Today, we all give Thanks for the many blessings that we have received from so many persons...our parents, our children, our friends, our acquaintances, our dedicated learning providers, our communities, our Nation, and our wonderful global community. In addition to the persons who impacted our lives over the many years especially during this last year, we want to salute in a very special way the dedicated and determined men and women of the Armed Services who serve our American people and our Nation. To appreciate our freedoms under law, we thank the many visionaries and diplomats who have served effectively in the public arena. In addition, we thank the many entrepreneurs and the many intrapreneurs who continue to offer their time, talents, and treasures to enhance and to expand our global free economies in the private sectors. Providing career opportunities is their focus and their outstanding stewardship of our natural and human resources.
We thank God, the Creator of all of our natural and human resources, for all of those persons who have made a difference in our lives especially during this past year. Hopefully, you have experienced an understanding employer who appreciates our daily contributions to further their goals and obtaining their planned visions. When we think about the many people who populate this beautiful planet, there are those who are neglected, ignored, harassed, belittled, smeared, and underemployed. However, there are many effective leaders who positively enhance the value, the dignity, the respect, and the admiration that each human being deserves from natural birth to natural death. These leaders are in tune with the eternal guidelines that God, our Creator, has in mind for all. THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR THE GIFTS OF LIFE AND LOVE...IT IS GREAT TO BE ALIVE!
On this Thanksgiving Day, let us thank God for our freedoms and our very lives. Let us pray for all those persons who are unable to enjoy their God-given freedoms because of persecution, terrorism, hate-mongering, and racial intolerance by ignorant and short-sighted persons. May these persons realize that all wars would cease if the war within their very being would be calmed and brought under control...their own self-control and respect for others. May the Love that brought about our eternal freedom be the guiding light for their conversion to His Way, His Truth, and His Life...Now and Forever. HAPPY THANKSGIVING...2007...TO EVERYONE!
May the LADDER OF ACHIEVEMENT BRING ABOUT A 100 PERCENT ATTITUDE THAT ADMITS.....WE DID IT!...THANKS BE TO GOD!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Why climb the Ladder of Achievement
At first glance, the upward climb on the Ladder of Achievement from 0 percent to the optimum 100 percent seems overwhelming. However, the reasons why we learn either positively or negatively are different for each person. Why we want to learn depends on a number of factors. Are we ready to launch out into the unknown? Do I have the necessary skills to attempt a new learning situation? Do I have the desire, the dedication, the determination, the discipline, and the aptitudes to venture forth into the great unknown. What is my internal focus? What is the external focus? What is my attitude toward learning something new that takes me away from my comfort zone? What are the risks involved with attempting to learn about persons, places, things, information that might cause me undue stress?
Why am I driven to learn? Why are my motivations suspect in attempting to uncover a new dimension or a brand new theory outside the box of comfort? Why should I spend time, talents, and treasures to learn a body of knowledge that is uncomfortable to me at the time?
When I was learning how to drive an automobile for the first time at age 35, my motivation was to keep my new career choice and to provide for my family. Prior to owning an automobile, my choice of transportation was public transportation in large metropolitan areas. Even with good driver education instructors, I was unable to feel comfortable in learning stick shift on a van. I avoided any stick shift vehicles and chose automatic transmission for ease and convenience. Prior to getting my first license to drive, my driver education instructor gave me lots of encouragement and plenty of sound practice before attempting to pass the driver's test for my license. With his positive learning methods, he taught me the proper way to handle the automobile with emphasis on safety and defensive driving techniques. Why I didn't learn before age 35 was simply that I could not afford an automobile and that I had a fear of driving. He helped me overcome my fear with a confidence that simply said....YOU CAN DO IT!...
Think of the many areas that you may have selected to learn over the course of your life. Why did you really learn and what were the factors that helped you succeed? Encouragement goes a long way to assist a learner to choose to climb up the Ladder of Achievement and to continue the positive struggle to obtain a successful conclusion. Examine why you chose your current career path? As a three year old child will ask many, many times....WHY...WHY...WHY...WHY.... you too should ask yourself...Why am I doing what I am doing? Do I really enjoy what I am doing? If I am not enjoying my chosen career, WHY AM I DOING IT and what will make me make reconsider the WHYS OF MY LIFE!
Why am I driven to learn? Why are my motivations suspect in attempting to uncover a new dimension or a brand new theory outside the box of comfort? Why should I spend time, talents, and treasures to learn a body of knowledge that is uncomfortable to me at the time?
When I was learning how to drive an automobile for the first time at age 35, my motivation was to keep my new career choice and to provide for my family. Prior to owning an automobile, my choice of transportation was public transportation in large metropolitan areas. Even with good driver education instructors, I was unable to feel comfortable in learning stick shift on a van. I avoided any stick shift vehicles and chose automatic transmission for ease and convenience. Prior to getting my first license to drive, my driver education instructor gave me lots of encouragement and plenty of sound practice before attempting to pass the driver's test for my license. With his positive learning methods, he taught me the proper way to handle the automobile with emphasis on safety and defensive driving techniques. Why I didn't learn before age 35 was simply that I could not afford an automobile and that I had a fear of driving. He helped me overcome my fear with a confidence that simply said....YOU CAN DO IT!...
Think of the many areas that you may have selected to learn over the course of your life. Why did you really learn and what were the factors that helped you succeed? Encouragement goes a long way to assist a learner to choose to climb up the Ladder of Achievement and to continue the positive struggle to obtain a successful conclusion. Examine why you chose your current career path? As a three year old child will ask many, many times....WHY...WHY...WHY...WHY.... you too should ask yourself...Why am I doing what I am doing? Do I really enjoy what I am doing? If I am not enjoying my chosen career, WHY AM I DOING IT and what will make me make reconsider the WHYS OF MY LIFE!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Achievement Ladder Whose Who and When
To remember the many persons who made a difference in our lives as we climbed up the Ladder of Achievement demands a discriminating scrutiny. In addition, when these persons touched our lives seems the most important in making an impact on our decision making. In our formative years, our parents, teachers, friends, relatives, and acquaintances are the most influential to determining our motivation to positively move ahead or to negatively go backwards in our selective decisions.
In my life, my elementary school teachers especially in the eighth grade touched my life by their dedication and their caring attitude about how I learned and why I should learn. My parents were always there to make a significant choice for us or to guide us in our choices. However, we soon learned that peer pressure and to fit in with the "gang" or "group" was more important than our parents' or our teachers' suggestions. During our high school days, we are seeking independence and struggling with the multiple influences that the world, the flesh, and the devil sent our ways. In making many mistakes, we found out that we had to take responsibility for our own actions rather than blaming those mistakes on others including our parents and teachers.
As we moved on after high school graduation or GED completion, we find the work world that wakes us up to the "real world." The "fantasy world" is gone unless we regress through some form of addiction that ignores the best choices to be made. Why is it that we are easily influenced by the fleeting moments and the distractions of a sex-crazed world that distorts the beauty of the human body for instant gratification? Who benefits from our poor decisions to have it all but at what price? We are seeking for find ourselves...who we really are and not what we are...Job titles are meaningless if we lose our identity as a human being. Respect for ourselves and for others is trapped in the "fantasy" that we can have instant gratification at any cost despite the long range consequences.
There are many good managers/bosses. There are also many poor managers/bosses. We learn from those managers/bosses who respect themselves and respect others in the way that they treat those under their employment. There are good coaches, and there are poor coaches. Good coaches touch our lives, but great coaches affect our lives by their dedication, vision, determination, discipline, diplomacy, and other positive characteristics of great leaders. Leadership is learned from effective and positive leaders who also know how to follow and to listen to others.
Every day we will learn something new if we are open to listen to the person who you least expect to touch your life. Being aware of the many opportunities to grow as a mature person and to climb our Ladder of Achievement depends on our personal choices to make a difference in a world that often ignores the value of each independent human life. Human life is precious from conception to natural death and is a continuum with many persons making an impact on the many choices that will be made. However, in the final analysis, each person is responsible for his or her own actions and decisions. What you do in life, does make a difference to someone that you least expect. People do not care what you know, but how much your care. Are you willing to air, care, share, and bear to continue your quest in climbing the successful Achievement Ladder?
"Always remember who touched your life and from whom you learned. Your lifelong education is your life. Guard it well!"
In my life, my elementary school teachers especially in the eighth grade touched my life by their dedication and their caring attitude about how I learned and why I should learn. My parents were always there to make a significant choice for us or to guide us in our choices. However, we soon learned that peer pressure and to fit in with the "gang" or "group" was more important than our parents' or our teachers' suggestions. During our high school days, we are seeking independence and struggling with the multiple influences that the world, the flesh, and the devil sent our ways. In making many mistakes, we found out that we had to take responsibility for our own actions rather than blaming those mistakes on others including our parents and teachers.
As we moved on after high school graduation or GED completion, we find the work world that wakes us up to the "real world." The "fantasy world" is gone unless we regress through some form of addiction that ignores the best choices to be made. Why is it that we are easily influenced by the fleeting moments and the distractions of a sex-crazed world that distorts the beauty of the human body for instant gratification? Who benefits from our poor decisions to have it all but at what price? We are seeking for find ourselves...who we really are and not what we are...Job titles are meaningless if we lose our identity as a human being. Respect for ourselves and for others is trapped in the "fantasy" that we can have instant gratification at any cost despite the long range consequences.
There are many good managers/bosses. There are also many poor managers/bosses. We learn from those managers/bosses who respect themselves and respect others in the way that they treat those under their employment. There are good coaches, and there are poor coaches. Good coaches touch our lives, but great coaches affect our lives by their dedication, vision, determination, discipline, diplomacy, and other positive characteristics of great leaders. Leadership is learned from effective and positive leaders who also know how to follow and to listen to others.
Every day we will learn something new if we are open to listen to the person who you least expect to touch your life. Being aware of the many opportunities to grow as a mature person and to climb our Ladder of Achievement depends on our personal choices to make a difference in a world that often ignores the value of each independent human life. Human life is precious from conception to natural death and is a continuum with many persons making an impact on the many choices that will be made. However, in the final analysis, each person is responsible for his or her own actions and decisions. What you do in life, does make a difference to someone that you least expect. People do not care what you know, but how much your care. Are you willing to air, care, share, and bear to continue your quest in climbing the successful Achievement Ladder?
"Always remember who touched your life and from whom you learned. Your lifelong education is your life. Guard it well!"
Friday, November 2, 2007
Where does Ladder of Achievement Happen
To go from I do not want to do this...0 percent...to 100 percent....I DID IT!..takes many where's in our lifetime. In my lifetime, the where started with my loving and caring family who helped we learn many skills in a loving home environment. My mother was able to achieve 10 years of education before going out to work. My dad was orphaned at an early age and he was able to complete the 8th grade. Mother was strong with verbal and math skills; and Dad was a person who learned by doing with visuals and "hands on." With my Dad at work all day, my Mother was the tutor and the mentor to assist me in my homework and projects while in grade school.
The grade school that I attended focused on providing the basics...reading, writing, computation skills, and reasoning. The Palmer Method was used in our handwriting; and the Phonetic approach helped us in acquiring a solid vocabulary with our reading and our writing skills. Although repetition was used to drum in our memories the times table and other learning skills, the discipline to focus on the essentials and the basics made possible my success in grade school.
In high school, the emphasis was on academic subjects that demanded desire, dedication, and determination to learn the essential concepts for a variety of subjects that included Latin, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Life Skills. My high school was accelerated into three years and one summer to complete the necessary 16 credits to receive a high school diploma. In today's standards, that credit total would be short by almost 10 credits.
In college, my experiences were focused on learning business concepts, English essentials and effective writing, office skills, and music education including instrumental and vocal components.
Also, the supporting classes in educational philosophy, psychology, theology, and methodology were helpful in preparing for an educational career.
For many persons today, the approach to effective, positive learning first occurs in the home environment and supplemented by day care or early learning locations. For many persons, the home environment may be the only choice made by families by using home schools instead of going to private or public schools. The parents choose the philosophical/theological emphasis over the secularistic, humanistic approach often provided by public schools by a mandated curriculum. Also, church related schools may often a plausible solution to many quandaries about biased and unrelated and antiquated curricula offered by public institutions. To reach a balance in total education, many avenues have been selected by learners to grow in their ongoing knowledge and personal growth in spite of learning choices and financial hardships.
After the person learns from many arenas of educational philosophy, the on the job training and career selection continues to enhance the learning curves of the participants. Climbing the Ladder of Achievement in the schools without walls and in the world of experiences, the learner soon learns where to get the additional assistance to grow in their chosen professional career choice. Lifelong learning gives all learners an opportunity to seek the where's to continue their education by working with other learners and professionals who provide positive and effective learning atmospheres beyond the textbooks.
Should we next look at the when's and the why's of effective, positive learning environments and why we are finding out that many persons are still unable to read, to write, to compute, to reason, and to effectively listen in the 21st Century through wasteful use of educational resources and lack of accountability in all of the previous "Where's." Many learners climb up and down the Ladder of Achievement the rest of their lives in spite of the lack of committed educators. As the saying goes, "People do not care how much you know, but how much you care."
The grade school that I attended focused on providing the basics...reading, writing, computation skills, and reasoning. The Palmer Method was used in our handwriting; and the Phonetic approach helped us in acquiring a solid vocabulary with our reading and our writing skills. Although repetition was used to drum in our memories the times table and other learning skills, the discipline to focus on the essentials and the basics made possible my success in grade school.
In high school, the emphasis was on academic subjects that demanded desire, dedication, and determination to learn the essential concepts for a variety of subjects that included Latin, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Life Skills. My high school was accelerated into three years and one summer to complete the necessary 16 credits to receive a high school diploma. In today's standards, that credit total would be short by almost 10 credits.
In college, my experiences were focused on learning business concepts, English essentials and effective writing, office skills, and music education including instrumental and vocal components.
Also, the supporting classes in educational philosophy, psychology, theology, and methodology were helpful in preparing for an educational career.
For many persons today, the approach to effective, positive learning first occurs in the home environment and supplemented by day care or early learning locations. For many persons, the home environment may be the only choice made by families by using home schools instead of going to private or public schools. The parents choose the philosophical/theological emphasis over the secularistic, humanistic approach often provided by public schools by a mandated curriculum. Also, church related schools may often a plausible solution to many quandaries about biased and unrelated and antiquated curricula offered by public institutions. To reach a balance in total education, many avenues have been selected by learners to grow in their ongoing knowledge and personal growth in spite of learning choices and financial hardships.
After the person learns from many arenas of educational philosophy, the on the job training and career selection continues to enhance the learning curves of the participants. Climbing the Ladder of Achievement in the schools without walls and in the world of experiences, the learner soon learns where to get the additional assistance to grow in their chosen professional career choice. Lifelong learning gives all learners an opportunity to seek the where's to continue their education by working with other learners and professionals who provide positive and effective learning atmospheres beyond the textbooks.
Should we next look at the when's and the why's of effective, positive learning environments and why we are finding out that many persons are still unable to read, to write, to compute, to reason, and to effectively listen in the 21st Century through wasteful use of educational resources and lack of accountability in all of the previous "Where's." Many learners climb up and down the Ladder of Achievement the rest of their lives in spite of the lack of committed educators. As the saying goes, "People do not care how much you know, but how much you care."
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