Reality!

So, the reality of what I have taken on is a real job. I have completed, successfully I might add my first two classes. This has overwhelmed my life in such a way that I have not been able to update my blog. I have turned away friends request left and right. I have even considered that I may seriously have learning disabilities. The fact is that I probably do, I'm just learning to work within them.

Although it may appear as though I am complaining, the truth is that I have enjoyed every moment of this new personal growth. Earlier in my post I have written about my fears and concerns of the expense of this program. This is still the case only I see and feel the reward of my successfully completing the Global Leadership program. I love it!!!

My first two classes have been World Religions and Religious Perspectives. Our professor was Dr. Wayne Perkins. I have no words to express how grateful and blessed I feel for having him as our instructor. Dr. Perkins brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom that I suspect goes unmatched in over 90% of the universities in the United States today. He has taught at UE for 43 years, never missing a day. I will try to locate his CV and post it at some point.

We focused very intensly on the major religions of the world begining with Judaism, the begining of Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church as well as the reformation and Protestantism. We learned about many of the Christian Cults and their effects on society.

In the Religious Perspectives program we were introduced to the religions of India. Our focus was in the major beliefs and practices of Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. We were then lead through the history of and major beliefs of Buddhism.

The next section of this class focused on Chinese Perspectives, Taoism,and Confucianism. We finished up with a study of Islam. We reserched and earned a great understanding of their major beliefs as well as the two major sects of

Wow!! I haven't written anything in four years, this needs to change!

Here is a story that needs to be told, I have had it on my heart and in my mind to tell publicly for some time, I just didn't have the right words or know of the proper venue, so I'm just going to spit it out right here. A few years ago, while I was still in property management, I used to work out nearly every day in out fitness center. One of our residents, Dr. Shadood, would be in the fitness center the same time as me. After a few months of casual hi's and hello's, we began to talk a little bit more. I was working on my master's degree and usually reading or listening to podcast as part of my study. Dr. Shadood and I began to talk a little more over time, he learned about my life and I learned more about his. He is Syrian, and left the harsh regime with his wife and other family members. He also was an author for an underground news organization in Syria, he wrote satire opposing the government as well as helped to empower the oppressed citizenry of Syria. He knew things were getting progressively worse and worked hard to get his family out of the country. Here is the thing about Dr. Shadood, he is a wonderful and caring soul, he always showed passion in his work, especially towards children and the less fortunate. I once asked him if he would consider being a guest speaker for a cultural class at the University of Evansville, he told me that sometimes people have difficulty understanding him and thought that it would not be productive. A few days later, he seemed he seemed especially morose, knowing that his newborn son has recently been ill, I asked him if everything was okay. He first responded that he was just tired, we exchanged a few words and went on with our workouts. Afterwards, I thought he seemed to have tears running down his face alone with the sweat from his workout, so I asked again if everything was okay. He told me a painful story that I hope never leaves my mind, he had a horrible incident in the ER and it was affecting him so strongly, he couldn't shake it off. He told me of a father (no names, of course) that had brought his young daughter into the ER with a very severe case of head and body lice, he had treated the young lady weeks before and was surprised to see that her condition had worsened. She asked the father if he had followed the medical advice that he had given previously only to discover that the father had not followed any of the instructions to heal his daughter. He told the father that this condition would never go away without proper treatment. Then obvious tears began to pour from his eyes, he continued to recount the story by telling me that the father began very combative, he began yelling into the hallway of the ER for them to get rid of this "sand n---er, towel head terrorist...". He told me that the hospital handled the situation properly, he removed himself from the case, but not without being shocked and personally damaged. We talked a bit more, and I told him that we have a nationalistic problem in our country that keeps us from seeing the best in others. We continued to see each other in the fitness center without speaking of the incident again. A few months later, I was checking something in the fitness center in the middle of my work day, Dr. Shadood was working out, we said our hello's, but as I was leaving the room he asked me if I had a moment. Of course I said "sure", then he told me something else that I will definitely never forget EVER. He told me that he was very proud of me, to work under stress, as I pursued a higher degree...without even knowing if it would ever benefit me finically, etc. I thanked him as I greatly appreciated the compliment. But that wasn't all, he told me that I had motivated him to further his education as well, I was shocked to even hear that from him. He went on to tell me that his dream was to become specialized as a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, even though he carried a heavy load as a husband, father, somewhat heartbroken doctor, he still wanted to become a better provider of medical care for others. He cared for others regardless of race, creed, religion, etc., my words not his. He eventually was accepted into a program in Memphis that would require for him to be a full-time student, an ER physician, along with being an exemplary husband and father. I congratulated him, and eventually we said our goodbyes. About a year passed without ever hearing a word from him, then on a most stressful afternoon, I had actually been sitting in my office crying, wondering why and how I had ended up in the miserable position that I had. I loved my job, cared greatly about my residents, but could not under any circumstances please the person that I answered to. I was humiliated to the point of nearly feeling worthless. Dr. Shadood walked right into my office, he bypassed my leasing agent and assistant without any concerns in the world. I gave him a hug, excused myself to step away and ensure that my face was as presentable as it could be. When I returned, we exchanged pleasantry's, his wife and family were well and good. He was still pursuing his dream of saving the lives of children with heart defects. He was very serious, as though he were on a mission. I asked him if everything was okay, his response was, or rather is a story that needs to be told. Yes, all was well with his family, his school, and his work. However, he had a life changing experience, that he wanted to be sure that I knew about, so sure that he went way out of his way to personally see me and tell me in person. After many hours of school, followed by many more hours of being on call in the ER, he fell asleep driving home and had a horrible accident. His car went off the side of the road, flipped, and left him stranded with no ability to move or even reach his phone to call for help. Fortunately for him, a lady had seen the accident and called for help once she got home. The woman had difficulty remembering where the car went off the road, which further delayed his rescue. Once the medics/rescuers arrived, they cut open his car and reached in to pull him out, he told them that his ____ was broken and that they should not pull him out the way that were were trying to. Not knowing that he was a doctor, they didn't listen to him and pulled him out in a manner that further damaged his body. He didn't really care, because he was thankful to be saved. He was taken to the ER of an affiliate hospital of the hospital and school that he worked for and attended. He was not treated with kindness, there were comments made within his ability to hear that he might be a terrorist etc. He told them that he was a doctor and to check their database, but it didn't happen, at least not for several hours. He laid there on a gurney for several hours. He made a promise to his God that he would feed a thousand people if God would get him through this. Obviously, that had happened, or he would not have been in my office that day. He also told me that he had already fed over 400 people to honor his promise to God. He wasn't in my office to offer me a free meal, I didn't need it, he was focused on feeding those in need. I thanked him again for being an inspirational person that I felt blessed to know. He reminded me of the importance of helping others, and I told him that I would do my best to do the same as long as God allowed me to be on this earth. What is the moral of this story? There is no moral, it's just another story of life, a story of awareness of the kindness of those around you that you can only experience if you strip your vision of prejudices and assumptions about others. This is a story of a blessing from God, a story that can only be seen through eyes of kindness and understand, I have been able to enjoy experiences such as this, because without really thinking about it, my nature is to see the soul of others. You might have figure that Dr, Shadood is a Christian, after all, he did pray to God for his life to be saved, I didn't say whether his God was named Allah or not, because it should not matter. Obviously, God is in reference to an Abrahamic religion, period.

I did it!!!

Somehow all of my efforts have began to pay off, I managed to graduate summa cum laude and I was given the opportunity to participate in a contest to address the entire University of Evansville's graduating class of 2012. I was lucky enough to make it as a finalist and would like to share some of my final thoughts on my blog. The winner of this contest gave a wonderful speech and she was certainly very deserving. As my speech in many ways summarizes my personal experience, I decided to share it with you. Hope anyone that happens to read this is inspired to take any and all steps towards making your dreams come true. Thanks for taking the time.

University of Evansville 2012 Commencement Address May “The Journey” Never End Thank you President Kazee, faculty, proud parents, and to all supporters of our class who in many ways have in part earned the degrees that will soon be presented to us. Congratulations to my graduating counterparts, The University of Evansville’s Class of 2012! It is an honor to have the opportunity to speak at our commencement and to share a few thoughts about the voyage that we are beginning today. If I look a little bit older than many of my fellow classmates, I can assure you that there is very good reason for it, this year I am celebrating the 31st anniversary of my high school graduation. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, I am here today as proof that it is never too late for any of us to make revisions in our lives, and it is never too late to become what you thought that you might have been. Many years ago as a young single parent living just a few blocks away from the University of Evansville, my son and I would take walks around the campus appreciating the beauty of each changing season and always taking delight in the ringing of the campus bells. Never did I ever consider that I would become a graduate of this prestigious university. Thanks to the very strong insistence of my husband Ron and my son Jeff, who earned his undergraduate degree from UE in 2009, I stand here today as a soon to be graduate following in my child’s footsteps. I am proud to say that Jeff continued with his education as well, in fact he just earned his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business. Yes, I am a non-traditional student…and a very grateful non-traditional student at that. Many of us have made the decision to earn our degrees for different reasons, for me it was out of fear, the fear of missing out on career opportunities that I knew I was deserving of. But soon after I began as a student in the Global Leadership program something within me changed, I began to fall in love with the process of learning. I can assure you that I am far from the smartest student in my Cohort, yet the desire within me to learn became so strong that I have been able to achieve successes that were beyond anything that I ever dreamed possible. I have been an honored to work closely with many “traditional” students through various classes and honors programs. I have been inspired by listening to and learning from each of you. In today’s society we are so fortunate to have your brilliant young minds positively influencing the trajectory of our world. Having so many intelligent, compassionate, and highly motivated young people prepared to take on leadership positions in so many different fields is something that our society should take great comfort in, and for this I commend each of you. As we move forward on this momentous day, it is important to remember that each of us is more than a citizen of our community we are all citizens of the world. Through recent major advancements in technology and mass transportation our world has decreased in size. These changes have created greater opportunities for those of us that are willing to fearlessly experience and embrace other cultures. Even more so when we are accepting and appreciative of the diversity of our global society. Please remember that the wisdom that we take away from this experience is more important than any “Tweet” or “Facebook” status that we will ever post, even more important than any amount of money that we will ever carry in our wallets. Financial successes are great, in fact very necessary, but wisdom and compassion will carry us through the difficult times that we are each certain to face in our lives. Wisdom strengthens our faith and allows us to become our authentic selves. If we fail to become authentic it will be very difficult to experience the true joys of happiness. This is a lesson taught to us as children through reading books such as my favorite “The Velveteen Rabbit” which fully explains the importance of becoming real. It seems as though everyone is asking me “So, what are you going to do now? What’s next?” trust me, these questions are not asked exclusively of traditional students. Although most of us can give some sort of decisive response, I can personally relate to the stress involved when trying to provide a truthful answer. I recently discovered an honest answer to give when asked about my future plans without deflecting the question. My new response is simply that I haven’t written that chapter of my life yet, but one thing that I can tell you is that I am working hard to be completely prepared by becoming the happiest, most honest, and best person that I can become; earning my degree is a very important component of my preparation. So, don’t fret if you don’t know exactly where you are going next and what is to come of your life, fretting should be left to those that are failing to become prepared. Spend your time and energy becoming a leader that others can trust and put their faith in. Be courageous, and passionately follow your dreams. I hope that your dreams are bold, because if your dreams do not scare you perhaps you are not dreaming big enough. Most importantly, as success becomes yours, remember to throw a rope back, reach behind and give a hand to another. The greatest successes are best when shared which makes our world a better place for everyone. The degrees that are being presented to us today are powerful things; they are tools for us to use to create better opportunities for ourselves. They should also serve as examples to others of what can be achieved if the desire is strong enough, with dedication and hard work anyone can attain their goals. Education should be our lifelong partner, in the words of Plato, “You are young, my son, (or daughter) and, as the years go by, time will change and even reverse many of your present opinions. Refrain therefore awhile from setting yourself up as a judge of the highest matters”. I think Plato might have been explaining that education is a journey and that we should never let the journey end. That’s great advice we all can benefit from. I promise, it is never too late to revise and it is certainly never too late to become anything that you desire to be. Congratulations and best wishes class of 2012. Here’s to a lifetime of joy and happiness! Thank you.

"I'm Halfway There!"

On this New Years Eve, I cannot help but to think about the blessings that I have in my life. I overlook so many of them and often take them for granted. When I started this journey to earn my bachelors degree at the University of Evansville, my thoughts were focused on building my earning potential and securing better opportunities for my future. I made this decision out of fear, fear of not being able to live my life to it's greatest potential. With this fear consuming me, I walked up the steps to the administration building at UE and began a journey with no real understanding or appreciation of what was to come.

There were so many important factors that got me to those steps, the loss of my father, the health concerns of my husband and his desire for me to have a secure future, the kick in the rear that my son gave me...over and over again, and probably the most important factor was the smiles of two beautiful little ladies that I know will be my legacy, my granddaughters Kylah and Kennedy. So the plan was being laid out, earn my degree and move on. Get that piece of paper and maybe another to add to it and just move on. What was not included in the factors, I am finding to be the most important reason to not only take these first steps, but to make each and every step of my learning experience be successful. I am that reason, the future of me depends on me. My happiness depends upon it.

My only child, the only person that has been a real consistent for me in my entire adult life has made the decision to earn his MBA in Pittsburgh. He has taken his family over 500 miles away from our home. In case you hadn't noticed this yet, I'll say it loud and clear...my greatest joys are so far away that my heart has broken. Why do these things happen? It must all be a part of some evil scheme to take me down. No, I don't really think that at all. I am happy for my son and although I see his family facing many struggles to achieve the goals that they have set, I know that they will be stronger and wiser once they push through.

In case you have not noticed,(I sure didn't for quite some time)this is about me. I will stand up so fast that I will bump my head on nearly anything without a single thought or concern, in defense of another being faced with any type of injustice. Where I have always been weak is that I fail to stand up for myself. Why? I am still not certain of the answer to that question, but I am learning that I am worth standing up for. I have great value, not just to others, but to myself. So here I sit early morning New Years Eve, December 31, 2010. What have I learned thus far? I have learned that I have a great ability and desire to learn. I have fallen in love with learning, in every subject I am finding so much value that I want to delve deeper and gain a better understanding. What has changed? It is not so much about my changing as a person, but so much more of who I am that has been revealed to me. I have been told that I am such a compassionate and loving person so many times in my life. There is one person that I have really been overlooking and failing to share that love with. It is I, it is me, I matter. I had a great plan to learn about the world, what it is made of, why we are here, what are we to do with our lives, and what is to come of us. I also had a great plan to earn more money, if you have been reading my initial post you would understand the reason for this need.

I am learning to be a better person, to be a better listener. Someday I may even achieve the lofty goal of controlling my speech. I tend to talk too much and I know it. I love to talk to people, I love to learn about them, I love to share my thoughts and feelings about life. Where does all of this come from and where will it lead me? This has become the most interesting question that I am trying to answer these days.

I have made wonderful friends as an adult student. There have been difficulties, and personality issues that I have never really faced in my life. Although my heart has been heavily burdened by some of these difficulties, I have treated them as opportunities for me to learn and become a stronger woman. The best part of this aspect of my college life is that I have learned to deal with adversity without treating others poorly. I have in my past been so concerned that I might hurt another that I would accept the pain for myself. Now, I am learning to protect myself and in the kindest way possible free myself from the confounds that others may place on me.

I am learning to accept others, students and professors for what and who they are. I have learned to adjust my learning patterns to make sure that every experience is the best learning experience. I am happier than I have been in a very long time. I feel almost as free as I did in my youth when I would run through the woods behind my grandmothers house and climb the trees without fear. I have allowed my life to take me somewhere that I had become so fearful of myself, of my perceived ineptness, that I held myself back and truly devalued myself. It is true that others can bring you down, it does happen. What matters is that we learn of our own self worth, to hold our heads high, to lean forward, and to start taking the steps that will take us where we need to be. Some people will lift us up and others will try to knock us down.

I have realized that it is me that has the true control over what is to come of me. It is me who decides what kind of parent I will be, it is me who determines what my grandchildren will think of me. I alone can decide to collapse, to give up, or I can stand up for myself, do what is right and have complete confidence that the right things will happen for me. Where will I go from here? I am still not certain, I have developed some really good thoughts and ideas about it. For the most part, I am happy to be where I am today. I am grateful for the opportunity, and confident that it will be worth it after all, because it already is. I am beginning to love and respect the new me a lot. I appreciate from where I have come, my past is helping to guide me into the future that I am still dreaming of.

I pray for peace and love, the happiness of my family, for heartaches to mend for all of us. I pray for the future of my grandchildren to be lead by themselves with confidence and the knowledge that their family will always hold them up high with love and gratitude and most of all with the respect that they do and always will deserve. Onwards and upwards! Jeff and I will both graduate in the spring of 2012. We will surely live in the same city again someday, I so miss him and his wonderful and very strong wife, my daughter gifted to me by him. They are a very special family and I love sharing my life with them. 2012 will probably be my favorite year, and it is getting closer every day.

May 2011 be another year of learning and blessings for each of us, happy new year!

Globalization

Globalization is a term that I hear frequently in many aspects of my everyday life. To better understand globalization, I felt that it would be best to conduct a little personal research into its true meaning. The term globalization has a futuristic ring to it. I have always found that the best way to look forward is to first look backwards. As we have all heard so many times in our lives, history is cyclical. Although we continually progress, most of the core problems in our society tend to reappear in one form or another.

To further understand the meaning of the term globalization, I opted to first look into the past. I have a favorite dictionary that was given to me by the owner of a company that I still am employed by today. Unfortunately, Mr. Kenneth Haynie Sr. passed away about ten years ago. The Winston College Dictionary that he gave me, which was printed in 1947, did not list the word. The word global was listed and defined as follows, “Sperical; taken as a whole or in a lump; as global tonnage of a navy; pertaining to the world as a whole or to the whole surface of the world; as a strategy of war” (Winston). I can only assume that the fact that this dictionary was written and published shortly after WWII might have had some influence on its definition of this word. Next I looked up this term in my husband’s desk dictionary printed in the seventies, only to find the term global defined succinctly: “Worldwide, comprehensive, general globality.” (Miriam Webster) Finally, I turned to a current dictionary and found the following definition of globalization: “The process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade, increasing the connectivity of the world” (Miriam’s world dictionary 2010). This gave me a better understanding of the term.

I conducted a quick search on the University of Evansville’s library multi-search engine for globalization. The results were overwhelming. This simple entry turned up over 28,000 academic options, over 15,000 electronic journal options, another 35,000 options from JSTOR, over 1,000 options from the New York Times, over 10,000 options from Project Muse, and World Cat offered over 97,000 articles. I would say that over the past thirty or so years the topic of globalization has become a hot topic (Libproxy@evansville.edu).

With this information, I felt that I could now take a closer look at the theory of globalization. Is this really such a new theory, or is it simply newly defined? I am inclined to believe that although globalization is a relatively new term, its meaning is as old as time itself. My first thought is that travel and forms of communication regionally, as well as throughout the world, have existed as long as there has been the any form of life on our earth. We are the newcomers on a planet that has a history yet to be fully discovered.
I have taken a brief look back to about forty million years ago, a time that, as we are now aware, whales were freely swimming in our oceans-perhaps I should say their oceans. Science shows us that these early mammals instinctively migrated over 12,000 miles round trip to ensure their survival. They were certainly successful. Indeed, they are still in existence today. This very early example of globalization shows these mammals fully understood and utilized this entire planet as their home. They only took what they needed for survival and left the rest untouched.

Humans contemplate many questions regarding their race: Where did it all begin, how did we come to be the stewards of this great world of ours, who is responsible to teach us what is best for our world? And finally, what is it really all for? Although these questions are important to ask, more often than not they only complicate our lives. The answers to our questions are all around us. Nobody can really survive as an island, we must connect with others to flourish. It is important that we find ways to use our resources. We must be willing to change and grow with the times to preserve our future. It is necessary that we show respect and take care of our mutual home, because it is the land that we share. If things were as simple as the life of a whale, perhaps our world would be a little less complicated.

As humans we have developed and adapted to our environment socially, physically, economically, and emotionally. We have adopted a variety of beliefs and faiths that are of great importance in our lives as well as an important part of the diversity that makes our world rich with culture. Perhaps we have worked so hard to build and perfect our own cultures that we have lost focus of where we have come from, the human race to which we all belong.

Pointing to our past connections, current studies suggest that the American Cherokee Indians may have migrated to North America as ancient Hebrews. They have been referred to as “The lost tribes of Israel.” The web site www.history.com is currently documenting an ongoing study involving DNA testing. However, the DNA has become so convoluted, making it very difficult to either prove or refute these theories (www.history.com).

I propose that globalization is not as much about the connectivity of our world, but the re-connectivity of our world. We need to find the best way to reconnect for the betterment of all of the citizens in our world. As we have developed cultures and nations in our own right, we have further divided ourselves as a people. Some have grown to be very powerful cultures, while others have maintained a simpler way of life showing a moderate amount of progress.

In order for each of our individual cultures to grow, we have had to organize. Some have become far more complex than others creating strong political systems such as the type of democracy that we as Americans enjoy. Other cultures are very basic, such as a small tribe that organizes with a single leader at a time to protect and preserve their way of life. Each would have established rules and penalties to maintain order and stability. All cultures have a plan to protect themselves against any outside threat. Some use a modern military force, while others resort to less sophisticated procedures to protect the future of their culture.
Globalization is not neutral and unproblematic as many would believe. It stands to reason that as each society grows many see a need for an increased amount of land to not only sustain themselves, but to grow stronger and more powerful. As cultures assimilate they build power. A goal of every society is to have a stronger economy, military, and political system. One society grows at the expense of another resulting in many being left in impoverished, vulnerable conditions, and virtually forgotten by the rest of the world. We all have the responsibility to view the effects of globalization both analytically and critically. We have a responsibility to look beyond the propaganda.

We are not all a part of the same global culture with the same values. It is unfair to diminish less powerful cultures and religions to create a super powerful global culture. Humans disagree, become contentious, and even kill one another over religion. It is wrong to eliminate other religions or to ignore traditions that have been a basis for any civilization. This is necessary to ensure a stronger global economy.

As some nations become more powerful than others, it only stands to reason that a lack of balance regarding opportunities for the citizens of the world is the result. When respect and understanding of other religions and cultures are overlooked, who then can we depend on to ensure that we are each kept free of the manufactured controversies that are created as a result of globalization?

Every successful society has a propensity for discovery and growth. Currently we are faced with wars without end, economic problems, and huge cultural changes within our society. The world economy is changing from industrial, to technological, to global at a very rapid pace. The state of the economy tends to set the tone for the citizens. Real power comes when the natural desire to dominate another culture is curbed. The focus can then be to learn from one another and find better methods of building and improving the quality of life for all people.

In the seventies Coca-Cola, a major international corporation had an advertising campaign depicting people from around the globe singing “in perfect harmony” while sharing a coke and a smile. This is, I believe, to be an unrealistic blending of cultures, not the “real thing.” The reality is that a high and influential number of people refuse to be accepting of others who are different from what they perceive themselves to be. A Hasidic Jew holding hands with an 80 year old rape victim from the Congo, holding hands with a Lakota Indian gang member, holding hands with a severely deformed victim of war, holding hands with an openly gay HIV positive individual, all singing in perfect harmony would be a better representation of true respect and acceptance of one another. In today’s society, we are clearly lacking in this regard.

Our global economy is suffering. It is believed that greed and social imbalance has been a major factor in our current failures. These imbalances have further divided the classes of our world citizens creating an environment of mistrust and blame. Who is feeling the greatest effects of these failures in our world economy? Without a doubt, the poorest of the poor are suffering more than ever before.
In prosperous times most would agree that nearly every progressive society has benefited from the labor of immigrants. According to The Christian Science Monitor, an article entitled Global doors slam shut on immigrants, “The number of people living outside of their country of birth is larger than at any time in history, in part because it has never been easier to communicate and relocate.” “The United Nations Population Division (UNPD) estimated that the world has about 200 million international immigrants. If they created their own country, it would become the fifth largest in the world” (Christian Science Monitor). This is quite remarkable, as so many of the people in our world see themselves as living in a heterogeneous society. Most of us tend to have an innate and somewhat natural propensity to project nativism reflecting a desire to live in a more homogenous society. The article goes on to state, “Much of the resistance to outsiders stems from familiar fears: that immigrants will take jobs, tax services, increase crime, and alter national identities.” (Christian Science Monitor)

Most economist agree that we need immigration. Some say that it is the lifeblood that drives our countries. More often than not, we see a very open sentiment against non-white immigrants. These fears have ebbed and flowed throughout our history. Currently however, we are faced with two major problems; one being that our economy is nearly as bad as it has ever been in modern history, second being that we have the highest number of illegal immigrants within our population than ever in our history.

I recently attended the University of Evansville International Speaker Series presentation of a conversation with Dr. Khaled Hosseini. Dr. Hosseini is the author of the “Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” He was born in Afghanistan and at age eleven relocated to Paris and eventually moved to the United States. I was very impressed by his passion for humanity. He and his family are citizens of the United States, but would love to visit his homeland as a family. Although he travels to Afghanistan to provide humanitarian assistance, he knows that his birth country is very unsafe and chooses to not take his family at this time.

Afghanistan has been wracked by wars for many years. The lack of stability has forced a great number of its citizens to leave the country seeking refuge in nearby nations. As Afghan citizens return to their homeland they are finding themselves exposed to numerous dangers that threaten their very survival. Many are faced with the tragedy of not being able to provide their families the most basic necessity of a roof over their heads. Dr. Hosseini explained that Afghans are very proud and caring people. They love to invite visitors into their homes, no matter how modest their living conditions may be. To share simple cup of tea with good conversation is very meaningful in the Afghan society. Not being able show this simple gesture of kindness is humiliating to them.

In the notes that I took during this conversation with Dr. Hosseini I quoted him as explaining: “Most people would prefer to be in their native homeland if the opportunity existed.” Not being able to fulfill the basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and a safe place to rest creates a necessity for people to cross boarders and become immigrants. As odd as it may sound, many people think of immigrants as imperialist. This is not a realistic viewpoint. Most immigrants don’t leave the land that is home to take from another their motive is usually for survival. The imperialist are the “Great Nations” that take over and oftentimes wreak havoc on other countries, usually in the name of humanity.

It is easy to see why people are frustrated. When we are faced with high unemployment and poverty rates, most natural or naturalized citizens feel that they should be taken care of first. I propose that we take a look at what it takes to be a great leader. If we are a stronger nation then perhaps we can lift up other nations to be stronger and self sufficient as well.
As listed in the book “Lincoln on Leadership” by Donald T. Phillips, some of Lincoln’s principles for leading with integrity are listed as follows:
* Refrain from reading attacks upon yourself so you won’t be provoked.
* Remember that truth is generally the best vindication against slander.
* Do the very best you know how, the very best you can, and keep doing so until
the end.
* The probability that you may fall in the struggle ought not to deter you from
the support of the cause you believe to be just.
* Give your subordinates a fair chance with equal freedom and opportunity for
success.
* When you make it to the top, turn and reach down for the person behind you.

Leaders lead best when they are servants and when they are willing to give back to others. An effective leader will take the time to completely listen to others, even if others are not comfortable expressing their personal point of view. A truly effective leader will take the time to ask others to fully explore options that can contribute to their collective success. A leader who leads with integrity must be brave and unafraid of confrontation, for integrity shows greatest under pressure (Lincoln on Leadership).

I have faith in mankind, I may not always agree with “the man,” yet ultimately I believe that our world will continue to improve. I am aware that we cannot impose social change, as change has to come from within a society. By being a good example and by sharing the tools that we know will create success, perhaps we can assist in the improvement of our world. Our globality ultimately depends on this. A strong sense of community and an attitude of caring about today and all of our tomorrows can make our world a better place. We are all citizens of the world and that is just as important as being citizens of our own community. Nothing that we do is too small, everything matters. This I believe to be the real thing.

Root and the Meaning of Culture

A summarized definition of culture is the specialized behavioral patterns, understandings, adaptions, and social systems that make up a group of peoples way of life. Culture is learned, not biological. The level of learning is affected by age, sex, status, or occupation. We are all born into certain, already defined cultures based on learned behaviors ranging from the language spoken to the tools used or games played. We, as the human race, have historically seen the possibilities of improving or utilizing the natural landscape that is our environment to make the quality of our lives easier to manage.

Our ancestors in the Paleolithic ages struggled to survive using basic skills as hunters and gatherers, and then advanced to the Mesolithic ages transitioning to a culture that produced many of their own sources of food by domesticating plants and animals making better use of their natural resources. Our ancestors were progressive and formed the viewpoint that they as people, not the environment, were the forces to bring cultural development. This brought about the innovative period known as the Neolithic ages. With the use of new innovations to make daily survival less difficult they were afforded more leisure time to accelerate the development of culture.

Over thousands of years we have had a desire to improve the quality of our lives. By making these improvements, we have had to communicate with and learn from others. We have found or designed shelter to protect us from the natural elements of our local environment. We have buried our loved ones either above or below ground as our environment would allow. To be successful and coexist, we have learned for the most part to understand and respect the diversity of people within our society. I have always felt that we must be aware that we are citizens of the world as well as the communities in which we live. We must learn to take care of our natural resources and be mindful that there are limits to the carrying capacity of our environment. We require food sources and safe drinking water to meet our most basic needs. For success in the advancement of our world, we must be mindful to use our moral compass as well as a mechanical compass for proper direction in our world development.

As there have been generations before us, there are sure to be many generations to follow. We must accept as our responsibility the need to protect our planet earth and to preserve all that is valuable as a necessity for the survival of mankind and all of its diversity.

"All the Single Mothers"

As I was once a very young single mother, I completely understand the limits faced by any single parent. We have a responsibility to offer improved opportunities benefiting the children of single parent homes. Our society should provide better and more affordable childcare for those with the greatest need. Nearly everyone wants to be self-sufficient and offer the best opportunity for success to their children. It isn’t always a case of having a lack of ambition; in many circumstances it is a lack of opportunity with far too many obstacles in our way.

According to the most recent U.S. census data, working women under the age of thirty are out-earning their male counterparts. The caveat is that most of these women are childless. These statistics create or perhaps confirm a new form of inequality, not so much regarding sex but familial status. The responsibility to be the sole provider of the basic necessities of life requires a much higher than average income for a single person. If a person is also a single parent, on top of the additional financial responsibilities, he or she has the added emotional and physical pressure of all daily decisions and task that will impact their family. Many times these decisions and task have to be managed with fewer and less desirable options.

Although I am frustrated when I see discrimination and biases against single mothers, I do understand the hardships that having a single mother on staff can present. There tends to be a higher absence rate, which can disrupt the productivity schedules within most companies. Many metropolitan cities offer numerous options for public transportation to their citizens; and more companies currently offer on-site childcare programs making life easier for their employees, both allow for greater possibilities to a single mother. A highly determined single mother would benefit by improved laws in place offering greater opportunities for success rather than by simply adding entitlements.

As a society, we oftentimes fail our children by overlooking their basic needs. I feel that the absent parent should be held accountable both fiscally as well as emotionally to support their children. Our country is facing a crisis caused by the high number of fathers that walk away from their families. When a father fails to live up to his responsibilities, first his children, then our entire society suffers. My hope for the future is that educational opportunities are made available and presented to young women creating a greater awareness of the difficulties faced by single mothers. Being fully responsible for our own lives is a serious matter; the added responsibility of an innocent child is beyond compare. Our future depends on the decisions of our youth. It is our responsibility to offer the best opportunities giving the children of our country every tool available to ensure a stronger, more prosperous, and secure nation. This is our moral responsibility.

Technology in our world today...a few of my thoughts

How to use Technology and not be abused by it

I remember my first important job and the amazing technology that made my great accomplishments possible. I was about five years old when I started my career as an imaginary professional; sometimes writer, sometimes secretary. I would sit at my grandmother’s desk and type away for hours on a huge caste iron typewriter. The only time that I would take a break would be to make a very important imaginary telephone call on a phone that was just as antiquated. With all of the pleasure that I found hunting and pecking on this amazing piece of machinery I was certain that I would enjoy a bright future doing amazing things. When I look back now, all that I can say is “we’ve come a long way baby.”

I have worked at a local travel agency for over twenty years. This agency was started over seventy years ago by our current owner’s grandmother. Mrs. Haynie utilized pretty much the same technology that I used in my first job. Mrs. Haynie began her business with a typewriter, a telephone, and on occasion a lithograph. With these tools Mrs. Haynie was able to build an incredible business by fulfilling the dreams of seeing the world for many amazing people.

Now fast forward to the eighties when technology has grown by leaps and bounds. The personal services which once consisted of phone calls to many different places in the world confirming specific details for client’s, has become an environment of nearly all communication being handled electronically. Now travel agents have become facilitators of supply and demand. Most luxury travel has fallen to the wayside making room for mass transportation. Today travel consultants are rarely referred to as professionals.
We no longer type personal itineraries for our clients. Nor do travel consultants type airline tickets and validate them on semi-precious metal plates from the airlines. Today we talk less, email more and rarely print on paper. Although I greatly appreciate the savings of our natural resources, we have stepped away from many of the personal aspects of business. We tend to stay connected with our clients electronically. This means of communication has even carried over into our personal lives, as we tend to communicate with friends and family via social networking sites. Oftentimes while sitting at our desks at work we use the internet to post on Facebook, play video games, and to instant message our friends. Sometimes employees post information regarding corporate policies with a total disregard for professionalism which could warrant job termination. Many professionals feel they are justified in using the workday in this manner as a tradeoff because they are connected electronically to their jobs twenty-four hours a day.

Many travel less for business because they can now go to meetings via a website. One can talk to a person on their smart phone and at the same time text or email another person. When we are hungry we can tell our smart phone and be given instant options of many places to eat, including directions as well as menus. We can easily do this sitting at our desk. Unfortunately, too many of us use this technology while we are driving our cars risking our lives as well as the lives of others.

In our personal time we rarely write privately in our journals, we now blog on the world wide web for the entire world to see. We are more about expressing ourselves and less about listening to and understanding others. I recently asked my son where they plan to live when they move to Pittsburgh. His reply was to simply pick up his “Driod” and to speak his new address into it. He then turned the screen around for me to view. I saw a satellite view of Pittsburgh dropping like a rocket right in front of his new home. He then took me on a virtual tour of his street. As impressive as it was, I could only be thankful that my beautiful granddaughters were not “safely” playing outside when the video was made to facilitate what some believe to be necessary technology.

I am amazed that in our thousands of years of history how far we have advanced in the most recent thirty years. I feel we should all understand the need to communicate should the availability of electronics disappear, even if it is just for a short period of time.

Do What You Are
Personality Type: ESTJ
Described profile as: Very Accurate

It is not always easy to agree with science when it comes to our personal insights. I have always felt that we, myself included, tend to have a greater awareness of others personality types than our own. As I read the “Understanding Gloria” section of this report, I clearly can see that there must be a vast amount of accuracy in the science involved. I do not agree fully with the results of the test. The areas that I differ were probably close to the fifty/fifty markthat could go either way, still making this a fair assessment.

I am outgoing, responsible, and very strong willed. I most definitely learn better when working as part of a group. Most people see me as quite confident, I see myself as poised, but not always so confident. I have very little tolerance for injustice. It was difficult to read about myself as one that may sometimes interrupt or bluntly step on peoples’ toes without even realizing it. This is, as well a very accurate description of how I relate to injustice, especially social injustice. I have taken on a great amount of responsibility in my life and have always placed a lot of pressure on myself to be successful. I have had difficulty feeling confident that I can fully depend on others. This has created what can appear to others as a lack of trust in those whom I must depend. The events and experiences in my life have written many of the scripts of behavior that I follow. It can only be my decision to be more relaxed and have faith in those in my life both personally or professionally.

I do become bored and frustrated with too much theory and long discussions about things that may never happen. I consider my time to be too precious to waste on matters that I feel are of little importance to me. I hold myself fully accountable for my actions and expect others to do the same. I have made many mistakes in my life and am certain that I will inadvertently make more as I continue to find my way in this world. The area that I have made great personal improvement’s, is being able to admit that I am wrong or have made a poor choice. The inability to admit fault is a trait that many in my family have, I consider this to be a huge character flaw that I never want to see within myself.

As my weaknesses, I do agree that I sometimes act swiftly and firmly, as I feel the situation may require. I absolutely disagree that I may be too serious, and not friendly or enthusiastic enough in conversations. I am very certain that this is not the case. I am consistently charged by my peers as being too bubbly and overly enthusiastic. I am firm and speak with great clarity when it is necessary to defuse a situation or when addressing a serious matter. I am open minded and want to be assured that I have gathered and taken into full account all of the necessary details when making a decision. I consider it impossible to arrive at a fair result without the above mentioned details.

My preferred learning style does require interaction with other students. I enjoy the feedback of others, because I respect their insight. I may not always fully agree with their beliefs, but I do my best to fully understand their reasoning. My personal and professional growth comes directly from these experiences. Becoming a student as I am so close to turning fifty is a wonderful experience. A good grade is important to me, but it is more important that I have made a choice to improve my life and to be a great example to others of what can be achieved.

I have never seen myself as being as rigid as is depicted in my type profile. I may tend to conceal the seriousness that is within me when relating to the world as an “actress” would. I have spent the majority of my adult life in some form of direct sales. The responsibility of assisting another with the expenditure of their discretionary income, no matter the amount, is an important responsibility and should be treated as such. I feel that I accomplish this without compromising the need to show and feel compassion for others that are depending on me to do my job with integrity.

A final and very important point that I would like to make is that I feel completely blessed being a part of this particular “Global Leadership Cohort.” I have made new friends that have treated me with the greatest amount of respect. They have at times kindly pointed out some of my weaknesses, and I have respected their input with appreciation allowing me to continue to grow both in my education and personally. Nothing can compare to this experience.

New Writing Assigment, Opinion Paper on Vasco Da Gama

Gloria Barnett
GLS 414
March 22, 2010

A Taste for Spice Could Change the World

With a great desire to better understand the world in which he lived, Vasco Da Gama studied and became proficient as an astronomer, mathematician, and navigator. He was known for his firmness and fortitude. Vasco Da Gama was a very intellectual man with great courage; he even fought in wars against the Castile in his youth. Prior to his discovery of the sea route to India, most of Europe had been racked by war. England and France had been fighting for over 100 years, destroying much of their land as well as the lives of many. Famine and disease, especially the Black Death, great political instability, and financial crises had tormented all of Europe for generations. The fearless explorations of Da Gama changed history, possibly saving Western Europe from being taken over as another conquest by the Ottoman Turks or their ilk. The success of Vasco Da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India contributed to the rapid development of trade in the 1500s and beyond.

A sea route to India was transformative for Portugal and most of Western Europe. The success of a civilization requires communication outside of the boundaries of Western Europe. Without Vasco Da Gama’s great intellect and bravery, this feat could not possibly have been achieved. It could be argued that another person may have easily taken his place had he never existed. I must admit that I initially had those thoughts when beginning the research for this writing assignment. It became very clear, however, that it would have been virtually impossible to duplicate what Da Gama accomplished with the same successful outcome. His plan was an almost perfect recipe for success to which he was the key ingredient. Da Gama was blessed with not only a desire to learn, but also a very influential family at the perfect time in history. This was the very beginning of the age of discovery and exploration. Perhaps fifty or even 100 years later, another may have taken on the task with a similar desire, but many things would likely have already changed within the world, diminishing the opportunity for success.

New technology such as lens grinding for eye glasses, telescopes, and the magnetic compass for navigation were just being introduced to Europe at this time. This was perfect timing for sea exploration. Gunpowder, which was introduced from China, had recently become available as well. This revolutionized warfare by making cannons and firearms available as a tool for battle. There was a new motivation for wealth and a desire for wealthier lifestyles by common citizens. It had become well known that many highly desired commodities were being traded through treacherous areas blocked by the Ottoman Turks. A new route had to be discovered...so, in about 1497, “A Portuguese captain, Vasco Da Gama, was commissioned by his king to find a route to India” (252). His discovery was less expensive and ultimately safer than the original land route. Without the ability to tap into the industry of buying and selling spices, gold, and silks along the silk routes controlled by the Turks, Portugal and all of Western Europe would likely have become weak, leaving them open to takeovers by more powerful and wealthier countries. Had Da Gama not discovered the sea route, many European countries might have lost their abilities to sustain themselves, much less to grow to be contenders in the international trade market.

Vasco Da Gama undertook this endeavor with a crew of 170 men, most of whom were released from local prisons or from the drudges of society. He had to contend with fears of the virtually unknown. Many in his crew had concerns about sea monsters and were fearful of their vessels falling off the edge of a flat earth. There were many uncertainties that they faced as they sailed through uncharted waters for nearly a year. Their vessels were wooden ships averaging about eighty feet long. Their rations were meager at best. Da Gama had the advantages of being a well educated soldier who attended the Portuguese court and of the ability to speak several languages, which allowed him to contend with the most adverse conditions. He was also a master of physics, geometry, and astronomy and had fearless spirit of confidence that rarely existed in his time. His strong leadership earned him the respect and allegiance of his crew members who were content to do their duty with great hopes of earning honor within their homeland, and they succeeded.

The Portuguese began to trade with Asia, breaking the Venetian monopoly. This discovery helped build wealth throughout much of Western Europe. Banks in Italy and Germany profited by financing Da Gama’s early explorations. Many of the goods obtained through use of the sea route were shipped to port cities in Northern Europe such as Antwerp, many of which profited as much as if not more than the Portuguese. Access to these new luxury goods boosted the commerce of Western Europe, stimulated manufacturing, and instilled a sense of hope in a society that had long been oppressed by feudalistic standards. Capitalism became the “ism” of the future, in a sense, allowing people to put many of the difficulties of medieval Europe behind them.

The newfound strength of Western Europe helped push the Turks back to the easternmost parts of Europe, affording Western Europe the freedom to grow and become the most relevant contender in the world economy. Hundreds of years after Da Gama’s death, we are still influenced by the same standards by which he lived, strength, perseverance, nobility, and a strong desire to be educated. Without the early endeavors of Vasco Da Gama we as a society, may have never experienced many of the freedoms we enjoy today. If we did not have the freedom to utilize international trade, our international economy would be severely off balance. Our world would likely be different had it not been for the great accomplishments of Vasco Da Gama known as the Admiral of the Indian Ocean.

Work Cited
Roberts, J. M. A Short History of the World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993

Missing my father on the anniversary of his passing

A favorite story of my life has very little to do with me. It is a simple observation that I have made in the past year. I remember walking along side my house in late summer 2008 and noticing a bright blue bird nest in a shrub near my walkway. I thought that it was so beautiful and pointed it out to my parents, who were living with me at the time.

Their comments took me by surprise. It appears that this act of kindness has been an enjoyable little aspect of both of their childhoods. Each of my parents told me that their respective mothers would purposefully lay out bright little threads or strings for birds to utilize during the nest building season. They always enjoyed seeing their contribution decorating the homes being built to protect a family of birds yet to be born. My mother continued to do this throughout her life though I never knew.

After my father’s passing, I once again had a similar discussion with my mother and her neighbor about the colorful bird nest. I was amazed to hear that my mother’s neighbor loved to do the same thing. She would place threads outside on the ledge of her office window. She as well enjoyed the experienced of seeing her contribution to a newly built nest near her view.

It has occurred to me that we live our lives in so very much the same manner. We offer threads to those who are willing and interested enough to pick them up and make them a part of their lives. Much like a tapestry of the people we become, yet adding a protective and loving support system. These threads can be used to make others lives a bit softer and more secure. They can add hope and instill a desire for a better life or foundation to grow on. We cannot force our gifts on others, they are simply left for those who seize the opportunity by accepting a gift of love.

I hope that I am leaving threads worthy and interesting enough for those whose lives I hope to touch. I pray that they make the best of my meager offerings and find a way to enhance their lives and remember the small part I played in it. I am thinking of the passing of my father one year ago, and feeling grateful for the threads that he left behind. I am proud that I had the fortitude to pick up at least some of those threads and add them the woman I have become. Thank you Daddy!! I love you, as I am you, a part of the legacy of love that you have left in this world.

We knew little that morning that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly. In death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you. You did not go alone; for part of us went with you, the day God called you home.

You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

Thank you again for the threads Daddy…no regrets!!!! You are our one true love!

~Gloria February 20, 2010

My Mantra for Life both Professional and Personal

Gloria Barnett
Lori Smith
GL 400

December 1, 2009

Leading with Integrity in Today’s Work Environment

All companies require great leaders to enjoy long-term success. Today it is nearly as difficult as ever before to achieve success in the world of business. Greed and corruption have taken such a strong hold that many have lost sight of the best recipe for long-term sustainable success.
Miriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines integrity as “the quality of being complete or undivided. It implies trustworthiness.” Trustworthiness is a direct result of honesty. It is important to value honesty, as honesty speaks of one’s very nature. Success will be earned by the great leaders who lead using integrity as their moral compass.

To dissect and define integrity, to bring it from within oneself, and to make integrity a value that can be demonstrated at every level of the work environment should be the goal of every leader wanting to have remarkable results. A leader must be reliable, consistent worthy of trust and respect. How does one become a great leader? Leadership is innately a natural part of each and every person; one must take the time and have the confidence to tap into the greatness of all that can be achieved.

Most every person wants to be ethical, credible, and honest; this reflects human nature. The hard part is having clarity of a personal goal and holding oneself accountable for every step of the process. Great leaders make everyone, including themselves, accountable first, then collectively the entire team can enjoy satisfaction in a job well done and success seems to happen without fail. Everyone should make it a habit to approach all tasks within their lives with integrity.
As listed on pg.75 the book “Lincoln on Leadership” by Donald T. Phillips, some of Lincoln’s principles for living with integrity are listed as follows:

Ø Refrain from reading attacks upon yourself so you won’t be provoked.
Ø Remember that truth is generally the best vindication against slander.
Ø Do the very best you know how, the very best you can, and keep doing so until the end.
Ø The probability that you may fall in the struggle ought not to deter you from the support of the cause you believe to be just.
Ø Give your subordinates a fair chance with equal freedom and opportunity for success.
Ø When you make it to the top, turn and reach down for the person behind you.

Leaders lead best when they are servants and when they are willing to give back to others. An effective leader will take the time to completely listen to others, even if others are not comfortable expressing their personal point of view. A truly effective leader will take the time to ask each member of his or her team to fully explore options that can contribute to their collective success. A leader who leads with integrity must be brave and unafraid of confrontation, for integrity shows greatest under pressure.

According to Robert K. Greenleaf on pages 150 and 151, in his book entitled, “Servant Leadership: a Journey Into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness”:
“I cannot visualize a world without leaders, without those who better see the path ahead taking the risk to lead and show the way. What reason is there for accepting the constraints of a society except that therein the more able serve the less able? One way that some people serve is to lead…Leaders may be completely honest about their leadership, that which makes them more dependable and trustworthy than most, is their intuitive insight, which cannot be fully explained.”

Good leadership can only be as effective as the foundation that it was built on. A great leader will create a culture of effective goal setting and achievement. Nothing should ever be promised unless the organization can deliver the goods or services promised. The goal should be to over deliver whenever possible. This can only be achieved if every department within the organization is motivated with the same goal in mind.

Although it can be extremely difficult, one must make the right decision to do the right thing no matter the consequences. Integrity never involves manipulation or greed. If integrity is exercised in every aspect of one’s work on a consistent basis, success will certainly be the end result. The behavior of a leader must match his or her personal beliefs. A strong focus on the importance of consistency, in both word and deed, especially in the face of adversity, is a necessity of great leadership. Organization is the key to expressing integrity, because it is not enough to simply have the intention to do the right thing. Policies set by a leader leading with integrity will serve as a model of the organization’s values and credibility.

One must hire knowledgeable candidates that have high levels of competency to promote a trusting work environment. An effective team will be required to seek and successfully complete continuing education in their fields of service. A great leader understands and appreciates the importance of education for the betterment of the organization. An exceptional leader will be certain to learn from his or her team without feeling threatened or insecure. Managing with perfectly defined priorities and with values utilizing a clear objective is less stressful and far more productive than managing without a formula to emulate.

A leader should always acknowledge and show appreciation for the contributions of others toward the common goal. Building a reliable team is an important ingredient to affect positive change in the workplace. Each member of the team must have the potential to do his or her job with confidence. When the task at hand has clearly defined guidelines to be followed, an adept team member will be able to approach and complete the task with confidence. It would be unreasonable to expect a team member to do a job well unless their leader offered him or her access to all of the necessary tools.

If one were to assume that nothing will ever go wrong in business, he or she will be greatly disappointed on a regular basis. It is better to realize that nobody is perfect. Things can and often times do go wrong regardless of the amount of effort put into preventing failure. The important thing is how the team corrects the situation when things do not go as projected. Leading with integrity requires a clear mission of helping others, and implementing a process to resolve conflict utilizing specific rules. When these steps are followed, a just result is sure to be the outcome. Clear and concise guidelines enable team members to respond swiftly and decisively without ever compromising their own integrity.

A sense of humor is a very important attribute of a great leader. Even if his or her sense of humor is perceived as being a bit on the dry side, this can reveal a leader as a real person who understands that life is real. When a team can laugh and enjoy life while in a work environment, less stress and lighter spirits will be enjoyed by all. Seeing humor in others is important. Perhaps he or she may have a bit of a quirky personality, so what? A great leader will embrace other’s perceptions. It is okay that others see humor in what is different in one another. The important thing is that malice is not the intent.

As stated by Dave Johnson, founder and principle author of “Seeing The Forest”, and a blogger at “Speak Out California,”
“A company (or industry) makes a tremendous amount of money by scamming us, screwing us, stealing from us, killing us, poisoning us, destroying our environment or some other thing that one way or another a working democracy would stop immediately…So it's very simple, really:…no influencing public opinion in any way whatsoever…no predatory marketing of their own products, marketing that influences our culture, marketing that makes us feel bad about ourselves, marketing that makes us feel bad about others, marketing that insults us and marketing that makes us think we should want things that we shouldn't!..So it continues. And we all get poorer while they get richer.” (Johnson)

Batrushollweg International dedicated research efforts to create and validate an assessment that measures a leader’s propensity to exhibit integrity. Their findings concluded the following:
Ø Employee theft and fraud cost the average business 1-2% of its sales.
Ø 23% have given product or service for a discount against company policy.
Ø 18% have manipulated data to make results appear better.
Ø 29% repeatedly ignore misconduct of subordinates. (Batrushollweg pgs. 2,4)

If more business and political leaders were to lead with integrity as a design principle, our national economic state would be much stronger, and as a people we would be less divisive. Integrity is not a certain personality trait or set of ideas. Integrity guides decent people that are open to moral excellence. All should approach their jobs and lives every-day with integrity. One should have a moral compass for guidance and follow it. IT is necessary to have strong moral values to rely on when important decisions need to be made. A leader must have courage under fire. If all decisions were made for the greater good, one would have nothing to fear in spite of criticism.

Achievable goals must be clearly defined as written rules, policies, and procedures. Consistent behavior that matches one’s beliefs as a leader will define that leader with integrity. Clear objectives, as well as accountability, reflect the true character of an illustrious leader. It is important that he or she be mindful of social influence; let it be known that your standards and policies are representative of the organization, and they must be adhered to by every member who wants to share in the success of the team.

As stated by Patricia Schaefer in her article entitled “The Seven Pitfalls of Business Failure and How to Avoid Them.” Patricia reports poor management as the number one reason for failure.
“Unless they recognize what they don’t do well, and seek help, business owners may soon face disaster. They must also be educated and alert to fraud, and put into place measures to avoid it.” Ms. Schaefer goes on to add, “A successful manager is also a good leader who creates a work climate that encourages productivity. He or she has a skill at hiring competent people, training them and is able to delegate. A good leader is also skilled at strategic thinking, able to make a vision a reality, and able to confront change, make transitions, and envision new possibilities for the future.” (Schaefer)

As stated on page 107 by Donald T. Phillips, in his book “Lincoln on Leadership,” it is important for every manager to remember:
Ø If you are a good leader, when your work is done, your aim fulfilled, your people will say, “We did it ourselves.”
Ø Try not to feel insecure or threatened by your followers.
Ø Always let your subordinates know that the honor will be all theirs if they succeed and the blame will be yours if they fail.
Ø If your commanders in the field can’t be successful, neither can you or your executive staff. (Phillips pg. 107)

The results are boundless when leading effectively with integrity. Truthfulness promotes confidence, confidence promotes credibility, and when one is perceived as having credibility, others will then be drawn to them for their products and services. If a leader focuses solely on him or herself, others will view them as narcissistic, manipulative, and self-centered. Many will choose to avoid doing business with an organization they feel is lacks integrity. An organization known for its integrity usually attracts the best candidates to join its team. Do the right thing, and the right thing will happen. It will be easy to be effective when you operate with grace and have a clear mission to help others. Make a conscientious decision to move forward as a transformational leader, and to maintain a pattern of alignment between positive words and positive deeds. Success will be earned by the great leaders who lead using integrity as their moral compass.

Semester Break is Breaking ME!!!

Finally a break! For what? To do my best and get caught up on everything that I am behind on. Christmas with six children including in-laws and five grandchildren requires a lot of work!!! I am gonna enjoy it, but it sure is wearing me out!!!!

I accomplished what I wanted to, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and am on the Dean's List. I hope that this helps with my eligibility for grants and so forth. My final paper and presentation was on a topic that is very important to me. I decided to post the paper for anyone interested, mostly because I want to keep it as part of my progress. I am so grateful to my husband for being patient with me as I spend so much time working on my education. He has some health issues that he is working on as well and feels since life insurance not to mention the expense of health insurance is so high that my education will better serve me for a sustainable future. It is really hard to say what is the truth sometimes, but this for us is clearly the truth. I hope you take the time to read my paper, I sure enjoyed the research and writing it. "Leading with Integrity"

Remember me? It has certainly been a ride...a long hard ride, like the first explorer's headed west and trying to cross the Grand Canyon! Okay, so I have spent a lot of time thinking that I must have learning disabilities. Still haven't decided if I do or do not! Regardless, I have somehow managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

I have been called an overachiever. Hmm... kind of seems rude for someone to say that to me. The thing is, this cost a lot of money and I'm the one paying for it. Yes, I want a better than "good" grade, I want to learn everything that I can. I am here for me, for my future and it is taking everything that I have. I am not complaining, in fact I am just grateful that I have the opportunity.

I said that I would give the good, bad and ugly of this. I'm not shy so here we go! I am disappointed that I have friends and worse yet family that find it difficult to make a single positive comment about this HUGE endeavor. I am sad that I feel sad that I only have a couple of people that appreciate that I make A's. Hello.....I was told by my guidance counselor that I am not college material when I was just 16 years old. Seriously, let's try to be a bit more supportive and mindful of how our actions can effect others.

I didn't even know that I had a rather high IQ, until I received my transcripts from high school....28 years after my graduation. I was self conscious just walking across the stage to receive my high school diploma in 1981. I was a teenage mother, kind of a no count. I might be pushing 50, but I am finally realizing that it really isn't too late to become what you might have been.

My goal is to be a better example for others, especially others that share my history. I really wish that I had a clear understanding of my lack of self confidence and how to overcome it. These things are simply mysteries that reaveal themselves when the time is right I guess. My plan was to keep this blog updatted on a more regular basis, I just didn't get that I was going to be so limited on time. Sorry guys, but when the choices are study for a test, write a paper, or to work on my blog, I think that it should be obvious that I have a pretty clear priority and that is to do well in school. I have a break comming up soon, perhaps I can get you caught up on some of the most amazing things that I have learned. Regardless of the fact that I have been able to travel to many wonderful places in the world, now I am really becoming educated. Thank you God for whatever it is that you have gently placed inside of my heart, I will continue to learn to better understand it and to put it to the best use that I can.

First paper autobiography...why not just add it!

Gloria Barnett
World Religions and Religious Perspectives GL 411E-412E
R. Wayne Perkins, Ph.D.
August 31, 2009
The world was first blessed with my presence July 29, 1963. I was the youngest of five children born to my parents Sherman and Mayme Orange. Although our parents were both from Central Kentucky, our home has always been in Evansville, Indiana. We were very fortunate to maintain a strong connection with our parent’s hometown. Country living is one of my favorite aspects of my childhood.
It was normal for our mother to have our bags packed on Fridays so that as soon as dad got off work we would head to Kentucky. Every weekend seemed like a vacation. I mention all of this because the time we spent running, playing, fishing and camping without any worries, helped to form who I am today. Neither of my parents attended, or much less graduated, high school. During the late forties in Muhlenberg county many students did not earn a high school education. Some, including my father, never completed elementary school. Most obtained jobs as quickly as possible to help support their families. Some chose to move from their respective family homes to lessen the burden on their parents. This is what my father did at age fifteen. He moved to Evansville and lied about his age to obtain employment. Later he returned to his hometown to retrieve and marry my mother his childhood sweetheart.
With lots of love they began a family within two years of marriage. My father worked in a factory while my mother often worked as a cook in various restaurants. For reasons that I can only guess, I never remember my parents taking a real interest in my education. Maybe my parents were exhausted from raising my four older siblings. Perhaps my parent’s limited education may have hindered their ability to be positive role models regarding my education. One thing is for certain, a strong desire to learn was not instilled in my very formative years. I never developed a true appreciation for education until I was in my sophomore year of high school. Although I began to focus more on learning I had a limited amount of self confidence and lacked productive study habits. In my senior year of high school I applied and was accepted to what is now known as, the University of Southern Indiana with dreams of becoming an elementary school teacher. It was just a dream that I felt was out of my reach. I knew that the expense was far beyond anything that I could possibly afford.
Oh, by the way I had a child while in high school and was living up to my responsibilities with a great amount of seriousness. Had I known at the time of the assistance available for a single mother pursuing a degree; I might have taken full advantage. My parents did teach me perseverance, the importance of a positive work ethic, and to be a good person that makes a positive contribution to society. With these attributes along with my strong ability to effectively communicate I have achieved success in my career.
By the time that I was twenty I held a respectable position as a shipping system specialist for Pitney Bowes, which was a fortune three hundred corporation. A few years later when personal computers were becoming a part of everyone’s work environment, I joined one of the most prominent computer sales firms in the area, Van Ausdall and Ferrar. I was the first in the company to sell a network computer system that consisted of fourteen work stations. This career path led me to be on the road constantly which was not in the best interest of my family.
With my work schedule at that time I found myself picking my son up from daycare only to take him to my mother’s home while I attended a meeting or did a presentation. The schedule was taking a major toll on my son and weighing very heavy on my heart. A friend told me about a job opportunity with a real estate firm that would allow me to work a normal office schedule in a position of administrative support to the realtors. This position led me to obtaining my Indiana real estate license. I was also promoted to a new position as an assistant to the president and vice president of the firm. Although I no longer traveled out of town, I found myself working many additional hours. With listing and showing homes, hosting open houses, I was basically working two jobs. I found myself neglecting my most important responsibility of being a mother. I feel money is not the most important thing, but when you fear not being able to meet the most basic needs of your family you come to realize that ultimately your survival depends on it.
To make life easier, I accepted a position with a local travel agency as a receptionist with the hopes of easing the burden. I was soon promoted to a travel agent position. Here we go again on another new adventure. This opportunity was the best fit for me and my family. This new career path led me to work with a wonderful group of women that have become my sisters for life. Each of these relationships helped to created some of the most beautiful threads in the tapestry of who I have become thus far.
As a travel agent I have traveled from Polynesia to Cairo. I never fathomed that I would ride a camel around the great pyramids or cruise the Nile. I traveled from Alexandria the northern most point of Egypt to ancient Abu Simbel very near the Sudan boarder. I have lit candles and prayed for my family in many basilicas and cathedrals throughout Europe including the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I have enjoyed these travels prior to experiencing much of my own backyard such as Alaska. Experiencing the world through travel has given me a better understanding of the world and my place in it.
In 1993 I married a very kind and loving man, Ronald Barnett. Ron encouraged me to take the adventure vacation of my dreams. This consisted of an eight day long rafting and camping trip down the Colorado River. The best part of the experience was that it cut all the way through the Grand Canyon during a full moon phase. Our first day on the water was my forty-first birthday. This adventure led me to overcome many fears such as my fear of heights. I climbed to amazing locations and experienced beauty beyond anything that I had ever imagined. I slept under the stars without a tent. I even became comfortable enough to climb above and dive into waterfalls in some of the tributaries. It was amazing to see the unbelievable amount of lush and tropical scenery. My expectations of this adventure were high, but the reality was far greater than I had imagined.
My years as a travel agent have not only allowed me to be there for my son, they have allowed me to open his eyes to the world. It has become my mantra to be aware that we are not only citizens of our community we are citizens of the world. Due to the rapidly increasing cost of medical insurance coverage I made a very difficult decision to leave my fulltime position as a Senior Travel Counselor with Haynie Travel. I chose to accept a position in residential property management to help oversee the development and management of Lakeshore Apartment Homes. I have continued to work as an independent contractor with the travel agency.
Since my decision to attend the University of Evansville, I have curtailed my commitment to my travel clients. My greatest priority at this time is to successfully complete the GL program and earn my degree. I am not certain where I anticipate this program to lead me. I do know that not having this degree has kept me from achieving greater success in today’s business world. I know that I have made great accomplishments and wish to continue to build my legacy.
I am enjoying being a wife of sixteen years and making wonderful memories with my children and grandchildren. I am excitedly facing the next three years of my personal growth. I look forward to learning, achieving and simply doing something so meaningful that is for me. I am afraid of the expense to the point that it nearly takes my breath away, all the more reason for me to make the very most of my investment.
My son Jeff Orange graduated magna cum Laude from this program just this last spring. It was Jeff as well as recent events in my life that has convinced me to join this highly regarded program. I am grateful for this experience and look forward to the next three years of learning and growing.

Today is the day!!!

My first class is tonight at 6pm. The history of religions of the world. Let's see what I know so far....I had planned (against my sons advice) not to purchase a $50 parking pass. My classes are at night, I can park right on Rotherwood...there should be no problems right? Soooo wrong, don't be cheap! Parking is a major issue....something that many of these youngsters already are aware of. The "free" parking is right in front of the dorms....hmmm yeah, I'm not gonna get to park there too often. Being frugal doesn't always get you the best result. So I have $50 less in my pocket today but will spend the rest of this school year NOT dealing with parking stresses.

Now to get on with the main objective learning and earning my degree! I am very excited about my first class and not even at all nervous about what to expect. I don't know why people keep asking me that. I "expect" to learn. So I think I'll listen take notes and focus on learning. I have found that we have a field trip the weekend of my grand-daughters birthday party. NOT something that I would ever consider an option to miss. I have made a very important promise to a very important person...me. I am taking the required weekend trip and planning a very special "event" to celebrate Kylahs Birthday personally. I'm certain that this is only the first of many inconveniences that I will encounter. I am also certain that the end result is going to be for the betterment of every aspect of my life....especially for my grandchildren. I hope to set a new and better standard for all of my family. Not to degrade what anyone has accomplished, because including myself we have accomplished a lot. Perhaps even more than we know or give ourselves credit for. I just want to see and experience a new horizon that will open doors for me and my life. I want to be an example to all of the children and adults in my family not of what I can do, but what we all can and really must do in today's world. I love my family more than they will ever know.

After losing my father this past February, I spent a lot of time reflecting on his life and thinking about what my life may become. I realized that I have power that I never knew I had. The power to build my own destiny. I spent a lot of time taking care of my father as he and I both knew that he was dying. For six months I used every ounce of my mental and physical strength to prolong his life and make every last moment of his life the best that it could be. He shared a lot of remorse for what he had not accomplished, I wanted to be sure that he was aware of his greatness and that we, his family and all of our accomplishments are a part of his legacy. On that subject we had many conversations. I am certain that when he took his last breath he took it in peace and comfort that he was a great man that did many great things. He told me I was "perfect", I know better than that. I made certain that what he saw in me was of him. So perhaps he was perfect! I love him and miss him every day. This is as I said for all of my family. We are gonna get better and do better...if it takes another ten years to figure out how. I never want to see another family member pass away without at least considering the option of taking the chance to be more than their reflection in a mirror. We can take what we see in the mirror combine it with all that is in our hearts and minds and achieve greatness!

Off to school!!

I guess I really knew it, now it is confirmed. Nothing special about me or my application that entitles me to any "real" financial assistance. That's okay...it is after all a business. I'll pay the price then end the debt as quickly as possible. I know what the value in this investment CAN be and I WILL put it to work for me and my family. There are so many pieces of our lives that reappear long after they have fallen out of view. I finally got to meet Angie the financial aid officer that has been helping me in person today. The first thing that she said was "Gloria, it is you!" I actually mentored her in the mid 80's when I was a representative at Pitney Bowes. She is only one year younger than me. She said that she recognized my "singing" voice when she first talked to me. That is funny in itself, although I am known to have a very distinct voice, singing has nothing to do with it I promise. I can cause real physical pain to someone just by singing. My last name is not the same as it was then and she wasn't sure if it was me. Anyhow, I remember her well and the very nice thank you note she sent me after our week together. Now she is my mentor per say. I signed the loan papers and away we go!

A little over a week away from day one and....

I found out today that not only am I not eligible for financial grants, I can only have up to $3,500 per year in interest free student loans....er should I say low interest that will begin accruing 6 months after my completion date. The balance can be financed at 6.5% that will begin accruing interest right away. I am so frustrated that the changes that we have been expecting are on the backburner while our financial system is being saved. Hmmm... meanwhile I have to pay this crazy amount that is far above my means at this time. I am moving forward with the commitment I have made. Not only am I moving forward to earn my degree, but to learn. Today, as every day, is the first day of the rest of my life. I want to cry...but choose to be strong and continue to move forward with this endeavor. The funny thing is that I am so conservative with money always being so careful to not overspend and I do this? Faith is all that I have to go on. Faith that I will not only earn a great education, but that I will increase my income quickly enough to pay all of this back as fast as possible and put this degree to work for my future. It may not be the best choice that I can make today, but I will make it the best outcome for all of my tomorrows.

I meeting with the financial aid office at UE tomorrow morning. There is a possibility that I have made an error in filling out the FASFA form. Hope that is the case. If so I soppose that it could be argued that I am not smart enough to go to college...as I was told in high school. I will chose to think that it would suggest that I NEED to go to college. I do have a sense of humor!!!

I almost cried today when I got the news....it wouldn't help. I just need to find the best way to finance this investment....I don't think the government option fits in with the best options of today. The current Stafford Loan program reflects an interest rate that has not been adjusted for almost three years. The rate was pretty much in line for that period of time....but today we have interest rates more within the realm of non-interest. Hopefully "Change" will come soon. This first year is going to be the most expensive. I'll follow up with a post as soon as I have a clear understanding of the investment that I will be looking at. I do this to perhaps help others and to give myself an opportunity to take a look back at where I started and how it all comes together. If you know me at all you probably have heard me say more than once that sometimes when we feel like it's all falling apart it often times is falling together. I am hoping for the later. If not I will find a way to put it together.

My new life as a STUDENT

This is the new story of me. I have just turned 46 and after much thought and consideration am going to start college in two weeks. Why? I wish I had a real clear answer to that question. All I can say for certain is that because I can and know that I should. Fortunately for me I have a really smart five year old grandaughter who suggested if I were nervous about going back to school I should just ask someone to go with me. What a smart young lady! So I asked her if she would. She said yes and we went to the University of Evansville that afternoon and finalized my paperwork. Kylah this is for you and your little sister Kennedy. It is never too late to revise your life and make it better. Also, as your father has taught me.."It is never too late to be what you might have been."

So it begins, my new life as a student. With fear, excitement and most of all a huge desire to learn. I plan to keep you and myself apprised of the new experiences ahead both the good, the bad and the ugly. I will be honest on this blog about all of my fears, weaknesses and hopefully the strengths that I plan to uncover in my own personality.

Over the next three years, as the experiences allow I will share some of my past that has brought me to this place in my life. Enjoy all that is enjoyable. Inspire all that you can.