A skill set called leadership

Taken from innsbruck.aiesec.at

I believe myself to be a natural born leader. I have never followed the herd and I always take charge. I have been selected for several leadership positions because of this. I was selected as a prefect in both primary school and high school and have been selected as project leader on many occasions, amongst other things. These positions have taught me a set of skills enabling me to become a better leader. Here are some of the characteristics that I believe a good leader should have:

Self-confidence – Be strong in yourself. You cannot show weakness or no one will follow you.

Fairness – As a leader always be fair or you will be disliked, and lose your credibility as a good leader.

Good communication skills – A leader must be able to communicate effectively with those the lead.

Morality – A leader needs to be someone others respect and look up to.

Respect  – Respect is earned.

Problem solving skills – A leader needs to find creative and effective ways to solve problems.

A democratic mindset – Everyone needs to agree and have a say, it is not all about the leader.

Patient – A leader must not lose their temper or stress out over small things, instead they should be the calming factor.

Motivational – A good leader is able to motivate their followers.

Active – Never make promises you cannot keep and always do what you say you will.

“Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read” (Frank Zappa)

“Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read”

  ̃Frank Zappa  ̃

Taken from ponderabout.com

Musical legend, Frank Zappa, was passionate about advocating freedom of speech and was highly against censorship. In the age of rock journalism, there was much criticism of many rock artists who flaunted dangerous lifestyle choices such as drugs and sex through their music. The so-called “prudish” mindsets of most rock journalists at this time meant that rock music took the rap and some even mentioned censorship of such “devil” music. Zappa was one to receive a lot of criticism, perhaps sparking the above quote. Critic bashing critics...

Although, Zappa holds some truth in this quote, it is a bold generalisation and therefore should be taken with a pinch of salt. I believe the point he was trying to make was that people cannot write objectively and properly about music if they themselves are not musicians or don’t have the insight and that the people that these articles are written for, are generally not interested in reading about music because they would rather listen to it. I believe he also alludes that rock musicians are made to make music and aren’t so good at talking about it. All somewhat true, but perhaps a bit harsh!

Taken from ponderabout.com

There are undoubtedly some incredible rock journalists of that time who generated much exposure for rock music. Perhaps Zappa was just afraid that the critical rock journalists would spark an age of censorship over the genre. Then again, perhaps he was just one of those people he talks about in his quote, a person getting interviewed “who can’t talk”!

My top 200 achievements...

Somehow I think that this blog topic was designed as a clever little ruse to make all of us realise that we actually haven’t achieved much of significance in our lives. I sat for about two hours trying to think of my top 200 achievements and got stuck on number 112. I have to admit that after going over them again I realised that being born is not really an achievement, neither is getting my first tooth or turning 21. My list started looking sadder and sadder as I weeded out all the “so-called” achievements that shouldn’t really classify as such. I could help but wonder, ‘What constitutes a proper achievement?’

According to Dictionary.com (2012), the proper definition of an achievement is that it is something accomplished, especially by superior ability, special effort or great courage. Other definitions mentioned the factor of skill playing a part as well as completing something. So an achievement has to be achieved through working for it or stepping up to the plate. Bad news, this definition caused more of my “achievements” to be crossed off the list.

So here they are (well what is left of them)... The things that I have accomplished through my superior ability, skill, special effort and courage. These are my achievements:

1.      Learning to ride a bicycle.

2.      Learning to read and write, well.

3.      Buying an electric guitar and amp with my own savings.

4.      Achieving my first couple of certificates in primary school after realising I had an academic ability.

5.      Learning how to ride and then jump a horse.

6.      Learning how to surf and then excelling at it.

7.      Learning how to play the piano and guitar.

8.      Receiving gold honours for my creative writing at a Creative Writing Eisteddfod.

9.      Receiving the top marks of my class in grade 7, my final year of primary school.

10.   Becoming a prefect in grade 7.

11.   Becoming more comfortable and self confident as I entered high school (No more bullying from dumb kids).

12.   Passing my learners licence.

13.   Getting an A for my first painting.

14.   Joining the girls soccer team and becoming a leader who eventually helped the team stay in practice.

15.   Passing my driver’s licence first time!

16.   Remaining in the top 10 academics of my grade throughout high school.

17.   Receiving the top achievement for visual art in matric.

18.   Becoming a prefect in high school.

Organising a successful awards event in matric.

19.  

20.   Achieving my academic honours.

21.   Achieving my academic colours.

22.   Taking part in Mr and Miss Table View High (took courage to get up on stage in front of the whole school.)

23.   Being voted as a cheerleader for my sports house in high school and then pulling off an insane cheerleading routine on sports day.

24.   Being accepted into three universities.

25.   Travelling on my own for the first time to London.

26.   Learning to love and accept myself for who I am.

27.   Learning how to be compassionate and appreciative of the little things in life.

28.   Becoming a god mother.

29.   Winning a place in the top 10 for my speech in second year university.

30.   Winning the “Best Magazine Cover” in first year.

31.   Planning and pulling of the most amazing 60^th Hippy birthday party for my mom.

32.   Achieving the Dean’s Merit List for three consecutive years in university.

33.   Top Achievement for End User Computing in first year.

34.   Maintaining my “A” aggregate for each year of university.

35.   Helping organise and pull off an awesome luncheon event for the PR industry in my first year of university.

36.   Winning the best exhibition stall for CPUT Open Day in my first year.

37.   Succeeding at my first proper job in the PR field and learning my capabilities through producing good marketing materials and campaign ideas as well as helping organise major on-campus events.

38.   Writing, editing and putting together my first university newspaper – the Hub.

39.   Getting my written article published as the main feature story on CPUT’s website.

40.   Getting my National Diploma Cum Laude in Public Relations Management.

There they are... not 200, but 40 greatest achievements. I don’t have very many achievements but I have more than most people at my age and so I am proud of what I have accomplished thus far. I plan to accomplish a lot more in my near future!

Taken from motifake.com

What motivates me



Taken from lovewallpapershotpicures.blogspot.com

The pure joy that the simple things in life bring me is what motivates me. The smell of bacon and coffee  motivates me to get out of bed in the morning. The opportunity to learn new things and socialise motivates me to attend university classes. My parents’ unconditional love and kindness is what motivates me to stay on the right path in life. My boyfriend’s positive outlook on life and his adoration motivates me to not give up on men altogether.

The hope to be employed, choose my career path and be able to support myself motivates me to pursue my degree. The promise of feeling and looking good motivates me to watch my weight. A beautiful sunset or bright moonlight motivates me to appreciate life and its beauty. My self-confidence motivates me to be a strong young woman.

Innocent children and animals motivate me to stand up for those weaker than me. The plight of others in comparison to my life motivates me to have understanding and compassion. The beauty of true emotions motivates me to feel and live life in all its glory. It is love, joy and appreciation of so many people and all of life’s magical moments that feed my soul daily and motivate me to go on.

The 10 most unexpected consequences of being online

The web has provided an alternate universe for all of us where we have complete power and control over what we publish or what we access. However, there are some unexpected consequences of being online:

1. Spam: When you enter competitions or provide details online, your details are entered into databases, which can often be shared with other companies or sold off. That’s when you get emails from unknown sources.
2. Copycats: People can use any information posted by you online for fraud or to imitate you. Privacy settings are key.
3. Losing ownership: Many sites can take and use images posted by you online and because we do not always read the terms and conditions of a web page, where it may state that any published content will belong to the site, we often lose ownership of our personal published work and photographs without realising it.
4. No privacy: Posting our lives across social networking sites diminishes our power of privacy. At any stage, anyone may access your profile and find out what you were doing last summer! Even employers like to use this information to their advantage so be careful what you publish online.
5. Bad repute: What you put online is promoting who you are and your personal image. Always make sure that you do not incriminate or make a bad reputation for yourself through what you publish online.
6. Stalkers and sex offenders: Social Network sites are playgrounds for stalkers and sex offenders who often lure the young or naive into unexpected danger. Some cases of rape and murder have been linked to social network conversations with strangers. Once again, privacy settings are key and do not chat or trust people online that you do not know.
7. Fakers: The web gives us the power to be who we want to be. Someone may claim that they are from ABSA, doing a check on your bank account and use the details for theft. Also, that cute guy that you met online could be a 50 year old man who is desperate. Be aware at all times of who you speak to and never trust anyone online.
8. Socially inept: Chatting to people via social networks and email is so convenient and comfortable that people often lose sight of reality and the importance of face to face communication. The power of true friendships diminish and often people become socially inept when put into the context of having a real conversation.
9. Information overload: We live in the era of the information overload. Any information we need is at our finger tips. This brings into question why we don’t try and learn more online. It also raises the question of what is legit and what isn’t. Get to know search engines and trusted sites, which have been previously cited.
10. 

    

    Taken from co.durham.nc.us

    Publishing power: The web allows us all to become writers and publishers. It is your responsibility to post legitimate information and to not offend others. Being online means you are at the mercy of the world, which is full of critics and sensitive, closed-minded individuals.

The world wide web requires street smarts in this day and age. Always be careful and aware!

The elephant in the room

Taken from venitism.blogspot.com

The elephant in the room refers to that blatantly obvious awkward situation that everyone chooses to ignore. What I can’t understand is why the citizens of South Africa are choosing to ignore the fact that our president revels in polygamy. Don’t get me wrong, if that is your culture fine, but if you are the leader and representative of a country whose Constitutions declares polygamy as unjust an immoral, then something is hugely wrong.

Taken from anglican-mainstream.net

What gets to me even more is that tax payers are responsible for the presidential wife’s allowance, which was intended for one wife. We now pay for four (not to mention countless children). The remaining three of his wives, in accordance to SA legislation are not recognised as legal marriages. So why do we put up with this? Is it because we feel we have no say? Or could it be that in South Africa, a president is allowed to do whatever he wants, despite what the people who placed him in power think?

Maybe I’m wrong in what I’m saying, but the way I see it, it is a complete joke. It shames me to have a president of this calibre who does not care about anyone he governs. No wonder South Africa has such a laughable reputation. From a PR professionals point of view, it is seriously embarrassing that things such as a polygamist president who believes a shower can cure AIDS and a Secrecy Bill that shuts people up despite its contradiction to our Constitution and so-called Democracy is allowed. For once I take the stance of the poacher, as this elephant in the room needs to be taken care of!

Everyday is a good day!

Take from barkercreek.com

Off the top of my head this topic makes me think of something my dad always says when I complain about my life. Warning: it is slightly vulgar but so appropriate. He says, “ Everyday you wake up and can breath, walk and shit out of your own arse, is a good day!” He is absolutely 100% correct! We take life and its simplicities for granted. If you can wake up with full health and the opportunity to live that day to its fullest, believe me, it is a good day.

Whilst we complain about the food we are eating, there is someone else wishing that they just had food. For those of us who complain about how our hair looks today, there is a cancer patient wishing they had hair. We complain about our job yet thousands of others in our own country wish they had the opportunity to provide for their families. How did we become so warped and ungrateful?

We all blindly complain and moan and grumble about our lot in life. I guess it’s human nature! However, I believe that each and every one of us should count our blessings daily so that we may remind ourselves that everyday is indeed a good day. It all depends on you!

Taken from haybre.wordpress.com

Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses

The world is based on balance; for every negative there is a positive, for every wrong there is a right and for every strength, a weakness! We all have our strengths and weaknesses but the complicated part is that sometimes our greatest strengths can be our greatest weaknesses. I guess it all depends on the viewpoint.



Taken from legaljob.com

I would have to say that my greatest strength as a person is that I have a mind and mouth and I’m not afraid to use them. I’m often outspoken and have no fear to say what others are thinking. I believe that as long as I am honest and speak the truth, there is no way anyone can persecute me fairly. However, on the other side of the coin, people don’t always want to hear the truth, especially if it isn’t so pretty. I’ve found that my strength and integrity in speaking my mind can sometimes be my greatest weakness. For example, elders never want to hear the truth from someone they deem less experienced than them and so I often get shut down and told that I should learn when to speak and when not to. Another strength that can be double sided for me is my academic side. I always strive to do the best possible work I can so that I may achieve top results, however, this becomes a weakness when I am sitting up all hours of the morning trying to complete a deadline that should have taken the average student four hours but takes me eight!

Even our country’s greatest strength has turned into its greatest weakness. Hold the pitchforks because yes I am talking about our government. The ANC once stood for all that was right and helped bring us out of darkness and segregation but now the people that they once fought for are being robbed via sky-high inflation, false promises and corruption.

The point is that everything has balance, and too much of a strength or inappropriate use of a strength can make it turn into a weakness. This makes me think of a quote from Shakespeare which applies to dictators but also our strengths; “ Absolute power corrupts absolutely”.... Something to think about.

Try a cliché!

What is a cliché? Why does it exist? Who decides what constitutes a cliché? I bet that the majority of you could not answer these questions. I surely fell short until I did some research! For those of you who can provide examples of clichés and not exactly an explanation of what it is: a cliché is a novel idea or phrase that has been overused and thus its original effect has been lost. So that means that society decides what constitutes a cliché by overusing it and thus rendering it less meaningful.

We all use clichés every single day, after all that’s how they were created. That makes me think that clichés must hold much value to us. A phrase must have been overused for a reason? That reason may just be that that simple, yet striking little phrase must have rang true to so many ears and must have been so applicable to people’s everyday lives! For some, the clichés they use constantly are embedded into their personality.

Overused or not, I feel that some clichés have still not lost their value and can often be used as good life advise. For example, the sayings “everything happens for a reason” and “everything always works out as it should” are constant motivators for me when I am going through difficult times. I fully believe that these so-called clichés are true and meaningful. Which cliché do you hold dear?

Taken from manicpassion.com