A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. David Brinkley
One way of interpreting David Brinkley’s quotation is to understand you have to be self-reliant in your life. You Choose Who You Want to be Known As at any given moment of time. Sometimes we surprise ourselves and other times it a great effort to work through whatever process is before us. The question becomes. What pieces are you picking up in your career?
The photo above could be seen as plastic pieces on asphalt or another mixed media art project in the making, or a schematic design of a puzzle maze or magnified pieces of broken glass. The reality is, it is a cracked ice formation on the Chicago River. What we see is perception. Our perception is formed by past experiences, the present moment, the time of day, our culture and our values. How mindful we are of our emotions and the emotions of others will drive our perceptions as well.
If you had to pick up pieces today that were left by someone else, what would your first step be? Pick up the pieces, finish the task and then move on. Ask someone for assistance because the job entails more than you are able to handle at this moment? or, walk away from the pieces and let someone else take care of it because it’s not your responsibility anyway? Since the readers of this blog come from so many professions, there is no correct answer. If the pieces are left for you to deal with this week, Choose Who You Want to be Known As. Best of luck as you choose!
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach and Change Agent
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 →
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.
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 toyou 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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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!
Pushing, Pushed, Push sometimes is very helpful to try out a new option, opportunity or idea you or your company may have. Forum groups have been part of mainstream America for well over 25 years. We want to know how … Continue reading →
Don’t let other people’s opinion define who you are. Les Brown
A few years ago, a Group Member posted the above quotation. I keep a copy of it in one of my travelling see-through make-up bags. It is a reminder of how we choose to manage our own emotions within our careers when meeting other people we come in contact with. Have you ever been asked the question in a somewhat unfriendly way in your career — “Why are YOU here?” During the past few years it’s a question I’ve been asked at business conferences, meetings and sometimes during networking events.
When I hear the question I answer it directly. Surprisingly, my response may not be what the other person expected or wanted to hear. Because we are responsible for our own actions, we can’t know the other person’s hidden agenda(s). Opportunities do, however, present themselves daily to be mindful so you can acknowledge and accept someone else the way they are.
What is the first thought that comes to mind, when you hear this question? How many seconds do you pause before speaking? What message do you want to convey in your answer? Why is it important for you to continue the conversation? How can you reframe the question so that you manage your response?
As You Choose Who You Want to be Known As, consider reframing a response, based on your values. Have a great week.
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent
Career Management Coaching 
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