Peace and Happiness to you this 2014. http://lnkd.in/bE4r_Sx @Coach_Jo_Ann
Author Archives: Jo Ann M. Radja
What’s your Influence?
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You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me. Scott Adams We’re saying good-bye tomorrow to the year … Continue reading
The SOMETHING we deal with wherever we are…
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Last week when I awoke, it was one degree outside. When I came home, some 13 hours later and as I opened my car door and stepped out, it felt wonderful and much warmer. It really did. I checked my cell phone and was surprised to read it was only 14 degrees. What? That’s all? The something we deal with wherever we are is getting through our day the best we can by being resilient.
Snow fell this week in Vietnam; it caused a traffic jam, not primarily because of the weather. Many people who had never seen snow drove to see where it fell. Snow fell over the Middle East as well. A Jordanian Prince joined other people to help a motorist out of a snow bank. Below is a Picasso image of resilience that the editor(s) of http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/ chose to represent resilience. What do you think?
When we are at our workplace, the SOMETHING we deal with usually comes up when an emotional response takes place. [Should I take a moment and manage my emotions before speaking to anyone else?] How did this happen? What’s the first response to our staff? What information do we need that we don’t as yet have? What must we address right now, later today or tomorrow? How am I dealing with the element of survival at this moment? What can I do that I haven’t done before to control myself, and remain aware of what’s going on to assist other people?
As you choose Who You Want to be Known As this week, when YOU deal with that SOMETHING, consider this – – – 
I hope you Shine brightly, whatever your activity this week.
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach and Change Agent
Note: The images shown in this blog post were allowed to be copied and pasted from Google Images.
December doesn’t take a back seat, ever!
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Is it the end, or the beginning. You DECIDE.
We often consider what’s left to do during the month of December. Many cultures within our communities celebrate a number of holidays in December, usually with streams of LIGHT. What if December doesn’t take a back seat, ever! What if you start considering what’s important to you today in your career and what you presently know you have to work at to achieve it. Here are a number of food for thought quotations for you to consider:
Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You…Be Free…Share. Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
If your dream is a big dream, and if you want your life to work on the high level that you say you do, there’s no way around doing the work it takes to get you there. Joyce Chapman
The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense. Thomas A. Edison
Sometimes there’s not a better way. Sometimes there’s only the hard way. Mary E. Pearson, The Fox Inheritance
Every job from the heart is, ultimately, of equal value. The nurse injects the syringe; the writer slides the pen; the farmer plows the dirt; the comedian draws the laughter. Monetary income is the perfect deceiver of a man’s true worth. Criss Jami
She was tough in the best sense of the word. She’d taken blows, the disappointments, and had worked her way through them. Some people, he knew, would have buckled under, found a clutch, or given up. But she had carved a place for herself and made it work. Nora Roberts
All success comes down to this . . . action. Rob Liano
Whatever action comes to mind, Choose Who You Want to be Known As. Have a great 1st week of December.
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach
Note: The above quotations are found at http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/hard-work.
THANKSGIVING 2013
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For all of you who have shown us resilience in the face of unthinkable heartbreak this year, resulting from flooding, forest fires, tornadoes and the loss of life, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INNER STRENGTH in the face of adversity. May the Spirit be with you all.
T oo often we
H eal ourselves without paying
A ttention.
N ow we can pause because we
K now our forefathers
S et aside this day. It’s
G ood to be grateful.
I t reminds us all what we endured this year.
V ery generous people helped many of us
I n our time of
N eed, in ways too numerous to mention.
G iving thanks in whatever way we can choose, helps us feel
good too.©
“Jo Ann” M. Radja,Career Management Coach & Change Agent
Symbol of GRATITUDE
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Neuroscience is understanding the fundamental nature of ourselves…how we think, feel and do. Dr. Charles “Ed” Connor
Two days ago in my home State of Illinois, a multitude of tornadoes struck communities in at least 13 Counties. [It was reported some 17 tornadoes were sited and by Monday morning, 80 tornadoes blew through the Midwest Region.]
Many people who were interviewed, spoke about how grateful they were to be alive. While their home was destroyed, they could rebuild. While their possessions were taken in this act of nature, their life was spared. While years of joy in maintaining and furnishing their home was wiped out in a second or two, they were in a community of friends and neighbors (nearby and within Illinois), who gave them solace and friendship. The SYMBOL OF GRATITUDE resided in their hearts. Finding the personal truth in yourself during a time of crisis is a learned virtue as these citizens Chose Who they wanted to Be Known As.
The symbol of gratitude itself has been a bit difficult to track down. The circle is an accepted symbol of inclusiveness and represents many aspects of our human nature. Our Global community throughout the world has roots within the spirituality of GRATITUDE and the use of a circle symbol.
An art exhibit entitled, “Beauty and the Brain Revealed” is presently on display at the AAAS Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. Five days ago, Megan Gambino posted a Blog explaining this Art Exhibit http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/artscience/2013/11/do-our-brains-find-certain-shapes-more-attractive-than-others/). Her Blog included a brief video of two Neuroscience Experts who discuss how our brains relate to abstract shapes.
Whether from exemplary observations of our neighbors or from recognized Neuroscientists, Choose Who You Want to be Known As in your careers, during this wintry week of November, 2013.
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach
Notes: “Beauty and the Brain Revealed” is on display at the AAAS Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., through January 3, 2014. Read more: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/artscience/2013/11/do-our-brains-find-certain-shapes-more-attractive-than-others/#ixzz2l6p7kWlg Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter
Why do we find some works of art so appealing? The exhibition Beauty and the Brain Revealed at the American Association for the Advancement of Science builds on a 2010 collaboration between the Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute at the Johns Hopkins University and
the Walters Art Museum to examine how the brain perceives abstract sculpture. The original project was initiated and funded by the Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute. Gallery visitors will wear 3-D glasses to explore digitally morphed versions of sculpture and learn how 3-D
shape characteristics relate to aesthetic preferences. Through January 3, 2014
http://srhrl.aaas.org/projects/science_society/neurosociety/art.shtml November 19, 2013.
Veteran’s Day 2013
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Thank you all for putting your life on the line for mine.
Grateful thanks, @Coach_Jo_Ann
Vulnerability
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It’s not often that we speak about vulnerability in our private lives. We tend to look to the experts around us to assess and manage the risks we may be exposed to in our neighborhoods, our communities and the world at large. Our governments strive to keep order for the common good and our well being. Yet, Vulnerability is an attribute we may not apply to ourselves. Speaking positively, we are, have been and will continue to be vulnerable. It’s how we learn about ourselves.
Staff within the Federal Government (at fs.fed.us) describe Vulnerability this way:
What’s the exposure if we pursue this strategy? How are we ready because we’ve taken into account our sensitivities? Will our contemplated action(s) be in keeping with our value system?
Adjustment goes hand in hand with being vulnerable as demonstrated by the following graph from a Peace Corps worker named Bailey:
Choosing to become vulnerable allows you to work though and learn about yourself in ways you had not considered before. If you drew your last few months of activities, what would your graph look like? How often did you consider yourself to be Vulnerable? What sensitivities did you realize you had by letting go of a habit, or by learning something new?
A well-known International Coaching Expert, Brené Brown describes Vulnerability as follows:
Very recently, I attended a two-day Coaching Seminar on cultural competency. I participated in a brief exercise to understand and recognize Vulnerability. It was an enlightening experience. So please enjoy your activities during this first full week of November as You Choose Who You Want to be Known As.
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach and Change Agent
No ONE is looking…
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The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching. Coach John Wooten
Another Season has begun this week and people seem busier than ever to catch up on what may not have been finished or even started on their “short list” for 2013. Many of our Leaders continue to show how they manage themselves in times of increased disharmony in the world. While the detractors seem never to be satisfied, it’s a lesson for us to witness the positive history unfold before us.
Wherever we work, we’ve seen situations that don’t make sense to us. How did that person get the promotion? What’s the story behind that? What could I have done differently to place myself in line for a promotion? Why didn’t I create an opportunity to be considered for a promotion? We accept realities of what we can do and what we cannot do. Yet, as human beings, we work on how we accept the unknown and what the unknown means in our day-to-day lives.
The quotations about Character shown in this Blog remind us of a quotation, from different perspectives. http://www.bartleby.com/cgi-bin/texis/webinator/sitesearch?FILTER=colQuotations&query=character+is+who+you+are+when+no+one+is+looking Leaders may not always be right. They may not always be aware when someone is “looking” at what they do. They may not be aware how often someone is watching their performance under very stressful situations. They do, however, influence us and challenge us to decide whether we agree or disagree with their actions.
What do you do best when challenged with an unknown? How do you handle yourself when your boss is watching you at work? Do you act the same way with your co-workers as you do with your boss? When no one is looking, Who do you want to be known as?
Have a great Fall Season as you look, watch or be yourself!
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coaching and Change Agent
What’s your EXERCISE?
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“EXERCISE. . . Accountability, Ability, Learning, Professionalism, Intuitiveness” A few days ago, I heard a phrase that resonated with me. It was spoken by a Senior U.S. Government Official. The phrase is, “It’s not an empty exercise.” Many of you in … Continue reading
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