Jim Sutton » LifeLongLearning

LifeLongLearning: Reinvention Book Thoughts and Notes #1

jimsutton — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:25:41 +0000

Reinvention: How to Make the Rest of your Life the Best of your Life is the book I am reading in September. Today’s Key Thought is:

Today’s Key Thought is: See yourself as 100% responsible for your life

“The starting point of taking control of your career is to begin to view yourself as self-employed. See yourself as teh president of a company with one employee: yourself. See yourself as having one product that your sell in a competitive marketplace: your services. See yourself as 100% responsible for your life and for everything that happens to you.”

This is from the AudioTech summary of the book page 9.

http://store.audiotech.com/search.cfm?keywords=Reinvention

Comments welcome.

Jim Sutton
Facilitating Performance Improvement in the digital age
About Me Page

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview 4

jimsutton — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:04:51 +0000

Post inspiration: I have known Pat for 9 months, read her book and think it is worth investing some of my time and yours into. I interviewed Pat and this is the next post in the series.

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview Part 1

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview Part 2

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview Part 3

Next Questions:
Q. My passion is learning and performance improvement. I am an INTJ, how would you structure a learning event to best accommodate me as an introvert?
A. Because I’ve been a corporate trainer since 1990, it took me some time to take the lead on doing such because it seems that many extroverts have a different approach. But I had to be true to myself or I just wasn’t going to be able to give my very best as the trainer. My own learning events include, personal activities for participants on their own, small group discussions, lecture with large group discussions and always a personal action plan for people to synthesize the ideas. If I incorporate role-play, it’s usually in triads with a rotation of the observer, the key role and the secondary role. I always loathed the role plays in front of the group because as an introvert I felt like it was a less than thoughtful approach I would be into.

Q. Generally, can you give introverts some tips to use in learning situations?
A. If you’re the facilitator: when asking questions of the group, as uncomfortable as it might be, allow a full 30 to 60 seconds for people to start to answer. If in that time no one comes forth, but it’s highly unlikely, then, kick off discussion with something like, “Well one thing some people say is …” and have an answer ready to move things forward. If you are the participant, since most learning events are highly extroverting, think out how you can structure as much alone time as you need before, during and after the event.

From the book:
Myth #2: Introverts are shy.
“A second misconception, is that introverts are shy. You can be introvert and shy or you can be introvert and not shy. You can be extrovert and shy or you can be extrovert and not shy. Introvert does not necessarily equal shy.”

We will discuss this more later in the interview.

If you want the book you can get it at http://www.coachingforintroverts.com Her you can get a free 32 page excerpt before you buy the book.
Jim Sutton
Facilitating understanding in the digital age
Virtual World LightHouse
Web 2.0 Community & Business
About Me Page

Life-Long Learning: What will you quit doing in 2010?

jimsutton — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:24:08 +0000

Post inspiration: Thinking about what I read in Remodel Your Reality ( http://www.remodelyourreality.com/ ) The advice was clean out closets, refrigerator, files and old mental habits and it will allow new things and habits to come into your life.

I am posting now to remind myself and readers that unless something moves out new behaviors cannot come into your life.

A personal example is I set a goal to do 50 push-ups a day. I have never quite got to it and part of the reason is I have not cleared out enough mental space to get the project started and I simply don’t stop doing other things to free up a few minutes to actually do them. Looking back I can see that one of the biggest obstacle to achievement is I did not plan well the mental space I needed to clear to allow the new habit in and I did not intentionally set aside time to actually do the push-ups. It was just a written goal, with no real effort to clear out mental space and time to make it happen. Moral: clear out mental space and physical time to allow for achievement of goals.

Another place I see organizations making a similar mistake. Over 100 colleges and universities have established a presence in Second Life one of the virtual worlds. Not in every case, but in many they simply do in the virtual world the same things they do in the physical world. There is so much more they could do in an environment with:

gravity you can turn on and off and
you can speed up and slow down time.

Here again a large part of the problem is not clearing mental space to allow new ideas and options to flow in.

Second Life website www.secondlife.com

Universities in Second Life that I have toured By CathyLAnderson Cathy has 109 listed so far.

Virtual Worlds Assessment Group on facebook is Cathy’s collection of photos of the she tool on her tours

Jim Sutton
Facilitating understanding in the digital age
Virtual World LightHouse

In Second Life I am “Jeff Oatsmill” Feel free to IM me inworld. http://slurl.com/secondlife/imagiLEARNING/24/6/21/
Web 2.0 Community & Business
About Me Page

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview 3

jimsutton — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:09:33 +0000

Post inspiration: I have known Pat for 9 months, read her book and think it is worth investing some of my time and yours into. I interviewed Pat and this the next post in the series.

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview Part 1

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview Part 2

Next Questions:

Q. What percent of the population are introverts?
A. The Center for Applications of Psychological Type, at CAPT.org, founded in 1975 with MBTI as their cornerstone, continues to provide information and products around psychological type, archetypes, and related applications. Their 1998 USA sample of 3,00 people found Extroverts 49.3%; Introverts 50.7% – so call it being half of the population.
Q. What did you enjoy most about writing the book?
A. What a great question! The entire act of writing is mostly – introverting! I had to research, think, analyze, find a structure; you know, you’re a writer. The activities were energizing. Now some people might think the fueling would end there. No so! Even the marketing of it requires analyzing and planning – more introverting before you move to the extroverting. How GREAT is that?

From the book:
Myth #1: Introverts are anti-social.
“It’s an introvert preference for being alone that often creates a first misconception: we’re anti-social. It’s not that we don’t like people and it’s not that we can’t be social. We can be as social as a social butterfly but small doses work best.”

We will discuss this more later in the interview.

Life Long Learning: Contemplation

jimsutton — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:41:48 +0000

Blog inspiration: Blitztime event. Power hour. Our discussion centered on CONTEMPLATION.

Our moderator was Kristi Arndt. The picture: contemplation = mental research.

When we go at full speed for a while, there needs to be rest stops. These could be meditation, simply sitting and so on. You cannot see deeply into a pond or your soul if you keep disturbing the surface.
Contemplate “Who am I”
Sometimes our lives run us vs. us running our lives. Contemplation/ meditation/ just being still can help sort things out.
Don’t shy away from the what-if game: re-frame it.
- What if my family cooperated in every way next Wednesday?
- What if my boss asked me to do the big new client presentation?
- What if 20 people complemented me after the meeting?
- What if the drive home had little traffic and I felt peaceful?
- What if we discovered $100 extra and went out to dinner next week?
- What if the nice person asked me out to a concert?
- What if I got a compliment and a raise from my boss?
- What if the customer I helped last week wrote a thank you letter to the company?
- What if the new person I am teaching the job to picked it up almost instantly and credited me and told my boss?
- What if I felt at peace?
- What if I were twice as productive this week than last?

Safety Tip: Alcohol and calculus don’t mix so don’t drink and derive #pun

——

My plug for Kristi, my Compass Coach

Kristi Arndt, PhD, IAC-CC
Compass Presidential Ambassador & Founding Team Coach
kristiarndt@yahoo.com
Experience the Gift of Compass
www.ilovecompass.com
Affordable Life Coaching Programs
www.compassclient.com
Rewarding Business Opportunity
www.compassrep.com

—-

Jim Sutton
Facilitating understanding in the digital age
Virtual World LightHouse
Web 2.0 Community & Business
About Me Page

Life-Long Learning: The Future of Learning#4

jimsutton — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:15:57 +0000

Post inspiration: A question I posted on Twitter: What is one idea/ process you believe will be part of the future of learning?

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview Part 2

jimsutton — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:58:50 +0000

Post inspiration: I have known Pat for 9 months, read her book and think it is worth investing some of my time and yours into.I interviewed Pat and this the next post in the series.

Next Questions:

Q. I can identify an apple because it is red, round and grows on a tree. How does a person know if they are an introvert?
A. If you really want to know the complete makeup, it’s best to take something like the MBTI. There are some excellent free ones online however the best is the real one. Now short of these two things I ask my clients to answer this: when you are at a family gathering or a business network event, do you get so charged up you want to stay long after most people have left? Or, have you already planned your exit strategy walking through the door?
Q. Your new book debunks myths about introverts. Could you give 2 example of the myths addressed in the book?
A. The one the still bugs me the most is that people think, when we don’t gab throughout a conversation. From their perception they think it’s something “horrible,” and to that, I’ve been called things like, “Why are you so unfriendly?” Or else, “You are so aloof.” You might say WHO would call you those things? In the past it was my all out extrovert husband! Now Jim YOU and I know – it just isn’t so. Then one that comes at me regularly, to this day, is the notion, the myth, that introverts are not successful in life. For one thing, if you simply search on the internet for “successful introverts” you’ll have a wonderful nugget to know – it just isnt’ so. But for me personally what happens, because I’ve been in my community for 30 years and people know I am a public speaker, a corporate trainer and my many outward appearances, successful, the reaction is amazing. When I started adding to my elevator pitch tag line, “And America’s #1 Business Sales Coach for Introverts,” is when this one got to me. My long time business friends would LAUGH. I had to know WHY they were laughing. Some of them, serious as you can imagine, would say, “Oh Pat you are NO introvert.” Then I’d probe more, “Why do you say that?” Do you know what they would say Jim. It is amazing what people think introvert is and is not. They would say, “Well you are so successful, and you speak so wonderfully in front of a group.” Really Jim. It’s GOT to stop. It just isn’t so.
Q. You point out inherent strengths of a introvert and provide exercises to sharpen these skills. Why did you choose to go beyond simply providing evidence to debunk the myths?
A. I LOVE that question. I had to ask myself that same thing as I was writing! But I think it’s the rest of my MBTI type or even more so, my DiSC style. I’m personally results oriented. Yes; I want to start to turn around those myths. But for introverts who are stuck in them, or believe them, and for younger introverts, it’s going to be important that they turn their thinking around. I wanted to give evidence to debunk them as well as evidence that would make people feel as strongly about the myths being myths so they could fuel their personal power with the truth.

Q. How can people purchase a copy of the book?
A. Jim, since it’s an ebook only right now, they can get it at http://www.coachingforintroverts.com They can get a free 32 page excerpt there before they buy.

To read the the previous posts in the interview series:

Life-Long Learning: Pat Weber Interview Part 1

Jim Sutton
Facilitating understanding in the digital age
Virtual World LightHouse
Web 2.0 Community & Business
About Me Page

Life-Long Learning: Rosemarie Ashley Interview

jimsutton — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:20:46 +0000

Post inspiration: About April of 2009 I came across Rosemarie Ashley’s Linked In profile, we connected and I listened to a couple of her songs from her website I was hooked by the planned positive aspect of the music. As we chatted I found she was living her dream. The more we chatted of the months the more I got hooked on the idea of using music for entertainment and much more: how could it be used in for learning? She and I have been chatting on Twitter for a few weeks now and I decided to try out an interview on Twitter as an experiment. We choose Music Healing as the topic. You can see the interview on Twitter using: #tudevoxRo Getting the individual posts out of Twitter to summarize in a blog proved a real challenge because it could not be done with out a manual cut and paste of each individual post. Therefore, we cheated and used email to exchange the information again.

Music Healing Interview

@JimSutton5: Everyone knows music is entertaining but other than that, are there any physical benefits?

@tudevoxRo: Yes. Entertainment can be so much more than a way pass-time. I say ‘can’ because that depends on the entertainment.

Unfortunately, most people aren’t even aware of the powerful influence what we see & hear has in our lives.

Physical healing is one huge benefit of music. There is an emerging science, studying the effect sound has on body function.

Science shows vital statistics improve while listening to some music. I’d guess it has to do with music changing brain chemistry –

But that is well out of my line of expertise. It seems to be an agreed-upon fact that music affects mood.

@JimSutton5: How does music affect mood?

@tudevoxRo: Music has been part of our culture since before recorded history. It’s a part of our DNA, at least figuratively.

Ancient man played hand drums in a slow steady beat, causing a hypnotic effect, like the mother’s beating heart to the fetus.

This repeated beat can increase in volume and speed, causing an aroused state. Loud, intense beats can elicit fear.

Fast, steady (dance) beats can elicit celebration. Creatively combine other instruments and you’ve got a designer mood-maker.

Add supporting lyrics & multiply the strength of the message, activating the left brain w/ words & right brain with music at once.

@JimSutton5: How does mood affect health?

@tudevoxRo: “Laughing is good for your health”, right? People have known that forever but now scientists can explain why.

It has something to do the muscles, brain chemistry and the reactions to the body during a belly laugh.

Depressed moods lower immunity. Peaceful moods lower blood pressure. Built-up stress causes illness. There are books on the subject.

@JimSutton5: If some music helps people heal, can other music contribute to illness?

@tudevoxRo: Sure. Mental illness. Physical illness. Social illness. I remember hearing mothers’ complain about their kids listening choices.

I don’t think music has absolute control over people. Listening to violent song won’t make a pacifist go out and commit murder.

But a pacifist won’t spend much time listening 2 violent songs either. Someone else, yet 2 form an opinion is more likely 2 become violent.

Repeated listening shapes thought. Thought creates feelings which lead to words, words to action, action to results. We reap what we sow.

@JimSutton5: How do people know what music supports healing and what promotes illness?

@tudevoxRo: The first clue is 2 check how u feel after listening. If it leaves u feeling better, it is helping u heal; even if that requires a good cry.

Another way to know if the music supports health is to LISTEN to the words. If you can’t hear them, find them and read.

Listen to what you’re telling your subconscious through song. Ask, “Is this what I want to be true in my life?”. If so, it is healing.

@JimSutton5: Where can people find music that supports health?

@tudevoxRo: There’s a growing number of artists dedicating their work to intentionally co-creating a better world. I’m one of them.

My website is http://www.SassyAlternativeMusic.com. I offer FREE streaming 24/7 on my download page.

I’m a member of http://www.PositiveMusicAssociation.com and http://www.artistsforabetterworld.com. There are lots of great artists involved.

Bridging Heaven & Earth @ http://www.heaventoearth.com/ has all sorts of music, spiritual shows & art too.

It’s amazing 2 see lots of unrelated people using entertainment 2 empower everyday people 2 intentionally co-create the world of our dreams.

I’m glad to be involved.

Rosemarie Ashley
aka: ‘tude vox Ro, living the ‘tude www.sassyalternativemusic.com

Follow Rosemarie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tudevoxRo

Connect with Rosemarie on Linkedin: Rosemarie Ashley’s Linked In profile

You can follow @tudevoxro ’s MusicMatters series on Twitter by searching on “MusicMatters” A sample is below.

MusicMatters: Because it’s a powerful tool 2 change mood & incite action. Consciously decide w/ your selection of music.

Jim Sutton
Facilitating understanding in the digital age
Virtual World LightHouse
Web 2.0 Community & Business
About Me Page

Life-Long Learning: The Future of Learning#3

jimsutton — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:45:55 +0000

Post inspiration: A question I posted on Twitter: What is one idea/ process you believe will be part of the future of learning?

Life-Long Learning: The Future of Learning#2

jimsutton — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:00:14 +0000

Post inspiration: A question I posted on Twitter: What is one idea/ process you believe will be part of the future of learning?

The question is not getting type of answers I expected. Much more talk about people and far less about technology than I would have expected.