Life Improvement & Self Affirmation

1st Week

Day 1

1. Treat and believe that this blog is the most important blog you will ever read or do!

2. Participate, write/type your answers to the questions. The process of actually "doing" will help focus your thoughts and bring meaning to your responses.

3. Think about the perspective of someone else. How can you be more understanding, helpful, or even aware of another persons situation.

Day 2

Skills-Toolbox

Here is a “Study-skills” class in a blog-post. Tips and tricks to help you succeed in your other classes, at work, and at maybe even at home.

Answer the questions at the end of the Blog-post !

Day 3

From the reading in Day 2, what is your cell phone called?

1. Little Black Box of Happiness

2. My reason for living

3. Little Black Box of Failure

4. iPhone

Teacher-Oh-Teacher

Now that you know about the "Magic T" and making each class a priority, it's time to pick a favorite. Whether at work or school you are surrounded by potential mentors. Go Get One (or two, or more - the right mentor for the job)!

Answer the question, "What advantage would a specific teacher or teachers provide you?"

Day 4

From the reading in Day 3, do you have a teacher mentor?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Working on it

Do-your-Grades-reflect-the-average-of-your-five-closes-friends

I found a “new” group of friends the summer before my Senior year of high school. They don’t know it (until now), but they changed the trajectory of my entire life. Read this post about the effect that friends have on your future success!

Answer the first two questions (and seriously consider completing question number 3) on the Blog-post.

Day 5

From the reading in Day 4, are you working on replacing some friends?

1. Nope, my friends are great!

2. I have a couple that could be replaced.

3. I have a few possible candidates.

4. I'm friends with everyone and I found that post crude and vulgar.

Risk VS Reward

Decision-making is a skill. And like all skills you have to practice in order to get good at it. However, unlike many other skills that you learn in life, decision-making will require no additional time out of your schedule. There are plenty of opportunities to make decisions in your life. Let’s learn how to make good decisions while making routine decisions every day.

Answer the questions on the Blog-post.

Day 6

From the reading in Day 5, how would you rate your ability to make "hard" decisions?

1. I'm good, I can see the long-term picture.

2. It's difficult, but generally I do what I should do instead of what I want to do.

3. It's impossible, YOLO.

Leadership vs. Management—A Difference?

There are many distinctions between managers and leaders.

1. “Leadership” = risk, creativity, vision

2. “Management” = efficiency, process, regulations

A. Leadership: “Doing the right things”

vs.

B. Management: “Doing things right.”

Leaders can be managers, and managers can become good leaders.

Think of the difference between Shepherds and sheepherders.

1. Shepherds care for the flock they work with the flock and understand its needs. They focus on the flocks growth and development.

2. Sheepherders work to move the flock from point A to B. They focus on the production results of the flock.

Day 7

Define the following statement:

“Lives of great men all remind us, we make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us, footprints in the sands of time.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Read the following Presentation on Leadership Styles.

Think about what type of leadership style suits your personality

2nd Week

Day 9

From the reading in Day 8, a ________________ exhibits confidence about future success of an organization.

1. Mission Statement

2. Resume

3. Vision Statement

4. Job Description

Read the following Presentation on Setting Goals

Day 10

From the reading in Day 9, what type of goal reflects the dreams, visions, and mission of the organization?

1. Short-range

2. Intermediate

3. Long-range

Read the following Presentation on Time Management

Day 11

From the reading in Day 10, which of the following do you struggle with the most?

1. Creating a daily “To Do” list.

2. Prioritizing your tasks.

3. Effectively delegating.

4. Controlling & minimizing interruptions.

5. Handling phone calls/text messages/social media.

6. Procrastination.

7. Using a Daily planner.

Read the following Presentation on Non-Verbal Communication

Day 12

From the reading in Day 11, what is the "proximity" for normal personal space?

1. 0" - 18"

2. 18" - 4'

3. 4' - 12'

4. 12' or more

Read the following Presentation on Communication Methods

Day 13

From the reading in Day 12, people may not remember what you said but they will remember....

1. when the movie starts.

2. how you said it.

3. how you made them feel.

4. to buy you lunch.

Read the following Presentation on Diversity

Day 14

From the reading in Day 13, the "Glass Ceiling" refers to which group?

1. Racial

2. Gender

3. Disabilities

4. Religious

Read the following article about Team-work.

1. Be prepared tomorrow to answer some questions about working with a Free Rider and what strategies you could use to create more effective teams in your life.

3rd Week

Day 15

After reading the Day 14 article about Team-work write/type a response for each of the following questions.

1. What did the article say about working with a Free Rider and do you agree with its reasoning?

2. What strategies from the article you could use to create more effective teams in your coursework?

The nature of the readings for the rest of the days will change.

We're going to explore a variety of Precepts, Platitudes, Proverbs, and Quotes. The entries will focus on different aspects of your life (courage, perseverance, leadership,

After reading each entry, think about (contemplate) its individual meaning to yourself. Don't think about what the author was trying to say or how the "world" interprets the thought.

What does the entry mean to you, how does it give you strength, how might it inspire you?

Day 16

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"No man is an island, entire of itself." - John Donne

Day 17

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Day 18

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Event the smallest person can change the course of the future." - J.R.R. Tolkien

Day 19

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"However long the night... the dawn will break." - African proverb

Day 20

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." - Stephen Grellet

Day 21

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Whatever you are, be a good one." - Abraham Lincoln

4th Week

Day 22

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"With great power comes great responsibility." - Uncle Ben (Stan Lee - Spider-man)

Day 23

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Everyone is weird in there own unique way." - Geary Page

Day 24

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge." - Confucius

Day 25

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"The man who moves a mountain must start by moving small stones." - Chinese Proverb

Day 26

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." - William Blake

Day 27

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Do a deed of simple kindness; though its end you may not see, it may reach, like widening ripples, down a long eternity." - Joseph Norris

Day 28

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Winners never quit and quitters never win." - Vince Lombardi

5th Week

Day 29

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"It's not the load that breaks you down. It's the way you carry it." - C. S. Lewis

Day 30

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it." - Jonathan Winters

Day 31

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - Unknown

Day 32

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"I am part of all that I have met." - Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Day 33

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw

Day 34

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Sometimes rejection in life is really redirection." - Tavis Smiley

Day 35

Internalize and type a paragraph about the following precept:

"Don't let others dictate the terms of your existence." - Geary Page