Definition of Mentoring: The modern usage of mentor - trusted friend, counsellor or teacher - first appeared in François Fénelon’s Les Aventures de Telemaque in 1699, Wikipedia (2009). Dictionary.com has a similar definition for a mentor, “Wise and trusted counsellor or teacher, an influential senior sponsor or supporter.” And Wikipedia notes that “Mentors provide their expertise to less-experienced individuals to help them advance their careers, enhance their education.” An important aspect of professional success involves participating in mentoring programs. And now more than ever, during these … [Read more...]
Review of Instant Turnaround by Harry Paul & Ross Reck
April 28, 2009 by
Instant Turnaround! Getting People Excited About Coming to Work and Working Hard by Harry Paul and Ross Reck is an easy read at 158 pages of large print. I liked the message and concepts, which are easy to understand, but I did not like the delivery. The story is in the form of a fable and it may be that I am tired of fables, but for me the setting and the situation outlined appeared contrived, too convenient and a bit phony and I couldn’t visualize myself in that setting. The meeting reminded me of a mastermind group where members talk about projects that they have been working on. The junior member of the group, Freddie Kim brings his … [Read more...]
Invisible Mentoring Tip #1 – Reading in Motion
April 27, 2009 by
While reading, interact with the words on the pages and bring them to life. Scan internal memory banks for related information. Nothing exists in a vacuum so find ways to connect the new information to the old and form something completely new. Connect two pieces of information that appear to have nothing in common. Play with the information and expand your thinking. Blog about the book as you read to start a conversation. Process what you are reading as you are reading. How can you apply one concept from the book to make life easier? Think about it and read in motion. What are your thoughts? What are other ways … [Read more...]
Career Corner: Rodger Harding and David Gray Up Close and Personal
April 24, 2009 by
Learning from the experiences of others shortens the time it takes to achieve professional success. Invisible Mentors Rodger Harding and David Gray share with us what a typical day is like and what it takes to succeed in their fields. What can we learn from them? What’s a typical day like for you? Rodger Harding (RH): I start the day at 6:00 am with several cups of coffee, until its recent demise, enjoyed along with the wonderfully structured chaos of Tom Allen’s Music & Company (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio 2); I consciously take stock of being alive, my good fortune and what needs to be done … [Read more...]
How to Carve Out the Time to Read in a Busy World
April 23, 2009 by
“Korean CEOs read an average of two or three books per month, which was slightly lower than what their counterparts at western companies who read on average 1,000 pages per month,” says a research report by Samsung Economic Research Institute (SERI) documented in Korea Economic Trends, NO.333, August 7, 2004. Assuming that the average book is 200 – 250 pages in length, western CEOs read four to five books each month. Another unrelated study by the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy indicates that, “in 2007, CEOs in the United States took home an average of $10.5 million, 344 times the take-home for typical … [Read more...]
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