This past Christmas was very different for me because it was the first Christmas I can ever remember that I didn't send out one card or buy one gift. I didn't do it to be defiant or to be a Scrooge. I did it because none of my family set up a gift exchange, like we usually do, and I haven't sent Christmas cards in a few years, at least not a lot of them. It's important to state that aside from some delicious cookies from my sister, I didn't receive any gifts, nor was I expecting any. I did receive about 5 cards and I was very grateful for those.
What I did receive for Christmas, however, was a wonderful appreciation for what the true meaning of Christmas is. It is for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is for celebrating family, friends, and the many blessings we enjoy. The replies I received from the Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays text messages I sent to a select group of friends meant more to me than receiving something in a box wtih decorative wrapping. Those replies meant more to me because they were written from heart and they were writen just for me.
As we start a new decade, always be mindful of what's most important and that when we treat people as special individuals we give them a gift that is welcome in every season.
Friday, January 1, 2010
PREPARE TO WIN IN 2010
Well, the year 2009 is over and what a year it was. Far too many major events took place to review them in this article. What's most important is to ask yourself, what did I learn in 2009? How did I improve myself in 2009? What set goals did I reach in 2009? What mistakes did I pull valuable lessons from, last year, and how will I use those lessons to have a better 2010?
The past is gone forever and there is no need to dwell on events and decisions that can't be undone. At the same time, if we don't learn from the past, we're doomed to repeat it.
On this first day of the New Year, you have the opportunity to make a fresh start, to accomplish goals and promises you made to yourself. The way you go about this is to create a list of specific things you want to do, have or acquire. It's critical to be as clear and detailed as possible. If you make a list of goals you want to achieve before the year is out, I strongly recommend you break up the list into groups of things you can complete in less than a year.
Check and ammend your list on regular basis. You'll be amazed at how seeing what you want to achieve can empower your reslove to make it happen.
Have a prosperous 2010.
The past is gone forever and there is no need to dwell on events and decisions that can't be undone. At the same time, if we don't learn from the past, we're doomed to repeat it.
On this first day of the New Year, you have the opportunity to make a fresh start, to accomplish goals and promises you made to yourself. The way you go about this is to create a list of specific things you want to do, have or acquire. It's critical to be as clear and detailed as possible. If you make a list of goals you want to achieve before the year is out, I strongly recommend you break up the list into groups of things you can complete in less than a year.
Check and ammend your list on regular basis. You'll be amazed at how seeing what you want to achieve can empower your reslove to make it happen.
Have a prosperous 2010.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
VICTIM OR VICTORIOUS
Bad things happen ... to all of us. I remember listening to a Les Brown program on tape and he said, "The messenger of misery is at someone else's door, at your door, or on his way." That stuck with me because it helped me to understand that bad things can happen to good people. For so many years, I felt that was so unfair. It is unfair, but it's life.
We don't control everything that happens to us and we don't always have control what circumstances we find ourselves in, though most times our circumstances are the results of our past decisions and actions. What we do control is what we think about, what we focus on, and what we desire as an outcome. If you think this is airy-fairy fluff, just think back to a time when you had a voice-mail message on your home or cell phone from someone important in your life and all that was said was, "Call me right away! Please!!" Now, after hearing that, almost everybody would think, Oh my goodness. Something must be terribly wrong. Let me call and find out what the emergency is. Yes, it could very well be an emergency, but I've actually had messages like that left and all the person wanted to know is where I was, or what shirt size I wore. Important information? Maybe, for the caller's need. A life or death emergency? Absolutely not.
The point I want to drive home is that you shouldn't make matters any worse in your mind thant they need to be. Don't ignore problems, but don't dwell on them. Focus on a solution and how you want things to be. Victims, whether innocent or not, are helpless and have no power. The victorious have enormous power and take challenges head-on.
We don't control everything that happens to us and we don't always have control what circumstances we find ourselves in, though most times our circumstances are the results of our past decisions and actions. What we do control is what we think about, what we focus on, and what we desire as an outcome. If you think this is airy-fairy fluff, just think back to a time when you had a voice-mail message on your home or cell phone from someone important in your life and all that was said was, "Call me right away! Please!!" Now, after hearing that, almost everybody would think, Oh my goodness. Something must be terribly wrong. Let me call and find out what the emergency is. Yes, it could very well be an emergency, but I've actually had messages like that left and all the person wanted to know is where I was, or what shirt size I wore. Important information? Maybe, for the caller's need. A life or death emergency? Absolutely not.
The point I want to drive home is that you shouldn't make matters any worse in your mind thant they need to be. Don't ignore problems, but don't dwell on them. Focus on a solution and how you want things to be. Victims, whether innocent or not, are helpless and have no power. The victorious have enormous power and take challenges head-on.
RENEWED AND IMPROVED
For those following my blog, thank you for your support and patiience. I do sincerely apologize for not keeping it up to date. Yes, the courses I teach online keep me very busy. Yes, I've had some urgent matters come up, and I have been very busy with a number of other things. But you know what? Those excuses don't hold water.
When I was going through the process of becoming a member of the noble fraternity of Kappa Alpha Psi, I clearly remember hearing this when I didn't have something I was supposed to or I wasn't fully prepared:
Excuses are tools of incompetence,
and those that make use of them,
seldom do anything else.
I never forgot that. So I offer no excuses. I just want my readers to know that they will see a much better and more frequently updated blog from Michael E.
When I was going through the process of becoming a member of the noble fraternity of Kappa Alpha Psi, I clearly remember hearing this when I didn't have something I was supposed to or I wasn't fully prepared:
Excuses are tools of incompetence,
and those that make use of them,
seldom do anything else.
I never forgot that. So I offer no excuses. I just want my readers to know that they will see a much better and more frequently updated blog from Michael E.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT ONLINE NETWORKING
I'm sure you all have read, heard of, and/or already talked about the online networking craze. Having a profile on MySpace, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter is almost as common as having a cell phone. I am quite sure that more people have updated something on one of these sites more recently than they have updated their resume. I include myself in this group, though I did update my resume right after I resigned and before I updated my profiles on such sites.
My quick take on the three social network sites -- they aren't the only ones -- mentioned above is that they serve very different purposes.
I see MySpace as a social network that's used for friends to just banter around and have fun communicating and sharing various aspects of their lives. There is some business being conducted on MySpace, and there are serious contacts being made, but I still think it's more social-based than anything else.
Facebook is really gaining ground in popularity. A site that was originally designated for college students has branched out and grown to include friends and business associates. I have read that a number of employers use Facebook to seek out viable candidates for hire. I think Facebook is the best place to find and get reunited with old friends. Just like with some of the other sites, you can search for people by entering their email address. Most people tend to keep their email addresses, even if they start new email accounts. I believe that you can also search for people by their first and last name on Facebook, which is really nice. Keep in mind, you will only find someone if they have a Facebook account and they don't have to agree to communicate with you. This policy is common practice among such sites. I really like Facebook because I originally joined because a friend wanted me to see a picture of someone who was in her group of friends. In doing so, I just happened to search for a dear friend of mine who moved out of the area, years ago. I was shocked that I got a hit. I sent her a message and she became my friend. After that, I could see who here friends were, and vice-versa, and I sent invites to some people I knew in her network. Before long, I discovered that a number of my siblings, and a number of cousins, former coworkers, and friends were on the site. I see Facebook as more fun talk and personal updates than anything else, and they definitely cater to the younger crowd.
The Linkedin netork is brand new to me. I actually put my profile together, this past weekend, and although I had heard it mentioned, it wasn't until a university student I had helped when I worked at the campus, sent me an invitation to join. I though that was very nice of her. Right now, that young lady is my only connection. With Linkedin, I'm not quite sure if I should seek out people in the same line of work I'm in or people who work for the same company. The site does require that you include information about your job, so I'm sure it's designed for career networking than anything esle. I look forward to learning a lot more about it.
My newest discovery is Twitter. Just like Linkedin, I heard about Twitter and even went to the site, but I never created an account. Then, two weeks ago, a former coworker and good friend of mine sent an invitation to my email to join him on Twitter. I didn't do it right away, but I kept the email because I knew I wanted to find out more. Well, I finally went to the site and opened up an account, this week, and I absolutely love it. I find Twitter to the best of all the sites I've listed because you have so much information at your disposal at any time. Also, Twitter only allows very short messages -- about two to three medium-length sentences -- to be sent at one time. This can be frustrating when you are writing a message, but it's great when you are reading them because whoever writes them must get right to the point. If you love reading inspirational quotes, getting quick news headlines, and obtaining quick tips, Twitter is for you. It should also be added that in your message, you can include URL's, links, and emails to other sites. So if a reader wants more information, he or she can go there, right at that moment or later on. Another great thing about Twitter is you have a much more diverse group of members. On top of that, you get to see and read messages directly from the source, and the sources include companies, agencies, schoools, sports teams, tv programs, authors, speakers, celebrities, and more. Yes, of course you will have a lot of messages about promotions, items for sale, and messages that try to lure you to another site, but you can easily bypass those. Plus, you don't have to "follow" another person, even if they are following you.
No matter which online networking site is your favorite, I strongly encourage all of you to take full advantage of them, especially while we can all do so for free. Like it or not, electronic networking is changing our world, from how we meet others to how we do business. Stay on top trends and changes ... or be prepared to get changed by them.
My quick take on the three social network sites -- they aren't the only ones -- mentioned above is that they serve very different purposes.
I see MySpace as a social network that's used for friends to just banter around and have fun communicating and sharing various aspects of their lives. There is some business being conducted on MySpace, and there are serious contacts being made, but I still think it's more social-based than anything else.
Facebook is really gaining ground in popularity. A site that was originally designated for college students has branched out and grown to include friends and business associates. I have read that a number of employers use Facebook to seek out viable candidates for hire. I think Facebook is the best place to find and get reunited with old friends. Just like with some of the other sites, you can search for people by entering their email address. Most people tend to keep their email addresses, even if they start new email accounts. I believe that you can also search for people by their first and last name on Facebook, which is really nice. Keep in mind, you will only find someone if they have a Facebook account and they don't have to agree to communicate with you. This policy is common practice among such sites. I really like Facebook because I originally joined because a friend wanted me to see a picture of someone who was in her group of friends. In doing so, I just happened to search for a dear friend of mine who moved out of the area, years ago. I was shocked that I got a hit. I sent her a message and she became my friend. After that, I could see who here friends were, and vice-versa, and I sent invites to some people I knew in her network. Before long, I discovered that a number of my siblings, and a number of cousins, former coworkers, and friends were on the site. I see Facebook as more fun talk and personal updates than anything else, and they definitely cater to the younger crowd.
The Linkedin netork is brand new to me. I actually put my profile together, this past weekend, and although I had heard it mentioned, it wasn't until a university student I had helped when I worked at the campus, sent me an invitation to join. I though that was very nice of her. Right now, that young lady is my only connection. With Linkedin, I'm not quite sure if I should seek out people in the same line of work I'm in or people who work for the same company. The site does require that you include information about your job, so I'm sure it's designed for career networking than anything esle. I look forward to learning a lot more about it.
My newest discovery is Twitter. Just like Linkedin, I heard about Twitter and even went to the site, but I never created an account. Then, two weeks ago, a former coworker and good friend of mine sent an invitation to my email to join him on Twitter. I didn't do it right away, but I kept the email because I knew I wanted to find out more. Well, I finally went to the site and opened up an account, this week, and I absolutely love it. I find Twitter to the best of all the sites I've listed because you have so much information at your disposal at any time. Also, Twitter only allows very short messages -- about two to three medium-length sentences -- to be sent at one time. This can be frustrating when you are writing a message, but it's great when you are reading them because whoever writes them must get right to the point. If you love reading inspirational quotes, getting quick news headlines, and obtaining quick tips, Twitter is for you. It should also be added that in your message, you can include URL's, links, and emails to other sites. So if a reader wants more information, he or she can go there, right at that moment or later on. Another great thing about Twitter is you have a much more diverse group of members. On top of that, you get to see and read messages directly from the source, and the sources include companies, agencies, schoools, sports teams, tv programs, authors, speakers, celebrities, and more. Yes, of course you will have a lot of messages about promotions, items for sale, and messages that try to lure you to another site, but you can easily bypass those. Plus, you don't have to "follow" another person, even if they are following you.
No matter which online networking site is your favorite, I strongly encourage all of you to take full advantage of them, especially while we can all do so for free. Like it or not, electronic networking is changing our world, from how we meet others to how we do business. Stay on top trends and changes ... or be prepared to get changed by them.
EXCITING TIMES
Hello, Everyone.
I hope you are all achieving your dreams. I certainly am.
In a week or two, it will be two months since I resigned from an associate dean's position at large university. I haven't stopped working -- I've continued to teach online -- but I have stopped dealing with the rat race. I don't think I can ever go back. Modestly speaking, I know I could find another full-time job pretty quickly but being able to do what I truly love, teach, learn, share information, and help people improve their lives, makes all the difference in the world.
Freedom from the rat race doesn't come without a heavy price, though. I really, really miss the check I used to get when I worked full-time. I also miss the health care benefits and life insurance policies I got at a huge discount at the J.O.B. While reviewing the COBRA information I received to notify me that my health insurance would be cancelled, I saw that to continue the same exact coverage I would need to pay $434. Outrageous! Keep in mind, this is health insurance for just me, a single guy with no major health issues. Those of you who are working and get discounted coverage through your employers, don't take that for granted. And if you have kids, you really need to be aware of what you're saving.
Another challenge with not being under the direction of a boss is that you are your own boss. That means you must be responsible for the work you need to do, be it looking for employment, which in itself is a job, or working your own business.
Now, back to the blessings. My whole outlook on life is different. The way I approach all the tasks and duties that go along with being a university professor is different. The way I look at, work, and appreciate my home-based iLearning Global business is different. Why? Because I know I can commit the proper amount of time to these things without being hampered by punching a clock. I know my mornigs won't be filled with dodging idiotic rush hour drivers before going to a place where I don't want to be and doing something I don't want to do for eight, nine or more hours.
My present living situation alows me the flexibility to do what I'm doing, where it wouldn't with most. I'm also fortunate that I just paid my car off, a few months ago. I don't take these things for granted. God has truly blessed me. I also realize that this is not the end of the road. I need to build my iLG business, create other strong streams of income, save and earn a lot more money and help a lot more people before I reach my major goals. I will do it, and I know whatever your major goals are, you will do it, too.
I hope you are all achieving your dreams. I certainly am.
In a week or two, it will be two months since I resigned from an associate dean's position at large university. I haven't stopped working -- I've continued to teach online -- but I have stopped dealing with the rat race. I don't think I can ever go back. Modestly speaking, I know I could find another full-time job pretty quickly but being able to do what I truly love, teach, learn, share information, and help people improve their lives, makes all the difference in the world.
Freedom from the rat race doesn't come without a heavy price, though. I really, really miss the check I used to get when I worked full-time. I also miss the health care benefits and life insurance policies I got at a huge discount at the J.O.B. While reviewing the COBRA information I received to notify me that my health insurance would be cancelled, I saw that to continue the same exact coverage I would need to pay $434. Outrageous! Keep in mind, this is health insurance for just me, a single guy with no major health issues. Those of you who are working and get discounted coverage through your employers, don't take that for granted. And if you have kids, you really need to be aware of what you're saving.
Another challenge with not being under the direction of a boss is that you are your own boss. That means you must be responsible for the work you need to do, be it looking for employment, which in itself is a job, or working your own business.
Now, back to the blessings. My whole outlook on life is different. The way I approach all the tasks and duties that go along with being a university professor is different. The way I look at, work, and appreciate my home-based iLearning Global business is different. Why? Because I know I can commit the proper amount of time to these things without being hampered by punching a clock. I know my mornigs won't be filled with dodging idiotic rush hour drivers before going to a place where I don't want to be and doing something I don't want to do for eight, nine or more hours.
My present living situation alows me the flexibility to do what I'm doing, where it wouldn't with most. I'm also fortunate that I just paid my car off, a few months ago. I don't take these things for granted. God has truly blessed me. I also realize that this is not the end of the road. I need to build my iLG business, create other strong streams of income, save and earn a lot more money and help a lot more people before I reach my major goals. I will do it, and I know whatever your major goals are, you will do it, too.
Monday, August 24, 2009
WHAT'S NEW AND IMPROVED?
After being MIA with my blog for nearly four months, I couldn't think of a better title for this entry than the greeting I like to give friends, family, and cool associates, "What's new and improved." Of course I didn't invent the term "new and improved," however, I do believe I'm the originator of putting the different twist on it and making it a question. I created the line so people wouldn't be able to just give a standard and typical answer, like they usually do the the How's it going? or How are you? questions.
I hope a number of things are new and improved with you and yours because a whole lot is new and improved with me. First, I'm feeling more free and relaxed than I have in ages and I'm more positive about my future than I have been in a very long time. Why? Because I took a bold, many may say crazy, step to maintain my peace of mind, as well as my professional dignity. Initially, the step I took was to deal with the immediate need to address a situation that I saw as lose-lose. Yet within two days of making the decision, I discovered that it was the very best thing I could have done. This decision revealed my true passion to me. It also made me take a hard look at what I was trading my life for. I am, and will always be, grateful for the opportunity to be a dean, yet I had to come to the realization that that's not what I think God put me on this earth to do.
Have I built any suspense, yet? Okay, you've waited long enough. The major decsion I made was to resign from the position of Associate Dean that I accepted and described in my last blog entry, in late April of this year. As I stated earlier, it wasn't planned, but it was a decsion that I made on my own and with a few weeks having gone by, I have absolutely no doubt it was the very best decision for me, my professional pursuits, and most of all, my happiness and well-being.
But Michael, what will you do for money? Yeah, that's the other side of the decision that I must take responsibility for. I have been a certified online professor since June and I will be able to continue to teach for the upcoming fall term. Teaching is my true passion and now I get to pursue it, full force. After teaching high school, Adult Ed/ESL and a college course, I couldn't quite determine how much I wanted teaching to be a part of my career. With this new experience of teaching online, I have no doubt that it's what I'm supposed to do.
But wait ... there's still some more exciting news. Being that I can teach my online classes from home. I am now able to work my iLearning Global www.ILearningGlobal.biz/maximo3 as a true business, giving it the time, commitment, and professional respect it deserves. My belief in iLG has only grown stronger since I joined as a charter member back in November of '08. The thing is, I loved the continuous learning provided so much, I was just devouring it, myself. Now, I can share it with those who see it for what it is, the best and least expensive way to teach yourself what you need to know to be the most successful person you can be. As Jim Rohn said, "A formal education can get you a job. Self-education can get you a fortune." Please don't misunderstand me. I'm extremely proud of my journalism degree and I'm also proud of the MBA I earned. I come from a family of educators that dates back four generations. But I also know the difference between working for a living and living for your work.
Yes, these are very unstable economic times. As true as that may be, opportunities are all around us. Just look in a newspaper, magazine, or on t.v. There are people, groups, and companies that are thriving, right now. And why is that? It's because they are providing a product or service that people want because they have a burning passion for what they do, and because they have an unwavering certainty that they will succeed.
This is one of the most exciting times in my life. I hope that it's the same for you.
I hope a number of things are new and improved with you and yours because a whole lot is new and improved with me. First, I'm feeling more free and relaxed than I have in ages and I'm more positive about my future than I have been in a very long time. Why? Because I took a bold, many may say crazy, step to maintain my peace of mind, as well as my professional dignity. Initially, the step I took was to deal with the immediate need to address a situation that I saw as lose-lose. Yet within two days of making the decision, I discovered that it was the very best thing I could have done. This decision revealed my true passion to me. It also made me take a hard look at what I was trading my life for. I am, and will always be, grateful for the opportunity to be a dean, yet I had to come to the realization that that's not what I think God put me on this earth to do.
Have I built any suspense, yet? Okay, you've waited long enough. The major decsion I made was to resign from the position of Associate Dean that I accepted and described in my last blog entry, in late April of this year. As I stated earlier, it wasn't planned, but it was a decsion that I made on my own and with a few weeks having gone by, I have absolutely no doubt it was the very best decision for me, my professional pursuits, and most of all, my happiness and well-being.
But Michael, what will you do for money? Yeah, that's the other side of the decision that I must take responsibility for. I have been a certified online professor since June and I will be able to continue to teach for the upcoming fall term. Teaching is my true passion and now I get to pursue it, full force. After teaching high school, Adult Ed/ESL and a college course, I couldn't quite determine how much I wanted teaching to be a part of my career. With this new experience of teaching online, I have no doubt that it's what I'm supposed to do.
But wait ... there's still some more exciting news. Being that I can teach my online classes from home. I am now able to work my iLearning Global www.ILearningGlobal.biz/maximo3 as a true business, giving it the time, commitment, and professional respect it deserves. My belief in iLG has only grown stronger since I joined as a charter member back in November of '08. The thing is, I loved the continuous learning provided so much, I was just devouring it, myself. Now, I can share it with those who see it for what it is, the best and least expensive way to teach yourself what you need to know to be the most successful person you can be. As Jim Rohn said, "A formal education can get you a job. Self-education can get you a fortune." Please don't misunderstand me. I'm extremely proud of my journalism degree and I'm also proud of the MBA I earned. I come from a family of educators that dates back four generations. But I also know the difference between working for a living and living for your work.
Yes, these are very unstable economic times. As true as that may be, opportunities are all around us. Just look in a newspaper, magazine, or on t.v. There are people, groups, and companies that are thriving, right now. And why is that? It's because they are providing a product or service that people want because they have a burning passion for what they do, and because they have an unwavering certainty that they will succeed.
This is one of the most exciting times in my life. I hope that it's the same for you.
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