Thinking about..."Instructional Leadership":Creating the Conditions for a Professional Learning Community
The need for instructional leadership...
Conventional wisdom about schooling asserts the existence of an unambiguous positive correlation between the quality of teaching and learning in schools and the quality of leadership evidencing itself in schools. Parents and teachers as well as governmental officials, policymakers, and television pundits unanimously assert that the quality of school leadership significantly impacts student learning outcomes. The operative notion is that the quality of teaching and learning is largely dependent upon an individual or group that exercises supervisory responsibility for the technology of schooling, namely, curriculum, teaching, and learning.
Educational research does provide some evidence that supports the conventional wisdom, especially as researchers have identified the positive effects that instructional leaders have upon schooling outcomes. Summarizing the research, Murphy (1990) lists four practices that characterize effective instructional leaders. These women and men:
· develop a mission and goals and translate them into professional practice;
· manage the educational production function;
· promote an academic learning climate; and,
· develop a supportive work environment. (1990, p. 169)
There is a paradox, however. While both the conventional wisdom and educational research assert that instructional leadership correlates positively with quality teaching and learning, the sad fact is that most principals devote little time to supervising this absolutely crucial dimension of the schooling enterprise. One study reports that elementary school principals spend less than 2% of their time attending to their instructional leadership responsibilities (Howell, 1981, cited in Murphy, 1990, p. 165). In a second study, high schools fare only a little better as "...only 17% of principals' time and only 8% of the tasks on which they work deal with academic matters" (Martin & Willower, 1981, cited in Murphy, 1990, p. 165).
Surveying the research, it looks like principals have forgotten two important matters.
First: organizations are not the buildings and structured behavior that many people believe them to be. Rather, as Barnard (1986) noted decades ago, organizations are the consequence of a decision individuals make to cooperate and to communicate with one another in order to achieve a shared purpose. In school organizations, Barnard's insight mandates that educators must not only be willing and able to talk to and with one another. In addition, educators must open their doors to criticism and to suggestions from others if they are to grow (Lortie, 1975; McDonald, 1999).
Second: the "80/20" rule. That is, principals should spend 80% of their time attending to the technology of schooling (that is, curriculum, teaching, and learning matters) and the other 20% of their time attending to the more routine matters of school management. Were principals of the nation's elementary and secondary schools simply to reverse the 80/20 rule, Murphy's (1990) summary indicates that in many cases principals would be devoting more than double the amount of time they presently do to curriculum, teaching, and learning.
But, even if principals were to direct a greater proportion of their time to the tasks associated with providing instructional leadership, "the organizational context in which they work and the set of skills, beliefs, and expectations that they bring to their role" function as roadblocks to effective instructional leadership (Murphy, 1990, p. 181). Inadequate training and preparation to fulfill one's instructional leadership responsibilities abounds. Furthermore, having to attend to the host of pressing problems that confront principals from the very minute they enter the school each morning and leave it each evening, principals tend to view the problems associated with curriculum, teaching, and learning as less crucial, if only because teachers can attend to these matters while a principal "puts out the fires." Lastly, school district superintendents who place a premium on a principal's professionalism and successful building management also thwart principals from being able to devote significant amounts of time and energy on instructional leadership.
From an international perspective...
A study of English head teachers (principals) reported similar trends (Day, 2000).
In successful schools, teachers and staff members reported their head teachers are "values led," that is, they promote the values of care and equity within the school and its decision-making process. In addition, these head teachers are both people-centered and achievement-oriented as well as inward and outward facing. Lastly, these successful head teachers manage a number of ongoing tensions and dilemmas simultaneously.
What is interesting, however, are the eight tensions those head teachers report themselves having to contend with as they provide what their teachers and staff members identified as "successful" leadership for their schools. These tensions include:
1. leading versus managing;
2. program development versus maintenance;
3. autocracy versus autonomy;
4. personal time versus professional tasks;
5. teaching versus not teaching;
6. personnel development versus dismissal;
7. power over versus power with; and,
8. subcontracting versus mediating.
Summarizing these findings, Day asserts that values seem to be central to the exercise of successful instructional leadership because values challenge teachers to think more critically and, then, to consider how they might act upon these values as teachers think about how they might improve curriculum, teaching, and learning. Especially important to professional development, Day notes, is how head teachers---as instructional leaders---link together personal, professional, and organizational development in an overall effort to improve curriculum, teaching, and learning.
Focusing upon providing instructional leadership...
How might principals think about instructional leadership in a way that would enable them to overcome the professional, personal, and organizational roadblocks standing in their way?
Checkley (2000) responds to this question by arguing that rather than focusing solely upon teacher supervision and evaluation as the crucial tasks associated with providing instructional leadership, principals might consider instead how to encourage and promote teacher growth and development within their own ranks.
In a practical vein, Checkley suggests that principals begin by envisioning how they might engage teachers in sustained discourse whereby, as colleagues, teachers can define what student learning should look like and, furthermore, can identify instructional approaches that will support their vision. By getting teachers to be attentive to teaching and learning and to work together to improve both, principals foster the conditions through which teachers can specify instructional goals. In addition, rather than immerse themselves in the effort, principals can direct the overall effort by offering teachers the support, encouragement, and challenge they need as teachers collaborate together toward achieving more substantive goals.
But, engaging in professional discourse is only a first step.
To institutionalize this focus upon the technology of schooling, Checkley also asserts that principals and teachers need to learn how to collaborate with one another. By promoting a forum for professional discourse, principals in the role of instructional leader construct a school culture through which teachers redefine curriculum, teaching, and learning. They also learn to translate that definition into new classroom practices as they build relationships characterized by mutual trust, risk taking, and experimentation, all in a supportive and professionally challenging environment.
For Checkley, feedback---whether provided by a colleague or the principal---is a necessary element in institutionalizing a redefinition of curriculum, teaching, and learning. What is critical, however, is that the feedback provide teachers the "hard" (or "factual") data they need to understand whether and to what degree they are effectively engaging in changes that facilitate achieving their goals. In addition, feedback should be just that, namely, data which are "fed back" to teachers, data which indicate key areas where teachers might modify curriculum and classroom instruction before students fail. In this sense, data that are provided through post-observation feedback point out specific areas where teachers can make adjustments. In such a school culture, mistakes are not viewed as failures that teachers must rectify but as opportunities for teachers to learn about and to refine curriculum, teaching, and learning.
In these and so many other ways, principals function as instructional leaders. They promote a sustained focus on improving the technology of schooling. They build a school culture that emphasizes collegiality and professional discourse. They model for teachers the importance of trust, the willingness to listen, as well as offering and receiving feedback. These instructional leaders also celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of the teachers. Lastly, these instructional leaders help the members of the local community to experience, to celebrate, and to promote the school's success by providing the members of the local community with multiple opportunities to become meaningfully involved in the school.
Covering similar terrain, King (2002) offers instructional leaders three practical recommendations.
The first recommendation is that instructional leaders host twice monthly meetings of three hours duration each for teachers and administrators to discuss any gaps they may find in curriculum, teaching, and learning. The operative notion here is that instructional leaders are creating the condition for teachers and administrators to identify problems with the technology of education as a foundation for considering how, moving forward, educators might deal with the gaps they have identified.
The second recommendation is to invite outside experts to provide teachers and administrators an overview of the research about curriculum, teaching, and learning so that they can contextualize the situation in their school within a larger framework. Rather than allowing gaps to be perceived as simply "a problem we have caused," understanding how these gaps are related to large issues in society and culture can help teachers and administrators to blunt the sharp edge and to feel more comfortable in understanding what these gaps reveal. Once again, instructional leaders are creating the condition for teachers and administrators to come to grips with the challenges confronting them in a way that they can better deal with these challenges.
The third recommendation is to focus teachers more intently upon their work by organizing peer visits as well as data gathering. The issue here is not simply having teachers and administrators visit one another's classrooms to make observations. Neither is the issue for teachers and administrators to gather data to refute or to substantiate a gap. Instead, the issue here is for teachers and administrators to visit and gather data by focusing upon identified gaps with an awareness of the larger context from which these problems emerge. In this way, instructional leaders create the condition for teachers and administrators to develop a data base for benchmarking the current situation and, as teachers and administrators formulate and implement intervention strategies, to state performance strategies, to develop improvement plans, and to assess progress or lack thereof.
These three practical recommendations, King argues, communicate to teachers the instructional leader's focus upon professional development and, in particular, improving curriculum, teaching, and learning as well as using data to drive decision making as well as to hold teachers accountable for outcomes. These recommendations do not prescribe a litmus test, list of characteristics, or set of behaviors for educators; instead, they identify a series of responsible acts that can improve curriculum, teaching, and learning in an entire school community as that is evidenced in a variety of measures of student achievement. More importantly, as strategies shape professional goals, these three practical recommendations enable instructional leaders work productively with teachers and administrators to improve educational outcomes, to utilize limited resources well, to build a more professional culture, and to form a community of learners.
Importantly, these three recommendations do not posit a unitary approach to instructional leadership. Instead, King's recommendations allow the content of each recommendation to be specified by the school's idiosyncratic context so that teachers, utilizing data, may create the conditions for to learn about curriculum, teaching, and learning. In every context, then, instructional leaders are intent upon building what King calls "professional learning communities" (p. 62), namely, "an environment that fosters mutual cooperation, emotional support, and personal growth as educators work together to achieve what they cannot accomplish alone" (DuFour & Eaker, 1998, p. xii).
What all of this actually seeks to achieve is to build leadership density in schools as instructional leaders provide the conditions which facilitate the development of teachers as leaders in the areas of curriculum, learning, and teaching. As Barth (2001) notes, success in this endeavor positions teachers to make decisions in many areas that were once reserved to the principal. These include: choosing textbooks and instructional materials; shaping the curriculum; setting standards for student behavior; deciding whether students are tracked into special classrooms; designing professional development and in-service programs; setting promotion and retention policies; deciding school budgets; evaluating teacher performance; selecting new teachers; and, most significantly, selecting new administrators.
Thinking about instructional leadership...
Like other successful for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, good schools do not simply happen. Instead, what transpires in good schools functions to foster the achievement of the school's goals. In good schools, people, process, and technology---the individual parts---integrate in such a way that the synergy engendered by the integration of the parts creates more energy than the sum of the individual parts does. By means of contrast, in bad schools the individual parts do not integrate. For example, the people may be good while the process and technology lack. Whatever the configuration may be, in bad schools the lack of integration of the parts thwarts the achievement of school goals.
Instructional leadership, then, concerns the responsibilities that an individual accepts to see to it that the people, the process, and the technology of schooling---curriculum, teaching, and learning---deliver on their promise to form capable, adult citizens. Possessing a "super-vision" about how the individual parts can integrate and create a synergy of effects that enable people, process, and technology to work together in a way that achieves this vision (Sergiovanni & Starratt, 1988), instructional leaders focus inward by devoting a considerable amount of time (perhaps as much as 80%) in building a school culture characterized by professional discourse that is attentive to the issues of improving curriculum, by providing support and opportunities for the teachers' professional growth and development, and by engaging the members of the school community in democratic self-governance. These instructional leaders also look outward and beyond the school yard by inviting members of the local community to participate meaningfully in the school and to serve as its ombudsmen within the local community.
Obviously, instructional leadership is not exercised by one person but one person does create the conditions through which all teachers and administrators become more responsible for their professional learning and important role in sustaining school improvement. It seems that inquiry-based use of data is particularly crucial in this regard, especially as it guides decisions and subsequence practices.
This calls for a new type of instructional leader, namely, a "culture builder" who is dedicated to building "teacher leadership" (Barth 2001). This instructional leader is capable of constructing a shared vision with all the members of the school community, convenes opportunities for professional discourse and conversation among teachers and administrators, is insistent upon improving student learning, evokes and supports teacher learning, models and participates in collaborative processes, helps to pose questions, and facilitates dialogue that addresses the confounding issues educators experience in practice (Lambert, 2002). In sum, this new type of instructional leader is intent upon school-based educational reform by creating the conditions which build a professional learning community.
References
Barth, R. R. (2001, February). Teacher leader. Phi Delta Kappan, 82(6), 443-449.
Checkley, K. (2000, May). The contemporary principal: New skills for a new age. Education Update, 43(3), 1, 4-6, 8.
Day, C. (2000, April). Beyond transformational leadership. Educational Leadership, 57(7), 56-59.
DuFour, R., & Eaker, R. (1998). Professional leading communities at work: Best practices for enhancing student achievement. Bloomington, IN: National Educational Service.
King, D. (2002, May). The changing shape of leadership. Educational Leadership, 59(8), 61-63.
Lambert, L. (2002, May). A framework for shared leadership. Educational Leadership, 58(8), 37‑40.
Lortie, D. (1975). Schoolteacher. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
McDonald, J. P. (1992). Teaching: Making sense of an uncertain craft. New York: Teachers College Press.
Murphy, J. (1990). Principal instructional leadership. In P. W. Thurston & L. S. Lotto (Eds.), Perspectives on the school. Advances in educational administration (Volume 1, Part B, 163-200). Greenwich, CN: JAI Press Inc.
Sergiovanni, T. J., & Starratt, R. J. (1988). Supervision: Human perspectives (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Monday, September 7, 2009
say hello
Why is it that people find it so difficult to just say hello?
To find the key to a civil society, look into your own heart.
This week business leaders were told about progress fighting crime, homelessness and street disorder in pursuit of the ideal "a civil society."
But the biggest obstacle to that utopia walks the city's sidewalks, queues up at the coffee shops, waits for the spin cycle to finish at the laundromat.
I'm talking about you.
Yes, you were walking past on the sidewalk without a smile or even a nod, eyes forward.
Yes, you were standing in line if not for coffee, looking uptight and weirdly scared when the person next to you says something friendly.
Yes, you waiting for your clothes to dry, shooting furtive glances at other customers, but never saying a word.
Yes, you who will be hosting the world for tourism in less than two years. Are you going to roll out the welcome mat or yank it inside and slam the door?
Y'all aren't very friendly.
In fact you're downright cold.
Others-- all the way friendlier than us.
Even Thais is cheerier, for Chris sakes, and the people there have been living in trouble waters for 30 months.
I've never been to a place where the ambient level of human interaction is as low as us.
This chill self-perpetuates, slapping down newcomers who dare try and melt the ice.
When a smile is ignored, when a casual comment draws a scowl, when a morning greeting brings an appraising stare, you begin to understand that, here, these things just aren't done.
What's wrong with you people?
I've struggled to find answers. Is it all the pot making people anti-social and paranoid? Unlikely. There are folks who are standoffish, too.
Is it the dreary, soggy rain? Nope, you're clammy even in unpredictable weather. Is it fear of attack? Probably not, given the friendlier attitudes in truly dangerous cities.
I'm at a loss for an explanation. But I'm not giving up yet. I see potential for improvement.
You're polite. You hold doors and generally let people change lanes on the road.
You say please and thank- you. But without the capacity for friendly, human engagement with people you don't know, politeness is a meaningless mask.
Often we lose sight of the importance of everyday engagement.
The civility of our city is measured in large part by the quality of our interactions with the people we live here with.
Please just say hi.
To find the key to a civil society, look into your own heart.
This week business leaders were told about progress fighting crime, homelessness and street disorder in pursuit of the ideal "a civil society."
But the biggest obstacle to that utopia walks the city's sidewalks, queues up at the coffee shops, waits for the spin cycle to finish at the laundromat.
I'm talking about you.
Yes, you were walking past on the sidewalk without a smile or even a nod, eyes forward.
Yes, you were standing in line if not for coffee, looking uptight and weirdly scared when the person next to you says something friendly.
Yes, you waiting for your clothes to dry, shooting furtive glances at other customers, but never saying a word.
Yes, you who will be hosting the world for tourism in less than two years. Are you going to roll out the welcome mat or yank it inside and slam the door?
Y'all aren't very friendly.
In fact you're downright cold.
Others-- all the way friendlier than us.
Even Thais is cheerier, for Chris sakes, and the people there have been living in trouble waters for 30 months.
I've never been to a place where the ambient level of human interaction is as low as us.
This chill self-perpetuates, slapping down newcomers who dare try and melt the ice.
When a smile is ignored, when a casual comment draws a scowl, when a morning greeting brings an appraising stare, you begin to understand that, here, these things just aren't done.
What's wrong with you people?
I've struggled to find answers. Is it all the pot making people anti-social and paranoid? Unlikely. There are folks who are standoffish, too.
Is it the dreary, soggy rain? Nope, you're clammy even in unpredictable weather. Is it fear of attack? Probably not, given the friendlier attitudes in truly dangerous cities.
I'm at a loss for an explanation. But I'm not giving up yet. I see potential for improvement.
You're polite. You hold doors and generally let people change lanes on the road.
You say please and thank- you. But without the capacity for friendly, human engagement with people you don't know, politeness is a meaningless mask.
Often we lose sight of the importance of everyday engagement.
The civility of our city is measured in large part by the quality of our interactions with the people we live here with.
Please just say hi.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Independence Day Teaches Us About Leadership
We have more individual choices than ever. We can choose from sixteen movies at a mega-plex, eight different kinds of orange juice (low acid, some pulp, not from concentrate, etc.) and countless shoe brands and styles. Is it any surprise that we want to be free to make choices in our jobs as well? If you grew up with only four TV channels to choose from, you might believe the command-style leadership is still viable. You might believe in shared values and needs, the way we did in the ‘60’s. Unfortunately, centralized leadership does not work with this new generation. They want to work their way, not your way. They know what motivates them, how they best achieve results and obtain information, and they want to receive full credit for their efforts. If you try to steamroll their Independence, you will wind up with flattened cartoon characters, not productive employees. As a leader today, you must decentralize the power and authority. With leadership opportunities, employees will find personal meaning in the work they do. And they will do it well, provided you meet their needs. Your challenge—accommodating leaders on all levels of the organization—is daunting, maybe even terrifying. How do you align each employee’s needs with the needs of the organization? With so many leaders, so much independence, will chaos be far behind? Not necessarily. Not if you build in some safeguards. It’s important to understand that total independence is often desired, but not always healthy. Individualism can lead to a sense of helplessness, and this helplessness can lead to depression. Despite fiercely independent childhood heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, we want and need to be part of something greater than ourselves. We want the support of a community. We want to feel like the work we do has meaning not only to ourselves, but to others. Chances are, this meaning has already been established—in the form of your organization’s founding mission, vision, goals, and values. These pillars were originally set by the founder and then enhanced through time by the organization’s leadership teams. As a leader, you can bring this meaning to employees by frequently asking how their needs and goals match the organization’s. In doing so, you give them the respect they want and need, as well as communicate a sense of belonging to a larger community. Do you believe in your organization’s mission, vision, goals, and values? If so, you will be able to impart this sense of togetherness to your charges. If not, you will be herding cats. Authentic leadership requires allowing everyone to lead at times, but to instill one cohesive purpose, so that these leaders will work together and move in one overarching direction. For each and every project, ask yourself, “How does this contribute to our organization’s mission, vision, goals, and values?” Ask the same of what is the meaning of independence day to you. And have them ask the same of what is the meaning of independence day to them.We have more individual choices than ever. We can choose from sixteen movies at a mega-plex, eight different kinds of orange juice (low acid, some pulp, not from concentrate, etc.) and countless shoe brands and styles. Is it any surprise that we want to be free to make choices in our jobs as well? If you grew up with only four TV channels to choose from, you might believe the command-style leadership is still viable. You might believe in shared values and needs, the way we did in the ‘60’s. Unfortunately, centralized leadership does not work with this new generation. They want to work their way, not your way. They know what motivates them, how they best achieve results and obtain information, and they want to receive full credit for their efforts. If you try to steamroll their Independence, you will wind up with flattened cartoon characters, not productive employees. As a leader today, you must decentralize the power and authority. With leadership opportunities, employees will find personal meaning in the work they do. And they will do it well, provided you meet their needs. Your challenge—accommodating leaders on all levels of the organization—is daunting, maybe even terrifying. How do you align each employee’s needs with the needs of the organization? With so many leaders, so much independence, will chaos be far behind? Not necessarily. Not if you build in some safeguards. It’s important to understand that total independence is often desired, but not always healthy. Individualism can lead to a sense of helplessness, and this helplessness can lead to depression. Despite fiercely independent childhood heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, we want and need to be part of something greater than ourselves. We want the support of a community. We want to feel like the work we do has meaning not only to ourselves, but to others. Chances are, this meaning has already been established—in the form of your organization’s founding mission, vision, goals, and values. These pillars were originally set by the founder and then enhanced through time by the organization’s leadership teams. As a leader, you can bring this meaning to employees by frequently asking how their needs and goals match the organization’s. In doing so, you give them the respect they want and need, as well as communicate a sense of belonging to a larger community. Do you believe in your organization’s mission, vision, goals, and values? If so, you will be able to impart this sense of togetherness to your charges. If not, you will be herding cats. Authentic leadership requires allowing everyone to lead at times, but to instill one cohesive purpose, so that these leaders will work together and move in one overarching direction. For each and every project, ask yourself, “How does this contribute to our organization’s mission, vision, goals, and values?” Ask the same of what is the meaning of independence day to you. And have them ask the same of what is the meaning of independence day to them.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
sound of silence
The Sounds of Silence
“Hello darkness, my old friend,
I’ve come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
A neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs those voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.
Fools said i,you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said, the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whispered in the sounds of silence.”
Silence Poem
What you can do:
You can criticise silence,
You can ignore silence.
What you cannot do:
You cannot sit even one fleeting minute
In silence.
Yet one day
It is you and you alone
Who will marry silence
And become inseparably one
With silence-sky.
“Hello darkness, my old friend,
I’ve come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
A neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs those voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.
Fools said i,you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said, the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whispered in the sounds of silence.”
Silence Poem
What you can do:
You can criticise silence,
You can ignore silence.
What you cannot do:
You cannot sit even one fleeting minute
In silence.
Yet one day
It is you and you alone
Who will marry silence
And become inseparably one
With silence-sky.
What a modern woman wants
The old woman sat in the backseat of the magenta convertible as it careened down the highway, clutching tightly to the plastic bag on her lap, afraid it may be kidnapped by the wind. She was not used to such speed, with trembling hands she pulled the seatbelt tighter but was careful not to touch the patent leather seats with her callused fingers, her daughter had warned her not to dirty it, ' Fingerprints show very clearly on white, Ma. ' Her daughter, Bee Choo, was driving and talking on her sleek silver mobile phone using big words the old woman could barely understand. ‘Finance ' ' Liquidation ' , ' Assets ' ' Investments ' ... Her voice was crisp and important and had an unfamiliar lilt to it. Her Bee Choo sounded like one of those foreign girls on television. She was speaking in an American accent. The old lady clucked her tongue in disapproval..... ‘I absolutely cannot have this. We have to sell! ‘Her daughter exclaimed agitatedly as she stepped on the accelerator; her perfectly manicured fingernails gripping onto the steering wheel in irritation. 'I can’t DEAL with this anymore! ‘She yelled as she clicked the phone shut and hurled it angrily toward the backseat. The mobile phone hit the old woman on the forehead and nestled soundlessly into her lap. She calmly picked it up and handed it to her daughter. 'Sorry, Ma, ' she said, losing the American pretence and switching to Mandarin. ‘I have a big client in America. There have been a lot of problems. ‘The old lady nodded knowingly. Her daughter was big and important. Bee Choo stared at her mother from the rear view window, wondering what she was thinking. Her mother’s wrinkled countenance always carried the same cryptic look. The phone began to ring again, an artificially cheerful digital tune, which broke the awkward silence. 'Hello, Beatrice! Yes, this is Elaine. ‘Elaine. The old woman cringed. I didn’t name her Elaine. She remembered her daughter telling her, how an English name was very important for ' networking ‘, Chinese ones being easily forgotten.'Oh no, I can ' t see you for lunch today. I have to take the ancient relic to the temple for her weird daily prayer ritual. ‘Ancient Relic. The old woman understood perfectly it was referring to her. Her daughter always assumed that her mother’s silence meant she did not comprehend. 'Yes, I know! My car seats will be reeking of joss sticks! ‘The old woman pursed her lips tightly, her hands gripping her plastic bag in defence. The car curved smoothly into the temple courtyard. It looked almost garish next to the dull sheen of the ageing temple’s roof. The old woman got out of the back seat, and made her unhurried way to the main hall. Her daughter stepped out of the car in her business suit and stilettos and reapplied her lipstick as she made her brisk way to her mother ' s side. 'Ma, I 'll wait outside. I have an important phone call to make, ' she said, not bothering to hide her disgust at the pungent fumes of incense. The old lady hobbled into the temple hall and lit a joss stick; she knelt down solemnly and whispered her now familiar daily prayer to the Gods. Thank you God of the Sky, you have given my daughter luck all these years. Everything I prayed for, you have given her. She has everything a young woman in this world could possibly want. She has a big house with a swimming pool, a maid to help her, as she is too clumsy to sew or cook. Her love life has been blessed; she is engaged to a rich and handsome angmoh (红毛—外国人) man. Her company is now the top financial firm and even men listen to what she says. She lives the perfect life. You have given her everything except happiness. I ask that the gods be merciful to her even if she has lost her roots while reaping the harvest of success. What you see is not true; she is a filial daughter to me. She gives me a room in her big house and provides well for me. She is rude to me only because I affect her happiness. A young woman does not want to be hindered by her old mother. It is my fault. The old lady prayed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, with her head bowed in reverence she planted the half-burnt joss stick into an urn of smouldering ashes. She bowed once more. The old woman had been praying for her daughter for thirty-two years. When her stomach was round like a melon, she came to the temple and prayed that it was a son. Then the time was ripe and the baby slipped out of her womb, bawling and adorable with fat thighs and pink cheeks, but unmistakably, a girl. Her husband had ticked and punched her for producing a useless baby who could not work or carry the family name. Still, the woman returned to the temple with her new-born girl tied to her waist in a sarong and prayed that her daughter would grow up and have everything she ever wanted. Her husband left her and she prayed that her daughter would never have to depend on a man. She prayed every day that her daughter would be a great woman, the woman that she, meek and uneducated, could never become. A woman with nengkan (能干) ; the ability to do anything she set her mind to. A woman who commanded respect in the hearts of men. When she opened her mouth to speak, precious pearls would fall out and men would listen. She will not be like me, the woman prayed as she watched her daughter grow up and drift away from her, speaking a language she scarcely understood. She watched her daughter transform from a quiet girl to one who openly defied her, calling her laotu, old fashioned.... She wanted her mother to be ' modern ‘, a word so new there was no Chinese word for it. Now her daughter was too clever for her and the old woman wondered why she had prayed like that. The Gods had been faithful to her persistent prayer, but the wealth and success that poured forth so richly had buried the girl 's roots and now she stood faceless with no identity, bound to the soil of her ancestors by only a string of origami banknotes. Her daughter had forgotten her mother’s value. Her wants were so ephemeral, that of a modern woman. Power, wealth, access to the best fashion boutiques and yet her daughter had not found true happiness. The old woman knew that you could find happiness with much less. When her daughter left the earth, everything she had would count for nothing. People would look to her legacy and say that she was a great woman but she would be forgotten once the wind blows over, like the ashes of burnt paper convertibles and mansions. The old woman wished she could go back and erase all her big hopes and prayers for her daughter now that she had looked out of the temple gates. She saw her daughter speaking on the phone, her brow furrowed with anger and worry. Being at the top is not good, the woman thought, there is only one way to go from there - down. The old woman carefully unfolded the plastic bag and spread out a packet of beehoon in from of the altar. Her daughter often mocked her for worshipping porcelain Gods. How could she pray to them so faithfully and expect pieces of ceramic to fly to her aid? But her daughter had her own gods too, idols of wealth, success and power that she enslaved to and worshipped every day of her life. Every day was a quest for the idols, and the idols she worshipped counted for nothing in eternity. All the wants her daughter had would slowly suck the life out of her and leave her, an empty soulless shell at the altar. The old woman watched the joss stick.The dull heat had left a teetering grey stem that was on the danger of collapsing. Modern woman nowadays, the old lady signed in resignation, as she bowed to the east obne final time to end her ritual. Modern woman nowadays want so much that they lose their souls and wonder when they cannot find it. Her joss stick disintegrated into a soft grey powder. She met her daughter outside the temple, the same look of worry and frustration was etched on her daughter’s face. An empty expression, as if she was ploughing through the soil of her wants looking for the one thing that would sown the seeds of happiness. They climbed into the convertible in silence and her daughter drove along the highway, this time not too fast as she had done before. Ma, Bee Choo finally said. "I don’t know how to put this. Mark and I have been talking about it and we plan to move out of the big house. The property market is good now, and we managed to get a buyer willing to pay us seven million for it. We decided we’d prefer a cosier penthouse apartment instead. We found a perfect one in Orchard Road. Once we move into our apartment, we plan to get rid of the maid, so we can have more space to ourselves...." The old woman nodded knowingly. Bee Choo swallowed hard. "We’d get someone to come in to do the housework and we can eat out - but once the maid is gone, there won’t be anyone to look after you. You will be awfully lonely at home and, besides that the apartment is rather small. There won’t be space. We thought about it for a long time, and we decided the best thing for you is if you moved to a Home. There’s one near Hougang -it ‘s a Christian home and a very nice one." The old woman did not raise an eyebrow. I’ve been there; the matron is willing to take you in. It’s beautiful with gardens and lots of old people to keep you company! Hardly have time for you, you ‘d be happier there." “You ‘d be happier there, really." her daughter repeated as if to affirm herself. This time the old woman had no plastic bag of food offering to cling tightly to; she bit her lip and fastened her seat belt, as if it would protect her from a daughter who did not want her anymore. She sunk deep into the leather seat, letting her shoulders sag and her fingers trace the white seat. Ma, her daughter asked, searching the rear view window for her mother. "Is everything okay? What had to be done, had to be done. "Yes" she said firmly, louder than she intended, ' if it will make you happy, ' she added more quietly. It’s for you, Ma! You will be happier there. You can move there tomorrow, I already got the maid to pack your things. ‘Elaine said triumphantly, mentally ticking yet another item off her agenda. 'I knew everything would be fine ‘Elaine smiled widely; she felt liberated. Perhaps getting rid of her mother would make her happier. She had thought about it. It seemed the only hindrance in her pursuit of happiness. She was happy now. She had everything a modern woman ever wanted; money, status, career, love, power and now freedom without her mother and her old-fashioned ways to weigh her down...... Yes she was free. Her phone butted urgently, she picked it up and read the message, still beaming from ear to ear. "Stock 10% increase" Yes, things were definitely beginning to look up for her and while searching for the meaning of life in the 1 uminance of her hand phone screen, the old woman in the backseat became invisible and she did not see her in tears. So fellow friends, save enough for your old age and don’t try to rely on your children. Your responsibility is to give them the necessary education/training and life after that is theirs. If they chose to look after you, it is a bonus and thanks the gods for it.......
H1N1
JUST A SMALL BUT MEANINGFUL INFO FRM ME TO YOU AND YR FRIENDS...MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF H1N1 SINCE IT PRACTICALLY HIT US LIKE A TIME BOMB..... My staff was crying herself sick on Tuesday morning...was told that her son was confirmed of H1N1 in his Uni at Kangar, Perlis...worse was that when he was bedridden 2 days the warden didnt even bother to sent to hospital till his dad came fm KL and with his friends assistance brought him to GH Kangar.... No one bothered in the hospital and he was put in the normal ward for another 2 days!!! (imagine the amount of people he has infected!!) .....after 2 days and his eyes were turning yellow and saliva greenish...he was put in quarantined room...Called his mom to say...minta maaf and ampun la dosa dia, etc...she practically fainted just telling me the story.. cant do much cos she x have enough money to go to the north with the father... First thing we did was made her call the hospital and insist that they sent him to Sg.Buloh Hospital or any other hospital in KL since they seemed to be more alert and more equipt...they refused of course...so I sent her off to Kangar the same day to solve the problem. Whilst this was happening, SUBHANALLAH, I had a call from one Ustaz who was in town to "help cure" another H1N1 child in Shah Alam....and was told this simple prescription by him.....of course kena redha pada ALLAH and niat dengan sesungguh nya...selawat 3x... EAT MINIMUM 6 GREEN APPLES A DAY AND FRESH ORANGE JUICE, for those with sore throat please blend the apples and keep on taking till your fever disappear and yr symtoms are gone....I cannot explain it but the child in Shah Alam was ok too after taking this tip.... ALHAMDULILLAH...my staff's son was given the apple juice for the whole day on Monday/Tuesday and dengan kuasa ALLAH he was out of the fever yesterday Wednesday....she called me and was crying on the phone to say that her son was out of ICU and was able to eat normally...all these happened within just 4 days today (thursday 6 ugust)... This is just to share with my fellow sisters and brothers and hope this small info could assist others as well, INSYA'ALLAH!!!!!!!!!! No harm in trying and kuasa ALLAH anything can happen!!!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Are you genius or a genius?
20 Things You Didn't Know About ... Genius
How do the Nobel Prize winners get so damn smart?By Rebecca CoffeyProvided by Discover Magazine
1. The latest winners of the Nobel Prizes -- the big kahuna of genius awards -- will be announced October 5 this year. Were you nominated? To find out, you’ll have to either win or wait 50 years, which is how long the Nobel committee keeps secret the list of also-rans.
2. Nyah, nyah. William Shockley, who won the 1956 Nobel in physics for inventing the transistor, was excluded as a child from a long-term study of genius because his IQ score wasn’t high enough.
3. History repeated itself in 1968 when Luis Alvarez won a Nobel for his work on elementary particles. He had been excluded from the same research program as Shockley. Who set up that study, anyway?
4. The genius study was created in 1928 by Louis Terman at Stanford University, who pioneered the use of IQ tests to identify geniuses, defined by him as those with an IQ greater than 140.
5. None of the children (known as “Termites”) in the study has won a Nobel.
6. Still smart, though: Termite Jess Oppenheimer invented the TelePrompTer, and Norris Bradbury headed the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
7. Many 19th- and 20th-century creative geniuses acquired a reputation for promiscuity. Examples include Richard Feynman, Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell.
8. One theory suggests that male geniuses are unusually endowed with enthusiasm for risk-taking, which is notoriously testosterone-linked.
9. In 1981 Shockley and eugenicist Robert Klark Graham cofounded the Repository for Germinal Choice in Southern California, a sperm bank dedicated to selling the seed of Nobel Prize winners and other men with a high I.Q.
10. Graham died in 1997. The Repository for Germinal Choice closed in 1999.
11. Being a genius is no guarantee of financial security. A recent study at the Ohio State University Center for Human Resource Research showed that baby boomers with average and low IQs were just as good at saving money as those with high IQs.
12. Albert Einstein is said to have lost most of his Nobel money in bad investments. Anyone can do that.
13. Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician, identified what is now called Asperger’s syndrome: a form of autism marked by intense absorption in a very narrow range of special interests.
14. Asperger believed that there is a link between mathematical and scientific genius and his syndrome, claiming that "for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential."
15. Sometimes stereotypes are accurate. Norbert Wiener, who invented the field of cybernetics, was the prototype of the absent-minded genius.
16. Once, Weiner forgot he’d driven to a conference, took the bus home, and then reported his car stolen when he didn’t see it in his driveway.
17. In the 1990s Bell Labs found that its most valued and productive electrical engineers were not those endowed with genius but those who excelled in rapport, empathy, cooperation, persuasion and the ability to build consensus.
18. Too much partying? In 2007 researchers at Kyoto University pitted chimpanzees against college students in three memory-based intelligence tests. The highest-scoring chimp beat all the students in the first test, tied with a few in the second test and reigned again in the third.
19. Try pitting him against the chimp. Alex, a gray parrot who died last September at age 31, has been widely billed as the smartest bird ever. Alex could identify 50 objects, seven colors and shapes and quantities of up to six.
20. You, too, can be a genius (maybe). Scientists at the University of Sydney and Macquarie University in Australia say intelligence can be boosted, at least in the short term, by a daily dose of 5 milligrams of creatine, a compound found in muscle tissue.
How do the Nobel Prize winners get so damn smart?By Rebecca CoffeyProvided by Discover Magazine
1. The latest winners of the Nobel Prizes -- the big kahuna of genius awards -- will be announced October 5 this year. Were you nominated? To find out, you’ll have to either win or wait 50 years, which is how long the Nobel committee keeps secret the list of also-rans.
2. Nyah, nyah. William Shockley, who won the 1956 Nobel in physics for inventing the transistor, was excluded as a child from a long-term study of genius because his IQ score wasn’t high enough.
3. History repeated itself in 1968 when Luis Alvarez won a Nobel for his work on elementary particles. He had been excluded from the same research program as Shockley. Who set up that study, anyway?
4. The genius study was created in 1928 by Louis Terman at Stanford University, who pioneered the use of IQ tests to identify geniuses, defined by him as those with an IQ greater than 140.
5. None of the children (known as “Termites”) in the study has won a Nobel.
6. Still smart, though: Termite Jess Oppenheimer invented the TelePrompTer, and Norris Bradbury headed the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
7. Many 19th- and 20th-century creative geniuses acquired a reputation for promiscuity. Examples include Richard Feynman, Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell.
8. One theory suggests that male geniuses are unusually endowed with enthusiasm for risk-taking, which is notoriously testosterone-linked.
9. In 1981 Shockley and eugenicist Robert Klark Graham cofounded the Repository for Germinal Choice in Southern California, a sperm bank dedicated to selling the seed of Nobel Prize winners and other men with a high I.Q.
10. Graham died in 1997. The Repository for Germinal Choice closed in 1999.
11. Being a genius is no guarantee of financial security. A recent study at the Ohio State University Center for Human Resource Research showed that baby boomers with average and low IQs were just as good at saving money as those with high IQs.
12. Albert Einstein is said to have lost most of his Nobel money in bad investments. Anyone can do that.
13. Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician, identified what is now called Asperger’s syndrome: a form of autism marked by intense absorption in a very narrow range of special interests.
14. Asperger believed that there is a link between mathematical and scientific genius and his syndrome, claiming that "for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential."
15. Sometimes stereotypes are accurate. Norbert Wiener, who invented the field of cybernetics, was the prototype of the absent-minded genius.
16. Once, Weiner forgot he’d driven to a conference, took the bus home, and then reported his car stolen when he didn’t see it in his driveway.
17. In the 1990s Bell Labs found that its most valued and productive electrical engineers were not those endowed with genius but those who excelled in rapport, empathy, cooperation, persuasion and the ability to build consensus.
18. Too much partying? In 2007 researchers at Kyoto University pitted chimpanzees against college students in three memory-based intelligence tests. The highest-scoring chimp beat all the students in the first test, tied with a few in the second test and reigned again in the third.
19. Try pitting him against the chimp. Alex, a gray parrot who died last September at age 31, has been widely billed as the smartest bird ever. Alex could identify 50 objects, seven colors and shapes and quantities of up to six.
20. You, too, can be a genius (maybe). Scientists at the University of Sydney and Macquarie University in Australia say intelligence can be boosted, at least in the short term, by a daily dose of 5 milligrams of creatine, a compound found in muscle tissue.
Spend some time alone
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO ... Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR . When you say, 'I love you ,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX ... Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN.. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much. NINE . Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. . In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson !
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN... Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship..
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone.. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
TWO ... Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR . When you say, 'I love you ,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX ... Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN.. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much. NINE . Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. . In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson !
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN... Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship..
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone.. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
10 Worst Work Habits
By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer
Bottom of Form
When two people fall in love, they only see sunshine and rainbows when they look into each other's eyes. If you asked, "What's the worst trait of your boyfriend or girlfriend?" they would answer, "Absolutely, positively nothing!"
Ask that same question a few years later when they're living together and have seen each other at their respective worst. You'll get a pretty good list:
"She cuts her toenails on the coffee table."
"He speaks in a cutesy voice on behalf of the dog."
"She kicks me in her sleep."
Hopefully none of these nuisances finds its way into your work life, but other ones probably do. Everyone has some weaknesses in their work behavior that they need to work on, and they often extend beyond annoyances (such as eating a smelly lunch at your desk) and become problems for your career.
Here are 10 work habits that you should try to break:
1. Procrastination
A lot of people work best under pressure, or at least they say so. With everyone having a different personality, you can't say a strict schedule works best for all employees. Putting tasks off until the last minute, however, invites plenty of problems, even if you think the final result will be glorious.
When you leave yourself no wiggle room to complete a task, you run the risk of encountering an unexpected obstacle that makes you miss the deadline. Even if the situation is out of your hands, everyone will be left wondering why you didn't plan better and account for last-minute emergencies.
2. Being a sloppy e-mailer
E-mails are second nature to most people these days, and in informal communications they've become a digital Post-it note. We type out a message and send it without proofreading or double-checking the recipients. That's a recipe for disaster.
If you haven't learned your lesson by now, the day will soon come when you accidentally "Reply All" to an e-mail and a slew of unintended readers receive a silly note you intended only your co-worker to read.
3. Confusing informal with disrespectful
In many workplaces, the boss might be the decision maker, but he or she isn't the stern, humorless caricature you saw on TV. Using your supervisor's first name and going for some drinks after work are common in many industries. Still, you are the employee and the boss is the boss -- the one who can fire you and tell you what to do. Don't cross the line by talking to her as if you're talking to one of your direct reports or even your best friend. You need to show some respect for her authority.
4. Taking advantage of leeway
Some companies are strict about the time you clock in and out. Others have guidelines but no hard rules, so you can arrive at 8:35 a.m. and no one cares. If over time you're arriving at 9:10 a.m. and leaving at 4 p.m. (with plenty of breaks in between), your reputation will suffer.
This also goes for dress codes. Business casual is up to interpretation, but ripped jeans and concert tees probably don't fall under your company's accepted definition.
5. Refusing to mingle
Plenty of wisdom lies in the advice not to mix personal and professional lives. However, refusing to take part in any social activity -- such as the office potluck or a happy hour -- will not help your career. You don't need to be the resident party animal, but being personable with your colleagues helps build camaraderie. You get to know other people better and they get to know you as more than the person they pass in the halls.
6. Always running late
This isn't the same as abusing leeway; this is a matter of trust. If you're late to work, to meetings and with projects, your boss and colleagues will associate that trait with you. When it's time for a promotion or to deal with an important client, everyone will think twice before giving you the opportunity. Who wants to trust the person who can't manage his or her time?
7. Being rigid
One of the unfair aspects of the working world is that sometimes it seems you can't win. If you're hired to do a job, most bosses don't want you passing the day by reading your favorite book. The reason: You were hired to do a job, so do it. But if the boss comes to you with a new project that's outside the parameters of your usual duties, it's still yours to do. "You don't pay me to do that" isn't something you want to tell your supervisor.
8. Acting as the resident contrarian
We all love your spirited personality, but try not to be the person in the meeting who always has a better idea and can tell you why everyone else's idea is dumb. Voices of opposition are often missing in many workplaces because too many eager employees want to be "yes" men and women. But too much negativity grates on nerves and makes people dread hearing your voice. Continue to be a critical thinker, but make sure you're doing what's best for the company and not just trying to be the loudest voice in the room.
9. Badmouthing the company
With blogs, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other sites, you have plenty of opportunity to vent your frustration with life. If you're going to complain about how dumb your boss is and how much you hate your job, keep those rants private. The Internet is public domain and comments have a way of finding their way back to all the wrong people. If you wouldn't stand outside your boss's office and tell a co-worker how ready you are to quit, don't express the same thoughts in an open forum.
10. Politicking
Office politics are often unavoidable, and sometimes having a grasp on what's going on can benefit you, but you shouldn't spend more time masterminding office warfare than you do working. Getting caught in the crosshairs of a workplace controversy can be out of your control, but if you're the one instigating the drama, you're earning a bad reputation. You're the person who starts trouble and whom no one trusts. That's the kind of notoriety that follows you from one workplace to another.
Bottom of Form
When two people fall in love, they only see sunshine and rainbows when they look into each other's eyes. If you asked, "What's the worst trait of your boyfriend or girlfriend?" they would answer, "Absolutely, positively nothing!"
Ask that same question a few years later when they're living together and have seen each other at their respective worst. You'll get a pretty good list:
"She cuts her toenails on the coffee table."
"He speaks in a cutesy voice on behalf of the dog."
"She kicks me in her sleep."
Hopefully none of these nuisances finds its way into your work life, but other ones probably do. Everyone has some weaknesses in their work behavior that they need to work on, and they often extend beyond annoyances (such as eating a smelly lunch at your desk) and become problems for your career.
Here are 10 work habits that you should try to break:
1. Procrastination
A lot of people work best under pressure, or at least they say so. With everyone having a different personality, you can't say a strict schedule works best for all employees. Putting tasks off until the last minute, however, invites plenty of problems, even if you think the final result will be glorious.
When you leave yourself no wiggle room to complete a task, you run the risk of encountering an unexpected obstacle that makes you miss the deadline. Even if the situation is out of your hands, everyone will be left wondering why you didn't plan better and account for last-minute emergencies.
2. Being a sloppy e-mailer
E-mails are second nature to most people these days, and in informal communications they've become a digital Post-it note. We type out a message and send it without proofreading or double-checking the recipients. That's a recipe for disaster.
If you haven't learned your lesson by now, the day will soon come when you accidentally "Reply All" to an e-mail and a slew of unintended readers receive a silly note you intended only your co-worker to read.
3. Confusing informal with disrespectful
In many workplaces, the boss might be the decision maker, but he or she isn't the stern, humorless caricature you saw on TV. Using your supervisor's first name and going for some drinks after work are common in many industries. Still, you are the employee and the boss is the boss -- the one who can fire you and tell you what to do. Don't cross the line by talking to her as if you're talking to one of your direct reports or even your best friend. You need to show some respect for her authority.
4. Taking advantage of leeway
Some companies are strict about the time you clock in and out. Others have guidelines but no hard rules, so you can arrive at 8:35 a.m. and no one cares. If over time you're arriving at 9:10 a.m. and leaving at 4 p.m. (with plenty of breaks in between), your reputation will suffer.
This also goes for dress codes. Business casual is up to interpretation, but ripped jeans and concert tees probably don't fall under your company's accepted definition.
5. Refusing to mingle
Plenty of wisdom lies in the advice not to mix personal and professional lives. However, refusing to take part in any social activity -- such as the office potluck or a happy hour -- will not help your career. You don't need to be the resident party animal, but being personable with your colleagues helps build camaraderie. You get to know other people better and they get to know you as more than the person they pass in the halls.
6. Always running late
This isn't the same as abusing leeway; this is a matter of trust. If you're late to work, to meetings and with projects, your boss and colleagues will associate that trait with you. When it's time for a promotion or to deal with an important client, everyone will think twice before giving you the opportunity. Who wants to trust the person who can't manage his or her time?
7. Being rigid
One of the unfair aspects of the working world is that sometimes it seems you can't win. If you're hired to do a job, most bosses don't want you passing the day by reading your favorite book. The reason: You were hired to do a job, so do it. But if the boss comes to you with a new project that's outside the parameters of your usual duties, it's still yours to do. "You don't pay me to do that" isn't something you want to tell your supervisor.
8. Acting as the resident contrarian
We all love your spirited personality, but try not to be the person in the meeting who always has a better idea and can tell you why everyone else's idea is dumb. Voices of opposition are often missing in many workplaces because too many eager employees want to be "yes" men and women. But too much negativity grates on nerves and makes people dread hearing your voice. Continue to be a critical thinker, but make sure you're doing what's best for the company and not just trying to be the loudest voice in the room.
9. Badmouthing the company
With blogs, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other sites, you have plenty of opportunity to vent your frustration with life. If you're going to complain about how dumb your boss is and how much you hate your job, keep those rants private. The Internet is public domain and comments have a way of finding their way back to all the wrong people. If you wouldn't stand outside your boss's office and tell a co-worker how ready you are to quit, don't express the same thoughts in an open forum.
10. Politicking
Office politics are often unavoidable, and sometimes having a grasp on what's going on can benefit you, but you shouldn't spend more time masterminding office warfare than you do working. Getting caught in the crosshairs of a workplace controversy can be out of your control, but if you're the one instigating the drama, you're earning a bad reputation. You're the person who starts trouble and whom no one trusts. That's the kind of notoriety that follows you from one workplace to another.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Fortune Cookies
You need a quote a day. Be inspired by the verses and quotes created by people throughout time. The fortune cookie may read like this.
A friend asks only for your time not your money.
You need this, email datinhjh@hotmail.com . Hopefully the quote makes your day.
A friend asks only for your time not your money.
You need this, email datinhjh@hotmail.com . Hopefully the quote makes your day.
Monday, June 1, 2009
wonderful life lessons
Get 9 simple but wonderful life lessons.
Drive or walk a different way to work
You will discover a world right around a corner you have not yet passed. Become a tourist in your own town and seek out museums, restaurants, vintage movie theaters, libraries and places that hold interest to you
Go strawberry picking and make some jam
There is something so wonderful about picking strawberries on a sunny day and eating the little red beauties right off the plant. Take your family and enjoy gathering the fruit. Take lots of pictures. Making jam with the strawberries is fun, and there are lots to be learned in the process.
Collect a quote of the day
Go to the library or Google a theme that is interesting to you and explore. Be inspired by the verses and quotes created by people throughout time. Make a book of them or hang them in your home for a daily dose of inspiration.
Learn one new fact or word a day
You know what they say, "If you don't use it, you'll lose it." Go to the dictionary and open it up to any page and discover a new word. Your vocabulary will be stunning in no time. Learn a new fact every day (you just learned lots about loggerhead turtles). When you find one new fact a day, you'll be surprised at how useful they are to start conversations and how many cool things there are to know. And of course, it goes without saying, you will rule at the game Trivial Pursuit.
Visit a farmers' market
Every time I visit a farmers' market, I see something new. A vegetable I hadn't known before, a cauliflower in a new color or a special cheese made from goat's milk. The colors, smells and people at the market are always inspiring. Learning at a farmers' market is all about taking lots of taste tests. Who knew tests could be so yummy?
Catch fireflies and learn why they light the summer sky
Did you ever wonder why something is like it is? I do. So go and find out. If it's why fireflies light up, catch a bunch with the kids and search the Internet for answers. Light up your curiosity and let it shine.
Watch all the movies by one actor or director
If you love movies, have your own personal film festival. Rent all the movies created by one director or about a place or that showcases one actress you love. Become an expert on the things you love.
Read an autobiography of someone you are interested in
Is there someone who fascinates you, intrigues you, that you would love to know more about? Start investigating. Look to find an autobiography or a biography about the person, and get to know her. Discover who and what influenced her, and learn her story. You'll not only learn a lot about another person, I promise you that along the way you'll learn about yourself as well.
Volunteer and help others
Is there a cause, an issue or a problem that you care about? If so, do something about it. Join a group, volunteer with a church, go to the local soup kitchen, work for a candidate or help at the hospital. Find a way to get involved. You will learn more about what you care about. Learn how to work with others toward a common cause and ultimately learn how to make a positive difference in our world.
Consider keeping a journal that documents the lessons found in the everyday. Write down a new word and its meaning, a quote you discovered, a fact, the name and songs from a new musician you just fell in love with or a new recipe that you fancy.
Remember there is no right or wrong, just what inspires you and sparks your curious spirit. Become a student of everyday lessons and allow the world to become your school. Imagine the possibilities.
Drive or walk a different way to work
You will discover a world right around a corner you have not yet passed. Become a tourist in your own town and seek out museums, restaurants, vintage movie theaters, libraries and places that hold interest to you
Go strawberry picking and make some jam
There is something so wonderful about picking strawberries on a sunny day and eating the little red beauties right off the plant. Take your family and enjoy gathering the fruit. Take lots of pictures. Making jam with the strawberries is fun, and there are lots to be learned in the process.
Collect a quote of the day
Go to the library or Google a theme that is interesting to you and explore. Be inspired by the verses and quotes created by people throughout time. Make a book of them or hang them in your home for a daily dose of inspiration.
Learn one new fact or word a day
You know what they say, "If you don't use it, you'll lose it." Go to the dictionary and open it up to any page and discover a new word. Your vocabulary will be stunning in no time. Learn a new fact every day (you just learned lots about loggerhead turtles). When you find one new fact a day, you'll be surprised at how useful they are to start conversations and how many cool things there are to know. And of course, it goes without saying, you will rule at the game Trivial Pursuit.
Visit a farmers' market
Every time I visit a farmers' market, I see something new. A vegetable I hadn't known before, a cauliflower in a new color or a special cheese made from goat's milk. The colors, smells and people at the market are always inspiring. Learning at a farmers' market is all about taking lots of taste tests. Who knew tests could be so yummy?
Catch fireflies and learn why they light the summer sky
Did you ever wonder why something is like it is? I do. So go and find out. If it's why fireflies light up, catch a bunch with the kids and search the Internet for answers. Light up your curiosity and let it shine.
Watch all the movies by one actor or director
If you love movies, have your own personal film festival. Rent all the movies created by one director or about a place or that showcases one actress you love. Become an expert on the things you love.
Read an autobiography of someone you are interested in
Is there someone who fascinates you, intrigues you, that you would love to know more about? Start investigating. Look to find an autobiography or a biography about the person, and get to know her. Discover who and what influenced her, and learn her story. You'll not only learn a lot about another person, I promise you that along the way you'll learn about yourself as well.
Volunteer and help others
Is there a cause, an issue or a problem that you care about? If so, do something about it. Join a group, volunteer with a church, go to the local soup kitchen, work for a candidate or help at the hospital. Find a way to get involved. You will learn more about what you care about. Learn how to work with others toward a common cause and ultimately learn how to make a positive difference in our world.
Consider keeping a journal that documents the lessons found in the everyday. Write down a new word and its meaning, a quote you discovered, a fact, the name and songs from a new musician you just fell in love with or a new recipe that you fancy.
Remember there is no right or wrong, just what inspires you and sparks your curious spirit. Become a student of everyday lessons and allow the world to become your school. Imagine the possibilities.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Being A Leader
Be a Leader
The following was written by a high school student writing an essay for her final exam:
"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. In the end, leaders are much like eagles... they don't flock, you find them one at a time." Hard work, profound dedication, and encouragement toward others are what entitle an individual to be a leader.
A strong work ethic is one important quality of an adroit leader. As the saying goes: "There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it's easy." Hard work and intense dedication can only make you better, both mentally and skillfully. If others see one person working as hard as they can 100% of the time, they will work harder for that one person. No matter how unmotivated people are, if just one person steps up and takes the lead, everybody else will follow. Leaders motivate others.
Many people find themselves working harder when they know that they get something out of it. Just by hearing a few pushing words that motivate and encourage, people force themselves to work harder. Leaders are usually the ones who ignore their own accomplishments to commend others for theirs. The leader keeps everybody's head up at all times, as they work harder and harder, and more diligently toward their goals. The number one thing that a leader tries to avoid is making people feel guilty or to look down on them because leaders bring others higher in the world, usually with the result being success. As a noble person once said, "There are high spots in all of our lives, and most of them come through encouragement from someone else."
Hard work from one person makes other work harder. Vehement dedication shows others the success that comes through it. Encouragement and support for others make others feel good about them and give them something else to work for. These are all very significant traits that a leader must possess. Don't wait around for things to happen, make this world what you really want it to be, be a leader.
Don’t Rest On Laurel
One day a field marshal requested an audience with Napoleon, and Napoleon knew what was coming. But as every good leader must, Napoleon agreed to hear him out. The field marshal brought news of a great victory he had achieved. He talked for a long time about his accomplishment, piling detail upon detail.
Napoleon listened closely throughtout the entire narration, but said nothing. The officer was disappointed. He had hoped for a more enthusiastic reception, as well as Napoleon's congratulations. Neither was forthcoming.
Summing up, the marshal repeated much of what he had already stated. As the officer rambled on, Napoleon continued to listen politely, and the marshal interpreted this as encouragement. Surely, he thought, Napoleon will now give me the praise I so richly deserve.
When the marshal finally stopped talking, Napoleon asked him one question: "What did you do the next day?"
The field marshal was speechless. But the lesson was not lost on him. From then on, the officer understood that he should never rest on his laurels. So he left it to others to bestow the praise.
A Leader’s Impact
In September of 1862, the civil war tilted decisively in favor of the south. The morale of the northern army dipped to its lowest point of the war. Large numbers of Union troops were in full retreat in Virginia. Northern leaders began to fear the worst. They saw no way to reverse the situation and turn the beaten, exhausted troops into a useful army again.
There was only one general with the ability to work such a miracle. That was General George McClellan. He had trained the men for combat and they admired him. But neither the war department nor the rest of the cabinet members saw this connection. Only president Abraham Lincoln recognized Gen. McLellan's leadership skills.
Fortunately, Lincoln ignored the protests of his advisors and reinstated McClellan back in command. He told the general to go down to Virginia and give those soldiers something no other man on earth could give them: enthusiasm, strength and hope. McClellan accepted the command. He mounted his great black horse and cantered down the dusty Virginia roads.
What happened next is hard to describe. Northern leaders couldn't explain it. Union soldier couldn't explain it either. Even McLellan couldn't quite explain what happened. Gen. McClellan met the retreating Union columns, waved his cap in the air and shouted words of encouragement. When the worn out men saw their beloved teacher and leader, they began to take heart once again. They were moved with an unshakeble felling that now things could be different, that finally things could be all right again.
Bruce Catton, the great civil war historian, describes this excitement that grew when word spread that McClellan was back in command. "Down mile after mile of Virginia roads the stumbling column came alive. Men threw their caps and knapsacks into the air, and yelled until they could yell no more... because they saw this dapper little rider outlined agains the purple starlight.
"And this, in a way, was the turning point of the war. ... No one could ever quite explain how it happened. But whatever it was, it gave President Lincoln and the north what was needed. And history was forever changed because of it."
The story of Gen. McClellan illustrates dramatically the impact a leader can have on the human spirit.
A True Leader
A few years ago, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, where I was employed, purchased Norand Corporation. Pioneer's sales representatives in the field used Norand hand-held terminals to upload daily sales information and download new price and sales incentive information. Pioneer bought so many of these hand-held terminals, the economics made the purchase of Norand look interesting. Owning Norand also allowed Pioneer to explore high-technology markets outside agriculture.
But after a few years, the emerging laptop PC technology made the hand-held units obsolete. Pioneer sold Norand at a loss. Pioneer always took a given percent of the annual profits to divide equally among all employees, so our profit-sharing checks were lower than if Pioneer had not purchased Norand. Additionally, my Pioneer stock was lower than it had been before the purchase of Norand. I was not pleased.
The CEO of Pioneer, Tom Urban, made annual formal visits to each of the Pioneer divisions to talk about the state of the business and to listen to employees' concerns. When he walked into the meeting room for his first visit after the sale of Norand, he acknowledged the group, removed his jacket and neatly folded it across the back of the chair. He loosened his tie, undid his collar and rolled up his sleeves. The next thing he said was the last thing I ever expected to hear a CEO say.
He said, "I made a mistake buying Norand and I am sorry. I am sorry your profit-sharing was lower because of the purchase, and I am sorry your stock was hurt by the purchase. I will continue to take risks, but I am a bit smarter now, and I will work harder for you." The room was quiet for a moment before he asked for questions.
A great man and leader stood before us that day. As I sat listening to him, I knew I could trust him, and that he deserved every bit of loyalty I could give to him and to Pioneer. I also knew I could take risks in my own job.
In the brief moment of silence before the questions started, I recall thinking that I would follow him into any battle.
The following was written by a high school student writing an essay for her final exam:
"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. In the end, leaders are much like eagles... they don't flock, you find them one at a time." Hard work, profound dedication, and encouragement toward others are what entitle an individual to be a leader.
A strong work ethic is one important quality of an adroit leader. As the saying goes: "There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it's easy." Hard work and intense dedication can only make you better, both mentally and skillfully. If others see one person working as hard as they can 100% of the time, they will work harder for that one person. No matter how unmotivated people are, if just one person steps up and takes the lead, everybody else will follow. Leaders motivate others.
Many people find themselves working harder when they know that they get something out of it. Just by hearing a few pushing words that motivate and encourage, people force themselves to work harder. Leaders are usually the ones who ignore their own accomplishments to commend others for theirs. The leader keeps everybody's head up at all times, as they work harder and harder, and more diligently toward their goals. The number one thing that a leader tries to avoid is making people feel guilty or to look down on them because leaders bring others higher in the world, usually with the result being success. As a noble person once said, "There are high spots in all of our lives, and most of them come through encouragement from someone else."
Hard work from one person makes other work harder. Vehement dedication shows others the success that comes through it. Encouragement and support for others make others feel good about them and give them something else to work for. These are all very significant traits that a leader must possess. Don't wait around for things to happen, make this world what you really want it to be, be a leader.
Don’t Rest On Laurel
One day a field marshal requested an audience with Napoleon, and Napoleon knew what was coming. But as every good leader must, Napoleon agreed to hear him out. The field marshal brought news of a great victory he had achieved. He talked for a long time about his accomplishment, piling detail upon detail.
Napoleon listened closely throughtout the entire narration, but said nothing. The officer was disappointed. He had hoped for a more enthusiastic reception, as well as Napoleon's congratulations. Neither was forthcoming.
Summing up, the marshal repeated much of what he had already stated. As the officer rambled on, Napoleon continued to listen politely, and the marshal interpreted this as encouragement. Surely, he thought, Napoleon will now give me the praise I so richly deserve.
When the marshal finally stopped talking, Napoleon asked him one question: "What did you do the next day?"
The field marshal was speechless. But the lesson was not lost on him. From then on, the officer understood that he should never rest on his laurels. So he left it to others to bestow the praise.
A Leader’s Impact
In September of 1862, the civil war tilted decisively in favor of the south. The morale of the northern army dipped to its lowest point of the war. Large numbers of Union troops were in full retreat in Virginia. Northern leaders began to fear the worst. They saw no way to reverse the situation and turn the beaten, exhausted troops into a useful army again.
There was only one general with the ability to work such a miracle. That was General George McClellan. He had trained the men for combat and they admired him. But neither the war department nor the rest of the cabinet members saw this connection. Only president Abraham Lincoln recognized Gen. McLellan's leadership skills.
Fortunately, Lincoln ignored the protests of his advisors and reinstated McClellan back in command. He told the general to go down to Virginia and give those soldiers something no other man on earth could give them: enthusiasm, strength and hope. McClellan accepted the command. He mounted his great black horse and cantered down the dusty Virginia roads.
What happened next is hard to describe. Northern leaders couldn't explain it. Union soldier couldn't explain it either. Even McLellan couldn't quite explain what happened. Gen. McClellan met the retreating Union columns, waved his cap in the air and shouted words of encouragement. When the worn out men saw their beloved teacher and leader, they began to take heart once again. They were moved with an unshakeble felling that now things could be different, that finally things could be all right again.
Bruce Catton, the great civil war historian, describes this excitement that grew when word spread that McClellan was back in command. "Down mile after mile of Virginia roads the stumbling column came alive. Men threw their caps and knapsacks into the air, and yelled until they could yell no more... because they saw this dapper little rider outlined agains the purple starlight.
"And this, in a way, was the turning point of the war. ... No one could ever quite explain how it happened. But whatever it was, it gave President Lincoln and the north what was needed. And history was forever changed because of it."
The story of Gen. McClellan illustrates dramatically the impact a leader can have on the human spirit.
A True Leader
A few years ago, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, where I was employed, purchased Norand Corporation. Pioneer's sales representatives in the field used Norand hand-held terminals to upload daily sales information and download new price and sales incentive information. Pioneer bought so many of these hand-held terminals, the economics made the purchase of Norand look interesting. Owning Norand also allowed Pioneer to explore high-technology markets outside agriculture.
But after a few years, the emerging laptop PC technology made the hand-held units obsolete. Pioneer sold Norand at a loss. Pioneer always took a given percent of the annual profits to divide equally among all employees, so our profit-sharing checks were lower than if Pioneer had not purchased Norand. Additionally, my Pioneer stock was lower than it had been before the purchase of Norand. I was not pleased.
The CEO of Pioneer, Tom Urban, made annual formal visits to each of the Pioneer divisions to talk about the state of the business and to listen to employees' concerns. When he walked into the meeting room for his first visit after the sale of Norand, he acknowledged the group, removed his jacket and neatly folded it across the back of the chair. He loosened his tie, undid his collar and rolled up his sleeves. The next thing he said was the last thing I ever expected to hear a CEO say.
He said, "I made a mistake buying Norand and I am sorry. I am sorry your profit-sharing was lower because of the purchase, and I am sorry your stock was hurt by the purchase. I will continue to take risks, but I am a bit smarter now, and I will work harder for you." The room was quiet for a moment before he asked for questions.
A great man and leader stood before us that day. As I sat listening to him, I knew I could trust him, and that he deserved every bit of loyalty I could give to him and to Pioneer. I also knew I could take risks in my own job.
In the brief moment of silence before the questions started, I recall thinking that I would follow him into any battle.
OBAMA
How to Inspire People like Obama Does>
Public speaking skills are critical to the success of every leader.
Here are four techniques you can borrow from the Presidential candidate by Carmine Gallo. Over the past several years, I have been interviewing, observing, and writing about business, academic, and political leaders who have the ability to influence their audience—leaders who fire up the rest of us. Senator Barack Obama now President Obama (D-Ill.) is one of them. For a look at what makes Obama's public speaking skills so effective, I outline four techniques he's mastered and explain ways to use them in your own repertoire.
Hold Out Hope
Like Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, Obama speaks in the uplifting rhetoric of hope. After his defeat in New Hampshire, Obama's political oratory was so hopeful he sounded more like a winner than a runner-up. Obama knew a hopeful message would embolden his supporters. In a speech on Jan. 8, 2008, Obama said, "We know the battle ahead will be long. But always remember, no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change… We have been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope."You are the leader people want to believe in. Your customers and employees are bombarded by bad news—the credit crunch, a housing slump, an economic slowdown—but they are eager to hear something positive. That doesn't mean leaders stick their heads in the sand—far from it. Inspiring leaders acknowledge the situation but also remind people of reasons to be optimistic.
Use Rhetorical Devices
Many observers say Obama sounds like King. He does because he uses some of the same techniques that made King an electrifying speaker.
1. Parallel structure.
We can thank the ancient Greeks for this rhetorical tool—they called it "anaphora." It simply means repeating the same word or expression at the beginning of successive sentences or phrases. One of the most famous examples is King's "I Have a Dream" speech. "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed…. I have a dream that… I have a dream…" Obama uses the same device frequently. In his Iowa victory speech on Jan. 3, Obama said, "You have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days. You have done what America can do in this New Year."Anaphora's sister technique is called "epistrophe." It is the repetition of a word or expression at the end of a successive sentences or phrases. For example, in Obama's New Hampshire speech, the expression "Yes, we can" rallied thousands of supporters when used like this: "It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out for distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can.
2. Alliteration.
Both Kennedy and King were fond of this device that strings together words that start with similar sounds. At the 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote speech that brought Obama to prominence, he said, "Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?" In 2005, during a commencement speech at Knox College, Obama described America as "a place where destiny was not a destination, but a journey to be shared and shaped…" When speaking at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in August, 2006, Obama proclaimed, "The history of America is one of tragedy turned into triumph." In January's New Hampshire speech, Obama used alliteration again: "We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics."
3. Rich Imagery
Persuasive speakers have long understood the power of imagery to stir emotions—the creation of mental pictures through the words. In his 2004 speech, Obama described what he meant by the audacity of hope: "It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs, the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores, the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta, the hope of a millworker's son who dares to defy the odds, the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too."Exude Confident Body Language
In debates Obama appears unflappable, answering tough questions while maintaining strong eye contact. He doesn't fidget or shake his head when listening to sharp attacks from his opponents. While seated, he leans slightly forward. People will make an impression of you after only a few seconds. Pay attention to what your body is saying (BusinessWeek.com, 4/30/07). Communicate confidence, competence, and control.
Use Dynamic Vocal Delivery
A monotonous speaking style lulls the listener to sleep, regardless of the power of the content. Obama knows how to enhance (BusinessWeek.com, 5/16/06) his delivery.
Consider these three aspects of his delivery.
1. Pacing.
Obama varies the speed at which he speaks. Very few sentences are delivered at exactly the same pace.
2. Volume.
In his victory speech after the Iowa caucuses, Obama raised the volume of his speech with each sentence in the following paragraph: "We are one nation. We are one people. And our time for change has come."
3. Pauses.
Nothing is as dramatic as a well-placed pause, and Obama knows it. He pauses at key moments to make a memorable impact.Obama connects with millions of people thanks to his public speaking skills.
Consider learning from him to influence your own audience.Carmine Gallo, a business communications coach and Emmy-Award winning former TV journalist, is the author of Fire Them Up! And 10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators.
He writes his communications column every week.
Public speaking skills are critical to the success of every leader.
Here are four techniques you can borrow from the Presidential candidate by Carmine Gallo. Over the past several years, I have been interviewing, observing, and writing about business, academic, and political leaders who have the ability to influence their audience—leaders who fire up the rest of us. Senator Barack Obama now President Obama (D-Ill.) is one of them. For a look at what makes Obama's public speaking skills so effective, I outline four techniques he's mastered and explain ways to use them in your own repertoire.
Hold Out Hope
Like Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, Obama speaks in the uplifting rhetoric of hope. After his defeat in New Hampshire, Obama's political oratory was so hopeful he sounded more like a winner than a runner-up. Obama knew a hopeful message would embolden his supporters. In a speech on Jan. 8, 2008, Obama said, "We know the battle ahead will be long. But always remember, no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change… We have been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope."You are the leader people want to believe in. Your customers and employees are bombarded by bad news—the credit crunch, a housing slump, an economic slowdown—but they are eager to hear something positive. That doesn't mean leaders stick their heads in the sand—far from it. Inspiring leaders acknowledge the situation but also remind people of reasons to be optimistic.
Use Rhetorical Devices
Many observers say Obama sounds like King. He does because he uses some of the same techniques that made King an electrifying speaker.
1. Parallel structure.
We can thank the ancient Greeks for this rhetorical tool—they called it "anaphora." It simply means repeating the same word or expression at the beginning of successive sentences or phrases. One of the most famous examples is King's "I Have a Dream" speech. "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed…. I have a dream that… I have a dream…" Obama uses the same device frequently. In his Iowa victory speech on Jan. 3, Obama said, "You have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days. You have done what America can do in this New Year."Anaphora's sister technique is called "epistrophe." It is the repetition of a word or expression at the end of a successive sentences or phrases. For example, in Obama's New Hampshire speech, the expression "Yes, we can" rallied thousands of supporters when used like this: "It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out for distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can.
2. Alliteration.
Both Kennedy and King were fond of this device that strings together words that start with similar sounds. At the 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote speech that brought Obama to prominence, he said, "Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?" In 2005, during a commencement speech at Knox College, Obama described America as "a place where destiny was not a destination, but a journey to be shared and shaped…" When speaking at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in August, 2006, Obama proclaimed, "The history of America is one of tragedy turned into triumph." In January's New Hampshire speech, Obama used alliteration again: "We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics."
3. Rich Imagery
Persuasive speakers have long understood the power of imagery to stir emotions—the creation of mental pictures through the words. In his 2004 speech, Obama described what he meant by the audacity of hope: "It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs, the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores, the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta, the hope of a millworker's son who dares to defy the odds, the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too."Exude Confident Body Language
In debates Obama appears unflappable, answering tough questions while maintaining strong eye contact. He doesn't fidget or shake his head when listening to sharp attacks from his opponents. While seated, he leans slightly forward. People will make an impression of you after only a few seconds. Pay attention to what your body is saying (BusinessWeek.com, 4/30/07). Communicate confidence, competence, and control.
Use Dynamic Vocal Delivery
A monotonous speaking style lulls the listener to sleep, regardless of the power of the content. Obama knows how to enhance (BusinessWeek.com, 5/16/06) his delivery.
Consider these three aspects of his delivery.
1. Pacing.
Obama varies the speed at which he speaks. Very few sentences are delivered at exactly the same pace.
2. Volume.
In his victory speech after the Iowa caucuses, Obama raised the volume of his speech with each sentence in the following paragraph: "We are one nation. We are one people. And our time for change has come."
3. Pauses.
Nothing is as dramatic as a well-placed pause, and Obama knows it. He pauses at key moments to make a memorable impact.Obama connects with millions of people thanks to his public speaking skills.
Consider learning from him to influence your own audience.Carmine Gallo, a business communications coach and Emmy-Award winning former TV journalist, is the author of Fire Them Up! And 10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators.
He writes his communications column every week.
Absolutely amazing! Beauty of Mathematics!!!!!!!
1 x 8 + 1 = 9 12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321
1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111
9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888
Brilliant, isn't it?
And look at this symmetry:
1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321
Now, take a look at this... 101% from a strictly mathematical viewpoint:
What Equals 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
If: H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%
And:
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%
But:
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%
THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close,
and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
It's up to you if you share this with your friends & loved ones just the way I did...
Have a nice day & God bless!!
1 x 8 + 1 = 9 12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321
1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111
9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888
Brilliant, isn't it?
And look at this symmetry:
1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321
Now, take a look at this... 101% from a strictly mathematical viewpoint:
What Equals 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
If: H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%
And:
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%
But:
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%
THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close,
and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
It's up to you if you share this with your friends & loved ones just the way I did...
Have a nice day & God bless!!
Medicine cabinet
Tape this inside medicine cabinet
1. Did You Know That? Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."
2. Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?
3. Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
4. Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles. 5. Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
6. Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer . Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never advertised for this use. ( Note : Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same..And contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if you have ulcers.)
7. Honey remedy for skin blemishes ... Cover the blemish with a! Dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight. 8. Listerine < < /I > > therapy for toenail fungus ... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
9. Easy eyeglass protection ... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them. 10. Coca-Cola cure for rust ... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.
11. Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer ... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409 . Insects drop to the ground instantly.
12. Smart splinter remover ...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
13. Hunt's tomato paste boil cure ....covers the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.
14. Balm for broken blisters ...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ... a powerful antiseptic.
15. Vinegar to heal bruises ... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
16. Kills fleas instantly . Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a \few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas.
17. Rainy day cure for dog odor ... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh. 18. Eliminate ear mites ... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, and then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
19. Quaker Oats for fast pain relief ....It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.
1. Did You Know That? Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."
2. Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?
3. Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
4. Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles. 5. Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
6. Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer . Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never advertised for this use. ( Note : Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same..And contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if you have ulcers.)
7. Honey remedy for skin blemishes ... Cover the blemish with a! Dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight. 8. Listerine < < /I > > therapy for toenail fungus ... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
9. Easy eyeglass protection ... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them. 10. Coca-Cola cure for rust ... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.
11. Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer ... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409 . Insects drop to the ground instantly.
12. Smart splinter remover ...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
13. Hunt's tomato paste boil cure ....covers the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.
14. Balm for broken blisters ...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ... a powerful antiseptic.
15. Vinegar to heal bruises ... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
16. Kills fleas instantly . Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a \few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas.
17. Rainy day cure for dog odor ... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh. 18. Eliminate ear mites ... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, and then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
19. Quaker Oats for fast pain relief ....It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Nature's Pharmacy
Nature’s Pharmacy! Amazing! This is very interesting. ? These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. ? We’re such slow learners... nature gave us great clues as to what foods help what p
art of our body! Pharmacy! Amazing!
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All o f the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.
art of our body! Pharmacy! Amazing!A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All o f the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food. 
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. ? Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body
(Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research! h shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this?? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility 
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics. 
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts. 
Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.How do you feel about yourself
how you feel about yourself now
(The Lovers)You want love or a new love in your life and a new relationship is in the offering. Even if you are not thinking about love, you’re in for a surprise. If faced with a choice this is an important one and could affect the rest of your life.
what you most want at this moment
(The Chariot)The cards suggest ida, that what you most want at this time is success, to win and not give up the fight. You are successful and assertive in most things, or if you haven’t quite got the success you want, you will get it. This is a time of movement and change - expect a journey relating to work, or if you want that car you’ve been looking at, go get it.
your fears
(The Star)You are fearful of the future and rather lacking in self-belief - you are afraid your hopes will be dashed. Well don’t be, this is your wish card - a time of joy and fulfilment. Good health, possibly after a time of illness, and good fortune that will give you a new zest of life. If considering a new love affair, new job or career, or travel, then go for it. You may also receive a gift or gifts!
what is going for you (The Tower)Sometimes sudden disruptive change is inevitable, and as painful as it may seem, we come through it a stronger and better person. No matter how disruptive things are at the moment, or if you feel life is really against you, re-evaluate and move on - often a new direction can bring new opportunities you never dreamed of. If you have been planning to move home you will be experiencing setbacks.
what is going against you (Temperance)Life will seem hectic and full of challenges and you will find it hard to have the right perspective on things. You may have a rival in love or at work, and if so, question whether that person or situation is really right for you. This is a time for being calm and patient and life will soon have a sense of normality again.
outcome (The World)Success, fulfillment and conclusion are near at hand - the successful outcome to a venture, satisfaction in a relationship and efforts rewarded. It is a culmination of events and indicates material wealth and greater spiritual awareness. You may choose to buy that dream house or a wonderfully fulfilling relationship is on offer, enjoy!
(The Lovers)You want love or a new love in your life and a new relationship is in the offering. Even if you are not thinking about love, you’re in for a surprise. If faced with a choice this is an important one and could affect the rest of your life.
what you most want at this moment
(The Chariot)The cards suggest ida, that what you most want at this time is success, to win and not give up the fight. You are successful and assertive in most things, or if you haven’t quite got the success you want, you will get it. This is a time of movement and change - expect a journey relating to work, or if you want that car you’ve been looking at, go get it.
your fears
(The Star)You are fearful of the future and rather lacking in self-belief - you are afraid your hopes will be dashed. Well don’t be, this is your wish card - a time of joy and fulfilment. Good health, possibly after a time of illness, and good fortune that will give you a new zest of life. If considering a new love affair, new job or career, or travel, then go for it. You may also receive a gift or gifts!
what is going for you (The Tower)Sometimes sudden disruptive change is inevitable, and as painful as it may seem, we come through it a stronger and better person. No matter how disruptive things are at the moment, or if you feel life is really against you, re-evaluate and move on - often a new direction can bring new opportunities you never dreamed of. If you have been planning to move home you will be experiencing setbacks.
what is going against you (Temperance)Life will seem hectic and full of challenges and you will find it hard to have the right perspective on things. You may have a rival in love or at work, and if so, question whether that person or situation is really right for you. This is a time for being calm and patient and life will soon have a sense of normality again.
outcome (The World)Success, fulfillment and conclusion are near at hand - the successful outcome to a venture, satisfaction in a relationship and efforts rewarded. It is a culmination of events and indicates material wealth and greater spiritual awareness. You may choose to buy that dream house or a wonderfully fulfilling relationship is on offer, enjoy!
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