Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Passion And Prejudice: Motivators and Manipulators

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Passion and prejudice are two key aspects of Human behavior. They are two phenomena which are powerful motivators and manipulators. These two "P"s move us about like chess pieces on a board. We all possess both, and we're all aware, to some extent, that we do. Yet the strongest, most deeply-rooted of each of these, ironically, are the least visible to us. That is because we are so profoundly in their thrall that we believe that they are a part of us -- and we find it very difficult to separate ourselves from them and examine them from an outsider's perspective.

Both are drivers, either toward or away from things. At the risk of excessive alliteration (which carries a $50.00 fine and/or up to 5 years in jail in certain states), passion pulls us in, while prejudice seems to push us away. Both are contagious.

Braintenance Actions (Today): 

1.  Give some serious thought to how much these two variables routinely influence your decisions day to day, and to how they have shaped your life's path in the past [this last one is a tongue-twister];

2.  Which is the more powerful of the two in influencing your behavior?

3.  One of these variables is protective (defensive), while the other is risk-inducing (more dangerous). Which is which? The answer might strike you as ironic.

Think about the things that you are thinking, and what makes you think them. [ahem]. If you could be more consciously and critically observant of your actual thinking patterns and processes, might you do things differently?

If you could somehow perfect the difficult art of conscious thought (i.e., stepping "outside of yourself" and clinically observing how you think) would your life and your choices be better?

BCNU.

Douglas E Castle

http://braintenance.blogspot.com/
http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/
http://www.tnnwc.com/




Saturday, July 23, 2011

Synergy And Harmony - One And The Same - Variations On A Single Theme

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Synergy and harmony are very much separate manifestations of the same phenomenon. This mysterious creation of an extra amount of value (or extra energy, or joy, or profit, or power over emotions or matters)defines the conventional laws of mathematics as it does physics.


When two instruments play together, or two or more voices sing together and and they create harmony, there is a coordinated richness far greater than that which would be rendered by any one component playing its melody a capella.


When two persons work together and produce an innovation, an invention or a process which is far greater than either of them could have possibly done in a solo environment, or even merely additively, an extra increment of energy is created, sort of like in an exothermic reaction.


While this sometimes makes me prone to think of the notion of critical mass and a nuclear explosion, perhaps harmony and synergy are more the product of an ethereal expression of exponentially enhanced creative energy.


I was a musician long before my first foray into the world of negotiating mergers and joint ventures. Perhaps we can all reconsider synergy to be more than just the "whole being greater than the sum of the parts." Perhaps synergy is when assets, Human or otherwise, work in harmony to produce a kind of quantifiable music.


The following is excerpted from my RadioDAZZ blog for your diversion and enjoyment.

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This is an amazingly rich piece of music. Chuck Mangione on flugelhorn (without his customary cannabis-cracked notes), Esther singing at her clearest, and most beautiful voice. A wild conga (a real one) which builds up as more and more instruments join into the dance. A wonderful, living, vital beat -- bright and exciting.

Welcome to: Land of Make Believe- Chuck Mangione, Esther Satterfield & Hamilton Philharmonic.

Beautiful dynamics, and delicate orchestral expression on multiple levels. God - please save the music.

Go ahead and swing your shoulders. Dazz would. Enjoy this. Take a break from the corporate routine. If you feel the urge to don a large straw hat filled with assorted fruit, I won't tell anyone. I've done it, myself. In fact, I once balanced a book on my head while I boogied around my office listening to this song at full blast. Really.

Once back from psych leave, I did it again!

The song is just...explosively exciting. It is a celebration of the gift of music to Humankind. It is the synergy that I understood long before my alter ego threw himself into the business world to negotiate joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions.

A well-constructed business relationship is simply an alternative expression of harmony.




Aside to Martin Luther King: The dream lives -- it is just in hiding. - Douglas

Radio DAZZ!

Please VISIT us and make us a FAVORITE at http://RadioDAZZ.blogspot.com

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NOTICE: This article is Copyright © 2011 by author Douglas E Castle with all rights reserved. It may be republished without permission provided that it is published in full, with all hyperlinks and exhibits left intact, and with full attribution given the author. This article does not contain or constitute medical, health, psychological, legal, regulatory, investment, securities, financial, tax, or any other form of professional advice -- the reader acknowledges and accepts this disclaimer. Further, the reader indemnifies and holds harmless both the author and all publications in which this article appears of any damages, claims, loss, responsibility or liability emerging from the reader’s utilization of any information contained herein.


About This Author: Further information regarding this author’s professional experience, expertise and service offerings can be found at ABOUT DOUGLAS E CASTLE

Other Blogs And RSS Feeds By This Author: A comprehensive list of blogs and RSS feeds on various subjects written or moderated by Douglas E Castle may be found by clicking on the orange icon below.

This Blog Is Powered By TNNWC Group, LLC ™

Contact This Author Directly: Click HERE for an instant pop-up form.

You may follow Douglas E Castle on TWITTER 

The author highly recommends that each of his respected readers becomes Pinglerized (a Lingovation™) in order to maximize SEO, search engine ranking, and to exponentially increase both unique visitors and recurring traffic to your website or blog. Leverage this wonderful technology.


The author wishes to thank the following resource providers:

Feedburner, CoolText Graphics, JavaScript Free Code, Zemanta, Google, WordPress, Widgetbox, and Wikipedia
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Friday, July 22, 2011

Fill Your Mind With Positive Energy and Productive Exercise - Help Kick Depression Out.

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Your brain, and the the mind within/surrounding it requires stimulation and exercise to be a powerful friend instead of an insidous enemy.

The vacuum of the idle mind tends to fill up with self-doubts and negative reflection if we fail to focus it on positive work, i.e., problem-solving.

One of the best ways to cognitively (but indirectly) deal with situational and even clinical depression is to engage the mind in the exercise of productive thinking. Make friends with your Mind.

Following are two exercises. The first one is very simple if you know the formula (You do. Test your recall), and the second one requires pattern recognition, memorization (sustaining mental pictures) and just a bit of creativity.

Enjoy them both.

Faithfully,

Douglas E Castle
http://braintenance.blogspot.com/
http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/
http://negotiation1.wordpress.com/
http://www.tnnwc.com/ - TNNWC Group, LLC [Management Consulting Services]

#1 Big Sum

What is the sum of all the whole numbers from one to one million?


800px-1000000

[Show a simple method to obtain this answer quickly.]

#2 The Alphabet

Pretend that an A is worth one cent, B is worth two cents, C is worth three cents, and so on.


1. How much is the whole alphabet worth?

2. What is the value of DECEMBER?

3. Find a word worth exactly one dollar.

[must be a word found in an English dictionary]

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NOTICE: This article is Copyright © 2011 by author Douglas E Castle with all rights reserved. It may be republished without permission provided that it is published in full, with all hyperlinks and exhibits left intact, and with full attribution given the author. This article does not contain or constitute medical, health, psychological, legal, regulatory, investment, securities, financial, tax, or any other form of professional advice -- the reader acknowledges and accepts this disclaimer. Further, the reader indemnifies and holds harmless both the author and all publications in which this article appears of any damages, claims, loss, responsibility or liability emerging from the reader’s utilization of any information contained herein.


About This Author: Further information regarding this author’s professional experience, expertise and service offerings can be found at ABOUT DOUGLAS E CASTLE

Other Blogs And RSS Feeds By This Author: A comprehensive list of blogs and RSS feeds on various subjects written or moderated by Douglas E Castle may be found by clicking on the orange icon below.


The author wishes to thank the following resource providers:

Feedburner, CoolText Graphics, JavaScript Free Code, Zemanta, Google, WordPress, Widgetbox, and Wikipedia
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Saturday, July 16, 2011

Sustainability, Capitalism And Government - Three "Uber-Variables"

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Reality Versus Perception - Real Trends Versus "Aftershock" Reactions

We, as Human Beings, are never particlarly good at making objective decisions, judgments or plans. We are sensorially barraged by overlapping discordant waves of staccato advertisements, promotions, and news which is more about entertainment and propaganda (spin doctoring) than it is about reporting of factual information. We are bombarded by the noise (and accompanying sensorial fatigue) that envelops us, and are shaped, in every aspect, by the external environment.

This having been said, we are each burdened by the imposing filter of his own perception. Even if we are given the right raw data or raw material, we may misinterpret or mismanufacture. This comes from inside of us.

Carried to its logical conclusion, it is very difficult for us to differentiate between what is real (and lasting), and what is imaginary (ephemeral and incorrect). We tend to live our lives in a reactive and defensive state, and it is easy to be misled. It is a tough paradox that rules the way in which we think -- i.e., can a psychotic truly know, with any degree of certainty, when he is hallucinating and when he is not?

Every trend-spotter, forecaster, futurist, strategic planner, entrepreneur, investor and street-crosser must work hard to separate reality from perception. Our inherent subjectivity and our brief, rushed lives stand between us and intelligent conclusions.

It is increasingly difficult to know what indicia signify a "fad" or a "knee-jerk response" from a trend that is meaningful with serious consequences.

There are three big uber-variables at play in the world, and we are constantly being demanded to choose sides, to take action, or to "feel" a certain way about each.

One is government, and all that it involves;

One is capitalism, more often than not confused with "greed," and generally being associated with the privileged political "right."

One is sustainability, more often than not confused with, or lumped indiscriminantly in with, environmentalism, ecological sensitivity, and the political "left."

What I am about to state is merely my own opinion about the above three items, rendered in simplistic terms:

Sustainability might just be here to stay; but then again, capitalism (despite some highly negative press) is not expected to make an exit anytime soon, and government (and divisive, partisan politics) will always be a part of our lives as long as there are more than two people on this planet.

Yours Faithfully,


p.s. If you would like to read an article about how two of these uber-variables, Sustainability and Capitalism, might actually co-exist to the benefit of those supporting either side (there are really no "sides"... there are just generalizations and convenient categorizations), please click on the article link below:



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NOTICE: This article is Copyright © 2011 by author Douglas E Castle with all rights reserved. It may be republished without permission provided that it is published in full, with all hyperlinks and exhibits left intact, and with full attribution given the author. This article does not contain or constitute medical, health, psychological, legal, regulatory, investment, securities, financial, tax, or any other form of professional advice -- the reader acknowledges and accepts this disclaimer. Further, the reader indemnifies and holds harmless both the author and all publications in which this article appears of any damages, claims, loss, responsibility or liability emerging from the reader’s utilization of any information contained herein.


About This Author: Further information regarding this author’s professional experience, expertise and service offerings can be found at ABOUT DOUGLAS E CASTLE

Other Blogs And RSS Feeds By This Author: A comprehensive list of blogs and RSS feeds on various subjects written or moderated by Douglas E Castle may be found by clicking on the orange icon below.

This Blog Is Powered By TNNWC Group, LLC ™

Contact This Author Directly: Click HERE for an instant pop-up form.

You may follow Douglas E Castle on TWITTER 

The author highly recommends that each of his respected readers becomes Pinglerized (a Lingovation™) in order to maximize SEO, search engine ranking, and to exponentially increase both unique visitors and recurring traffic to your website or blog. Leverage this wonderful technology.


The author wishes to thank the following resource providers:

Feedburner, CoolText Graphics, JavaScript Free Code, Zemanta, Google, WordPress, Widgetbox, and Wikipedia
---------------


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NOTICE: This article is Copyright © 2011 by author Douglas E Castle with all rights reserved. It may be republished without permission provided that it is published in full, with all hyperlinks and exhibits left intact, and with full attribution given the author. This article does not contain or constitute medical, health, psychological, legal, regulatory, investment, securities, financial, tax, or any other form of professional advice -- the reader acknowledges and accepts this disclaimer. Further, the reader indemnifies and holds harmless both the author and all publications in which this article appears of any damages, claims, loss, responsibility or liability emerging from the reader’s utilization of any information contained herein.


About This Author: Further information regarding this author’s professional experience, expertise and service offerings can be found at ABOUT DOUGLAS E CASTLE

Other Blogs And RSS Feeds By This Author: A comprehensive list of blogs and RSS feeds on various subjects written or moderated by Douglas E Castle may be found by clicking on the orange icon below.

This Blog Is Powered By TNNWC Group, LLC ™

Contact This Author Directly: Click HERE for an instant pop-up form.

You may follow Douglas E Castle on TWITTER 

The author highly recommends that each of his respected readers becomes Pinglerized (a Lingovation™) in order to maximize SEO, search engine ranking, and to exponentially increase both unique visitors and recurring traffic to your website or blog. Leverage this wonderful technology.


The author wishes to thank the following resource providers:

Feedburner, CoolText Graphics, JavaScript Free Code, Zemanta, Google, WordPress, Widgetbox, and Wikipedia
---------------

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Raise Your Intelligence, Lower Your Stress - Braintenance!

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You'd like to be more intelligent, more successful, more respected and admired. You'd also like to eliminate stress, feel absolutely comfortable and be endlessly creative. In order to dso this, you must master your mind. You must train your brain. This only takes moments a day. Simply go to http://braintenance.blogspot.com/, scroll around, and use our brain gym.

Having said this, I must ask you a question: What expression is as ridiculous as "It takes one to know one."?

The answer (or at least the most popularly selected answer amongst a group of 4 people polled while I waited for my daughter at a train station) was, "The more that things change, the more they remain the same."

The first expression is childish and follows no particular line of logic. The second, however is inherently conflictory and genuinely [if analyzed] meaningless. It cancels itself out.

My personal favorite stupid, irreversible, oxymoronic expression is this classic:
"LESS IS MORE." No syllogism there. No one says it in reverse. Maybe it applies to antimatter, or to the laws of a different universe in another dimension. But have you ever heard some one say "MORE IS LESS?" Oxymoron fans, this is better than your garden-variety oxymoron -- this is truly false irony. The British have an expression that typifies this type of falsity in polite speech: They frequently say "nowthen..." at the beginning of a declaration or casual sentence fragment.

The way that I tell time, there cannot be a nowthen. It is either now, or it was then.

Forget jumbo shrimp, authentic replica, miltary intelligence, helpful civil servant, and all of the rest of the traditional exemplars of oxymoronics in common speech. The ones I've cited above warrant serious exploration. The persons using them also warrant serious evaluation.

How about the pre-emptive disclaimer of all prior things mentioned to you. Someone will say, "To tell you the truth..." Was he always lying before? A better version of the same abomination is "I'll be honest with you..."

Words are fun to play with (unless you happen to be a member of the editorial staff of The National Networker (TNNWC) Weekly Newsletter published by TNNWC). But when you've finished playing with them, please put them back where they belong.

Faithfully,

Douglas E Castle
Chairman of TNNWC Group, LLC,
Corporate Negotiator, and
Author of Braintenance

p.s. After you've read the fine print beneath this post, please see a listing of other related sites and articles which might also be of interest.
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NOTICE: This article is Copyright © 2011 by author Douglas E Castle with all rights reserved. It may be republished without permission provided that it is published in full, with all hyperlinks and exhibits left intact, and with full attribution given the author. This article does not contain or constitute medical, health, psychological, legal, regulatory, investment, securities, financial, tax, or any other form of professional advice -- the reader acknowledges and accepts this disclaimer. Further, the reader indemnifies and holds harmless both the author and all publications in which this article appears of any damages, claims, loss, responsibility or liability emerging from the reader’s utilization of any information contained herein.


About This Author: Further information regarding this author’s professional experience, expertise and service offerings can be found at ABOUT DOUGLAS E CASTLE

Other Blogs And RSS Feeds By This Author: A comprehensive list of blogs and RSS feeds on various subjects written or moderated by Douglas E Castle may be found by clicking on the orange icon below.

This Blog Is Powered By TNNWC Group, LLC ™

Contact This Author Directly: Click HERE for an instant pop-up form.

You may follow Douglas E Castle on TWITTER 

The author highly recommends that each of his respected readers becomes Pinglerized (a Lingovation™) in order to maximize SEO, search engine ranking, and to exponentially increase both unique visitors and recurring traffic to your website or blog. Leverage this wonderful technology.



The author wishes to thank the following resource providers:

Feedburner, CoolText Graphics, JavaScript Free Code, Zemanta, Google, WordPress, Widgetbox, and Wikipedia
---------------

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