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Monday, January 11, 2010
Memphis - Some southern R&B and history to boot - WOW!!!
I recently had the opportunity to warm up in the Shubert Theater on Broadway to be part of an inspired, spirited and heart pounding presentation of Memphis. Chad Kimball delivered a performance that was able to make you tweak up your listening skills to fluidly hear that Tennessee twang and be part of his life. He was credible, likeable and more importantly, believable in his portrayal of Huey Calhoun, a person of limited academic training and knowledge but with a vision and passion for music in an era when Black soul and rock and roll were deemed as being subversive and not proper. Damn that, full speed ahead. The audience gets drawn into this historic reflection of things many of us lived through. To see the evolution on stage and the stereotypical conflict of White and Black, especially as it applies to a relationship is still eye opening and maybe for some...not understood. And maybe, even hopefully, a younger generation needs to be told of this conflict because it no longer exists. Wishful thinking, I'm sure. There is a lot of reality in this show and sometimes some discomfort in facing demons of the past. However, Chad Kimball's incredibly voice and the magnificence of Montego Glover is overwhelming. Montego, as Felicia, is talented, confident, and artistic and her inner, as well as outer, beauty adds a scintillating spark to the cast. Well done! What a great day to be in New York, in the winter, in the Shubert, in an audience which has the privilege to hear this incredible cast. If you're looking for great music, a wonderfully romantic story and some dancing that will make you jump out of your seats...see Memphis.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Does AVATAR have a hidden message, or are we just introspecting?
The hot topic today seems to be about the hidden messages in AVATAR. I've seen this wonderfully technologically advanced and visually overloading movie and I didn't find anything hidden at all. That is not to say there isn't a message to take away, or things to think about, or no more than the moral messages from the other blockbuster movie with a message BLINDSIDE . So, why is there all this hoopla about the movie? Personally I am overjoyed it may have caused people to think about conservation, the environment, military might, mercenaries, invasion of indigenous peoples, flower, fauna, the planet and yes the incredibly rare and needed ore called unobtainium (get it...it's unobtainable, except on Pandora). As I walked away from the movie I too had feelings of remorse of how we, the US culture treated our Native Americans. Ok, I admit, it wasn't me, but to think about how people from another continent invaded, yes invaded the western hemisphere for their own gratification. You can call it what you want, but the natives owned their own land and it was taken from them. The natural resources were used to whatever means were desired. Also, this was with total disregard to the natural balance of things. Reviewing past history, we know the end results. I think this has struck a very sensitive cord because it may have forced us to take a look at ourselves in the very largest perspective of looking at ourselves and what we, the human race has done. You can make all sorts of excuses or rationalizations, but we all know the reality of our actions. If you take the time to sit back and think, and ponder, and observe, and really reflect, you can make your own conclusions, and you will. History teaches us many things and all we have to do is learn from it. The stronger, bolder, more aggressive beings seem to always want to overpower, rule, and control the weaker...does this sound familiar? The weaker indigenous peoples seem to understand the importance of the balance of nature. They appear to be in touch with the important elements of life. I could list significant times in history where this is repeated, but you should know those. I did have the opportunity to do a field study of the American Indians while a student at Wayne State University in Detroit and learned a lot about our Native Americans and how they understood the balance of nature. I also learned about myself and walked away with a new different perspective. Knowledge will do that. Additionally, I could list many many movies with similar messages, such a Dances with Wolves, Last of the Mohegans, Lawrence of Arabia, Little Big Man, even Brave heart. The story line is the same. Good versus evil. Weak versus strong. Ideals and Culture clashes. If AVATAR stirred up some hidden feelings, biases, or political discoveries ....good. I think it worked because we are all talking about it. Need cultural insight? Contact http://www.globalcoachingandconsulting.com/
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Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Job Satisfaction?
I heard a hot news item this morning as well as read about it on a number of news sites where researchers from the Conference Board found "only 45% of workers were happy with their jobs, dropping from 49% in 2008." An interesting point is the Conference Board research group concluded that the recession was only partly to blame for the drop. Ok, paint me pink and call me Dumbo, but I am thinking someone received a grant to compile this survey and will probably do another which will find some obvious results. As a person who recieved the 'Blue Boot' from IBM in February of 2009, I can give some first hand insight into the uninviting job market. Yes, yes, I know, from all the experts and motivators and career coaches (me now being one of them), I have heard about networking, meetings, being motivated, positive and maintaining or increasing skills. Yes, they are all important. However, when you are scrambling to pay the current bills, you pretty much will do whatever it takes to get some revenue flow. Ok, what does that have to do with job satisfaction? It has everything to do with job satisfaction. Think about it...when a person takes a job to gain revenue to pay their bills they have pretty much taken a landslide to the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy and are focused on survival. They may not like the job because it is just that...a job. Not a career. Not a exceptionally enligthening experience. Not a step to self actualization. It's a means to and end. So, surprise, surprise, surprise. Job satisfaciton has plummeted. Duuuhhhhh!!! I don't agree with the experts in their view of productivily falling because of this. People are afraid and will work to stay employed. I believe productivity will start to fall when the economy really starts to turn around.For help for your organization see http://www.globalcoachingandconsulting.com/
At that time, workers will have more choices which they see as being career oriented and with growth potential. They will leave their currect jobs and move out and on to better opportunities. You don't need to pay high priced researchers to discover these things, its pretty much common sense and maybe being "street wise". I think what you will find is it becomes a Leadership issue and a problem with people Management. If you have these workers who are dissatisfied, as a leader you need to find out what motivates them and what skills they bring. Capitalize on those and you won't lose the talent or edge you may have in the market. Your employees are not just numbers, or as in IBM mumbo jumbo 'resources'. They are people. Treat them accordingly and your return on your investment in them will be tenfold. Because, you see, all these studies, findings, and research is about...people.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A novel idea to save "The Tiger"
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Friday, November 20, 2009
Overtired, overweight, overextended? Here are some tips to help you.
Globetrotters, World Travelers, Road Warriors, Jet Setters, International Business agents, we’ve all heard the terms and have worn the banners in today’s business environment. I am sure many of you have the additional battle scars of long nights, delayed flights, long international flights and jet lag and wall as important time away from your homes and family. Long gone is the 8 hour business day and today’s technology makes us work 24 x 7 x 365 and sometimes x 366 days a year. Your body takes a tremendous toll and the wear and tear, often, goes unnoticed until it’s too late.
So how do you stave off the accelerated aging process, the added weight gain, the shear exhaustion that wreaks havoc with your biological clock? There are steps you can take to ensure you maintain your health and maybe, even more importantly, improve your health. Yes, it’s true; you can actually improve your health and well being with a few precautionary steps and most importantly, remain consistent once you develop this routine.
First things first, create a budget. Create a budget? You will need to sit down, push all your work aside and admit there is a problem. We’ve been there, in the hotel room or airport lounge with a few minutes to spare and more often than not, you get that glazed look and fall into a trance listening to…nothing. TV background noise or music fills the room which just numbs the senses. Or, sometimes you just sit there blankly thinking, “What am I doing here?” It’s ok to feel that way. What you discover is that this a great time to think about your health budget. It’s really fairly easy and may add years to your life, bounce to your step, and sometimes increase you overall well being. But, the key is, you need to admit there is a problem and you want to do something about it.
On your budget, how much time will you allocate for exercise and more importantly, what type of exercises will you do. Here is a hint, keep it simple, but start. Starting is always the hardest part.
Your Routine
1. Once you roll out of bed and get a bit warmed up, do a set of sit-ups. Initially, only do one set of 10, if you can. Don’t be embarrassed, no one is watching, but more importantly, you’re trying. You can increase the repetitions later as you gain strength. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Sit-Ups
2. Leg Raises: Complete one set of 10 leg raises. While you are lying on the floor from doing sit-ups, you can transition into leg raises. Remember, do them slowly, deliberately and maintain proper position. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Leg-Lifts
3. Crunches: While still lying on the floor, complete one set of 10 torso crunches. You do this by putting your hands, laced, behind your head and then do a sit up and bring your knees up at the same time to meet your elbows. Do not pull your head up with your hands. This is a bit more difficult and will fell awkward at first, but it’s a great exercise for the abs. http://exercise.about.com/cs/abs/ht/Crunch.htm
4. Let’s get up off the floor and do some torso twists. Compete one set of 20 torso twists. With your arms extended slowly twist in one direction, and then twist as far as you can in the other. Do these SLOWLY and deliberately at first. You can increase speed and intensity at a later date once you gain more strength and elasticity. http://www.ehow.com/how_2283064_do-torso-twist-core-exercise.html
5. Moving to the legs, do some squats. About 10 will do for a start. If you haven’t done these in a while, you may want to position yourself next to a chair to help you with your balance. Do about 10 squats. http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts/ss/howtosquat.htm
6. Find a large book, usually a thick phone book will do and place your front part of your feet on this book and do some calf raises. What you want to do is stand straight and lower your heels to the floor. Then, slowly rise up on your toes. This extends and flexes your calves. Do about 10 reps of those. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Calf-Raises
7. Let’s move to the upper body and arms. Let’s work your biceps. Do you have a briefcase or large purse? If so, use that for weight resistance and complete a set of 10 bicep curls, again maintaining the proper position and movement. http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightlifting/l/blsamplebicep.htm
8. Reverse bicep curl. Instead of your palms being in an upward facing position, do bicep curls with your palms facing down. It’s feels weird at the beginning, but it works the muscle group differently and you now have pretty much hit that bicep from all directions. There are other variations, but let’s keep it simple.
9. Triceps extensions. This nicely tightens up that flabby floppy muscle under your upper arm opposite the bicep. Do this one very carefully. With your weight resistance, raise the briefcase, or other item, over your head and then lower it behind your head to about neck level. Then, slowly raise it about your head and repeat for 10 times. Ouch…feel the burn. You will if you haven’t done this one before. http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/standing_triceps_extensions.htm
10. Ok, return to the lying position. This is a nice one to finish with. These are simple bench presses. They are good for your chest and a bit of your shoulders as well. Grasp your briefcase/bag firmly with both hands. Hold it about your chest, lower it to your chest and press it up again. Do this in slow deliberate motions. Take your time and remember form is important.
This should get you started in a good routine and budgeting your time for you. Slowly but surely you will start to see improvements. Your stamina and energy level will increase. Remember this is a start and you will need to increase reps, weights and duration over a period of time. And, as always, check with your personal Physician before starting any exercise program.
The other important thing to do is alter your diet. Eat healthier, smaller portions. And, you will find out that you can actually eat more often, if the foods are those which are higher fiber. Increase fruits and vegetables. Decrease your intake of…snacks. What you will learn is to budget your intake of foods and you know which ones are the right ones. We all do. In short, follow your exercise plan, change your diet and do it logically and moderately. If you take the time, you will find yourself rejuvenated and your family might discover a new you as well. Remember, draw up your budget, make your plan, implement the plan and do it comfortably. The bottom line is that you will see physical as well as mental benefits from your plan. This doesn’t make the trips any shorter, but you will find, once you return home you’ll recover a bit quicker and find time and energy to do the more important personal things in your life.
Last, but not least, check out some of the other travel sites for additional tips on security, relaxation, stress, jet lag, expenses, hotels, offers, and all the hotel and travel freebies and benefits. http://www.roadwarriortips.com/
So how do you stave off the accelerated aging process, the added weight gain, the shear exhaustion that wreaks havoc with your biological clock? There are steps you can take to ensure you maintain your health and maybe, even more importantly, improve your health. Yes, it’s true; you can actually improve your health and well being with a few precautionary steps and most importantly, remain consistent once you develop this routine.
First things first, create a budget. Create a budget? You will need to sit down, push all your work aside and admit there is a problem. We’ve been there, in the hotel room or airport lounge with a few minutes to spare and more often than not, you get that glazed look and fall into a trance listening to…nothing. TV background noise or music fills the room which just numbs the senses. Or, sometimes you just sit there blankly thinking, “What am I doing here?” It’s ok to feel that way. What you discover is that this a great time to think about your health budget. It’s really fairly easy and may add years to your life, bounce to your step, and sometimes increase you overall well being. But, the key is, you need to admit there is a problem and you want to do something about it.
On your budget, how much time will you allocate for exercise and more importantly, what type of exercises will you do. Here is a hint, keep it simple, but start. Starting is always the hardest part.
Your Routine
1. Once you roll out of bed and get a bit warmed up, do a set of sit-ups. Initially, only do one set of 10, if you can. Don’t be embarrassed, no one is watching, but more importantly, you’re trying. You can increase the repetitions later as you gain strength. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Sit-Ups
2. Leg Raises: Complete one set of 10 leg raises. While you are lying on the floor from doing sit-ups, you can transition into leg raises. Remember, do them slowly, deliberately and maintain proper position. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Leg-Lifts
3. Crunches: While still lying on the floor, complete one set of 10 torso crunches. You do this by putting your hands, laced, behind your head and then do a sit up and bring your knees up at the same time to meet your elbows. Do not pull your head up with your hands. This is a bit more difficult and will fell awkward at first, but it’s a great exercise for the abs. http://exercise.about.com/cs/abs/ht/Crunch.htm
4. Let’s get up off the floor and do some torso twists. Compete one set of 20 torso twists. With your arms extended slowly twist in one direction, and then twist as far as you can in the other. Do these SLOWLY and deliberately at first. You can increase speed and intensity at a later date once you gain more strength and elasticity. http://www.ehow.com/how_2283064_do-torso-twist-core-exercise.html
5. Moving to the legs, do some squats. About 10 will do for a start. If you haven’t done these in a while, you may want to position yourself next to a chair to help you with your balance. Do about 10 squats. http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts/ss/howtosquat.htm
6. Find a large book, usually a thick phone book will do and place your front part of your feet on this book and do some calf raises. What you want to do is stand straight and lower your heels to the floor. Then, slowly rise up on your toes. This extends and flexes your calves. Do about 10 reps of those. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Calf-Raises
7. Let’s move to the upper body and arms. Let’s work your biceps. Do you have a briefcase or large purse? If so, use that for weight resistance and complete a set of 10 bicep curls, again maintaining the proper position and movement. http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightlifting/l/blsamplebicep.htm
8. Reverse bicep curl. Instead of your palms being in an upward facing position, do bicep curls with your palms facing down. It’s feels weird at the beginning, but it works the muscle group differently and you now have pretty much hit that bicep from all directions. There are other variations, but let’s keep it simple.
9. Triceps extensions. This nicely tightens up that flabby floppy muscle under your upper arm opposite the bicep. Do this one very carefully. With your weight resistance, raise the briefcase, or other item, over your head and then lower it behind your head to about neck level. Then, slowly raise it about your head and repeat for 10 times. Ouch…feel the burn. You will if you haven’t done this one before. http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/standing_triceps_extensions.htm
10. Ok, return to the lying position. This is a nice one to finish with. These are simple bench presses. They are good for your chest and a bit of your shoulders as well. Grasp your briefcase/bag firmly with both hands. Hold it about your chest, lower it to your chest and press it up again. Do this in slow deliberate motions. Take your time and remember form is important.
This should get you started in a good routine and budgeting your time for you. Slowly but surely you will start to see improvements. Your stamina and energy level will increase. Remember this is a start and you will need to increase reps, weights and duration over a period of time. And, as always, check with your personal Physician before starting any exercise program.
The other important thing to do is alter your diet. Eat healthier, smaller portions. And, you will find out that you can actually eat more often, if the foods are those which are higher fiber. Increase fruits and vegetables. Decrease your intake of…snacks. What you will learn is to budget your intake of foods and you know which ones are the right ones. We all do. In short, follow your exercise plan, change your diet and do it logically and moderately. If you take the time, you will find yourself rejuvenated and your family might discover a new you as well. Remember, draw up your budget, make your plan, implement the plan and do it comfortably. The bottom line is that you will see physical as well as mental benefits from your plan. This doesn’t make the trips any shorter, but you will find, once you return home you’ll recover a bit quicker and find time and energy to do the more important personal things in your life.
Last, but not least, check out some of the other travel sites for additional tips on security, relaxation, stress, jet lag, expenses, hotels, offers, and all the hotel and travel freebies and benefits. http://www.roadwarriortips.com/
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Time for Diversity Workshops again!!!
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
China takes the Lead!!!
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