tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35220129274157042011-03-27T15:44:11.270-06:00bruce's blogMy intentions for this blog are to incorporate aspects from my life and business coaching practice and professional skills design and training consultancy, KATLIN CONSULTING. I will also speak to issues and events that are important to me both personally and professionally.Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-22054767312064229402011-03-26T18:02:00.019-06:002011-03-27T15:44:11.304-06:002011-03-27T15:44:11.304-06:00Waste Knot Want Knots<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lWz6OeZlRKA/TY6Oxt7h7WI/AAAAAAAAAcg/0M9gi7fjgR4/s1600/WoodCutLeafs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588561172407381346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lWz6OeZlRKA/TY6Oxt7h7WI/AAAAAAAAAcg/0M9gi7fjgR4/s200/WoodCutLeafs.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 127px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksl_xtMTjCU/TY6CJSR6K_I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/JoGN4mhAFFA/s1600/CarvedBirdv1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588547283650751474" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksl_xtMTjCU/TY6CJSR6K_I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/JoGN4mhAFFA/s200/CarvedBirdv1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 141px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I can't let good trash go to waste. It pains and pleases me to see so much of what people toss out. (I'll save my thoughts on all 'have-to-have-it' consumerism for another post.) You've heard the idiom before, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and I for one am always on the look out for trash treasures. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There isn't a better city than New York for trash picking. On my weekly hunts, I've lassoed the following great finds: a four poster bed, two cane backed chairs, an antique rotating and folding desk-dining table combo, three 46" color televisions, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">two french-door kitchen cabinets, three brass and marble lamps; and a full length, hardwood church pew found in front of Yeshiva University. This is not the complete list, just some of my favorites that after a little renovation became permanent </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">fixtures in the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">apartment.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Chicago has yet to yield anything close to the dumpster finds New York coughed up. Maybe it's because I'm looking in the wrong neighborhoods or Chicagoans are more frugal than New </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Yorkers. I don't know but I am happy to report, that at least five-hundred pounds of wood was saved from being thrown into a Chicago land fill this week.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Recently, the building we live in replaced the wood wall coverings in the lobby and threw the three hundred or so planks behind the dumpster in the garage. "Can I have this?" I excitedly asked the Super. "You want that shit you can have it." I carted that "shit" away so fast it made his head spin. Now, what was I going to do with it? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A blank page or canvas can be a daunting thing to look at and so too can five-hundred pounds of laminated wood planks. I was determined to do something with this "shit". I took out the X-Acto blades and started cutting and carving and presto! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Carved and painted panels from shit. (See accompanying images.) All it took was one small step and the Process took over.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I'm still not sure what I'll do with the remainder of the four-hundred and ninety-five pounds of planks but rest assure that their knots will not be tossed in the trash.</span><br />
</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-2205476731206422940?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-82834897581672387922011-03-24T08:40:00.010-06:002011-03-24T15:23:35.699-06:002011-03-24T15:23:35.699-06:00Laughing With the Head Hunters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nj83wVmx1F0/TYu1Vml42fI/AAAAAAAAAb4/IaoXFRgv3Ao/s1600/quote_k_kurke_banner_sq.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 120px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nj83wVmx1F0/TYu1Vml42fI/AAAAAAAAAb4/IaoXFRgv3Ao/s200/quote_k_kurke_banner_sq.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587759145424574962" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >What's so funny about Executive placement? Well, did you hear the joke about the head hunter who walked into a bar with a parrot who said....? </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Last week I had the extreme pleasure of being interviewed by the wonderfully affable, competent and contagious laugher, Kathleen Kurke who, along with her many talents host a radio podcast <a href="http://recruitereco.com/recruiting/radio-truth-from-the-trenches-the-kurke-report-with-host-kathleen-kurke/">Truth From The Trenches</a> which, focuses on topics of everything in the Recruiting industry. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Kathleen was interested in how she and her colleagues in the field of employment placement might incorporate <a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/LessStress/LaughterYoga.html">Laughter Yoga</a> into their practices. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >One of the 'tips' that I shared with Kathleen about the use of Laughter Yoga in conducting interviews, was to ask applicants to state a skill or competency and then laugh. Repeat. Laugh. This works especially well when the interviewer senses that the applicant is nervous or not presenting their 'true' self. I also suggested that the use of laughter for both the interviewer and the applicant or job seeker in preparation for the meeting will reduce stress and induce what I like to call tickling bubbles throughout the body. There's nothing wrong and everything right preparing for an important meeting with a few minutes of laughter.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I hope that you get as much out of listening to the interview as I received by participating in it.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-8283489758167238792?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-42224971581669885932011-03-12T13:28:00.011-06:002011-03-12T14:51:39.355-06:002011-03-12T14:51:39.355-06:00Group Power!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Kzc-b88hoY/TXvODURJ4II/AAAAAAAAAbw/t2xTBFmyfzU/s1600/happySenagli_kids.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Kzc-b88hoY/TXvODURJ4II/AAAAAAAAAbw/t2xTBFmyfzU/s200/happySenagli_kids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583282719431450754" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >The power of the group never ceases to amaze me. The happy, joyous faces pictured here caught my attention after my long run today. Children, of course, are great emotional-vanes; that is, that they are very honest in the way they feel. What you see is what you get. If they're unhappy they'll let you know it, if they're gleeful, they show that too. Then they grow up and the adult masks slip on and cover what's really going deep inside. Still, we humans like any other animals prefer to group. Some in small groups such as lovers or in marriage and others in larger groups like religious or political communities. There's power in groups; there's energy too, generated when shared passion, desire, creativity and electricity all come together. This is why I joined a running group. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It's bleak in Chicago during the winter months and having the motivation to lace-up and get out the door has been a big challenge for me. Especially, when the wind speeds are in access of twenty-five miles per hour. I have several races coming up and I am under trained and under motivated. The Internet combined with a confluence of shared needs and passion, we found each other: The <a href="http://southlooprunning.com/">South Loop Running Club</a> ands it's energetic, kind and passionate founder, <a href="http://southlooprunning.com/about-the-slrc/about-the-founder/">Allen Patin</a>. The power of group demonstrated itself from the start, when on a very cold and windy Saturday morning a handful of runners got together to attain one simple goal: run. The group was eclectic, varying shapes, sizes, and levels of experience. Some ran slow, some fast, and others combined walking and running. But there were tow constants: the desire to run and the welfare of the group. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Knowing that there is a group of like-minded people that are friendly, committed and generous, that I can tap into on a weekly basis has provided huge benefits. A long time ago I identified with the character Alvy Singer in Woody Allen's Annie Hall said,<span class="Apple-style-span">"I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." But I was wrong, I think I'm a good group member and the quality, energy and personality of any group is determined by the individuals who make up the group. So, if you're looking for motivation to learn something, to attain a goal or just to get out from under your blanket, consider checking out a group with similar interests. It's very powerful.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-4222497158166988593?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-3620248049690863492011-03-10T07:19:00.007-06:002011-03-10T08:03:51.270-06:002011-03-10T08:03:51.270-06:00Laughing at AIDS<div meta="" equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"><p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" >When I think of the friends that I lost to AIDS along with countless others around the world, laughter is not the first things that comes to mind. And yet, that's what Nigerian director Bolanle Ninalowo is attempting to do in his movie, "Rebirth".</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span" >As reported by the <a href="http://temple-news.com/2010/11/16/the-power-of-laughter-is-used-to-spread-the-word-about-hivaids/"><span class="s1">Temple News Online</span></a>, (Temple University, Philadelphia) Ninalowo’s<i> </i>script tells the tale of a "young Nigerian man whose hedonistic lifestyle comes to a sudden halt when he discovers he may have contracted HIV. While it may seem strange for a film with such a serious topic to elicit laughter, that was the goal. By entertaining the audience, “Rebirth” lets viewers approach the sensitive issue more comfortably."</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span" >“I thought it was very funny,” said Adedun Aderemi, an Arcadia University student who attended the premiere. “It had a lot of information and talked about living with HIV, which a lot of people are really scared about.”</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Not only is laughter one of the best medicines, it's also a great vehicle for teaching and sharing important, life saving knowledge. Who kne</span>w?</span></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-362024804969086349?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-35648809335779416582010-09-11T12:55:00.002-05:002010-09-11T12:57:29.992-05:002010-09-11T12:57:29.992-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/TIvC6HMhoeI/AAAAAAAAAbY/ZZd9x0f8cKI/s1600/shackleton_sh.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/TIvC6HMhoeI/AAAAAAAAAbY/ZZd9x0f8cKI/s200/shackleton_sh.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515716472265089506" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">As I think about the current state of affairs, even my own, I am reminded what it is all about from a Sir Ernest Shackelton quote:<br /><br />“Life to me is the greatest of all games. The danger lies in treating it as a survival game, A game to be taken lightly, And a game in which the rules don’t matter much The rules matter a great deal. The game has to be played fairly or it is no game at all. And even to win the game is not the chief end. The chief end is to win honorably and splendidly.”</span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-3564880933577941658?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-83129508941913285382010-02-08T07:43:00.031-06:002010-05-03T20:19:13.063-05:002010-05-03T20:19:13.063-05:00Organizational Cooperation Is For The Birds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/S3AWoVOlUvI/AAAAAAAAAbE/rO-lYhAjNS4/s1600-h/Yuhina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/S3AWoVOlUvI/AAAAAAAAAbE/rO-lYhAjNS4/s200/Yuhina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435869632385078002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Organizations can learn a lot from ornithological studies. One such study is by Sheng-Feng Shen, a former grad student at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sheng-Feng Shen's research focused on the cooperative practices of the Taiwan Yuhina songbird. What does a five inch songbird have to do with human organizations? You may be surprised. Read on.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />The </span>Taiwan Yuhina utilize a unique process where</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> multiple, non-related females lay eggs jointly in the same nest and then in a miraculous demonstration of democratic cooperation, group members share the responsibility of rearing the chicks development. This species is so cooperative that even non-breeding birds help incubate the eggs. Transform all this avian cooperation to the often times, non-cooperative world of human organizations and we may find solutions to our most vexing organizational challenges. By sharing in the feeding and raising of its own and others offspring, the species helps to guarantee its survival.<br /><br />When corporate functions operate as a single entity separate from the organization, their focus is not on the sustained and vibrant life of the 'species' but of that on the individual and his or her own needs. No species or organization can achieve success if the organization is not focused on acting together for a common purpose or benefit. As demonstrated by the </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Taiwan Yuhina songbirds non-breeding helpers, when you help your colleagues survive you help the species not only survive but also prosper. Imagine this type of cooperation in the workplace. Individuals helping their colleagues grow and develop, which in turn grows the functional group, which in turn grows and develops the entire organization. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Shen's work also shows how the behavior of the </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Taiwan Yuhina can be aligned and incorporated into our highly developed human species: by reducing conflict and competition. With this all-for-one, one-for-all attitude, each family within the species raises its success rate by reducing conflict that usually occurs when individuals and groups operate from a place of sparseness instead of abundance. (Fighting for food in recently earthquake ravaged Haiti can be viewed as an extreme example.) When humans are not treated fairly, when they feel slighted and rewards are not distributed equally, they first clamor, chirp and complain, then get angry and resentful. The important need to be valued and validated is attempted through gossip and in tandem with the desperate need to be understood and appreciated, efficiency and productivity are greatly reduced followed by flights of departure.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">By coordinating the adults feeding arrivals to the nest, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">the Taiwan Yuhina's </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">food distribution is provided</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"> evenly to the nestlings reducing the competition to be fed. Well fed, satiated chicks are happy chicks and happy chicks are productive chicks. Nature never stops being a powerful teacher of how to live and work in harmony and how to best guarantee our survival. Without the cooperation of each member of the species the 'species' can not survive.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-8312950894191328538?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-89591448412392456412010-01-19T17:22:00.008-06:002010-01-19T21:08:40.777-06:002010-01-19T21:08:40.777-06:00How To Gain Buy-In 101<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/S1Zyk4rYumI/AAAAAAAAAa0/rQJAzsxbVAQ/s1600-h/handshake1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 126px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/S1Zyk4rYumI/AAAAAAAAAa0/rQJAzsxbVAQ/s200/handshake1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428652378856929890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Get buy-in before you start on that project." You hear that all the time. But how do you do it and how do you know when and if you've got it? What follows is getting buy in 101.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There are only two things that motivate people: (1) something they will gain, such as respect, knowledge, prestige, a promotion and material gains</span></span>; <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">or (2) something they'll lose, such as respect, power, money and security. Understanding this is fundamental in preparing your buy-in strategy. People also want to know that if they buy what your selling, i.e. a new platform, training initiative, or strategy they'll be recognized for helping it to be perceived as successful. (That's the respect and security elements.)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course, there's more to it than that. Below is a partial list of things to consider for getting buy in from others:<br /></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Determine what management values</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Understand what motivates them</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lear how they make decisions</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Propose your ideas and projects in terms they can understand: not tech terms</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Learn to think like they do</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Show them what's in it for them</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Let them know that they helped to develop the idea</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Know your facts and figures: be the subject matter expert</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Show them tangible results from competitors who took a similar actions<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Make them a mentor<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Break it down into palatable chucks</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lastly, keep in mind that their reputation is always on the line. Help your leaders and managers to be a better than they are. <a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/CoachKatlin/coach.html">Coach</a> them without them knowing it. That's part of your job.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'trebuchet ms',fantasy;font-size:130%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'trebuchet ms',-webkit-fantasy;font-size:130%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">You'll know when you have "buy in" when you hear, "Good, now run with it."</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-8959144841239245641?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-29846394412676418072010-01-12T10:58:00.007-06:002010-01-13T05:39:34.163-06:002010-01-13T05:39:34.163-06:00A Cure for What Ails You<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:130%;">A special concoction for whatever ails you- Sobering statistics.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Did you know:<br /><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Almost 1,200 children become newly infected with HIV each day. Most live in sub-Saharan Africa. <a href="http://www.who.int/en/">World Health Organization</a></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">33.4 million people were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2008, the vast majority were in low- and middle-income countries. World Health Organization.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">The average life expectancy for men in Nigeria is 45 and women 46.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Every week, 31,000 children in low-income countries die from diarrheal diseases – approximately 4,500 deaths every single day. <a href="http://www.oneworldhealth.org/">Institute for OneWorld Health</a></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Approximately two million girls and women are estimated to be living with obstetric fistula worldwide. - <a href="http://www.engenderhealth.org/index-main.php">EngenderHealth</a></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Malaria causes 300 - 500 million acute illnesses and over 1 million deaths annually. 90% of deaths due to malaria occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 40% of the world's population (mostly those living in the world's poorest countries) are susceptible to malaria. Malaria is endemic in nearly 100 countries worldwide and notably so in 28 countries on the African continent. Institute for OneWorld Health</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">The U.S.A. has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,900 GDP of $14.44 trillion (2008 est.) Population: 307,212,123. <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/">CIA World Fact Book</a></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">The year ending 2004 the U.S.A. devoted less than 1% of the federal budget to development assistance, which amounts to $92 a year, or 25¢ a day, for each American. This is less than half of what the average American spends on carbonated soft drinks every year—$224. - <a href="http://www.cgdev.org/">Center For Global Development</a></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">The U.S.A. ranks 17 out of 22 of the world’s richest countries. For the “richest” country in the world this is a very low get to give ratio. - Center For Global Development</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">The world's poorest countries pay almost $100 million every day to the rich world. The poorest 49 countries have debts totaling $375 billion, while the poorest 144 countries totals over $2.9 trillion. - <a href="http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/?lid=98">Jubilee Debt Campaign</a></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Diarrheal diseases are prevalent in developing countries in conditions of poor environmental sanitation, inadequate water supplies, poverty and limited education. In children under the age of 5, an estimated 4 billion acute cases of diarrhea occur each year, resulting in 2 million deaths. - Institute for OneWorld Health</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection (STH) infection causes significant morbidity worldwide with 39 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost each year - more than those lost to malaria (36 million yearly) and approaching those lost to tuberculosis (47 million yearly). Hookworm infection alone causes the loss of 22 million DALYs. - Institute for OneWorld Health</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Life expectancy at birth in Swaziland is 32 years of age. - CIA World Fact Book</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">The average School Life Expectancy (SLE) of both males and females in South Africa is 13 years of age. The SLE is the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive. - CIA World Fact Book</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">In South Africa there are 1.19538 rapes per 1,000 people on average. - Nation Master</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">5.7 million (2007 est.) are living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. - CIA World Fact Book</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Every minute, at least one woman dies from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth – that means 529,000 women a year. In addition, for every woman who dies in childbirth, around 20 more suffer injury, infection or disease – approximately 10 million women each year. Five direct complications account for more than 70% of maternal deaths: haemorrhage (25%), infection (15%), unsafe abortion (13%), eclampsia (very high blood pressure leading to seizures – 12%), and obstructed labour (8%). While these are the main causes of maternal death, unavailable, inaccessible, unaffordable, or poor quality care is fundamentally responsible. They are detrimental to social development and wellbeing, as some one million children are left motherless each year. These children are 10 times more likely to die within two years of their mothers' death. - World Health Organization</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Feeling better? The good news is that there are hundreds of thousands of compassionate people and organizations who work tirelessly to make the world a healthier, safer and better place through projects and programs of education and resource building. To go beyond the statistic, visit any of the above organization's links or: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">For a list of 26 Charities and Non-Profits on Twitter, go to </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);" href="http://mashable.com/2009/03/19/twitter-nonprofits/">Mashable</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Review a list of </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);" href="http://www.un.org/africa/osaa/ngodirectory/index.htm">African NGOs</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Review resources for </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);" href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&ei=959MS9ujJMSV8Aa6vZGADg&sa=X&oi=spellfullpage&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=2&ved=0CAkQvwUoAQ&&q=list+of+global+charities&spell=1">global charities listed on Google</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">See the </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);" href="http://philanthropy.com/giveandtake/article/1525/top-philanthropy-events-of-the-last-10-years">Top Philanthropy Events of the Last 10 Years</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Review America's 200 Largest Charities and who is most efficient according to </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);" href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/23/charitable-giving-gates-foundation-personal-finance-charity-09-intro.html">Forbes</a><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-2984639441267641807?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-74202723046140137112010-01-05T18:27:00.019-06:002010-01-06T13:23:10.978-06:002010-01-06T13:23:10.978-06:00On The Precipice of Homelessness and Hopelessness, A Para-Fable<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/S0PaPIsYTmI/AAAAAAAAAac/mnchpERv25g/s1600-h/homless1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 160px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/S0PaPIsYTmI/AAAAAAAAAac/mnchpERv25g/s200/homless1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423418329850728034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The economy is taking one more victim and is devouring his income, home and confidence. He's on a precipice.<br /><br />I call him a victim because his current situation was of no fault of his own. "Jack" has been part of the middle-class for thirty years. He's been industrious and hard working since the of age twelve when he delivered the evening newspaper on a route filled with semi-detached homes in a working-class neighborhood. Jack did anything to make and save money, from newspaper delivery to construction to washing windows. Sweat and calluses never deterred Jack from hard and honest work.<br /><br />Jack had big dreams when he entered the workforce. He would be rich and share his wealth with those less fortunate or with those who were less unable. Jack grew up in a time where the masses protested inequalities and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">injustices and believed that anything was possible. As Jack got older his altruism began to fade as he witnessed Pine Ridge, Kent State, Vietnam, Watergate, and the Iran hostage crisis. He began to look at life differently</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> believed that 'wealth' should be shared, that equality means just that, equal for everyone. Jack went out of his way to demonstrate his beliefs and was kind, loving and thoughtful in words and deeds. People liked Jack and Jack liked people.<br /><br />Fast forward through career changes, relationships, deaths and illness to the year 2007. Jack had lost a job that he really liked and was very good at. At this job, Jack helped a lot of people and they let him know just how much. Being industrious, Jack started his own business where he could do things his way with more freedom to help more people. The security which accompanied his former salaried job was gone including health care coverage and a steady paycheck but Jack took a deep breath and a leap of faith in himself. It was a good move, for Jack did well and even did some work for his former employer. Then the roof began to collapse.<br /><br />While the United States and other wealthy nations were deciding what to call the financial crisis, Jack knew the world was about to change. Jack felt the impact of the financial crisis immediately. His business dropped faster than the jumping Wall Street brokers of 1929. But Jack had saved some money and hadn't touched his 401k, so he and his wife would be okay for a while, at least until the global economy started to recover.<br /><br />The situation went from bad to worse, not just for Jack but for hundreds of thousands of people. Jack's savings quickly began to dwindle and he became anxious about the future. Even though Jack's future was uncertain, he was aware that millions of people around the world were living in poverty, living without food or clean drinking water, so Jack was grateful and hopeful. But gratitude and hope won't pay the rent, so Jack went looking for help. Beside searching for a job, any job, Jack applied for unemployment benefits but was rejected because he was a sole-proprietor. "Preposterous!" Jack exclaimed. "Now is when I really need the benefits." But there was no convincing or persuading the people that make these rules, not the Director of Labor, nor the Governor. Desperate, Jack pleaded to his Mayor who responded by form email.<br /><br />Like many others, Jack wrote letters, telephoned elected officials asking for help and guidance, all to no avail. He went so far as to right to the President and received a reply. "We're working on it." Jack went to his State's social service's office looking for aid but was told that funds were not available to him. Why? Because, he had more than a thousand and two dollars in the bank. When Jack protested that was all the money he had and that he needed to rely on it to eat and pay the bills, he was promptly and directly informed that he needed to be at the poverty level in order to receive emergency funds. The thinking in Jack's Sate is that one needs to be actually homeless or on the verge of homelessness to receive life sustaining funds. Jack's moods turned darker. He couldn't afford health insurance any longer or the medications he was taking. His doctor was a kind and empathic man and gave Jack enough samples to last six months.<br /><br />With the roof caving in further, Jack's frustration turned to anger, especially when he learned of the $50 billion dollar bank bailout plan. "The banks helped to create the mess we're all in and now we're going to bail them out? Where is the justice? Where is the fairness? Fine, give them the money but please help those of us who just need to get by." Jack wrote more letters, made more phone calls and received the same basic reply, "We're working on it." And, "The situation is getting better. We're creating more jobs." But things weren't getting better, not for Jack or for hundreds of his former colleagues who were being let go.<br /><br />Now remember, Jack is honest and industrious. He wants to work and pay his own way, so Jack tried to get a vendor's license from his city's department of finance so that he could sell a product and service he was confident people would want and buy. Once again, Jack learned that bureaucracies can be myopic and the city said, "No" to his license request. "There is a waiting list and it's closed." Jack tried using his influencing skills to persuade the </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">licensing </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">official that his business would bring in much needed tax revenue and that one more citizen would be employed. "It's a win-win." Soon after leaving the city office empty handed he was told by a Falafel vendor that if he had fifty-thousand dollars he could get Jack a license and a street corner to hark his wares.<br /><br />As of today, Jack is months behind on his mortgage payments and eviction is looming. Jack calculates that if his situation doesn't turn around quickly, he and his wife will be on the street by the end of March. So, Jack started making a list of everything he must have if he landed at the homeless shelter: five days of clothing; medication (if any remained); laptop; birth certificate and passport. Jack cried after reviewing his list. Family photos, keepsakes, books, paintings, and journals would all have to go. Jack remembered the story of </span><em style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Siddhartha</em></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> who left all his possessions in search of enlightenment. Jack started packing in order to lighten his load.<br /><br />Everyday Jack and his wife pray. They pray not only for themselves but for everyone. Not just for those in despair but for those who helped to create the disparity. They pray even when they don't believe. They pray that God, the Universe, the What-ever will provide help, guidance, direction.<br /><br />Jack doesn't want to be or feel like a victim. He wants want everyone wants: security, shelter, and love. He wants and hopes that the lessons learned from the financial crisis will help to forge a new global community of caring for each other, for equality, for mutual benefit for less fear and greed and more selflessness and giving. Jack is very close to the edge of the precipice and hopes that one last gust of wind will blow him back to firmer footing.<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-7420272304614013711?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-84909711986988681512009-12-18T15:03:00.000-06:002009-12-18T16:54:32.478-06:002009-12-18T16:54:32.478-06:00Jews-A-Runnin' - Peace-Is-A-Comin'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SxRdjDIu5sI/AAAAAAAAAaU/MCvlkSuvWKw/s1600/RunningJews.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SxRdjDIu5sI/AAAAAAAAAaU/MCvlkSuvWKw/s200/RunningJews.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410051909097547458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I have a deadline for this post: sundown.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these two conservative, Jewish men running up the Queens Borough Bridge on Friday, as I pedaled my way over to Manhattan. Most runners I see give no clue to their religious inclinations but these two left no doubt. </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />So many questions, so little time. "Where are you running to?" I asked. </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Heshie, the slighter gentleman on the right side of the photo answered, "Just out for our daily run. We have a family now and need to stay in shape.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > "Aren't you a bit uncomfortable running in those clothes?"<br />Heshie's friend, </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Moshe</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > who seemed a little guarded replied, "No choice, these are our clothes, for everything."<br />"But at least the shoes?" I tried persuading. "Can't you at least get a black pair of running shoes?"<br />Heshie and Moshe looked at each other and chuckled. "These shoes work just fine," M</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >oshie said. "Besides, why should we spend money on special shoes?"</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">"You might get injured," I suggested.<br />"Why would we get injured? Our shoes have rubber soles just like your expensive, big shot running shoes," </span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Moshe</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> proudly countered.<br />They got me thinking about how many pairs of running shoes I go through in a year and that maybe I should head over to Harry's in the City and get a pair of black dress shoes with Vibram soles.<br />"You know," I said,"Jews really aren't known for their athletic prowess?"<br />"We know, we know. But we like to run."<br /><br />I looked around and there was no else on the bridge but the three of us. A thought popped in my head. "What if we started a running team made up of Jews and Palestinians?" Hershie and </span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Moshe</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> looked at me as if I had one eye stuck in the center of my forehead. "Think about it," I said. "Running, teamwork, goal setting brings people together. Even people with huge differences. Think of the Olympics. Well, don't think of the 1972 Olympics but think of the possibilities."<br />Hershie stroked his beard. "Maybe. Maybe you have something."<br />"It could be a wonderful thing," I said with too much excitement. "Think of the marketing, the publicity. You caught my attention, didn't you?"<br />Hershie stopped running, took a deep breath. "Okay, maybe we'll go and look for special black running shoes and then maybe we can talk more but first we have to finish our run."<br />"Yes, we have to finish our run," </span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Moshe</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> confirmed. "You know," He leaned in closer to me and I smelled the sweat coming from his <span style="font-style: italic;">tallis.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> "</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><em><strong></strong></em></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">If we have a team who would be the leader, us or them?"<br />I considered carefully before answering. "Think of a team as one entity or as "us" and not "them" or "others". You and they become "us" or "we.""<br />Hershie stroked his beard again only this time more slowly and pondered, "Hmm, interesting. But I don't think we could. We don't mix. Them and us."<br />I reminded them how their running brought us together on the middle of an East River bridge.<br /><br />"What if?" I began. "What if..." I stopped. I know the issues, the fears, the ignorance on both 'sides' and standing there straddling by bike, talking with these two sweaty and runny-nosed Jewish men about running would have to be enough for today. Maybe I planted a seed with them or maybe upon their return home they would tell there friends and family at Temple about the guy on the bridge with the crazy idea about running as an instrument of peace. Maybe... </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-8490971198698868151?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-51269096215561139232009-11-18T15:48:00.011-06:002009-11-18T16:30:58.941-06:002009-11-18T16:30:58.941-06:00Hat Maker Sticks to Her Stitch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.terrygraziano.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SwRwMNeROlI/AAAAAAAAAaM/GBThxOMSP1s/s200/tg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405568807828798034" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.terrygraziano.com/">Terry Graziano</a> is a hat designer whose work was featured in this week's issue of <a href="http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/holidays-in-nyc/80679/holiday-and-christmas-gifts-made-in-new-york-city-locally-made-gifts/3.html">Time Out New York's Holiday Shopping Guide</a>. </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Why should this matter to you? Because her determination, dedication and passion can be inspiration for you to go after your dreams.<br /><br />It's not easy running your own business and the work never ends. but it's worth it says most entrepreneurs. When you run your own business you get to run it the way you want to and not how someone else thinks you should. With that, of course, means that you have all the responsibility but you get all the the rewards.<br /><br />With years of toil, Ms. Graziano is happy to know that more people may get to see her hats and why they are unique. As she describes it, "My hats are versatile as well as eco-friendly, I use only designer mill-end surplus fabrics in luxurious textures and colors while personally handcrafting each hat with great care and attention to detail. Each hat is fully lined for comfort and durability, and they are adjustable for head size and shape to create an ideal fit. For me, it’s all about flexibility. A shirt, a skirt, a pair of pants: these can be worn many ways – why should hats be any different?"<br /><br />So take your lead from this incredible designer and go after your dreams one stitch at a time.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-5126909621556113923?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-31679551178763835062009-10-15T18:32:00.013-05:002009-12-11T09:08:57.278-06:002009-12-11T09:08:57.278-06:00"Sell" is Just a Four-Letter Word<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Ste1dKRow6I/AAAAAAAAAZk/Ilq5OYTv2p0/s1600-h/SELL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 144px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Ste1dKRow6I/AAAAAAAAAZk/Ilq5OYTv2p0/s200/SELL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392978591378621346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sell is just a four-letter word. So is "help".<br /><br />Most people I have spoken with including sales professionals have a certain aversion to the words sell or sales. "I don't like be considered a salesman," one salesman told me. "How so?" I asked. With a crusted smile he proceeded to tell me that people including customers and potential customers, equate sales people and selling with shadiness, aggressiveness, and dishonesty. Maybe this is why so many people hate to "sell" themselves or their services. Everyone in an organization is a sales person. How many times have you heard, "As an employee you represent the company"? Or, "To acquire top talent we have to sell our company and its people."? But if sales people are one of the highest paid </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">professionals </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">in the world, why do so many people shy away from "selling"? Me thinks the answer lays in one's intentions.<br /><br />Think and or feel the difference in intentions between "selling" and "helping". The former means to some, convincing a buyer to purchase something. The latter refers to providing assistance; to aid, to guide and support. Helping, in a sales context, provides service to what is needed and or desired. Of course, influencing can create desire.<br /><br />One of the best "salesman" I knew was a man who sold insurance. Arthur knew how to help and he also provided excellent customer service. His greatest skill was listening and through listening in showed a lot of understanding. Art knew his clients very well and his clients trusted him in return. That trust allowed Art to suggest additional insurance products to his customers. The suggested products were not unreasonable or extravagant. "You never know...You have good coverage now but if you want to be on the safe side of safe consider this coverage as well," Is what Art always said when his clients would have considered additional insurance. In helping his clients Art's revenue grew along with his reputation for being a trusted adviser. Art's intentions were to sincerely help his customers feel safe and secure. It also helped that he really cared about his customers as fellow human beings.<br /><br />About influencing: Influencing and selling are two different things. You can't sell if you don't first create desire. What is desirable to one customer may not be desirable to another. Unless you understand what motivates a customer you won't be able to influence them to trust and purchase your products and services. So, think about making a "helping" call instead of a "sales" call. Consider your intentions before you make that call. Your sales revenue, referrals, and reputation and standing within your industry and community will increase ten-fold.<br /><br />Art retired a very rich man.<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-3167955117876383506?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-2889156380420153762009-10-11T17:30:00.004-05:002009-10-11T18:06:10.685-05:002009-10-11T18:06:10.685-05:00Twenty-Two Miles of Resistance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/StI89rNTwfI/AAAAAAAAAZc/bdrJdIVtxuM/s1600-h/22milerun102009+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/StI89rNTwfI/AAAAAAAAAZc/bdrJdIVtxuM/s200/22milerun102009+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391438734184137202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What or why do we get up everyday, bathe, eat breakfast and go to work?</span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What causes us to continually move forward? Is it in our DNA? Or, is it deeper that our genetic makeup?<br /><br />When asked the above questions others have answered, "What's the alternative?" They got me there. So, I guess that's why I kept putting one foot in front of the other on a recent long and uncomfortable twenty-two mile training run. Even though the views of the newly landscaped Randall's Island are spectacular and the fall bloom </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">of Central Park magnificent, I just couldn't get out of the question, "Why am I doing this?" (Resistance possibly?) Besides the obvious that I committed to run the NYC and Philadelphia marathons with two friends and that I like my runner's waist line, I was focused on the question of who has more courage, the finisher or the quitter: the survivor or the felo-de-se? I think that it takes a lot of courage to get up everyday and continue on in the face of adversity especially, in today's political and economic climates. So too does it take courage to move through debilitating depression and anxiety which, causes some to think and feel that the best option is to stop keeping on.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I do have mild irritation over the industrialized world's mantra of work hard, amass more. The empty and commercial driven "just do it's" and the get aggressive corporate messages. (Try "assertive" instead of aggressive.)<br /><br />I can't tell you exactly why I keep on keepin' on. One of the reasons is the post run benefits. After an ice bath, stretching</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and a power plate of pasta, I sit and wait for the wonderful calming endorphins to kick in where I enter into the world of Bliss. These free wheeling, natural chemicals make me feel like I'm floating on a Whitman "greenshine" pool in a rubber raft without a care in the world. And I guess, this is why I do it six days per week. Do I have courage or is it to keep the scary mooglies at bay? I don't know. I do know that there is something that keeps us humans moving forward, striving and driving and whether it's self-preservation or fear of the "alternative" I'm going to keep putting one foot in front of the other.</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-288915638042015376?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-35845313004119946782009-09-28T16:45:00.010-05:002009-09-28T18:08:16.465-05:002009-09-28T18:08:16.465-05:00First Day of Work & We've Thrown You a Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SsEuuvoJAGI/AAAAAAAAAZU/Zu1xH8Vij9M/s1600-h/firstdayofwork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SsEuuvoJAGI/AAAAAAAAAZU/Zu1xH8Vij9M/s200/firstdayofwork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386638009905512546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Imagine, it's your first day on the new job. You're not expecting much but are hoping that the new firm gives you a warmer welcome than your last. (The desk they assigned you came complete with a </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">half-filled </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">cup of curdled coffee, a greasy computer keyboard and a chair with a wobbly leg.) You've been down the on-boarding road before, attended the mandatory and boring orientations and each time you've hoped for a sincere appreciation for committing valuable time, energy, and creativity to the "man".<br /><br />Maybe the "man" should take his cue from an elementary school in Connecticut. On the first day of every school year, this particular school throws a welcoming party for its students. Balloons are released, music is pumped through loud speakers and the teachers meet and greet each and every student. (At one job, I was met with jeers and groans when I offered my hand to my over-stressed new colleagues.) Wouldn't that be something if you were met on your first day at the office with balloons as part of the welcome package?<br /><br />Employees need, yes need to feel valued and first impressions are lasting impressions. If the attitude at the organization is, "you're lucky to have a job, get to work" think of the quality of work the new hire is going to produce. There are many ways to steal from an organization and resentment creates more theft of productivity and profitability than anything else. Sure, maybe your company gives out pens, coffee cups and memo pads with their logo imprinted but what's behind the toys? What's the intention of the gifts? Do they come with a "we're really glad that you decided to come and be a part of our team"? Or, are they just give-aways<br />that <span style="font-style: italic;">everyone </span>gets?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are businesses that get it right. They do on-boarding really well and I certainly want to know if yours is one of those businesses. Unfortunately, they seem to be the exception not the norm. When the economy turns around and the ratio to hire moves above the unemployment rate, workers will expect a little bit more on their first day than an electric pencil sharpener. </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-3584531300411994678?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-63006507768636809662009-09-21T15:39:00.006-05:002009-09-21T17:09:16.248-05:002009-09-21T17:09:16.248-05:00No Legs and The Food Stinks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SrfkmN4iBxI/AAAAAAAAAZM/1XtWXzNcx0I/s1600-h/Josenolegs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 158px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SrfkmN4iBxI/AAAAAAAAAZM/1XtWXzNcx0I/s200/Josenolegs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384023224757651218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No buttocks, no legs, no problem. Except for the food</span></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Meet Jose R. who's missing a body from the waist down. I met him last year on Roosevelt Island where I offered him a "push'. On his permanent gurney, (he can't turn over nor sit up.) Jose wheels himself around the island for exercise and a way to break the tedium of hospital life. I ran into Jose today outside a bodega where he was hoping that some kind soul would buy him a turkey sandwich on rye with mustard and lettuce. I asked him if the hospital where he lives feeds him and he said he can't eat "that stuff" anymore. "I'm sick of it. Would you please buy me a sandwich?"<br /><br />This is the third time we've shared more than salutations and I've never heard Jose complain about anything until now. No legs, no buttocks and all he can find to complain about is institutional food? I don't know but if it were me on that stain soaked gurney I'd have a whole lot more to wail about than beige hospital food. Maybe that's why our paths crossed today. Maybe the Universe or the Grand Station Master heard my pitiful grips and said, 'you think you got problems, check this guy out, again.' It's true, I do need to be reminded from time-to-time. Not often but now and then. We forget sometimes just how good we have it and then a Jose rolls by to snap us out of our mournful abyss.<br /><br />After I gave him a dollar towards his sandwich, Jose said, "Cheer up, it's a beautiful day."<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-6300650776863680966?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-4694313080314978752009-09-20T11:52:00.004-05:002009-09-20T12:00:01.182-05:002009-09-20T12:00:01.182-05:00Run NYC Marathon Free!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SrZevYevgLI/AAAAAAAAAZE/FP85Oxxrkw0/s1600-h/race_nyc_marathon.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SrZevYevgLI/AAAAAAAAAZE/FP85Oxxrkw0/s200/race_nyc_marathon.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383594572686262450" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Achilles Track Club is looking for walking guides for the NYC Marathon!<br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Looking for guides who are willing to commit to 7.5+ hours. I still need about 5-7 people to assist our early start athletes who will be doing that time and longer. Send in a guide application ASAP to my email. </span></span><a href="http://achillestrackclub.org/nyc_marathon/forms/2009_Guide_Letter_Application.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is the direct link to the guide application</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In addition, Achilles needs volunteers for the NYC Marathon weekend to help at Expo, Start Line, and Finish line. If you are interested or know anyone who may want to help, please email rkoplin@achillesinternational.org Here is the breakdown: Thurs. Oct 29th- Expo 10am-8pm Friday Oct 30th-Expo 10am-8pm Sat Oct 31st -Expo 9am-5pm Sunday Nov 1- ALLL DAY need about 15 volunteers for Start and 50 volunteers for the finish.</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hope to see you on the bridge!</span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-469431308031497875?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-84435606173582095832009-09-08T18:41:00.003-05:002009-09-08T19:59:04.056-05:002009-09-08T19:59:04.056-05:00Watch Turns Three Thousand<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It's a huge accomplishment for a watch; clocking over three thousand miles in a little over five hundred and thirty hours. Okay, the watch didn't have to do much work, just sit on my wrist as I cranked out the three thousand plus miles. Day-by-day the miles started to add up until Sunday when my Garmin Forerunner's digital face read 3025.78.<br /><br />When started running (again) April 2007 I had no intentions of ever running seriously. That was until the running bug bite and the results started to show. Just like any new skill there was the normal levels of learning progression except, my body, mind and soul was the instrument for which the new skill inhabited. I took on the new (novice) learning with excitement and progressed rapidly (intermediate) which, last week turned into joy (advanced: experience using the new skill for a prolonged period of time). And I would gladly share this new found "joy" with and new learner.<br /><br />With any new learning there are different ways that adults <a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/LearningDevelopment/LandD.html">learn</a> and subsequently develop. There are too many learning theories to list here. However, the three basics that must be present for all adults to learn are: (1) because it is important to them; (2) it must be practical: and (3) they need to 'try' out the new learning as in experiencing it for themselves and not be lectured too.<br /><br />Running has enhanced my 'life' in countless ways especially with regards to discipline, creating a plans both short and long term; and being present and in each moment or step of the Journey. I am confident barring being run down by a reckless car driver that I'll be around to see my watch flip over the three thousand, ninety-nine mark to four thousand.<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-8443560617358209583?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-17587538985627196962009-09-02T19:47:00.007-05:002009-09-15T20:45:59.590-05:002009-09-15T20:45:59.590-05:00Through the Learning Curve<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Sp8U-YV5ZlI/AAAAAAAAAY8/w5br1gv5Ca8/s1600-h/Disney-feet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 68px; height: 103px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Sp8U-YV5ZlI/AAAAAAAAAY8/w5br1gv5Ca8/s200/Disney-feet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377039542022399570" border="0" /></a><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The break through with learning something new usually comes when you least expect it. After days or weeks or even months of learning a new skill suddenly, you find yourself using the new skill with greater ease. That was my experience this week. I was doing an interval run workout and when I commanded my legs to turn on the speed I couldn't believe what took place. The ease to which my body responded to the requested effort was an incredible sensation. It was as if a turbo engine was turned on and revved. Wow! Now I want to 'learn' more.<br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Keep studying, keep your eye on the learning and the lesson not just the goal. Learning never ends and the rewards grow in tandem.</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-1758753898562719696?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-3048054693835365612009-08-07T18:55:00.003-05:002009-08-07T18:58:15.506-05:002009-08-07T18:58:15.506-05:00Sacrifice the Gift<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Sny_Lhg1M4I/AAAAAAAAAYs/JwgpxcXxOck/s1600-h/n1148912532_363486_1604324.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 123px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Sny_Lhg1M4I/AAAAAAAAAYs/JwgpxcXxOck/s200/n1148912532_363486_1604324.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367375060614329218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative." <span style="font-size:100%;">- Steve Prefontaine</span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-304805469383536561?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-53047471399155953222009-07-30T09:26:00.006-05:002009-07-30T09:48:25.622-05:002009-07-30T09:48:25.622-05:00Ready To Take the Plunge?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SnGuu4cZlFI/AAAAAAAAAYk/Lg9qS_k7beQ/s1600-h/KayakFalls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SnGuu4cZlFI/AAAAAAAAAYk/Lg9qS_k7beQ/s200/KayakFalls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364260751623689298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Are you ready to take the plunge? If so, do you feel your heart pumping, palm sweating and your skin tingling? Take a deep breath, let go and push over the precipice; the rewards will be beyond your expectations.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">No matter what you maybe wailing and gnashing over, once you make the decision to "go for it" and your get into the stream of the unknown and exciting you will know what it's like to have courage. And people who have experience with courage know that each dive over the cliff builds more confidence and strength. From going back to school to <a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/CoachKatlin/CareerCoaching.html">changing careers</a> to delivering to facing up to your liabilities, making a decision to change takes courage. And courage as you know is not the absence of fear. The fireman-woman, the EMT worker, the middle school teacher, <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=6936958&syndicate=syndicate&section">blind athlete running</a> all move through fear with courage when they take that plunge.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">How old do you need to get before you go after what you really want? How long to you want to keep your dreams in prison? How many more people do you need to see get in that 'kayak' and slip off the rocky edge before you take a risk and "go for it?" Only you can answer that. Sometimes people need <a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/CoachKatlin/coach.html">help</a> getting in that little vessel. You don't have to do it alone. So, dare to dream really big and get in that kayak!</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-5304747139915595322?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-39472879664079696602009-07-28T21:01:00.006-05:002009-07-28T21:17:25.311-05:002009-07-28T21:17:25.311-05:00Blind Man Running<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Sm-t_d4YawI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Bp0hp1N9McA/s200/DaleBK.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363696987086023426" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Less than there weeks to go until the New York City Half-Marathon and I have already won the race for happiness.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">After training for several months with blind runner Dale Layne and the WABC Run with Heidi Program I've become as close to anyone as I possibly could. Literally. Take a look at the <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=6936958&syndicate=syndicate&section">interview with Dale</a> that aired this evening and you'll see what we all see: one person helping to inspiring others. I keep telling Dale that I'm getting more out of our relationship than he is but he doesn't understand. In the training and development industry we would call this Observational Learning. There is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">definitely </span>a difference between inspiration and pity. I feel no pity for Dale only respect and love for a great blind man running. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><a href="http://wabc.typepad.com/run_with_heidi/">WABC Run With Heidi Program</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-3947287966407969660?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-3394232162293689522009-07-27T15:26:00.010-05:002009-07-27T20:43:46.838-05:002009-07-27T20:43:46.838-05:00The Long And the Short of It<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am never ceased to be amazed over the parallel of life and running. There are good days and bad days in both. A happy, successful life takes a certain amount of skills and with practice it gets easier, better and more fun. The same goes for running.<br /><br />When <a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/CoachKatlin/coach.html">planing goals</a>, there is the over all goal, "I am going to run the New York City Marathon and I am going to run it in 4 hours." In order to get to the long-term goal we need to set short term and mid-term goals all of which have tasks attached to them. And the goal of any task? That's right, to complete them. Along the route to accomplishing your long-term goal you'll reassess your short term goals and tasks. When you meet the goals that you have set for yourself a sense of accomplishment, confidence and pride will begin to fill you. And those feelings will beget more success. I never thought that I'd be able to reduce my marathon time by twenty-five minutes within eight months but with hard work, I did.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-11f3947504353e77" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF">
<param name="allowfullscreen" value="true">
<param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http%3A%2F%2Fv9.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D11f3947504353e77%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1303409736%26sparams%3Did%252Citag%252Cip%252Cipbits%252Cexpire%26signature%3D17DB003B09E883C94C03B3974CFD7D84EACFFB09.3B0D3EDC9CB173907D2009B6C751B76C7990ED3A%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D11f3947504353e77%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D8HrQ1xke2rS06ktSKk2E6N66SSs&autoplay=0&ps=blogger">
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
flashvars="flvurl=http%3A%2F%2Fv9.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D11f3947504353e77%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1303409736%26sparams%3Did%252Citag%252Cip%252Cipbits%252Cexpire%26signature%3D17DB003B09E883C94C03B3974CFD7D84EACFFB09.3B0D3EDC9CB173907D2009B6C751B76C7990ED3A%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D11f3947504353e77%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D8HrQ1xke2rS06ktSKk2E6N66SSs&autoplay=0&ps=blogger"
allowFullScreen="true" /></object>
<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Yesterday, in the park with video camera in hand I captured the runner in the above video. I noticed his easy gait and powerful stride and thought, "What a good analogy for life": easy does it but do it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After revealing myself to "Ben" he told me that he was training for the Chicago marathon and that he was in the "cool down" stage of his day's run. (Warm-up, cool-down. The same goes for life's activities.) We shared some thoughts on running and then parted ways. With "Ben's" approval I put a little humor into the above video. Enjoy.</span></span><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-339423216229368952?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-54806227588462284772009-07-15T15:12:00.010-05:002009-07-15T16:17:07.721-05:002009-07-15T16:17:07.721-05:00To Do or Not to Do?<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Rvp_YXIYGZI/AAAAAAAAABc/FsKIT23U3NM/s1600-h/Pressured+Man.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/Rvp_YXIYGZI/AAAAAAAAABc/FsKIT23U3NM/s200/Pressured+Man.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114540383335356818" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:17.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">"If you really wanted it badly enough you'd do something about it!" Many people have said this to me and others countless times in the past and some of this statement holds truth however, some of us just can't seem to do anything "about it" no matter how badly we want it. What’s the matter, fear of success, fear of failure? Does it really matter? Well, it doesn’t matter any longer to me because I’ve been around long enough to know that ‘it’ won’t happen unless I take action. Even if that action is just one small step. If you’ve just had a twinge of anxiety after reading the last sentence than this is about you. Has this ever happen to you: driving down the road at a snails pace or standing online at the motor vehicle department a great idea hits you between the eyes. Your follow-up thoughts to this great idea of yours may have been, wow, I can’t wait to get started! Or, that’ll never work. Besides, someone else has probably already thought of it. Okay, you know the drill; you believe you are what you tell yourself you. You also know that there are countless examples of people, other people who actually took action on their ideas and made their dreams come true. We’ve all read about ‘them’ and yet, it hasn’t propelled you to take action. Can you relate?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">All those ‘other people’ out there are just that, people. They are no different from you and me. The only difference is that they took their ideas and took action. Maybe, their first step was to take an hour to investigate if their idea is doable or, they ran the idea past a supportive friend or colleague to get their take. Here’s the secret you’ve been waiting to read: the idea, the dream, the new life won’t happen unless you take action. Impressed? I thought you would be. You’re probably thinking, this guy’s a genius. I know I need to take action but I just can’t seem to get started. Here’s secret number two. Are you ready? Hold onto your seat because it’s so simple a concept that you’ll probably smack yourself in the head after reading: it’s okay if you do nothing. Really. It’s absolutely fine to do nothing at all but daydream. You’ll still be loved by your friends and family but and this is a big BUT will it be okay with you? Will living with the thought If, I had gone through with that idea I had I could be living the life I always wanted, be all right with you? If you answered yes then that’s fine. You’re the only one who can make that call. However, if you continue to do nothing and have an ongoing and accompanying mental thorn in the back of your head that talks to you on a daily basis and says, <i>something’s not right, please change it!</i></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"> Then it’s time to take action. Then ask yourself, what tiny, teeny action can I take today? And on a daily basis ask yourself, are my actions bringing me closer to achieving my goals or further away? It’s truly that simple. The work of getting what you want is just that, work. Even those “other people” whose vocations are their avocations still have to do things that are not their favorite tasks. Start somewhere. Start today, right now. </span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:TrebuchetMS;color:#333333"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/CoachKatlin/lifecoach.html">Ask for help</a></span></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">. Have an idea party. Stop daydreaming and start day-doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy; font-size: 18px; "><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Feel free to </span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:TrebuchetMS;color:#333333"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><a href="http://www.katlinconsulting.com/About/about.html">contact me</a></span></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"> with questions which, is an action that will bring you one step closer to getting what you want.</span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></h3><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-5480622758846228477?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-12644052141623622582009-07-13T18:47:00.001-05:002009-07-13T18:49:21.157-05:002009-07-13T18:49:21.157-05:00An Apple a Day<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SFqtoKLe9gI/AAAAAAAAAIM/S2GFNmz09Pk/s1600-h/Apples.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SFqtoKLe9gI/AAAAAAAAAIM/S2GFNmz09Pk/s200/Apples.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213670424073664002" border="0" /></a> </h3> <p><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Benjamin Franklin coined, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Franklin had no idea when he wrote his now famous phrase that consumers would one day have to differentiate between apple the fruit and Apple the computer giant. I like apples. Particularly Gala apples. I eat a lot of apples to satiate my sugar cravings instead of processed sweets.<br /><br />When I want to satiate my need for excellent customer service I go to the </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">nearby</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Apple Store in Manhattan. It's truly a fantastic experience and I say this as one who designs and delivers customer service training programs.<br /><br />I visited the Fifth Avenue store as the "x" keypad on my MacBook Pro became loose while I was cleaning the keyboard. Because Apple has their act together, I was able to make an appointment online for the day and time that was convenient for me. Upon entering the store I made my way to the Genius Bar where I was promptly greeted and my appointment was </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">confirmed. The Genius behind the bar was friendly, knowledgeable, (one would expect that from a genius) and expedited my loose pad problem quickly. My "x" key, as you can see is in fine working order thanks to the great staff at the Apple Store.<br /><br />Because it's such a pleasant and wonderful environment I went searching for an external drive for my wife's computer. Jason, one of the many smiling and helpful Apple associates asked if I needed direction and within five minutes I purchased the appropriate device without having to wait in line for a cashier. (All sales associates at Apple carry their own wireless checkout machine and zipo-presto I was out the door and into the sunshine.) Now that's turning a 'problem' into a sale: I spent $150 when I had no intention of doing so.<br /><br />As I rode my eco-friendly bicycle home, I felt a smile grow on my face and attributed it to the great experience I just had at Apple.) How many times have you had a smile put on your face by a retail store?) I wish that I had regular experiences such I this from other companies that I do business with but sadly, that's not the case.<br /><br />So what does Apple do right? Here's my thoughts:<br /></span></span></p><ul><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Constant innovation</span></li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Excellent products and service</span></li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Exceed customer expectations</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff both in-store and online</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">They always put the product in your hand - they let you touch it, play with it<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Their customers are appreciated and recognized</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Their stores are well organized and merchandised<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">A purchase is not a chore but a pleasurable experience<br /></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Those are just a few of the ways that Apple gets it right and for these reasons and others I will savor my Apple everyday.</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-1264405214162362258?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522012927415704.post-34531546294259348352009-07-01T19:47:00.020-05:002009-07-02T07:55:59.819-05:002009-07-02T07:55:59.819-05:00Horses & Pigeons Save The World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SkwFJLx_guI/AAAAAAAAAXs/k0lyrc2zm04/s1600-h/horse_pigeonsv4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bmKJgETeSmM/SkwFJLx_guI/AAAAAAAAAXs/k0lyrc2zm04/s200/horse_pigeonsv4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353659712376111842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On Tuesday after one of our runs in Central Park,</span></span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">my friend Dale and I were talking about the world's troubles, </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">with all of its strife, hatred and senseless warring. We agreed that all hatred and killing came down to the ego and its irrational fear; fear of losing something: one's security for example. We also agreed that one ingredient towards a peaceful existence is tolerance. You can witness this exemplary behavioral practice on any given day or hour of the week on a New York City Subway. It takes a lot of tolerance to live in a city like New York underground or above. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, if we can practice tolerance on a subway car why can't we practice it elsewhere?<br /><br />It's been said many times that we can learn a lot from animals and I agree. Take the example of pigeons and horses as pictured above. Everyday before the horse-drawn carriages (I disapprove of this business completely) in Central Park are loaded up with tourists, they are fed a bucket of oats. Within seconds of the bucket being placed in front of the horse, a flock of pigeons alight at the horse's feet. They know that in order for the horse to swallow it needs to lift its head after licking up its morning carbs. (The metal plate in the horses mouth doesn't make eating any easier.) Pigeons are extremely smart as well as friendly and trusting of horses and humans. When the horse lifts its head out of the bucket the pigeons jump onto and into the bucket pecking up the nutritious oats. When the horse has swallowed and leans in for another mouth full, the pigeons acquiesce. This sequence is repeated until the bucket is emptied. Both the horse and the pigeon get what they need. The horse could obviously take out a one-pound bird with a quick kick to the head but he doesn't. He's tolerant of the pigeons. Maybe, he even has a willingness to share?<br /><br />Why are we humans so afraid to tolerate and or share? Why do we have such a need for greed? Why do we not look after and care for each other more? Why do we not learn from all our past mistakes? If we are so much smarter than pigeons and horses, why as a species do we kill each other at such an alarming rate? (In Iraq alone, an approximate <a href="http://www.iraqbodycount.org/">100,000 civilans have been killed</a> since 2003.) And yet, we're considered the most intelligent and most highly developed species. How many horses were killed by other horses last year?<br /><br />My philosophy is that you don't not need to like me. Nor do you even have to respect me but you can not touch or harm me. That's pretty basic. The respect would be nice but hell, I'm giving that one away as a freebie. Just don' hurt or kill me is all I'm asking. Think of the effect this credo would have on the Middle East situation. I'm not even suggesting that the Israelis and Palestinians</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> share the Strip and the 1950 Armistice Line blow away with a desert wind although, in my wildest dreams that's exactly what would happen. They too have pigeons and horses in Gaza. Don't they see how they get along?<br /><br />Thousands of miles away from the fighting in Iraq, Israel and oops, I forgot, Darfur, is the place where you live and work. How much tolerance and sharing takes place there? Are you lifting your head up to see what the 'pigeons' need? Do you tolerate those that you may not understand or like? The Bucket is very large and there's enough inside for everyone. Go ahead, show the animal world that you really are the smartest species around and share. </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3522012927415704-3453154629425934835?l=katlinconsulting.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bruce Katlinbruce@katlinconsulting.com0