294-08:00Introduction to My Blog<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q40Mbi8b6Qaut3g80nxsJyCjb1tF16TXikHGnx-2vSqW5j3BtyMShcKX1exVkQMkr0-9Ekjf3dRt4je5wEmdfO2N5dilfnAWTIbFyZkp0eK_vFXhVgXUNoimD___4BySOxg5rgmwehk/s1600/9447871_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q40Mbi8b6Qaut3g80nxsJyCjb1tF16TXikHGnx-2vSqW5j3BtyMShcKX1exVkQMkr0-9Ekjf3dRt4je5wEmdfO2N5dilfnAWTIbFyZkp0eK_vFXhVgXUNoimD___4BySOxg5rgmwehk/s200/9447871_s.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We Need To Have A Word. A statement that ca evoke fear of a pending uncomfortable conversation. Through this blog, I hope that the meaning shifts and when you hear We Need To have A Word, you think of the beauty of the word. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How will I work to accomplish this lofty goal? By learning or re-learning 52 words that were picked by John R. Dallas, Jr., the author of <span id="goog_1151974022"></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Need-Have-Word-Everywhere/dp/1105305201">"We Need To Have A Word.</a>" Seeing the demise of language, due to exploding technology, Dallas asks us to slow down and spend time with words. Additionally, the author hopes we reacquaint ourselves with their meanings, uses and misuses, so that we’re more conscious of words. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dallas breaks the book down to a word-a-week. During the week, he suggests that the reader focus on how the word is used, misused, and even at times misleading. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For the next 52 weeks, I’m going post a blog about each word and how that particular word impacts my life. Why? Because Dallas says in his preface that after the 52 weeks, the practice “will improve results at work, home and everywhere.” </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m very interested at improving my life. When I’ve tried in the past, by reading many self help books that made the promise, sadly, I’ve had minimal results. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m scared. Scared of typos, grammatical errors, comments. Mostly, that I won't see any improvement. In the past, I’ve stopped many projects because of fear. This blog offers me an accountable way to read a chapter a week and write a post. So, if no one reads this but me and I’m able to see the changes Dallas says, this project will be a success. Even if I don't see the profound changes, I will have seen a project to its conclusion. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I invite you to purchase his book and read along. Or, just read the blog. I’d be pleased to hear from you, and learn how the words are impacting or not impacting your life </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I welcome criticism. I do ask that you please make it constructive. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Enjoy the week. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16737748933763084188noreply@blogger.com8