Month: January 2014

The Angels We Entertain

January 31, 2014

Snowed Out MarqueeBy: Suzanne Ostrander

The Snowpocalypse 2014 will definitely remain in our memories as an eventful day for Atlanta.  Despite our somewhat embarrassing lack of preparation for such an event, we can look back on this event and see the silver lining through the numerous acts of kindness that were displayed.  In my heart, this will always be remembered as the day when strangers helped strangers. So start a fire, grab some hot coco, and enjoy the below heartwarming tales of random acts of kindness in the midst of a city emergency!

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” Hebrews 13:2

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/01/29/weather-atlanta-devastation-snowedoutatlanta

Snowed Out Angels

New High-Tech Headband Claims to Facilitate Lucid Dreaming

January 23, 2014

Dream Enhancing HeadbandBy: Suzanne Ostrander

A new headband has been launched that promises to help dreamers realize that they are dreaming.  According to technology developers, the headband is designed to measure brain waves and eye movement activity to determine when a person enters REM sleep.  Once this state has been identified, the headband then emits light to indicate that the sleeper is dreaming.

This new development has had mixed reviews throughout the scientific community.  For more information on the device, click the link below: 

 

http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/headband-helps-you-control-your-dreams-140116.htm

 

The Truth About Trust

January 23, 2014

The Truth About TrustBy: Suzanne Ostrander

David DeSteno, Ph.D. argues that the decision to trust is a risk worth taking.  In his recent publication, “The Truth About Trust”, DeSteno, a Northwestern University psychology professor, argues that the notion of trust “affects how we learn, love, take care of our health, and conduct business”.  According to DeSteno, the”human longing to believe in another person’s integrity and reliability” is an exhaustive, yet ongoing subject of research for researchers, doctors, and other professionals in the field of psychology.  In “The Truth About Trust” DeSteno suggests that the benefits of trusting another far outweigh the risks in situations that would not normally arouse suspicion.

In other words, while it is often wise to be cautious, being too paranoid will only harm your relationships in the long run.  This advice seems simple enough, yet most people could benefit from hearing it.

If you have read this book or are familiar with this author, I would love to hear your thoughts!  Remember to encourage excellence today and everyday.

Organizational Inertia

January 10, 2014

Organizational InertiaKennesaw- Friends, as you know, I am a huge fan of Peter Drucker (The Age of Discontinuity) and Richard Koch (80/20 Principle). Large companies have to adapt to rapid change in our new economy both internally and externally.  If you work for a Fortune 500 company, take some time to study how you are going to contribute this year and how you can add measurable value to the bottom line.  Like a manager of mine once said, revenue and margin solves most problems.  Encourage excellence today.

Today’s Reading: Paper vs. Digital

January 7, 2014

paper versus digitalSuccess Magazine has featured an article canvassing today’s readers on their preference of paper versus digital reading. Interestingly, the survey indicated that today’s readers of all ages prefer reading paper books over electronic versions.  New research, however, has yielded that older readers are more likely to experience more difficulty processing information read in printed books.  

German researchers measured eye movements and coordinating brain activity, as subjects read paper books, tablets, and online material from a desktop or standard laptop.  While those ages 21-34 displayed an equal level of competence with each reading method, readers ages 60-77 needed less time and brain activity when reading on a tablet, as opposed to paper copies, or other media.

These results have furthermore suggested that older readers may benefit from the enhanced contrast, which has become a standard feature in all tablet devices.

I would love to hear your thoughts as to your reading format preference.  Never stop reading and learning, and encourage excellence everyday!

George Wallace’s “Laff it Off”

January 4, 2014

Laff it OffIn Comedian George Wallace’s book, “Laff it Off”, he reminds us that “we don’t stop laughing because we grow old- we grow old because we stop laughing”. As a frequent performer throughout Vegas and comedy clubs across America, Wallace inspires and relates to a variety of followers ranging from white collar workers, to homemakers, to everything in between. For information on George Wallace’s book, click the link below to be directed to his website:

http://www.georgewallace.net/

In light Wallace’s philosophical approach to laughter and life, I have provided some of my favorite quotes on laughter that I could not live without. I hope you are blessed by these quotes and that you never forget to stop laughing everyday.  As always, I remind you each to encourage excellence throughout your daily endeavors.  Remember: laughter is the best medicine!

“In those whom I like, I can find no common denominator; in those whom I love I can: they all make me laugh” -W.H. Auden

“If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane”. -Robert Frost

“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.”
― Maya Angelou

“And I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs. I mean if I ever sat behind myself in a movie or something, I’d probably lean over and tell myself to please shut up.”
―J.D. Salinger, “The Catcher in the Rye”

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
―Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol”

“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.”
―L.M. Montgomery, “Anne of Green Gables”  

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”
― Mark Twain 

How to Quieten Your Life

January 2, 2014

noiseShawn Achor, Harvard scholar and researcher and author, has provided valuable insight on how to improve your daily productivity, by simply decreasing the amount of unnecessary “noise” in your life. In his book, Before Happiness, Achor discusses the surprising rewards of that can result from simply decreasing 5 percent of the “noise” in our daily lives.

Specifically, there are 4 effective ways we can allot more room in our brains by eliminating the following types of auditory input:

1) Mute TV and Internet commercials

2) Turn off the car radio when talking to others

3) Leave the radio off for the first 5 minutes in the car

4) Remove news media links from your internet bookmarks

For more information on Shawn Achor’s book and career research, click the link below to be directed to his website:

http://goodthinkinc.com/speakers/shawn-achor/

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!!!!