In William Shakespear's play, Julius Caesar, Caesar found out that leadership over friendship will never work. Julius had it all, a devoted wife, surrounded by friends and practically the king of Rome. The citizens of his beloved country loved and worshipped him. Never would he have guessed that his exalted position and status over his friends, his ambition, would cause his closest advisers and friends to become his biggest threats and enemies. Brutus, one of Caesar's closest few, plotted against him and was the first to stab him in the back. A wound that lead to his death.
A lesson that should be followed by everyone, the best leader can also follow. A leader can not truely lead if he/she loses their followers due to pride and hautiness.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
In the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, a self-help book, Sean Covey writes about what it means to be proactive. Now, I would love to say that I follow the virtues of a proactive person; some being that you are not easily offended, you take responsibility for your choices, and think before you act. Unfortunately, I tend to focus on the negative, on the things I can not change.
For example; I was in a hurry to get to school, running behind and very worried that I was going to be late, when a suburban whipped out in front of me and then slowed down to a speed that was twenty miles below the speed limit. Now, my first reaction was to roll down my window and tell them to move it!
Thankfully, the words of Sean Covey about being proactive came to my mind, and I reassessed the situation. I could yell at the driver and ride his bumper, or I could be proactive and shake it off, not letting it bother me.
I choose to be proactive...which I can't tell you how much better it made me feel to do the right thing. Right then, I decided to implicate Sean Covey's proactive principal throughout all of the other infuriating situations in my life. I advise you, my readers, to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, because its unassailable advice gives you the wisdom to become a better, more grounded person.
For example; I was in a hurry to get to school, running behind and very worried that I was going to be late, when a suburban whipped out in front of me and then slowed down to a speed that was twenty miles below the speed limit. Now, my first reaction was to roll down my window and tell them to move it!
Thankfully, the words of Sean Covey about being proactive came to my mind, and I reassessed the situation. I could yell at the driver and ride his bumper, or I could be proactive and shake it off, not letting it bother me.
I choose to be proactive...which I can't tell you how much better it made me feel to do the right thing. Right then, I decided to implicate Sean Covey's proactive principal throughout all of the other infuriating situations in my life. I advise you, my readers, to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, because its unassailable advice gives you the wisdom to become a better, more grounded person.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Your Personal Bank Account
In "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens", bestselling book by Sean Covey, he writes about the personal bank account. This section of his book has a very personal place in my heart, because he talks about the steps to take to get your life in order with a list that he calls the PBA list. In this list, you deposit or withdraw good habits. Some deposits, keeping promises to yourself, doing small acts of kindness, and being honest, are metioned on the right side of the PBA list. Sean also mentions some withdraws in your PBA list on the bad side such as wearing yourself out and neglecting your talents.
This list is personal to me because I tend to stray to the bad side of his list. I have a tendency to wear myself out with all the activities, clubs and classes that I can cram into the 24 hours of each day. With Sean Covey's help, I have been fighting back to the right side of his PBA list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling stressed out and/or depressed. His book has helped me to realize what a mess my priorities were and how I can get my life, adittude and self-perseption in the right order. Please, read this book. It will change your life.
This list is personal to me because I tend to stray to the bad side of his list. I have a tendency to wear myself out with all the activities, clubs and classes that I can cram into the 24 hours of each day. With Sean Covey's help, I have been fighting back to the right side of his PBA list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling stressed out and/or depressed. His book has helped me to realize what a mess my priorities were and how I can get my life, adittude and self-perseption in the right order. Please, read this book. It will change your life.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Does John McCain Know What He is Doing?
This blog is about showing my support for Presidential Nominee John McCain's look on education in the United States.
Firstly, I recognize that McCain is the best choice because he believes that Americans education must be worthy of the promises he makes to the U.S students and their parents. Nominee McCain understands that America is a nation committed to equal opportunity without equal access to excellent education. I trust his word when he promises to pursue reforms that address the underlying cultural problems in our education system.
Secondly, I uphold John McCain's efforts to charge the schools with the responsibility of educating their students, and that they must have the resources and management authority to deliver on that responsibility. Further more, that the schools must report to the parents and the public on their progress.
Thirdly and lastly, I highly support the Republican Presidential Nominee's view that Americans should be placed, with their children, at the center of the education process; empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. I also support his beliefs that all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and dollars associated with them, from failing school.
Firstly, I recognize that McCain is the best choice because he believes that Americans education must be worthy of the promises he makes to the U.S students and their parents. Nominee McCain understands that America is a nation committed to equal opportunity without equal access to excellent education. I trust his word when he promises to pursue reforms that address the underlying cultural problems in our education system.
Secondly, I uphold John McCain's efforts to charge the schools with the responsibility of educating their students, and that they must have the resources and management authority to deliver on that responsibility. Further more, that the schools must report to the parents and the public on their progress.
Thirdly and lastly, I highly support the Republican Presidential Nominee's view that Americans should be placed, with their children, at the center of the education process; empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. I also support his beliefs that all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and dollars associated with them, from failing school.
Is Sci-Fi a 'Superior' Genre?
When the "Science Fiction" genre comes to mind, I can't help thinking of cheesy B-rated movies. The kinds that cause a person to groan, sigh, or make other general noises of annoyance. Please, do not judge this genre as I have continually done in the past. I am an avid book-reader, but I have never really focus on the genres that I read. Now that I have had the 'light bulb' turned on, I not only realize that I love the 'Sci-Fi' genre, but that I read books placed under its mysterious genus all the time! Take for example the very popular "Twilight Saga" by Stephenie Meyer. It is placed in the 'Sci-Fi' genre as the classic hero/heroine/monsters & myths story. Don't get me wrong, the 'Twilight Saga' has nothing to do with the traditional, evil look on vampires, but is most defiantly 'Science Fiction'. Yet, it is one of the most renowned series of its time. It is not judged as a stereotypical 'Planet of the Apes' fluke gone wrong, but as highly sought-after pieces of literature.
I will conclude with this thought. Please, don't condemn all Science Fiction genres as B-rated, because you never know what kinds of movies or books under its title may catch your eye and hold you.
I will conclude with this thought. Please, don't condemn all Science Fiction genres as B-rated, because you never know what kinds of movies or books under its title may catch your eye and hold you.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
SHADOW
Shadow is like no other super-hero. Although she is fast, strong, and beautiful; she has a rather strange job. She is a chef to the homeless and financially unsound citizens of New York City. She delivers three meals a day for all those in need, by flying over the sprawling city on her grey, black tipped, feathered wings. With her magic ring glowing brighter the nearer she gets; she locates the hungry people and swoops down to rescue there rumbling stomachs. With her two story bakery in the very middle of New York, she feeds one starving citizen at a time.
Shadow is like no other super-hero. Although she is fast, strong, and beautiful; she has a rather strange job. She is a chef to the homeless and financially unsound citizens of New York City. She delivers three meals a day for all those in need, by flying over the sprawling city on her grey, black tipped, feathered wings. With her magic ring glowing brighter the nearer she gets; she locates the hungry people and swoops down to rescue there rumbling stomachs. With her two story bakery in the very middle of New York, she feeds one starving citizen at a time.
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