While I would love to sit down and write a solid blog post, my schedule is really hectic and I feel the only time I have to write is to and from work. I think I’m going to switch up my strategy and go for more micro blogging and commentary based blog with some lengthy features every now and then.
When a Man Becomes More Than a Man
Batman Begins and V for Vendetta are two of my favorite movies. Both movies work through the idea of people becoming more than themselves and standing as a symbol in an imperfect world. By becoming a symbol, you become a perfect idea. Batman embodied the idea of justice. V in V for Vendetta embodied the idea of revolution. Both characters inspired and pushed others toward action.
Joe Paterno isn’t a revolutionary or super hero. He was a head coach for a very successful football program at Penn State for 46 years. Throughout Paterno’s tenure, he became synonymous with Penn State as an institution. He is revered and celebrated by previous and current students and is the face of PSU. By understanding his transformation from coach to the face of PSU, it’s helps to understand why students are rioting at PSU now. They feel that the firing of Paterno is a direct attack on their experience at PSU
I’m not judging the situation. I don’t have enough information to decide whether PSU administration is purging all parties associated or if Coach Paterno was really involved. However, I question the system in which coaches are held as larger than life figures on campus. Football coaches are human, therefore flawed and work in less than perfect institutions. Coach Paterno is just a man. A man who is susceptible to making mistakes. A man who is replaceable.
Making Your Bed in The Morning
My mother always emphasized how significant creating morning routine was as a child: Wake up, fix my bed, take a shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, watch Pokémon and then head off to school. That was standard procedure for my childhood (tv show changed depending on age) and gave me my first opportunity to create structure for my day.
As an adult, I can say that my habits from childhood have stuck.I go through the same routine my mother put me through back in the day.
Many of these tasks decrease in priority when I’m running late,(Mostly tv time and breakfast…hygiene…ehhh sometimes) but I never forget to make my bed before I leave for the day.
I’ve come up with three reasons why I make my bed in the morning:
1. #Winning strategy. If you start with small victories (brushing your teeth, taking a shower, making your bed) you feel more confident about the day. Think about all the times you’ve had a difficult or rough day. It normally starts with a deviation your morning routine. If you can win the morning routine, you’re on your way to winning the day.
2. Investing in my day. The time I take to make my bed in the morning is going to make sure I feel better when I get home and need to sleep. A made bed makes me feel better and after a rough day, it feels great to come back to a made bed.
3. Creature of Habit. I’ve made my bed as part of my morning routine for so long that not having it done is wrong. I wouldn’t want to start the day off on the wrong foot!
What are some routines you continue from your childhood?
Has hard work become an exotic concept? (via Emma explores)
Emma does a great job of highlighting values of eastern and western culture and what we have to learn from both.
via Emma explores
Leadership and Communication
Great leaders are effective communicators. Think of MLK, Gandhi, Lincoln, and FDR. They were all leaders who understood the value of their words and how it would translate to action. Why did their messages hit so hard with the crowds that, at times, hung on to their every word?
I think it comes down to two very simple strategies that anyone can apply when talking to a group of people.
1. Believe, know and live your message. Have an understanding of what you’re saying to the point where people could understand your message without hearing you speak. Gandhi is one of the best examples. He preached non-violence and acted in accordance to his beliefs. Embodying your message gives you the unshakable confidence when communicating your message.
2. Know your audience. The great leaders always know their followers. They empathize, sympathize and understand where they are and where they come from. MLK understood that his followers needed the big picture and sought inspiration in his words. His sermon style speeches naturally gave his listeners hope and courage to work for a brighter future.
This is not an exhaustive list. I think that you’re half way to victory if you know your message well and the audience that will receive the message. At the end of the day, great leaders communicate well to inspire others or to call them to action. These two skills go hand in hand. Great leaders communicate well and effective communicators make for great leaders. I wonder which came first?