Blogging4Jobs » inspiration

Placed in Learning Moments

Ray_anne — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:16:30 +0000

A Moment

Every day, I sit at my computer, typing away, with inspiration looming somewhere…, in the back of my brain? just beyond my finger tips.
Question: Can you force inspiration? Can you nurture it to make it grow or sprout where once there was none? It would be easy for me to say “yes” because I am usually flooded by it. It sometimes comes in overwhelming waves that crash over my psyche until my fingers can no longer be restrained. But.., there are also moments when study raises questions and I am sure that I was placed in that moment to review and shine a light.

How many times are you placed in a learning moment? How often do you discover that moment when organic erudition occurs? We often ignore it or think it did not apply to us. Throughout our lives, we will encounter “light bulb moments,” where instant insight is granted for a particular situation. How we react to those moments will determine whether or not we are open to receive more of the same.

Each of us has, within us, a brain with the ultimate capacity and ability to make connections, fire synapses, concoct crazy schemes, plot dastardly deeds, connect Point A to Point B, decide the right course of action, and numerous other functions. At some point, we must recognize when our functionality is limited or when it needs a lift. Joining with like-mined individuals is a good way to stay motivated but venturing out with unlike-minded individuals might just be the way to get your dander up or inspire personal innovation.

In order to thrive, man must continually improve. Finding opportunities to reach or stretch can get difficult when we are surrounded by the doldrums of a position that may require uniformity and conformity or “Do as you are told”. Reaching potential may seem impossible at times. Seeing beyond your job description and your daily grind can be arduous but, get this, not unattainable. Recall the child-like eagerness that once held a place within you when you first crossed the threshold of your current gig. What was it that inspired you then? Perhaps you could draw from that now.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” – Henry Ford

Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology. She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Thought Leadership – The Phoenix Infection, part 8

Ray_anne — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:01:15 +0000

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” -Calvin Coolidge

Leaders are born. Leaders are born. Leaders are developed. Leaders are necessary. Leaders are different than managers. Leaders provide a vision and direction necessary for companies, teams, departments, individuals to move forward. Hundreds of books are written every year regarding leadership in business. We hear about thought leaders, we refer to them, we listen to them, we engage with them, we quote them, we ask them to speak at conferences and we often disagree with them.The purpose of a thought leader may be just that- to inspire thought, to drive discussion, and controversy. It is through debate, it is through argument that change takes place or we work better or relationships become stronger. I have spoken to so many individuals over the last five years that have clearly stated how they do not want to be referred to as a thought leader. A Thought Leader Versus a Doer – can be controversial in itself.

In our industry, there are certainly thought leaders and influencers that step out on limbs all the time with the goal to start conversations, to keep the industry evolving or innovating. And are they reallytaken seriously? And is the information dispersed even valid when the disperser is a thought leader, not a doer? Experts and Gurus abound. What is it exactly that creates these experts, is it merely because they are followed, that their words are retweeted, that the halls are packed during their presentations? Is it because they had lengthy, successful careers in the fields we reside? Is it because they can write or say pretty words?

Is it because they are persistent? Does persistence truly pay off? Is it because they are talented or possess genius? Is it because they have the alphabet soup after their names that denote years residing in academia or is their determination alone the catalyst that propels them into thought leadership?

I think that thought leaders, more than thinking, like to share, to educate, to write, to talk. They inspire thought. Successful people think before they do. There may be the random, recorded successes that occurred following a gut response or instant decision but was it really instant? Gut responses are developed as a result of experience and education, over long periods of time. So, somewhere, at some point, thought took place. What thought leaders pass along actually transmits motivation to do work better, smarter.

And the Phoenix still flies.

**The Phoenix Infection is a ten-part series written by Rayanne on leaders and why we follow them…

Why We Follow, part 1
The Rising, part 2
The Leader Within, part 3
We Follow for Reasons, part 4
Your One Thing, part 5
Seeking the Right Level, part 6

Into the Fray, Part 7

Thought Leadership, part 8

Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology. She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

The Rising – The Phoenix Infection, part 2

Ray_anne — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:01:56 +0000

There have been leaders throughout my life whom I have followed with vigor, some since junior high. My parents are on this list, of course, and then there was Mr. Grandi, my history and drama teacher during those tortuous years. He quickly became a mentor, as many junior high teachers do for their students. Those between years mark a passage of time that can be very impressionable. My life changed quite a bit during that time: someone stole from me, a friend betrayed me, a boy held my hand, and one of my brothers passed away. And while some freedoms were found, trust was lost.

It could be said that I was probably not ready for high school. I was a delightfully innocent and naive young woman. I had never seen anyone my age smoke a cigarette, let alone imbibe in alcohol or do drugs of any kind. I lived a kind of Utopian youth that I am thankful for today. Given my propensity to engage quickly and be a people pleaser, I can imagine that my life might have taken a very different turn during those years had I not had parents that were strong leaders and influential teachers like Mr. Grandi that understood the freedom a twelve- and thirteen-year old girl needed to test – it wasn’t much, believe me, for I didn’t know any better.

Different phases in our lives require different types of leaders. They are not all good experiences, but those I have survived have taught lessons that have altered my core, my precepts, and made a mark on either my soul or my brain. That is what happens when we really learn, we change and though the change may be small or even imperceptible to others, inside – there is a difference. It may not be how we act but it might be how we react. It may not be what we do, but it might be what we think. It may not be how we respond, but it might be how we feel. Change is a direct result of learning.

My brother, Andrew, made a statement and asked a question in his group on facebook a while back and I was compelled to answer; that answer contained an idea that has been brewing in me for awhile. It is the idea of The Phoenix Infection.

Andrew Thorn: Leadership can be defined as the ability to motivate a group of people toward a common goal. How do you define leadership?

My Answer: A leader inspires by passionately sharing a vision and allowing participation in the creation and fruition of that vision. A leader is not bogged down by fear or jealousy. The active sharing of knowledge and the Phoenix Infection they gladly pass along define the line between leader and manager.
The Phoenix Infection is what happens when a leader is able to take you with him to fulfill his vision; you gladly join because his dreams and aspirations are infectious – you, as a follower, really have no choice. The engagement is so pure, so true, that the joining is natural and fulfilling. The mythical phoenix has long held a magical place in my thinking. It represents immortality, the triumphant rising from disaster or struggle, always strategizing – looking ahead. It is a visionary with the capacity to continually re-invent itself and stimulate enthusiasm and continual motivation.
This fulfills another part of my definition of a leader – a leader from whom I can learn.

**The Phoenix Infection is a ten-part series written by Rayanne on leaders and why we follow them…

Why We Follow, part 1
The Rising, part 2
The Leader Within, part 3
We Follow for Reasons, part 4
Your One Thing, part 5
Seeking the Right Level, part 6
Into the Fray, Part 7
Thought Leadership, part 8

Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology. She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Leadership and the Discovery of Our Own Ignorance

Ray_anne — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:01:05 +0000

Someone I met briefly on a plane last week tried to challenge me on my thoughts of leadership. I told him it was plain and simple – a leader is someone who does just that – a leader leads and when we follow, we find ourselves in a new place or with a new perspective. I have written numerous times about what makes a good leader and why we follow certain individuals or ideals. But recently, I have been tested in my work and I discovered something new about myself: there is more than one way to skin a cat.

In other words, I have learned that while, traditionally, I am motivated by the same things as most: praise, useful instruction, as well as growth and financial opportunity – I am also motivated by friction and competition. My reporting relationship was recently altered a bit when our company brought in a COO to work almost side-by-side with our CEO, an individual I have reported directly to for the last two years.

Because my company is innovative and continually updating and growing, I have learned to be quite flexible in my work environment. However, I was recently made aware, much to my surprise, that I can be quite uptight and tense during times of great stress – like when expense reports are due or when I am preparing for a high-level project. While this is not unusual for someone in my position, I was surprised because I have always thought of myself as easy-going. However, my new COO does not see it the same way as I. Interesting how perceptions can be so different – I guess I am too close, tied too tightly to the situation(s) to be completely objective.

As long as I have known him, my CEO has inspired me to do my job better. I have wanted to do more and do it better because of his encouragement and his love and passion for our company and industry. My COO, however, has stepped up and now challenges me to do better. He sees that I have an individual opportunity for growth and knows that while I may not appear to like a challenge that really I need one. I need to be challenged and I want to be inspired.

And just when I thought I knew everything about myself… It just goes to show you that we should always be learning. There are many who wander through the last half of their worklife thinking they know all they need to know, that they have grown as much as they need to grow and that they know-it-all. I already went through that when I was eighteen, I don’t need to go through it again.

Historian and author Will Durant said, “Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” Ignorance is not bliss, but it is opportunity. And, who doesn’t like an opportunity?

**Check out the The Phoenix Infection, a ten-part series written by Rayanne on leaders and why we follow them…

Why We Follow, part 1
The Rising, part 2
The Leader Within, part 3
We Follow for Reasons, part 4
Your One Thing, part 5

Channeling My Inner Steve Jobs — Cynics, Critics, & Dreams

Jessica Miller-Merrell — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:34:24 +0000

I said to myself last night, I would not write a blog post about Steve Jobs, and yet here I am. I’m writing a blog post about Steve Jobs.

Last night I received speaker evaluations from a conference where I spoke at earlier this year. My speaker scores were near perfect, and I received some amazing comments ranging from awesome, “Her session to changed my thoughts on social media,” to the following:

she did not give any backpack advice, just stories on how she bullies, tells random stuff about herself that nobody cares. Never let her present again

While I enjoying writing and speaking hearing criticism is very, very hard for me. Why? Because we all want to be liked, and I’m sure that Steve Jobs was no different. My goal has always been to push the industry to comfortable yet necessary places within the human resources and recruiting industries. And sometimes, changing an industry is hard. So imagine how hard it is to change the entire human race.

Steve Jobs didn’t always have raving fans, and he wasn’t perfect. He was an orphan who didn’t graduate from college and follow a traditional life or career path. He flourished, and didn’t let the naysayer and criticisms get in his way. He succeeded, and with his passing like many I am very sad. But I’m also inspired. Steve Jobs represents what one can do if they break all the rules and follow a different, crazy path.

Ryan Estis is also someone who I admire wrote about Steve Jobs on his blog this morning. Ryan shared a video, which I am posting below about Steve Jobs. While I’d like to tell you this blog post is for my blog readers and those that stumble upon this article, this blog post and accompanying video is really for myself. To remind me that being a success doesn’t mean that everyone will love and praise you. Being a success means that you’ve forced people to think, learn, and interpret the world differently. And if I was able to do that for one person when I speak in front of a group, I’ve accomplished my goal. Yes, this blog post is for me to return to, read, and remember that wherever we go there will be cynics and critics, but what matters most if your family, your friends, and your dreams. Life’s too short to worry about anything else.

Change Your POV & Change Your Life

Jessica Miller-Merrell — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:30:41 +0000

One of the techniques often suggested as a good method to find an employment opportunity is networking. Some job seekers believe that the sole purpose of networking is to ask other people for employment opportunities or job leads. They view the process of meeting with people with a, “What’s in it for me attitude.” The question they are trying to answer is, “What contacts or people do you know that can assist me in my job search?”

However, I have a different view. Networking, at its core is about relationship building. By sharing each person’s unique blend of life experiences, beliefs, passions, and interests, the relationships are nurtured and as a result, grow stronger. By thinking of meeting with a person as an opportunity to learn something about the world, I learn something about myself. People grow through sharing experiences. Finding leads and contacts from people may be beneficial in the short term, but treating the individual as a person and not simply a resource will benefit your life in many more ways in the long run.

By treating each person as a teacher of life, and by sharing life experiences with each other, we change who we are as individuals. Rather than simply viewing people as a source for employment leads and referrals, it is possible to view each encounter with a human being but in the bigger picture, as a chance to change your perspective about who you are and the meaning of life. By taking this approach to networking, several people I have met with have become not only my connections, but also my friends. Life is a journey with many twists and turns, and by looking for something good in others, we find the good in ourselves.

A couple inspirational quotes:

But giving to other people is what makes me feel alive. Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change. Dr. Wayne Dyer

Jim Horrell is an inspirational writer who has an active interest in social (LinkedIn, twitter, and blogging), and a background in Information Technology. Jim believes by sharing who we are as people we can make a positive difference in the lives of the people around us and the world. Jim is seeking new opportunities to make a difference in writing, social media, or application programming. If you are interested in sharing ideas, experiences, or thoughts with Jim, please contact him via e-mail at jrhorrell@live.com or blog comment, and he will try to get in touch with you promptly.

Photo Credit Toon Pool.