Thursday, July 9, 2009
“…frost has never been reported before in July”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/07/08/weve-never-had-frost-in-july/#more-9234
Gene Altering Chemicals Found In Forest Fire Smoke
Check this out...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430091057.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430091057.htm
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
For the Gentlemen Within Our Happy Group...
14 Basic Skills All Men Should Possess
8 Jul 2009
Written by Sean Percival
http://www.bspcn.com/
In today’s modern world there are many things we take for granted, many things our fathers would have known how to do, and some others that might baffle them. Additionally, on average, Americans and European men are starting to get married older, meaning that there is now a need to be self-sufficient in things long-considered to be within the realm of the woman. Whether you’re out camping, or at home or work, there are some basic skills a man must possess. The following are fourteen of examples of these skills – if you don’t know them, you should learn them, or you may be caught unaware sooner than you think.
Drive a Stick-Shift
It’s a sad thought that more men, every day, are coming of age with absolutely no experience driving a stick-shift. To really add insult to injury, there are more men running around who don’t know how to drive a car period, but they’re beyond help if they’re that far gone. Driving stick is not a difficult thing to learn, and you don’t need to own a manual-transmission vehicle to acquire this skill. Have a friend teach you, hell, rent a car if you have to, it only takes a couple of hours to get the hang of it. At some point, just about everyone comes across a situation when they need to drive someone else’s car, and there’s a pretty decent chance that car will be stick. You’ll want at least a vague familiarity with it.
Hook up an Entertainment Center
There is absolutely NO excuse for this one. It’s now 2009, TV’s with wires coming out the back of them haven’t been new or fangled for 20 years. The wires are color-coded, and even labelled with handy names like “input” and “output.” Here’s a hint, if something outputs, there’s an input somewhere waiting for it. With HDTV’s on the rise now, it’s even easier with HDMI plugs, since there’s only one cable. Your grandfather may get away with having the Geek Squad come out to the house to install his new TV, but you need to man up and handle your own business.
Fix a Toilet
Everyone has a toilet, most houses even have more than one. They’re not new and they’re not that scary inside, either, yet somehow this all goes out the window the moment that flush handle stops making noises. Odds are, if you take the lid off the back of the toilet and peek in there, you’re going to immediately see what’s wrong. It’s not a complicated assembly, and if you really can’t figure out how the flapper works, the guy at Home Depot will be happy to take one and half minutes to explain it to you.
Navigate a Map and Use GPS
There should never be any instance when a man is handed a map and says “I don’t know what I’m looking at here.” It may sound silly to some, but it happens every day. The culprit is usually the same guy who can’t drive. Roadmaps aren’t exactly of the difficulty level the Goonies had to deal with; they have clearly marked labels and landmarks, just like the road you’re on. The same goes for ditching the map and using a GPS device, which are built to be easy enough to operate one-handed and without looking. That’s their purpose, so you shouldn’t have a problem learning how to use one.
Change the Oil
Granted, in a decade or so cars that even have oil to change will be much less common, but right now they’re the run of the mill and have been since your grandparents were toddlers. Every man should be able to, if needed, change the oil in his car, as well as swap the spark plugs and the air filter. These three things make up the bare minimum maintenance-skills trifecta for car-owners. The only exception to this rule would be if you grew up filthy rich, and only drove cars that required special garage tools and special knowledge and calibration. That’s probably not you.
Balance a Checkbook
A man needs to be able to manage his money. That’s just a simple fact of life, a part of growing up, and a major factor in whether or not he spends his life alone and miserable. Now, while it’s true that money isn’t everything, it definitely matters quite a bit. A woman isn’t necessarily shallow if she doesn’t want to spend her life with a guy who can’t keep his bank account from over-drafting, she’s just got good sense.
Cook the Perfect Steak
A timeless symbol of manhood, cooking the perfect steak is a long sought-after goal for any man who’s ever touched a grill. It’s just one of those things we all have to strive for in life. On top of that, it’s a great way to garner respect around the neighborhood, and it’s sure to get you a reputation as a good cook regardless of any actual cooking skills. The last thing you want is for your own wife or girlfriend to ask that you let your friend man the grill on the 4th of July. It should always be you.
Swim the Breaststroke
The need to be able to swim is one of basic survival. If you fall into a body of water, you need to be able to get back out, otherwise you’re a danger to yourself and others. You don’t need to be an Olympic-style swimmer, but you should at the very least be able to pull off a breaststroke if your life depended on it, and it might, you really never know. If the whole impending doom thing doesn’t sway you, then the fact that you look lame dog-paddling across the lake might.
Write Effectively
Unless you plan on spending your entire life working construction, and not as the foreman, you’re going to have to write more than one paragraph at some point. When that time comes, you need to be able to string something together that’s both coherent, and correct. That means spelling, grammar, and proper punctuation, all things taught throughout high school. If, like most young men, you weren’t paying any attention during high school and now can’t write a paper to save your life, there are plenty of resources available on the Internet; take some time and rectify your mistakes before it’s too late.
Dress for the Occasion
Jeans and a T-shirt are great, every guy needs to be comfortable, and nobody would fault a guy for wearing his favorite jeans to the store. That’s a far cry from going to a job interview, a wedding, or to a yacht party dressed like this. A man needs to have a presence and that means not looking like a drowned rat in unwashed clothes. You need to be able to dress yourself, and women will attest to this. It may be a little more expensive than the thrift store, but the payoff is ten-fold. If you lack fashion sense, and many men do, take a woman with you. There is no better shopping partner than a fashion-conscious woman.
Sew a Button
Yes, you can run around asking every woman in sight if she can help you fix your broken button, but you’re going to look like a jerk. It’s pretty easy to fix a rogue button if you can get ahold of a needle and thread. All you need to do is thread the needle, and then start looping it through the button holes and fabric. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to keep the button on your clothes until you can replace them or find someone to do a professional job (like your mother). The last thing you want to do is to just walk around missing a button, that just looks ridiculous.
Do Laundry Properly
Many men get away without the most rudimentary of laundry skills, but they’re the guys who only own one pair of Levi’s and three black T-shirts. Socks and underwear are always optional to these gentlemen and they live the perennial single life. A man needs to be able to take care of his clothes, and that includes sorting them to allow for color-bleed as well as fabric types. The dryer can also be a deal breaker- even when washing correctly, and you don’t want to end up with a shirt that fits a 10 year old. Learning this skill is actually a pretty involved, drawn-out process, but with enough trips to the laundromat, and enough stupid questions annoying the women that happen to be there, you can learn how to handle your clothes like a fashion expert- and maybe even get a date while you’re at it.
Handle Roadside Emergencies
If you’re going to be out on the road, then you need to be able to handle a flat tire or jump a battery. Not knowing these two simple things can be just as bad as walking into the desert with no water. It’s also important that you be able to stop to help others who are stranded on the side of the road when they don’t know how to change their flat tire.
Build a Fire
Much like swimming, this is a basic survival skill that mankind developed long ago. There is always the off-chance that you may need to spontaneously build a fire, and you should have at least some inkling of how to go about doing it if the need ever arises. You don’t need to become an expert fire-starter, but you should at the very least be aware of the various methods that exist. There is no shame in taking the easy way out; always having a lighter, or a book or box of matches on hand. Weatherproof matches in your glovebox are always a good idea, and flint-strikers are cheap and non-combustible alternatives as well. Man discovered fire, don’t be the guy who never learned how to use it.
8 Jul 2009
Written by Sean Percival
http://www.bspcn.com/
In today’s modern world there are many things we take for granted, many things our fathers would have known how to do, and some others that might baffle them. Additionally, on average, Americans and European men are starting to get married older, meaning that there is now a need to be self-sufficient in things long-considered to be within the realm of the woman. Whether you’re out camping, or at home or work, there are some basic skills a man must possess. The following are fourteen of examples of these skills – if you don’t know them, you should learn them, or you may be caught unaware sooner than you think.
Drive a Stick-Shift
It’s a sad thought that more men, every day, are coming of age with absolutely no experience driving a stick-shift. To really add insult to injury, there are more men running around who don’t know how to drive a car period, but they’re beyond help if they’re that far gone. Driving stick is not a difficult thing to learn, and you don’t need to own a manual-transmission vehicle to acquire this skill. Have a friend teach you, hell, rent a car if you have to, it only takes a couple of hours to get the hang of it. At some point, just about everyone comes across a situation when they need to drive someone else’s car, and there’s a pretty decent chance that car will be stick. You’ll want at least a vague familiarity with it.
Hook up an Entertainment Center
There is absolutely NO excuse for this one. It’s now 2009, TV’s with wires coming out the back of them haven’t been new or fangled for 20 years. The wires are color-coded, and even labelled with handy names like “input” and “output.” Here’s a hint, if something outputs, there’s an input somewhere waiting for it. With HDTV’s on the rise now, it’s even easier with HDMI plugs, since there’s only one cable. Your grandfather may get away with having the Geek Squad come out to the house to install his new TV, but you need to man up and handle your own business.
Fix a Toilet
Everyone has a toilet, most houses even have more than one. They’re not new and they’re not that scary inside, either, yet somehow this all goes out the window the moment that flush handle stops making noises. Odds are, if you take the lid off the back of the toilet and peek in there, you’re going to immediately see what’s wrong. It’s not a complicated assembly, and if you really can’t figure out how the flapper works, the guy at Home Depot will be happy to take one and half minutes to explain it to you.
Navigate a Map and Use GPS
There should never be any instance when a man is handed a map and says “I don’t know what I’m looking at here.” It may sound silly to some, but it happens every day. The culprit is usually the same guy who can’t drive. Roadmaps aren’t exactly of the difficulty level the Goonies had to deal with; they have clearly marked labels and landmarks, just like the road you’re on. The same goes for ditching the map and using a GPS device, which are built to be easy enough to operate one-handed and without looking. That’s their purpose, so you shouldn’t have a problem learning how to use one.
Change the Oil
Granted, in a decade or so cars that even have oil to change will be much less common, but right now they’re the run of the mill and have been since your grandparents were toddlers. Every man should be able to, if needed, change the oil in his car, as well as swap the spark plugs and the air filter. These three things make up the bare minimum maintenance-skills trifecta for car-owners. The only exception to this rule would be if you grew up filthy rich, and only drove cars that required special garage tools and special knowledge and calibration. That’s probably not you.
Balance a Checkbook
A man needs to be able to manage his money. That’s just a simple fact of life, a part of growing up, and a major factor in whether or not he spends his life alone and miserable. Now, while it’s true that money isn’t everything, it definitely matters quite a bit. A woman isn’t necessarily shallow if she doesn’t want to spend her life with a guy who can’t keep his bank account from over-drafting, she’s just got good sense.
Cook the Perfect Steak
A timeless symbol of manhood, cooking the perfect steak is a long sought-after goal for any man who’s ever touched a grill. It’s just one of those things we all have to strive for in life. On top of that, it’s a great way to garner respect around the neighborhood, and it’s sure to get you a reputation as a good cook regardless of any actual cooking skills. The last thing you want is for your own wife or girlfriend to ask that you let your friend man the grill on the 4th of July. It should always be you.
Swim the Breaststroke
The need to be able to swim is one of basic survival. If you fall into a body of water, you need to be able to get back out, otherwise you’re a danger to yourself and others. You don’t need to be an Olympic-style swimmer, but you should at the very least be able to pull off a breaststroke if your life depended on it, and it might, you really never know. If the whole impending doom thing doesn’t sway you, then the fact that you look lame dog-paddling across the lake might.
Write Effectively
Unless you plan on spending your entire life working construction, and not as the foreman, you’re going to have to write more than one paragraph at some point. When that time comes, you need to be able to string something together that’s both coherent, and correct. That means spelling, grammar, and proper punctuation, all things taught throughout high school. If, like most young men, you weren’t paying any attention during high school and now can’t write a paper to save your life, there are plenty of resources available on the Internet; take some time and rectify your mistakes before it’s too late.
Dress for the Occasion
Jeans and a T-shirt are great, every guy needs to be comfortable, and nobody would fault a guy for wearing his favorite jeans to the store. That’s a far cry from going to a job interview, a wedding, or to a yacht party dressed like this. A man needs to have a presence and that means not looking like a drowned rat in unwashed clothes. You need to be able to dress yourself, and women will attest to this. It may be a little more expensive than the thrift store, but the payoff is ten-fold. If you lack fashion sense, and many men do, take a woman with you. There is no better shopping partner than a fashion-conscious woman.
Sew a Button
Yes, you can run around asking every woman in sight if she can help you fix your broken button, but you’re going to look like a jerk. It’s pretty easy to fix a rogue button if you can get ahold of a needle and thread. All you need to do is thread the needle, and then start looping it through the button holes and fabric. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to keep the button on your clothes until you can replace them or find someone to do a professional job (like your mother). The last thing you want to do is to just walk around missing a button, that just looks ridiculous.
Do Laundry Properly
Many men get away without the most rudimentary of laundry skills, but they’re the guys who only own one pair of Levi’s and three black T-shirts. Socks and underwear are always optional to these gentlemen and they live the perennial single life. A man needs to be able to take care of his clothes, and that includes sorting them to allow for color-bleed as well as fabric types. The dryer can also be a deal breaker- even when washing correctly, and you don’t want to end up with a shirt that fits a 10 year old. Learning this skill is actually a pretty involved, drawn-out process, but with enough trips to the laundromat, and enough stupid questions annoying the women that happen to be there, you can learn how to handle your clothes like a fashion expert- and maybe even get a date while you’re at it.
Handle Roadside Emergencies
If you’re going to be out on the road, then you need to be able to handle a flat tire or jump a battery. Not knowing these two simple things can be just as bad as walking into the desert with no water. It’s also important that you be able to stop to help others who are stranded on the side of the road when they don’t know how to change their flat tire.
Build a Fire
Much like swimming, this is a basic survival skill that mankind developed long ago. There is always the off-chance that you may need to spontaneously build a fire, and you should have at least some inkling of how to go about doing it if the need ever arises. You don’t need to become an expert fire-starter, but you should at the very least be aware of the various methods that exist. There is no shame in taking the easy way out; always having a lighter, or a book or box of matches on hand. Weatherproof matches in your glovebox are always a good idea, and flint-strikers are cheap and non-combustible alternatives as well. Man discovered fire, don’t be the guy who never learned how to use it.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The 12 Commandments of Wealth
1. Seek money for money's sake and ye shall not find.
2. Find your perfect pitch (Know your strengths and weaknesses).
3. Be your own boss.
4. Get addicted to ambition.
5. Wake up early. Be early.
6. Don't set goals--execute or be executed.
7. Fail so you can succeed.
8. Location doesn't matter. Success can take place anywhere.
9. Moor yourself to morals.
10. Say yes to sales.
11. Borrow from the best--and the worst.
12. Never retire.
From Reader's Digest, May 2009
Adapted from The Richest Man in Town by W. Randall Jones
2. Find your perfect pitch (Know your strengths and weaknesses).
3. Be your own boss.
4. Get addicted to ambition.
5. Wake up early. Be early.
6. Don't set goals--execute or be executed.
7. Fail so you can succeed.
8. Location doesn't matter. Success can take place anywhere.
9. Moor yourself to morals.
10. Say yes to sales.
11. Borrow from the best--and the worst.
12. Never retire.
From Reader's Digest, May 2009
Adapted from The Richest Man in Town by W. Randall Jones
Monday, June 22, 2009
Elements of Successful Leadership
WILLIAM PETERSON
Director, Utah State Extension Service
The following rather unusual presentation on leadership, part of a talk given adult leaders in Utah in 1935. The talk has the merit of being direct and specific and contains many valuable suggestions.
A LEADER SHOULD EARLY DEVELOP a definite philosophy of life. Life is not a problem—it is a task to be lived.
2. A leader must have definite standards of living. He will soon be known by those standards. If he is to be entrusted with the 4-H Club boys and girls, it must be known that his standards of living are going to contribute to the character and upbuilding of these young people.
3. A leader must be absolutely sincere. He cannot live a double life.
4. A successful leader must cultivate a love for his fellows. He will not be willing to give of his time and talent unless he has a feeling toward every other person of complete fellowship and interest.
5. A leader must establish a .confidence with all his associates, so much so that the populace has confidence that he will do as he agrees.
6. A leader must develop a clear vision. He must look ahead of the club.
7. A leader must be open to suggestion. An education is a lifetime effort.
8. A leader must maintain a scientific attitude. He should live today in the light of today, but if new facts develop tomorrow, he should be willing to adjust himself to the new truth.
9. A leader must be able to stimulate initiative and vision in others.
10. A leader must be willing to analyze and benefit by the experience of others.
11. A leader must be sympathetic and forgiving. He must not be vindictive, nor must he hold a grudge.
12. A leader should live the golden rule. He should be willing to accord to others that which he expects himself.
13. A leader must have an abundance of faith at all times.
14. A leader must have tact. There are many ways of doing many things.
15. A leader must manifest an ever good nature. Even in the face of accusation he cannot afford to be offended.
16. A leader must maintain a good sense of keen humor. Seeing the humorous side of the question many times lifts us out of the difficulty.
17. A leader must never be discouraged. The followers may become discouraged, but the leader must carry them on.
18. A leader must carry constant buoyancy. When you talk with him he should actually buoy you up to unusual effort, a more pleasant outlook, greater hope, and real vision.
19. A leader must have a lot of good common sense.
20. A leader must believe in things and see the good in them. No single person has ever been blessed with all the attributes of success. The weakest individuals have some unusual strength. To see this strength and apply it will make strong leadership.
21. A leader in the outset must be willing to give service—for the love of it.
22. A leader must be thrifty. By this I mean a leader must be known as a person honest and conscientious.
23. A leader must be dependable. He must keep his appointments.
24. A leader must be clean, moral, and wholesome.
25. A leader must not cheapen life. He must maintain a personal pride and develop a personality that young people will look upon as ideal.
26. A leader must develop a definite love of attainment. He must be able to stimulate this love of attainment in others.
27. A leader must establish a reputation for honesty and dependability.
28. A leader must at all times be resourceful. Many problems may come to him without a solution.
29. A leader must fight if necessary. This, however, should be a last resort.
30. A leader should develop good manners and pleasant ways.
31. A leader must always have a self-starter. If possible, he must be able to stimulate a self-starter in others.
32. A leader should maintain some pride in his appearance.
33. A leader should develop respect and regard for all effort. There is a feeling that doctors, teachers, lawyers, and preachers are in a higher stratum of society than the tradesmen and the farmers. A good builder is just as essential in a community as a good banker.
34. A leader should be courteous and respectful to all he meets.
35. When a leader has developed living standards and a philosophy of life, let him have courage enough to live them. Remember that leadership means the responsibility of directing many enterprises. All that we are may be classed in three elements: Inheritance, association, and effort. As leaders, be sure our association is what it should be to stimulate the best effort in ourselves and in those with whom we associate.
Director, Utah State Extension Service
The following rather unusual presentation on leadership, part of a talk given adult leaders in Utah in 1935. The talk has the merit of being direct and specific and contains many valuable suggestions.
A LEADER SHOULD EARLY DEVELOP a definite philosophy of life. Life is not a problem—it is a task to be lived.
2. A leader must have definite standards of living. He will soon be known by those standards. If he is to be entrusted with the 4-H Club boys and girls, it must be known that his standards of living are going to contribute to the character and upbuilding of these young people.
3. A leader must be absolutely sincere. He cannot live a double life.
4. A successful leader must cultivate a love for his fellows. He will not be willing to give of his time and talent unless he has a feeling toward every other person of complete fellowship and interest.
5. A leader must establish a .confidence with all his associates, so much so that the populace has confidence that he will do as he agrees.
6. A leader must develop a clear vision. He must look ahead of the club.
7. A leader must be open to suggestion. An education is a lifetime effort.
8. A leader must maintain a scientific attitude. He should live today in the light of today, but if new facts develop tomorrow, he should be willing to adjust himself to the new truth.
9. A leader must be able to stimulate initiative and vision in others.
10. A leader must be willing to analyze and benefit by the experience of others.
11. A leader must be sympathetic and forgiving. He must not be vindictive, nor must he hold a grudge.
12. A leader should live the golden rule. He should be willing to accord to others that which he expects himself.
13. A leader must have an abundance of faith at all times.
14. A leader must have tact. There are many ways of doing many things.
15. A leader must manifest an ever good nature. Even in the face of accusation he cannot afford to be offended.
16. A leader must maintain a good sense of keen humor. Seeing the humorous side of the question many times lifts us out of the difficulty.
17. A leader must never be discouraged. The followers may become discouraged, but the leader must carry them on.
18. A leader must carry constant buoyancy. When you talk with him he should actually buoy you up to unusual effort, a more pleasant outlook, greater hope, and real vision.
19. A leader must have a lot of good common sense.
20. A leader must believe in things and see the good in them. No single person has ever been blessed with all the attributes of success. The weakest individuals have some unusual strength. To see this strength and apply it will make strong leadership.
21. A leader in the outset must be willing to give service—for the love of it.
22. A leader must be thrifty. By this I mean a leader must be known as a person honest and conscientious.
23. A leader must be dependable. He must keep his appointments.
24. A leader must be clean, moral, and wholesome.
25. A leader must not cheapen life. He must maintain a personal pride and develop a personality that young people will look upon as ideal.
26. A leader must develop a definite love of attainment. He must be able to stimulate this love of attainment in others.
27. A leader must establish a reputation for honesty and dependability.
28. A leader must at all times be resourceful. Many problems may come to him without a solution.
29. A leader must fight if necessary. This, however, should be a last resort.
30. A leader should develop good manners and pleasant ways.
31. A leader must always have a self-starter. If possible, he must be able to stimulate a self-starter in others.
32. A leader should maintain some pride in his appearance.
33. A leader should develop respect and regard for all effort. There is a feeling that doctors, teachers, lawyers, and preachers are in a higher stratum of society than the tradesmen and the farmers. A good builder is just as essential in a community as a good banker.
34. A leader should be courteous and respectful to all he meets.
35. When a leader has developed living standards and a philosophy of life, let him have courage enough to live them. Remember that leadership means the responsibility of directing many enterprises. All that we are may be classed in three elements: Inheritance, association, and effort. As leaders, be sure our association is what it should be to stimulate the best effort in ourselves and in those with whom we associate.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Release Your Inner Extrovert
From www.welchway.com, by Jack and Suzy Welch...
Q. My boss recently told me that I am very competent and have a clear vision for my team, but in order to get promoted, I need to show a stronger personality. As a naturally introverted person, what should I do?
A. First of all,...we would like to express our gratitude to you for sending in a question we've always wanted to answer, giving us (and our readers) a respite from thinking about the economy's recent upheaval. Amen to that.
And now, back to business and a question of our own. How do you feel about the prospect of putting on a perky face and a big voice and trying to chit-chat and "ho-ho-ho" your way into your team's heart?
Panicked? Depressed? A bit of both?
Or do you simply feel worried, knowing how much people generally dislike phonies? If so, we're with you. Competence and vision are all well and good—and congratulations on having those qualities—but the inescapable fact is that authenticity matters, too. And if you take your boss's recent advice, you'll no doubt be sacrificing in that department.
Except—and this is a big exception—you have no choice. Because your boss is trying to help you, and he's right. Over time, many introverts stagnate in large organizations. They can work hard and deliver to expectations or beyond, but they rarely get their due.
Note that we're talking about big companies. Almost anyone with a great idea can soar at a startup, and small companies often give more latitude, as long as the results are there. But in a big, bureaucratic enterprise, atmospheric conditions just give extroverts a marked advantage.
The reasons are myriad. Big companies are constantly looking for people to move across divisions or around the world, and extroverts, by rights or not, appear more prepared for such opportunities. With their charisma and superior verbal skills, they're thought to be more "out front," able to communicate powerfully and motivate their people, especially during tough times. Extroverts also tend to forge relationships with more ease, another boon in complex hierarchies. And finally, extroverts tend to outshine introverts because early on, their outsize personalities earn them chances to make presentations to higher-ups, always a good way to accelerate the career-changing process of getting out of the pile.
Indeed, big companies are so tilted towards extroverts that introverts within them often experience a dynamic not unlike the one faced by many women and minorities. They have to constantly overdeliver just to stay even.
There are, of course, exceptions. Everyone knows of a reserved, shy, or awkward individual who has risen through the ranks to run something big. But in every such case we can think of, the introvert has something special going on, such as a brilliant, anticipatory mind for technology and its trends, uncommon insights into emerging markets, or a unique ability to critique deals. These "savant" introverts become so indispensable to their companies that they advance—their value virtually demands it. Indeed, that's why many introverts who end up in senior management are often the brains of their organizations, while someone else runs operations.
Now, it could very well be that you are one of those rare introverts whose special competency will carry the day while you keep acting naturally. If that's not the case, we're back where we started. But if you want to take charge of your career, you've already got both your marching orders and some sound mentoring advice. So get out there, mix, speak more often, and connect with both your team and others, deploying all the energy and personality you can muster.
Will your people notice and recoil? Possibly. Our suggestion, though, is to go right ahead and explain what you're doing, which is simply bringing more of your "inner self" to the office so you can all work together more effectively. You might even ask for their help and feedback. Ultimately, any and all candor you can bring to your public transformation will hold you in good stead.
And you may find that being more outgoing is a reward in itself.
This question and answer originally appeared in Business Week magazine on November 26, 2008.
Q. My boss recently told me that I am very competent and have a clear vision for my team, but in order to get promoted, I need to show a stronger personality. As a naturally introverted person, what should I do?
A. First of all,...we would like to express our gratitude to you for sending in a question we've always wanted to answer, giving us (and our readers) a respite from thinking about the economy's recent upheaval. Amen to that.
And now, back to business and a question of our own. How do you feel about the prospect of putting on a perky face and a big voice and trying to chit-chat and "ho-ho-ho" your way into your team's heart?
Panicked? Depressed? A bit of both?
Or do you simply feel worried, knowing how much people generally dislike phonies? If so, we're with you. Competence and vision are all well and good—and congratulations on having those qualities—but the inescapable fact is that authenticity matters, too. And if you take your boss's recent advice, you'll no doubt be sacrificing in that department.
Except—and this is a big exception—you have no choice. Because your boss is trying to help you, and he's right. Over time, many introverts stagnate in large organizations. They can work hard and deliver to expectations or beyond, but they rarely get their due.
Note that we're talking about big companies. Almost anyone with a great idea can soar at a startup, and small companies often give more latitude, as long as the results are there. But in a big, bureaucratic enterprise, atmospheric conditions just give extroverts a marked advantage.
The reasons are myriad. Big companies are constantly looking for people to move across divisions or around the world, and extroverts, by rights or not, appear more prepared for such opportunities. With their charisma and superior verbal skills, they're thought to be more "out front," able to communicate powerfully and motivate their people, especially during tough times. Extroverts also tend to forge relationships with more ease, another boon in complex hierarchies. And finally, extroverts tend to outshine introverts because early on, their outsize personalities earn them chances to make presentations to higher-ups, always a good way to accelerate the career-changing process of getting out of the pile.
Indeed, big companies are so tilted towards extroverts that introverts within them often experience a dynamic not unlike the one faced by many women and minorities. They have to constantly overdeliver just to stay even.
There are, of course, exceptions. Everyone knows of a reserved, shy, or awkward individual who has risen through the ranks to run something big. But in every such case we can think of, the introvert has something special going on, such as a brilliant, anticipatory mind for technology and its trends, uncommon insights into emerging markets, or a unique ability to critique deals. These "savant" introverts become so indispensable to their companies that they advance—their value virtually demands it. Indeed, that's why many introverts who end up in senior management are often the brains of their organizations, while someone else runs operations.
Now, it could very well be that you are one of those rare introverts whose special competency will carry the day while you keep acting naturally. If that's not the case, we're back where we started. But if you want to take charge of your career, you've already got both your marching orders and some sound mentoring advice. So get out there, mix, speak more often, and connect with both your team and others, deploying all the energy and personality you can muster.
Will your people notice and recoil? Possibly. Our suggestion, though, is to go right ahead and explain what you're doing, which is simply bringing more of your "inner self" to the office so you can all work together more effectively. You might even ask for their help and feedback. Ultimately, any and all candor you can bring to your public transformation will hold you in good stead.
And you may find that being more outgoing is a reward in itself.
This question and answer originally appeared in Business Week magazine on November 26, 2008.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
"Webinar" draws a crowd
Today's webinar (exclusive to ACF) Understanding and Reaching Family Forest Owners - Lessons from Social Marketing Research attracted about 33 ACF members from across the nation. About half of those participating in the evaluation survey indicated it was their first webinar.
The speakers were Brett Butler, PhD - Research Forester - NE Research Station - USDA Forest Service and Mary Tyrrell - Executive Director - Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry - School of Forestry and Environmental Studies - Yale University.
Here's what two participants had to say about it:
“Thanks and...please pass along that this session was well worth the time.”
--Sam Carlton, ACF
“I was impressed and hope we do more of these. They will eventually strengthen membership, I think.”
--Ron Stuntzner, ACF
If you missed it, a recording of the webinar is available at http://www.forestrywebinars.net/. It lasts about one hour.
The speakers were Brett Butler, PhD - Research Forester - NE Research Station - USDA Forest Service and Mary Tyrrell - Executive Director - Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry - School of Forestry and Environmental Studies - Yale University.
Here's what two participants had to say about it:
“Thanks and...please pass along that this session was well worth the time.”
--Sam Carlton, ACF
“I was impressed and hope we do more of these. They will eventually strengthen membership, I think.”
--Ron Stuntzner, ACF
If you missed it, a recording of the webinar is available at http://www.forestrywebinars.net/. It lasts about one hour.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
