M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 68
March 20, 2011
Goals for the Week After Spring Break (not that other thing)
I thought I did pretty bad last week on Spring Break, but I only didn't sew, or work very much on Midnight Sun. I did get about 5 pages a day on MS, which is a little under my goal but not much.
1) Ignore Friday for all I'm worth
2) Edits on a short story
3) Work on….something else. Anything. I need FOCUS! I have only 2 subs out and that makes me nervous.
4) Tutoring
5) Blog at SPN Sisters
6) Finish up Month of Heroes. Well, we're going to do a bracket next week, but that confuses me. Witness my performance in Dabwaha.
7) Keep house/keep cooking!
March 18, 2011
Leadership: Michael Westen from Burn Notice
When I was writing Raylan Givens's blog, I noticed a number of similarities between him and Michael Westen–so much that I almost didn't write Michael's blog. Both left bad home lives for a life of righting wrongs. Both returned home against their will. Both go out of their ways to help people.
But I think Michael is more of a leader than Raylan, who is a bit more arrogant and doesn't ask for help. Michael doesn't either, but he's learned to accept it, even depend on it. He has support on Sam, the former Navy SEAL, who used to spy on him for the Feds, and Fiona, the IRA-trained former spy who is also his on-again, off-again lover. Even his mother Madeline is drawn in to help every now and again, much against Michael's will. She seems to be trying to make up for his unpleasant childhood, and he's trying to protect her.
Sam, Fiona and Madeline turn to Michael for guidance. He's usually the one with the plan, always trying for the simplest solution with the fewest people hurt. That's not always the way things work, but he's also able to adapt quickly.
Even when Fiona and Sam are on other operations, they come to Michael (or call) for guidance. they know he cares enough about them to take the time to get them safely out of a situation.
I think that's a primary quality of a good leader–caring about the people he leads as well as being smart enough to lead.
What do you think makes a person a good leader? Who would you name as a strong leader? Don't forget to comment for a chance at a $25 gift certificate!
March 17, 2011
Leadership: Doctor Who
Today, Natalie's talking about Doctor Who (which I haven't started watching yet) and his leadership qualities. Go comment for a chance at a $25 gift certificate!
March 16, 2011
Leadership: Coach Eric Taylor from FNL
DISCLAIMER: I've not seen the last 2 seasons of FNL. I don't have Direct TV, but I do have the second to last on DVD. I just haven't watched it yet. So my observations are from the first few seasons. (I wouldn't even Google because I don't want to be spoiled!)
Coach Eric Taylor from Friday Night Lights is a prime example of a strong leader. He motivates the boys on his team on the field and off. He's a father figure to players who don't have one, like Smash and Riggins. He's support for Matt Saracen (my favorite character next to Tyra Collette). He's stern, frowny and gruff, but his strength and dedication to his job show, and his students feel comfortable—or as comfortable as teenagers can be—enough to turn to him when they're in trouble. Riggins got kicked out and came to Coach. Smash needed help getting a scholarship.
Though he stands in front of his team, he also stands behind them, pushing them to improve, to reach their full potential in life and in the game. Let me tell you, as a teacher I KNOW how important that kind of motivation is, to make kids want to work hard for you, and have them transfer that desire to wanting to work hard for themselves.
His approval is quiet, though, not effusive, when his team rewards his hard work. Still, you can see what that affirmation means to these kids who often don't have any other.
I've learned a lot about teaching from Coach Taylor, and while I can't be as gruff as him, I hope I can be as motivational.
March 15, 2011
Today, Jack Shepherd from LOST
Today Natalie talks about Jack Shepherd from LOST as being a great leader. Go comment for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate!
March 14, 2011
Leadership: Sheriff Rick Grimes
This is my RELEASE DAY for my Carina Press book, Road Signs!!! WOOT!!!!! Very excited, already have two reviews!
Continuing now with the Month of Heroes, I'm going to talk about Rick Grimes. Remember to comment for a chance to win a $25 gift card!
Sheriff Rick Grimes from the Walking Dead is a strong leader. Though he's behind everyone else since he's been in a coma. He is still weak and freaked out by what he sees, but that doesn't stop him from struggling to get home to his family—only to find them gone.
Once he recovers, he's determined to find answers. In doing so, he heads to Atlanta and the Center for Disease Control looking for answers. He's overwhelmed by the zombies inhabiting the place, and is rescued by a group of people who've come to the city to look for supplies. But by the end of the episode—or is it the next? They're running together in my head.—he rescues them. By the time they return to their camp, where his wife and child and bff are, he's already slipped into a role of leadership.
Maybe it's the uniform. I would imagine when society crumbles, people will look for authority to look out for their best interest.
Maybe it's his devotion to his family. People trust him because they know he would never put his wife and child in harm's way.
Maybe it's his calm façade in the face of all that's going on before him, like when he dealt with the gang that wasn't.
His decisions aren't always the best, but they're what he believes are the best, and people follow him because of his determination. After reading some articles to spark my memories of the season, I'm now interested in reading the graphic novels. Have you read them? Do you think Rick's a good leader?
March 13, 2011
March 12, 2011
Week 2 Winner
The winner for Week 2 of The Month of the Hero is Virginia C, who commented on my eHarlequin blog on Thursday! Congratulations!
Goals for SPRING BREAK!!!!
It's HERE!!! I'm so glad it's here, but goodness, the way time's flying….
1) Celebrate the release of ROAD SIGNS on Monday!
2) Blog at Nine Naughty Novelists and the Carina Press blog
3) Really dig in to Midnight Sun revisions
4) Finish Ghostly Charm edits
5) Prepare the last two weeks of The Month of Heroes
6) Day with Mom
7) Sew a skirt, maybe buy fabric for another.
8) Plant flowers!
9) Library
10) Cook every night, since we ate out every night last week! And I'd bought a bunch of fruit and ended up tossing most of it L We just weren't home.
11) Keep up the house, especially organize my closet. I need to weed out like crazy.
March 11, 2011
Hero Worship Month: Loyalty/Doing the Right Thing
I know you're wondering what took so long—finally we've gotten to one of the Winchesters! Natalie talks about Dean and his loyalty to his family and friends, few though they are.
