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How to UP your game to the next level
Surround yourself with people who are smarter, better, faster & more resilient than you! Both in professional sports & business, when the competition gets tougher you inevitably get better!
How Competition Makes You Better, and Your Team Can Make You Great is a sporting example of how the undersized Bill Russell and his Boston Celtics improved their own game by playing against giants like Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain may have put up incredible numbers during the period in which the two went head to head, but Russell helped the Celtics hang nine NBA championship flags in the Garden in his first 10 seasons! Bill Russell later wrote: "To me, one of the most beautiful things to see is a group of men coordinating their efforts toward a common goal, alternately subordinating and asserting themselves to achieve real teamwork in action. I tried to do that, we all tried to do that, on the Celtics. I think we succeeded."
Jane & Joe are a more practical example which will hit closer to home. For the past 4 years, I've seen their day-to-day activities result in consistent personal & professional stimulation & growth. Jane is a born entrepreneur, with her "nose to the grindstone" super positive attitude being the key behind much of her success. Joe is a corporate entrepreneur, vastly experienced in the BIG world of the corporate game, over the past years focusing more on bridging the two worlds of "corporates" & fast growth "start-ups". Each night this couple share the inspiring ritual of debriefing their day, as they take turns sharing their "biggest wins, biggest challenges & key learning" from the day. During her discourse Jane will inevitably comment "you would have been proud of me today as I took a page right out of your book", to which later you might her Joe say "when I was feeling a little lull today I thought of how driven you've been lately & it really kicked me in the pants to get me going".
Both Jane & Joe are adamant believers in surrounding themselves with smarter, better, faster & tougher people than themselves. One of Jane's favorite quotes is "the person you'll become within 5 years will reflect the books you read & the people you're surrounded by", whilst Joe recently latched onto "there is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a BIG difference. The little difference is attitude, the BIG difference is whether it's positive or negative".
To the old saying "if you lie down with dogs you'll get flees", Tony Robbins can often be heard stating "most people's lives are a direct reflection of the expectations of their peer group".
Here are some key tips for taking your game to the next level:
- Find online (blogs, forums, online social communities) & offline (gyms, book clubs, networking, seed camps) environments filled with people you admire and hang out there
- Find a coach or mentor
- Work with someone who pushes you
- When you're constantly asked to do things, yet don't know how, it forces you to stretch
- Read any and all material you can find that exemplifies the life you'd like to live
- Compete against yourself first, and your opponent second!
- Push yourself to be the best that you can be!
In closing, I'd like to leave you with the inspirational words of a fellow home-town hero Will Smith who bucked the odds & made it beyond anyone's wildest dreams.. except his!
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How to build scalability into any organization
In a January 23rd post earlier this year, I briefly mentioned the Horizon 1-2-3 framework originally developed by Mehrdad Baghai, Stephen Coley, and David White, who authored The Alchemy of Growth: Practical Insights for Building the Enduring Enterprise. In it they established a view that companies that are successful in the long term have growth initiatives in three stages. Subsequently, many consulting organizations worldwide have used dozens of frameworks over the years to analyze the trends which impede their clients' ability to grow.
Allow me to summarize for you what I've been seeing as the #1 culprit for limiting the growth of organizations worldwide.
Premise; The H1-2-3 framework is built around the point of view that to sustain growth, a company must maintain a continuous pipeline of business-building initiatives. Companies considered sustainable & scalable are characterized by their ability to create new business opportunities by innovating from within their core business ares whilst building new off-shoots at the same time.
Challenge; With the limited resources that the majority of modern-day companies face today, where can you find the time, resources & funding to innovate?
Solution; Identify within your organization who's ready to operate at each Horizon, and then stimulate their development by holding them accountable.
- (H1) is the work resulting in more consistently effecting change through improving and extending present operations (routines and habits)
- Who in your organization is working at this day-to-day level?
- Are they the right people / profile?
- What monthly gatherings are you promoting to review & improve on the recently past activities?
- How do (what proof are you collecting) these gatherings benefit your future activities, both immediate & mid-term?
- Who in your organization is working at this day-to-day level?
- (H2) is empowering the team to ask themselves how their daily/weekly activities & focus facilitate the creation of new opportunities
- Who in your team is ready to step-up to the next level?
- What weekly questioning and periodic structured pulse checks are you committed to?
- How are you fostering increased risk taking & the capability of the team in dealing with a greater degree of uncertainty & adversity?
- (H3) is where futures must be imagined, researched and developed.
- Who in your organization is passionate & skilled at seeding options today for the future?
- What is the required business acumen for understanding the related research, pilot projects, proof of concepts, etc you'll need to succeed & innovate?
- How are you going to measure the practical implementation of the same, both immediately & on a continual basis?
Results; A client of mine is currently putting this model into effective use. The Managing Director is a visionary and he needed to break himself away from the daily routines that were keeping him from affecting the broader & longer term results of his organization. Last year he asked one of his next-line management to step-up & shadow his responsibilities. After one quarter, this 1st line executive had gained deeper knowledge & understanding of what it took to "play at the next level".
Having also experienced professional growth & personal development, he was tasked to find someone one level down & do the same exercise. At the same time he was sharing with his immediate management colleagues the direct & indirect benefits of this experience. Each quarter the Managing Director rotated his direct reports through this process. Whilst he gradually freed himself to a level at which he significantly impacted the broader scope he desired, this exercise permeated throughout the organization giving more voice to many more layers of management & personnel in general.
Whether you're staffing levels are 5, 10, 50, 100 or 1,000, what can you learn from this exercise? What are you holding onto that you should let go of? Who's growth are you debilitating by continuing to carry on the way you do today?
Sacrifices in Business – Having your cake & eating it too!
I love the quote "every point of refuge has it's price". Another one that rings true is "nothing comes for free".
No where is this more evident than in the world of fast growth business!
What have you had to sacrifice lately? Has it been your percentage of dedication to life or work? How many people do you know that work 8h or less? How many people do you know that are conscious of the true sacrifices they are making each and every day?
This article is more than just about time, energy or strategy management, it's a "wake-up call" to anyone who thinks that any success comes easy!
It takes courage, moments of truth & at times allot of blind faith to take the necessary measures required to achieve the success you desire. Most of all, along the way, it takes allot of personal sacrifice to make your professional career eventuate into part of the formula which equals "work-life balance".
A client & I were speaking last week when he shared with me the incredible amount of pressure that he's under at work. He continued to share how he has recently tried to delegate to his next immediate level of management, hoping to help them grow. Upon reviewing his results, he was astonished at how he was able to deal with so many diverse situations within his workplace. His area is one of the most intense work environments of his entire global organization, and still they provide solid & leading results day-in day-out.
None of this surprised me! From the first time we started our Executive Coaching relationship, I had noted how stringent he was on his work-life balance. For the sake of confidentiality, let's call him "Joe", and he can celebrate his balance today because he prepared, trained & practiced for it. Most of all, he paid his dues earlier on & sacrificed when he needed to!
You don't just wake up one day & have a balanced life! It takes hard work, sacrifices, dedication & lots of practice!
Today he typically splits his time working from home & office. He takes every opportunity to enjoy long weekends with his family. He has a ground rule not to mix work with pleasure on weekends, or after a certain hour of the day. He's conscious that time is precious and that his young boy will quickly become a young man before the blink of an eye, and so he prioritizes his intensity very carefully. As we discovered, it's all about energy management!
As an outside observer I had noticed that just like a body builder who rests certain muscles masses in-between workouts to witness effective growth, Joe was resting his brain and giving it different stimuli by engaging in non work related activities on the weekend. By not using the "work" part of the brain over the course of 2-3 days, it enables him to be that much more sharper Monday through Friday. It enables Joe to get allot more done in less time than before.
But it wasn't always like this! Joe is the exception to the rule, and he has also "been at it" for the greater part of the last 15 years! It takes personal and or professional sacrifice to become really successful at something.
As evidence, I give you Malcom Gladwell's CNN interview regarding his book Outliers, he briefly touches on the concept of the "10.000 Hour Rule". I especially love his other interview comparison with The Beatles.
To put this into perspective, 10.000 hours of "practice" is the equivalent to
- approximately 417 days (or 1.14 years) if you didn't sleep at all
- 625 days (or approximately 1.71 years) if you slept for 8 hours & dedicated the remaining 16h to a single task
- 1.250 days (or approximately 3.42 years) if you only dedicated 8 hours to a single task
In comparison, how much time are you dedicating to what you want to be really good at?
People on many levels of an organization want their cake & eat it too, but contrary to Joe, they aren't willing to make the necessary sacrifices!
There's the entrepreneur who makes personal sacrifices on multiple levels just to keep his dream alive, running his start-up "on the smell of an oily rag". It's been a hard road but he's within reach of his dream now!
There was the fast-climbing corporate executive that didn't have time for a relationship because of the intensity of their business. Any wonder why they're still "home alone" & without a life-partner at this stage?
Then there's that guy who felt it necessary to hangout with his friends until the wee hours of the morning having a few beers & exchanging tall tales. Any wonder he typically didn't get up to speed until noontime at work the next morning? Any wonder why his moments of brilliance were just that, limited to "moments", even though what was required was more consistency? There are even more countless tales of people who "had the potential but just never materialized it consistently". It all takes it's tole and requires a delicate balance if you're to have your cake & eat it too.
So where can you start?
- Visualize the life or objective (professional & personal) that you want in 2-3 years (i.e. success.. "your cake")
- Make it really visual, to the point where you can smell, taste & almost touch your visualization
- Quick Tip; Fill it with as many facts & details as possible
- Make it really visual, to the point where you can smell, taste & almost touch your visualization
- Visualize your current "reality"
- If this is going to work, you'll have to be brutally honest with yourself
- Quick Tip; This will be the last time you "focus" on your "reality"
- Focus on your objective, raising your reality toward it instead of focusing on your reality which will only downsize your objective
- Remember that your reality is merely the accumulation or consequences of your past actions in life, and whilst it might influence the speed at which you can break free of your reality, it does not condition the achievement of your objective
- Quick Tip; This will be the last time you "focus" on your "reality"
- If this is going to work, you'll have to be brutally honest with yourself
- Determine "what" is required to bridge your current reality to your visual image of success
- If you can't figure this out, get help form someone your trust
- Quick Tip; Do an inventory and address it
- There are only two things that stand in your way of success
- Limiting beliefs (in yourself or another)
- Lack of a strategy
- There are only two things that stand in your way of success
- Quick Tip; Do an inventory and address it
- If you can't figure this out, get help form someone your trust
- Set a time-line to acquire the skills, network or resources you require to achieve your objective
- Determine "what" activities you're willing to sacrifice or give-up completely during this period to achieve your success
- Quick Tip; What is non-negotiable?
- Determine "what" activities you're willing to sacrifice or give-up completely during this period to achieve your success
- Now set-up a discipline for yourself to measure your progress along the way
- Make time in your calendar for reflection on your daily, weekly, monthly progress & make the necessary adjustments
- Quick Tip; What isn't measured doesn't get done!
- Make time in your calendar for reflection on your daily, weekly, monthly progress & make the necessary adjustments
If you follow these basic guidelines, work hard at them and realize that there are NO SHORTCUTS (!!!), than I guarantee you too can have your cake & eat it too. I can also promise you it won't be an easy journey! Why? Because "every point of refuge has it's price".
Reducing your Employee Churn/Burn Rate & Getting Results
What is the most value asset you have in your company? You shouldn't have to think too hard! It's the people that execute on your strategy.
So why do you always seem to be "the last man left standing" in your organization?
I'll share with you the answer, followed by two key lessons & one practical example/result as to the "why" of so many company's having challenges in retaining staff these days. An especially complex issue to understand, given the current economical crisis, is the unemployment rates around the world are still incredibly high.
The Answer is that we, as leaders, typically do a very poor job of recruitment, induction, ongoing management & assessment of our most valuable assets. And the general root cause is through poor communication and lack of courage!
Personally, even though sometimes hard to swallow, I firmly believe in the 90/10 rule, which states that if one of your staff isn't working out, it's 90% YOUR fault.. & only 10% theirs!
Do you think I'm being harsh, unfair & unrealistic? Well, consider this.. who's in the drivers seat?
- Who (ultimately) did, or approved the hiring?
- How clear were you in defining and communicating the Mission & Vision of the company?
- Did you receive acknowledgment, or other form of undeniable proof that you were clearly understood?
- How clear were you in defining the role to be fulfilled & the specific outcomes to be expected of the role?
- Key words being "role & specific outcome".. forget job description!
- How clear were you in communicating the behaviors you expected whilst your team executed on your plan?
- How did you manage the first signs of lack in performance or alignment with your vision, message and/or expectations?
- How often did you sit down to agree S.M.A.R.T. objectives/goals?
- How frequently did you follow-up to make necessary adjustments?
- How quickly did you put someone on a performance plan when they didn't deliver on what was agreed?
- How much planning & thought went into the induction, education/training, mentoring or skills acquisition process the individual needed to succeed?
- How much coaching or mentoring did you consider to be required from yourself, or senior/more experienced staff?
- How quickly, and how brave were YOU in having "the difficult & uncomfortable conversations"?
- Are you paying & rewarding your staff to perform?
- Are you doing the opposite?
- How are you motivating/encouraging non-performance/conformance?
- Are you paying & rewarding your staff to perform?
I could go on & on.. but I think you get the point! It's YOUR company, YOUR department or YOUR team, and therefore YOU are the ultimate responsible person for the outcome/output of everyone's role. If things aren't working out then look inward before you look outward, and once you've completed this assignment take responsibility to make the immediate & necessary adjustments.
Lesson #1
- Be crystal clear on Your Vision… & communicate it… communicate it… communicate it…
- Who needs to do What, How & by When?
- This requires acknowledgment & buy-in, however remember you're the boss (90% responsibility), so make sure that "your team" buys into "your plan", even if you need their help in constructing it, and not the opposite!
- Where do you want your company, area or department to be?
- When do you expect specific results?
- When do you expect escalations when things are in danger, or aren't going according to plan?
- How do you want (expect) your employees to behave, handle themselves and handle adversity (which is sure to come)?
- What are the rules of engagement?
- What are the boundaries & non-boundaries that you expect people to respect & understand?
- What are the focus areas they're supposed to be focused on in order to achieve success?
- Who needs to do What, How & by When?
- Be crystal clear on Your Mission… & communicate it… communicate it… communicate it…
- Why do you want your people to behave in a certain manner?
- Why do you need your people to achieve certain results?
- Why do you require specific results within specific time frames?
- Why is the company in business to begin with?
I've embedded the Core Values, which are the "behaviors" or "rules for the road" within the context of the Who, What, Where, When, Why & How above. That, in short, is your Core Ideology!
Lesson #2
The next biggest lesson you might have to learn, is regarding COURAGE. Courage to stand-up to the "know-it all's" who've never run an enterprise but have every theory in the book as to how your organization should run! I find these days far too many companies have "grayed the line" between "boss & employee" and between responsible for direction & responsible for execution. If you're going to take 90% responsibility for the failure of an organization, you need to get straight, and clearly understand, who's "experienced" and better still "paid to run the show".
In order to deliver on the above, you need the right skill-set that's for sure, and you also need to have the backbone to "listen first" and "act accordingly second". Acknowledging someone's perspective and giving them voice doesn't mean that you have to take their advice or recommendations over your own experienced opinion or gut instinct/intuition. It only makes you more responsible and accountable to the eventual decisions you make.
Once you've guaranteed success, then you can stand back, be humble and allow your team to bask in the glory of having executed excellently on a plan. Take 90% of the responsibility, give 90% of the credit and you'll have an effective & motivated team!
I've spent hours-upon-hours giving practical workshops to MBA students who have paid a pretty penny to gain a highly valuable education, just like I've spent hours-upon-hours with both managers and employees who've read the latest books containing magical and earth moving experiences. What I always share with them is that "now you have the logic, it's time to go out into the real world to implement and execute".
The execution of an idea is always more important than the brilliance of a thought, or even a strategy. A brilliant thought without effective execution is merely an illusion. A brilliant strategy, without effective execution, is merely a waste of everyone's energy & time.
Practical Example/Result
I recently walked into an assignment that demanded many changes in a short period of time. Multiple colleagues had just been fired for non performance and conformance. I was walking into an understandably hostile environment!
I stood in front of a room and shared my "what" followed by my "why". Then came my "how", where I told them that I only expected 1/2 (!?!?) of the output, dedication and commitment that I was willing to put in myself! However, I also advised them that I typically give 300% to every assignment!!
I explained that I would give them 48 hours to go through the grieving process of having lost their colleagues, followed by 15 days to be at 80% or better, and showing signs they would be at 150% by day 30.
I committed myself to complete transparency & communication, just as I would to holding them as accountable (where & when) as I would hold myself. I shared with them that there would be 2 day, 15 day & 30 day milestones, at which time I would have conversations with non-performers & either implement a performance plan or retire them. I would also make it a regular habit to commend the good performances along the way.
I shared with them that in a 24 hour weekday, I'm hoping you have 8 hours of sleep, and I'll guarantee you that more than 50% of the remaining 16h will be based on, or thinking about, "work". Therefore, if you're going to dedicate more than 50% of your "awake" time to "work" during a 5 day work week rather than to your loved ones & special interests, it's absolute lunacy to work in a place where you're not motivated and inspired. As a consequence, if I ask you or if you decide to leave, then we're only doing each other a favor based on a general concern & well-being for all.
One person left within 48 hours, a few more within the first 15 days, then a few more within the next 15 days. Along the way change happened, a pride which previously didn't exist filled the department! Results, followed by customer satisfaction, started to sparkle where it didn't exist before. THEY, the last ones standing, did all of the work. I merely gave them direction and the opportunity to be everything I already knew they could be.
Top 3 things to focus on when fixing what's broken
Having just finished up another successful assignment at a hyper growth enterprise, and noting that the core principles of success were again very similar to many other situations faced over the past +25 years, I thought I'd share my 3 areas of focus.
I should add to this that two days before I departed, an interested 2nd line manager/team leader asked if I could share with him some insights. He had witnessed remarkable changes in a very short period of time, and whilst I had been very busy with first line management, he recognized the possibility to learn some very practical & valuable lessons directly himself.
It inspired me that again we had been able to affect collateral interest, as well as a desire for change deeper within the organization, so I rallied the entire 2nd line leadership team and spent the next 2 hours giving them some day-to-day examples of the following:
- Customer Centricity – Focus on the Customer
- We have Internal Customers
- Every person in every department, in one way or another, facilitates the servicing of External Customers
- By serving the needs of our Internal Customers, we are either directly or indirectly addressing the needs of our External Customers
- Open up the lines of communication & ownership by first committing to, and then respecting, bi-lateral Service Level Agreements
- We have External Customers
- Shift from a systems interoperability focus to a successful customer purchasing focus
- Now start to look for opportunities to enrich & enhance the customer purchasing experience
- Open up the lines of communication & ownership by first committing to, and then respecting, Service Level Agreements
- We have Internal Customers
- Ownership – Never let go until you're satisfied
- Ownership is a like a hungry dog with a bone.. you never let go until you're satisfied the hunger is quenched
- You can never assume the client, internal or external, is satisfied with a solution until you have direct confirmation/validation from/of the same
- Every obstacle is merely an opportunity for you to find another alternative path to a solution
- Don't accept that a problem can't be fixed until you've exhausted every means, including escalated your concern to the highest level within your organization
- Ownership is like a football team moving forward to score a goal, just because you've passed the ball forward, your contribution to the goal isn't over until the ball is in the net & you're embracing your colleagues in celebration
- Just because you've forwarded a need or requirement, your job isn't done until you've confirmed/validated that the next person is carrying out the necessary task(s) until the "client" is satisfied
- Trust is good.. but verification is proof.. & much.. much better!
- Confirm the goal! Confirm with the "client" that they've gotten the result they expected, and then celebrate the WIN/GOAL/SCORE & never just the great pass
- Ownership is a like a hungry dog with a bone.. you never let go until you're satisfied the hunger is quenched
- Communication – "Engage with.." instead of "talking to.."
- Communication is a bi-directional inter-activity & never a uni-lateral conversation
- Effective communication requires active empathetic listening
- Effective communication is never assuming that you know what the other person has just said, but repeating it for acknowledgment & confirmation of detail
- In effective communication, there is no such thing as "common sense".. common sense is merely an accumulation of related experiences, and we all have different filters (interpretations & perceptions) based on our past influences
- More than talking to someone, effective communication is when you confirm that an intention is understood, and the expected outcome has been agreed to by the "actioning party"
- To borrow from Engineering terms, effective communications requires an active & affective acknowledgment process (ACK/NAK or checksum), which is an infallible confirmation that what has been requested, has been acknowledge and understood
- Effective communications requires a S.M.A.R.T. conversation, with specific confirmation by all parties as to what has been requested vs. what will be delivered by when by whom to where & how
- Communication is a bi-directional inter-activity & never a uni-lateral conversation
These might sound simple enough that you would actually overlook or underestimate the impact that they are already having on your organization, but the fact is, and I'm willing to be openly challenged on this, you show me a problem in your organization, and I'll show you where one, if not all of the above are responsible for the lack of results that you know your enterprise is capable of.
How to fix your company in 30 days
Whether you're a "hired" senior executive or an entrepreneur leading your enterprise to greatness, you've probably raised your head from the table more than once and questioned yourself as to "how am I going to fix what's broken(?)". And regardless of whether you already have a plan to action on this thought, or not, checking over the following points can only help you fix it faster, better, cheaper.. and maybe even keep you out of bigger trouble than you are already in!
- Gut Check Time – How committed are you to affect change in your organization?
- Are you willing to embrace this opportunity for self reflection & personal awareness/growth?
- Are you committed to taking the necessary action steps required to fix the situation first, and the root cause second?
- Core Ideology Clarity – Do you have, and have you communicated, your organizations Mission, Vision & Core Values?
- Mission = The Purpose for being (The WHY for your organizations existence)
- Simon Sinek's Start with WHY is the masterpiece in this area
- Vision = The Dream you want to manifest (The WHAT of the outcome you want to achieve)
- Cameron Herald's Painted Picture is the tool of choice if you're having challenges here
- Core Values = The Rules for the Road (The HOW you & your team will behave whilst executing your strategy)
- Mission = The Purpose for being (The WHY for your organizations existence)
- Gut Check Time – Do you have proof that your staff/Team have bought into and fully understand your Core Ideology?
- Do they understand the "why" things need to change?
- Have you looked them "in the white of their eyes" & confirmed they're on-board?
- How are they "living" your Core Ideology day-in / day-out?
- Seek "outside & unbiased" contribution from nothing less than a non-consultant consultant
- As the "owner of your own experience", don't shoot yourself in the foot by getting someone who is too close to the business to be objective as to what the true cause for the issues are
- In fact, the root of the problem might be yourself.. are you ready to admit that?
- Validate you have an "Engagement Model" that works
- Are you communicating "at/to", or "with" your team?
- "Communication is a bi-directional activity, and it requires active & empathetic listening
- Do you have a One-Page Plan, or similar framework to ensure that you and your team are literally on the same page in what concerns your goals & objectives
- Are your goals/objectives S.M.A.R.T.?
- Do you have regular review/Pulse Check cycles? – "People don't do what you expect, they do what you inspect"
- 15m Daily Huddles?
- 1h Weekly Strategic Meetings?
- 2h Monthly Sanity Check & Planning Meetings?
- Half Day Quarterly Strategic Review & Adjustment Sessions?
- Semi-Annual Full-Day Strategic Alignment & Planning Workshops Off-Site?
- Annual Full-Day/Two-Day Strategic Alignment, Planning & Executing Your Strategy?
- Do you have Periodic Performance Review Cycles with your Team?
- What's your feedback loop to track & measure progress along the way?
- How do you ensure you're hitting your milestones in a timely manner?
- What's your escalation process to avoid surprises & keep you in the drivers seat?
- Are you communicating "at/to", or "with" your team?
- Gut Check Time – Are you Strategy or Execution focused?
- The execution of an idea is ALWAYS more important than the brilliance of the thought!
- Don't get hung-up on a beautiful strategy if you're not going to be able to execute on it
- Do you have the proper (and proven) skill-set on-board to execute?
- Don't get hung-up on a beautiful strategy if you're not going to be able to execute on it
- The execution of an idea is ALWAYS more important than the brilliance of the thought!
- Communicate, Communicate & Communicate again
- Don't take anything for granted!
- Keep up the communication with your team, and those you need support from to keep everyone motivated
- Circulate results & celebrate wins!
- Look / seek out "quick wins" to boost confidence & motivation
- Get some air beneath your wings
- Praise the great work!
- Address set-backs as opportunities for learning & growth!
- Give your plan "teeth"!!
- Make sure there are consequences for non conformance!
- Celebrate as a TEAM, so that you can repeat success as, and when needed, to overcome any challenge
It really is that simple! The complexity comes when you have to judge how bad things have gotten and for how long. How corrupt or rotten has your company culture become? This is the difference between a 30 day, 3 month, or a 3 year fix. This will be the significant reason why your employee churn will be single or double digits. The deeper the already ingrained bad habits, the longer it will take to build new & healthy habits! Remember, you don't stop doing things wrong, you learn how to start doing things right! You don't stop practicing bad habits, you learn & practice new healthy & productive habits! It takes up to 21 consecutive days of practicing a new healthy habit before it becomes ingrained in your DNA, so you have to be persistent & diligent.
Finally, if you can find a way to make it fun & rewarding, then you're going to increase the probability & speed of your success.


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Tao Te Ching - Explaining Why We Meditate
Saturday 6th July 2013
The Tao Te Ching was written thousands of years ago by a chap called Lau Tzu and is a collection of poems describing the Tao (spiritual way). It's a book that you can interpret on many levels, from philosophical to spiritual and also as a practical guide to meditation. As I've meditated over the years I've gone back to this book for inspiration and for entertainment from time to time. Verse twelve really describes why we "meditate".
The five colours blind the eye.
The five tones deafen the ears.
The five flavours dull the taste.
Racing and hunting madden the mind.
Precious things lead one astray.
Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not what he sees.
He lets go of that and chooses this.
It's wonderfully poetic isn't it!
So what does it specifically mean from a practical meditation perspective? Well this is my opinion. What it means to you will depend on what you've experienced so far in your own meditation.
The five colours blind the eye: is an interesting choice of words. There are 7 colours from red through to violet. These correspond to the 7 main chakras of the human energy system. Red is the base, indigo is the third eye and violet relates to the crown. Why did he say 5 colours and not 7? Well the first 5 colours are the lower centres or chakras:
1. Red - Base chakra - survival
2. Orange - Sacral chakra - creativity
3. Yellow - Solar plexus chakra - Sense of self
4. Green - Heart chakra - Loving
5. Blue - Throat chakra - Expression
The 6th main chakra is the third eye or brow chakra. This is the place we naturally find our attention drawn to when we meditate. He says "blind the eye" - did you notice he didn't say "blind the eyes". He is referring to our spiritual eye - the brow chakra. So what he's saying is that too much emphasis on the lower centres blinds our brow chakra.
Numerologically 5 symbolises confusion and man interacting with creation. We have 5 fingers and 5 toes, 5 senses too. 4 Represents limits and 6 represents creation, between limits and creation we find confusion.
How Does This Relate To Meditation?
It relates in two ways. Firstly it's saying that the act of meditation, where we turn our awareness inside and away from the world of the senses is necessary to become spiritually awake. Secondly the first line alone indicates that the brow chakra is important for our development. As you meditate, gently allow your awareness to rest in your brow. A hint is to relax your eyes as it's not about "looking" into the brow, rather it's about disolving into that space. When I teach classes I give practical guidance on how to fine tune this process and easily be more aware of the brow and other centres.
It's Not Just About the Brow.
From an enlightened perspective, all the chakras are important, and they are all transcended as we become more spiritually aligned. This transcendence is inclusive and so the lower centres are not shunned or denied, it's simply that we learn to move our attention into higher, non-personality based awareness.
All that's just the first line of the poem. What does the rest of this poem mean to you? The picture above is a photo I took of my copy of the Tau Te Ching in my meditation room at home. I've got many copies and have given away many more copies. This particular one is not in print anymore but my father found this copy at a boot fair! You never know where inspiration will come from! Thanks dad x
Ultimately it's only a book and what really has value is what you find out for yourself from your own meditation and insights. I'm happy to chat about this and any other philosophical/spiritual books with those I teach. it's great to contrast what you know to be true from your own meditation with what you can read from others.
Posted by Mark Zaretti at 22:18
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subset: commoncrawl


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Just over a month ago, it was widely commented upon when President Obama and Donald Trump managed to sit through a brief White House pool spray without coming to blows. Given the bitterness of the campaign, and Trump's years-long racist anti-Obama advocacy, the fact that the transition between their administrations might not be as acrimonious as everyone assumed was considered big news.
A few weeks later—after Trump disparaged the U.S. intelligence community, and his surrogates began spreading the conspiracy theory that the Obama administration conducted a false flag operation to exaggerate ties between Trump and the Russian government—the politeness is draining rapidly out of the process.
Speaking to The Daily Show's Trevor Noah, President Obama sounded more like he did when he was campaigning for Clinton than in the days after the election. "The president-elect in some of his political events specifically said to the Russians, 'Hack Hillary's emails so that we can finally find out what's going on, and confirm our conspiracy theories.' You had what was very clear relationships between members of the president-elect's campaign team and Russians, and a professed shared view on a bunch of issues."
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest made similar observations from his podium on Monday, before taking things further. "It was the president-elect who, over the course of the campaign, indicated that he thought that President Putin was a strong leader," he reminded the press corps. "It was the president-elect who indicated the potential that he would withdraw from some of our critically important NATO commitments. It was the president-elect who refused to disclose his financial connections to Russia. It was the president-elect who hired a campaign chairman with extensive, lucrative, personal financial ties to Russia. It was the president-elect who had a national security adviser on the campaign that had been a paid contributor to RT, the Russian propaganda outlet. The president-elect's team, his campaign, didn't make any effort to obscure this."
Trump has gushed about Obama, prompted and unprompted, throughout the transition. Let's see if that continues.


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Prosecutor must accept responsibility
Thurston County Prosecutor Ed Holm must stop blaming others for his shortcomings.
A Mason County jury has awarded three deputy prosecutors $1.52 million in damages for their claims of discrimination and retaliation in Holm's office. In a weak statement of defense after the stunning verdict last week, Holm noted that he was not a defendant in the case, that the female attorneys' filed suit against the county.
What a lame statement.
The allegations of discrimination and retaliation didn't involve the sheriff's office or the county clerk, the assessor or treasurer or any other office of county government. This case was centered entirely on Ed Holm and his actions, his managers and the manner in which Holm administered his office.
In a feeble attempt to shift blame from himself to the county, Holm said, "I have had no control over this case for six years." That may be true, but as an independently elected county official, Holm certainly had control over the office where the discrimination and retaliation occurred according to the jury's verdict.
The $1.52 million judgment is an indictment of Holm and his leadership abilities. The question Thurston County residents must ask themselves is whether things have improved in the prosecutor's office since these incidents took place. Has Holm created a nonhostile, professional working environment free of harassment and bias, sexual innuendo and inappropriate behavior?
It's a legitimate question given the recent arrest of another deputy prosecuting attorney, William J. Halstead, at a Seattle Seahawks game. Halstead and another employee in the prosecutor's office were caught in a stall in a woman's restroom during a football game at Qwest field. King County sheriff deputies were responding to calls from employees that two people were having sex in a stall.
Halstead was arrested on suspicion of trespassing - being in the women's restroom - and obstructing a law enforcement officer. The woman Halstead was with, an administrative assistant in the prosecutor's office, was not arrested. The actions of the two employees raise questions about the kind of environment Holm has created in his office.
It's also worth reminding the county prosecutor that the original complaint filed by the three women in Thurston County in August 2001 alleged that Holm used lewd language - such as references to the size of some women's breasts, made off-color jokes and used sexual bias in giving out plum assignments or pay. The final complaint, refiled in Mason County in 2004, named Thurston County as a defendant, but centered on actions made in Holm's office by Holm and his subordinates. The county was named as defendant likely because that's where the money is.
The jury verdict supports an earlier investigation of Holm's leadership. Marcia Ruskin, an attorney and consultant, was hired by Thurston County commissioners to investigate the claims by the three deputy prosecutors. She found no discrimination or retaliation but said, "I think it is self-evident that Holm is not a particularly strong manager."
Voters, who last month returned unopposed Holm to office for another 4-year term, have to ask whether, the county prosecutor has righted the ship since the three former employees filed their lawsuit. The jury is still out on that one.


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Samsung Galaxy S9 Launch Set for MWC 2018
After some underlying hypotheses, Samsung has now formally affirmed that the Galaxy S9 will make a big appearance at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in February. The new lead, which will be the successor to the organization's last year Galaxy S8, is relied upon to come in two distinct variations – the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. The cell phone has been supposed to have highlights, for example, a thin-bezel, Infinity Display and a double camera setup.
Samsung's Mobile Communications Business President DJ Koh at a public interview at CES 2018 uncovered that the principal lead cell phone of 2018 will be divulged at MWC, while its business date will be declared at the occasion itself, reports ZDNet. Some early gossipy tidbits indicated the divulging of the new Galaxy arrangement lead at CES to a little gathering of people, however South Korean outlet The Bell a month ago expressed that the organization is wanting to have a dispatch occasion for the Galaxy S9 on February 26 – the beginning date of the MWC. The Bell's report additionally brought up that not at all like the Galaxy S8 dispatch that occurred in March a year ago, the cell phone producer is taking a gander at a prior timetable this time because of the quick development of the iPhone X.
In the event that we take a gander at some past gossipy tidbits, the Galaxy S9 would have an enhanced iris scanner over the one included on the most recent year's Galaxy S8. Some current renders assert that the leader would have a unique finger impression sensor underneath its essential camera, like the a portion of the of late propelled models including Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+.
On the off chance that we trust the details recorded by Geekbench, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ will be controlled by an octa-center Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC and run Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-case, however the as of late disclosed Samsung Exynos 9810 SoC can be normal in most local variations. Among the two, the Galaxy S9+ is supposed to have 6GB of RAM and up to 512GB of capacity. The greater variation in the new Galaxy S family is additionally answered to have a double camera setup. In any case, both the Galaxy S models are probably going to accompany a 3.5mm earphone jack – the one that has not been a piece of the most recent Google Pixel family and the iPhone territory.
Koh additionally allegedly say the nearness of a foldable telephone by the South Korean goliath at some point one year from now and the accessibility of Bixby 2.0 not long from now. He is additionally said to have featured that the Bixby virtual collaborator will be accessible over all Samsung gadgets by 2020.
Follow Letstakereview for more updates.


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I've got my coffee right at hand, and I'm in the Minor prophets again. Yesterday, I finished Jonah and today I start in Micah. There are 68 chapters in the Minor prophets so it takes three days to go through them. It only takes two weeks out of two months to get through the New Testament. Here are a few thoughts I have for you today:
1) TWISTED- That is how you can describe Israel before the captivity and perhaps America in these days ahead. Here is the precise wording: Micah 3:2- "Who hate the good, and love the evil;" It's that twisted? We see that good is attacked in our country and the bad is promoted. How sad for our nation. "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
2) HEAD FOR THE STORM CELLAR- In the south, you have area that are prone to have tornado's. Many of those places have a storm cellar dug in the ground and reinforced with concrete so that they can hide in there while the storm passes by. In Nahum, 1:3, it says: "The LORD hath his way in the whirlwind, and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." Here we see that God has His way in the storms of life and on earth, but in verse 7 it reads: "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." God is also our "storm cellar"! In these days of uncertainty throughout our land, let all of God's people head for the storm cellar!! We will find our protection in the LORD!
3) MAKE IT PLAIN- In Habakkuk 2:2 the Bible says: "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." Straight preaching and teaching is what is needed. Not that which is above the heads of the people, and certainly not that which goes in circles so that no one knows exactly what you mean or even what you are saying. We need plain speech and straight forward preaching! This will change us and our people!
4) FAITH IN DARK DAYS- It is easy to have faith when all goes well, but faith in dark days are what is needed. Habakkuk 3:17,18 spells this out: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." This is a great example of "faith in dark days". May we have this same faith for whatever we may face in the future!
5) BUILD THE HOUSE!! Haggai 1:8 says: "build the house". God is telling the people who have come back from the captivity that they have built their own houses but have not built the house of the LORD. God says: "build the house, and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD." What do you think about your church? That building is special because God meets with His people there. That is why we want to take good care of the house of God. He dwells in us, but meets with us at Church!!
Well, I have to go for today... I could spend the whole day I think just going from verse to verse. So much I have to skip over, but in time.... I may get to those verses too! Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler


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The Uncovered Gems of Georgia USA
Georgia is the center of the Americas history of culture. Some renown historical figures like Martin Luther King were born and raised in Georgia. The famous movie Gone with the wind also originated from this same place. The state has so many historical things that can be seen today The state of Georgia has so much to offer. Right at the heart of the country you will find one small town called the Blue Ridge. You are likely to meet the music experts as well as those who can make some drink. The other thing that cannot miss your attention is the Pine Mountain. There are several shops, traditional restaurants that serve the southern food and there are many shops that may get you lost in the area. Lodgings are nothing to search for as they are conspicuously all over the place especially around apartments in LaGrange GA. The movement within the state is made accessible by the UBER services that are available. You can still watch so many things from the beach. There are beautiful views all over the place for you to watch. It is an amazing feeling when you relax taking a drink with a friend. You cannot finish the many things you can do either at the beach under the beautiful sun or you decide to transverse the state. If you are fun of hiking never leave before you take trails along the Panther Creek. You will have seen very little if you do not visit the magnificent waterfalls at then rivers. You can choose to establish and exhibit your camping competencies in the many campsites available.
The experience that you will have depends on your tour guide. Choose a guide who will not let you down by not understanding the landscape of the place. You need someone who has the right experience. You have to be sure you will be treated well by your tour guide with the respect that you deserve. Your drivers should be well trained and with the experience of the place. You do not want to negotiate corners with people who are not sure of what they are doing. you should also have drivers who are flexible and can let you see the places that seem to be interesting to you. it is important to have a driver who knows how to keep time. If you get someone who is not serious with time, you will be picked at a time when you would have covered the first part of your journey. You should also take your meals in time and not getting to the hotels past lunch time. Experienced drivers will make you have a very very good time in this country. Therefore make sure you choose your travel company well.
Source: http://www.pinayads.com/


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Monthly Archives: March 2010
The Nooner #16: Good News, Bad News
Welcome to the first Nooner of 2010!
I have today's Spring Training game on in the background while I work, and my lunch hour has proven to be rather eventful.
First, the good news: According to this article by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, LHP Jaime Garcia will be announced as the team's 5th starter for 2010 later today. I'm happy about this for a couple of reasons: having a lefty starter in the rotation is a great equalizer, and the fact that it's a guy that came up through the system only strengthens the validation for the Cards' "draft and develop" plans. Congrats, Jaime. Do us proud.
Now, the bad news: Yadier Molina came up lame running to third base in the second inning of today's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Early reports indicate it's a strained right oblique. Yikes. I'd imagine a catcher would have a pretty tough time coming back from this injury. Guess we'll see…


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I went on a little shopping spree this past week as I got paid for my first consulting project and figured this would be a good time to stock up on some supplies.
So what exactly did I buy on my little trip?
Books, Books and more Books!
Here is the list!
Brandjam: Humanizing Brands Through Emotional Design. By Marc Gobe
The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott
Join the Conversation: How to Engage Marketing-Weary Consumers with the Power of Community, Dialogue, and Partnership (Hardcover)by Joseph Jaffe
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore
How to catch the Big Idea: The Strategies of the Top-Creatives by Ralf Langwost
I will dive into these titles as soon as I finish up The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley.
In other media I got a chance to see Gone Baby Gone (project research!) and give it my two thumbs up….way up. Say what you want about Ben Affleck (and I happen to like him) he has made a great film here and Casey Affleck is incredible in the lead!
p.s. I have some real news to report later today so make sure you come back!


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This is pulverized wild hibiscus flower tea. The hibiscus is one of the most powerful sources of dark red polyphenols and flavonoids known.
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an incredibly powerful health food tea with special polyphenols that have a high degree of potency, especially for the health of the cardiovascular system
manganese is a key mineral for heart health, and this tea is the top source
a powerful antioxidant tea, unmatched by commercial types
may be made into either hot or cold beverages
a 100% raw, wild food
gently pulverized wild Mediterranean hibiscus flowers
biologically active flavonoids


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Wilford Harewood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
No battle is too big for NeNe Leakes and Gregg Leakes to overcome.
Earlier this month, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star dropped some unexpected news on Instagram. As it turns out, her husband is currently battling cancer.
"Our New Normal and the fight begins #f--kcancer," NeNe wrote on Instagram while visiting the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Since then, the pair has been keeping fans updated on their journey to getting Gregg healthy again.
And as the couple celebrates the five-year anniversary of their second wedding that was documented on Bravo's I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding, the pair remains more united than ever before.


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Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome back to another not so exciting report from KellysWorld. Today I am reporting from "in-the-field" at a local apartment community that I have been charged with holding down for the memorial weekend holiday. Basically it is like being in charge of a large Crypt. Like any crypt, you get the occassional visitor. Unlike a crypt though, these individuals don't come baring gifts, but instead enter only for the the free cookies and lemonade. As happy as they are for this free sustenance, they aren't much for conversation. So the day just drags, drags and drags on. Yesterday this went on for 7 hours, luckily today it only lasts 4 hours. As I am being paid to watch the crypt, I guess I should consider myself lucky. "Lucky," though, can be a relative concept.
All is all it isn't a bad gig. Nine bucks and hour to watch the crypt isn't bad and of couse it helps to pay the bills. Obviously though, it is about as boring as boring gets. If not for the computer I am writing this report from, I would be ready for a tea party at the bottom of the pool. It could always be worse. At least I am not working in the crypt after mid-night.
Just 90 more minutes before I am released from the crypt.


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VILLAGE OF YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. -- Kirk Jones, the man who went over Niagara Falls in 2003 and survived, has now been identified as the man who was found dead earlier this week in Lake Ontario.
His body was discovered by a fisherman in the Village of Youngstown.
New York State Park Police Detective Sergeant Brian Nisbet said Thursday the body has been identified as Kirk R. Jones of Spring Hill Florida.
Sgt. Nisbet said it appears Jones was in the Niagara Falls area April 19. On that day, he said crews responded to a report of a large "spinning ball" in the rapids.
After an investigation, Nisbet said it's believed Jones was attempting to go over the Falls inside that ball. However, he fell out at some point, which resulted in his death. Nisbet added the incident is still under investigation.


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what a beautiful day! feeling reinvigorated for all things etsy after meeting so many creative people at the i heart art meet & greet last night. (i even posted a recycled woolly nest + felted egg in my shop!)
we enjoyed a lovely visit with friends - including a walk and wagon ride to play at the park!
a honey bee lingered on my hand for awhile... and i remained calm enough to take the above, and many other blurry, photos. which is quite a feat for me, really.
spent some time picking up and getting things together...
even starting to fill in my portfolio of projects past on ravelry... {byhandathome}
which can only lead to the incredible urge to knit new projects! i am terribly excited for monday, because something i submitted will be in the upcoming spring edition of rhythm of the home. it's also the day registration opens for the free professional development and etsy workshops i heart art is co-hosting. hooray! i hope you all are having a fantastic weekend! what's inspiring you?


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I recently wrote a post on How to Create a Weekly Prayer List on Your iPhone. I know, I know, I should have known: there's an app for that.
I heard a story on The World and Everything In It news and commentary podcast (which I highly recommend) on the app called PrayerMate. I was skeptical at first. I just failed to see how it could really do more than I had already created. WOW, was I wrong! I have been using it for several weeks now, and I love it!
It has so many great features:
- add any number of topics, subjects, and notes
- connect people on your list with your contacts (photos are imported and you can contact them right from the app)
- set any topic or list to appear as often as you like and PrayerMate puts together a prayer list as often as you want, according to your preferences
- RSS feeds are available (for example, I subscribe to the Operation World prayer feed)
- you can also create your own prayer feed others can subscribe to
- intuitive and easy to use
- it is FREE


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Experienced Health Coaches Available When You Need Them
Many healthcare professionals (HCPs) already deliver health coaching to their patients. For example, after a patient is diagnosed with a chronic condition, the HCP may educate the patient about their illness, work with the patient to develop a personalized wellness plan to meet the patient's goals, and conduct follow-up evaluations to see how the patient is doing with their plan. Often times, these patient-HCP interactions occur face-to-face.
With NexJ Health Coach, HCPs have an opportunity to efficiently deliver more care to more patients with better results. HCPs well-suited to carrying out personal health coaching include:
For organizations that don't have access to health coach resources, NexJ Health can help. We can provide access to regulated HCPs who are experienced health coaches, with knowledge in behavior change psychology, motivational interviewing, nutrition and physical activity, to empower people to adopt long-term behavior change.
NexJ Health Coaching services are comprised of four components:
Develop Health Coaching Content and Protocols – Health coaching content and protocols can be tailored for the specific needs of defined patient populations. Protocols are continuously reviewed and refined based on continuous research advances and trials.
Train Health Coaches – Health coaches are trained on the use of the platform, how to coach using the platform, and health coaching protocols.
Provide Health Coaching Services – Coaching can be provided directly by a NexJ health coach or arranged through one of NexJ Health's third-party coaching partners. Health coaches provide personal health coaching for chronic disease management. Multiple health coaches may be assigned to support a population. Supervisors monitor data to ensure coaches are properly allocated and re-balanced.
Provide Health Coaching Oversight- This service involves ensuring mechanisms are in place to identify when a patient's medical or psychological issues require escalation and referral to healthcare professionals that have an appropriate scope of practice.
Learn more about NexJ's Health Coaching protocols.


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Visit our Reading Room:
Suite D
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 820-3675
You'll find us open six days a week, located in the heart of the ASU campus, north of University, between Rural and Mill Avenues, on S. Forest Avenue. If the small parking lot is full, you can find metered parking on the street. Fees are $1.50 per hour for street parking and credit cards are accepted at the meters.
Monday – Saturday
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
What is a Christian Science Reading Room?
A Reading Room is a bookstore and library where anyone, regardless of faith, can come to read, pray, or learn more about Christian Science from the friendly staff.
The Tempe Christian Science Reading Room is our open door to the community. It's a place where you can come in and read the weekly Bible lesson, read testimonies of healing in the current periodicals or on JSH-Online, research articles on Christian Science using the computer, listen to audio selections, ask questions, or buy books and literature to advance your spiritual quest. Here we make Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy available to the public. We also carry the Christian Science Monitor Weekly Magazine, an award-winning newspaper dedicated to unbiased, solution-oriented reporting of national and world news. For those guests eager to purchase Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy or other authorized Christian Science books, you may purchase them online.


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Schooley Mitchell has a strong focus on community involvement. Optimization Specialist Rick Fearman takes pride in being part of the following organizations in his area:
Volunteer Honours for Rick Fearman
2014 Honours
For the second year in a row, Rick Fearman has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to his community. The award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement was given to Fearman by Richmond Hill MP Costas Menegakis.
2013 Honours
Schooley Mitchell's Rick Fearman recently received two awards recognizing his outstanding contributions to his community. The first, the Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award, was given to Fearman by Richmond Hill MP Costas Menegakis. The second, a certificate of appreciation for his dedicated service to the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce, awarded to him by Board Chair Marj Andre and Chamber CEO Leslie Whidden.
Rick Fearman talks business with Tim Hudak
Schooley Mitchell's Rick Fearman was on hand for a meeting with Tim Hudak, the leader of the Ontario opposition, at the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce. He is pictured above, at far right, with fellow Chamber directors, Hudak and Richmond Hill Progressive Conservative candidate Vic Gupta.
The roundtable discussion focused on transportation and the need to ease traffic gridlock, job creation and government tax and spend policies. Fearman was proud to represent the local business community at the event.
Mayor's Character in Business Breakfast
Schooley Mitchell's Rick Fearman, left, with Richmond Hill MP Costas Menegakis at the annual Mayor's Character in Business Breakfast. The event, hosted by Mayor Dave Barrow, focused on the integrating the Character Community Initiative in local business, helping companies create an environment that promotes respect, boosts morale, increases loyalty, and recognizes outstanding achievement.


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Thank you for your interest in becoming a sponsor of the Vernonia Friendship Jamboree & Logging Show! This year, the Jamboree will be taking place
August 7-9 2020.
The Vernonia Friendship Jamboree & Logging Show is a 3-day event that takes over the town with the purpose of reuniting old friends and making new ones.
The event is based around our annual Logging Show that keeps the spirit of logging in our community alive. Other long-standing events that are a part of the Jamboree include: a Car Show, Motorcycle Show, Black Powder Encampment and Equestrian Events. We strive to have a variety of food and merchandise booths, family fun activities and entertainment.
For Website Advertising and/or Sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Nicole Sullivan
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Psst! Amazon has a section featuring products that people put on their wish lists and registries most often.
Here are some of the coolest and most useful products from that section this week:
1. A mini waffle maker perfect for making brunch for one...or two, if you're feeling generous. It comes in pretty pastel colors, so you'll want to leave it on your countertop!
2. A tube of blister prevention balm to apply on your feet before slipping into those brand new heels. You'll be thankful you did in a couple hours.
3. A mini cinema lightbox you can keep on your desk and arrange the letters to say, "Is it Friday yet?"
4. A set of dual brush pens that'll get you into the art of hand lettering.
5. A travel-size sound machine and Bluetooth speaker designed for troubled sleepers who are always on the go.
6. A pair of kick mats to prevent little feet from smearing mud on the back of the car seats.
7. A set of bamboo storage boxes, so you can declutter the drawers and actually find stuff you need.
8. A waterproof eyeshadow stick (with a built-in smudger) to easily apply on the go — no brushes or fingertips required. It sets in 30 seconds and lasts all day!
9. An electric makeup brush cleaner for people who hate washing their brushes by hand and waiting for them to dry overnight.
10. A mermaid skeleton embroidery patch that can accurately represent how you feel before getting your Starbucks in the morning.
11. A pair of gold hairpins sure to ~bee~ a conversation starter whenever you wear them.
12. A container of teeth-whitening charcoal powder so you can blind someone with those pearly whites.
13. A pack of hydrating sheet masks for a cheap and easy at-home facial when your skin feels dry and dull. (Damn you, winter weather!)
14. A pack of wool-blend socks with colorful cuffs that'll peek out when you wear your fave ankle boots.
15. A ceramic heat styling brush to smooth out your locks ASAP in the morning. It'll be faster and easier to use than a straighter and leave your hair with more volume!
16. A cold brew maker for anyone who takes their coffee iced, even when it's blizzarding outside.
17. A makeup blending sponge shaped like everyone's favorite lazy egg. You'll be smiling when you get ready in the morning even if Gudetama isn't.
18. A set of cat ornaments to decorate your terrarium with. They'd also look adorable nestled in a succulent planter.
19. A five-blade spiralizer for an efficient way to make zucchini noodles, so you can keep up with your resolution to eat more veggies in 2018.
20. A set of highlighters in soft colors that won't hurt your eyes when you look at them.
21. A heat-changing constellation mug any stargazer would be over the moon about.
22. A dotted notebook for starting that bullet journal you've been planning since last year.
23. A super-absorbent doormat that'll catch all the icy slush stuck to your snowboots, so you won't leave muddy footprints behind.
24. A stretchy V-neck dress you can wear to work, to a dinner date, or even on the weekend at home because it's just that comfortable!
To see everything else people are wishing for on Amazon, click here.
To see what people were wishing for last week, click here.


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Reader Jenea commented on this week's full Rite Aid match ups that an additional $2 +UP Reward printed for each pack of Flintstones vitamins she purchased this morning, in addition to the "Spend $30, Get $10 +UP Reward" deal that is running this week. I ran up to the store to check out details and we have ourselves a fantastic deal!
Details on the different promotions:
- Spend $30 on participating products, Get $10 +UP Reward – limit 1 (weekly deal)
- Buy 1 Flintstones vitamins, Get $2 +UP Reward – limit 4 (monthly, runs through 10/25)
The monthly deal was clearly marked in my store, but I am not sure if this is a regional deal or not. Double check the signage in your store before purchasing, just in case. The vitamins are on sale this week BOGO 50% off and my store had TONS of different varieties, most priced at $8.79. If you can't find any in the vitamins section, check the Pediatric section for more selection.
****Deal Scenario****
(4) Flintstones Vitamins $8.79 (2 will ring up $4.39)
Alka Seltzer Plus Cold (20 ct) $5.99*
Use (4) $2/1 Flintstones coupons from 10/23 RP insert
Use $2/1 Alka Seltzer Plus coupon from 10/23 RP insert
Use $1/1 Alka Seltzer Plus Rite Aid Video Values store coupon (October)
Pay $21.36, Receive $10 +UP Reward and (4) $2 +UP Rewards
$.67 each after coupons and rewards
The Alka Seltzer Plus is on sale BOGO 50% off as well, but you only need one to get you over the $30 mark. When you buy it by itself, it will ring up with your Wellness+ discount. If you have your 20% discount, it will ring up at $4.79. This will make each item just $.43 each after coupons and rewards!
Thanks for the heads up on the monthly reward, Jenea!
Be sure to check out the rest of this week's Rite Aid deals here.
This post may contain affiliate links. See the disclosure policy for more information.


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Our Team
Alison Hotchkiss
For me, producing weddings and events is about creating unforgettable experiences. In order to do that and stay inspired, I'm constantly seeking adventure in my personal life – exploring new destinations and fueling my own passion for the outdoors and design.
My devotion to travel started early. I grew up on the East Coast, and spent a semester of high school in Japan, followed by college in Colorado and New Zealand. Prior to starting Alison Events, I worked in corporate planning, working with businesses to plan and execute special events and incentive travel trips. I combined that experience with the goal of bringing families together and working all over the world, and Alison Events Planning & Design was born.
Since launching in 2003, my team and I have cultivated an exceptional global network of vendors and event partners. I've written two books on destination wedding planning and produced over 400 events in nine countries and 27 cities around the world. Throughout my almost twenty years in business, I've grown and learned from just about every experience. I've learned how to understand what my clients want and connect with them on a genuine, personal level. I've learned how to play by the rules and, more importantly, when to throw them out entirely. I've learned how to keep my diplomatic cool when the stress is high, and how to deal with intricate family dynamics.
Producing events isn't just about making things pretty – at Alison Events we know that it's about handling all the details – from catering, logistics and budgeting, to the challenges of merging two families – that make up the whole.
When I'm not working, I'm surfing in Mexico, chasing powder in Aspen, hiking, swimming or having a dance party in the living room with my 3-year-old daughter. As a single mom, I maintain the boundaries that allow me a healthy work-life balance. I do that because I believe life is an experience, and I'm all about living it.
jesse tombs
managing partner
I believe that authenticity, passion and a sense of humor are the key ingredients to every successful event. I've been in the hospitality industry practically my whole life; wetting my feet at the age of thirteen, I worked in the kitchen of a catering company piping cream puffs. After attending The Boston Conservatory, where I studied theater arts, I worked in New York City with Ralph Lauren and Burberry as a stylist, fashioning red carpet looks, editorial photo shoots, and Madison Avenue store window displays.
Upon my return to San Francisco (where I was born and raised), I began working with an acclaimed Bay Area catering company, planning and producing weddings in California's wine country and beyond. I then worked with Michelin Star-awarded restaurateur Daniel Patterson and James Beard Award winning chef Craig Stoll. Prior to joining the team at Alison Events, I opened The Battery, a highly anticipated private social club and hotel in San Francisco. There I planned events for Fortune 500 tech companies, local and international political leaders, exclusive luxury brands and elite publishing houses, as well as with some of the most influential and important wedding planners in the world.
I love taking care of people, exceeding my client's expectations at every turn and working with families in different destinations to curate celebrations and event spaces that are quintessentially theirs and truly unforgettable.
When I'm not at my desk or on a plane jetting off to the next destination, I'm spending time with my family and friends, enjoying a great glass of wine and finding inspiration for my next event in the great outdoors.
Senior Event Producer
Candice is a true globetrotter at heart; sailing the Bahamas on a small sailboat, exploring the caves and waterfalls on the Islands of Hawaii and sleeping under the stars in Argentina bred a knack for traveling and a sense of adventure within her.
A passion for hospitality, collaboration and team work lead to a graduate degree in organizational management and a robust career in the luxury hotel industry. Candice worked with Wolfgang Puck at Spago at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui, then planned luxury weddings at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. Most recently she held the reins for corporate events at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica working with clients like Google, Snapchat, MTV, The NFL, FOX and Universal Music.
Candice joins the Alison Events team excited to fuse her lust for travel with her passion for event planning. Candice loves bringing people together to celebrate life's most important moments in the world's most beautiful places.
senior Production Manager
Growing up in a big family teaches you a lot about life from an early age. Ruth, the fifth of seven children, was born and raised in the outskirts of Manchester, England. With a large, colorful family, she's always been good at sharing and getting along well with others. Most importantly, this upbringing taught Ruth how to multitask, handle difficult situations with grace and get her voice heard in a crowd; it also ingrained the importance of dealing with challenging family dynamics with elegance.
After moving to Salt Lake City in her teen years, she discovered a passion for floral design, dance and the arts. Two years into a bachelor's in behavioral science turned into a hospitality management degree, which led to a dynamic career running one of Utah's premiere boutique event and wedding venues. Recently married herself, and relocated to San Francisco, Ruth is excited to work in a fast-paced, creative environment, surrounded by families and creating a new one of her own.
Danielle McCarthy
Production manager
Danielle has always had an enthusiasm for fashion. At a young age, she would patiently wait by the door for her numerous monthly magazine subscriptions to arrive; excited to devour the latest trends and design concepts from around the world and incorporate those ideas into her own personal style and wardrobe. Her strong point of view and appreciation for design led to a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising at Philadelphia University.
Having grown up in the Bay Area, Danielle has also had an admiration for the outdoors since she was a child and always enjoys finding inspiration in nature. Her love for the outdoors led to a minor in Environmental Sustainability. Danielle was recently married to her husband Sam in Winters. When she's not working on events with the Alison Events team, Danielle is cheering on the San Francisco Giants, or singing her heart out on a road trip in search for the best new restaurant in town.
Photography by Larissa Cleveland


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I am a practicing community urologist recently bitten by the innovation bug. This past year, through simple networking alone, I have met many other community clinicians who share my passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. We are "regular" doctors and nurses — not at major centers, not in start-up hotbeds like Boston or the Bay Area — but nonetheless, many of us are thinking big. I write this piece on behalf of clinicians like us, because I believe that the innovation movement has much to gain from us, and much to offer us in return.
What Is Innovation in Health Care?
Health care is experiencing a burgeoning innovation movement today. Clinical medicine and innovation medicine are fundamentally different endeavors. The former emphasizes development of new devices or new drugs, whereas medical innovators seek to establish an entirely new paradigm for care. Clinical medicine has traditionally looked to improve. Innovation medicine, on the other hand, seeks to transform.
Digital applications that bring doctors and nurses directly to patients; personalized and precision medicine tools that track data and provide live coaching; artificial intelligence technologies that can process big data, identify patterns, and make accurate diagnoses; teleconferencing solutions that are bringing virtual visits closer to standard-of-care are only some of the innovations taking place in medicine today.
How Innovation Medicine Happens
In his book, Creativity Inc., Pixar President Ed Catmull, writes about a concept he calls "unhindered communication." This is a free-flowing form of communication that involves and supports all voices. It is the language of creativity.
Catmull describes a room where some of Pixar's most important meetings were held. As in most meeting rooms everywhere, the leadership team clustered at the center, while other key participants lined the periphery, and still others occupied a third tier of seats at the outskirts of the room. No one questioned this setup until one day, by happenstance, the meeting was held in a different room — one with a square table and no assigned seats. Consequently, people sat where they wanted, with each person in plain sight of the others. The new arrangement changed the discussion landscape. There was fuller participation, better idea flow, better eye contact, freer-form thinking — and better ideas as a result.
Now envision a second meeting room, this one from my own residency and fellowship. The setup of weekly conferences in this room is: chairman at the head of the table, program director next to him, other attendings nearby, chief residents farther down the table, junior residents at the periphery, and medical students in an even lower tier, standing in the back or seated under the projector screen with necks craned backward trying to see the screen. Sound familiar?
The second scenario illustrates how we usually gather in clinical medicine. It is a time-honored tradition that has worked for many years. But is this how we should gather in innovation medicine? Should highly visible entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders at major centers dominate the central space at the "medical innovation table"?
Certainly, these leaders are in major centers because they are ambitious, passionate, and talented individuals. And, historically, progress in medicine (e.g., new surgical approaches, devices, drugs) has migrated from major academic centers to smaller communities in a hub-and-spoke configuration.
Innovation medicine, in contrast, seeks to dismantle this hierarchical approach by emphasizing disruption and creativity — elements that are not restricted to any particular geographic area or clinician. I would argue that we, as "off-hub" clinicians, possess some valuable experience to guide innovation. We work with patient populations who may not be represented at large academic centers. We manage a high volume of "bread-and-butter" clinical conditions that need to be maximally leveraged during innovation scaling, which is the process of allocating and optimizing resources to expand an innovative concept through the market. In addition, many of us have more day-to-day interactions with non-clinical staff, ancillary providers, and administrators, and as such might be in a better position to understand the pain points of health care processes that do not directly involve physicians. Finally, many community-based clinicians simply have a gentler lifestyle and a lower complexity of clinical practice, which creates more bandwidth for non-clinical pursuits.
Practicing Innovation Medicine
The question then follows: How do community clinicians become involved? When I first learned of the medical innovation movement, I was very excited — but also somewhat discouraged, because I wasn't sure where I was going to fit in. As a practicing physician in a relatively small community in the Midwest, I worried that I was too far from the places where all the buzz seemed to be happening. Many of my peers have expressed similar concerns.
I believe that part of the issue is an unfamiliarity with the innovation process itself. Many physicians are simply unaware that innovation is a process and that entrepreneurship is a discipline. Innovation does not occur by a magical and mysterious process known only to a few. Entrepreneurs and innovators do not have access to special knowledge that allows them to create products out of thin air. Just as in clinical medicine, there is a playbook of sorts. Books such as Disciplined Entrepreneurship by Bill Aulet are a helpful starting point for interested clinicians to begin to understand this process. For further engagement, academic programs like Penn's Master of Healthcare Innovation or Duke's online course in Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship are just two examples of the many options that can be explored. Teaching community clinicians that there is a process — and that they can play a part — is the first step toward engagement.
To directly involve themselves in this process, community clinicians should be intentional about finding opportunities. If they practice relatively near a major center where innovation is happening, they should look for meaningful partnerships. Even small- to medium-sized organizations that are launching innovation hubs that aim to drive innovation from within the system can be a tremendous asset. For those who do not have local access to such an innovation hub, virtual and online opportunities abound. The American Medical Association is rolling out an online matching program that aims to connect entrepreneurs and start-ups with interested clinicians. Conferences such as Medicine X, Exponential Medicine, and TEDMED are great places to develop passions, meet like-minded individuals, and improve connectivity and discourse among innovators nationwide.
The Clinical Entrepreneurship Programme in England is a deliberate national initiative that engages practicing clinicians and intentionally recruits and includes community physicians, regardless of geographic location or type of practice. This program, run through the U.K. National Health Service under the guidance of Tony Young, the NHS National Clinical Lead for Innovation, allows entrepreneurial residents to have a flexible schedule so they can pursue their ventures while staying on track toward becoming a practicing physician. When I had a chance to meet Tony, as well as some of his resident entrepreneurs at a recent conference, it was amazing to hear what these residents are doing "on the side" — and even more amazing to hear how much their endeavors are supported by the NHS. Whether an orthopedic surgery resident with a digital tool that streamlines the informed consent process, or a recently graduated medical doctor with a medical photography mobile applications, these clinicians are innovating wherever they are planted, and the NHS gives them the time and resources to get their projects to the next level.
The ingredients for success in innovation medicine are already present. Self-employment among physicians has decreased, leaving many hungry for a chance to expand their professional opportunities, to recapture the creative, business-minded activities once afforded by traditional private practice. We are fortunate to be part of a profession that continues to attract some of the world's finest talent. If we are purposeful, we can retain this talent, bolster and diversify the innovation pipeline, and improve patient care.
This post originally appeared in NEJM Catalyst on April 26, 2017.


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Charlie was a dog who loved adventure and often got a fun makeover. Our hero-a well-known rogue, and everyone knows that trust this merry fellow is not exactly worth it. However, there was an event that completely turned the life of a cute shepherd and all his friends. The last thing I remember the brave dog was racing right at him car... I Woke up Charlie was in the other world, where he explained the fun principles of the world order. As it turned out, the dog should help an ordinary child and work for a while as a guardian angel. At first, this arrangement of the newly-made angel did not quite suit, which is not surprising, because most of all Charlie did not like to work. But then our hero even liked what is happening, because here it can be useful. Everything went on until the forces of evil decided to intervene in this story ... Charlie became a guardian angel and he needs to help ordinary children. However, the guy even could not imagine that he will fight the forces of evil. Only dog and his new friends the fate of mankind depends. Will the brave hero from the canine family cope with his mission? Watch and see! We wish you pleasant viewing!
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Today is the last day of the Holiday Challenge with Amber and Neely, and the topic is New Years Memories.
I've never gone to fancy parties on New Years, but I do have some fun memories.
A tradition we had when I was a kid was ordering Kentucky Fried Chicken (so mom didn't have to cook) and playing the board game Clue.
Every time I play that game I remember New Years with my family.
I remember in high school I threw a slumber party for a few of my close friends. Since my birthday is the first day of December, the party was kind of to celebrate that.
memories of that night include:
-my dad offering alcohol to my friends, and one of them being really upset because we were all underage
-staying up most of the night talking
-having BOYS sleep over at my parents house
One other memory is of the big deal that was made in 1999 about how technology was going to stop working when it turned midnight. I remember sitting by the TV waiting for all the power to go out and being so disappointed that nothing even happened.
Every year since we've been married, I always have a New Years kiss with my husband. My best memory of New Years since we've been married was our year in Sweden. Our flight got back on New Years Eve, and the runway was really slippery. We all applauded our pilot for landing safely. When we got back to our little flat, we were exhausted and had forgotten that what day it was, so when people started shooting off fireworks outside, we had to really think hard about what was going on.
This year we don't have any plans (which is normal) but I do hope we can have a cheese fondue, make some oliebollen (a dutch treat) and play Clue!
photo credits: clue game, fireworks in Sweden, oliebollen


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