Category Archives: Reflection

Why We Enjoy Lights at Year-End Holidays

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Sony122015 071 AcrossFromChgoMillenniumParkThe solace it brings

to see the Light, no matter where we are in the world and no matter what year-end Holiday we celebrate, the Light is most important to us.

Anon

 

 

It is our humanity we wish to remember at this time of the year and I would like to share with you one of John O’Donohue’s poems, in his book, To Bless the Space Between Us.

May you listen to your longing to be free.  May the frames of your belongings be generous enough for your dreams.

May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart.  May you find a harmony between your soul and your life.

May the sanctuary of your soul never become haunted.  May you know the eternal longing that lives at the heart of time.

May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within.  May you never place walls between the LIGHT and yourself.

May you allow the wild beauty of this invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belonging.

Happy Holiday in the Lights you celebrate as you Choose Who You Want to be Known As.  

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

https://www.wordpress.com

 

A New 2016 Thanksgiving

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A great challenge of life: Knowing enough to think you’re doing it right, but not enough to know you’re doing it wrong.  Neil deGrasse Tyson

I have never seen a photo of a Turkey in flight; of course birds fly, and it was whimsical to see the above photo of the majesty of a turkey in flight.  Since the American Thanksgiving holiday came to be in 1789 ,  we can reflect on positive history over our past generations.  Here are a few videos to listen to over this Holiday Weekend:

Thanksgiving music:   http://www.fuse.tv/2014/11/thanksgiving-music-playlist-ultimate#7

How our first President, George Washington handled the surrounding conflict as he set about organizing the First Thanksgiving celebration of our young Nation: http://www.wsj.com/video/opinion-journal-the-first-thanksgiving/1AD96C87-0CB2-45FA-A8F3-274CE8D7C096.html?mod=djemBestOfTheWebtha

Lastly, from Chicago, the Thanksgiving Day Parade – :http://www.chicagofestivals.org/ 

I hope you enjoy a new experience this Thanksgiving Holiday as you Choose Who You Want to be Known As.  Enjoy!

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

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosuresChicago

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

What’s Your BEST Daily Change?

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It was cold and dreary this morning and yet, a few hours later, it is brisk outside and full of sunshine.  Was this a change in opposites or just a 180 degree change of outlook – (from which we had no input)?

Change  is in the air this Friday in October. The Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in a Pennant race. Halloween is around the corner. Night football is played on television, and many businesses are gearing up for the last quarter of the year and we find ourselves “right in the middle of it all.”

If  we want to focus on one item in our career development before our life becomes more hectic than it already is – what would that be?  In other words, What’s your Best daily change?  Here are some thoughts on this subject:

Choose a path to stretch yourself, or:

turnonthelight-enhanced-buzz-22385-1366095037-0-tubler-102116

safeboundaries-enhanced-buzz-22855-1366095705-3-viatumbler-102116

change-pixabayfreeimage-from-john-hain-102116stream-1106336_960_720However you define your Best daily change, I hope it becomes intertwined with how You Choose how you want to be Known As.  Have a great Day and Weekend!

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

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

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

When Mindfulness becomes a Personal Mantra

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Heedfulness, Mindfulness and Introspective Awareness help us retain our core values in life.  The Dalai Lama

 

While leaving a Professional Building before Labor Day Weekend, I noticed a few available individual public trays of current magazines.  One of which is called, YOGAChicago , September – October, 2016. It was a surprise to see the lead article written by Mia Park entitled, “Reflections on Mindfulness by Illinois Politicians at the DNC.” [this past Summer]  

Ms. Park quoted a number of Illinois elected officials who shared how Mindfulness was incorporated in their public lives:

Senior US Senator Dick Durbin – “A moment of reflection is valuable….for you to consider what your political career might be able to accomplish.  Real world reflection helps to set the stage for value-driven policy making.”[paraphrased].

Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Cook County Board of Commissioners –   “When you’re going off into battle to debate legislation, remember who you are accountable to.”  “It’s important to be conscious of that always – it will keep you away from the forces that have led many politicians astray –  money, special interests, and many other vices that make you cease to be a public servant.”

Theresa Mah – 2nd District – Reflects on how mindfulness for politicians can acutely keep uppermost in their minds why they became public servants for the people they serve.

The complete Mia Park’s one-page article, includes the Secretary of State, Jessie White is at this link :http://yogachicago.com/2016/08/reflections-on-mindfulness-by-illinois-politicians-at-the-dnc/

The quotation by The Dalai Lama was found at page 107 of his book, Beyond Religion, Ethics for a Whole World. (2012)  He explains that:

 Heedfulness relates to being vigilant and conscientious about what we do;

 Mindfulness, in the context of living an ethical life, is about recollection of one’s core values and motivation; and

 Introspective Awareness means being honestly aware of our behavior and bringing it under control.   Of course, this does not happen overnight.  It requires practice.

As You Choose Who You Want to be Know As, consider how a Mantra of a mindful thought will bring you closer to the person you want people to see.    Enjoy!

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

https://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

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

What’s Your Popularity Choice?

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Earlier this afternoon, I published the following post on the social media LinkedIn;  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-your-choice-popularity-jo-ann-m-radja

Here is the text of that post:

What’s YOUR Choice for Popularity?

Associate Supreme Court Justice Stewart Potter is known for choosing to include an American colloquial phrase in one of his Opinions; namely, “I’ll know it when I see it.” Although Justice Potter used that phrase to define pornography, many of us also use our visual sense in deciding moral ethical issues. It’s generational, isn’t it?   We’ve moved from, ” A picture is worth a thousand words,” to “Selfie, anyone!”

Three Researchers, two from Oxford University, Jim A.C.Everett, Phd Candidate and Molly Crockett, Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology and David Pizarro, Associate Professor Department of Psychology from Cornell University, created an ethical scenario to understand whether a decision based on Popularity had any influence on its choice. The creativity of adding a choice of Popularity to well-established interpretations of ethics allows for inclusion of present-day understanding of morality. The scenario is:

“Imagine that an out of control trolley is speeding

towards a group of five people. You are standing

on a footbridge above, next to a large man. If

you push him off the bridge onto the track below,

his body, will stop the trolley before it hits the

five people. He will die, but the five others

will be saved. Should you push the man off the

bridge.”

The Researchers also added a twist to their “trolley problem” as they asked a question: how would you trust a social partner, based on their answer to the trolly scenario. Here is the May 5, 2016 URL for, “Want to be popular? You’d better follow some simple rules”:   http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2016/05/cross-post-want-to-be-popular-youd-better-follow-some-simple-moral-rules/

While many academics may challenge the findings of these Researchers, their result is applicable for business settings. It is:

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“So the next time you have to make a tough call, remember – people like people who follow moral rules.”

Have a great week as you Choose Who YOU Want to be Known As!

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

 

A Common Place Term: Bystander

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diffusion-responsibility-bystander-effect-illustration-crowd-witness-act-crime-doing-nothing-47422863It’s in the news recently, the term Bystander Effect or Bystander Action.  It’s the principle – when in a group of people, personal responsibility to assist/help someone is mostly not recognized.  Last week on March 30th,  the following post was published on Linkedin.com/Pulse on this subject:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-catching-now-understanding-jo-ann-m-radja

imageslookfordiagnosisdotcomPreviousNextbystandereffect040516

The issues of Bystander Actions are present in our society at all levels.  Vice President Joe Biden has been involved in a Bystander action prevention program to discourage violence on college campuses and is planning to visit Pittsburg, PA today: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2016/04/05/Vice-President-Joe-Biden-in-Pittsburgh-today-for-It-s-On-Us-campaign/stories/201604050156  and the photo, to the left, is from the website:  www.lookfordiagnosis.com/mesh_info.php?term=Bystander+Effect&lang=1

Since WordPress.com represents the spirit of collegiality, I would like to share with you my September, 2015 presentation notes on Bystander Actors in the workplace.  It was prepared for a specific industry and is easily updated to fit any industry.  Included within the presentation are insights of Professor Mary Rowe from MIT, Senior Advisor – Compliance Strategist and Attorney, Joe Murphy, and Margaret Heffernan, Author of: Why We Ignore the Obvious to Our Peril, Willful Blindness.

As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As, have a great work week!

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

Notes: Understanding Bystander Actions by Jo Ann M. Radja with Insights from Dr. Mary Rowe Ph.D September, 2015

Scenarios attachment   and  Bibliography and Resources

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What’s Your 2016 Spring Surprise?

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spring-1256806_640Spirit is an invisible force made visible in all life.  Maya Angelou

It happens often, you change for one reason or another. People you knew a number of years back are unable to accept the change. Apparently you surprised someone because of your development growth. What kept you together in a circle no longer applies It could be as simple as you no longer enjoy eating a certain food, or you lived in the same neighborhood and moved away, or you received a promotion that the other person wanted. Your Spring Surprise happens and you want to move forward.

Alternatively, you may be on the cusp of a change – in the process of transition. Your challenge is to assist someone to accept the transition in your career. Using the emotional intelligence matrix of. . .

observing,

describing,

accepting,

not taking it personally, and

not judging the other person. . . is one strategy to consider. Choosing Who Do You Want to be Known As during the transition process is your personal responsibility that you do not take likely. 

This weekend as the Spring Equinox greets us, very best wishes for YOUR Spring Surprise. . .

So, I

Persevered.

Resilience paid off.

It’s the first day of Spring and

Not too late to

Give back to those who were kind to me.

Doubts tried to creep into my mind for a while this past winter.

And were swept away.

Yearnings will come true as you focus on

what’s important to you. ©Jo Ann M. Radja*

 

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

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

https://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa

* This anagram was first published by me on March 20, 2015 via LinkedIn.com/Pulse

 

 

Why We Often Stand Firm. . .

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Today is my Anniversary of writing on WordPress and I thank all of you for continuing to visit my blog.50bff48f11f940ecee9eae5f5e8b9138ListentoUnderstandnotReplyGeniusQuotes.netOver the past two weeks, I have travelled outside of Illinois for business and to another Illinois County.  These trips afforded me an opportunity to Listen to Understand.  The first instance was arriving at the airport, some two hours later because of bad weather.  The  Van Driver believed he would not receive a tip because he dropped me off less than two hours before flight time.  Of course, this safe driver and was not responsible for inclement weather.

The second example of Listen to Understand occurred the next day when I caught a cab to reach the business meeting.  (I chose not to walk because it had begun to rain and I was meeting people I had not met before.)  This young driver typed the destination into his GPS  and the GPS directed him onto a wrong highway.  He circled back and became confused; we began our trip all over again as it became clear he more easily found a business by the building name, rather than the address.  Both drivers were paid and each had “bent down heads” because they were listening for a reply to a possible negative encounter.  Personally, I was grateful I arrived safely at each destination.

The third instance occurred when I arrived back in Illinois after midnight .  The driver who  was scheduled to meet me, was unable to exit  the car park because of a password reset mix-up; the window attendant gave him a pass.  He told me his story as he explained that I almost didn’t back to where I lived in Chicago in the middle of the night.  While all three of these instances portray how we often stand firm when we speak, managing yourself leads to less conflict.

As You Choose Who You Want to be Known As this week, consider how you manage a potential conflict when someone else stands firm. Enjoy your week!

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

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

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

 

What’s a Monday to YOU?

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BHbtFLqCIAARfj0040913 ExcerptFromCoach Jo Ann's blog post Monday

We’ve enjoyed the holidays and are back at what we love to do best to earn a living.  The above design quote was originally published by me in April of 2013, at this site: careermanagementcoaching.me.   I hope you give your best to your career this year as we begin the first week of January 2016!

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

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-c-sa

 

What’s rolling into your Year of 2016?

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2016-new-year-heroBING123015

The following anagram was published today via LinkedIn Pulse at http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-rolling-from-2015-your-year-2016-jo-ann-m-radja:

H opes we had occasionally came true.

A nd we still pursued and pressed forward.

P erseverance may pay off as

P erhaps 2016 may be the

Y ear we vision it will be.

Y et, it still remains our choice to

E mbrace the negative

A nd

R eframe our hopes, targets and expectations into the year 2016!©Jo Ann M Radja

As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As have the best year ever in 2016!

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

https://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

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