Category Archives: General Information

General information that is relevant and helpful to the adult learner…things you need to know before, during, and after college.

Garbage in / Garbage out

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve just started distributing an expanded version of these Proverbs through my podcast Proverbs for Living a Fulling Life which can be found wherever you get your podcasts – enjoy!

Garbage in/Garbage out is an older phrase introduced in the early days of computer programming. It meant that if your programming was bad, garbage in, then your output would also be bad, garbage out. This phrase has also been applied to people, as well. Health-wise the phrase “you are what you eat” reflects the same awareness that our diet affects our overall health and physical well-being. The concept also finds a parallel in how we think.

For more on this check out the short video below:

 

 

 

Saying No

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve just started distributing an expanded version of these Proverbs through my podcast Proverbs for Living a Fulling Life which can be found wherever you get your podcasts – enjoy!

In 2014 CVS Pharmacy said NO to carrying tobacco products. Their announcement included this sentence: “The sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose – helping people on their path to better health.” Their decision was definitely controversial and cost the company $2 billion a year in direct sales. Having the guts to say NO to anything can be difficult, saying no to $2 billion dollars requires a laser-like focus on your core principles. Saying NO, and meaning it, comes more easily to some than others, but it can be easier for anyone if they know their core values and place them before any other consideration.

For more on this check out the short video below:

Content

Posted on by
Reply

Paul, the Apostle, states, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any situation…” (Phil. 4:11-12) The secret to being content to which he is referring is a complete faith in Jesus Christ; absolute trust that God is at work for the best. Not much of a secret, but definitely a significant commitment. We each exist in a reality that probably isn’t how we imagined or hoped it would be.

For more on this, check out the short video below:

General, Practical Proverbs

Posted on by
Reply

Here are some statements you might want to refrain from saying or asking:  NEVER say anything bad about your old boss or previous significant other. NEVER ask a woman that you don’t know for sure is pregnant when she is due, or how is the pregnancy going. NEVER call your coworkers, employees, or children stupid. NEVER use humor to disguise an insult directed at your supervisor, spouse, or anyone else. ALWAYS believe that any negative complaint you make regarding your boss or coworkers will be repeated.

For more on this check out the short video below:

Do You Really Need a Policy?

Posted on by
Reply

Sometimes a policy is exactly what you need. Policies can provide valuable guidelines for corporate behavior that help keep everyone on the same page, and moving in the same direction. Of course, having a policy but not enforcing it can be worse than not having a policy at all. But, not all situations require or are best served by having a policy. There is a tendency, especially among new leaders, to try to manage by policy.

For more on this check out the short video below:

 

What are You Waiting For?

Posted on by
Reply

It has been said that if you put a frog into a large pot of water, and slowly bring it to a boil, the frog will make no effort to escape, eventually dying even though escape was readily available. Actual empirical evidence indicates this story is not true; but it makes a great leadership example about how easy it is for us humans to remain in our ruts, that is, our patterns of behavior, even when they are detrimental to our stated goals or health, and even when we could change our behavior and improve our situation.

For more on this check out the short video below:

 

Exceed Expectations

Posted on by
Reply

It is a little known fact that everyone forms subconscious expectations regarding EVERYTHING and EVERYONE! This might not be so bad, except that our expectations are rarely accurate, and almost always predispose us to place people, and everything else, into boxes. We form an expectation of a coworker or employee that they are consistently late, or make the same kind of errors over and over again, or lack competence in certain areas, etc. Before you know it, our expectations become the label for that person, event, or thing in our mind.

For more on this check ou the video below:

In the Moment

Posted on by
Reply

Mother Angelica said, “If I’m living in the future or I’m living in the past, I’m not receptive to the grace of the Present Moment.” For her, the Present Moment took on the importance of a sacrament. As she explains it:

…I was getting too caught up in the problems of each day. They would overwhelm me. At that point, I decided I couldn’t do that. You handle this moment, then the next, and then you forget about it and move on to the next moment. …to bear everything that happened today and everything that will happen tomorrow all at one time is too much for anyone. (Mother Angelica’s Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality)

For more on this check out the short video below:

Before You Respond . . .

Posted on by
Reply

The normal thing to do when attacked is to respond in kind, or run away. If someone yells at you, the natural inclination is to raise your own voice in response. If someone strikes you, the natural inclination is to strike them back. If someone sends you a critical email, the natural inclination is to send back an equally critical email. These are all natural reactions and in almost every case, these are the WRONG reactions. Responding in kind to these kinds of stimuli displays poor emotional intelligence and weak leadership skills.

For more on this check out the short video below: