Know where to start from




Where is the magical button on social media where you just press <enter> and off you go into the stratosphere?

There is none.
There were none when I started either.  Any new social media corner there were signs with advice on which turn to make.  LEFT or RIGHT ..... which could end up being RIGHT or WRONG.

Right it is
To assume right as the likely choice since we use the same word in both situations.




Resistance
There are so many more resisting factors, fears, concerns time 100s to the ones who are actually on here.

Where is here?
Where you are when you read this:  at home on your PC, laptop, tablet?  Scrolling around sensitized and on high alert for something interesting to appeal to you in that split second it takes you to react to that magical CLICK.




To journey
To arrive here, you will have had to be comfortable enough to have an internet connection and at the very least an email/service provider.

The starting line
Would be your interpretation of how you will use that device:  to chill out, to search for something, to check something ... whether it be a fact, a source, a resource, a review, a picture, a story.  




Reach out
That is when you reach out:  when you are looking for something.  Somehow, somewhere somebody (I'd bank of Google) is amassing all those queries or search terms and dividing and conquering sourcing that one top reply.

Replies to multiple
Within that algorithm, there most likely dwells a key identifier that would suggest which ones are the most popular responses by site.  In other words, which one of the choices is clicked on most often.  An from that, extrapolate which ones held the audience the most captive the longest.




That's the sort of information 
Anyone who is a knowledge junkie or fact checker to support their blog would be found.

I'm a big fan of numbers
Which I just really recognized by self-discovery by examination of answering this one question:  What do you want?




What you want
Is not one singular thing.  There is no magical way of blinking here one moment into time travel and advancement to a now where you've arrived at that answer.

There are steps
Whether you are climbing a Mount Everest metaphor-like obstacle in life, you don't just go *poof* and you are there.

Even in the movies
There are steps to creating a movie.  Without an idea, there would be no script that is needed to create a vision, where there are phases from pre-production to assembling the team to arrive on location, are numerous intricate steps.




I could define
how to answer that one question.  What do I want?  Too many offshoots of questions and avenues of learning needed to be gliding around before I could answer that.  You see, there are four words there that you are answering and need to be broken down:

What?
What is the end point, best that could happen if Utopia were uncovered by being able to say confidently, that you know what the WHAT was, is, or meant.

  • WHAT would it look like?
  • WHERE would you be?
  • WHAT will you be doing?
  • WHO will you be doing it with?
  • WHO will you be doing it for?
  • Is there a WHY you include as part of WHAT?
  • WHEN will you be doing this?  
  • NOW? What does your picture look like?
  • IF NOT NOW, WHY not?  This only means that you are procrastinating, lacking the confidence, or lost your sense of belief in what you are able to accomplish.


DO
Phew.  We're only on the second of four words.  Bet you didn't realize that, being so caught up in the pauses between questions and definitions above.  Hard word.  You bet.  Wait till you have to bring out a pen and write it down, with your answer right after.  No pushing off, procrastinating, avoiding or not DOing.  What are the questions you can think of that merge with DO?  Give it a try:

  • DO you believe in yourself?  If not, what is holding you back?  What needs to be done so that you will?
  • DO you have emotional support?  A loved one, a family member, a mentor, coach, cheerleader?  OK, write down each one and then name who has that role in your life.  If you do not have someone in that role, then it is your responsibility to find someone for each one.  You may as well stop until you have a few people in your corner, be your guide and cheerleader cheering you on.  You need these people if there are obstacles.  Obstacles seem insurmountable unless you are able to divide and conquer.  Break it apart one boulder at a time or as a dynamic explosion, or smashing the bottle of champagne against a boat, cutting the ribbon to commemorate the opening.  You need to know who will be there to help you celebrate.  OR, at the times when you feel failure or have failed in some way.  Who is going to pick you up, nurse you back to health, inspire you to get back up again, or motivate you because of one reason or another?
  • WHAT will you DO?  What are you doing when you are at "what do you want?"  Sailing the Caribbean with a captain and crew to navigate to sunny waters, catch lobster and cook it for you?  A bottle of champagne for cocktails after refreshing in classic evening attire with elegance.  Responding to emails here and there throughout your vacation called life, to keep the other part of what you DO continually working on your behalf.
  • DO you work or do you work at not working too hard?  
  • DO you have plenty of love and attention in your life that negates risk, risky behavior, risky thoughts?
YOU
So many of us have a hard time defining ourselves.  Not too difficult to describe our physical selves with something to reference our every single waking moment.  Can you write a bunch of questions or descriptions that would allow you to define who YOU is?  Is there more soul searching required to examine what makes you jump up in the morning and seize the day?  The great news is that when you know how to answer that important question:  "what do you want?" you will very likely be quite comfortable, confident and objective on who YOU are.

WANT
Can be often misguided to material things like houses, cars, boats, travel homes, clothing, jewelry, toys like electronic devices, smartphones, computers, gadgets, tools, and anything that is an object defined by ownership.  



LIFE
How do you want to see your life will present a much more satisfying way of answering or describing the WANT.  Do you see yourself surrounded by a lot of immediate family with a spouse and kids and even their kids, grandchildren?  What is the setting or event that got you all assembled there?  Or are you alone because that is what satisfies you:  seeker of peace, quiet, mediation and prayer.  

Perhaps
In a subconscious fashion, this is about a journey of my own.  Stopping to smell the roses.  Take a deep breath and take the next steps in the uphill climb.

REALIZATION
There are many ah-ha moments that can pop out from the core.  Letting go of tension and fear.  Allowing yourself moments of pause that allows you to embrace appreciation.  Then, express gratitude and thanks to all who have joined you throughout, or stopped in once or once in a while.  Thank YOU has such a widespread benefit.  It is free.

BRAZIL
For the past number of months, my statistics, kindly provided by Google because I am steadfast in using their Blogspot platform, learning more and more about the advantages.  (See comments at the end).  I have been shown, time and time again, that my most loyal blog readers are from Brazil.  


Attached to a Tweet that said:
"Gracias to #Brazil and #Mexico #Argentina #Spain  






Give credit to where it is due.  In this case, I see how having my blog is a much smarter move than the obvious.  I am on Tumblr which posts like you are a blogger however more picturesque, but I am also on Word Press and I had thought originally a much more close knit, collaborative crew.  That is warm and fuzzy for sure.  But how about Google's translation GADGET?  What other blogs have the capability to translate into other language?

BREAKTHROUGH
Bouncing beyond the obvious to the revolutionary.  Google is way ahead of the pack by allowing bloggers to allow their readers to translate into their own tongue.  If I wanted to read a blog that was not caught up in politics and news, there may be fewer to chose from in the Latino language?  This is don't know for sure.  It is only a guess.  Whatever the specific reason, I do know that I have had a great number of Latino supporters hailing from those countries like Brazil.  Even nicer when they're all working together with Spain, Mexico and Argentina.  Quite the powerful sources for a Latino engine.

THANK YOU.
For whatever brings you here.  Appreciation and respect for making it this far.  The end of this blog.  Leaving lots more thoughts for another day.



Without you, the reader, the clicker, I would have no reason to write.  Other than to exude demons that surface more readily once you hit 50.  You know you lived a fairly charmed life, that was not perfect, with its own doses of rejection, betrayal, hurt, disappointment, aggrieved, cheating, unfairness.

It is the ability to bounce back is what sets some apart.  A resilient coping super power! 

The "goodest" of intentions pour from these fingertips.  No direct malice towards anyone inclined.  Just the freedom of expression.

I watched something on TV the other night that has lingered in my psyche:  about this woman from New York who was committed passionately about making urban cities all about its people, neighborhoods.  She wrote a lot about her misgivings and projections and recommendations.  So much so, CITIZEN JANE [ yay I remembered ... my "sometimers meter is set to high" ] I will get her name and come right back to insert, even find a trailer to share.

What was remarkable was her commitment to her belief.  Or, one could evaluate and extrapolate their own theory:  that tenacity is a wonderful quality and character trait.  Far more uncommon in a female than a male.  Making an encounter with this extraordinary lady, you may become immediately intimidated by how smart she is, or at least so knowledgeable about her trade.  

Qualities that are the best to start from while growing and blossoming (geez, not two m's and one s).   To reach deep inside yourself, through meditation or deep reflection with piercing observation, to put out there your great intent.  Solve a problem, serve people, create things, capture things, share things ... and so on and so forth.

FACEBOOK friends


Research
If you really want to start to categorize and ultimately decide which is your favorite platform, you need to take a look at your surroundings.  I reached out to my Facebook Friends to ask them that earlier this evening.



Engagement
If you really want to ensure you have engagement with your friends on Facebook, use the "TAG" feature.  Don't worry, it is completely fine and acceptable.  Except if you have a giHUGE list of friends.  



Scale
You can scale back on TAGging those friends who express displeasure at being among your TAGs.  Yes it generates a lot of notifications, that would be for sure.



Climb
You can't possibly know whether your numbers are increasing or decreasing without examining your stats.  Each soME provider, from Twitter to Google to Facebook, offer free stats to decipher and relate to those numbers in a way in which they communicate.



Communicate
I started this blog 6 years ago, diving into sales and talking about some of the habits, outlook, observations I had while enjoying the acclaim, compensation and recognition with awards and rewards.  You're right, I love(d) sales.  I enjoyed the strategy and the figuring out "what will it take?"  I've realized now, past tense times 10 that the real secret was being able to communicate:  in written form, in presentation pizzazz or bellowing oration injected with enthusiasm.  



Enthusiasm
Is far more contagious than a positive attitude.  Someone can have a fantastic, positive attitude.  However, it takes communication to make an impact.  Some managers feel threatened by a gregarious nature.  Heck, they should embrace it.  Discover how easier it makes their life when the team spirit is channeled collaboratively in such a fashion that nobody really knows who is creating it.  Except a few, perhaps.  Maybe ....



Friends
My Facebook Friends are the most engaged in all the networks that I belong to.  If I share a post or an image or a quote, I can always guarantee of an acknowledgement of some kind.  In fact, Google's kind analytics show me that Facebook referrals are the highest.  I've yet to figure out who my champion from Brazil is because Brazil likes the most, if the traffic audience data shows me the where, I just wish I knew who the who was?



Gratitude
Is an easy thing to express.  It reaches all ages, income bracket, age group, interest or demographic.  It is the first thing you learn to say when learning a new language.  If it falls after yes (oui) or no (non) that's okay.  However, MERCI I learned after danke, truth be told.  If you only post once in a while or once a week, at minimum, you can express thanks for nice service from a particular brand or provider.  



Champion
The cause of championship is by leading by example.  Demonstrate how nice and peaceful and easy it is to be a person who consistently gives thanks.  

Language
Barriers are minimized or eliminated with gratitude because most people across the globe can say thank you in more than one language.  

English
Is the most common language in our world.  But for that to be true, I will have to detour for a fact check.  After all, it could be Chinese by now or even surpassed by Spanish.  Latin is a forgotten art.  Does anyone study it anymore?


Quotes
Are a great way to motivate oneself, but it has far more reaching benefits when it is shared.  Finding an image to accompany it can POP for attention.  People love to share great images with craftily, gracefully embedded text within them.  Art.  Photography.  Chicken scratch.  All accepted.



Colors 
Can portray moods.  Seriousness, somberness, sadness, moodiness, depressive aura is often considered with black and white images with a strong grey force.  Yet so is high fashion.  We can define our moods or our interpretation of a meaning by the colors we choose to accompany them.

Thanks for stopping in *^* jm xo


A cheater's paradise?



Policing employees' performance is one thing that most companies do well. However, being the corporate watchdog is quite a different conundrum. At what point do company code of ethics cross over into personal behavior at work. In some areas it is natural for organizations to provide guidelines for its employees behaviors at work, while quite a hotbed of varying opinions when it comes to what employees do on their own time.
I broached the subject when posting earlier on TheOptioneerJM on how whistle blowers are treated within organizations. 
What bothered me to the core is how an organization reacts to a whistle blower says a ton about their culture. Meaning, you can have policies, guidelines, codes of ethics and beyond, but they become meaningless when managers or employees take it a step too far.
In my example, with anonymity caveats all over the place, it appeared that an employee who blew the whistle on one manager's harassing behavior, to only end up being pegged a "trouble maker" by immediate management. Or being subject of bullying by colleagues, promoted, endorsed, supported, investigated, documented with a black mark on personal profile within a company and doomed career opportunities.
A safe haven?
I caught a short segment on Dr. OZ with Megyn Kelly earlier in the week and it resounded with me because of the train of thought I exuded by helping this individual get the story out. My indignity at the person's poor treatment by their company was what got my keys clicking and clacking.
To Megyn's question to anyone paying attention: is your company providing a safe haven for its employees?  When it comes to any form of harassment, it becomes a great deal more complicated when every form of bullying or social expression requires an encyclopedia or book og guidelines. But the question is direct and clear: how do you treat your employees? This is a loud commentary on how safe is your work environment for its employees?
Ethics and codes
I haven't been party to formulating a corporate code of conduct or ethical guide, I should add. However, I've certainly signed off many times in my career.  I opinionate and conclude that even the best intentions go haywire.
Beliefs and values
Most organizations are intricate in detail on how employees conduct themselves on site, off hours and online seem to be muddled. Yet the core responsibility, in my opinion, lies with a company providing a safe environment to which they owe employees who work for them.
The subject matters are varied and how companies react are the most telling by whether poor treatment, controversial subjects become viral social commentaries, opinions and sharing.
Fine lines merge
What happens when employees' behavior crosses between what they do while at work and what they do with their own private lives? It is becoming a challenge I'm sure, to determine when an employee's corporate responsibility stops and starts now that it has become easier to express oneself through social means, blogging and posting. What a mess?
Affairs, cheating, harassment
What is the difference? Companies do protect their employees to a great extent on sexual harassment. However, there are other areas that cross personal values and beliefs that seem to be grey. 
Bullying
In the workplace, having a mean boss has been around for years. Think Scrooge's treatment of his dedicated long-term employee, Bob Cratchit. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)
___________________________________________________ **

Bob Cratchit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim as depicted in the 1870s by Fred Barnard
First appearanceA Christmas Carol 1843Created by Charles Dickens
Robert "Bob" Cratchit is a fictional character in the Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol. The abused, underpaid clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge, Cratchit has come to symbolize poor working conditions, especially long working hours.[1]
According to a comment by his wife, Cratchit works for 15 shillings a week at a rate of three pence ("thruppence") an hour for 60 hours per week. Until the decimalization of the British Pound in 1971, one shilling was twelve pence. Thus, fifteen shillings is 180 pence. It would take 60 hours to earn 180 at a rate of three pence per hour.[2] In terms of 2015 purchasing power, this would be approximately £63.00[3] or about $94 US per week.
_________________________________________________**
Imagine the outcry if Cratchit were to find an empathetic media outlet to tell his story today: without a doubt, to me anyhow, it would create a storm of viral fuel, diagnosed, discussed, dissected and opinionated for sure. (Remember public outcry over an employee's challenge to her company CEO's treatment of her? On MEDIUM).
Yet, the bullying part of Scrooge's treatment of Cratchit is more accepted than most of us would be willing to admit.
Perhaps there IS a fine line between harassment and bullying after all. Remove "sexual" it becomes more normalized and less controversial today. Why is that? 
Work affairs and cheating 
Is an area that is vague and a cesspool that most companies stay far removed from. It is tempting to try to police employees conduct outside the work place and many do so with guidelines, policies and disciplinary measures when it comes to those who struggle with addiction, blast their boss or company in their private time through self-expression on social media.
That may be because the company's intent is to protect its reputation, brand and shareholder value, which can deteriorate the financial health of the organization.  Or most would demonstrate that they find it a risk.
But what about the company's responsibility for providing a safe working environment for its employees?  Definitely, there are growing best practices on Emergency Response, and even rehearsals in real time on a terrorist threat. That is a physical example of providing a safe workplace. But what about emotional well being?
Emotional safety
Most allow staff to honor their religious beliefs in most places, by allowing the wearing of turbans or hijab as demonstrative of their faith. That is, unless it is a police department or situation where policies adapt to interpretation of safety. 
For instance, in Canada, there have been stories where RCMP were originally prevented from wearing a turban instead of the traditional uniform that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are identified by. Another instance, was when then Prime Minister of Canada became embroiled in controversy when he tried to mandate that women remove their hijab during Canadian citizenship swearing in ceremonies.
For every seed of controversy remains a grain of belief in these scenarios.
So how many religions, ethical guidelines, or values say it is okay to cheat on your spouse? We know there are bigamy societies that allow it (reference this week's story on young Canadian girls being migrated to the US to become young brides).
Yet, if you ask most reasonable people, who hold themselves accountable for their own behavior, place the blame on their own shoulders if they were to lapse to poor judgement, that agree that cheating on your spouse is simply not okay.
Unless you've been the victim of such affairs, it is difficult to relate to the destruction that it can cause. Yet on the balance beam of right and wrong, it leans far over to the wrong. Very few people would agree that it is permissible and allowed under the sanctimony of marriage vows. And that is not a religious statement. It is a value statement.
Both my now husband and myself were subjects of spouses who cheated on us with someone they work with. We both would agree how emotionally destructive that it was to all involved.  In both situations, it was handled differently by the employers where the matter happened.
Gender is not specific here. It is caused and can happen to either gender of spouse: husband or wife. Yet the downward spiral that it causes does spill over to the work environment, destroys families, splits apart children who, if given the choice, would not have to be forced to make a choice between either parent. 
It can cause a tailspin of gossip and distract a great many people. Yet it is something that few companies want to approach: should cheaters at work get an automatic pass? But what about creating a safe, value-based, environment for work?
I suppose it won't be forced into discussion until a strong journalist, with quality beliefs and convictions that the behavior is wrong, writes or talks about it on the media. 
Granted, we are not stuck in the 50s where home means mom stays at home to make the bacon while dad goes to work to bring home the bacon. The roles have blurred and merged. 
I just don't believe that allowing an atmosphere of cheating should be continued. Like Megyn said so well: it is your company's responsibility to provide you with an encouraging atmosphere (bully and harassment free) and value driven culture (where cheating is added to the behavior that is not condoned or ignored).  But, most of all, safe.
What do you think? 
*** _________________ ***
ABOUT THE HIJAB (Source: Arabs in America)

Women > Veiling > What is the Hijab and Why do Women Wear it?

Hijab is referred to by various names, some of the most common of which are a veil or a headscarf. Most Muslims who wear the covering call it a hijab (حجاب), an Arabic word meaning “cover.” However, there are various forms of hijab that are referred to by different names. While hijab is commonly associated with women, Muslim men also sometimes wear a head covering as a means of showing modesty. Additionally, Christian and Jewish women in some traditions wear a headscarf as a cultural practice or commitment to modesty or piety.
Find out more about the History of the Hijab.

What are the various kind of hijab?

Image by Kalashe
Hijab ( حجاب): The first type of hijab that is most commonly worn by women in the West is a square scarf that covers the head and neck, but leaves the face clear. This form of hijab is most commonly referred to as hijab.
Shayla: The shayla is a long, rectangular scarf that is wrapped loosely around the head and tucked or pinned at the shoulders. Like the hijab and al-amira, this form of hijab covers the head but often leaves the neck and face clear.
Khimar ( خمار): The khimar is a long, cape-like scarf that is wrapped around the head and hangs to the middle of the back. This type of hijab covers the head, neck, and shoulders, but leaves the face clear.
Chador ( تشادر): The chador is a long cloak that covers a woman’s entire body. Like the khimar, the chador wraps around the head, but instead of hanging just to the middle of back, the chador drapes to a woman’s feet.
Niqāb ( نقاب): The niqab is a face-covering that covers the mouth and nose, but leaves the eyes clear. It is worn with an accompanying khimar or other form of head scarf.
Burqa ( برقع ): The burqa covers the entire face and body, leaving a small mesh screen through which the woman can see through.

Why do women wear hijab?

Muslim women choose to wear the hijab or other coverings for a variety of reasons. Some women wear the hijab because they believe that God has instructed women to wear it as a means of fulfilling His commandment for modesty. For these women, wearing hijab is a personal choice that is made after puberty and is intended to reflect one’s personal devotion to God. In many cases, the wearing of a headscarf is often accompanied by the wearing of loose-fitting, non-revealing clothing, also referred to as hijab.
While some Muslim women do not perceive the hijab to be obligatory to their faith, other Muslim women wear the hijab as a means of visibly expressing their Muslim identity (Haddad, et al, 2006). In the United States, particularly since 9/11, the hijab is perceived to be synonymous with Islam. Some Muslim women choose to appropriate this stereotype and wear the hijab to declare their Islamic identity and provide witness of their faith. Unfortunately this association has also occasionally resulted in the violent assaults of Muslim women wearing hijab.
While most Muslim women wear the hijab for religious reasons, there are other Arab or Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab as an expression of their cultural identity. By wearing the hijab, Muslim women hope to communicate their political and social alliance with their country of origin and challenge the prejudice of Western discourses towards the Arabic-speaking world (Zayzafoon, 2005). In many cases, the wearing of the hijab is also used to challenge Western feminist discourses which present hijab-wearing women as oppressed or silenced.
PLEASE NOTE: The writer of this article is neither naming nor alluding to the guilt of any particular organization, company or corporation. It is solely an opinion and discussion launched by writing.  It is not an endorsement of any traits or expression of acceptance about the subject reflected upon herein.