Permanent, Pervasive, and Personal

I've had this book on my to-read list since February 2005, so I figured it was about time. Seligman's concept of "positive psychology" was foundational to my program. I suppose it's pretty well dated at this point, having been first published in 1990. The link here is actually to a newer edition of the book than the one I'm reading, although I don't know if it has been updated.



The title is somewhat misleading - Seligman really spends more time discussing what he calls "explanatory styles." His thesis: you can change your explanatory style, and thus learn to be optimistic. He is careful to discuss the evolutionary advantages of pessimism, too, and shares his thoughts on when optimistic or pessimistic styles should be used.

This book places another brick in the foundation of my program. It fills in some of the holes for me. However, I don't think it was absolutely necessary that I read it, so I can't recommend it as a core text.

Musicovery : webRadio

I don't know what Musicovery : webRadio really is, but I like it. I would like it better if I had a broadband connection to the Web.

A Hag Drees Her Weird

This week I read a book of pure fiction clear through. (Graduation has its privileges.)

To mark my return to reading-as-entertainment, I chose to read A Hat Full of Sky, the sequel to one of the best kiddie lit novels I've ever read (Harry Potter series included), The Wee Free Men. A Hat Full of Sky is well written and a nice continuation of the story arc, but I must say that The Wee Free Men is a must-read, while this sequel is not. The Nac Mac Feegle have to be the best fantasy characters ousted from Fairyland by the "Quin" ever!

Terry Pratchett is a genius. If you've never heard of Discworld - you heard it here first.

You Are Here

Will You Still Love Me (When I'm 64)?

For a graduation present, the kids bought me a Gameboy DS game called Brain Age.

Go ahead. I know you're dying to ask me, "Do you have a Gameboy DS, Tina?"

No, I do not!

But the kids do. They said I could borrow it to keep my brain sharp now that I've graduated from college.

My first brain age? Eighty. Yes, eight-oh. (I got it down to 40 on Day 2.)

Workin' in a Coal Mine

At what point does, "I'm incredibly uncomfortable with the volume and pace of work here," turn into "It's impossible for me to succeed in this environment?"

That's the question I'm asking myself this week.

If I had accepted all of the meeting invitations I received for Friday between 1 and 2 p.m., I would have had six concurrent meetings scheduled. There's no one to whom to delegate these meetings, and I can't be in six places at once, either in person or virtually.

The conveners really have no choice but to overschedule people - there are just too many projects and too few subject matter experts to participate in them. It's a systemic problem. But let something fall through the cracks, and all holy h*ll will break loose on the poor schmuck who 'let it' happen.

Communicating this upward is important and I have been doing that. Yesterday, for example, it was suggested that I delegate two items to colleagues to get some relief. Within the next hour, the same individual who advised me to delegate to a peer committed me to three additional tasks and deliverables due in the next 24 business hours.

I am tired.

Blogging Goes Mainstream

Check out this story from Technorati. Essentially, bloggers are now plugged in to one of the most respected traditional media outlets in the world.

I guess that begs the question - why would AP continue to pay for (some) content when it can get it free from established bloggers? Will the big-time bloggers begin to demand payment?

Pride, Pomp and Circumstance

I'm off to Cleveland for the Case commencement weekend.

I'm surprised by my level of excitement!

Cheryl emailed me last night - we're meeting at the Hessler Street Fair today to see Pete McDonald play. Then we're off to Paula's home in Columbia Station for a graduation picnic.

I'm really looking forward to celebrating with my MPOD friends. Who knew?

Free Will

How much of my life has been a reaction against something negative instead of a turning toward something positive?

I'm questioning a lot of my so-called choices lo these last 26 years. It seems to me that they were less choices than reactions to being pushed one way or another. Why the heck do I spend 11 hours a day in a cubicle?!

I miss my children, and I don't think I'm accomplishing anything that somehow is more noble or valuable than meeting their personal needs for time and undivided attention.

All of this reflection is probably coming up because of the impending Case commencement.

Connectedness

Connectedness is my idea of a great blog! Tons of resources on social and organization network analysis (SNA/ONA) plus a smidgen of insightful commentary and direction.

For me, blogging is most effective when it's brief and personal. I don't want to read a 10,000 word article online. Give it to me short and sweet - I'll check the textbook out of the library or buy it online if I get that interested!

Organizing the OD Organization

I think we came up with some great ideas for CCODN programs last night. It's exciting to participate in planning for the future.

I volunteered to build a blog for the CCODN programming team. It will give us a place to announce upcoming programs.

Marc, Nancy, Debbie, Mary - thanks for inviting me to join the fray!

Counting Down to Commencement

It's a Divaliscious message from Pam!

I Get By With a Little Help

How will I stay connected with my friends from the program? How can I keep the upward spiral of learning moving in the right direction after I graduate?

These questions had been on my mind for several months. A couple of weeks ago Mary, an MPOD friend who lives in Central Ohio, asked me to assist her with programming for CCODN - the Capital City Organization Development Network. It took me about 10 milliseconds to say, "Yes!"

The new programming committee meets for the first time this evening. As Mary says, it's nice to have an excuse to meet with friends.

small art by Andrea

Andy is promoting this artist on his blog.

small art

I love her forms and colors.

All a Friend Can Say Is Ain't It a Shame

I'm down in the hole again. Trying to pull myself out by my bootstraps. (Mixed metaphors, I know.) Caffeine and sugar may help.

Check Out Mr. Businessman

For two days I've been participating in a users group conference. Six sessions a day times two days = twelve sessions. Not a one has had anything at all experiential associated with it. It's all PowerPoints and talking heads.

I suppose it's not fair to expect a users group conference to be enlightened about adult learning principles. But for crying out loud! Ask us a question! Throw something at us! Walk out into the crowd - we don't bite! (At least not yet.) How hard would it be to place the chairs into small groupings and facilitate our talking to each other for an hour?

It's too easy to criticize. Let's switch gears for a minute.

In all fairness, there has been a lot of good information in those PowerPoint presentations. I was privileged to hear Octavio Marenzi, the CEO of Celent, speak in two different sessions. He's a good presenter and the content was comprehensive and interesting.

Orlando

It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here.