Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Valentines Dinner: A Raw Gourmet Feast
This evening Clara prepared an amazing raw gourmet dinner for Valentines Day. The theme was Mediterranean. Joining us for dinner were friends who were getting their first taste of Clara's raw gourmet feast. The verdict by all was that not only was the food delicious but so fun to eat! Raw food has it's detractors, those who say a meal is not complete with out some meat protein and some refined sugars for desert. I could argue the point, but tonight I'll just say that we ended the evening feeling satisfied and with tummies happy. Thank you to my dear wife for making this valentines day so enjoyable and memorable!
Friday, February 13, 2009
I think I have caught the speaking bug
today I spent the noon hour as a guest speaker at a local toastmasters club. my friends Byron and Karen were there to cheer me on and around the room there were a number of unfamiliar faces. I stepped up to the front of the room and started off my inspirational speech with a great opening and left my notes behind as I got into my speech. About half way through I decided to try to incorporate some new material into the speech on the spot. some of it worked and some dropped like a rock. I was able to pull it out at the end and wrap it all up.
one of the aspects I love about toastmasters is all the constructive feedback from the audience after the speeches are delivered. I learned some excellent things about myself and the way I communicate from those new folks I met today.
and I'm sure I'll get some more feedback from my friend Jim who I'll see tomorrow.
Since joining toastmasters last year, I can see how I've improved and grown as a speaker and communicator.
one of the aspects I love about toastmasters is all the constructive feedback from the audience after the speeches are delivered. I learned some excellent things about myself and the way I communicate from those new folks I met today.
and I'm sure I'll get some more feedback from my friend Jim who I'll see tomorrow.
Since joining toastmasters last year, I can see how I've improved and grown as a speaker and communicator.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Having fun speaking
It was really fun tonight when I gave my speech tonight at toastmasters. we always have a great group in attendance and some really great speeches were given.
I've found that is is a welcoming group and the feed back from each speech was tremendous.
I've found that is is a welcoming group and the feed back from each speech was tremendous.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Review you should read: Hiram's CD release concert
This link below is to a blogger who was at and took in my brother's CD release Concert on Feb 7th 09.
As much as I think my brother has something to say with his music and the professional quality of the music production. Having someone who is not a blood relation, of whom no bias can be attributed, is the best one to tell you to have a listen to Hiram's music and discover for yourself what his music says to you.
http://www.andilit.com/?p=373
and if you like what you hear spread the word!!
As much as I think my brother has something to say with his music and the professional quality of the music production. Having someone who is not a blood relation, of whom no bias can be attributed, is the best one to tell you to have a listen to Hiram's music and discover for yourself what his music says to you.
http://www.andilit.com/?p=373
and if you like what you hear spread the word!!
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Food for thinking
I spent the morning at Toastmasters Club officer training today.
I came away with some great food for thought.
Most of life revolves around our ability to communicate to one another. This world would be a lot better if people communicated well. Communication isn't just speaking although that is a big part of it. It is also listening to others and what they are saying to us.
How well are we doing at speaking and listening to those we love and to those we need to communicate with?
I came away with some great food for thought.
Most of life revolves around our ability to communicate to one another. This world would be a lot better if people communicated well. Communication isn't just speaking although that is a big part of it. It is also listening to others and what they are saying to us.
How well are we doing at speaking and listening to those we love and to those we need to communicate with?
Sunday, February 01, 2009
The March of Time and The Life of My Dreams
Dec, 2nd... and here it is Feb 1th 2009!!
December went quick, heck it seems like the whole of 2008 did too. Dec and Christmas time was spent traveling to see family in California and as a new job as a photographer/sales rep. The Holiday rush was a whirl wind that has now dwindled to a whisper and opened up the time for me to now put my thoughts to blog once again.
Thinking about motivation has got me looking at this next year, and wondering about what it will end up looking like. I got a link from a friend who has moved my thoughts on motivation to my belief in what effect I will have on what this year will turn out to be for me and my wife.
My friend Lisa Jordan (another TCK) sent me this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy as stated in the article is "the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain certain goals. It is a belief that one has the capabilities to execute the courses of actions required to manage prospective situations. Unlike efficacy, which is the power to produce an effect (in essence, competence), self-efficacy is the belief (whether or not accurate) that one has the power to produce that effect...."
It is related to the idea of desiny.. and " that people of differing self-efficacy perceive the world in fundamentally different ways. People with a high self-efficacy are generally of the opinion that they are in control of their own lives; that their own actions and decisions shape their lives. On the other hand, people with low self-efficacy may see their lives as somewhat out of their hands."
The idea that I have the power to change my situation. To accomplish my goals and dreams is HUGE.
As a TCK my childhood was proscribed for me. or so it seemed to me and it has affected the way I've reacted or acted in the face of life choices as an adult. My old patterns of coping with change and resting the responsibility for decision on others or procrastinating until the last second don't work any more. it is time for me to choose. Do I have a say in how my life will be or is it just up to fate?
It is easy to I say I have a say. The real question is what will I do about it.
Dreams stay that way with out practical application and action.
I've been talking about writing and speaking professionally for years. This year I will do it.
(it seems I've got high Self-efficacy doesn't it? yet it takes me way out of my comfort zone and into areas that I will need to work to perfect)
What is your story?
December went quick, heck it seems like the whole of 2008 did too. Dec and Christmas time was spent traveling to see family in California and as a new job as a photographer/sales rep. The Holiday rush was a whirl wind that has now dwindled to a whisper and opened up the time for me to now put my thoughts to blog once again.
Thinking about motivation has got me looking at this next year, and wondering about what it will end up looking like. I got a link from a friend who has moved my thoughts on motivation to my belief in what effect I will have on what this year will turn out to be for me and my wife.
My friend Lisa Jordan (another TCK) sent me this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy as stated in the article is "the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain certain goals. It is a belief that one has the capabilities to execute the courses of actions required to manage prospective situations. Unlike efficacy, which is the power to produce an effect (in essence, competence), self-efficacy is the belief (whether or not accurate) that one has the power to produce that effect...."
It is related to the idea of desiny.. and " that people of differing self-efficacy perceive the world in fundamentally different ways. People with a high self-efficacy are generally of the opinion that they are in control of their own lives; that their own actions and decisions shape their lives. On the other hand, people with low self-efficacy may see their lives as somewhat out of their hands."
The idea that I have the power to change my situation. To accomplish my goals and dreams is HUGE.
As a TCK my childhood was proscribed for me. or so it seemed to me and it has affected the way I've reacted or acted in the face of life choices as an adult. My old patterns of coping with change and resting the responsibility for decision on others or procrastinating until the last second don't work any more. it is time for me to choose. Do I have a say in how my life will be or is it just up to fate?
It is easy to I say I have a say. The real question is what will I do about it.
Dreams stay that way with out practical application and action.
I've been talking about writing and speaking professionally for years. This year I will do it.
(it seems I've got high Self-efficacy doesn't it? yet it takes me way out of my comfort zone and into areas that I will need to work to perfect)
What is your story?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Back on the horse
Have you ever made plans and written down some things you wanted to accomplish and then tucked them out of sight and they became "out of sight -out of mind?" Or made new resolutions to make life changes and found that another year has rolled on by with the resolutions still unrealized?
why do we do this?
is it for lack of dreams and plans? is it for lack of good intentions? is it for lack of desire and need? is it for lack of discipline and fortitude? Is it our own fears?
while these could certainly be factors contributing to unrealized resolutions... I think the question of personal motivation is the key to understanding why we accomplish certain things and let other things languish.
I recently read an article entitled "How Learners Are Motivated" by Matthew S. Richter. In the article Mr. Richter explains and argues quite eloquently (in a training context) that for people learning or adopting new information, the best and most effective way is by tapping into internal intrinsic motivation.
Society (our parents, teachers, coaches, bosses, & peers) has a built into us the notion that the most effective way that we accomplish as new task is through external pressures and rewards. i.e. if you behave or work hard then you will get a cookie or a new toy or a gold star.
What happens when we take away these outside influences? when the boss at work is not riding our backs, or the guilt trip our friends and family put on us to eat better wares off and losses it's power?
Does the work diminish and unhealthy eating habits return? Mr. Richter's research indicates so. I know that all I have to do is take an honest look at my own life to see that this is so.
How many times have I vowed to really learn to speak French? As much contact as I had with it as a kid and my years in college, I could be fluent, alas those external motivations have been removed and I am not. What worked for me to pass my classes did not stick.
So how can I determine whether what I'm doing is out of external motivation or internal?
Mr. Mathew Richter breaks motivation down like this:
External Motivation(the obvious forces outside of our selves)
• Money
why do we do this?
is it for lack of dreams and plans? is it for lack of good intentions? is it for lack of desire and need? is it for lack of discipline and fortitude? Is it our own fears?
while these could certainly be factors contributing to unrealized resolutions... I think the question of personal motivation is the key to understanding why we accomplish certain things and let other things languish.
I recently read an article entitled "How Learners Are Motivated" by Matthew S. Richter. In the article Mr. Richter explains and argues quite eloquently (in a training context) that for people learning or adopting new information, the best and most effective way is by tapping into internal intrinsic motivation.
Society (our parents, teachers, coaches, bosses, & peers) has a built into us the notion that the most effective way that we accomplish as new task is through external pressures and rewards. i.e. if you behave or work hard then you will get a cookie or a new toy or a gold star.
What happens when we take away these outside influences? when the boss at work is not riding our backs, or the guilt trip our friends and family put on us to eat better wares off and losses it's power?
Does the work diminish and unhealthy eating habits return? Mr. Richter's research indicates so. I know that all I have to do is take an honest look at my own life to see that this is so.
How many times have I vowed to really learn to speak French? As much contact as I had with it as a kid and my years in college, I could be fluent, alas those external motivations have been removed and I am not. What worked for me to pass my classes did not stick.
So how can I determine whether what I'm doing is out of external motivation or internal?
Mr. Mathew Richter breaks motivation down like this:
External Motivation(the obvious forces outside of our selves)
• Money
• Bonus
• Punishment
• Praise
• Praise
Internal and Extrinsic Motivation
this part gets a little tricky and it it what we battle with inside (when these internal pressures are removed does motivation cease?)
• Guilt
• Ego Gratification
• Seeing the Value of
a Task
• Ego Gratification
• Seeing the Value of
a Task
Internal and Intrinsic (this is the fuel that sustains real learning and growth)
• When you have a
passion for
performing a task.
• When you perform
a task for the sheer
pleasure of it.
• When you freely
choose to perform
a task.
• When you have a
passion for
performing a task.
• When you perform
a task for the sheer
pleasure of it.
• When you freely
choose to perform
a task.
The key is to evaluate why you are doing what you are doing or why you are making the resolutions you are. Ask yourself if you have the support in place to move you from initial external motivation to intrinsic motivation that will sustain the change or learning you seek!
I'm taking a second look at what my real motivations are for learning to speak French.
I challenge you to take a second look at the resolutions you have made. with the right support you can move from being externally motivated to internally intrinsically motivated.
Now you know how to get back on the horse and ride your resolutions a reality!
by the way you can check out Matthew S. Richter at www.thiagi.com
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