Category Archives: Mindful

When is Right, right?

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It usually comes down to what may be expedient, most likely to occur or even, “What’s in it for me?”  I found the above Dilbert cartoon, shared from tumblr, as an example of how we may inadvertently show ourselves as not demonstrating integrity, as in, “When is Right, right?”

Described as the most active public Philosopher in America, Tom Morris, explains that,

“The distinction between what is right and what is easy is one of the most important contrasts that can guide us in our lives and in our careers.”

If we are uncomfortable, uneasy or afraid to take the right step, we place roadblocks to do what is right in our actions at work.   We may even “self-sabotage” ourselves in our careers because we do not trust in our abilities.     Even though the cartoon character, shown above, was labeled as a work avoider and gave an “only if than” response, he quickly recognized it was wrong, then ran to make it right.

However, you Choose Who You Want to be Known As, be true to yourself in your decisions.  Have a great Day!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach

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Notes:  Morris, Tom. If Harry Potter Ran General Electric, Leadership Wisdom from the World of Wizards.  Currency Doubleday Publisher (2006), page 159.

Notes:  tumblr_mi8h0xtKme1rliu6yo1_500PromotefirstonbasisofIntegritythenmotivationalthenjobs

 

 

Appreciate your continuing to Visit this Blog

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Thanks to all of you for your Comments and Likes this year.  It is much appreciated. With gratitude, Jo Ann M. Radja

2nd Day of July 2015

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Today’s Musings on the 2nd Day of July, 2015:  We continue our preparations for celebrating the 4th of July.  Taking a moment to learn about what is also occurring on this day, A federal website shares information on the history and why so many Americans are excited to celebrate the 4th of July at http://usafederalholidays.com/independance-day/

The publication, “Medical Daily” printed a number of quotations on the 4th of July Celebration, which were posted by Anthony Rivas last year on the 3rd of July, as follows:

Freedom lies in being bold.  Robert Frost

The real American Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people, a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations.  This radical change of the people was the real American Revolution.  John Adams

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.    William Faulkner

Scientists also share the happy news that during this month of July, there are two full moons and accordingly, the second full moon is called a Blue Moon – http://www.earthsky.org/tonight.

Enjoy your Day!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach

Note:  http://www.medicaldaily.com/20-july-4th-quotes-renew-your-patriotism-and-remind-you-why-we-celebrate-our-independence-291258

Mid-May 2015 Musings. . .

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May you be strengthened By yesterday’s Rain.  Walk straight in tomorrow’s Wind and Cherish each moment of the sun today. Catherine Hislop

 

 

Your business and your life will change when you really, really get it that some people are not going to change, no matter what you do.  And that still others have a vested interest in being destructive.  Dr. Henry Cloud, Clinical psychologist

9acf4a288e85459c705fe521bd88dbd0PostedonPINTEREST051215fromLifeHackdotorgPosted on Pinterest by Guillermo Alvarez:  “You shouldn’t point out things about people’s appearances if they can’t fix it in ten seconds”.   AND  “Don’t get mad.  Don’t get even.  Do better much better.  Rise above.  Become so engulfed in your own success that you forget it ever happened.”

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Embrace the negative and try to see the beauty within Nature and the Community where you live.

Enjoy your week in your chosen career as you Choose Who You Want to be Known As!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive & Career Management Coach

https://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

http://creatiivecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/

 

We Celebrate President Lincoln’s Date of Birth

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We celebrate and remember February 12th as the birth of President Lincoln here in Illinois.  Earlier today I published a blog on this subject, via LinkedIn.com Pulse, https://t.co/0Mu2ZA6TFw.  I hope you enjoy these quotations from President Abraham Lincoln.

“Illinois Celebrates President Abraham Lincoln

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.”

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important that any one thing.”

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice that thorn bushes have roses.”

“I can make more generals, but horses cost money.” And lastly, “I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.”

Enjoy your career day.

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

When Culture Works Against a Customer

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There is a very humorous story of an employee who not only misplaced his cell phone once, but twice within the same day. True to form, he was able to continue his business trip.*  His story relates how he had the courage to recognize  – because of his own actions – his buttons were pushed and what he was capable of – it may be called:

Unresolved anger, rushing without focus, lack of self-management or a learning experience to depend on someone who is much younger than you are.

Yesterday on my way home, I stopped at the grocery store and found myself in a somewhat similar situation – a reversal of the above-story. The small electronic scanner, at the check-out counter failed.   After scanning my card, the screen did not link to the next page.   The moment I pressed the screen, it reverted to the welcome screen.  After at least five attempts, the Check-out Clerk announced, “She doesn’t know what she’s doing, call a Supervisor.”  She refused to hear how I explained the screen was malfunctioning.

The Supervisor arrived, attempted a fix, but the electronic scanner continued to fail. The Supervisor worked earnestly, while the Check-out Clerk mumbled for all to hear,  “She still doesn’t know what she’s doing.”   Finally, I asked if there was an ATM machine in the store.  I was told there was and had no trouble getting cash to pay for my groceries – which is what I attempted to do at the exit counter.  When I arrived back at the exit counter, both the Supervisor and the Bagger had their heads down in apology, while the Check-out Clerk, did not.  She only displayed an indignant face.

One definition of Culture in a workplace is, “It’s how we do things around here.”    I will probably visit this store again because there were other employees who had a friendly service attitude. Outbursts do occur, for a variety of reasons.   It’s How You Choose Who You Want to be Known As in the situation that matters to those around you and what you learned about yourself.   Have a great week in your career!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach and Change Agent

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

* http://fortune.com/tag/stanley-bing .   “A Tale of Terror in which my true status in the universe is revealed to me.” September 22, 2014 print edition of Fortune Magazine.

“History’s Values in Today’s Workplace”

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Earlier this afternoon, I published this post on the social media platform, LinkedIn – Enjoy your career week!: “During this past weekend, I visited the Prairie Avenue Historic District of Chicago.  I joined other Alumni for a tour of the … Continue reading →

Missed, Misstep or Mistake

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  Mistakes are the portals of discovery. James Joyce    Since we are not perfect, we often place stress on ourselves when we don’t fully understand what happened following a “blip” in our careers.  Was it a mistake or a … Continue reading →

Chance Encounters…

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Don’t look down on people unless you’re trying to pull them up.  Anonymous
 
Early Friday evening she heard
That’s her – and she was called a b_ t_h.
He continued in bad form a few  minutes later.
It’s always surprising how often you need to
Control your reactions
So the situation is diffused and not reactive.©
 
 
Entering the store, she immediately felt uneasy,
     although she was
 Told the preceding evening to come to the store.
Having reached the counter, she was quizzed
     as to why she was in the store. 
It became clear her words were not believed.  She 
Carefully reached for her phone and 
Showed the call details.  Workplace public
     treatment of customers can discount good
     behavior of other employees.© 
As you CHOOSE WHO YOU WANT to be BE KNOWN AS this consider how you handle your close encounters.
Enjoy your week!
 
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Agent and Change Agent
 
Note:  http://www.wordpress.com/disclaimers

 

 

“Curiouser and Curiouser”

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Google051414We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence then. . .  is a habit.  Aristotle

 

A trusted  friend of mine and I had interesting chats about how office politics is like story plots from Alice in Wonderland,  by Lewis Carroll.   While we both held management positions, you do need to have an outlet in the office where “venting” can occur.  It was always a safe conversation, without violating any departmental confidences.  In fact, when we were close to ending the talk, we both looked forward to saying, “It’s like Alice in Wonderland, isn’t it.”   We smiled,  and moved onto the next Curiouser and Curiouser  situation we were paid to handle.

 

Today, some 150 years after Alice in Wonderland was published, we apply curiosity differently in our careers.  Curiosity is a good thing, especially in a coaching environment.  People want to be understood and a Coach wants to understand the client to facilitate the client achieving the agreed, targeted goal.

 

Curious – an act of empathy to learn from and engage another person.©

 

Curiosity – An emotional concept for serving another person.©

 

Curiouser and Curiouser – An ability of demonstrating servant leadership in the workplace.©

 

Have a great week As You Choose Who You Want to be Known As when curiosity presents itself!

 

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach and Change Agent