Happiness

Describe 3 experiences or environments that have been a source of happiness for you. What about them made you happy and what impact did that source of happiness have on your life?

Posts due by Sunday, Dec. 2 at 9pm.

Balance

Balance

Having rigorous schedules, balance is crucial.  How have you attempted to maintain balance?  Do you 

think balance is possible?

What do you need to help you maintain a balanced lifestyle?  What are things that might help you as you seek to do this in the future?

Due Sunday, Nov. 18 at 9:00pm.

Cultural Understanding

Part one:

Reflection on Sunday's retreat -- due Friday, 10/26

Part two:

"Exploring the 'Other'" Project Pairings (one group of 3) Junior/Senior alphabetically) -- due Friday, 11/9

Alesi/Bansal
Ball/Bryant
Diacou/Detro
Donadio/Heidersbach
Eifel/Hornung
Gerber/Kretz
Hussain/Levert
Khan/Mailman
Mayer/Maina
Mulholland/Manning
Oppong/McBride
Pecsok/Norton
Qamar/Novi
Remy/Nurre
Ross/Pacelli/Yun
Shanahan/Turner

Overcoming Change

Please post your response in either a written or video blog by Friday at 5pm.

Here are some quotes to get you thinking about adaptability:

"They that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils." - Francis Bacon

"If you live in the river you should make friends with the crocodile." - Indian Proverb

"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." - Stephen Hawking

Mentors for Life

Hello Fellows! Please respond via vlog or blog no later than Friday, Oct. 12 at 5pm.

Looking forward to seeing your responses!

Perception of Leadership

Please post your responses by Friday, October 5th at 5:00pm.

Selling Yourself

Hi Fellows!

Please note that your responses can be written for this prompt.

Blogs are due by Friday, September 28 at 5:00pm.

Summer Reflections

Hi, Fellows!

I hope you all have had a wonderful summer. For your first blog of the year, I wanted to create a place for you to reflect upon and share your summer experiences. With that said, here is your first prompt:

• Reflect upon your 2012 summer experience. Where were you? What were you doing? Did you hold a job/internship? If you had an internship, did it affirm any future career goals for you? Talk about what your summer experience meant for you.

Submit your own post on your page reflecting on this prompt no later than Wednesday, 8/22 at 12:00noon.

A Meaningful Mentorship

Responses to the vlog are due by Friday, May 25 at 5pm. 

Thanks everyone! 

Critical Thinking Workshop

If you lost the "How is this going to make me a better leader?" sheet, here are the 7 bullet points:

• Learn how to slow down and take in more visual details
• Think deeply and critically
• Listen carefully
• Nurture greater self-awareness
• Promote risky taking (not risky behavior)
• See an issue from multiple perspectives
• Develop empathy for others

I'm looking forward to your responses!

Learning from the Shale

(sorry for the failed attempt at stopping the video...)

The "Greater" Purpose (slide from Spring Quarter Challenge PPT)

• Navigate an ethical issue
• Understand the Lobbyists' Dilemma (how to balance personal views vs. work views)
• Build a coalition of support
• Quickly develop expertise on a topic
• Communicate persuasively
• Network with others
• Work in the large group (again)

Goal-Setting Workshop

Why BLF?

Notes from last week:

• Overall, good job on your vlogs!
• Watch how many times you say 'um', 'like' or other fillers
• Be sure that you make eye contact with the screen -- otherwise, it's awkward to watch

Check out this week's prompt:

If that wasn't understandable, here's the short version:

Many of our alumni supporters were impressed by how much time and effort you put into the program.  They were astonished that 'it's like a part-time job' yet they still want to put in the work.  Our question for this week is why you continue to put so much time and effort into the program.  What keeps you motivated to remain engaged in BLF?

Welcome Back!

Happy spring quarter and vlogging.  Each week, I'll post your prompt on this page (in a vlog format).  Check out the video and create your own response by the following Sunday at 5:00pm.

Check out the instructions below for how to complete your own vlog:

1. Take your iPad and open the Camera function.
2. Switch the Camera function to Video, ensuring that the screen is capturing your face.
3. Flip your iPad horizontally (as this is how the videos upload to blogger).
4. Press the button with the red dot to begin recording yourself.
• Remember to speak slowly and clearly.
• Be sure to exude confidence and make the video exciting!
• Add your personal touch to the vlog with any props, demonstrations, illustrations, etc.
5. Once you’re finished, press the record button again (this will stop the filming).
6. Select the arrow button on the top right-hand corner of the screen and email the document to yourself.  If your post is over 1-minute, send it to YouTube instead of your email.
7. Check your email, and save the movie file to your desktop computer (by right-clicking the word “download” and choosing to save it to your desktop)
8. Open your blog page and create a new blog.
9. Click on the video icon and upload your saved video from your desktop (this may take a few minutes).
10. Once it’s finished uploading, publish the blog, and you’re finished!

...and we're back!

Welcome back to blogging and reflecting, after your week off :)

Before you compose your blog, I encourage you to read the following article.  Though it's not necessary for this week's response, it covers differentiation in the workplace, through strategy, art, realizing your potential, etc.  It even provides great reflection questions at the end!

(Is this book creepy to anyone else?  This is supposed to be a children's book to challenge them to think in new ways...)

It appears as though you all have learned a lot this quarter in terms of (in)appropriate communication, process of (in)effective group functions, creating organizational structure, being (un)dependable/(un)responsive, working with (ir)responsible group members, etc.

Just take a minute and think about what you've been through over the past 8 weeks in this challenge.

I found the following quote on a website (as a book excerpt) that I think really articulates this idea:

One thing that Gergen and Vanourek address is the idea of meaning making in the face 

of challenges.  “Life entrepreneurs resolve to shape their own destiny. In doing so, they 

must be awake to possibility, recognizing that when we embrace big new ideas we can 

elevate our condition and help others to do the same. When we do, we often find 

ourselves, suddenly, in the right place at the right time, surrounded by the right people, 

thinking about the right things. Rather than being tossed about by changing 

circumstances, we discover opportunity in challenge and change.” (p. 67)

Okay, now onto the blog prompt:

Using whatever form you find most appropriate (story-telling, metaphors, video clips, etc), pick three things you have learned from working in the large group challenge and describe:

(a) the situation leading up to the lesson

(b) the lesson itself

(c) what you will do differently in the future if you're in the same situation

Please answer a, b, and c for three (3) lessons you've learned through working in the challenge this quarter. not just one.

Remember, BLF intentionally focuses on creating unique experiences and environments to inspire and hasten the learning process.  Please take time to consider your contributions and lessons of the past quarter to find the meaning in your experiences!

In the Kitchen with BLF

...sorry this picture isn't culturally competent -- it's just the best Google Images had for clip art...

But as promised, it's time for this week's blog!

Remember back to the Cooking Challenge from Saturday. (as a reminder, you and your guests: gathered in the Instructional Kitchen, were given a 90-minute cooking challenge, received 8 ingredients you had to incorporate into either an entree or an appetizer, broke up into six teams, cooked, and then plate the meals for our team of 3 judges)

It went something like this.

Well, maybe not ... but this is what the mystery ingredient announcement was like :)

Okay, so that's not true either, but I wanted to incorporate that clip into this post somehow. I just love Iron Chef America -- seriously, when I'm able to have cable again, that's the first show I'll regularly watch!  I mean, how can you not get excited with faces and expressions like that.

But back to the post...

Your questions for this week are fairly reflective on the experience cooking in teams, with families, etc:

1. Why did we host this event and invite your parents and families? (...aside from the collaborative partnership we have with the Office of Parent and Family Relations)
   
2. What was the dynamic like working with your guest in the kitchen? Did you behave any differently in that setting that you do with your guest normally? (aka - did you take on a different role in the context of your relationship that you normally don't with that person?)
   
3. Did you/your team set any goals or timelines for completing your vision? If so, how did those work?
   
4. How was this similar or different to working with simply other Fellows?
   
5. What was the most challenging part of the challenge? the easiest?
   
6. What were the top three Core Competencies that you personally used to complete this challenge, and how did you use them?
   
7. Would you recommend this type of event again? If so, why? and If not, why not? (please describe specific components)
   
8. Did you actually enjoy your food??

That's all I have for reflection this week :)

Happy blogging!

REFLECTIVE POST AHEAD -- proceed with time and thoughtfulness :)

As busy people, it's super easy to breeze through our day-to-day activities without really thinking. Sure, we have to think during classes about the course topics and learn new material. But do we really have to think?

This week, we're hoping you take some time to reflect and make meaningful connections within the things you're experiencing on and off campus as:

college students.

goal-driven individuals.

organization members.

high-functioning thinkers.

people with ideas, hopes, and dreams.

One of the main objectives of this program is to develop a group of juniors into self-aware, capable, articulate, and prepared individuals -- prepared to step into the world of work and be able to make an impact.

But wait.

Can we truly get there without moments of reflection, refocusing on goals, and restructuring the idea of our future?  I argue no.  We have to take moments to reflect and create meaning; meaning of our experiences, for ourselves, meaning for others -- to provide context and purpose behind everything that we do.

Check out this quote:

This week, we're hoping that you take a look at what you do on a daily basis (the classes, groups, activities, time spent) and question the motivation behind each 'thing'. What are the motives and purposes guiding what you're doing? Are there things that just don't fit with who you say you are or what you profess you want to do? Are there awesome things you do on an everyday basis, perfectly in line with your goals? Are there things that create a sense of flow and play?

...

Be honest.

(the only person you're lying to is yourself)

POINT ONE for this week's blog: Talk about what you do in your everyday life. What things are a little fluffy, or simply futile? What things engage your time, interest, talents, and passions?

Now, think back to Robert J. Thomas' book "Crucibles of Leadership"

...you're remembering...

And if you haven't pulled out the book yet, please go do that now. :)

POINT TWO for this week's blog: Think about your favorite passage from the book and quote it. Then looking at what you've experienced over the past year, what has been your biggest crucible moment? What has challenged you to learn, explore new things, and expand your ideas of the possible? What have been the fruits of that failure?

POINT THREE for this week's blog: Pick something in your life that you haven't considered in a while. Ask yourself "WHY" 5 times. Record your topic, questions, and responses on your blog :)

Let's PLAY!

CREATIVITY
...or at least, the following images are what come up in GoogleImages when you search creative art:

Isn't this true??!

Are you feeling inspired?

...fantastic :)

Now listen to the following  TED Talk  (if you want) and check out the following image:























Is this the state of creativity in our society?

As we learned and experienced on Friday, there's a growing Creativity Crisis (Newsweek) in America. Schools, technology, myths all play a role in this crisis -- and I'm sure there's an ongoing debate as to which is most detrimental to society.

For this blog, however, I'd like to focus on how to inspire creativity in our daily lives. Check out Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk on inspiring creativity on a daily basis for some starters.  For this week, I'd like to you consider and blog about the following (providing a concrete and specific example for each when applicable):

1. First, do you think it's important to be creative? Why or why not?
2. When was the last time you were creative or engaged in play? What were you doing? Were you working with others? (provide an example, and do NOT use Friday's workshop as an example)

Now, drawing on your experiences from Friday's workshop, consider and respond to the following (for those of you absent on Friday, just do your best to answer the questions!):

1. What was your perspective on creativity before and after the workshop? Did it change? If so, how? and if not, why not?
2. Did the workshop's play activity give you any tips and techniques into incorporating creativity into your daily life? If so, please provide some examples.
3. As Creativity/Innovation is a Core Competency of BLF, how are you going to apply what you learned (or perhaps already knew) about creativity and play into this current challenge?
4. Finally, did you have fun? :)

And my last question for you this week is a bit off the wall, but I hope it will inspire creativity in you!  So... You are working on an autobiography; pull one chapter from the book. What does it look like? What is the topic? What are the stories, explanations, or lessons you include in it?

That's all I have for now -- I hope you all have creative responses to this week's prompt!

What's your fit?

Let's be brief this week.

After postponing your proposals for, well, the undetermined "near future" perhaps we can use this time/space for evaluation of the current proposal you all created.

 1. Let's get back to basics. 



Post your Top 5 Strengths from the Strengths Assessment you took last Spring Quarter.

Choose and describe one strength that you used really well last quarter in the challenge.





Then answer the following questions:

a. Why did you choose this strength and not any of your other four?

b. How did you use that strength?

c. What was the environment?

d. How do you know you 'used it well'?

e. How did using it impact your team?

2. Now stop and think:
what skills (not defined by Strengths) do you have which are unique to you?

You're thinking...

...Maybe it would be helpful to make a list.

Done?

Okay.

a. Pick your Top Three (3) skills, and list them out. (If they're ambiguous, please provide some context of situations in which you express them well.)

b. From those three (3), choose at least one (1) which you would like to use in this 'conference' challenge. What can you do, and what can others do to help you exercise this skill? You don't have to have any set idea at this point on specifically how it can be used, but be sure to provide suggestions on what scenarios, environments, etc would allow it to be used. 

3. Feedback. 
Remember the first 1:1 you had with Eddie and me? One of my questions regarded how you prefer to receive feedback.

If you don't remember, it's okay :) Here's how I probably described it:

"Imagine a feedback continuum. On one end, we have individuals who prefer to receive feedback very bluntly and without any feel-good, sugar-coating. On the other end, we have individuals who need some positive reinforcement with constructive feedback and some suggestions for how to improve the behavior in the future."

Remember that?

Where do you fall on that continuum?  Please describe where you fall, and include an illustration of your preference, if you find it beneficial :)

That's all for now.

Until next time:

Blog responsibly, my Fellows.

Buckeye Leadership Challenges: back in action!

Welcome back, BLF :) ...and by back, I mean back into the world of challenges, workshops, meetings, oh my! (okay, that was probably a stretch for that reference - sorry...)

So you're probably all familiar with Oprah Winfrey. If not, please take a minute and update yourself on one of the influential radio/TV personalities, producers, philanthropists, of our time! Admittedly, I've never been a big 'Winfan'. However, she does produce some great quotes every once in a while. Check this one out:

"Do the one thing you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it."

Think about that for a minute. How does that apply to everything you did last quarter: your goals, ideas, brainstorms, lessons learned? What pieces are you going to hold with you as Crucible Moments and lessons for the long term? How are you going to let your failings (however you semantically counted them) impact your future progress?

(pause)

Okay, that's enough thinking. Before you read any further, check out this video.

Are you feeling inspired?

Great.

So now to focus on the prompt of this blog:

You've been through a lot in the past quarter - you've learned lessons, and you've set goals for future progress. And at this point, you know your challenge for this upcoming ... year!? (geez, that's a lot of time). What we're interested in knowing for this week are the following:

1. Initial reactions (to the 'Conference Challenge') - what did you think/feel when you heard the presentation?
2. Biggest fears (for the challenge) - what are they? why?
3. Largest hopes (for this challenge?) - what are they? why?
4. Expectations - what are your expectations of yourself? of the group?
5. Core Competencies - which of our list of 14 (yes, please reference your worksheet), do you think will be most emphasized in this challenge?

Fantastic.

Please remember to answer all of these questions in full and as they apply to your life.

Thanks :) Happy MLK weekend!