team edtec: voice, values and vision
Monday, August 21, 2017
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
11/03/2015
Y is for You!
Really believe in your heart of hearts that your fundamental
purpose, the reason for being, is to enlarge the lives of others. Your life
will be enlarged also. And all of the other things we have been taught to
concentrate on will take care of themselves.
Pete Thigpen (Executive Reserves Consulting Firm)
You are the
most important variable in determining the success of any student or any
initiative: You.
You are absolutely the most
important factor within our classrooms in terms of determining to what extent
our students will learn, behave, and adjust socially and emotionally throughout
the year. Collectively, we are the most important factor determining how
well all of our students will perform during a given year. Although you
are the most important variable, that does not mean other factors do not play a
role. Indeed, family demographics, poverty rates, home life situations, and
English language ability are but a few variables that impact a student’s and a
school’s level of success. Based on all variables, we may not be able to have
the highest M-Step scores of any school in the State. However, what the You
variable does mean is that we have the power to take our kids from where
they arrive and take them to levels of academic, social, and emotional
well-being that teachers at other schools may not be able to match.
“Going the extra mile” is not merely a
cliché at our school; it is the way we conduct our business on a regular basis.
There are seven behaviors practiced in order to “encourage the heart.” Read
through them and see if these are not the very same behaviors that edtec
schools teachers engage in, which, again, makes our You variable that
much more powerful than our colleagues at surrounding schools:
- Set clear standards
- Expect the best
- Pay attention
- Personalize recognition
- Tell the story
- Celebrate together
- Set the example
Hopefully, we follow these guidelines as a whole school in terms
of working with each other professionally. More importantly, I know that
individual teachers at our school follow these in working with their students
each day. It is what sets our teachers apart and allows us to reach levels of
performance that our demographics would suggest we should not be reaching.
At every school in America, there are
students who sometimes misbehave. There are students who sometimes fail a test
and there are students who at times will fail to complete their work. These are
not really variables, then. The variable is how we respond
when these student outcomes occur. At edtec schools, our You variable
kicks in and we do whatever it takes to relearn the material, or improve
the behavior, or afford the student a second opportunity to complete an
assignment—in other words, we encourage the heart.
Demographics are very real and they do impact
student and school success. In my five years at edtec , however, I have come to
learn something that I hold onto as one of my most steadfast educational
beliefs: Superior teaching trumps “difficult” demographics—or any
other challenge we might face. The master teachers who staff our
school have taught me this lesson loud and clear. You are the reason our
kids succeed at school—at levels higher than they would had they attended
another school with less passionate, encouraging teachers. Accepting that we stand
as our students’ most important variable in terms of their school success and
acting in ways which encourage the heart are examples of how we commit to Teaching
with Passion at our school each day.
Monica
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Tuesday Thoughts!
Tuesday October 20, 2015
You are not merely here to make a living. You are here to enable
the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of
hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself
if you forget this errand.
Woodrow Wilson
This week, a friend of mine forwarded a video presentation
displaying motivational quotations relating to our noble profession of teaching
and accompanied by musical selections. Of the forty-eight quotes included, I
think the one above most aptly sets the scene for the journey upon which we
have embarked. No teacher at our school entered this career path to become
wealthy, or because of the plush working conditions, or because of the generous
monetary bonuses, or even because they just wanted the chance to hang with cool
teachers like VanBrocklin and Trotter! Instead, each of us heeded this calling
because: (1) we wanted to make a difference and (2) we felt that we had the
capability to do so. As President Wilson suggests above, we are here to enrich
the world, if not our stock portfolios. We enrich the world each day that we
work to fulfill our school mission: re-engaging all learners at our school.
One way we teach, inspire, and motivate our kids and each
other is through storytelling. During the past few years together, many of us
have had the opportunity to exchange heartwarming stories of how something we
did at our school has had a positive and lasting impact upon one of our
students. Often, we were not even aware at the time that we had touched this
young man or woman. It is commonplace for our kids to accept our extra efforts
without so much as a thank you. Yet years later, that apparent ingrate returns
to thank us in what turns out to be a much more meaningful way, which lets us
know that we have, indeed, made a difference. Again this year, every teacher at
our school will lead with his or her personal vision. For many of us, that is
simply doing good work that people will remember. It may not seem as if anyone
will remember, but undoubtedly many will.
Many of you have mentioned that you consider teaching your
“calling”, not merely your job. Many of you will not see the rewards of your
daily toil on an immediate or frequent basis. Yet, in the end, you will grow
stronger through fulfilling Woodrow Wilson’s charge to enrich the world. Just
as importantly, so will your students—whether you or they notice it this year
or many years hence. Thank you for your passion, persistence, and performance.
I am awed to be able to bask in the glow of folks who Teach with Passion each
day. Take a moment and check out this clip by one of my favorite poets Taylor
Mali. I think it aptly and deftly describes each and every one of you.
Miracle Worker by Taylor Mali
A tribute to one of the best speakers I've ever heard - Taylor
Mali Free online exercises, worksheets, whiteboard activities for Maths and
English. Stellar L...
|
Have a Terrific Tuesday!
Monica
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Honorable Mention: Initiative for a Competitive Inner City
Detroit Metro area Educational Service Provider
edtec
central, LLC receives Honorable Mention from
ICIC and FORTUNE’s
Inner City 100 winners
Annual
ranking showcases the 100 fastest-growing urban businesses in America.
Detroit, MI – The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and FORTUNE announced that edtec central received an Honorable Mention for the 2014 Inner City 100, a list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in the U.S. This year, for the first time in the list’s 16-year history, the Inner City 100 consists of 10 fast-growing businesses from 10 industry categories. The 10 industry categories are: Construction; Manufacturing; Professional Services; Food and Beverage; Retail; Media and Communications; Software and Information Technology; Transportation and Logistics; Healthcare and Biotechnology; and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation. Applicants ranked according to revenue growth against their industry peers, as well as overall.
edtec
central ranked 11th in the Professional services industry category. The Inner
City 100 program recognizes successful inner city businesses and their CEOs as
role models for entrepreneurship, innovative business practices and job
creation in America’s urban communities. Dr. Anna Amato, President and CEO of edtec central and graduate of the Center for Values-Driven Leadership at Benedictine University was thrilled at the recognition for edtec central. "It is such an honor to be recognized for the hard work and all the efforts of edtec central employees. It is inspiring to know that we are reaching youth in the inner city of Detroit and making a positive impact in the lives of students," said Dr. Amato. The full list of winners can be viewed
at Fortune.comDetroit, MI – The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and FORTUNE announced that edtec central received an Honorable Mention for the 2014 Inner City 100, a list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in the U.S. This year, for the first time in the list’s 16-year history, the Inner City 100 consists of 10 fast-growing businesses from 10 industry categories. The 10 industry categories are: Construction; Manufacturing; Professional Services; Food and Beverage; Retail; Media and Communications; Software and Information Technology; Transportation and Logistics; Healthcare and Biotechnology; and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation. Applicants ranked according to revenue growth against their industry peers, as well as overall.
“It’s important to recognize businesses like edtec central that are truly driving economic growth and job creation and America’s urban cores,” said Matt Camp, President, ICIC. “We believe that inner cities hold unique competitive advantages for business and the success of these firms underscores that market opportunity.”
Highlights of the 2014 Inner City 100
include:
- Employ 8,276 workers (approximately 35%
are inner city residents).
- Created 5,119 new jobs in the last five years.
- 25% have woman CEOs. Nationally, only 10% of
companies with over $1 million in annual revenues are woman-owned.
- 35% have a minority CEO. Nationally, only 21% of
all companies are headed by minorities.
- Average company age is 17 years.
- 39% average compound annual growth rate.
Companies generated $42.2 million
in 2013 revenues on average and $4.2 billion in the aggregate.
Initiative
for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC)
ICIC
is a national nonprofit founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor
Michael E. Porter. ICIC's mission is to promote economic prosperity in
America's inner cities through private sector investment that leads to jobs,
income and wealth creation for local residents. Through its research on inner city economies, ICIC provides businesses,
governments and investors with the most comprehensive and actionable
information in the field about urban market opportunities. The
organization supports urban businesses through the Inner
City 100, Inner
City Capital Connections and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programs.
Learn more at www.icic.org or @icicorg.
Smiles, support and celebration!
On Tuesday, October 14, 2014 the ACE Academy – Woodward
Place held its Dedication Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting Celebration. The newest project for edtec central, LLC and
the ACE Academy Board of Directors, the new center in Highland Park, Michigan will
service former students of ACE Academy, along with other community youth, enabling
them to continue on the path towards graduation and earning a high school
diploma after they complete the Spectrum Juvenile Justice Services (SJJS) program. Distinguished guests from Central Michigan
University, SJJS, Spectrum Human Services, the Highland Park Fire Department, members
of team edtec and community and business leaders from Highland Park joined to
celebrate the opening of the new school and show their support for its future
success.
Dr. Anna Amato, ACE Academy founder and president and CEO of
edtec central, kicked off the ceremony by thanking everyone for their role in
helping to bring the vision of the Center into reality. Sharing her sentiments,
she said “Through countless and humble acts by so many, without needing to name
anyone in particular, this Center will provide a much-needed nurturing place
where youth can come to aspire, create and explore their innate desire to
learn, grow and transition into adulthood.”
But the highlight of the evening was by far guest speaker
and ACE Academy class of 2013 graduate, Curtis C. His inspiring message to all those in
attendance mirrored the purpose statement of ACE Academy – Woodward Place; to
Aspire, Create, and Explore. Curtis
shared with us that he is working part time and plans to attend Henry Ford
Community College this winter.
As the rain poured outside of the newly renovated Woodward
Place, so did the words of inspiration for our present and future students of
ACE Academy – Woodward Place
The mission statement of ACE Academy, in partnership with
youth serving agencies, is to re-engage youth in the active pursuit of
self-improvement, interpersonal growth and educational development, within a
climate where students, staff and stakeholders feel safe, secure and valued as
individuals. The Academy will encourage
all students to excel to their highest potential, while providing them the
support and tools needed to explore the infinite possibilities that learning
and life has to offer. ACE Academy is authorized by Central Michigan
University.
edtec central, LLC is relentlessly and enthusiastically
focused on its core purpose: to create and sustain high quality, innovative and
engaging educational opportunities for students. With its five core values at
the center of all activities, edtec pursues its purpose through ethical, respectful and caring
actions driven by cooperation and service to others.
For more information on ACE Academy – Woodward Place please
call (313) 281-3500 or visit www.ACEAcademySDA.com. For more information about edtec central,
please call (248) 582-8100 or visit www.edteccentral.net.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Winding DOWN and Winding UP...
Robbie Ray. Detroit Tiger Pitcher. Detroit Free Press, May 2014 |
I don’t really mean baseball (though it is the Tigers' great
pitching and a post on Facebook that at first brought these words to mind). But
rather, I mean “a this and a that,” or an “on one hand then the other,” or my own
personal metaphor – the Yin and the Yang.
I often find myself thinking one thing, then immediately
thinking of its opposite. Recently, my fellow classmates, along with confirmation
from a visiting professor, donned me the “contrarian” of the class. They were
not being insensitive or even critical. Instead, they were pointing out how I often
concurrently consider an alternate view when presented with a new idea or possibility. For as long as I can remember, I have always thought this way (for whatever reason) and came to self-understand and self-define this as a search for the line between the Yin and Yang. I don’t think this is fence-sitting or even avoiding making a decision. Instead, it feels more like wanting to consider as many possibilities as possible – and certainly, not ever just one. The movement towards the most far-flung idea from what has been proposed seems to me (anyway), to help make room for a gazillion other possibilities in-between.
It’s this “in-between” that fascinates me and draws my
attention. Some might call this a search for “balance.” Others might call it finding the
middle ground. Whatever it might be, as we enter the “winding down” phase of
the “regular” school year, my thoughts cannot help but turn towards the
“winding up” (the opposite of course!) of the coming year that is surely and
undeniably to follow.
While this cycle of unwinding – only to wind back up again –
emerges over and over again, perhaps really focusing on it and considering both the Yin and the Yang might help us better
prepare for the future in proactive ways, especially as we endeavor to make the next phase
even more enriching than the last for our students and ourselves. Here’s just
a few things that come to mind:
1) Looking back and if given the chance, what one
thing would you “do over”? What is the exact opposite of how that might look?
Now, believe with all of your heart that you do have the chance for a do-over -- because of course you do! -- and start planning it for a special summer project.
2) Thinking of your groups of students and the
challenge of a constantly changing population, what sort of things might
capture the interest of both the newest and the most-veteran student, for a
team-based learning experience? Perhaps put this question to the students
themselves!
3) Search out the teammate who you think you are
most different from and brainstorm all of the ways you might together implement
a new teaching and learning experience for students or for staff. This could be within the
same subject area or cross-curricular, or both. Encourage each other to
consider the most opposite of what you each are thinking! Be sure to share your
results with other teammates. How innovative and diverse might your results be?
I imagine there must be unlimited ways to use this play
between the Yin and Yang as a method of unleashing creativity and discovery, within
a context of sharing among and between ourselves, that must surely give way to
innovation and infinite possibilities.
As we wind down the current school year and wind up to the
next one, grab a colleague -- or two or three or more -- and give yourselves
permission to think in extreme opposites. Then, have a blast in filling in the
“in-between” as a way of co-creating new and exciting possibilities for the
coming future.Caring for Our Culture,
Anna
Monday, November 11, 2013
Vignette. I wonder . . .Design: Frode Inge Helland, 1978. |
THINGS
I WONDER ABOUT…..
How
often are we really working in teams – and how it that going?
Sometimes just through the use of the word team, our minds immediately picture a
small to medium-sized group of people sitting around a table or gathered in clusters, meeting on some
project or task. Just Google the word team and you will discover that these are
the most common images that arise.
But today I just viewed a video sent to me by my best friend and fellow animal lover – which at first seemed unrelated to anything remotely connected to work – when it hit me that we often find ourselves working in ever-changing “teams” as we navigate through our daily routines. And this seems to most often take the shape of getting with just one other person at a time for this, that and the other thing.
And
it got me to wondering….But today I just viewed a video sent to me by my best friend and fellow animal lover – which at first seemed unrelated to anything remotely connected to work – when it hit me that we often find ourselves working in ever-changing “teams” as we navigate through our daily routines. And this seems to most often take the shape of getting with just one other person at a time for this, that and the other thing.
What might the implications be of such 2-member teams (or
interactions) taking shape and occurring at break-net speed throughout an
organization, over and over again, on a daily basis? How might our present understanding of dyadic
communication, network theory and even relationship theories help us in our
understanding of how differences of ideas and opinions come into play and
impact on an organization’s ability to change, develop and transform?
These questions and others of course, seem extremely
important and perhaps even daunting on some level, in the overwhelming
complexity they reveal as it relates to exploring, identifying and
understanding on a deeper level what factors contribute to organizational
effectiveness and performance.
But putting aside if only for a moment, what might seem
to be complex research questions more appropriate for the serious student or academic
world, at the very least I believe the best place to start off any search for
new learning is with the simplest of clues available. And so it is in this spirit
of keeping things simple that I
share forward the video that was shared with me and which got me a-wondering in
the first place!
I think it can trigger key insights into 2-way
communications (along with some hearty laughter), by showing us how several “couples”
with seemingly disparate backgrounds go about tackling a common disagreement in
a host of different and creative ways.
As you watch, you might also consider – or wonder about
-- the following questions:
- What ways do you yourself commonly use to settle a difference of viewpoint when trying to work towards an agreed-upon direction or solution for a particularly challenging task?
- How do most of your 2-way didactic interactions with other team members and stakeholders end up?
If the video playback is less than ideal when viewing
from this blog, here is the direct link:
Sharing forward what hopefully will be a few chuckles and some reflection-provoking vibes...
Anna
Caring for Our CultureAnna
edtec central Founder
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Suddenly Summer: How the best time of the school year is now upon us!
It seems like only days ago that we were bundling ourselves up in winter coats, hats and scarves - at least in the very seasonable state of Michigan. But at the time, it also seemed like we would never get to the sun and warmth of our state's fabulous summer time period. Now already into July, and only a few short weeks after the high points and exhilaration of graduation and promotion celebrations, the edtec Team is already preparing for engaging and enlightening summer school "journeys" across all of our school sites
This summer will be one of high intensity learning explorations for all students and creative collaborations between teachers, staff and specialized service providers made possible in part through our 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal grant. For what lies ahead, I asked Cathy Nowosatko, our Project Director for the MetroConnect-YMAC project, to fill us in on some of the exciting things in store for students. Here is what she shared...
Friday, March 15, 2013
Spring Thinking
The Incredible Capability of Self-Renewal
It’s hard to believe we are halfway through March and spring break is just around the corner!
My thought for today -- as we close out another week -- comes from a place deep within. And it seems to “spring” forth about the same time each year when most all of the snow and ice has melted away and the air smells faintly of the mixture between the spring to come and the departing winter. And the thought is this…
Monday, March 11, 2013
Nurturing
This past weekend I made a stop in the Dollar
Tree and purchased Shamrock Garland for our office Poinsettia. (Yes, you read
that correctly we have a Poinsettia that is still alive in March!) While
searching for garland for the now “St. Patty’s Day Poinsettia," I was struck with
a thought. Typically most poinsettias are dead or dying by January first and
are in the trash no later than the fifth. I thought what was different about
our office poinsettia? It wasn’t expensive; I purchased it for two dollars at
Aldi’s. It wasn’t a new hybrid poinsettia; it was just your average run of the
mill Christmas plant, why hadn’t it died yet? The answer hit me as I was
checking out. No one had dismissed it as unimportant or not worthy of care
because the holiday was over. It had sat on the counter in the sun and it had
been watered and cared for daily. Our office staff had not given up on it
because a date had passed.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Innovation at work
It
is always important to applaud the efforts of our team members. Effective teams
build each other up, celebrate success, and support during setbacks. We would
like to take this opportunity to recognize and applaud a success of one of our
valued team members.
Amy
Cole has been with edtec central since 2008. She is the Assessment and
Achievement Coordinator for all school sites, overseeing all assessment
efforts, data gathering, and training. Her ability to successfully complete her
tasks while offering top notch support to both staff and students makes her an
invaluable member of our team.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Minute Meditation 2013
I would like to extend a warm welcome back to the entire edtec family. I hope you each had an enriching holiday and work break, enjoying whatever you chose to spend your time on: whether that be with family, friends or even some “just-for-you” time recharging your battery.
To help kick off the new year, I
would like to share a thoughtful verse -- from an anonymous source -- but which
recently came to me as part of a daily meditation email I get by virtue of
being a student at Benedictine University. The suggestions provided aptly
convey my own hopes and thoughts as we start afresh for 2013.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Minute Meditation
I am inspired and gently
coached, several days each month, by virtue of being a student at Benedictine
University
I thought this particular
“Minute Meditation,” was especially a propos for this time of the year, and
wanted to share with everyone.
I sincerely hope that in some
small way, it might
Thursday, February 2, 2012
21st Century Students
With the shift coming up to incorporating the Common Core State Standards and teaching 21st Century skills to 21st Century students, it's becoming quite clear that there is a learning curve for educators. I found this short video conceptualized by students in Birmingham, UK, that captures the educational needs of 21st Century students.
- Karen
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The A-Ha Moment
The aha moment has been described as a "magical" and "insightful" experience. Whether it is happening to you or someone else, that moment of clarity is motivating. It is a defining instance, often used to gain wisdom and inspire change.
SmartEd Services™ reveals aha moments large and small in this thoughtful video. Share this short film to help turn others' aha moments into teachable moments in 2012.
- Karen
Friday, July 29, 2011
Bring on the Revolution
In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning -- creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish.
- Karen
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Go Team!
I have been a UofM Football fan since I was old enough to hold a football. Although we lived in Spartan country, growing up we were a maize and blue house. One of the people I admire is legendary coach, Bo Schembechler. As a coach, he led the Wolverines to 13 Big Ten titles and 10 Rose Bowl appearances through his intensity, drive, and dedication to the game and the team.
One thing I remember most about Bo was his famous "Team" speech. It is this speech that defines, for me, what it takes to be a part of a team. In his speech, he drives home the point that one person does not make a team. No one on the team is more important than another. Everyone's job is important. In a team, you don't criticize, back stab, or cut each other down. You build each other up and support each other.
We did some of that and will continue to do on our team as we fill each other's buckets, but there is even more to it than that. To be a part of a team,
Monday, February 28, 2011
Bucket Filling
There’s a concept I
was first introduced to at one of our schools called “bucket-filling”. I thought the idea was clever, though I was
not sure if it was an idea used by that particular teacher or if it was widely
used. I did some research and found out that it is not only a method commonly
used in schools, but it also is a pretty large trend. Bucket-filling, basically, is showing
kindness to others. You can read the
story here. Stephen Covey calls this same idea “filling
the emotional bank account”. People have
emotional bank accounts that others can fill through kind and encouraging words
and actions. On the flip side, “bucket-dipping”, or making withdrawals from the
account, are negative words or actions to others.
I was doing a
lesson in my Sunday preschool class that I teach on kindness, and this seemed
like a great way to get the idea across to the 2, 3, and 4 year olds. Let me
tell you, they are crazy about
bucket-filling. It’s amazing how when
you present someone with a concept in a way that is fun and that they can
understand how it takes off.
That got me
thinking. What if
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Renewal
If you live in a
place like Michigan, you either love the winter, or you tolerate it. Regardless,
by the month of February, most people have experienced at least some level of
the winter blahs. Snow piles up, the sun
doesn’t shine for days, and the cold starts seeping into your bones. These
things piled up with the daily grind of work and everyday frustrations can drag
you down. This is the time when
effectiveness takes a backseat to survival mode. You see people going about
their day-to-day business just trying to survive the winter and whatever cold or
flu bug has been passed around for the umpteenth time.
February is the
perfect time for “sharpening the saw”.
Sharpening the saw means taking time to renew ourselves: body, spirit,
heart, and mind. Without taking time to
care for ourselves and get refreshed, we begin to lose our effectiveness. We
become disillusioned, depressed, and apathetic.
Take time to think
about what you can do right now to
Friday, January 14, 2011
A New Energy
Do you ever notice how a group of people have
a certain energy? You can walk into a room full of people and feel it. Sometimes
it is negative energy. You can feel the tension, discontent, or unease. The larger the group, the bigger the feeling.
People feed off of each other, increasing the positive or negative
feelings.
This being said, imagine for a moment a group
of people gathered that have the same purpose, the same vision, the same
passion. People with a common goal and a
strong, visionary leader to guide them.
Imagine the energy when you walk into that room. The positive vibes, the sense of community
and purpose. When a group such as this
begins working together, it’s called Synergy.
I like to think of it as a
Monday, December 13, 2010
Listen With Your Heart
Listening is about
putting others first. I truly believe that being heard is a basic need that we
all share. When we do not feel like we are heard, we get frustrated. We do not
want to listen to anyone else, because no one is listening to us. We believe
that what we have to say is so important, that even when others are speaking, we
aren’t really listening but instead are simply waiting our turn to talk. This kind of “fake” listening is not
effective for a number of reasons. It damages relationships instead of building
them, and no one really gets heard. There is no “win-win”.
I’m reminded of a
time when my grandparents were arguing. Each was desperately trying to say
something that they thought was important, and they kept getting louder and
louder, trying to out-shout the other.
What they didn’t realize is that they weren’t really arguing, because
they were talking about two completely
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A One-Woman Show
One of edtec's multi-talented employees recently had a performance of a lifetime. She shared her reflections on that experience with our team, and so we share them with you. Enjoy.
"I
recently performed my one woman show “Bag Lady” at the YMCA on November 20. I
told my story through the purses that I’ve carried throughout my lifetime. It’s
not easy putting yourself out there to the world sharing my secrets and my joys
with others. I was very nervous, although I’ve done this twice already. Yet I
wanted people to know that we can heal our emotional wounds. I was so grateful
that the staff of edtec Central was there right in the front row of the show
supporting me. I would like to thank you all for first of all taking time to
spend an evening with me and second for just being such warm, supportive and
dynamic people. May this holiday be filled with love as you look at your life
and the blessings you’ve received over the years. Thank you all from the bottom
of my heart, thank you.
Kim
Kelsey"
If you
would like more information about Kim's show "Bag Lady" or just about Kim, you
can visit her blog at http://www.kimkelsey.blogspot.com
- Karen
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Can You See Like This?
It's so important to take a step back at times and think about the things we don't take the time to see. Shifting your paradigm, the way you see the world, can make such a difference in your life. Attitudes can change, your mood can change, and the way you treat others can change.
In a blog I ran across recently, there was a great commentary about making a paradigm shift in your life. The video that accompanies it is truly powerful. Please take a moment to read the blog and view the short video. It will change the way you see the world and the people around you.
You can read the blog here.
- Karen
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A Winning Attitude
November is the
perfect time to be putting some extra thought into habit 4: Think Win-Win. It was the recent election that got me
thinking about the power of positive thinking and a win-win attitude. I stopped
at my usual coffee shop on my way to work the morning after the election, and in
front of me in line, a lady was ranting and raving about the election results.
This woman was fired up and extremely angry, letting anyone and everyone in the
store know about how she felt about the fact that nothing is going to be
accomplished (in her mind) that will be good for Michigan. Being the habit-minded person I am, I could
have noted to the lady that she was not being very proactive by venting her
politically-induced frustration on a store full of strangers.
Instead, I thought about the common belief that so many Americans have that nothing much gets accomplished in government when party control shifts so much and the balance of power so often holds up new legislation and forward progress.
Instead, I thought about the common belief that so many Americans have that nothing much gets accomplished in government when party control shifts so much and the balance of power so often holds up new legislation and forward progress.
Wouldn’t it be
great, I thought, if politicians had more of a “win-win” attitude? Thinking win-win isn’t about
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