Tuesday, March 31, 2009

And Then Some News

---Sorry, in advance, for the inconvenience. This week only
we will publish the essay on Wednesday not Thursday!!!---

Wednesday’s essay, “A small, friendly corporate takeover,” is an essay that focuses on what it takes to effectively run a business. The essay offers five, practical, specific, worthwhile suggestions important for anyone wanting to set up a business..

Share your link. Have you written anything on setting up a small business? How about material on what it takes to operate a business successfully? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Wednesday's (tomorrow's!) And Then Some Essay preview

A small, friendly corporate takeover
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

It came unannounced, and I was totally unprepared. On a calm, beautiful, fall day, I was working at my computer writing an essay when the phone rang. At first, because of the official-sounding voice on the other end, it sounded like a telemarketing call, but, being on the National Do Not Call Registry made that unlikely. The voice on the other end simply said, “Is Dr. Richard L. Weaver II there?”


And Then Some Works - see you WEDNESDAY (tomorrow!) this week only NOT Thursday!!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Book Review Mondays





More information at Amazon.com
No obligation to buy Click below:

Self-Discipline in 10 Days: How to Go from Thinking to Doing
by Theodore Bryant

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Bryant's book, Self-Discipline in 10 Days: How to Go from Thinking to Doing is more like a short and concise (160-page) workbook that offers a system for achieving more self-discipline in both your work and personal life. His are simple techniques (e.g., positive self-talk and visualization) for overcoming psychological roadblocks, identifying and getting rid of sub-conscious beliefs, and using time management strategies to maximize self-discipline. Bryant's exercises are useful and interesting, and overall, readers are likely to find they serve more to increase their self-esteem, perhaps, than their self-discipline. It is a good book and worthwhile for those who need help in developing their self-esteem and self-discipline.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorks website.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Weekend Words

"Words are really a mask. They rarely express the true meaning; in fact they tend to hide it." ---Hermann Hesse

Thursday, March 26, 2009

How to be your own boss

by Richard L. Weaver II

During the time I taught students, and even though I enjoyed being a professor, I dreamed of being able to stop teaching and become a full-time writer. A dozen years ago the opportunity occurred, and I took advantage of it. When I first began writing and not teaching it was simply to continue producing my textbook Communicating Effectively (with Saundra Hybels), but after working with my father-in-law on his book, How to Be Funny on Purpose: Creating and Consuming Humor, one of my sons and I decided to try our hand at self-publishing — to strike out and establish a publishing company for ourselves.

There is no question that the entire field of self-publishing has changed since the advent of computers, the Internet, and Google, but what I have discovered is that even though the field of self-publishing has changed, what hasn’t changed are the qualities required for being your own boss. Just as so many people want to write a book (and I have written previously about what it takes to write a book), many fantasize about owning their own companies. Lynn Neary, reporting for NPR (February 4, 2008), states that “publishers in the U.S. released more than 291,000 separate titles in 2006.” Robin Ryan, in her essay, “Can You Be Your Own Boss?” reports that “Nearly one million new businesses are launched each year” (See the website careerbuilder.com.)

“The ultimate reason for starting your own business,” writes Rachel Sadler in her essay “What it Takes to Run Your Own Business,” at the Employment Guide website, “is the fact that you get to be your own boss. No one can tell you what to wear, what time to come in, what time to leave, how to wear your hair, or what radio station to listen to at your desk. You make the rules and you can break them at will.”

Clearly, however, to truly succeed at being your own boss it takes more than just a dream. Here are some general guidelines that may help you determine if it is right for you.

First, if you have never worked before, you need some experience. Consider taking a job before striking out on your own. Taking a job and gaining experience in the field you want to break into may be the most productive use of your time and energy as you begin. When I decided to set up a publishing company with my son, it was after writing and having published numerous books of my own and working closely with the publisher of my father-in-law’s book. We knew the skills required, the resources necessary, the steps involved, the effort demanded, and the time frame needed. Experience was absolutely essential. You need to know the ins and outs of the real world, and this will reduce the risk of total inexperience — and failure! Read and research on the aspects that will make your business successful.

The second general guideline is to perform a self-awareness check. There are essential characteristics that will help you determine if you have the burning desire and the discipline necessary to become your own boss. I am indebted to Robin Ryan, author of the essay, “Can You Be Your Own Boss?” at the careerbuilder.com website, for her list of key indicators. Answer the questions, “Are you a self-starter?” When you are your own boss, everything depends on you to develop the business, organize the projects, manage your time, and follow through on the details. Do you like to be in control? “Do you have good business skills?” Success requires that you have accounting, business planning, operations, sales, marketing, and customer service skills. You will be responsible for attracting customers. Everything starts from your own initiative.

Your self-awareness check should include answers to some other questions as well according to Ryan. “Are you motivated by achievement?” Success depends on winning. Business is a competitive game, and if you do not have a passion for it and a driving desire to come in first, you will not find it fun, see little benefit from all the effort and labor you expend, and become worn out by carrying all the responsibility of the business.

“Are you a good decision-maker?” asks Ryan. As a business owner you will be required to make decisions quickly, constantly, under pressure, and independently. Are you willing to spend the time to research and examine alternatives, make definite and precise decisions, minimize your risk, and go forward?

Self-awareness checks should include answers to two other questions as well, according to Ryan. First, “how well do you handle different personalities?” since you will be developing working relationships with a wide variety of people (customers, vendors, staff, bankers, lawyers, accountants, graphic artists, to name a few). Second, “how will you deal with isolation?” Your employer will be yourself. Do you like working alone? Can you deal with being isolated? Will you miss the status, respect, and collegial connections when working in the corporate world?

The third general guideline is to make certain you have the necessary financial resources. Do you have enough capital to support you and your business through the start-up phase? If your credit history is short do you have friends and family who can provide start-up money? Tread carefully if you plan to depend on friends and family. Make certain these loans are set up like formal business transactions that explicitly state how and when the loan will be repaid. Businesses all have cycles, and you will have to have the resources to sustain the ebb and flow in profitability. Can you support the overhead your business will need and the operational expenses required before you get paid?

The fourth general guideline is to be ready to evaluate and improve your business. Because you are the boss, you must constantly evaluate the choices you make. It is the only way you will become more successful in your business. What are the specific results of your strategies? Are you constantly updating according to the trends and changes in the market?

Being your own boss is fulfilling, but it is unlikely to be rewarding right away if you are unwilling to put in the right efforts. It takes patience and perseverance. Do not quit. Rather, continually set small goals and meet them. Success does not happen overnight, but it comes to those willing to stay the course. If you follow these four general guidelines for being your own boss you are more likely to be successful.
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Judith Sills writes a terrific essay, “How to Become Your Own Boss,” (September/October, 2006) for Psychology Today . The subtitle for her two-page essay is, “Self-management works best when the goals are clear and the reins are loose.”

There is a very good chapter entitled, “Being Your Own Boss: Are You Ready?” There is no author listed, but the chapter covers reasons why people choose to set up their own businesses, an overview of how you can set yourself on a similar course, as well as a discussion of financial considerations, leadership skills, a competitive attitude, and patience.
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Copyright March, 2009 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

The person who worries about what people think of him or her wouldn't worry so much if he or she only knew how seldom they do.
---Anonymous

Day #43 - Do not worry about what others think of you, in the delightful
day-to-day guide, Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! (SMOERs): Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living, compiled by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D. There are 365 daily reminders and over 1600 quotations for the boost you need to brighten your day - every day - and uplift your spirits. Available Spring 2009. Once you read just one day, you, too, will want s'more!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

And Then Some News

Thursday’s essay, “How to be your own boss,” is an essay that focuses on what it takes to run your own business. The essay has practical and worthwhile suggestions that you can begin using at once.

Share your link. Have you written anything on being your own boss? How about material on what it takes to set up a business? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
How to be your own boss
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

There is no question that the entire field of self-publishing has changed since the advent of computers, the Internet, and Google, but what I have discovered is that even though the field of self-publishing has changed, what hasn’t changed are the qualities required for being your own boss. Just as so many people want to write a book (and I have written previously about what it takes to write a book), many fantasize about owning their own companies. Lynn Neary, reporting for NPR (February 4, 2008), states that “publishers in the U.S. released more than 291,000 separate titles in 2006.” Robin Ryan, in her essay, “Can You Be Your Own Boss?” reports that “Nearly one million new businesses are launched each year” (See the website careerbuilder.com.)





And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Book Review Mondays





More information at Amazon.com
No obligation to buy Click below:

The Sixty-Second Motivator
by Jim Johnson

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Using Jim Johnson's book, The Sixty-Second Motivator, in just 1-2 hours (the time it takes you to read this book), you can learn what it often takes courses, lengthy DVDs, and major volumes to teach. Johnson bases this work on research results (rather than simply on his own personal experiences), but in a friendly, low-key, well-written, enjoyable, easy-to-understand manner, he offers practical tips and valuable insights about why we do and do not do things. This book is more of a story than a collection of facts, and it reads more like a mystery. Do you want to know what makes you "tick"? This 80-page book has the answers. It is value-packed!

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorks website.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Weekend Words

"Worry about words, Bobby. Your grandmother is right. For, whatever else you may do, you will be using words always." ---A. P. Herbert

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The effects of technology: What we know for sure

by Richard L. Weaver II

Nobody questions the omnipresence of technological innovations. All you need to do is look around to see cell phone usage, listen to television advertisements, or watch the changes in cellphone bells and whistles in newspaper advertisements. According to one 2008 study reported at HarrisInteractive in an essay, “Cell Phone Usage Continues to Increase,” it says, “Almost nine in ten (89%) of adults have a wireless or cell phone. This represents a significant increase from 77 percent in October – December 2006 when The Harris Poll conducted a similar analysis.”


When Barack Obama became President and because of a habit developed before his ascension, he popularized and widely advertised the BlackBerry, and in a section of Newsweek (February 16, 2009), called “Technology,” online at Newsweek.com, the essay by Sharon Begley called, “Will the BlackBerry sink the presidency?,” reported on the potential effects of technology (i.e., the BlackBerry), but, in doing so, clearly identified the essential problems everyone encounters through the use of the BlackBerry and similar technologies (e.g., pop-ups, e-mail alerts, calendar reminders, and instant messages — “the most intrusive and ubiquitous pre-BlackBerry technologies,” according to her). Begley suggests there are 21 million BlackBerry users (and the number is rapidly increasing because of the President’s free promotion).


It is important to understand these problems simply because understanding is the first step in trying to overcome, compensate for, or eliminate them. Of course, you may choose your technology over having these problems (or, because you like the escape!), but at least you will be aware and sensitive. From just a cursory examination, they make good sense. Let’s call them — only for the purposes of identification — distraction/interruption, the myth of multitasking, and creative inhibition.


The distraction/interruption element isn’t guesswork. This has been widely confirmed by experts in cognitive psychology and human-machine interactions. They have labeled it “distraction overload.” Does it matter to you that you cannot focus exclusively on any thought or perception for long? Does it matter to you that you cannot work straight through to completion on anything? That’s fine, of course, if the tasks you are involved in do not require your full attention — commitment of your entire brain. As Begley notes, “How damaging an interruption is depends on when it occurs” (p. 37).


In a study led by Brian Bailey of the University of Illinois, it was discovered — again, what I would call affirmation of common sense — that (in Begley’s words), “If you answer the BlackBerry’s call at natural breakpoints, you’re much more likely to be able to take in the e-mail and then resume what you were doing without that ‘where was I? ’ brain lock’” (p. 37). But, what happens when there are no natural breakpoints?


Gloria Mark, professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, found that average workers (in Begley’s words), spend “only 11 minutes on any given project before being interrupted and asked to do something else. IT workers have it worse, switching attention every three minutes, on average” (p. 37).


The President has certainly raised the social and cultural cachet of the BlackBerry, and it has been nicknamed CrackBerry for good reason. It is far more seductive than any e-mail alert ever was. “The ‘I have to be reachable,’ mantra is irresistible, and it makes everyone feel not just important to others (any others) but essential to their survival. When the light comes on or the BlackBerry beeps or buzzes, people stop everything they are doing to worship at its temple.


So, the BlackBerry impairs higher cognitive functions such as decision making and problem solving. In a 2007 study by scientists at Microsoft Research and the University of Illinois, they found it takes people 15 minutes “to productively resume a challenging task when they are interrupted (Begley’s words)” (p. 38). That is the time it takes to reactivate memory and refocus cognitive resources. In the meantime, according to a scientific study in Finland in 2004, the interruption can create memory loss and decreased memory accuracy.


There is more going on, too, than interruptions. People will often claim that along with responding to their BlackBerry they can surf the Internet, listen to a conversation, watch television, respond to e-mail messages, answer letters, or engage in other projects or activities at the same time — multi-tasking. This is something else we know for sure. It cannot happen.


The key to understanding this myth is in the phrase: “Only one thing can be predominant in your attention span at any one time.” Psychologists have long known that what appears like giving partial attention to a variety of things “is actually rapid-fire switching of attention among tasks (Begley’s words)” (p. 38). Why is this an important point to understand? Because you are not, and cannot, absorb information from a variety of sources at the same time. Depending on how much is going on, you switch your attention. And depending on how important any single stimulus is, you switch slowly or rapidly. What this means is that you are going to miss some information. You cannot get all aspects of a conversation while attending to your BlackBerry. In this state of mind (when multi-tasking), “you don’t process information as fully and are not using your frontal lobe effectively” (Begley’s words), says Mary Czerwinski of Microsoft Research. The only way to resolve this is to put the BlackBerry down and listen with all your attention.


Disruptions or interruptions plus the problems created by multi-tasking are two issues about which we know for sure. A third issue is creativity. Creativity requires that the brain brings together unrelated facts and thoughts, and this often occurs during mental downtime even daydreaming — when problems are not commanding conscious attention. A BlackBerry commands continuous conscious attention (that, along with other technologies). In a study conducted by Teresa Amabile of Harvard Business School, she found, in Begley’s words, “that fragmentation of attention . . . impeded creativity” (p. 38).


Whether it is the disruption or interruption that causes the problem, the quick switching between various tasks when momentary attention to one thing and then another can create information or input gaps, or the negative effect it can have on creativity, the one thing we know for certain is, technology such as BlackBerry use can have detrimental effects — sometimes serious ones. Many addicts or constant users have discovered the key: turn it off during crucial times, because it impairs concentration and can make you miss key information.

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At YahooAnswers, there are a number of different answers to the question, “What are some negative effects of technology on people's mental abilities?,” that should give people who rely on various forms of technology pause. At the very least, they should make you think about your choices.


Rhett Smith, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, offers a great perspective and sound advice in the essay entitled, “Affirmation: One of Technology’s Negative Effects on Your Marriage and Family.”


This is a short, enjoyable essay, “MIT Sloan study asks: Does BlackBerry equal 'CrackBerry' or career essential?,” in which the authors, Sarah Foote, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Michelle Choate, MIT Sloan School of Management, citing the work by Melissa Mazmanian, a doctoral student at the time, state, “What she has found to date is that BlackBerry use has a large impact on the workplace landscape, affecting expectations of work turnaround, employee availability, personal interactions and the increasingly rare notion of free time. Of course, like society in general, many of the people in the research study claim they have become "addicted" to using their BlackBerrys--thus the moniker ‘CrackBerry.’”

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Copyright March, 2009 - And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.





Wednesday, March 18, 2009

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

Goals give you more than a reason to get up in the morning; they are an incentive to keep you going all day. Goals tend to tap the deeper resources and draw the best out of life.
---Harvey Mackay

Day #42 - Define your goals precisely, in the delightful
day-to-day guide, Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! (SMOERs): Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living, compiled by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D. There are 365 daily reminders and over 1600 quotations for the boost you need to brighten your day - every day - and uplift your spirits. Available Spring 2009. Once you read just one day, you, too, will want s'more!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

And Then Some News

We have a question for you: And Then Some Publishing, LLC is continuing to write scripts for a variety of videos. Our web sites discuss the themes: 1) public speaking, 2) self-improvement, 3) And Then Some., and 4) relationships. Related to one of these themes, what topic would you like to see covered in one our new videos? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think.

Thursday’s essay, “The effects of technology: What we know for sure,” is an essay that focuses on how technology affects us — especially our use of the BlackBerry. Yes, it was stimulated by President Barack Obama’s use, but the findings (what we know for sure) come from researchers and scientists. Knowing the effects technology can have is just the first step in doing something about it (if you want to) — and that is what Thursday’s essay is all about.

Share your link. Have you written anything on the effects of technology? How about material on how the BlackBerry (or similar technology) has affected your life? Have you noticed the effects of technology in the lives of others? Are you willing to share your opinions and observations? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.


Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
The effects of technology: What we know for sure
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

Disruptions or interruptions plus the problems created by multi-tasking are two issues about which we know for sure. A third issue is creativity. Creativity requires that the brain brings together unrelated facts and thoughts, and this often occurs during mental downtime even daydreaming — when problems are not commanding conscious attention. A BlackBerry commands continuous conscious attention (that, along with other technologies). In a study conducted by Teresa Amabile of Harvard Business School, she found, in Begley’s words, “that fragmentation of attention . . . impeded creativity” (p. 38).

And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Book Review Mondays





More information at Amazon.com
No obligation to buy Click below:

Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do
by Mark Sanborn

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

The first and most impressive part of Mark Sanborn’s book, "Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do" is his heavy use of interesting examples. This is a well-written, interesting book full of practical, useful suggestions. Does it offer something totally new or unique? No. But, there are some insights cast in a slightly new way. For example, with respect to speeches and presentations, he offers four ways for affecting an audience: 1. Move them to act. 2. Make them feel good. 3. Cause them to laugh. 4. Stimulate them to think. His discussion of passion (i.e., it invigorates, inspires, sustains, comforts, initiates, completes, and enhances) and his four insights of a passionate performer are worth considering. His six p’s for delivering a performance (i.e., passion, preparation, practice, performance, polish, and pitfalls) cast well-known ingredients as an alliteration. Sanborn’s book is a useful starting point for those interested in excelling.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorks website.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Weekend Words

"The proper force of words lie not in the words themselves, but in their application." ---William Hazlitt

Thursday, March 12, 2009

The value of experience

by Richard L. Weaver II

It is very difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it’s troublesome just wondering if, indeed, there will be a light at the end. Athletes, artists of all sorts, and anyone engaged in any pursuit that requires practice knows the feeling. “Do I have to do this?” “How long is this going to last?” “In the end, is this going to be worth it?” Most of those who are accomplished at what they do will answer these questions quickly and without doubt. The answers are “Yes,” “How ever long it takes,” and “Yes.” As difficult as the journey is, the destination will be worth your time and effort.


It was Anders Ericsson, a professor at Florida State, who runs Florida State’s Human Performance Laboratory, writing in the 901-page Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance (2006), as referred to by John Cloud, in an article in Time magazine (March 10, 2008, p. 33), “The Science of Experience,” whose primary finding, “is that rather than mere experience or even raw talent,” Cloud interpreting Ericsson states, “it is dedicated, slogging, generally solitary exertion — repeatedly practicing the most difficult physical tasks for an athlete, repeatedly performing new and highly intricate computations for a mathematician — that leads to first rate performance.”



This is precisely the kind of practicing we hate. Ericsson says that it is “deliberate practice” — “the kind that leads to failure and hair pulling and fist pounding” that leads to greatness. Cloud summarizes a study of figure-skaters by researchers Janice Deakin and Stephen Cobley, for their 2003 book, Expert Performance in Sports, who conclude, according to Cloud, “we like to practice what we know, stretching out in the warm bath of familiarity rather than stretching our skills. Those who overcome that tendency are the real high performers.”

There is no doubt about the accuracy of these findings. Only a few people, and those are likely to be the ill-informed or those who would like to cheat the system, would believe otherwise. I think the problem is that many people do not want to be high performers; many people just want to be average. They want to fit in, lead a life of comfort and ease, and not be pushed to extremes in any direction, for any cause, under any circumstances.

It was a discovery I made in teaching communication skills. Many students didn’t mind learning how to communicate more effectively, but to practice it in order to excel or to perfect the skills to enable effectiveness, meant little or nothing. I find these thoughts disturbing, even though when you survey the general population they are likely to be accurate.


There are values in gaining experience, however, that have little to do with excelling or wanting to be a leader, and these values, to me, should be sufficient to warrant pursuit of any subject, sport, activity, or artistic endeavor with intense interest and supreme effort.


The first value of gaining experience is preparing for the unexpected. It is impossible for you to know precisely what your future looks like. With technology changing the landscape as fast as a passing storm front, with jobs being sent south or overseas, and with an increased demand for those with a wide variety of skill sets designed to meet changing demands and flexibility, you cannot predict exactly what your future portends. The time and effort expended to gain sufficient experience offers a strong foundation with which you can address the unexpected.


The second value of gaining experience is what it reveals about you. Whenever there is a changing landscape; whenever there are fewer jobs and more people who want them; and whenever the competition appears overwhelming, the fact that you have spent the time and effort in gaining experience suggests to anyone willing to examine your record, that you are committed and self-disciplined. These are the traits employers look for in attempting to employ trusted, competent workers who are likely to be dedicated, responsible, devoted, loyal workers.


The third value of gaining experience has to do with what you can learn from others. The more experience you have, the more exposure you will have to the mistakes of others. When it comes to avoiding, confronting, or overcoming others’ mistakes, experience truly does seem to be "the best teacher." The experiences of making wrong decisions in the past helps you learn so that you will make better decisions in the future. This is not the kind of “learning” that occurs in a hurried, cursory, or fleeting manner. Time sharpens the senses; time improves perceptions; time enhances observations; and time increases both knowledge and understanding.


The fourth value of gaining experience has to do with ego strength. Ego-strength refers to the strength of your sense of self to look at all aspects of life without caving in or being overwhelmed. Ego-strength refers to your power and determination to engage reality in whatever way you find it to be. It is reflected in your ability to accept what is as existing and to then use your cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and relational skills to deal with it. It is your ability to play the Game of Life according to whatever curves life throws at you, and it refers to the inner personal strength by which you tolerate stress and frustration, which, thus, allows you to deal with reality without falling back on infantile defense mechanisms. Ego-strength emerges from a strong foundation, grows out of sustained practice, and develops as a result of seasoned performance.


The fifth value of gaining experience is one that may be less obvious than the others. In every area of life you encounter, great young minds need great experienced minds as mentors and models. Experienced people who have kept their fires burning and creative juices flowing must be there for gifted followers. You can show how surrounding yourself with positive colleagues and always seeking to improve your practices leads to a long and satisfying career. And from gifted young people, you can not only renew your spirit, but you can continue to grow, both personally and professionally.


As noted early in this essay, there is so much about your future you don’t know. To gain experience, along with accurate feedback to assist you in developing your skills, you will lay the kind of base that will allow you not just to deal with life and the unexpected, but to reveal your strengths, assist you in learning from others, increase your sense of self, and offer others a mentor or model of effectiveness. That, in a nutshell to be sure, is the value of experience.


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What this essay (above) is all about is getting the most out of life. At ZenHabits.net, there is a delightful essay, “6 Questions to Ask Yourself to Get the Most Out of Life,” in which the writer raises the questions, who do I love?, am I pursuing my dream?, am I doing something that matters?, what am I doing to help others?, am I as good a person as I want to be?, and what am I doing to live life with passion, health, and energy? All of these suggestions will add value to your experiences but, more importantly for the purposes of the essay above, the suggestions will make gaining more experience far more enjoyable.


At the Students’ blog, in an essay, “How to Get the Most Out of Life ,” the writer offers six suggestions: don’t dwell on the past, don’t dwell on the future, meditate, rest, exercise, and love. These, too, are the kinds of suggestions that will make gaining experience an enjoyable pursuit.


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Copyright March, 2009 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

If you don't think every day is a great day try going without one.
---Jim Evans

Day #41 - Live today as the first day of the rest of your life, in the delightful
day-to-day guide, Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! (SMOERs): Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living, compiled by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D. There are 365 daily reminders and over 1600 quotations for the boost you need to brighten your day - every day - and uplift your spirits. Available Spring 2009. Once you read just one day, you, too, will want s'more!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

And Then Some News

Thursday’s essay, “The value of experience,” is an essay that focuses on what it takes to achieve greatness. Our society tends to reinforce the perception of achieving success through luck or accident. Gaining experience takes work and commitment and effort — and that is what Thursday’s essay is all about.

Share your link. Have you written anything on the value of experience? How about material on what it takes to achieve greatness? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
The value of experience
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

It is very difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it’s troublesome just wondering if, indeed, there will be a light at the end. Athletes, artists of all sorts, and anyone engaged in any pursuit that requires practice knows the feeling. “Do I have to do this?” “How long is this going to last?” “In the end, is this going to be worth it?” Most of those who are accomplished at what they do will answer these questions quickly and without doubt. The answers are “Yes,” “How ever long it takes,” and “Yes.” As difficult as the journey is, the destination will be worth your time and effort.



And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Book Review Mondays





More information at Amazon.com
No obligation to buy Click below:

Why We Do What We do: Understanding Self-Motivation
by Edward Deci and Richard Flaste

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Edward Deci is a psychology professor at the University of Rochester, and Richard Flaste is a former science and health editor for The New York Times, and the book Why we do what we do: Understanding self-motivation is a book on how people can become more genuinely engaged and successful in pursuing their goals. What is it that makes people want to succeed? From his extensive studies, Deci discovered that reward/punishment motivational systems (e.g., teacher and students, manager and employees, parents and children) don't work. They alienate people, make them less productive, and leave them less fulfilled. Control, he demonstrates, is always second-best to autonomy. "Self-motivation," he writes, "rather than external motivation, is at the heart of creativity, responsibility, healthy behavior, and lasting change." The way the authors explain the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is both detailed and interesting. With simple language and well-explained concepts, this book is a must read for teachers, managers, and parents. It may require an entirely different approach if we are interested in changing the behavior of those we most want to influence.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorks website.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Weekend Words

"If a people have no word for something, either it does not matter to them or it matters too much to talk about." ---Edgar Z. Friedenberg

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Maybe your maps need adjustment

by Richard L. Weaver II

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “A map is not the territory it represents.” The author of this phrase is Alford Korzybski, the father of general semantics, and the phrase has much more importance than it would at first appear. When it comes right down to it, many of the problems you face in the world — including your relationship problems — are a direct result of maps not accurately representing the territory they are designed to describe. Fortunately, once you become fully aware of the problem that maps sometimes need adjustment, you can make the necessary alterations and, in many cases, bring your life back into proper alignment.

When I refer to maps, I am talking about maps inside your head. These maps represent territory outside your head. The more accurate your maps are, the better equipped you are to function within society. The accuracy of your maps is a measure of your sanity. But, remember throughout this discussion that nobody has completely accurate maps. Maybe everyone is just a little “nuts”!

What this means for you is that your perception of reality is not reality itself, but it is your own version of it — your “maps.” Your maps are distorted because you jump to conclusions with little or no evidence, ignore parts of the territory, see only what you want to see, see things as black and white rather than in shades of gray, and apply labels to people and situations and then refuse to see beyond the labels. How do I know you do these things? Because you’re human, and all people do it.

What is important is what Korzybski’s theory about maps and territories clarifies for you. There are five elements, and each one is important in helping you come at the world in a more straightforward, forthright, and unambiguous manner.

The first clarification has to do with how your maps are created. There is so much information in the world that you can’t take it all in, let alone make sense of it all. So what you do is create internal maps of reality that you can refer to as you navigate through your life. Your maps contain countless beliefs, values, generalizations, decisions, and numerous other mental aspects about how you see yourself and your relationship to the world around you. Just like a road map, your “maps” are scaled down versions of reality. As you get more information, your maps change.

The second clarification is that you react to the maps inside your head, not the territory outside your head. You react to the maps and not to what the maps represent. For example, if your maps tell you that an experience will be pleasant, you are more likely to take it in. If they tell you an experience will be unpleasant, there is a greater chance you will avoid it. It isn’t the experience that attracts or repels, it is, instead, your maps of the experience. The same occurs in elections; you look not to the candidates when you choose how to vote, rather, you look to your maps of the candidates.

The third clarification is that no two people can have exactly the same maps. Problems in communication occur when you try to impose your maps upon another person — or other people. Empathizing with others requires learning to recognize the structure of others’ maps — seeing the world through their eyes, thus being able to understand and relate to them respectfully and accurately. It helps to know that their maps are likely to be just as jaundiced by their own interpretations as yours are.

The fourth clarification is that to create personal change requires changing maps. There is a natural and understandable desire to protect old maps. That is because they become comfortable. You know how to navigate with these maps, and replacing them with new ones is a little like trying to find your way around a new supermarket.

Not only are maps comfortable, they are habit forming. Even when they may not be as useful as they could be, you depend on them because they are what you have. You know where the bread, milk, and cereal are supposed to be in the supermarket. Letting maps go causes temporary chaos, but reconfiguring, reconstituting, or reorganizing maps can result in relief from the problems and limitations of old maps — new abilities to deal with what was previously stressful, perplexing, or overwhelming. You learn where things are located in the new supermarket, and your trips there become efficient, effective, and satisfying.

The fifth clarification is that your maps of reality are not who you are — the map is not the territory. Rather, your maps are simply a convenient tool you use to navigate through your life. To understand that your maps are not who you are but simply a navigation tool will help you understand that maps need to go through the chaos and reorganization process for personal growth to occur. It will help you understand that map “changes” do not represent you in the process of falling apart.

The map is not the territory. Trying to hold old maps together creates dysfunctional feelings and behaviors such as fear, depression, anger, anxiety, substance abuse, many physical diseases, and numerous other more serious mental problems.

When you understand the value of having this information, your goal should be to use it to your best advantage. How do you do that? First, avoid jumping to conclusions with little or no evidence. Second, stop making assumptions when you have only experienced part of the territory. Qualify your observations and assumptions. Third, realize that you see only what you want to see, thus, your view is but one small part of the whole. Fourth, understand that seeing things only as black and white eliminates all shades of gray. The world is gray. And, fifth, be cautious when you stereotype people and situations and refuse to see beyond those stereotypes. In doing just these things alone you will contribute to more precise and accurate maps.

Knowing that the map is not the territory will help you look forward to map changes. Why? Because new maps are likely to work better. New maps will allow you to be a happier, more peaceful person. New maps are likely to produce positive change. And because of the relationship between self-concept and perception, new maps will allow you to come at the world more accurately, see things with greater clarity, and understand events, others, and ideas with increased precision.

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Jim Walker’s excellent essay, “Confusing the Map for the Territory,” offers a thorough explanation of the problems that can occur because of confusion between map and territory.

At the Life Coaches Blog, in an essay entitled, “NLP 101: The Map is Not the Territory,” Alvin Soon ends his essay with this paragraph: “If you don’t already hold this belief, pause your disbelief for a moment, and just allow yourself to imagine it’s true that the map is not the territory (even that is not the territory, I know, but let’s test). How would your life be different if you held that belief to be true, emotionally, mentally, socially, physically and spiritually?

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Copyright March, 2009 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about its use. It is hitting below the intellect.
---Oscar Wilde

Day #38 - Let your actions be based on reasons, is the daily reminder in the delightful
day-to-day guide, Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! (SMOERs): Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living, compiled by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D. There are 365 daily rules and over 1600 quotations for the boost you need to brighten your day - every day - and uplift your spirits. Available Spring 2009. Once you read just one day, you, too, will want s'more!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

And Then Some News

Thursday’s essay, “Maybe your maps need adjustment,” is an essay that focuses on perception. In the essay I discuss the five elements that you need to know about maps versus territories. Each one is important in helping you come at the world in a more straightforward, forthright, and unambiguous manner.

Share your link. Have you written anything on maps versus territories or on perception? How about material on what it is that guides your beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

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Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Maybe your maps need adjustment
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

What this means for you is that your perception of reality is not reality itself, but it is your own version of it — your “maps.” Your maps are distorted because you jump to conclusions with little or no evidence, ignore parts of the territory, see only what you want to see, see things as black and white rather than in shades of gray, and apply labels to people and situations and then refuse to see beyond the labels. How do I know you do these things? Because you’re human, and all people do it.




And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Book Review Mondays





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Always On
by Naomi S. Baron

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Baron, a professor of linguistics at American University in Washington, DC, suggests that online and mobile technologies --- instant messaging, cell phones, multitasking, Facebook, blogs, and wikis --- have a profound effect on how we read and write, speak and listen. As a result of focusing on contemporary language technologies, Baron pursues the answers to two questions: What are we, as speakers and writers, doing to ourselves by virtue of new communication technologies, and do our linguistic practices impact the way we think and relate to other people? Baron looks specifically at language in an online world. Of particular interest to me, because of my background in speech communication, was her Chapter 4, "Are Instant Messages Speech?" Her answer is no, even though there are speechlike elements, and the informal medium of IM assumes some of the dimensions of more formal, written language. Although written for everyone, this is a sophisticated book full of history, studies, quotations, examples, and evidence for her observations and conclusions. If you want a serious book that examines contemporary language technologies in a serious manner, this book has some excellent insights and observations.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorks website.