tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41036061028605100662024-02-19T10:26:25.094-05:00Motivated InnovationBringing Hard Work and Critical Thinking to LightRichard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15389323957945569908noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-53181707854223720212023-12-04T20:00:00.019-05:002024-01-26T19:30:12.563-05:00Grinch Work Artwork 10-year challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2013 (left) or 2023 (right), who is your pick?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0skNc2dlzj2zuQ9szqPKni55r9a8lqLIVOoJv9rmpkMgMjw_rCfw6L6lkxcSZQNFe_Sc1dMbQqH6mSHLzJ5IcMrLJx0OvqRV1BantOdQ642O-fzRpbHoxKxVjJZgLdbrTa7ehSP7AU2gVxiCtg8WYxdlzmSrxv26O5FvU9iEFMeVyjTWC7KSW5IdMCg/s960/Grinch%20AB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0skNc2dlzj2zuQ9szqPKni55r9a8lqLIVOoJv9rmpkMgMjw_rCfw6L6lkxcSZQNFe_Sc1dMbQqH6mSHLzJ5IcMrLJx0OvqRV1BantOdQ642O-fzRpbHoxKxVjJZgLdbrTa7ehSP7AU2gVxiCtg8WYxdlzmSrxv26O5FvU9iEFMeVyjTWC7KSW5IdMCg/s320/Grinch%20AB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92pQGBFgDmAYr3KMMYvEb3_URi22FrGJ39PV9RhxVWYQtutzz7LCk5U5SXg8BuAUwe3vngpfRhkklkGjs7X27oJ6Nwna5rHtOSclZHuW11pkoVw7nWVsBDv97P_j8FZMnoxFO19NiXYHx5LwU803CU4_ZKsmER2cazSK0l_MJw5YduhVZyOEhjq1QWVE/s960/Grinch%20A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92pQGBFgDmAYr3KMMYvEb3_URi22FrGJ39PV9RhxVWYQtutzz7LCk5U5SXg8BuAUwe3vngpfRhkklkGjs7X27oJ6Nwna5rHtOSclZHuW11pkoVw7nWVsBDv97P_j8FZMnoxFO19NiXYHx5LwU803CU4_ZKsmER2cazSK0l_MJw5YduhVZyOEhjq1QWVE/s320/Grinch%20A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1SKh-oERxUyUpEuKLn_iki98suzBb5Ez86krw9PuAECiqJ6wAgvo7lLzea4MTuw_DE9gjgHLGD-i2s5Z0LnOzNjlrBxx5RFK7bJ30hUz1OxvZ8qSlTo1n60fSJBrT9ZNMIHmkqoIzvcxicocDAxYNgImEL1riIVjpA4x9iHVa9BrfnvtMT2CZybuHc0/s960/Grinch%20B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1SKh-oERxUyUpEuKLn_iki98suzBb5Ez86krw9PuAECiqJ6wAgvo7lLzea4MTuw_DE9gjgHLGD-i2s5Z0LnOzNjlrBxx5RFK7bJ30hUz1OxvZ8qSlTo1n60fSJBrT9ZNMIHmkqoIzvcxicocDAxYNgImEL1riIVjpA4x9iHVa9BrfnvtMT2CZybuHc0/s320/Grinch%20B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15389323957945569908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-18438596385873981672022-12-31T22:06:00.000-05:002022-12-31T22:06:03.772-05:00Happy New Year 2023!<p>My focus for 2023: 'back to basics'. What does that look like? Some of that is just for me to know. However, I hope to get more writing in during 2023! </p>Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-42825293703971268352021-12-31T23:53:00.011-05:002022-12-31T22:06:16.809-05:00Happy New Year!<p>It has been a busy 2021, for a lot of good reasons. May 2022 bring hope and joy! </p>Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-18020031108676260032020-12-30T00:43:00.000-05:002020-12-30T00:45:36.631-05:00Confronting "The Dip"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzuzhBNUq_T8qu5pb56TjtuYvL8Iu4qHVqj8P-RgxEPutJm0fa8po3BDJ0-_hG3MspY_eF_E4ABWsT1vJ73Sn8SCHL6kfV5PpIpyZd_LImcP6JInpWcafyDf08TVOn0MQLQJB5tqCUTc/s1080/the+dip.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzuzhBNUq_T8qu5pb56TjtuYvL8Iu4qHVqj8P-RgxEPutJm0fa8po3BDJ0-_hG3MspY_eF_E4ABWsT1vJ73Sn8SCHL6kfV5PpIpyZd_LImcP6JInpWcafyDf08TVOn0MQLQJB5tqCUTc/s320/the+dip.jpeg" /></a></div> <p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;"><b>"Almost everything in life worth doing is controlled by the Dip."</b></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p><i><b> <br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Would you agree?</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></i></p><p>In 2007, Seth Godin wrote <i><a href="https://www.hpb.com/products/the-dip-9781591841661" target="_blank">The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)</a>. </i>Godin talks about the importance of being "the best in the world" when pursuing long-term pursuits. Being "the best in the world" in this context is not so much being the #1 person in the world at a particular craft but rather being a top person in a particular customer's/market's world of access. </p><p>Much like his other books (and other authors' books), he provides numerous examples of "the dip" at work in various industries and activities. "The dip" is the lengthy learning curve and performance curve between first exposure to something and becoming an expert. Godin distinguishes this from "the cul-de-sac" (endless efforts going nowhere) and "the cliff" (long-term efforts initially seeming good that eventually drop off and go to waste in a hurry). While "the dip" leads to success, "the cul-de-sac" and "the cliff" lead to failure. </p><p>This may sound like an easy distinction to make, but Godin believes that people regularly struggle to tell the difference between dips, cul-de-sacs, and cliffs. As a result, people waste a lot of time and effort (and perhaps money and stress as well) pursuing unattainable goals, sticking with dead-end or fading journeys, and giving up too early on meaningful, impactful opportunities. </p><p>Throughout the book, Godin argues how quitting something can be an important step to career and life success. He also notes important questions to ask oneself before quitting something (no spoilers given here on these, please refer to the book). </p><p>Afraid that quitting a job may be the end of your journey down your desired career path? Godin distinguishes between 'strategy' and 'tactics' and notes how a person's job is tactical (at the 'detail' level) while one's career path and longer-term career goals are strategic (at the 'big picture' level). If it makes sense to leave and move on, do so with confidence (and adequate preparation, of course). </p><p>In the spirit of Seth Godin, I recall <a href="https://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2017/12/smile-wisdom-from-my-18-year-old-self.html" target="_blank">wise words that a much younger version of myself wrote down years ago and have carried with myself since</a>: <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> </p><blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;">"Sometimes you have to let go of some dreams so that other dreams can come true."</span></b></p></blockquote><p><br />As we move on from 2020 and move forward in 2021, I hope that each of you reading this has a blessed and prosperous year in which you are able to leave behind 'cul-de-sacs' and 'cliffs' en route to confronting 'the dip' on meaningful, impactful journeys in your careers and lives. </p><p> </p>Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-18100952148031817192019-12-30T17:33:00.000-05:002019-12-30T17:33:59.250-05:00Evolution & Revolution of Self<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>#10yearchallenge I'm wearing the same sweater in the top two photos. Meanwhile, the bottom two photos are of me at commencement ceremonies in Dec. '09 at BGSU and May '19 at JCU.</i></div>
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Facebook and Instagram recently ran a hashtag called the "#10yearchallenge". Social media users were asked to post comparative photos of themselves from 10 years ago (2009) and this year (2019). Oftentimes, in moments like these, it is easy to get fixated on visible physical differences between ourselves now and 10 years ago. How do we look different? How is our hair? How is our face? How is our body? What about the clothes we are wearing?<br />
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Observing the external, physical bodies that we have is natural and healthy. Yet, such moments like these also allow us to reflect upon how we have changed in other aspects of our lives. How have we changed emotionally? How have we changed mentally? How have we changed spiritually? How have we changed socially?<br />
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In some cases, our changes are indeed linear. However, growth in our various aspects of self is often not linear. Sometimes, we have setbacks and regression. We definitely have moments of weakness and disappointment. Life is not always pleasant.<br />
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Yet, as we recognize the not-so-good moments, we must remain open to the good that does happen. It is also important to recognize the good that can and will happen through our optimism, hard work, and relationships with others. Some progress will be incremental and slow; other progress will happen quickly. Interestingly enough, even quick changes are not always loud and can occur quietly without other people noticing. <br />
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I look forward to taking more time to reflect in the days and months ahead. Until then, I know that I continue to learn about myself and my various layers and how those layers connect with the people and environments around me.<br />
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To each and every person who has read this blog post, thank you for reading! Wishing peace, love, joy, and many blessings for each of us in 2020 and beyond!<br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-14199226208674070812018-12-10T20:48:00.000-05:002018-12-10T20:48:02.535-05:00Study Skills & Information Processing: Big Picture Thinker or Detail-Oriented?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For many students, their first exposure to study skills came from their first teachers, their parents, and/or older siblings and cousins. In many cases, students were told to read the books, take notes (whether from the books, on the chalkboard, on the marker board, or on PowerPoint slides), and study from their books and notes. All students have experienced at least some degree of success.<br />
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In looking back at my own education, I know that much emphasis was made on studying details. A large portion of elementary-level education involves learning and memorizing basic facts. However, such an approach may or may not work for people when they get to higher levels of education.<br />
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<i style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">How do you process information? Are you a big picture thinker? Are you detail-oriented? Are you a combination of both? </i><br />
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As a business major in my initial undergraduate and graduate studies, I learned much about big picture thinking. While I was a highly successful student in grade school and high school, I can recall having some difficulties with studying as the material became more difficult. I had my share of teenage angst and shortcomings in my physical health routine--when I stopped playing sports, I was pretty much buried in books or doing volunteer work for extracurricular activities and service opportunities. Yet, I realized in college that perhaps a bigger issue was that I had been miscast as being solely a detail-oriented student. While I am good at proofreading and noticing when details and other concepts are off or out of place, I am able to do so from a big picture perspective.<br />
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Realizing that I am a big picture thinker was critical in me becoming a better student. Rather than focusing too much on details, I found myself having an easier time reading textbooks, studying notes, and processing different information at school and at work. Instead of having to memorize speeches, I learned that I am able to focus on remembering a few big picture concepts and can improvise and ad-lib with ease in a wide range of situations. I actually found myself spending less time on homework, yet in most cases, I was actually getting better grades in my classes and was doing a better job of retaining the information in the long term because I was tapping into my potential as a big picture thinker.<br />
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As a professional currently in the process of finishing a second graduate degree, I offer the above perspective to all of my readers in this moment. Such concepts may sound simplistic or cliched, but having an understanding of how one processes information can be quite helpful in handling school, work, and other commitments. Following directions, writing down the teacher's notes, and memorizing details will always work to some degree, but it is critical that each of us learns how he/she best processes information in order to put his/her best efforts forward.<br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-47468238942001034662017-12-16T12:58:00.000-05:002017-12-16T12:58:43.978-05:00"Smile." -wisdom from my 18-year-old self<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">"Smile."</span></b><br />
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As a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling, one of my favorite theories is Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. According to Erikson, there are 8 psychosocial stages of development that each person goes through over the course of his/her life.<br />
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As I have seen personally and for other people, being optimistic, thinking positively, and thinking big can feel more difficult with each psychosocial stage as we face many challenges and obstacles. Putting it bluntly: failure hurts. Failure isn't fun. It stinks. In struggling and failing, we often lose optimism, positive thinking, and big thinking. How can we thrive if we cannot survive?<br />
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My transition from predominantly business work to predominantly counseling work began during my days as an MBA graduate student 9 years ago. One of my organizational development (OD) professors told us the story of her deciding to pursue a doctorate and become a professor. For her, she turned to a childhood box with different mementos of success and happiness. The answers she needed were inside this box of memories--which tapped into her internal thoughts and feelings.<br />
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Yes, some dreams come and go. Yes, there are some limitations to what anyone can do. I will say:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">"Sometimes you have to let go of some dreams so that other dreams can come true."</span></b></blockquote>
While we have to let go of some dreams, we really need to grab on to other dreams. These dreams are a reflection of our true core selves. In following these particular dreams, we are offering everything we are to the world around us. As my professor showed to our class, her gift of teaching came from the evolution of childhood dreams about academics, education, and connecting with other people.<br />
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As an 18-year-old freshman/first-year student in college, I wrote a few quotes down during a group reflection. One quote is pictured at the top of this post. Here is another:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE2jvQKJDVRinn-MmQPDWTOj2PJCrA1WHXgoxAuZ0uKEPuwvTbWMsfgjOK9t9R9zn1Avv8GijW1r8ErdalvVXsD5Ou50SKZZasC968bo42kamOZvqVYDQHd_h9Mh0fLiFXnhgKl5wQFw/s1600/smile+2003+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="1080" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE2jvQKJDVRinn-MmQPDWTOj2PJCrA1WHXgoxAuZ0uKEPuwvTbWMsfgjOK9t9R9zn1Avv8GijW1r8ErdalvVXsD5Ou50SKZZasC968bo42kamOZvqVYDQHd_h9Mh0fLiFXnhgKl5wQFw/s640/smile+2003+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Personally, I have learned over time that my smile is a gift I have to offer to the world. I've heard compliments in many different environments from colleagues, clients, and others that my smile and positive attitude have made their day. Even in the face of a tough day, I will still find a reason to smile.<br />
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<b>Yes, life is hard. At times, life hurts. However, when life gets difficult, never hesitate to listen to self-discovered wisdom from your younger self. </b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><b>Smile. Think positively. Think big.</b></span></blockquote>
<b>And, in turn:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><b>Speak positively and do positively.</b></span></blockquote>
<b><i>Or, for the </i>Boy Meets World<i> and </i>Girl Meets World<i> fans in the audience, as George Feeny and Cory Matthews would say:</i></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"Dream. Try. Do Good."</b></span></span></blockquote>
The world can always use people who dream, try, and do good.<br />
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<i>3 books I would recommend for positive thinking and dreaming:</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Magic-Thinking-Big-David-Schwartz/dp/0671646788?pldnSite=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncU-3M57DIFAAXuDHu51iNNNWBZigomVQxZcnFJgjyPwJRcJn2f1NimC1cyy4vaR-TK7ZDJDerLtO5IzSSITRl-V70TbNQEoGzS5ohhtpZBIAQhsDtmdNnWWgEammzdpOv_FEfE8UlY0/s200/the+magic+of+thinking+big+book.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDqaerop5ao3-Ig0U_jMPGgzeF9dPn5ExhVzvMYJWI_FiF1xt25lulkhRfhbfz4MassdJaVDkF1n2SpupcxV2HXUPy2h_ImdhNDbOUPfclqDIaGACY27xaekr7K1C1HGhxEtDmCrCsBI/s1600/the+dream+manager+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="677" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDqaerop5ao3-Ig0U_jMPGgzeF9dPn5ExhVzvMYJWI_FiF1xt25lulkhRfhbfz4MassdJaVDkF1n2SpupcxV2HXUPy2h_ImdhNDbOUPfclqDIaGACY27xaekr7K1C1HGhxEtDmCrCsBI/s200/the+dream+manager+book.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsBhhzPLZAsZC0YYwladg50sNftwVyn9HrW3RsJQ0o1IiqkjU15R38QnEU5_byRSdC3TRW_3GqIRImODKkIdjLdJlhKSUN1TTHsy34SD2kUWfBHJGN-D01BEVi-C_AM10XkIzCV9L5rM/s1600/The+Last+Lecture+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="238" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsBhhzPLZAsZC0YYwladg50sNftwVyn9HrW3RsJQ0o1IiqkjU15R38QnEU5_byRSdC3TRW_3GqIRImODKkIdjLdJlhKSUN1TTHsy34SD2kUWfBHJGN-D01BEVi-C_AM10XkIzCV9L5rM/s200/The+Last+Lecture+2.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
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1) <i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Magic-Thinking-Big-David-Schwartz/dp/0671646788?pldnSite=1" target="_blank">The Magic of Thinking Big</a> </i>- by David J. Schwartz, PhD</div>
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Recommended to me during an interview for an insurance sales position in 2010. Read it in 2010.</div>
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2) <i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Dream-Manager-Matthew-Kelly/dp/1401303706" target="_blank">The Dream Manager</a></i> - by Matthew Kelly</div>
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Recommended to me by an MBA panelist in 2008. First read it in 2010. Loaned a hard copy to a business colleague and never got it back. Since then, purchased an ebook version and re-read it in 2017.</div>
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3) <i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch-ebook/dp/B00139VU7E/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">The Last Lecture</a></i> - by Randy Pausch</div>
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Read it in 2015. Have watched the video multiple times. Endorsed by multiple professors I have met, including in business and counseling. </div>
Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-916435741201530232017-04-30T23:26:00.001-04:002017-05-30T01:17:45.650-04:00Seek What Is Within<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUYZajiufGI9EufwzLfMTSILh_wbEnsJEo80LdFFXs0TWsYUjt6Ho90lJy7468D6ICSVhEdyS_nfVOuQnD98lIn407h0u9Exf5eeNTuuW-gggiGI3OgBbPTnfmmAUvXwSa-PG6wWp8tY/s1600/chanel+graduation+kleenex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUYZajiufGI9EufwzLfMTSILh_wbEnsJEo80LdFFXs0TWsYUjt6Ho90lJy7468D6ICSVhEdyS_nfVOuQnD98lIn407h0u9Exf5eeNTuuW-gggiGI3OgBbPTnfmmAUvXwSa-PG6wWp8tY/s320/chanel+graduation+kleenex.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My high school graduation took place <br />at John Carroll University.</i></td></tr>
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<i><b>Several years ago, I had the honor of being one of the speakers at my high school graduation. </b></i><br />
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I spoke about my high school experiences--good ones and bad ones--and different emotions felt. I concluded my speech with the following words:<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">From day one, they told us to remember to always "seek what is above". As we head in different directions and move on with our lives, may I add: </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us remember to always seek what is within.</span></span></b><br />
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Since then, I have graduated with a couple business degrees, worked in the business world, and returned to school to become a career counselor and EAP (employee assistance program) counselor.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over time, I have learned that to 'seek what is within' is the start of a bigger process.</span></span></b><br />
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In one of my first counseling classes, a professor showed us a YouTube video featuring comedian Michael Jr. In the video, Michael discusses the difference between ‘what’ and ‘why’. For Michael, standup comedy is simply his means (his ‘what’) to get people to walk with purpose (his ‘why’).<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LZe5y2D60YU" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Next, Michael cues up a video clip. In this video, he turns to an audience member to demonstrate this point. He first asks this audience member--who is a music teacher--to sing part of the song "Amazing Grace". The teacher proceeds to sing the song reasonably well.<br />
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However, Michael is not finished demonstrating. Rather, he asks the teacher to sing the song again, this time with background information and circumstances that would influence why he is singing the song. This time, the teacher not only sings the song well, but he also sings it very passionately.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">In the counseling world, self-awareness is critical to the mental health of both the counselor and the client. </span></b><br />
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We need to be able to process our thoughts, feelings, actions, and senses. We need to be aware of our needs, our wants, and our passions. Interpersonal dynamics can certainly impact how we process everything. Yet, while we share views, values, and experiences with others, each person's perspective is uniquely his or her own perspective. Overall, we are a combination of what is inside us and what is outside and around us.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Another counseling professor has told us time and time again to "own it". In particular, we need to own who we are and what we feel. </span></b><br />
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In life, it is very easy to lose sight of ourselves and get caught up in stress and disappointments. When facing obstacles and other challenges, we can get stuck 'zooming in' on a few details. We become focused on 'how' to get through a difficult time or 'what' needs to be done to move onto the next step of a task or process. Instead of 'zooming in', sometimes we need to 'zoom out' in order to see all of the details within the framework of the big picture. In looking at the whole picture, we can get a better understanding of how everything relates to each other. In identifying these relationships, we can figure out 'why' things are a certain way, 'why' we are the way we are, and 'why' any changes need to be made.</div>
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Life is very much a process of putting a bunch of puzzle pieces together. Instead of a flat, two-dimensional puzzle, our puzzle includes multiple dimensions and layers, including the details inside us and the details outside and around us. To connect these dimensions and layers and put together our puzzles, to 'seek what is within' is the start of a bigger process. </div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><b>Therefore, I leave you with these words today: Seek what is within, establish self-awareness, know your 'why', own it, live it, and share it. </b></span><br />
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<i>If you liked this blog post, here are a few related ones to look at:</i><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2014/01/doing-what-you-love-to-do.html" target="_blank">Doing What You Love to Do</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2016/07/lead-with-your-bucket-list.html" target="_blank">"Lead with your bucket list."</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2017/03/writing-your-life-story-with.html" target="_blank">Writing your life story with perseverance</a></li>
</ul>
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Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-4427997970791577412017-03-07T00:28:00.000-05:002017-05-30T01:17:05.674-04:00Writing your life story with perseverance<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qX9FSZJu448" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">"Dream, dream your way through</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Your dreams are elastic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Your dreams are the keys to the future</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Write your life story, a best-selling classic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Dream, dream your way through</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">The highs, the lows, the dramatic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Your dreams are the true path of least resistance</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">See all the possibilities when you let yourself imagine"</span></b></div>
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<i>-Excerpt from the poem "<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2011/11/dream-your-way-through.html" target="_blank">Dream Your Way Through</a>" </i><i>(c) 2011 Richard A. Fajardo. I submitted this poem to Helium.com in 2011 for the poetry topic "The path of least resistance".</i><br />
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In life, we are taught to be realistic. We are taught to be practical. We are taught to be rational. Of course, there are times when this is absolutely necessary and true. But, is this always the case?<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">In the above video, Arthur Boorman dealt with the aftermath of serving in the military during the Gulf War. </span></b><br />
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The physical deterioration left him in poor physical condition--he was considered physically disabled. Medical doctors were convinced that he would never walk again without the support of crutches. Likewise, members of the fitness community turned him away when he sought their help. In turn, Boorman continued to struggle with limited mobility while gaining weight.<br />
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Yet, Boorman would not settle for living the rest of his life in a debilitating state. He reached out to former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page, who had developed a unique set of yoga/cardio workouts. With DDP's help, Boorman did what he was told would be impossible--he can again walk on his own without the support of crutches. In regaining mobility and athleticism, he lost over 100 pounds of excess weight. As the video shows, he even re-developed the ability to run!<br />
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Boorman added to his life story by showing determination and perseverance. If he had simply been realistic, practical, and rational based on other people's views, he never would have beaten these odds.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>In life, being realistic, practical, and rational does not necessarily mean limiting ourselves, restricting our vision, or leaving behind our boldest, loftiest dreams. Sometimes, the most realistic, practical, and rational thing we can do is persevere. </b></span><br />
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The preceding eight lines of the above poem I wrote in 2011 were:<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">"Don’t let the system take away your mind and heart</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Don’t leave your hopes and dreams in the attic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Open up that treasure box of childhood dreams</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Feel the power of joy and be ecstatic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Have confidence in your dreams</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Don’t let struggles make you panic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Have faith in your life purpose</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">They might not always understand it"</span></b></div>
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Today, I add a one-stanza sequel:<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Life is more than being rational, practical, and realistic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">To move forward, sometimes you just have to tune out the interference</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Take control of your destiny and don't let them make you feel listless</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Go, write your life story--write it with perseverance</span></b></div>
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<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-6713237846215424342017-03-03T21:27:00.000-05:002017-05-30T01:16:35.046-04:00Past Blog Posts from "Welcome, International Students!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw17oZsInrrRVYHv7SgZxCqaF2h8rXkOZvf4hKnQDVBUfsZ-Fh6Fj3Ag-FD71nBhXYKFGhuPqVwjNghqG1fgM_Ys-81ErQoLrNoEREVvH6ELeaVVH3vqyJrkfCZ9HsJ-ljv8Pp26hYwg/s1600/welcome+international+students.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw17oZsInrrRVYHv7SgZxCqaF2h8rXkOZvf4hKnQDVBUfsZ-Fh6Fj3Ag-FD71nBhXYKFGhuPqVwjNghqG1fgM_Ys-81ErQoLrNoEREVvH6ELeaVVH3vqyJrkfCZ9HsJ-ljv8Pp26hYwg/s640/welcome+international+students.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Recently, we retired the team blog "Welcome, International Students!" that was created by a few of us colleagues who had met through the BGSU MBA program. In turn, I have carried over seven of my blog posts from there over to Motivated Innovation. These past posts include:<br />
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<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2015/12/stand-tall-and-feel-welcome.html" target="_blank">Stand Tall and Feel Welcome</a> 12/16/15</div>
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<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2014/01/a-kids-perspective.html" target="_blank">A Kid's Perspective</a> 1/9/14</div>
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<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2012/07/us-news-provides-6-good-tips-for-new.html" target="_blank">US News Provides 6 Good Tips for New International Grad Students</a> 7/30/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2012/06/remembering-4-years-ago.html" target="_blank">Remembering 4 Years Ago...</a> 6/26/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2012/05/understanding-follow-up-to-university.html" target="_blank">Understanding (A Follow-up to "U.S. University Classes")</a> 5/31/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2012/04/us-university-classes-interactive-not.html" target="_blank">U.S. University Classes: Interactive, Not Just Lectures</a> 4/13/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2012/03/searching-for-job-in-todays-us.html" target="_blank">Searching for a Job in Today's U.S.</a> 3/11/12</div>
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Topics include culture and diversity, education, and international students. Please feel free to check out each of these posts!</div>
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Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-19554289514316522022017-01-11T19:32:00.000-05:002017-03-07T02:42:58.074-05:00The Conversations We Have With Strangers While Traveling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS8wz8lRTMsvRh7g6PwGqSUQ4Ko9lTFXtKd57H126e7TDN7AQVPpihOgksbzm7TZv6SuFNaWOZWaDVEBtxBEWkJnQf3z6G6RItEs85FJK3aoEnkGO3PqPvOKRhcG-XESy7d78QmEkqQE/s1600/roof+of+no+name+saloon+%2526+grill+103116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS8wz8lRTMsvRh7g6PwGqSUQ4Ko9lTFXtKd57H126e7TDN7AQVPpihOgksbzm7TZv6SuFNaWOZWaDVEBtxBEWkJnQf3z6G6RItEs85FJK3aoEnkGO3PqPvOKRhcG-XESy7d78QmEkqQE/s320/roof+of+no+name+saloon+%2526+grill+103116.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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On Monday night, Clemson University won its second football national championship. They avenged their loss in the championship game last year by winning a rematch with the University of Alabama.<br />
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Aside from enjoying the postgame comments from coach Dabo Swinney, quarterback Deshaun Watson, and linebacker Ben Boulware, I remembered a long, pleasant conversation I had while flying from Salt Lake City to Detroit back in November 2015. On this flight, I was sitting next to an older gentleman--Tom--who was traveling with his wife and another couple. <br />
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In talking with Tom, I learned that he was a big Clemson fan. As we watched multiple games of college football simultaneously on the airplane monitors, I found out that he had played years ago with a Division II program. In fact, Tom was the starting quarterback and his friend across the aisle was one of the starting wide receivers. Tom also met his wife at this college. He did mention that his wife was a fan of another university's football team. I should note that, in looking up Tom's information online, it turns out that their son got to play football at this other university that his wife liked.<br />
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Tom, his wife, and their friends were very nice people to spend time with on this flight. They had some good encouraging words for me and wished me well. It was pretty cool to find out after the fact that Tom was a big time multi-sport athlete growing up and eventually became a successful businessman. Despite his high profile, he still came across as very down to earth and treated me like an equal.<br />
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Needless to say, I haven't forgotten this conversation. I learned quite a bit from Tom, his wife, and their friends. Among these lessons were:<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">1) Always be open to getting to know people around you.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">2) Chivalry, good manners, and kindness are not dead.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">3) Successful people work hard to become successful.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">4) The great ones have great talents and do great things, yet they don't act like they are more important than other people.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">5) Some friendships really do last a lifetime.</span></b></div>
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Thanks for the encouraging words and inspiration, Tom! I hope you enjoyed watching Clemson win the championship!<br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-81193188706412969342016-10-13T10:01:00.000-04:002017-05-30T01:14:19.448-04:00Networking Lessons from Browns' CB Joe Haden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Five years ago, Jodie Valade of <i>The Plain Dealer </i>wrote an article about <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/08/when_it_comes_to_his_new_homet.html" target="_blank">Joe Haden making his presence felt throughout Northeast Ohio</a>. As a new player in town, Haden did his part in attending different charity events and sporting events while also creating other opportunities to interact with fans.<br />
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His father stated:<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">"You'd think all kinds of marketing guys were behind it, but it's just Joe being Joe. He's a good kid and he likes to have fun. He's done a better job than any marketing firm could."</span></b></blockquote>
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I was pretty impressed. Based on this article and other stories I had heard, Haden had established himself as a good role model for networking in business and social settings. When I worked in a sales and marketing job a couple years ago, I kept a printed copy of this article at my desk and reread it regularly. <br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><u>What networking lessons can we learn from Joe Haden?</u></span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">1) Be open to networking.</span></b><br />
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Haden: "I say yes a lot more than I say no. I like interacting with people. Sometimes it can be overwhelming with everyone coming up all the time. It can be a little much. But you still do it. You've got to take the bad with the good."<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">2) Be active.</span></b><br />
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Haden: "What else would I be doing -- sitting at home by myself? It's all about giving back, and at the same time, it's so much fun."<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">3) Be committed.</span></b><br />
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Haden: "It's really easy to do, honestly. Even if I didn't play football, I'd be doing all this stuff. I'm just trying to have a good time and make sure everyone knows I care about this city and appreciate the fans."<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">4) Be authentic.</span></b><br />
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Haden's father: "He hasn't had to be prepped on any of this. This is him. What you see is what you get."<br />
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<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-57351096276994763642016-07-01T14:17:00.000-04:002017-05-30T01:14:01.063-04:00"Lead with your bucket list."<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WQtGqmi2O2U" width="420"></iframe>
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"Say" by John Mayer was the theme song for the 2007 film <i>The Bucket List</i>. I actually just saw the film for the first time this morning. While it got mixed reviews, I really enjoyed it; I found it to be a very heartwarming movie.<br />
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When I was younger, the concept of a bucket list seemed to only be about far out, one-off, random activities that people hoped to do at some point in their lives. Whether talking to adults or children, people often talked about extreme activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, or climbing a mountain or exotic trips such as going on a Caribbean cruise or traveling through the Hawaiian islands.<br />
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Over the years, I have learned that bucket lists are not just about heart pounding adventures. There are numerous goals that people have that are quite thrilling to them, even if they would come across as simple or mundane to other people. As the movie <i>The Bucket List</i> showed, some of the best goals are simple yet profound gestures that touch the lives of other people.<br />
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As I continue my journey through life, I have grown to understand that a person's goals and bucket list represent the truest form of himself/herself. Pursuing these goals is not selfish. Rather, not pursuing these goals is neglectful.<br />
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In life, it is pretty easy to get beat up by challenges such as personal finances and difficult work environments. Although the messages that we 'need to be practical' and 'need to be realistic' are true, they are not the end all, be all. Removing the passion from life can turn a person into a mindless robot locked into meaningless routines. In turn, the person can exist without really living. <br />
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Likewise, a bucket list is not just something that we come up with once and never revise. As we experience life and grow in understanding, our views and values evolve. Some items rightfully stay on the list while other important items get added as top priorities.<br />
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Here is a picture about life goals that I drew for an English class project during my junior year of high school:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YNo34CDrSp2VIqlc2J9cmKq97vkcLfKkpwuP2MmNvgKKoLzlesT6SJTcP7pX0PHWJTCoUnSgYdFyQflqG4NRP7TvLwk904EKfxzPRV5jgGh7SPZGq9sfFEDpk8Ct1zeiq59l0gQhe70/s1600/11th+grade+goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YNo34CDrSp2VIqlc2J9cmKq97vkcLfKkpwuP2MmNvgKKoLzlesT6SJTcP7pX0PHWJTCoUnSgYdFyQflqG4NRP7TvLwk904EKfxzPRV5jgGh7SPZGq9sfFEDpk8Ct1zeiq59l0gQhe70/s320/11th+grade+goals.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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In looking at it, I have stayed fairly true to these goals. Granted, I no longer think of getting on <i>Jeopardy!</i> as being a priority of mine, but the other goals and activities still have quite a bit of meaning. I continue to write, draw, and learn how to play music by ear; I make friends and date from time to time. I continue to hone my knowledge of basketball so that I can coach someday, staying open to coaching boys or girls of different ages.<br />
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Looking at this picture again today, the title "businessman" stands out to me. Through reflection and introspection, I know that my decision to be a business major was made at age 15, right after I stopped playing basketball and my grandmother passed away. I had a very limited view of life and was working my hardest to get a full scholarship to college, because I did not want to have any debts. I was an intelligent hard worker, so business seemed to be the right fit.<br />
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Yet, looking back, money (outside of being able to have a family and avoiding debt) never really motivated me. Rather, my natural disposition was always to help people. My values and talents have always been those of a counselor, a teacher, and a coach. I know now that my concept of being a businessperson was off. While I will participate in business and run businesses in some form or another, I do not belong in contemporary corporate America. Rather, I belong in service of others, with my business skills helping me run my service ventures and creative freelance ventures on the side. <br />
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Two weeks ago, my favorite sports team--the Cleveland Cavaliers--won the NBA championship. (There was a time where I wanted to play for them or work for them in some capacity or another. For the time being, I am enjoying running the blog website <a href="http://www.cavs.space/" target="_blank">CAVS.SPACE</a>.) It was great seeing the joy and enthusiasm of Cavs fans in Northeast Ohio and across the globe. At the same time, I was left with the awesome thought--what is more surreal: the Cavs winning their first championship or me going back to school the day after Game 7?<br />
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As I mentioned a couple months ago, I have been thinking about a new mantra over the past several months: "Lead with your bucket list." At that time, I stated: "By living my life with my bucket list in mind, I will be able to contribute my gifts to society--and, in turn, will experience both success and happiness." I am now working towards becoming a career counselor and EAP (employee assistance program) counselor in order to help other people make career decisions and deal with other life challenges.<br />
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One of my first assignments for my first class back in graduate school was to watch <i>The Breakfast Club</i>--another really good movie. Whether in high school or in adulthood, it is quite normal to have questions about one's image and one's role in society. Having thought about my bucket list, I now see my identity as a businessman as a secondary part of me. Who am I? I am a counselor, a teacher, and a coach.<br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-88795552387647214432016-06-26T08:00:00.000-04:002019-08-02T20:44:51.726-04:00Plant Growth as a Metaphor for Employee Growth<i>*Originally published on the blog for the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the Association for Talent Development (GTAC-ATD) in 2016. </i><br />
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I start with the disclaimer that I am not a botanist. I
never had pets growing up, so my mom’s house plants were like my pets. I helped
water them when I was younger until I was promoted to helping my dad with
mowing the lawn. I eventually learned more about flowers and landscaping when
working in city maintenance for a couple of summers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With that said, how are employees like plants? What can we
learn from plant growth and apply to employee talent development?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Simply put: like
plants, employees need proper resources and a good environment in order to survive
and grow. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Most house plants need water, sunlight, and heat to grow.
With proper amounts of these resources, these plants can grow from small seeds
into big, tall plants. In many cases, house plants need to be moved to bigger
pots in order to continue living. That is, their roots continue to grow and
need more space in order to continue establishing a strong foundation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When plants lack proper resources, they cannot survive.
Flowers and leaves lose their color and fall down. Without a replenishment of
these resources, plants cannot grow back. They are lost. They are gone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the flip side, too much of a resource can also be
detrimental. For plants, too much water can lead to the rotting of roots and
the ruining of soil. Despite trying to help the plants grow, a gardener
supplying too much water can actually cause a plant’s death.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Employees are not too much different. Employees are certainly
capable of surviving, thriving, and growing. In order to do so, they need the
proper tools and resources in order to perform their jobs. They need training,
feedback, and support in order to gain understanding of expectations and establish
productive actions and proper behaviors. Each employee needs to establish a
strong foundation as a member of the organization in order to become fully
engaged, effective, and efficient. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When lacking proper resources, employees are not able to
carry out their jobs. Instead of getting work done, they become frustrated. If workplace
safety is compromised, employees can get injured. Without feedback, employees develop
bad habits, including focusing on non-productive actions and improper
behaviors. In some cases, employees may advance to a certain level and then get
stuck; without enough space to continue growing, their morale erodes and they
need a change of scenery. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the flip side, too much training time can take away from the
time needed to perform live, real-time work. Too much supervision and not
enough independence can make employees completely dependent on their
supervisors. As they stop using their own critical thinking abilities and wait
for manager approvals, less work gets done. For those who are already doing the
job well and feel suffocated by excess supervision, they get frustrated.
Feeling a lack of trust is present, some may even resort to insubordination in
order to make a point that too much supervision is ruining the environment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Other environmental and cultural factors such as thermostat
settings, availability of parking, functionality of restroom facilities, open
door policies, suggestion boxes, and acknowledgement of paid time off can make
or break a work environment for the employees. Employees should have some level
of comfort at the workplace. They should be able to provide feedback and speak
up when something can be improved or is simply broken. They need breaks and
they need time off. They need to be able to attend to their lives outside of
work; their work is a part of their lives—not the other way around. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>No matter how
talented or how resilient they are, employees without the right resources or
environment will either fail or leave the organization. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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As such, talent development and organizational development
remain key components to employee success—and, in turn, organizational success.
Like plants, employees need to be given the right resources and environment in
order to succeed. It is only in giving employees what they need that an
organization can truly flourish. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-26297840362223276052016-04-23T00:19:00.000-04:002017-05-30T01:13:37.745-04:00Steve Harvey: "Take the Lid Off the Jar"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pkha3MLCzhM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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In browsing my LinkedIn and Facebook feeds this week, I came across a couple video clips of Steve Harvey. In one clip, Harvey was speaking with Oprah Winfrey; in the other clip (shown above), he was talking on his own talk show. In both videos, Harvey spoke about pursuing dreams.<br />
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Everyone has hopes and dreams. Likewise, each one of us has different gifts--different talents and skills--that we have to offer to our families, our friends, and the rest of society. <br />
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Some people may help nurture and harness your dreams. On the other hand, other people may make fun of your dreams, even bringing you down in public. The story Harvey shares in the above video is both sad and inspirational. Thankfully, he stayed true to his dreams and his gifts, listened to his father, and became the successful comedian and humanitarian that he is today.<br />
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Over the past several months, I have been thinking about a new mantra: "Lead with your bucket list." While I do not have all the answers I need yet, Harvey's advice hit home with me. By living my life with my bucket list in mind, I will be able to contribute my gifts to society--and, in turn, will experience both success and happiness. <br />
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If you are looking to do a better job using your gifts and pursuing your dreams, Harvey has put together a highly regarded book called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H7LW7JC?ref%5F=dp-kindle-redirect&redirect=true&btkr=1&pldnSite=1" target="_blank">Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life's Riches</a></i>. Another good book for exploring your hopes and dreams on your career path is <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0692654518" target="_blank">Career Grease: How to Get Unstuck and Pivot Your Career</a></i> by Alison Cardy. (For those wondering, I am currently reading both of these books.)<br />
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Furthermore, if you are interested in helping nurture and harness other people's dreams, you should check out <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WHVS0C/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">The Dream Manager</a></i> by Matthew Kelly. (I read this book after learning about it from a guest speaker for my MBA class.)<br />
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Feel free to purchase any or all of these books on <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/" target="_blank">AmazonSmile</a>, where 0.5% of your purchase will be donated to the charity of your choice. In the meantime, I hope that you take the lid off your jar if you have not already done so, lead with your bucket list, and use your gifts to passionately pursue your dreams.<br />
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<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-66873720459771145952016-04-05T08:00:00.000-04:002019-08-02T20:42:43.295-04:00Reverse Mentoring: Untapped Potential<br />
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<i>*Originally published on the blog for the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the Association for Talent Development (GTAC-ATD) in 2016. </i></div>
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There is a long-standing adage that states: “You can’t teach
an old dog new tricks.” While this saying has been widely accepted across many
generations, is it completely accurate?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sure, learning to do something new can be quite the
challenge. As humans, we have a number of habits and patterns of behavior—of
course, there is a long-standing adage for that, too. As we become locked into
these habits and routines, any deviation from the norm can add stress to all
parties involved and lead to mistakes being made. As a result, people not only
fear making mistakes but also fear the concept of ‘change’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It should be noted that these difficulties in learning something
new occur regardless of age or experience level. In the workplace, it is
critical to continue to believe in employees and not give up on their ability
to learn new skills and responsibilities. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As stated in a video interview (which can now be found on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pux40FNW9lk">YouTube</a>), Jack Welch discussed
learning about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“reverse mentoring”</b>
while meeting with a business colleague in London in 1999. Impressed by the
concept, he quickly introduced reverse mentoring at General Electric. He said
that this “tipped the organization upside-down”. Instead of having only
traditional top-down organizational structure, Welch emphasized the advantages
of having newer, younger employees share their experiences and knowledge base
of technology and other key items with more experienced, higher-ranked
officials. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Clearly, Welch did not heed the long-standing adage that
“you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Rather, his reverse mentoring
initiative reflected that you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> teach
‘old dogs’ new tricks. There is a lot of untapped potential, and it is
two-fold. First, the more experienced, higher-ranked officials are capable of
learning new technologies, new processes, and other new ideas. Second, the
newer, younger employees are capable of teaching and advising their peers—even
peers with more experience than they have. Both parties grow as a result of
reverse mentoring; they become better professionals and, in turn, become more
valuable to the organization. At the same time, traditional mentoring
relationships can also be developed, with the more experienced, higher-ranked
officials sharing their experiences and knowledge base of various issues with
their newer, younger employees. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today’s business climate has challenged business leaders to
make tough staffing decisions. Should they let go of older, more experienced,
and higher paid workers when dealing with payroll and budget limitations? Do
they need to displace long-standing executives and managers in order to change
long-standing practices and revitalize their organizational culture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, there will always be times when a change in
direction—including a change of personnel—is needed in order to help a business
grow. However, if the issues at hand are emerging technologies or other
contemporary trends, business leaders should remember to consider reverse
mentoring in order to meet the challenges of these issues. Learning is not
restricted to youth. Rather, learning is a process—and a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gift</i>—that can continue over the course of one’s career and beyond. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-40989280029145369302015-12-16T19:45:00.000-05:002017-05-30T01:09:03.965-04:00Stand Tall and Feel Welcome<i>*formerly posted on "Welcome, International Students!" blog</i><br />
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Two weeks ago, I was looking at my Facebook News Feed and reading what my friends and former classmates were sharing. One post caught my attention. It was a heartfelt article written by a colleague of mine at Xavier University. We were both Student Senators at Xavier and had spent several hours talking together about campus leadership and campus life.<br />
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His article "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pavan-v-parikh/a-stranger-called-me-a-te_b_8683364.html" target="_blank">A Stranger Called Me a 'Terrorist' and I Didn't React</a>" is a good reminder about the difficulties and learning experiences that our world sees on a daily basis. I know that I have been in his shoes before, and it hurts. It hurts to not feel welcome. It hurts to be attacked without any regret by the attacking party. It hurts to be publicly shamed and embarrassed, especially without just cause.<br />
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It reminded me of a time when I was at my friend's birthday party with my older brother and other friends. At this particular sports restaurant and entertainment venue, we were in line to play the popular basketball arcade game "Pop a Shot". While watching the people in front of us, a drunk player dropped a couple of his basketballs, in which one of his friends picked one up and tried to shoot the ball at the basket from where the rest of their group was standing. Confused, the player questioned who had thrown the ball. Then, he turned and looked at my brother and blamed it on him, saying a racial slur.<br />
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This made everyone in my group angry. We were offended. The person carried on with his racial slurs. One of his friends added, "if they don't like it, they should go back to where they came from." While these were just words, this hurt badly.<br />
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Thankfully, we had the support of our friends. Thankfully, other people who had witnessed what had happened also were supportive of us. A situation that could have turned into violence stayed peaceful enough. Just because some people view the world with prejudiced eyes does not mean that everyone does.<br />
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As Pavan stated in his article: "I am a lawyer, a former civil servant, a citizen, and a military officer, and even if I was none of those things, I am a human deserving of basic human decency and respect." We are all humans deserving of basic human decency and respect. Be as positive as you can be and do your best to withhold this decency and respect. Stand tall and feel welcome, because you are welcome here. This is America.<br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-38459581661711487222015-12-16T19:21:00.002-05:002017-05-30T01:10:39.878-04:00Suite101 ArticlesIn 2010, I wrote a couple of business articles on Suite101.com. Since then, the website has revamped its operations and shut down its previous operations. Therefore, I have decided to re-post these two articles here. They were:<br />
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<li>"<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2010/05/remember-when-enron-was-overpriced.html" target="_blank">Remember When Enron was Overpriced?</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2010/07/lessons-learned-from-ceo-chainsaw-al.html" target="_blank">Lessons Learned from CEO Chainsaw Al Dunlap</a>"</li>
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I also wrote <a href="http://www.cavs.space/2015/12/suite101com-and-yahoo-contributor.html" target="_blank">sports articles on Suite101.com and Yahoo! Contributor Network</a> that can be found on my sports blog <a href="http://www.cavs.space/">CAVS.SPACE</a> (formerly known as Hard Workin' Team). </div>
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I hope you enjoy these articles!<br />
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Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-30120319217819105152015-12-15T09:18:00.000-05:002017-05-30T01:11:32.740-04:00MBA/MBASA Blog PostsDuring my time as a graduate student at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), I had the opportunities to serve as a graduate assistant and as a class officer in the MBA program. As a part of both roles, I wrote on a couple blogs/websites, neither of which is currently active. However, I do have the rights to re-post all of my previous posts, so I have selected several of them and have added them to the "Motivated Innovation" blog. These blog posts can be found under the secondary labels "<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/search/label/MBA%20Blog" target="_blank">MBA Blog</a>" (for writings from my graduate assistant role) and "<a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/search/label/MBASA%20Blog" target="_blank">MBASA Blog</a>" (for writings from my class officer role). Feel free to browse through these posts. I hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-19263404712086010712015-12-10T19:50:00.000-05:002017-05-30T01:07:22.596-04:00Inspiration from 'The Last Lecture'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In September 2007, college professor Randy Pausch made a presentation at Carnegie Mellon University as part of a university lecture series. Pausch, who was dying of cancer, decided to give a presentation called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", which also became known as "The Last Lecture".<br />
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The topics covered are ones that most, if not all, people think about at some point in their lives. There is a lot of discussion and introspection around personal passions and career & life goals.<br />
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My favorite quotes from the presentation are:<br />
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<li>"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game."</li>
<li>"Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls aren't there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show us how badly we want things."</li>
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I highly recommend watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo" target="_blank">"The Last Lecture" on YouTube</a>. The video is a little over 75 minutes long, so, depending on your schedule, you may want to break the viewing experience down into a couple sittings.<br />
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Pausch also co-authored a book with Jeffrey Zaslow as a follow-up to this memorable lecture. Feel free to pick up <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch-ebook/dp/B00139VU7E/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">a copy of this book</a> through <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/" target="_blank">Amazon Smile</a> (where your purchase also helps donate money to the charity of your choice).<br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-19831586417084543662014-11-24T20:12:00.000-05:002014-11-24T20:12:11.353-05:00Looking Back at My MBA Route: My Own Personal Business Venture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Although my career after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) was going fine, I felt stuck in my career and life development. I felt like a plant whose roots had outgrown its original pot; in order to grow and thrive, I needed a new pot and/or new ground. I needed more space and a change of scenery in order to reach my full potential. </div>
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During my undergraduate studies, I had talked with several professors and business professionals and had thought about pursuing additional educational opportunities. I learned more about an MBA degree, a business PhD degree, and other opportunities in other fields. Sticking with business seemed the way to go, so I spent a year studying on and off for the GMAT as I continued to research MBA and PhD/DBA programs. The hard work paid off as my GMAT score gave me the opportunity to return to school full-time. I chose the MBA route as it seemed to be a strong credential to add to my strong work ethic and full-time working experience. I had already experienced a merger/acquisition at one company while experiencing extreme growth and then downsizing at another company. At the time, an MBA was seen as a "golden ticket" for someone like me who worked really hard and wanted to advance in my career and my life. This ticket could help provide me with a higher paying job, a better life, and a chance to start my own family.<div>
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However, I failed to foresee that the U.S. economy would unravel just a few months later. The "golden ticket" evaporated as I read and heard about a few lucky high-ranking business officials at major corporations riding "golden parachutes" out of bad business financial situations. Meanwhile, companies full of people lost their jobs and their retirement funding. So much for starting to save for my retirement at age 22. I went from being a model young professional to a random gambler playing Texas Hold'em in the business world, all-in on my MBA degree. </div>
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While I worked hard on my academic studies, graduate assistantship, internship, leadership roles, and other development opportunities, I also spent much time networking and seeking full-time employment for after graduation. I looked at job boards, submitted applications and resumes, and interviewed. I also made a somewhat tough decision, sticking it out to get a specialization in Organizational Change with my MBA degree instead of pushing for graduation with half of my MBA cohort at the 14-month mark. </div>
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Yet, the job search was very humbling and my work ethic, accomplishments, and experiences were not enough. Along with my peers, I found myself looking for a job in the worst job market in at least 2-3 decades. My options were limited--work on 100% commission in a sales role or take a hefty pay cut and step backwards by returning to entry-level status.</div>
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Hearing this side of the story can be sad. I had such high hopes but instead found myself drowning with millions of other Americans and other world citizens. </div>
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Still, I know that my time pursuing an MBA was worth it. I learned numerous career and life lessons. I met numerous business contacts and friends. I experienced opportunities and challenges that I had never faced before. </div>
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The ensuing years have included having to move on from opportunity to opportunity as some potentially promising opportunities--much like my "golden ticket" MBA degree--have arisen and then vanished in a tough business climate. Still, the experiences that I have had--including gains in knowledge, skills, abilities, networking contacts, wisdom, ideas, achievements, and inspirations--continue to build up to a better career and a better life than I had 6 1/2 years ago.</div>
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The MBA experience has ended up being a business venture for me. I went into business for myself. I learned some invaluable lessons while not always making a profit. Things did not work out as planned, but I cannot dwell on that. I have met people I never knew I would meet, traveled to places I never knew I would get to see, and experienced difficulties and successes that I never knew I could encounter and accomplish. While I came and saw, I did not conquer. However, I improve day by day, year by year, and I can see a bright future ahead for me.</div>
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Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-76214119027831041972014-10-21T10:30:00.000-04:002014-10-21T10:30:14.639-04:00DON'T Lie in InterviewsEarlier this month, I read an article on LinkedIn by Mark Stevens about <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20141006125226-10136502-why-you-must-lie-on-job-interviews-and-what-you-must-lie-about?_mSplash=1">job interviews</a>. For those of you unfamiliar with Mark, he is an established marketing guru who built his business up in a bootstrap manner. That is remarkable!<br />
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However, I strongly disagree with his stance in this article. Some say he was "trolling" just to receive online responses. If this is true, he succeeded.<br />
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Here are 3 lessons I share with readers:<br />
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<b>1. Understand the role and power of HR</b><br />
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From my career experience, HR has become well-connected with other departments in an organization. HR representatives are included with both strategic planning and tactical daily operations. While some reps do not have personal experience in roles in which they are hiring for, they do have open communication with those in the department and have at least a baseline understanding of their hiring needs. They are not outsiders--they are "in the know" and know both what is going on within the company and what is perceived to be needed.<br />
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<b>2. Do not lie about skills--lying sets you up for failure</b><br />
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Mark makes a rational argument that "resume filtering" happens all the time. To some degree, I agree. Some recruiters rely heavily on boolean searches and keyword optimization. Missing buzzwords and industry-specific terminology equates on the surface as not knowing the industry at hand well enough. Also, a well-written resume beats a poorly-written resume on most days.<br />
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However, department managers, HR managers, and peers can all identify problems associated with misrepresenting knowledge, skills, and abilities. Underskilled team members can cause teams to fail when they are being counted on to supply knowledge, skills, and/or abilities that they do not have. This means that work is done poorly, work is finished late, or work does not get done at all. In some trades and industries, this disrupts workplace safety. That is a serious problem!<br />
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Ultimately, lying and misrepresentation can be grounds for termination. Resume lies are written documentation. Spoken lies are verbal actions that are documentable. And, bad performance and mistakes are certainly documentable.<br />
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<b>3. Do not lie about your personality--you will end up unhappy in your environment</b><br />
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Mark says to lie about personality-type questions to get past the initial portion of the candidate screening process. The problem with this is one of two scenarios: 1) They know you're lying; or 2) They think you are telling the truth and will proceed with the screening and hiring process with the belief that you are a certain way, have a certain approach, or likes things a certain way.<br />
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In scenario #1, you are screened out as a liar. In scenario #2, you are evaluated as being someone you are not until you are either hired or discovered to be a liar through other interviews, testing, and screening.<br />
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If hired, the person will be typecast (incorrectly, too) and will be put in situations, structures, and environments contradictory to what is wanted. Odds are, the person will become unhappy fast. In turn, productivity and performance will suffer. Even extremely capable workers struggle when unsatisfactory environmental factors come into play.<br />
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<b>In Conclusion</b><br />
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Okay, so lying got so-and-so a job. Then what? Is he/she performing well in the job? Is he/she happy in her role and his/her environment? Or, is his/her employer trying to get him/her to quit before turning to a demotion, reduction of hours, employee improvement plan, and/or termination?<br />
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Lying leads to failure and unhappiness. Rather, step forward with honesty and truth. Overall, be professional and be yourself. Doing so will get you closer to where you want to be.<br />
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<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-25319379045107651172014-01-09T21:46:00.000-05:002017-03-07T01:43:56.991-05:00A Kid's Perspective<i>*formerly posted on "Welcome, International Students!" blog</i><br />
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Recently, a memorable key chain broke off from my car keys. It was a key chain that my parents bought for me as a little boy at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. It said "RICH" (which some of my friends, classmates, and relatives have called me over the years).<br />
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Looking back, what I remember most from that day was a moment with my oldest brother (who has since passed away). I remember getting really hungry, so my brother agreed to take me over to the restaurant area to buy some food. In front of us in line were an older brother and a younger brother. I think they were the same exact ages as my brother and me. They were born in one of the countries in the Middle Eastern/North African area of the world. They were wearing clothing that was traditional from their country, including headdresses of some sort.<br />
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We talked for a bit with the brothers. It was funny how much we were just like them. I do not remember all of the specifics, but I do remember that I wanted nachos and cheese just like the other little brother. He and I were both very happy to eat!<br />
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As a kid, I still remember learning the concept "Don't talk to strangers". Yet, in this case, these brothers were not strangers--they were just like my brother and me.<br />
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It's amazing how kids can see and experience the world in such a pure light. I hope my kids get to experience moments like this. <br />
<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-83319608910979536242014-01-07T22:48:00.000-05:002017-05-30T01:05:45.970-04:00Doing What You Love to Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. This was my second visit to the hall of fame (my first visit was back in 2004). I saw displays from numerous musicians and musical artists.</div>
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Some of my favorite displays included:<br />
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<li>Elvis Presley's military uniform</li>
<li>One of Michael Jackson's Grammy Awards from the music video/short film "Thriller"</li>
<li>Clothing and jewelry from Run-D.M.C.</li>
<li>A Pearl Jam Rock n' Jock Softball Uniform</li>
<li>Gear from the Beastie Boys' music video "Intergalactic"</li>
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Each of these items stood out for one reason or another. Each was distinctly recognizable. However, the display that most caught my attention was this quote from Billy Joel:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBvt8M5nQtZKBvjla3Cxi8vWnBJcx7S731ae99uT_QXa25tKsKuLuL20_EKDdhADTG-Up4hb9I8Ln4WPPZtADhqHgpzAsAcVorovp5Bv7fDJUnSmveVdYYENk3drgE6EsAupHbYOW7bE/s1600/Billy+Joel+Rock+and+Roll+Hall+of+Fame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBvt8M5nQtZKBvjla3Cxi8vWnBJcx7S731ae99uT_QXa25tKsKuLuL20_EKDdhADTG-Up4hb9I8Ln4WPPZtADhqHgpzAsAcVorovp5Bv7fDJUnSmveVdYYENk3drgE6EsAupHbYOW7bE/s1600/Billy+Joel+Rock+and+Roll+Hall+of+Fame.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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One simple quote. "If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time." So simple yet so thought-provoking. 'Oh, these musicians, they must love life--they get to do what they love to do all the time.' Is that true?<br />
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I am not sure how many times throughout my life that I have thought about my career and other aspects of my life wondering about whether or not I was doing what I was supposed to be doing, whether or not I was with whom I was supposed to be with, or whether or not I was where I belonged.<br />
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Life is full of decisions, successes, failures, regrets--all different types of experiences, emotions, thoughts, and memories. We must not beat ourselves up over individual moments or individual decisions. While each moment and decision will stand out and be distinctly recognizable, we still get to keep experiencing moments and making decisions until we are not able to do so anymore.<br />
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"If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time." Sometimes we do not always get to make that choice. In life, we have to make sacrifices and experience pain--<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-manson/the-most-important-question_b_4269161.html" target="_blank">including pain in pursuit of doing what we love</a>. In life, we will get hurt.<br />
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Overall, life is a collection of moments over time. Some moments will last longer. Some moments--like the people we meet in our lifetimes--are ones that we will keep closer to our hearts.<br />
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No matter what, we must not let limitations, painful moments, getting mistreated, or other disappointments hold us down; we must not let these obstacles stay in our way.<br />
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Admittedly, every basketball season, I still have at least one dream at night about playing basketball on a basketball team with my friends. My time as a basketball player ended a long time ago, but I still carry with me what I learned into other aspects of life. The regret of not playing longer eventually evolved into the creation of a blog to share my passion about basketball and my favorite team, the <a href="http://www.cavs.space/" target="_blank">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>. This blog eventually led to other writing opportunities, including writing for a blog for BGSU's MBA program as a graduate assistant, writing on this personal blog about career & life development, and random small freelance opportunities. All these opportunities to do what I love to do!<br />
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Meanwhile, I remember drawing a lot throughout the years. I drew by myself, with my brothers, with my friends, with my classmates. I drew at home, at school, at work. Still, aside from taking art & drawing classes in high school and college, I do not think I have spent enough time drawing. Oddly enough, I found a great opportunity recently to draw at work while waiting for a conference call to start. I quickly Googled a picture of the Grinch and, in 7 minutes, drew this on the dry erase board in one of the conference rooms:<br />
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It was a great reminder of one of my passions. Since drawing this, I have drawn other drawings and shared them with friends on Facebook. As I know, drawing is doing what I love to do.<br />
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Fitness? There is that basketball influence again. Over the years, I had grown to believe that I could not get any more fit--I did not have it because I did not play sports at a high enough competition level. Thankfully, my brother talked my ear off about P90X and other fitness and medical jargon. I finally caved in and accepted a P90X package of DVDs & the enclosed workout booklet, which was given to me as my birthday present. It was amazing how much healthier I felt after 3-4 months of this stuff. Fitness has now become a key part of my daily life. The last time I did not get daily exercise was Memorial Day Weekend. (As in, late May 2013: 227 days in a row.) My goal is to work out/exercise daily until my birthday in July. It is what I love to do.<br />
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Music? I was not supposed to have anything to do with that. I once sang in a duet at a grade school concert in 2nd grade and did fine, but by the time I had won a solo for a 4th grade presentation, I realized that I had stage fright and declined the opportunity to sing in front of everybody. Over the years, I still had an ability to play music by ear, but at a very elementary level. I could figure out random theme songs for TV shows and cartoons (lol, I was at the music hall playing the theme to the Rugrats a couple weeks ago) and other nonsensical stuff. Thankfully, I was surrounded by a number of different good musicians over the years; their influence caught up with me. Also, thankfully, my other brother encouraged me to take piano lessons for a semester during my freshman year of college. 30 minute lessons once a week for about 12 weeks. It took some time and some experience of different momentous occasions and heartbreaks, but now I consider music a big part of my life. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaFf8QzSI5A" target="_blank">I even had a video retweeted by the band Blessid Union of Souls</a>; this recording (the better one) has over 400 views, while the original one from a few years ago has over 1000 views.<br />
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Here is one of my favorites now, a video of me playing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVNF-ob6YT0" target="_blank">a piano cover of Lonestar's "Amazed"</a> and sporting a better look for myself. Sure, there are a lot of pianists and musicians that are a lot--and I mean, <i>a lot</i>--better than me. Yet, why should that stop me? I keep getting better at it because I took the time to try, I believed that I could. I experienced all of this because I took the time to do what I love to do.<br />
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When it is all said and done, doing what you love to do does apply to many careers. However, doing what you love to do does not have to be limited to career and job decisions. <u style="font-weight: bold;">You should take time to do what you love to do every day of your life.</u> And, may I add, <b><u>never taking time to do what you love to do is a waste of you.</u></b><br />
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<br />Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103606102860510066.post-13293723919756287252013-04-10T14:38:00.001-04:002017-05-30T01:03:34.932-04:00Business Ethics: Remember When Enron was Overpriced?Business ethics was a primary emphasis during my business education at <a href="http://www.xavier.edu/williams/">Xavier University</a> and <a href="http://www.business.bgsu.edu/">Bowling Green State University</a>. Among the sad stories of corruption over the last 20 years was the rise and fall of Enron. A number of officials at Enron managed to establish the energy/utilities company among a multitude of ambitious technology companies during the dot com boom and bust of the late 1990s/early 2000s.<br />
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While I missed the opportunity to see <a href="http://www.xavier.edu/williams/heroes-of-ethics/History.cfm">Sherron Watkins speak at Xavier in 2003</a>, I did get to learn much more about <a href="http://www.bgsumba.com/fulltimecoursedecriptions.html">Enron during MBA 583 class (now called MBA 5830) at BGSU in 2008</a>. The lessons learned remain with me today as I strive to be an ethical business professional and look to avoid the greed and deception that destroyed Enron.</div>
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For reference, here is an article I wrote about <a href="http://www.motivatedinnovation.com/2010/05/remember-when-enron-was-overpriced.html" target="_blank">Enron on Suite101.com</a>. (As a side note, Suite101 has since changed its focus and no longer publishes articles like this.) </div>
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Richard F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08867244089543803778noreply@blogger.com