Month: November 2013

The 2 Things that GE Looks for in Key Employees

November 15, 2013

Kennesaw, GA – GE (www.ge.com) was a great Fortune 500 company long before Jack Welch took over as CEO in 1981.  The GE brand has continued to flourish because people are seen as its most valuable asset. Why do other companies routinely select GE senior managers to come run their organizations?  Because at its core, GE leverages these two talents of key employees: critical thinking and effective communication.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/corporate-dossier/susan-peters-on-how-ge-churns-out-world-class-business-leaders/articleshow/25770610.cms

GE Logo

Encourage excellence today and help others with improving their critical thinking and effective communication.

The Newest Element to Spelling Bees in America

November 14, 2013

By: Suzanne Ostrander

spelling beeAccording to a recent publication from Time magazine, Spelling Bees across America are now requiring the contestants to not only spell the word, but to also provide a correct definition.  Interestingly, America is the only country that follows the Spelling Bee tradition, most likely due to the level of difficulty that relates to the English language.

We are often enthralled by the adorable, yet perspicacious youngsters who participate in these competitions.  I often wonder why we limit the competition to children though.  For starters, many of their words would stump me!

How can we make spelling and grammar more of a priority in the workplace?  The key is to raise awareness in your working environment.  Offer annual refresher courses, and require all employees to participate.  Most importantly though, don’t be pretentious.  You may be more educated, wittier, or competent than another person, but knowledge is wasted if it is not used with humility.

In short, don’t “brag” about your superior intelligence.  Chances are, you fall within the category of being human and eventually, your gloating will come back to bite you in the rear!

As always, I encourage each and every one of you to encourage excellence in all that you do.

For direct access to the Times.com article, click the link below:

http://ideas.time.com/2013/04/16/why-americans-need-spelling-bees-and-vocabulary-tests/

Sir Richard Brason is a Failure!

November 14, 2013

Kennesaw, GA – Sir Richard Branson is known for many things but being a failure isn’t one of them.  If you study his accomplishments though, you see how he applies courage to risk big on his ideas.  Sometimes he fails.  But even in failure, he learns valuable lessons that he takes forward.  He weighs the risks and surrounds himself with very talented people.  Sir Richard understands how to “Encourage Excellence”.

Sir Richard Brason “The key to bouncing back is to learn whatever lessons you can from the experience so that you can avoid making the same mistakes in the next launch,” he writes. “This will help you to overcome your fear, take a leap of faith and try again.” Entrepreneur Magazine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH35Iz9veM0

The Most Preserved Mammoth in the History of Paleontology

November 13, 2013

By: Suzanne Ostrander

Uncovered MammothAncient MammothIn May of 2013, the most preserved wooly mammoth in the history of paleontology was discovered in Siberia.  Frozen in a tomb of ice for thousands of years, this mammoth still had hair on his body!  Since the discovery, Tokyo researchers have been conducting extensive research on the extinct creature to shed light on its cause of death.  Further study on the mammoth led scientists to infer  that the creature perished over 39,000 years ago, by getting stuck in a swamp.

Upon further examination of this captivating animal, Japanese researchers are investigating the possibility of repopulating the earth with these creatures.  Due to the impeccable condition of the discovered body, blood and muscle tissue were collected from the mammoth.  Since the mammoth was a female, professionals are discussing the plausibility of implanting its egg into a live elephant for a 22 month pregnancy.

After reading about this plan, my first thought was that it reminded me of the 1993 box office hit”Jurrasic Park”.  If we recall the plot, paleontologists scientifically manipulated a way of preserving the existence of long extinct dinosaurs, including the majestic brontosaurus and the intriguing yet terrifying T-Rex.  As many of us suspected, the achievement was far from foolproof and became disastrous to all visitors of the park.  Still, I will never forget the rush I felt when I saw that glass of water ominously ripple, as the newly preserved and fully alive T-Rex approached that tiny touring car!

In light of the future plans for the recently uncovered wooly mammoth, I began to mentally calculate the pros and cons of such a pursuit.  There are some things that, though possible through scientific effort, may not be the best solution for mankind.  Of course, as a science nerd, I will not deny that the attempt is nothing short of fascinating.

Is it right though?

Did God have a plan and a reason for allowing these creatures to become extinct thousands of years ago? If we do this, then what next?

Again, this is not a complete endorsement nor is it a rebuttal of the idea.  I am writing this to initiate a friendly discussion on the matter.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this!!  Regardless of what happens, I think we can all agree that it is breathtaking to view such an ancient being almost 40,000 years following its extinction.

So, that’s the question I leave with you all.  Is extinction where these creatures should stay, or should we see where science can take us?

As always, remember to encourage excellence in your everyday lives.

Till next time,

Suzanne

For direct access to the article outlining this amazing scientific discovery, click the link below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2358695/Woolly-mammoth-frozen-Siberia-39-000-YEARS-goes-display-Tokyo-woolly.html

Thoughts from Sir Issac Newton

November 12, 2013

Kennesaw, GA –Sir Isaac Newton, one of our most prolific scientists, worked his way through college at Cambridge cleaning other student’s rooms and waiting tables in the dining hall.  The humble Newton never worried who got the credit for his ideas and this caused other great minds of his day to be attracted to his brilliant discoveries.  Use your mind to seek out new ideas and remember to encourage excellence in everything that you do.

http://www.biography.com/people/isaac-newton-9422656

Issac Newton

“Newton did foundational work in physics, mathematics, astronomy and natural philosophy, and wrote Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica still in print (and avidly studied) more than 300 years after its first publication”.

Bryan

What Do Children Learn From a Parent’s Low Self Image?

November 4, 2013

By: Suzanne Ostrander

ImageAs I opened up my laptop to write today, I planned on writing in another tone- my favorite tone: humor. Simply put: I live to laugh and words cannot express how much I truly love laughing with others.  Looking for inspiration, I skimmed through a newsletter by Ed Foreman.  It was at that time that I realized that something greater was on my heart, and it was captured in a post about how to love yourself more.

As a new parent, I often wonder if I am up to the task of presenting the world to my son in a manner that captures my values as a Christian.  After all, the way I perceive myself effects not only my perception of the world around me, but it also teaches my child how to think.

Let’s face it, not everybody wakes up in the morning ready to walk on the runway.  If we aren’t careful, we may catch ourselves making derogatory comments about the way we look, and our children can catch wind of it.

What are these types of comments teaching our children?

For starters, it teaches them low self esteem! Parents always will be a child’s first and most influential teacher. Always.

Even if we are working through our own issues of self-worth, DON’T pass it on to your children!! Bite your tongue if you have to!  Even better, take measures to learn to love yourself, so you don’t have to worry about letting such self critical comments slip!

Lessons learned from the home can be unlearned later in life, but the amount of effort and years it takes to correct such thinking is enough to make any parent think twice before constantly verbalizing their “bad hair day”. Of course, a bad hair day is sadly a censored version of some of the awful things some parents will say about themselves.

We were all made by a loving Creator who made no mistakes.  Can you imagine how much it hurts God each time we ridicule ourselves?  Our words have power. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “life and death are in the power of the tongue”.  It’s reckless behavior to disregard the power of our spoken words on a daily basis.

Below is one of my favorite poems on parenthood and the things we teach our children.  It is hanging in my son’s nursery now. There is no such thing as a perfect parent, but I pray that I can use this and God’s wisdom as a guide throughout my journey to help me be the best parent I can be.

Children Learn What they Live

By: Dorothy Law Nolte

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

I am also pasting below the wonderful article by Ed Foreman on how to love ourselves better.  These words of wisdom can serve as a reminder to us all from time to time.  Enjoy! As always, never forget to encourage excellence in your everyday lives.

Eight Steps to Loving Yourself More

Learning to love yourself is the first step toward loving others and effects how you view the world and your place in it. Loving yourself means accepting yourself unconditionally and understanding that in life there are some things that you cannot change. To have self love is not conceited or arrogant but is part of recognizing your worth as a human being. Once you are able to appreciate yourself for all your strengths, weaknesses, talents and flaws you will begin to appreciate these things in others as well.

Here are eight steps to encourage you to love yourself more:

Don’t Nag Yourself: Everyone is his or her own worst critic, but it is important to give yourself constructive criticism. Learn to control the little voice inside your head and cut the nagging.

Believe in You: There is not a soul alive without some talents or skills, including you. Having the confidence to believe in yourself and your abilities will go a long way in creating your successes.

Be Forgiving: Many of us are haunted by our past mistakes and never fully recover from negative experiences or traumas. Allow yourself the chance to heal by forgiving yourself the way you would forgive others.

Express Gratitude: Whether you pray every morning and give thanks for being alive or go through your day telling those you love that you appreciate them, gratitude is key to loving yourself. Appreciating what you have makes room in your life to receive more.

Take risks: A little calculated risk taking every now and then never hurt anyone. Learning to go outside of your comfort zone and try new things can be an instant confidence booster and help you grow.

Be silly: When you were a child you never worried about what people thought of you but somewhere along the way it became important. Learn to face the world like a child again and act a little silly – blow bubbles, make funny faces, sing silly songs. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Let Yourself Be Pampered: Taking time to relax and regroup can have a wonderful effect on your spirit. Whether you get a massage or spend some time listening to soothing music, learn to enjoy doing nothing but letting go.

Honesty is the Best Policy: Being truthful in regards to your wants, desires, and feelings is imperative to loving yourself. After all, if you cannot believe what you are telling yourself, why would anyone else believe you? Do not lie to yourself, instead just let yourself feel what you feel and accept what is.