tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46168269232691815012024-02-08T05:26:59.026-06:00Merida on Leadership - The Monarch Ctr For Womens LeadershipMERIDA on Leadership.....Views on leadership that help women fulfill their economic and leadership potential in business, the community and the world.Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-8812068552082140262016-03-04T10:35:00.001-06:002016-03-04T10:35:11.686-06:00How Are Those New Years’ Resolutions Working for You? <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On December 31<sup>st</sup> we find most of the resolutions
we made twelve months earlier aren’t even remembered, much less started or
accomplished! What’s causes the
recurring phenomenon? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Working with my coaching clients I’ve found one of the principal
culprits that holds them back: They are
not ready to change!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most resolutions involve changing a habit or behavior. If
you aren’t ready for change, it won’t happen.
There’s a fabulous change model called Prochaska’s Stages of Change that
has five stages. If you are in the first
or second stage of change, its likely you will not live up to your resolutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you are in the first stage of change, called pre-contemplation,
you don’t view the habit or situation you want to break as a real problem. That’s where I find many of my clients. This is when resolutions are written that don’t
reflect what the client thinks is a problem, but what someone does. Take the example of Luci. Her spouse thinks she should exercise more,
but Luci doesn’t believe her weight is a problem. But to appease her spouse Luci makes a
resolution to exercise more. And does
she? Probably not, because Luci doesn’t
believe a real problem exists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Contemplation is the second stage of change. Here you know there is a problem, but you are
sitting on the fence, weighing pros and cons.
You can stay in the contemplation stage for long periods of time, months
or even years. Moving out of this stage
may require a deep evaluation of values or working with a mentor or role model
to help support you to start planning for change. If Luci were in this stage, she’d be looking
at the pros and cons of more exercise, she might be talking to colleagues or
friends about exercising more, or discussing the value of more exercise with
her physician.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The third stage is preparation. This is where you are really motivated to
take action in the near future, probably within the next month. In this stage you believe you can make a
change. If Luci were in this stage she
would be making plans to join a health club, set up “walking dates” with a
buddy, purchase exercise videos, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When my coaching clients set resolutions and goals I listen
closely to how they describe them. Do I
hear excitement around the goal? Can
they describe why they want to pursue the goal?
Can they say what steps they need to take to achieve the goal? Can they tell me when they will start working
on the first step? Asking these questions allows my clients to listen deeply to
themselves and find the sweet spot where resolutions and goals are going to work
for them, not against them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How do you know if you have
a resolution that works for you? Are you
excited about it? Can you describe why it is important to YOU? Can you list steps
to achieve it? Do you have a start date and schedule? If so, then you’ve probably got a winning
resolution. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Visit www.TheMonarchCtr.com . We help women help themselves fulfill their life, leadership, and economic potential.</span>Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-8184439249842629612016-02-25T16:10:00.000-06:002016-02-25T16:10:19.535-06:00Let’s Start to Invent!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At 7:15 PM
CT the first Wednesday of each month there's a group of committed
women who come together to Toast Leadership.
They are inventors! Invention is about
discovery, creation and change. What these women know is that embracing invention
allows them to grow, develop and fulfill their potential. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In November we
surveyed our Toast to Leadership women and asked, “What topics would you like
to explore during 2016?” Not surprisingly
the respondents <b>didn’t</b> choose topics like negotiation skills, or meetings or team
management! Hands down, these women
wanted more than a toolbox of skills. Out
of a list of several topics on the survey, they wanted to focus on the core
of exceptional leadership…..<b>mindfulness.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Neuroscience
research says that mindful practice brings about changes to the structure and
function of the brain and reinvents us by helping minimizing a life in
auto-pilot and improves our focus, clarity, creativity, and empathy. This change lets leadership presence flourish
and translates into a host of “betters”….better strategic thinking, better
response under pressure, better listening and engaging skills, better and more informed
decision making, and better creativity and innovation. Who <b>wouldn’t
</b>want these benefits? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the
recommendation of our “inventors” the
focus of Toast to Leadership: Ladies
Virtual Night Out this year, is on “Mindful Leadership.” We’ll
explore the neuroscience, see why companies such as General Mills, Pixar and Ford
have implemented in house mindfulness programs, and learn how to practice and
incorporate mindfulness into our daily lives so that we can help ourselves and
other flourish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can’t wait
to get started developing exceptional leadership? Join us by teleconference at Toast to Leadership: Ladies Virtual Night Out the first Wednesday
of each month from 7:15 – 8:15 PM. If
you haven’t registered, sign up at </span><a href="http://www.themonarchctr.com/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">www.TheMonarchCtr.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let’s start
to INVENT!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-54750729063107001742013-11-13T20:33:00.001-06:002013-11-13T20:33:45.567-06:00Prospective Sponsors Will Notice Your Brand…..It Speaks Louder Than Words
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So you want to get a sponsor in your organization…….somebody
with influence who is ready to go to bat for you in furthering your
career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can a brand help you
accomplish this? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Think about the power of brands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be a food, car, hotel, or clothing
brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes a brand powerful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes you go back again and again to a
brand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing it probably isn’t just
their logo or outward trappings that lure you back.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just having a brand with frills doesn’t guarantee success; it’s
what is behind the brand that really counts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that is true for personal brands as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are two examples of what I’m talking
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I lived in Seattle there was a marvelous small restaurant
on the Olympic Peninsula that served the most incredible seafood meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever I was there a line of people, rain
or shine, were always waiting to get a table at the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This little restaurant didn’t have a fancy
logo or, for that matter, fancy anything….except fabulous food and super
friendly service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forty-four years later
I still remember that wonderful place and its name…..The 3 Crabs Restaurant! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, I’ve been to restaurants all over the
world that initially enticed me in by a fancy logo or an attractive storefront,
but didn’t have anything else to back them up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t remember their names now nor would I ever visit them again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like these examples, personal branding is all about
putting your best impression forward AND sustaining that impression over
time.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do you develop a professional brand? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Authenticity
is key!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind the words
of Abraham Lincoln:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>“</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You may fool all the people some of the time,
you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all
of the people all the time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your
brand is not authentic, people won’t be fooled and neither will a prospective
sponsor!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing who you are, what you contribute, and where you are
going make up your brand’s core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
should not be surprised if this sounds familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Branding is interwoven with how you see and
conduct yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s your vision,
purpose, and strengths, daily actions, writing, speaking, interactions with
others and your appearance and “soft skills.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perceptions about you by others play a big part in the type
of possibilities and advancements that come your way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know and follow your vision and
purpose, use and live your strengths, and set and take action on your goals
then the likelihood of building and sustaining your brand is almost guaranteed
as is the prospect of gaining a sponsor.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brands are not useful, though, unless they are communicated
to and known by others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A product can
have all the best elements of a brand, but until the brand is recognized it
can’t live up to its potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An
important element of professional branding is visibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You not only need to develop your brand and
nurture it, you must also publicize it to make a sustained imprint in
furthering your career.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make developing your brand a priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then own it, be proud of it and publicize it
every day through daily actions that speak louder than words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be surprised how much easier your
career can advance and how much more interest a prospective sponsor will have in supporting you.</span></span><br />
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-77377145226543214052013-09-24T19:11:00.000-05:002013-09-29T12:19:52.695-05:00What Are You Prepared to Say to a Prospective Career Sponsor?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the second in a series of posts that explores the
steps that you can take to secure a sponsor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In my first blog on this topic I suggested five actions for obtaining a
sponsor:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol>
<li><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Know who you are and what you want</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Develop your brand</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Network with senior executives</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
Volunteer for cross-functional projects</div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
Approach and secure a sponsor<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This blog tackles the first action:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know who you are and what you want.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Studies show that sponsors clear the path for career
advancement, but the inability for women to connect with senior management in
securing sponsorship is one of the biggest barriers to their career
advancement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sponsor is a senior
manager in the organization who actively advocates for your career advancement
and is in a position of influence to help push it forward. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before others can advocate on your behalf to help advance
your career they need to know your passions, strengths and values, and your
vision of your career path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be
clear on your career goals and know who you are and what you stand for before
others can help you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If others don’t know what you want and the
value you bring, they can’t help you move your career forward. </i>The following happened recently and illustrates
the importance of these points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was talking during a break between the educational sessions at a
recent professional meeting with several attendees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During our conversation the topic of career
progression came up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
attendees offered that she was working on a second Master’s degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her what type of position she saw
herself obtaining after her studies concluded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her response was, “I’m not sure, there are so many opportunities.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since this was a vague response, I probed her
some more and asked her to narrow down the opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She replied with an equally vague response: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Something in compliance.” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At this point, I turned to another attendee, who was also completing a
Master’s, and asked the same question. In contrast to the previous response, this
person provided not only a specific goal, but also gave a picture of his
passion:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I see financial management as
being critical in healthcare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going
to take my current background and education and in five years be the CFO of a
smaller healthcare organization. My ultimate goal is to be the CFO of a large
healthcare system.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see the
difference between the two answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first one lacks clarity and sense of purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the second one, however, the energy, confidence, and determination
just jump off the page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The response not
only includes a specific goal, but also offers a picture of this person’s
passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My immediate reaction was to engage
in further conversation and offer him ideas on how he could reach his five-year
goal.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was not lost on me that there was a gender difference in
the responses. While the above example is a snapshot in time, it conforms to
findings of research studies that show, on average, that women are less clear
about career goals and have lower confidence, ambition, and career expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lack
of career clarity has been cited as a significant barrier in holding women
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So beefing up career clarity is
especially important for women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So how do you develop career clarity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some questions that can help you clarify
your career vision:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are your strengths? (To identify your
strengths, take the VIA 24 Character Strengths survey from Penn State available
for free at </span><a href="http://www.authentichappiness.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.authentichappiness.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Study your top five strengths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually you are at your best and most
fulfilled when you are using these strengths.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Think about a time that you were at your
personal best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What strengths did you
use that helped you perform well?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are
these in the top 10 of your VIA strengths?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do you like to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your passion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write these down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assess how these mesh with your top
strengths.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What would you like to achieve in life (your
vision or legacy)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write this down.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Given your vision, strengths, and passion,
define your career path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do you
want to be in 15 years?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write this down.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What must you do in the next year, in 3 years, in
5 years and in 10 years to get where you want to be in 15 years?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write out a plan for each of these time
periods to get you where you want to be.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When a prospective sponsor asks you what your
career future looks like what are you now prepared to say?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-5812170545232985822013-09-12T17:01:00.000-05:002013-09-12T17:01:42.630-05:00Sponsors clear the path for career advancement. But how do you get one?
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Networking plays a critical role in career advancement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An important part of the network portfolio is
having a sponsor within your work organization. In simple terms, a sponsor is a
senior manager in the organization who actively advocates for your career
advancement and is in a position of influence to help push it forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But according to studies from Rock Health, <u>(<a href="http://www.slideshare.net/RockHealth/rock-report-iii-women-in-healthcare"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.slideshare.net/RockHealth/rock-report-iii-women-in-healthcare</span></a>),
McKinsey (<a href="http://www.mckinsey.com/.../PDFs/Women_matter_mar2012_english.ashx"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">www.<b>mckinsey</b>.com/.../PDFs/<b>Women</b>_<b>matter</b>_mar<b>2012</b>_english.ashx</span></span></a></u><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">), Wall Street Journal (</span><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304746604577381953238775784.html"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304746604577381953238775784.html</span></span></a></u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">), and others, </span>a top barrier to career
advancement for women is the lack of this type of sponsor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how can women secure a sponsor at
work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many companies are trying to turn this phenomenon around by
instituting formal mentor and sponsorship programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are fortunate to work for this type of
company, be proactive and join the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If your company does not have a sponsorship program, the
following is an overview of some preparatory actions you can take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the following weeks, I’ll step you through
each of these, giving you more specifics, ideas, and examples of how these
actions can be executed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Know who you are and what you want. Clarify your
career goals before seeking a sponsor and hone your elevator speech. Know your
passion and strengths and be prepared to share these as well as your previous
successes and career ambitions with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If people don’t know what you want
and the value you bring, they can’t help you move your career forward.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Develop your brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A brand signifies how you want others to
think about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It includes your
values, attitude, physical appearance, affective behavior, emotional
intelligence, your knowledge and the value you project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Network with senior executives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself at
meetings to prospective sponsors, or volunteer for projects, committees, and
initiatives that will give you visibility and that the prospective sponsor
champions. A word of caution:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you must
perform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means your work on
projects and other initiatives must be outstanding. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Senior managers are NOT going to advocate for someone they don’t know
and who cannot produce and execute</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Volunteer for cross-functional projects and
initiatives and then perform well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
will give you heighten visibility throughout the organization and showcase your
brand and performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you believe that you have established
yourself through these steps, you can approach a prospective sponsor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It may be the case that you won’t have to
approach a sponsor; the sponsor will approach you after seeing your value).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make an appointment with the prospective
sponsor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meeting be clear that
you are looking for a sponsor relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be direct about the value you bring and where you want your career to go.
Let the prospective sponsor know that you are open for opportunities that can
advance your career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-2579543925456181212013-08-22T21:11:00.000-05:002013-08-22T21:11:21.448-05:00Anything is Possible
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I received the American Health Information Management
Association’s Distinguished Member Award last October, I shared with the
audience a seminal event that essentially changed my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event was so powerful and resonated with
so many in the audience that I want to share it in my blog, knowing that it can
possibly give you courage to shoot for the impossible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below is a transcript of that speech:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am here to tell you that I am testimony
that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">anything is possible…</b>..Anything
is possible when you ask the help of others and believe in yourself! Over 40
years ago a seminal event occurred that helped me set the course believing that
anything is possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1964 in early Fall, just about
the same time of year as it is now, I was preparing for my Junior year in high
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my course schedule arrived
in the mail (no Internet then), I was surprised to see that I had not been
enrolled in Algebra II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I was
concerned, because a third year of high school math was an essential criterion for
being accepted to the college of my choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I quickly dismissed the worry, deciding that this was an oversight
or data entry error.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be able to get
this corrected, I decided, in my home room on the first day of classes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first day of classes arrived
and I approached my home room teacher about the issue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She confirmed that there was no mistake; the head
of the math department had decided that I should not be enrolled in Algebra
II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I harangued my home room teacher sufficiently
enough that she finally caved and suggested I attend the Algebra II first class
session and take the matter up with the teacher, who was also math department
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I sat through the first class of
Algebra II, my hopes were high that I could successfully iron out this problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After class finished I approached the
teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained the situation and
asked if my exclusion in the course had been an oversight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked straight at me and said, “No,
Merida, this was no oversight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
too stupid to do Algebra II!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WOW!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still distinctly remember what I thought at that moment: “She’s wrong! She is
dead wrong.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although my confidence was shaken and
while I didn’t get into the university of my choice because I didn’t have
necessary math prerequisite, I never lost sight my North Star. I kept a belief
in myself that I not only could, but that I would fulfill my purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And today I thank that
teacher!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thank that teacher because
she gave me a reason to prove myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the years my belief in myself was
like a magnet for opening opportunities & attracting people who wanted to get
on my band wagon, help me along my way and be part of my journey….and that
extends to today<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And
to all of those people I am deeply grateful, you are part of my being, and you
live with me every single day.</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So my friends and colleagues, I
would like to leave you with three challenges. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The first challenge</b> is to believe in yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never, ever let anyone else define who you
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are creative, you are
resourceful, you have valuable strengths to offer………never lose sight of your
North Star because believing in yourself is the foundation of leadership. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The second Challenge</b> is to never underestimate the willingness of
others to help you out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is a team
activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you ask someone to help
you, you give them a gift……you acknowledge their importance and help reconfirm
a belief in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I challenge you to
ask others to help you fulfill your potential because asking for help is a
hallmark of leadership.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And the final and third challenge</b> is to never let a day go by without
asking the question “How can I help you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Never let an opportunity go by to showcase your expertise and leadership
by asking “How can I help YOU,” because this enriches your life and is a
hallmark authentic leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">So go forward. Be the leader you are meant to be in making healthcare a better place by advancing quality health information because....<strong>anything </strong>is possible when you believe in yourself and ask for and give help to others.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span> </div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-76135121040628525952013-08-03T14:10:00.000-05:002013-08-03T14:10:31.576-05:00Committing to Goals and Keeping Them
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the seventh and last
in a series of posts on the story behind the making of my new book, 52 Week
Game Changer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How She Leads<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, we can
all admit to it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve made goals
countless times but more frequently than not have never met them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet for most of us, goals we made five,
ten, or maybe even twenty years ago are still out there in the stratosphere
floating around.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was first
introduced to the idea of simple or single daily actions in a 12-week
goal-setting workshop I took. (Blue Sky Visioning with Ben Dean and Anne Durand). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a
wonderful idea, I thought!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small steps
accumulated over time turn into big accomplishments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since that workshop, I have used this
technique countless times in helping people move forward in achieving their
goals and because of its success I wanted to incorporate the technique as
singular process in the 52 Week Game Changer.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having a
personal vision is essential for leadership, but a vision is usually big,
powerful and amorphous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting your
arms around how to turn vision to reality can be overpowering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact many women I know become paralyzed
with inaction not knowing where to start. That’s where simple daily actions can
come to the rescue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Simple daily
actions are actions that you can control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are consistent, meaningful, and purposeful and taken together, they
are so powerful that change the game……that’s why game changers will spend 26
weeks learning how to set simple daily actions and make them work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be a Game
Changer<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Celebration time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">52
Week Game Changer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How She Leads</i> is
out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Purchase directly at </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mljohnsphd"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.lulu.com/spotlight/mljohnsphd</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
or </span><a href="http://www.themonarchctr.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.TheMonarchCtr.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-41994819040288477142013-07-18T19:08:00.000-05:002013-07-18T19:09:35.714-05:00Being Inspired and Motivated by a Personal Vision <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the sixth
in a series of posts on the story behind the making of my new book, 52 Week
Game Changer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How She Leads<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I often say in my workshops, “If you don’t know where you
are going, all roads lead to nowhere,” which is a take-off on the Lewis Carroll
quote, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you
there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my
experience people without a vision for their future find it difficult, if not
impossible, to feel fulfilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
working with women on their career planning, three of the first questions I
always ask are:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your
vision?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your purpose? What is
your passion?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Studies on
leaders show that successful leaders have a life’s vision and sense of purpose,
but frequently we do not take the time to think about what we want for our
legacy or the purpose of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
bottom line is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to be a
leader you have to lead yourself first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And you can’t <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you can’t lead
yourself unless you know where you are headed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personal
vision and purpose are standards and benchmarks that guide you throughout your
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They help make it easier to arrive at decisions, solve problems, work with others, and face challenges because you have a yardstick by which to measure each of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you have a vision and purpose, career
choices are made simpler; determining a course of action is made more clear;
prioritizing your activities is more straightforward; having self-confidence
and standing up for yourself feels comfortable; and leading others becomes
natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vision and
purpose are unifying themes throughout the 52 week game changing journey…..and
when you’re finished you’ll never “leave home”without the two.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-85065746494706595382013-07-08T21:38:00.000-05:002013-07-08T21:40:55.324-05:00Honoring the Individuality and Values of Every Woman Who Turns Its Pages<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the
fifth in a series of posts on how my new book, <strong>52 Week
Game Changer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How She Leads</strong>, went from vision to reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe that everyone has the potential for
leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also believe that the
roots of leadership are found at our very core—our personal strengths and
values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leadership is rooted in who you
are, not in trying to be someone else. Unfortunately, many of us do not think
about, much less honor, our strengths and values to the extent that we should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through coursework for leadership coaching and through the
coaching experience itself (both as the coach and the coachee), my belief has
only intensified that honoring personal strengths and values is as necessary for
leadership success as water is for sustaining aquatic life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we do not know who we are how can others
know and follow us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we do not honor
our strengths and values, practicing and exhibiting them, how can we expect to
model the way for others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are not
constant in the use of our strengths and values, how can we expect others to
trust us?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The definition of confidence is a belief in one’s own
abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studies have repeatedly shown
that an important part of leadership is self-confidence and the belief that you
can succeed. Those who lack self-confidence often avoid risk and are more
cautious in career choices. Knowing your strengths and knowing how to leverage
these is a critical underpinning of self-confidence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because knowing, honoring and levering your strengths is
essential for leadership, six weeks in the initial part of changing the game is
devoted to helping you know and honor what you bring to the table, finding your
voice to speak for yourself, standing up for your convictions and believing
that you have the ability to “Change the Game.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-794409597940407342013-06-03T15:49:00.001-05:002013-06-03T15:49:19.720-05:00Being companion, confidant, cheerleader, supporter, and sponsor
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>The following is the fourth in the series of how
my book, <strong>52 Week Game Changer: How She LEADS</strong>, went from vision
to reality.</em></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was steadfast that my new-to-be book’s structure must
serve the functions of companion, confidant, cheerleader, supporter and a
sponsor to every woman who walked the game changing journey. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s why there are elements and exercises in the 52
Week Game Changer that serve all these roles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each week there is a companion, confidant, cheerleader, supporter or
sponsor there for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning
of the journey you learn how living gratitude and celebrating your successes frames
your perspective for success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout
the 52 week journey, Gratitude and Success journal are your companions,
confidants, and cheerleaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vision and purpose are your supporters and the simple
daily actions you perform over 26<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>weeks are
the sponsors that motivate and drive you forward in fulfilling your leadership
potential. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Knowing that journeys and game changing can be difficult,
I strategically placed “Way Stations” along the way so that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">journeyers could clarify where they are
and where they are going, and be given the opportunity to adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided
that 52 Week Game Changer should have two parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part 1 would be a series of brief (very
brief) chapters describing one element of the framework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of the book is not to be an
academic work (there are enough of these already).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book’s thrust is “Changing the Game” and
therefore is devoted to action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
introductory chapters are brief, but substantive enough to help game changers
understand the framework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part 1 of the
book is a mere 15 pages.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 2 of
the book is where the action happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is the heart of the process, containing 136 pages devoted to changing the
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in Part 2 that game changers
will find their companions, confidants, cheerleaders, supporters and
sponsors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is here where the game
begins to change by celebrating who you are, identifying what you want to
accomplish, defining the steps you want to take and taking action to change the
game!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-289681098175922822013-04-29T14:08:00.000-05:002013-04-29T14:24:01.709-05:00The Title: I Knew It the Instant I Saw It<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>The following is the third in
the series of how my book, <strong>52 Week Game Changer: How She LEADS</strong>, went from
vision to reality.</em></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Game changer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
browsing through the Internet. I don’t even remember what it was that I was looking
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all of a sudden, there it was
in bold letters as a title on some webpage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Game changer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran into the
next room saying to my husband Russell and my dog Bruno, “That’s it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Game changer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both looked at me quizzically, not
understanding the significance of the moment, but none-the-less cheered me on
with “You Go, Girl!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew the moment I
saw those words, that they reflected the spirit of my new-to-be book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book would be a game changer for helping
women to believe in themselves, honor their individuality, and valuing their
strengths. It would be a game changer serving as a companion, confidant,
cheerleader, supporter, and sponsor to women as they cultivated their
leadership potential.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knew that “Game Changer” was only part of the
title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wouldn’t be an overnight game
change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Changing the game meant
cultivating, growing, and feeling comfortable in leadership over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Discovering, acknowledging, and honoring
personal strengths and values would be the book’s core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finding and then being inspired by a personal
vision and motivated by purpose, developing confidence, and finding a voice
would require reflection and exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Committing to goals, setting accountabilities and keeping them, would
mean taking simple steps on what would be a game changing journey, not a singular
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The title of my new-to-be book, flowed naturally:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>52 Week Game Changer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How She Leads.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Order from <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mljohnsphd"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mljohnsphd</span></a>
and receive an immediate 15% Discount. Coming to other major booksellers soon.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next blog: <em>Revealing the Game!<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-80466668146110604712013-04-11T08:45:00.000-05:002013-04-11T08:45:58.256-05:00From Chaos to Inspiration
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>The following is the second in the series of how my book, 52 Week Game Changer: How She Leads, went from vision to reality.</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The heart of my book had been revealed, but to fulfill
its purpose, the book needed structure, organization, and arrangement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next couple of weeks, ideas for the
book’s content, like Ping-Pong balls, popped into my head endlessly, and at the
oddest times. Sometimes the ideas magically appeared while I was strolling in my
town’s historic square, or when I was walking the dog, or when I woke, tossing
and turning at 3:00 AM in the morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
ceaselessly catalogued all of them in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I doodled sketches on notepads, and wrote ideas on post-its, the grocery
list, and even on the phone message log.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I struggled constantly in trying to find the right balance among the infinite
thread of ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chaos seemed to reign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one day inspiration hit like a
fireball…..the clues had been there all the time, I just hadn’t noticed until
now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been a career advisor, mentor, and sponsor to
hundreds (and perhaps even thousands) of women over my 40 year career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have worked with women; I have been in a professional
field made up of over 90% women and I have seen women struggle to try to make
it up the career ladder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been there
myself, for goodness sake!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve seen and experienced the structural and cultural
barriers that hold women back, but I also know that for many of us the center of
what drives us forward in fulfilling our potential is frequently also the same
as what holds us back…..<strong><em>it is ourselves.</em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the inspiration that hit me like a fireball and
created form out of the endless rain of ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The book’s structure would be framed around ourselves….the celebration
of personal strengths and values, and the discovery and commitment to a personal
vision, purpose, mission and goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Leveraging these —strengths, values, vision, purpose, mission and goals—is
the essence upon which leadership rests and when activated will not be stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><em>In the end, we cannot truly lead others until
we are inspired and can lead ourselves.</em></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next installment of the series: Discover how the title of my book almost fell into my lap!</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></em></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></em></span><br />
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-40312033684357224982013-03-11T21:08:00.001-05:002013-03-11T21:09:03.831-05:00Game Changer
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;">After my presentation “If You Want to Sit at the Head of the Table, You Have to be Sitting There First,” at the national meeting of the American Health Information Management Association last October, several women from the audience asked me and if I had written a book about what I had discussed. I hadn’t written a book, and after repeated questions like this one throughout the convention, I knew what I would be doing in the weeks ahead! I’m happy to announce that the book, 52 Week Game Changer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How She Leads, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is almost ready for unveiling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Read the inside story about the making of the book and get a sneak preview of its contents in my four-week series that starts below. Checkout the book's trailer at</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETKbdZ9FmC8"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETKbdZ9FmC8</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;">Finding Soul<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;">The inside story of writing this book tells as much about it as the actual contents. And it is this journey that I want to share over the next four weeks, hoping that the story inspires and forges a deeper relationship with those who will embrace the “game changing” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>life in fulfilling their leadership potential.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During the days following the convention, my mind seemed like a whirlpool trying to capture the book’s essence. What is the vision? What is the purpose? The ideas circled round and round unendingly.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;">From my experience in climbing the professional and academic ladder and from research findings about women and leadership, I felt instinctively that the book-to-be must be more than a collection of lists, lessons, or rules. I believe that leadership doesn’t happen overnight, in a day, a week, or a month. Rather it is cultivated and developed over time. Lists, lessons and rules may be helpful guides, but its cultivation, the process of nurturing and promoting personal growth, that is leadership’s foundation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;">Over the next few weeks, I took snippets of time to ponder the “soul” of my book-to-be. If I were to launch writing a book on women’s leadership, I had to believe that its content would help women move forward. It had to inspire women to believe in themselves. It had to serve as a companion, confidant, cheerleader, supporter, and sponsor and above all else it had to honor the individuality and values of every woman who turned its pages. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><em>In this vision I had found the soul of my book!</em> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;">Next week, “From Chaos to Inspiration.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"></span></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Regular;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-38673234441677201632012-10-21T15:53:00.000-05:002012-10-21T15:53:45.581-05:00In The Dark Again……..Paycheck Fairness Act (S 3320 and H.R.1519)
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfair pay practices make it harder for all families to flourish and
particularly those that are dependent on the woman as the sole wage
earner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women continue to be paid on
average 77 cents to every dollar paid to a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act helps women and others to
assert their rights for pay discrimination it does not encompass all the
remedies and tools and employer incentives needed to reverse pay
discrimination. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Paycheck Fairness Act updates, closes loopholes and strengths the Equal
Pay Act of 1963 by:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>baring retaliation
against workers who voluntarily discuss or disclose their wages with co-workers;
allowing women to receive the same remedies for sex-based pay discrimination
that are currently available to those subject to discrimination based on race
and ethnicity; and providing training and technical assistance and outreach to
help employers eliminate pay discrepancies.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Act appears to be a no brainer for working women’s and men’s rights. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President Obama has come out strongly in favor
of the Act…..But where does Romney stand on the issue?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Like other issues, Romney has lacked leadership and has remained silent on
his position regarding the Paycheck Fairness Act. Why won’t Romney share his
position on an issue that is significant to helping women and families flourish
economically?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN">When asked by </span></span></span><a href="http://leanforward.msnbc.com/_news/2012/06/04/12055730-romney-campaign-waffles-again-on-fair-pay-for-women?lite"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Rachel Maddow</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> whether Romney supported
the Paycheck Fairness Act, his campaign provided the following answer:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course Governor Romney
supports pay equity for women. In order to have pay equity, women need to have
jobs, and they have been getting crushed in this economy, losing far more jobs
than men. As president, Mitt Romney will create a pro-jobs business climate
that will put all Americans back to work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Given the opportunity in last week’s presidential debate to give examples
of how he would support women in advancing fair pay, Romney sidestepped the
issue completely and instead talked about “Binders” (see my post earlier on The
Binders Issue).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And this is what Leadership looks like to Mitt Romney!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is NOT leadership, its hedging a bet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe that’s a common practice for a CEO of a private equity firm, but
it certainly is not what a prospective Commander and Chief ought to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We Love You Women!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Really?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-77338290417752262492012-10-21T15:47:00.000-05:002013-03-11T21:09:03.833-05:00Violence Against Women.....What's the Issue?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How
prevalent is violence against women in the United States and what is its cost?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According
to the </span></span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-a.pdf"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Centers
for Disease Control</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner
violence are major public health problems in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Physical injury and mental health issues can
result from these forms of violence and may lead to hospitalization, disability
or death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statistics from the Centers of
Disease Control National Violence Against Women Survey, November 2011 report
the following.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nearly
1 in 5 women in the United States has been raped in her lifetime (18.3%) equaling
almost 22 million U.S. women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly 1
in 2 women (44.6%) experienced sexual violence victimization other than rape at
some point in their lives which is more than 53 million women in the United
States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 1 in 8 women or more than
15 million women report experiencing sexual coercion in their lifetimes and
more than 1 in 4 women (32 million women) have experienced some form of
unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Approximately
1 in 6 women (16.2%) in the United States has experienced stalking at some
point in her lifetime where she was very fearful or believed that she or
someone close to her would be harmed or killed as a result. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Statistics
regarding sexual and physical violence experienced by an intimate partner are
equally alarming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One in 3 women (32.9%)
has experienced physical violence by an intimate partner and nearly 1 in 10
(9.4%) has been raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
impact of intimate partner violence ranges from fear for safety to physical
injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>62.6% experienced at least one
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom, 41.6% were injured as a result
of the violence, and 28.0% missed at least one day of work or school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Research suggests that victims of intimate
partner and sexual violence make more visits to health providers over their
lifetime, have more hospital stays, have longer duration of hospital stays, and
are at risk of a wide range of physical, mental, reproductive, and other health
consequences over their lifetimes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Violence Against Women Act<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law whose purpose is to end violence
against women and remedy the laws and social practices that have fostered and
justified the history of violence against women. The VAWA was introduced in Congress
in 1994 by then Senator Joe Biden and received bipartisan support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The VAWA was passed in 1994, as part of the
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and was reauthorized in
2000 and 2005. The current authorization expired in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>VAWA focuses on nine specific areas of
intervention: enhancing judicial and law enforcement tools to combat violence
against women (Title I); improving services for victims (Title II); services,
protection, and justice for young victims of violence (Title III);
strengthening America’s families by preventing violence (Title IV);
strengthening the healthcare system’s response (Title V); housing opportunities
and safety for battered women and children (Title VI); providing economic
security for victims (Title VII); protection of battered and trafficked
immigrants (Title VIII); and safety for Indian women (Title IX) (From the </span></span><a href="http://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/governmental_legislative_work/priorities_policy/access_to_legal_services/vawa_home.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">American
Bar Association</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reauthorizations
in 2000 and 2005 that included improvements and more programs in the
legislation also received bipartisan support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Until this year reauthorization of the Bill had not been an issue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, reauthorization is languishing in
Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
Senate version of reauthorization (S 1925) was passed by the Senate on April
26, 2012, by a 68-31 vote and included new provisions to protect Native
Americans, undocumented immigrants, college women and LGBT members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The House version of reauthorization, H.R. 4970,
a more restrictive version of reauthorization passed by a vote of 225-205, with
216 Republicans and 6 Democrats supporting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>H.R. 4970 excludes the additional provisions the Senate reauthorization
included <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>such as protections to Native
American women and also seeks to limit the number of U Visas that are granted
to women who were abused, giving them temporary legal status and work
eligibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </span></span><a href="http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/uncategorized/GAO/2012may14_vawah_l.authcheckdam.pdf"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">American Bar Association</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, among others, opposes H.R. 4970, considering it
a retreat in the battle against domestic and sexual violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mitt Romney has NOT publically stated his
position on the Violence to Women Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In April 2012 </span></span><a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/04/romney-and-the-violence-against-women-act-120904.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">a spokeswoman</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
for the Romney campaign stated that he </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"supports it" and "hopes it can be
reauthorized without turning it into a political football." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What Romney supports is anybody’s guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romney still has not declared his support for
either the Senate or the House reauthorization bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do know, however, how Romney’s running
mate Paul Ryan stands on the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
voted in support of the restrictive House bill.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unlike President Obama and Vice-President Biden, Romney has consistently
evaded taking a meaningful stand on many women’s issues……in this case by leaving
voters in the dark about where he stands on the Violence Against Women reauthorization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We Love You Women!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-78698939505105412082012-10-18T10:54:00.000-05:002012-10-18T10:54:40.652-05:00Fact Checking "The Binders" and Romney
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I absolutely cringe when women are not given the credit that
they are due.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the case when
Mitt Romney left the impression in the Presidential debate on Tuesday evening that
HE was the driving force in initiating a drive to find qualified women to
appoint to his cabinet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOT True.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, his track record on increasing
women’s representation in his cabinet did NOT hold during his tenure as
governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the facts:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romney gave the impression during Tuesday night’s
debate that HE was the driving impetus behind collecting the binders of resumes
in search for qualified women to hold cabinet positions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is </span><a href="http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/talkingpolitics/archive/2012/10/16/mind-the-binder.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">NOT
TRUE</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Massachusetts Government
Appointments Project (MassGAP), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a bipartisan coalition of over 40 women’s
groups whose purpose is to increase the number of women appointed by the governor
to senior level cabinet positions, put together the resumes PRIOR to the
gubernatorial election . Prior to the election MassGAP asked both the Democratic
and Republican(Romney) candidates at that time to sign a pledge that if elected
they would increase the number of females in the senior level positions<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Romney didn’t even give women credit, where
credit is due, in initiating the campaign to increase women’s representation in
government---instead he took it for himself.</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An independent study by the University of Massachusetts,
commissioned by MassGAP provides the results of THEIR effort to increase women’s
representation in government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And guess
what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romney’s track record on women appointed
to senior level positions DOESN’T hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here are the results . During the initial response to the MassGAP
initiative (2002-2004) 14 of Romney’s first 33 appointments (42 percent) to
senior level positions were women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
2004-2006, however, at the end of Romney's term, women made up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just 25
percent of the 64 new appointments</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
report’s conclusions state that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“MassGAP’s
early impact---with then-Governor Romney selecting women as 42% of his new
appointments---was promising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
the analysis in this report suggest that subsequent appointments did not
reflect in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a continued commitment</i> to
the selection of women for high-level posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The net result over the four points in time suggest that women’s gains
between 2002 and 2006 were elusive:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">women at the end of the Romney
administration did not hold a higher percentage of senior-level positions than
when he took office. “ </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The principal
reason for this, according to the report, is that Romney placed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>men in positions previously held by women more
often than he placed women in positions previously held by men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romney’s attribution that he was the driving force in increasing
women’s representation in appointed government positions, and not <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MassGAP, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is as self-serving as one can get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaving the impression that he had a stellar
record in maintaining women’s advancement in senior level positions throughout
his tenure as governor is simply a misrepresentation of his record.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We love you women!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You be the judge.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To read the whole University of Massachusetts report go to </span><a href="http://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=cwppp_pubs&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dromney%2520massachusetts%2520appointments%2520governor%2520women%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D10%26ved%3D0CFMQFjAJ%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fscholarworks.umb.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1001%2526context%253Dcwppp_pubs%26ei%3DNwBAUPL1Fsex0QGr_IGwDA%26usg%3DAFQjCNEnkwbQLEwvsYnEJhf2unkYeIYhYw#search=%22romney%20massachusetts%20appointments%20governor%20women%22"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=cwppp_pubs&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dromney%2520massachusetts%2520appointments%2520governor%2520women%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D10%26ved%3D0CFMQFjAJ%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fscholarworks.umb.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1001%2526context%253Dcwppp_pubs%26ei%3DNwBAUPL1Fsex0QGr_IGwDA%26usg%3DAFQjCNEnkwbQLEwvsYnEJhf2unkYeIYhYw#search=%22romney%20massachusetts%20appointments%20governor%20women%22</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-77204402100546413292012-10-17T11:00:00.000-05:002012-10-17T11:00:32.480-05:00Fair Pay......What's the Issue?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
established a company that helps women develop their leadership and economic potential
and I work with women every day who are attempting to make the world a better
place through senior and executive leadership . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact is this, however:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The glass ceiling still exists and it not
only directly hurts women, but also hurts their families and children, and the
general economy and well-being of our country. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Supporting
equal pay for equal work by providing practical avenues to achieve justice and
fairness and to hold those accountable for discrimination should be a
sufficient and compelling enough ethical argument in and of itself to support fair-pay
legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However,
the business case is equally compelling for gender diversity and fair pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studies consistently conclude that inclusion
of women in the top ranks of company leadership has a direct and positive
impact on a company’s bottom line and risk management and that companies that
have the best records for promoting women outstrip their competition on every
measure of profitability. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet women disproportionately are failing to
attain senior level positions and the substantial </span><a href="http://www.aauw.org/learn/research/upload/simpletruthaboutpaygap1.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">pay
gap</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> between males and females with the same qualifications doing the same
work is unfortunately still a reality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
first law that President Obama signed after becoming president was the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This act
is an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and states that the 180-day
statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit regarding pay
discrimination resets with each new paycheck affected by that discriminatory
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law directly addressed
Ledbetter v Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, a 2007 Supreme Court Decision that interpreted
the statute of limitations for presenting an equal-pay lawsuit begins on the
date that the employer makes the initial discriminatory wage decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Protecting the rights and interests of women
over business practices that discriminate (and in </span><a href="http://www.lillyledbetter.com/about.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Ledbetter’s case discriminated
for 19 years</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) should be a no-brainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When
Mitt Romney’s campaign was asked if he would have signed the Act had he been
President, their response was “</span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/mitt-romney-lilly-ledbetter-act_n_1417913.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">We’ll
get back to you on that</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some hours
later the Romney campaign came out with a general statement that Romney supported
equal pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However when pushed to say whether
he supported the Act or not in </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/16/romney-ledbetter-act_n_1429961.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">a
later interview</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> , Romney would not provide a definitive answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saying that you support equal pay for women
is NOT the same as saying you that you support the Act. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romney says he wouldn’t repeal the Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Presidents <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">don’t repeal</b> Congressional Acts; only Congress can repeal legislation.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>And
when Romney had the opportunity to clarify his position on the Fair Pay Act
at Tuesday’s Presidential debate, he side stepped the question posed to him by an audience member.</em></strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If
Congress repealed the Fair Pay Act, would Romney sign or veto the bill? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
does</i> Romney actually support with regard to fair pay for women?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to tell because he refuses to give
his position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However,
we do know where Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan’s stands on the Fair Pay
Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2009/h/37"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">He voted against it.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-62032638735774119602012-10-17T00:02:00.002-05:002012-10-17T00:02:46.046-05:00Women's Issues and the Presidential Campaign
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s
a lot at stake in this Presidential election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The results will touch women both directly and indirectly and have a
cascading effect onto the lives of their children and immediate and extended
families. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the founder and director of
a Center for Women’s Leadership Development I feel that I have a responsibility
to offer opinions on how I believe the candidates stand on women’s issues. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could easily duck this responsibility by stating
that stepping into the political debate may possibly alienate current or
potential clients, pose a threat to my business or diminish my standing in some
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that would not be
leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My
life’s purpose is to inform, inspire, motivate and help others fulfill their
potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I choose to “hide” behind a rock and keep my beliefs and opinions to myself then I have failed
miserably as a role model for others and in fulfilling my purpose. My hope is that my
blogs will move people to conduct their own research and fact checking, and critically
analyze their own positions and motivations as well as those of the candidates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My
blog posts over the next two weeks will focus on topics that directly and
indirectly affect women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my search
for the presidential candidates’ positions, I first examined their official
websites. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In
an era when women and women’s issues are critically important to our country
and economy and our actions a source of influence for the world, I was amazed
that Mitt Romney, unlike </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.barackobama.com/womens-issues?source=primary-nav">Obama</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
has no category for “women” on the </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.mittromney.com/issues">Issues</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
page of his website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As
I continued my research, however, I could only conclude that the
reason for this omission is because Mitt Romney doesn’t have much to say on
women’s issues other than offering generalities and platitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>More often than not, Romney has evaded taking
a position on several <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>major issues and
legislation of the day affecting women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As examples, he is silent on the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, The Violence to Women Act re-authorization, and the Paycheck
Fairness Act. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The absence of a definitive
position on these and other issues leaves voters uninformed about how he will
govern when it comes to issues affecting women and is a failure of leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women
voters, their families and the country deserve to be treated better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-69087758563600258782012-09-07T21:38:00.002-05:002012-09-07T21:38:54.219-05:00Deja Vu
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I experienced Deja Vu as I listened to one of the addresses
the other night on the televised Democratic Convention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story of a woman “hitting the glass
ceiling” when she could not be promoted to a job position but yet she was responsible
for training the men who were promoted to this position hit me like a ton of
bricks, resurfacing memories of frustration and humiliation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back in 1971 I had just gotten my bachelor’s degree and had
found it difficult to get any employment except for low-paying clerical
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a job as a receptionist in
the district office of a large, national manufacturing company. In less than
two weeks I was given additional job responsibilities (but no extra pay) when I
became the assistant to the order desk manager.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">About a year after starting my job, an opening in the same
company became available in a sub-office of the company District in another
state. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The job reported to the district
order desk manager (just as I did) and the functions were what I was currently
performing in the district office, but the job had a fancier title and a salary
of $300 more per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow! Was I ever
psyched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew the job functions, my
husband was finishing his degree, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we could
relocate and it seemed like a no-brainer that I should apply and ultimately get
the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong assumption!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes I applied for the job, but got turned down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason I was given was that “this job is
not for a woman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what arguments
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made….knowing the product line, the company, and
performing the job functions competently for a year …..could change management’s view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next
humiliation was when the new hire, a male who had no job experience with the
company, no experience with the product line or supply chain management,
appeared at my office to be trained by me for his new job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any illusions that I may have held about
gender and pay equity quickly vanished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it was deja vu for me when I heard a similar story given
at the Democratic Convention the other evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And what does that story and my story have to do with today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plenty! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You might think that my story is 40 years old and that
gender and pay inequity was wiped out a long time ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess again….not so. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
every educational level women continue to earn less than similarly educated
men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a study conducted by the
American Association University Women, the data showed that ten years after
graduation the pay gap widens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example,
in engineering and architecture there is parity in wages one year after
graduation, but after ten years women earned only 93 percent of their male
counterparts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in business and
management the pay gap was even wider with women earning 69 percent of men’s
wages compared to 81 percent one year after graduation (see Invest in Women
Invest in America at </span><a href="http://www.jec.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=9118a9ef-0771-4777-9c1f-8232fe70a45c"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.jec.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=9118a9ef-0771-4777-9c1f-8232fe70a45c</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The issue of pay inequality is complex and requires action
on several fronts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Federal and state
governments, employers, and women themselves are essential players in breaking
down barriers that are holding women back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of government’s significant roles in breaking barriers is establishing policy and passing legislation that dismantles
discriminatory practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lily
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed by President Obama in January 2009, is an example
of this kind of action. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The law is named for Lily Ledbetter who faced pay discrimination
and as a result championed women’s rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It wasn’t until near her retirement that Ledbetter discovered that she was
a victim of pay discrimination for almost 20 years, making significantly less
than her male counterparts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Upon discovering the pay inequity, Ledbetter decided to sue
and initially won her case at the Federal level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However the Goodyear Company appealed the case
and it went to the Supreme Court and the company won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Supreme Court, in a 5 to 4 decision,
interpreted the 1964 Civil Rights Law 180 day statute of limitations as
beginning on the date the employer makes the initial discriminatory wage
decision, not the date of the most recent paycheck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So Lilly Ledbetter pressed on to get the law changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her perseverance resulted in an amendment to
the 1964 Civil Rights Act that superseded the Supreme Court’s decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That amendment guarantees individuals the
right to file an equal-pay lawsuit, expanding the 180 day statute of limitations
for filing, by resetting the statute with each new paycheck affected by the discriminatory
action</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pay inequity not only hurts women immediately, but it also adversely
impacts them throughout their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It dogs a woman through to her senior years because
there is a trickle effect over her lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lower pay impacts a woman’s
retirement savings, 401K, and her social security benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women seniors depend on social security
benefits more than men because many times they have no other retirement income
and, because women on average live longer than men, they depend on social
security benefits longer than men. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
on average, women’s social security benefits are significantly lower than men’s
due to lower lifetime earnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
result is that many senior women live below or near the poverty level.
(See Invest in Women Invest in America – Report by the Majority Staff of the
Joint Economic Committee at <a href="http://www.jec.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=9118a9ef-0771-4777-9c1f-8232fe70a45c">http://www.jec.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=9118a9ef-0771-4777-9c1f-8232fe70a45c</a> ).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The point of my story is this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lilly Ledbetter Act is a huge win for women
and others who face pay discrimination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happened to me in 1971 was that I was young, unaware, and didn’t know where to
turn for help<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you don’t know your rights, you can’t
exercise them.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women need to understand, stand up for their
rights and advocate for themselves and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<em>And p</em></span><em>art of advocating for ourselves is also knowing who is advocating for
us.</em> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more information on the Lilly Ledbetter Act, what it is,
its history and who advocated for women see:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/s181"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/s181</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilly_Ledbetter_Fair_Pay_Act_of_2009"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilly_Ledbetter_Fair_Pay_Act_of_2009</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To hear Lilly’s story see:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMxsYqaFwA0&list=PL4498719C1B7FAD21&index=14&feature=plpp_video"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMxsYqaFwA0&list=PL4498719C1B7FAD21&index=14&feature=plpp_video</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-9904651345217539642012-05-14T19:23:00.000-05:002012-05-14T21:00:58.591-05:00Policy for Families Matter<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
usually don’t go all political in my blog, but a recent report on public policy
vis-à-vis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the needs of working families
(and this is a woman’s leadership issue) threw me into high gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a politically charged year when there is
so much rhetoric given to “family values,” (and women’s issues) we need a
closer look at what kind of values we’re talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m tired of politicians giving lip-service
to “family values” and then when it comes to doing the heavy lifting they are
as scarce as an Easter egg in July.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
new report<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, Expecting Better: A
State-by-State Analysis of Laws That Help New Parents</i>, issued by the
National Partnership for Women and Families concludes that there have been too
few advances in federal and state employment laws in bringing public policy in
line with the needs of the 21st century family in the United States. The United
States is in striking contrast to 178 nations that guarantee paid work leave
for new mothers and 54 nations that guarantee paid work leave for new fathers.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So
what is the big deal? The big deal is how, as a society, we should walk our
talk about family values and ensure that our public policy gives a hand-up to
families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The big deal is that by giving
families a “hand up,” research shows that there are tremendous benefits for
both families and businesses…..families gain economic security and better health
and businesses boost their bottom lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With
women, as the report states, being the primary or co-breadwinners in nearly
two-thirds of families, loss of income during pregnancy or parental leave has
significant consequences for the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The report cites that only “38 percent of workers have access to
employer-provided short-term disability insurance, and only about one-tenth of
the workforce has access to employer-provided paid family leave to care for a
new child.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those families at the
margins are hit the hardest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Workers in
low-paying jobs who have the greatest need for both job protection and wage
replacement during leave from work are far less likely to have access to either
of these employer-provided benefits.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
this is a women’s leadership issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another recent report<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, Invest in
America—Invest in Woman,</i> a Report of the Majority Staff of the Joint
Economic Committee of the United State Senate, cites<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>out-of-date social supports for working
families, inflexible work arrangements and undervalued early care as major
reasons for holding women back in reaching middle and senior management
positions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So
what is wrong with this picture in a society that supposedly holds that the
family is the essential ethical and moral unit of society,?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where politicians can't stop gushing that
they support women and families?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where, in this latest report, over 60% of the
States were given a grade of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“D” or “F”
for supporting working families?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps
a “hand-up” to help real children, mothers, and fathers living in 21<sup>st</sup>
century families isn’t our vision of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“family values”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and, in the end, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s all rhetoric after all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Expecting Better: A State-by-State
Analysis of Laws That Help New Parents available at </span><a href="http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/DocServer/Expecting_Better_Report.pdf?docID=10301"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/DocServer/Expecting_Better_Report.pdf?docID=10301</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "CenturySchoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturySchoolbook;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Invest in America—Invest in Woman
available at </span><a href="http://jec.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=57cfaf04-f297-4c61-964b-6321af47db03"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://jec.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=57cfaf04-f297-4c61-964b-6321af47db03</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-6918524058337152732012-03-03T15:32:00.000-06:002012-03-03T15:32:11.950-06:00Women's History Month: Unspoken Heroines<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my passions is reading women’s diaries and journals, particularly those of the westward movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My personal library includes upwards of over fifty of these journals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reflecting on women’s history and contributions the following quote from the book “More than Petticoats……Remarkable Montana Women” by Gayle Shirley <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is applicable to begin Women’s History Month:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“There are unwritten chapters in the history of every new settlement, which no pen will ever write, but could they be written, they would tell of the many heroines as well as heroes, women as brave and deserving of credit as those who landed from the Mayflower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have had much to do in the ‘winning of the west,’ and a higher civilization has always followed closely in the footsteps of the woman pioneer.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> ……Lucia Darling Park, 1839-1905, Pioneering Teacher, Montana.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gayle Shirley has a series of More Than Petticoats books detailing women’s remarkable lives from various states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See </span><a href="http://www.gayleshirley.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.gayleshirley.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-89932631183556546092012-03-01T12:48:00.004-06:002012-03-01T12:55:18.778-06:00Is Your Career at a Standstill? Than Change the Picture.<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join The Women’s Leadership Journey, an 18-week dynamic teleworkshop that puts you in the driver’s seat for leadership advancement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three months post-workshop leadership coaching is included to help you steer your career and develop your leadership potential. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1042147">http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1042147</a><o:p></o:p></span>Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-71816756300145129392012-03-01T11:37:00.000-06:002012-03-01T11:37:33.776-06:00Dream Big.......<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you eat an elephant, eat it one bite at a time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may seem like an unusual expression for beginning a blog post, but it’s one that I’ve used many times in my teaching, consulting and coaching capacities. Fundamentally the message is “don’t bite off more than you can chew.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually the phrase serves a useful set point with my clients when they are tempted to be over zealous and try to accomplish too much at one time. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Often I find people struggling to achieve their vision, be it a personal or business vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally it’s not that the vision is unrealistic or unobtainable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, people are thwarted by attempting to do too much at one time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This inevitably results in frustration, loss of confidence, feelings of failure and inability to reach a rewarding goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A vision may not be achieved in a day, a week or even, perhaps, in several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we must realize is that incremental steps are necessary to attain transformational change; the journey to the vision can be as satisfying as accomplishing the vision itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Achieving each step presents new insights, builds confidence, gives a sense of accomplishment, energizes and motivates us and lays the foundation for the next step to continue the quest. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dream big!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But make it a practice to savor the dream one step at a time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>View "Dream Big: A Monarch Minute" Inspriational Thoughts for Women Leaders at: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlxaH1ohg7k&context=C38fb414ADOEgsToPDskI__oGpTuSe5-IwddJHZq_T">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlxaH1ohg7k&context=C38fb414ADOEgsToPDskI__oGpTuSe5-IwddJHZq_T</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">Check out how to develop SMART goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These will help you develop discrete, manageable steps to achieve your dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See </span><a href="http://topachievement.com/smart.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://topachievement.com/smart.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div>Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-77376480366598993312012-01-29T19:41:00.000-06:002012-01-29T19:41:38.928-06:00Lead Yourself Before Leading Others<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the course of my career I’ve seen a lot of people in leadership roles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, there haven’t been very many who have lived up to the leadership title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you’ve seen this too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whether in the workforce, politics, or community or professional organizations people assume the reins of leadership but fail miserably in creating, articulating and achieving a vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leadership literature is replete with rationales, but there is a convergence of thinking that before one can successfully lead others, she must be able to lead herself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Translated:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know Yourself!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In helping people with career choices, one of my first questions is “what is your passion?” Surprisingly, a very small percentage of people can answer that question. How does someone make a career choice without understanding her passion, values or strengths?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is, “Well, probably not very well!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How does a “Leader” lead without knowing her passion, values or strengths?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is, “Well, probably not very well!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plato said over two thousand years ago “I must first know myself………. to be curious about that which is not my concern, while I am still in ignorance of my own self would be ridiculous.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is safe to say that we have a large number of leaders who look pretty ridiculous.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing yourself has been purported to be the most difficult lesson in the world (Cervantes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, while difficult, it is a rewarding and fulfilling journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The journey begins with a step….so don’t be afraid, take the first step and enjoy the journey! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tools that you may find helpful for beginning your journey:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">VIA Survey of Character Strengths:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.authentichappiness.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.authentichappiness.com</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TypeFocus Personality Type:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.free.typefocus.com/">http://www.free.typefocus.com/</a></span> </span></div>Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616826923269181501.post-2602581892647526812012-01-03T14:56:00.000-06:002012-01-03T14:56:57.953-06:00A New Year’s Resolution: Accept The Gift of the Present<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A colleague of mine and I met for lunch a couple of weeks before Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our conversation turned to focusing on my friend’s continuing anxiety over a business decision that she had made over six months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was chastising herself about the income she had lost; about how she had not been assertive enough, and rebuked herself for making the same types of mistakes over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I know my colleague very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is creative and resourceful and I knew that replaying this business decision over and over again was depriving her of pleasures of the moment, especially during this holiday time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When she paused and looked at me for a response, I offered her a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>powerful quote by Babatunde Olatunii.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yesterday is history,” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Tomorrow is a mystery,” I continued, “and Today is a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why we call it the present.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>I asked her to reflect on the quote and then invited her to explain what lessons this business decision had provided. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The conversation from that point shifted dramatically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From worrying about the past my colleague jumped into identifying choices she could immediately make that would incorporate the lessons from that event six months earlier.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Worrying about the past and fretting over the future, robs the woman leader from the time, energy and enjoyment of concentrating on the choices today that will make a difference for tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This is not to say that the woman leader should not reflect about yesterday, set goals or think futuristically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not at all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The key, however, is establishing a healthy balance between yesterday, today, and tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday is past , but action in the present provides input (not control) for tomorrow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apply yesterday’s lessons to your actions today, and tomorrow will be a breadth of opportunities to learn much more.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Inspirational quotes, like the one I shared with my colleague, energize us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such quotes make us feel good and they usually wake us to the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we capture the vitality of the moment and be attentive to the lesson each holds? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">One strategy I have found particularly useful is to journal my lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As you live each day in the present, be aware of the lesson each moment is offering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think for a split second about the lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the lesson is:</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Listening attentively to my colleague’s opinions helps me see matters with more clarity</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Anger is decreasing my ability to be productive</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Worrying is inhibiting me from making an important decision</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Thinking positively makes me feel good</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Hurrying caused me to overlook important details</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Speaking up for my needs gave me confidence</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Get a special, notebook and label it “The Gift of Lessons” or “Lessons Learned” or whatever title is meaningful to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each evening, take the gift of the Present, and write down and reflect (journal) on three to five lessons of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The history can’t be changed, but with the gift of the Present you can absorb the meaning of each lesson and celebrate the opportunity it has given you to build a better tomorrow. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To see a video of this Monarch Minute visit:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVNyUGQ1MI8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVNyUGQ1MI8</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To learn more about differences between how men and women worry see:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2010/03/29/men-and-women-think-diffe_n_517277.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2010/03/29/men-and-women-think-diffe_n_517277.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For the benefits of journaling <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in leadership development see:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.leadershipdevelopment.edu.au/content_common/ns-the-neuroscience-of-leadership-journaling-080108.seo">http://www.leadershipdevelopment.edu.au/content_common/ns-the-neuroscience-of-leadership-journaling-080108.seo</a></span></div></span>Merida Johns, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649079297169710354noreply@blogger.com0