Beverly D. Flaxington's Blog, page 11
May 29, 2012
Every Step You Take: Every Choice You Make
Reading the paper this morning, I saw an article about a 71-year-old grandmother working as a crossing guard, who was killed by a speeding car as she stood in the crosswalk. There was a report of three young people killed while riding with a drunk driver. There was a child left unattended in a daycare bus who is fighting for his life.
May 21, 2012
Let It Go
Holding a grudge seems to be the American way. Someone does something to me and if I “let them off the hook” then I am a push-over, or a patsy. It’s important for me to stand up for myself and let that person know I am not going to take it anymore!
May 18, 2012
Changing Behavior: It Can Be Done! What I've Learned from Georgianna Donadio
I was asked to review Georgianna’s newest book, “Changing Behavior.” I was immediately intrigued by the title, because I know firsthand how hard it is for many people to make lasting change. In fact, we often view “changing behavior” as the other person’s work! I want my boss to change, or my spouse to change or my sister to change. Give me a book that tells me what I can use on the other person!
May 14, 2012
Overcoming Obstacles
Those of you who follow my work are familiar with my S.H.I.F.T. Model™. It’s a change management, goal achievement model I created after working with individuals and businesses for so many years. The “H” in the model stands for “Highlight your obstacles and categorize them.” I believe in unearthing the things that hold us back and get in our way. Only if we recognize them, acknowledge them and work with them can we rid ourselves of them at some point in time.
May 1, 2012
Just "Care"
Care, according to Dictionary.com, can mean:
verb (used without object)
to be concerned or solicitous; have thought or regard.
to be concerned or have a special preference (usually used in negative constructions): I don’t care if I do.
to make provision or look out (usually followed by for ): Will you care for the children while I am away?
to have an inclination, liking, fondness, or affection
Mama Cat
We are so lucky to be a foster family for both dogs and cats from two different humane groups. We have 8 pets of our own, but we also open our home to rescued animals waiting for their own forever home. Right now we have a Mama Cat with her six little kittens. The mom was dumped right before she gave birth, and these kittens would have been raised as “wild.” I’ve never been around tiny little kittens like this, so I have been thoroughly enjoying the time. We received them when they were a day old and they are now 3.5 weeks.
April 24, 2012
“Calm Down!”
This is one of my kids’ favorite phrases – if I ask them to do something more than once, or if I use a stern voice or if I start to get a bit frustrated because I think they aren’t listening to me, they respond with “Calm down, MOM!” Of course, when someone tells me to calm down, it has the opposite effect on me. “What do you mean CALM DOWN??? I AM CALM!!!!”
April 16, 2012
Love Me? Hate Me?
This is the time of the year when the spring teaching session comes to a close and final grades are in. I enjoy playing Interested Observer, watching the students’ reactions when they learn of their grade. I receive many emails from students during this time – some write to tell me I am the best professor they’ve had and how much they learned from me. Others write to ask me what other classes I am teaching so they can enroll in additional classes with me.
April 9, 2012
Common Courtesies
Today I answered the phone in our office. We always say our company name and then our own name. The person on the other line hesitated for a long time, then said “Mike Slemmer.” I couldn’t quite understand what he meant. I have a business partner named Mike Slemmer but did this person mean he was Mike, or that he wanted to speak to Mike, or just that he liked Mike’s name and so wanted to say it?
April 3, 2012
Bullies in All Shapes and Sizes
With the upcoming release of the movie “Bully,” due out on March 30th, I have been interviewed on 20 plus radio shows over the last couple of weeks, being asked about my opinion on what we can do in our schools about bullying.
