It is after several years that I am returning to contribute to this blog, and what a major life transformation has occured in this timeframe. I would be dishonest if I did not acknowledge that the previous posts were directed outward, whereas this post is more introspective. I have learned quite a few life lessons in the past few years and would like to share some of them here.
Life is a culmination of experiences and the choices we make, no step of that journey is wasted, although, upon reflection, we learn some valuable lessons on how we could have handled certain situations better than we did. Talk about coming full circle to the point where we started:
"We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time". ~ T.S. Eliot
I can honestly say that I have arrived where I began and am seeing the place for the first time! Often we have to look at life with new lenses to see the things we had been unable to see because familiarity obscures them from our view. Over the years we make compromises, and they lead us on paths we would not have followed had we stayed true to our values and principles. It is like being woken from a slumber, a lulling of the consciousness in the interest of keeping peace, in the name of expediency, then coming to the realization that you don't even know that person any more.
'Twas grief enough to think mankind
All hollow servile insincere
But worse to trust to my own mind
And find the same corruption there
~ Emily Bronte
So, where do we start, and where do we end: this journey is a function of our consious resolve to lead life from our core values, to experience the journey with new, mindful eyes, an open spirit and aware soul. Life is beautiful, once we learn to appreciate the bountiful gifts that are ours to claim if we allow ourselves to BE one with God rather that be constrained by the demands and expectations of the lesser beings. The journey to soulful spirituality is an exhilerating experience!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Monday, June 8, 2009
Developing a Personal Brand through Social Networking
"Networking or NOT working, the choice is yours" - Sarah Nuttall
Social Networking is a concept which has taken the business world by storm in recent years, although it has always been the way most business gets done in the world! People do business with people they can relate to and trust.
Check out the attached link for what constitutes social networking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networks
I look at the social network as a constellation, a collection of stars in the galaxy! Every one of us knows a lot of people in their sphere of influence, the value is in "connecting the dots" on their horizon and leveraging them by offering and receiving value for the connection.
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and some of the other social networking sites have become the common platform for professionals as well as people from all walks of life, and the primary means for communication in some cases. The concept of personal branding gains even more emphasis when you are talking about professional networking through LinkedIn and similar professional networking sites. It is your resume online, complete with references and recommendations - your digital footprint!
Use of digital media for networking may be a new phenomenon but networking certainly is not. Connecting with people, developing long term relationships, servant leadership, and value delivery are concepts that transcend the present time. They have always been the way business gets done around the world. It's not what you know but who you know that matters~ If anything, they have been brought into sharper focus by the present market conditions, and in a shrinking pool, people stick with people they can trust to deliver!
So, how do you go about building a social network that offers value first? Simply by doing it, one meaningful relationship at a time. Take the time to put yourself in situations that expose you to other people, such as in professional or community organizations working towards a common cause is a good place to start. Volunteering your time and energy for a cause, offering knowledge and value to others, offering a helping hand, guiding someone to build their career, life, and image, listening empathetically, are all good ways of building your personal network as well as brand. How are you known in the world? The answer is the key to your networking success, and defines your personal brand.
Social Networking is a concept which has taken the business world by storm in recent years, although it has always been the way most business gets done in the world! People do business with people they can relate to and trust.
Check out the attached link for what constitutes social networking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networks
I look at the social network as a constellation, a collection of stars in the galaxy! Every one of us knows a lot of people in their sphere of influence, the value is in "connecting the dots" on their horizon and leveraging them by offering and receiving value for the connection.
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and some of the other social networking sites have become the common platform for professionals as well as people from all walks of life, and the primary means for communication in some cases. The concept of personal branding gains even more emphasis when you are talking about professional networking through LinkedIn and similar professional networking sites. It is your resume online, complete with references and recommendations - your digital footprint!
Use of digital media for networking may be a new phenomenon but networking certainly is not. Connecting with people, developing long term relationships, servant leadership, and value delivery are concepts that transcend the present time. They have always been the way business gets done around the world. It's not what you know but who you know that matters~ If anything, they have been brought into sharper focus by the present market conditions, and in a shrinking pool, people stick with people they can trust to deliver!
So, how do you go about building a social network that offers value first? Simply by doing it, one meaningful relationship at a time. Take the time to put yourself in situations that expose you to other people, such as in professional or community organizations working towards a common cause is a good place to start. Volunteering your time and energy for a cause, offering knowledge and value to others, offering a helping hand, guiding someone to build their career, life, and image, listening empathetically, are all good ways of building your personal network as well as brand. How are you known in the world? The answer is the key to your networking success, and defines your personal brand.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Art of Leadership
"Leadership is the conviction to chart new territory, the vision to create a path to success and the compassion to help others along the way." - Sarah Nuttall
"A good leader inspires good followers; a great leader is one who develops more great leaders among his/her followers" - Sarah Nuttall
"At its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question, "What do we want to create?" Just as personal visions are pictures or images people carry in their heads and hearts, so too are shared visions pictures that people throughout an organization carry. They create a sense of commonality that permeates the organization and gives coherence to diverse activities" - Peter Senge (The Fifth Discipline)
Leadership is the art of inspring people to a vision, through personal or influence power, and working towards the common objective that is much larger than the personal glory of the leader. The purpose is to create something larger than the individual for the benefit of everyone involved, regardless of who gets the credit. Often, the greatest of leaders are unsung heroes, whose value is recognized long after they have moved on to the next stage. However, they live their lives guided by values and principles larger than themselves, in the service of goals that make the world a better place, and believe that no step in that journey is wasted.
http://www.leadersinstitute.com/high-impact-leaders/articles/artofleadership.html
In his book "The Model Leader - A Fully Functional Person", Dr. William Hitt outlines the following steps of the Leadership Agenda:
1. Conceptual Skills - The model leaders is able to deal with high order abstractions and generalizations.
2. Logical Thinking - The model leader is able to apply a systemetic approach to problem solving.
3. Creative Thinking - The model leader is able to bring into being imaginative ideas.
4. Holistic Thinking - The model leader is able to grasp the total situation and to understand the relationships between and among the elements.
5. Communication - The model leader is able to engage in genuine dialogue with others.
6. Staff - The model leader has a team of persons who are ready, willing, and able.
7. Information - The model leader knows what information is needed to function effectively and where to get the information.
8. Networks - The model leader has many personal contacts with whom ideas, information, and resources can be shared.
9. Knowing Oneself - The model leader has a good grasp of his or her own strengths and limitations and actively seeks feedback for personal growth.
10. Knowing the Job - The model leader understands the requirements of the job and how the job contributes to the goals of the larger organization.
11. Knowing the Organization - The model leader understands the organization's culture and how to get things done effectively and efficiently.
12. Knowing the Business One Is In - The model leader understands the external environment sufficiently well to know customers's needs and what is of value to them.
13. Knowing the World - The model leader understands the world community and how the smaller communities relate to the larger community.
14. Valuing - The model leader has a good grasp of the organization's values and can translate them into practice.
15. Visioning - The model leader has a clear mental picture of a desired future for his or her organization or organizational unit.
16. Coaching - The model leader helps others develop the knowledge and skills needed for achieving the vision.
17. Empowering - The model leader provides staff with the training, resources, and authority needed to enable them to move toward the vision.
18. Team Building - The model leader is able to develop a team of people who are dedicated to working collaboratively to achieve the vision.
19. Promoting Quality - The model leader achieves a reputation for always meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
20. Identity - The model leader has a unified set of values and lives by those values each day.
21. Independence - The model leader is guided by his or her own internal compass.
22. Authenticity - The model leader reveals his or her true being to others; the inner self and the outer self are congruent.
23. Responsibility - The model leader takes responsibility for his or her decisions and actions and does not blame others.
24. Courage - The model leader affirms his or her authentic being despite obstacles.
25. Integrity - The model leader is guided by a set of moral principles and is recognized by others as a person of integrity.
A model leader is one who has mastered the art of leadership and integrated into every aspect of his or her life, to become a fully Self-Actualized person. And at the core is his or her ability to inspire people to a higher level of being.
"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." - Goethe
"A good leader inspires good followers; a great leader is one who develops more great leaders among his/her followers" - Sarah Nuttall
"At its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question, "What do we want to create?" Just as personal visions are pictures or images people carry in their heads and hearts, so too are shared visions pictures that people throughout an organization carry. They create a sense of commonality that permeates the organization and gives coherence to diverse activities" - Peter Senge (The Fifth Discipline)
Leadership is the art of inspring people to a vision, through personal or influence power, and working towards the common objective that is much larger than the personal glory of the leader. The purpose is to create something larger than the individual for the benefit of everyone involved, regardless of who gets the credit. Often, the greatest of leaders are unsung heroes, whose value is recognized long after they have moved on to the next stage. However, they live their lives guided by values and principles larger than themselves, in the service of goals that make the world a better place, and believe that no step in that journey is wasted.
http://www.leadersinstitute.com/high-impact-leaders/articles/artofleadership.html
In his book "The Model Leader - A Fully Functional Person", Dr. William Hitt outlines the following steps of the Leadership Agenda:
1. Conceptual Skills - The model leaders is able to deal with high order abstractions and generalizations.
2. Logical Thinking - The model leader is able to apply a systemetic approach to problem solving.
3. Creative Thinking - The model leader is able to bring into being imaginative ideas.
4. Holistic Thinking - The model leader is able to grasp the total situation and to understand the relationships between and among the elements.
5. Communication - The model leader is able to engage in genuine dialogue with others.
6. Staff - The model leader has a team of persons who are ready, willing, and able.
7. Information - The model leader knows what information is needed to function effectively and where to get the information.
8. Networks - The model leader has many personal contacts with whom ideas, information, and resources can be shared.
9. Knowing Oneself - The model leader has a good grasp of his or her own strengths and limitations and actively seeks feedback for personal growth.
10. Knowing the Job - The model leader understands the requirements of the job and how the job contributes to the goals of the larger organization.
11. Knowing the Organization - The model leader understands the organization's culture and how to get things done effectively and efficiently.
12. Knowing the Business One Is In - The model leader understands the external environment sufficiently well to know customers's needs and what is of value to them.
13. Knowing the World - The model leader understands the world community and how the smaller communities relate to the larger community.
14. Valuing - The model leader has a good grasp of the organization's values and can translate them into practice.
15. Visioning - The model leader has a clear mental picture of a desired future for his or her organization or organizational unit.
16. Coaching - The model leader helps others develop the knowledge and skills needed for achieving the vision.
17. Empowering - The model leader provides staff with the training, resources, and authority needed to enable them to move toward the vision.
18. Team Building - The model leader is able to develop a team of people who are dedicated to working collaboratively to achieve the vision.
19. Promoting Quality - The model leader achieves a reputation for always meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
20. Identity - The model leader has a unified set of values and lives by those values each day.
21. Independence - The model leader is guided by his or her own internal compass.
22. Authenticity - The model leader reveals his or her true being to others; the inner self and the outer self are congruent.
23. Responsibility - The model leader takes responsibility for his or her decisions and actions and does not blame others.
24. Courage - The model leader affirms his or her authentic being despite obstacles.
25. Integrity - The model leader is guided by a set of moral principles and is recognized by others as a person of integrity.
A model leader is one who has mastered the art of leadership and integrated into every aspect of his or her life, to become a fully Self-Actualized person. And at the core is his or her ability to inspire people to a higher level of being.
"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." - Goethe
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Work-Life Balance
All of us, especially professional women, are juggling multiple priorities in maintaining the balance among the different dimensions of life. Through my career I have come to realize that there is no such thing as work-life balance, at least no STATIC state that defines this balance; it is at best a dynamic act of constantly reminding yourself to work from your values, and determining your priorities accordingly. We can do whatever we set our mind to, but we have to moderate our enthusiasm in any one dimension with reality in light of what we expect to get out of life. Sometimes our biggest problem is that we are capable of doing a lot and need to keep the balance between the time and energy we commit to work, the return we expect to get from it in the form of revenue, personal and professional growth, and the demands of personal and community life that we need to keep in balance. The consequences of overworking one set of muscles at the expense of the other dimensions of life can be less than desirable.
Check out the attached links for more information and insight on the subject:
http://www.worklifebalance.com/
http://www.worklifebalance.com/worklifebalancedefined.html
http://www.worklifebalance.com/assets/pdfs/article3.pdf
http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/5-strategies-for-life-balance
http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/home-based-business-work-life-balance/2976732-1.html
When we talk about developing a balance between the different dimensions of life, we have to focus on defining our values and letting the values dictate how we dedicate our efforts towards achieving the best in life. The greatest inspiration I found on the subject of achieving this balance is the all time best seller "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey
https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php
The beauty of Covey's message is in its simplicity and timeliness. He contends that by implementing the seven habits outlined in his program, one can achieve great results towards living an effective life. Having personally studied and implemented the 7-Habits program, and personally knowing hundreds if not thousands of people who have benefited from it, I swear by the timeless value of these principles.
One of the most compelling texts on the subject that I have come across in the past few years is "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. The authors contend that energy, not time, is the primary currency of the highly engaged professionals.
http://www.lgeperformance.com/book_PFE.html
Creative, motivated, happy and well rested people are more productive than harried, stressed, overworked and sleep deprived individuals with dysfunctional family lives who have neglected their families in the name of getting ahead in the rat race. Actively shaping a positive and balanced work-life balance is the key ingredient to fulfilment, effectivenss and productivity.
Check out the attached links for more information and insight on the subject:
http://www.worklifebalance.com/
http://www.worklifebalance.com/worklifebalancedefined.html
http://www.worklifebalance.com/assets/pdfs/article3.pdf
http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/5-strategies-for-life-balance
http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/home-based-business-work-life-balance/2976732-1.html
When we talk about developing a balance between the different dimensions of life, we have to focus on defining our values and letting the values dictate how we dedicate our efforts towards achieving the best in life. The greatest inspiration I found on the subject of achieving this balance is the all time best seller "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey
https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php
The beauty of Covey's message is in its simplicity and timeliness. He contends that by implementing the seven habits outlined in his program, one can achieve great results towards living an effective life. Having personally studied and implemented the 7-Habits program, and personally knowing hundreds if not thousands of people who have benefited from it, I swear by the timeless value of these principles.
One of the most compelling texts on the subject that I have come across in the past few years is "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. The authors contend that energy, not time, is the primary currency of the highly engaged professionals.
http://www.lgeperformance.com/book_PFE.html
Creative, motivated, happy and well rested people are more productive than harried, stressed, overworked and sleep deprived individuals with dysfunctional family lives who have neglected their families in the name of getting ahead in the rat race. Actively shaping a positive and balanced work-life balance is the key ingredient to fulfilment, effectivenss and productivity.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Self-Directed Career Development
In the corporate environment of the 21st century, the successful professionals have some very distinct characteristics:
* They have the quality of "Interdependence": they are independently motivated, and widely connected through personal and professional networking relationships.
* They are focused on developing their leadership and communication skills and empowering those around them.
* They create a learning environment and a growth oriented organizational culture, leading to adaptive, successful and productive organizations.
In order to attract and retain such independent and capable employees, organizations must develop a culture of growth and agility and position themselves to meet the challenges of a highly competitive global market.
“If it is to be, it is up to me” – Neal Whitten
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." – Thomas Edison
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” - Confucius
When we talk of self-directed career development, it is important to realize that career development is not something that happens to you, it is what you make of life! A career development plan is a written listing of the short- and long-term goals of a worker pertaining to the current and future jobs. It is a planned sequence of formal and informal experiences to assist the worker in achieving their goals - should be linked to the person’s potential. Career development plans are usually optional; but employers should encourage that all employees develop them, so that their long-term career expectations are realistic and in line with their industry and company's objectives.
Working through your life and career without a plan is like driving around town without a map, or a destination in mind. Drifting through life is not an option in these times of severe global competition, economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical forces. We have to be cognizant of our direction and focus and make conscious choices for laying the foundation of the rest of our personal and professional life! A self-directed career development plan is the roadmap to success!
* They have the quality of "Interdependence": they are independently motivated, and widely connected through personal and professional networking relationships.
* They are focused on developing their leadership and communication skills and empowering those around them.
* They create a learning environment and a growth oriented organizational culture, leading to adaptive, successful and productive organizations.
In order to attract and retain such independent and capable employees, organizations must develop a culture of growth and agility and position themselves to meet the challenges of a highly competitive global market.
“If it is to be, it is up to me” – Neal Whitten
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." – Thomas Edison
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” - Confucius
When we talk of self-directed career development, it is important to realize that career development is not something that happens to you, it is what you make of life! A career development plan is a written listing of the short- and long-term goals of a worker pertaining to the current and future jobs. It is a planned sequence of formal and informal experiences to assist the worker in achieving their goals - should be linked to the person’s potential. Career development plans are usually optional; but employers should encourage that all employees develop them, so that their long-term career expectations are realistic and in line with their industry and company's objectives.
Working through your life and career without a plan is like driving around town without a map, or a destination in mind. Drifting through life is not an option in these times of severe global competition, economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical forces. We have to be cognizant of our direction and focus and make conscious choices for laying the foundation of the rest of our personal and professional life! A self-directed career development plan is the roadmap to success!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Believing in Your Dreams - and New Year Resolutions
Dreams do come true, believing in your dreams is the first step towards achieving them. On this new year's day I find myself reflecting on the past several years and how they have been instrumental in the achievement of my life goals and dreams. The New Year is often a time of reflection, of resolve and resolutions, but most of those resolutions are never realized because we do not believe in our own dreams, and more so in our ability to make them a reality. These resolutions are mostly "wishful thinking carried too far", rather than an earnest resolve to creating lasting change. Change is realized only when the value of the new behavior is greater than the pain of the status quo. Man is a creature of habit, and a change of habit can only be affected through intrinsic motivation and resolve to overcome the barriers imposed by our habits.
Believing in your own ability to make a positive change, and taking action in the direction of its achievement lays the foundation for realizing your dreams, however far fetched they may initially seem. Often we shelve our dreams because we cannot visualize the whole picture of what life would look like if they were to be realized. It is important to think through the possibilities, but not to obssess so much on the minor details that the whole message gets lost in the weeds.
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can... begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it" - Goethe
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase" - Matin Luther King, Jr.
Taking the first step in achieving our dreams and goals sets up a positive momentum that carries us through the invariable ups and downs, the periods of doubt and skepticism from within and especially from others around us. Following through with courage and faith is what sets the achievers apart from the starry eyed (but inactive) dreamers.
"Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there"- Will Rogers
Believing in your own ability to make a positive change, and taking action in the direction of its achievement lays the foundation for realizing your dreams, however far fetched they may initially seem. Often we shelve our dreams because we cannot visualize the whole picture of what life would look like if they were to be realized. It is important to think through the possibilities, but not to obssess so much on the minor details that the whole message gets lost in the weeds.
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can... begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it" - Goethe
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase" - Matin Luther King, Jr.
Taking the first step in achieving our dreams and goals sets up a positive momentum that carries us through the invariable ups and downs, the periods of doubt and skepticism from within and especially from others around us. Following through with courage and faith is what sets the achievers apart from the starry eyed (but inactive) dreamers.
"Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there"- Will Rogers
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Challenge of Leadership
"Leadership is the conviction to chart new territory, the vision to create a path to success and the compassion to help others along the way." - Yours Truly
Turbulent times call for a higher level of leadership than calmer times. The winds of change often upset the delicate balance of "comfort zones" and tend to separate the leaders from the followers. Leading in turbulent times is the challenge of the day - how you model your behavior to paint the vision and inspire your team against all odds determines your mettle as a leader. The tragic events of the world have also been catalysts to bringing forth great leaders among us, the most recent events of 9/11, and the way Mayor Rudy Guiliani handled that crisis separated him from the mayors of thousands of other cities.
http://www.schulersolutions.com/change_leadership_lessons_of_r.html
By contrast you have the words and action of Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/24/60minutes/main1933092.shtml
How do you think history will remember Guiliani or Nagin? One rises to the challenge of leadership, the other is looking for excuses why things are the way they are!
"The price of greatness is responsibility" - Winston Churchill
Turbulent times call for a higher level of leadership than calmer times. The winds of change often upset the delicate balance of "comfort zones" and tend to separate the leaders from the followers. Leading in turbulent times is the challenge of the day - how you model your behavior to paint the vision and inspire your team against all odds determines your mettle as a leader. The tragic events of the world have also been catalysts to bringing forth great leaders among us, the most recent events of 9/11, and the way Mayor Rudy Guiliani handled that crisis separated him from the mayors of thousands of other cities.
http://www.schulersolutions.com/change_leadership_lessons_of_r.html
By contrast you have the words and action of Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/24/60minutes/main1933092.shtml
How do you think history will remember Guiliani or Nagin? One rises to the challenge of leadership, the other is looking for excuses why things are the way they are!
"The price of greatness is responsibility" - Winston Churchill
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