How to Stand Out at Work

Okay, so now it's time to stand out at work. What do you do?
It's one thing to make it through the interview and get onboarded to a new company, but now what? If you are looking to make a difference in this company and have your presense be more than just meer existance, you've got to do things to stand out. So what are these things? These answers may surprise you.

1. Smile all the time and be polite to each and every person, even the ones who look at you as if they are longing to smack you, yes even that person. Most jobs or careers involve people and lots of them, the last thing you want is just to blend in with all the other dry,dull personalities. You must always have a positive, upbeat, energetic type of friendly demeanor that you constanly display. Now this may sound cheesey and you may not understand it,but trust me, employers notice the friendly shinning stars way before they notice the dry, nonchalant, " time to make the donuts," type of employee. Smile, it's contagious !!

2. Always ask questions and show a high level of interest and enthusiasm about your new job. Managers may not always seem like it, but they enjoy an inqusitive minded employee who can maybe impact the company with new ideas and suggestions. No ones going to think you are there to steal their job, they will appreciate it. Now this doesn't mean walk in critisizing the opeartions and comparing everything to your last job all while somewhat belittling the companies systems and how they operate. This is the last impression you want to make. I can suggest you just inquire and maybe share the ways your former job or maybe some new company you've read about, are doing things and how you think this company might benefit from it. Trust me, if you don't display a know it all mentality, it won't be perceived that way.

3.Come to work, come to work on time, do your job, do your job correct and you won't have anny issues. I had a member of management at the company I work with put it this way to us as we were in training and it always stuck with me.(I loved her!) Nothing annoys employers more than a person who is always late or barely making it in to start their day.Not to mention calling in sick as if you are entitled to do this. now I know we all get a little under the weather occasionally, but calling in and running late will not make a good impression on your employer or manager at all. this show iresponsibility and it also makes you appear nondependable.Now what manager wants to deal with that? Not many...

4. Speak about your passions and goals with confidence, you never know how your manager may be able to help you reach your goals.An example is, during my last evaluation, I shared with my manager that I'm very passionate about writing, blogging, social media, and journalism. She was surprised yet impressed. Next thing I knew, i was scheduled to sit with the Social Media Team for a few hours once a week for a few weeks. Now how cool was this? Also, I now have an interview set up for that department, trust me, you have to share your passion if you want people to know the talents and skills you have. Show confidence in yourself without being arrogant, just show your stuff and it just may pay off sooner than you think.

5. Be a team player not competition for everyone.Have you every met that new person that shows up for work every single day with their poker face on? Now they do a good job and they complete their tasks ontime, problem is,they have no personality at all!!! They seem to always make comments about how incorrect someone else has done something, this is usually the only time you hear them speak and they look at everyone as if they wish they would all just go away. The sad part is,no one really notices or cares about them and they feel it's because they are competition and people are jealous.In reality, they haven't made any connections with anyone and they lack a personality so bad, that the position they are hoping to get,they just may be overlooked for because their attitude SUCKS. While it's okay to be focused and during crunch time get the job done, you still should speak to your co-workers and treat them with much respect.Be approachable and friendly you never know when you might need them for something.Be apart of the team not a competitor.

6. Join as much as you can no matter how small or irrelevant you may feel it is. I joined the birthday club and was selected as one of the persons responsible orchastrate the ballon decorations. I was also selected for the Triple A Team AAA
( All About Associates ) where we brainstorm together and come up with ideas for the associates. I speak to everyone and plant a positive seed in their heads about me. I do this all the time not just on my good days. You know that person who speaks and smiles sometimes, then the next day you're sitting there expecting the smile and they walk past you as if you're not there. You're like what happened? Don;t be that person, get your name out there and don't only join these comittees, but participate and be as active as you can, trust me it can take you far. Many of these comittees are put together by none other than, management. This is who you're looking to impress right?


Yes standing out isn't hard to do and you don't even have to kiss butt to do it. All you have to do is follow these few steps along with other things I'm sure you will read about and you will be well on your way to being considered for many different positions and tasks.

Tinzley Bradford

Make a Career Change, I did.

I totally understand, on September 15, 2008, I too decided to leave my job of 14 years to pursue a new career.

I was working for a major airline every since I was in my early twenties, and for quite a while I really enjoyed my job and planned on just staying there, well, until I retired. As the years passed by, and my position stayed the same, I began to wonder just what I was doing all those years with this company, and most importantly, where was I headed with this company?

I began to notice my loss of passion for what I was doing, I noticed when a customer walks up, and I'd look at them as if to say," What do you want?" I new it was time to re-think my career. This was me, I had my good days, but boy did I have my bad days. I mean I loved my job, I enjoyed being of service to the public,but just not in this setting. I wanted something more personal, more fulfilling, more me. I also noticed my stress level increasing and I became ill more and more, working around fumes and toxins and just the stress of the job alone was not healthy. Recent studies show a stressful job can lead to major health conditions, and this was sign number two that I had to leave.

I realized over time how interesting people are, how different we all are, and how interested in communicating with people and their differences I'd become. So, I began taking classes online, with University of Phoenix to obtain a degree in communications. My passion is journalism, social media, Public relations anything that has to do with my ability to connect with people using interpersonal skills and intelligence. My ability to resolve conflict and mediate with people in making decisions that suit all of us. I am now working for a fortune 500 company, with a promising future. I also just recently after only four months with this company, been selected as a candidate with the Social Media Team.

I decided to to write this post on what I did and the steps I took, and still take to reach my full potential.

1. If you are interested in something, study it, learn more about it.

Yes this is true, like I took online classes to learn more about the field of journalism and communications, you too should figure out what your passion is, and learn more about it. Research it, ask questions about it, connect with people with similar interests, and ask more questions. Learn to perfect the craft and utilize what you learn each and everyday. In my case, I learned how to do my own resume, how to network in the industry, and how to build strong relationships with people. I don't know about you, but we do need people everywhere we go. Hate it or love it, so learn to connect with them, they will be good for your business or desire and ( They won't bite )

2. If you decide to leave your job, make sure you have resources to live on.

What is your plan as to what you are going to do to generate income as you pursue your dreams? You must have one before making this drastic decision. In my case the company I worked for offered a separation agreement and a severance package which I accepted. I also immediately filed for unemployment, yes you too may qualify for this service. I did a lot of research and even though I took a separation package, I did this because the company I worked for offered it due to their lack of work and need to cut cost. And OCGA Section 34-8-194(1) here in Georgia clearly states, "Benefits shall not be denied to an individual who, because of lack of work, accepts a separation from employment." They denied me unemployment the first time, but when I sent them this, they had to pay it to me. This gave me more months of income to live on while I pursued my goals and career change.

3.Never have too much pride to do what you have to do to survive.

So I was able to stay out of work for about 6 months and then the cash began to run out, but thank good ness for the unemployment. I realized in the struggling economy I put in for job after job after job and still nothing, so I finally decided to contact a staffing agency or temp service to get part time work as I continue to pursue my goals and career change. I ended up working for a company that was ran poorly, I couldn't utilize my full potential, and the pay was crappy, but the good news is, I knew it was only temporary which I didn't mind this sacrifice all in the favor of knowing I was well on my way to success. And also I still collected unemployment. Yes you can collect unemployment while you you work just as long as it's part time. I bet you didn't know that, well neither did I but I read the rules and policies to see, and i was legally able to collect both. Now depending on your county, you must report what you make, and the will adjust your pay to your unemployment each week. This was what I called sacrifice, many people say I'm not going to leave my job to work for a crappy company that doesn't pay, I might as well stay where I am. Well if you don't have drive, ambition, assertiveness, and the willingness to know this is only a stepping stone, then you are right, stay where you are. No one said this road would be easy, but I looked at it this way. I'm still here right? And I'm still making it right? The bills are paid right? This is only temporary right? I am blessed and will achieve my goals right? Trust me, staying positive and determined couldn't pay off any better.

4.To get the job you want, you must research the company and be prepared for the interview.

So I put a great resume together using the Dictionary of Occupational Titles,http://www.occupationalinfo.org/ I love this thing, it can make what ever job you have or had sound like this career professional sought after by many. This is a sight to visit, you enter what kind of work you do and it will generate verbiage and ways to word it that is fit for a great resume and has many key words already included. I also put in for jobs in my Field of interest part time and full time. ( Don't under estimate the power of you.) I went to my interview once I finally got called, and the job I applied for was part time. But guess what? My research about this company paid off, I researched what kind of systems they use, what the job requires, the retention at this company, I walked in and smiled, was polite and spoke like a pro. Three days later I was called and not only offered the job, but was top pick for full time, with benefits and vacation bonus. It doesn't stop there, since I've been there I have net worked, built relationships, inquired about my job of choice and have been given and interview date for a position in their Social Media Department. I am well on my way to getting in my field of work. and you can too.

The key to success is YOU, and never let anyone tell you differently. You must stay focused and be willing to accept bumps along the way that you have no control over, and move on in your pursuit.Know that it's okay to ask questions, call people, follow up with people when you say you are, and most importantly, never give up. This is only the beginning for me. I am not stopping here and neither should you. Trust me you can walk away from your job if you follow the correct steps and never ever quit or give up.If you fall into hard times along the way, Google your options,there are Government benefits for all types and you should never be ashamed or embarrassed to use them, that's what they are for, hardships. But just don't take advantage of them and know that any struggle is only temporary.

Tinzley Bradford

Preparing to do business in another country? Make sure you are ready.

As a company who plans on staying successful, when doing business in different countries, you have to make sure that your employees are adequately prepared for intercultural interactions. In doing so, I have put together a detailed list of answers to questions that may surface and will serve as a guideline to prepare a few selected employees for encountering different perspectives, expectations, and behaviors in another culture.

What Universal Systems are used, when communicating and negotiating in another culture such as Japan?
Japanese negotiators behave less aggressively and with little or no threats, commands and warnings, instead, they focus on positive promises, recommendations and commitments. Their polite conversational style demonstrates them using the words, “ No” and “ You” as well as more frequent silent periods.( Gale Group 1998 ) The different economic systems in the world today include capitalism, socialism, agrarianism, and barter. The United States and Japan both happen to be capitalistic, which could make the business meeting smoother going in. I is important to know how cultural systems in the United States differ from those of other cultures, this can enhance communication effectiveness when conducting business with persons of
other cultures. While these systems are universal to all cultures, some may deal with an issue in a significantly different way.( Lillian and Chaney 2007 ) This should always be considered.




How important are cultural values?

Values play an important role in communicating effectively with persons from other cultures. Values are the core of any country. They are defined as the goals, social principles, and standards which are acceptable by people of other cultures. An example is, people in various cultures have different attitudes toward women, ethical standards, and work. It is important when in management, to be aware of the values of all workers, especially since many workplaces are becoming more and more diverse. There are many values that are shared by people in the United states that are not shared by people in different cultures, it is never safe to assume values are identical.” People in the United States may claim that all persons are equal and that no person is superior to another simply because of wealth, education, or social status.”.(Lillian and Chaney 2007) Other cultures may base things on sex, race, status and or age to name a few. In the United States, directness and being straight to the point is valued, in Asia however they do not value directness, they suppress their emotions making it difficult for Americans to determine nonverbal and body language.




I don’t quite understand the nature of cultural shock, how do you cope with it?

Being able to identify the typical stages of cultural shock and learning ways to alleviate cultural shock is very important. Hate it or love it, culture shock can occur drastically if one is not prepared for the differences in other countries. It is the trauma one may experience when moving into a culture different from the home culture they may be accustomed to. Cultural shock is a communication problem that involves the frustrations of not understanding
the verbal and nonverbal communication of the culture they may be in. In his story, “In a Far Country” ,author Jack London stressed that a visitor to another culture should be prepared to acquire new customs and abandon old ideals. He suggested that sojourners (people who visit or reside temporarily in another country) should find pleasure in the unfamiliar because those who could not fit into the new culture would either return home or “die” of both psychological and physical ailments. London’s advice is still sound more than a hundred
years later (Lewis & Jungman, 1986). This is a perfect example to use in addressing this question, you must research to see the differences in the culture in which you are visiting, and prepare yourself mentally for the change. I can even encourage practicing; say for instance, certain countries such as Europe don’t use ice. I can say try not using ice for a few weeks before traveling and condition yourself so that the change won’t be or appear so drastic causing culture shock.



Language and thought, how important are they?

Very important, understanding how language affects intercultural business communication and being aware of problems associated with language diversity are a must when preparing to do business in other countries. Language construction, thought, perceptions, and culture are linked and knowing in what ways and how can prove success in doing business with other cultures. One must understand the common language if the plans are to be successful with communicating. Problems may occur when a third party, the translator or interpreter, attempts to convey both the verbal and nonverbal intent of a message. This can also possibly cause issues with getting and earning the trust and respect of possible business partners. While English is considered the language of international business, you may fit in and be able to develop rapport if you are fluent in another person’s language. Not to say this is a requirement, but it may be helpful to make sure accents that are different don’t affect the communication. Unfamiliar accents may present barriers to effective communication (Gilsdorf, 2002).An example of the differences of thought process. In the United States, women seek connections and agreement and are more cooperative in discussions. Men tend to be more individualistic and controlling in their conversations. When women and men have conversations, the men talk and interrupt women more often and focus on their topics rather than listening to the women (Tannen, 2001). This could be perceived differently in other countries, and have a person’s thoughts be muffled about this way of communication.

Social Etiquette is this a priority in many countries?

It is pretty important to be familiar with rules of etiquette that apply to communicating by telephone and electronically with persons of other cultures. Etiquette refers to manners and behavioral patterns considered acceptable in social and business situations. “Proper social behavior includes learning cultural variations in making introductions, exchanging business cards, recognizing position and status, communicating interculturally, dining practices, tipping etiquette, giving gifts, and traveling.”
For example, in one country you may or may not have to call someone by their surname first instead of their first name. Then in another, you may have to refer to a woman by her married name, and no longer her family name. Like in Latin America, when women marry, they drop their mother’s surname and add their husband’s father’s surname. Another important thing about social etiquette is the important aspect of business protocol and knowing the proper procedure for exchanging business cards. While most U.S. businesspeople carry business cards, other countries do not always exchange them when meeting unless there is a reason to contact the person later. It’s important not to get offended if someone refuses or ignores your request to to give them one, or declines it when you offer your card. What’s tradition for the U.S. may not be for all cultures. Keep that in mind, and study the country you are going in to be prepared, once again.

Because people in different cultures have their own way of identifying the classes, position and status may have an impact on the success of intercultural communication encounters. There is no standard definition of social class in other countries, in other words just because you are a big shot in the United States, you may not have the same high ranking in another country.


Business Customs, what are some examples?

In China, I will use them as an example. In an article titled “China,” author Steven Taylor shares some important business customer to keep in mind when visiting this country.
Always arrive on time or early if you are the guest. Do not discuss business at meals. Do not start to eat or drink prior to the host. As a cultural courtesy, you should taste all the dishes you are offered. Never place your chopsticks straight up in your bowl. By placing your sticks upright in your bowl your will remind your host of joss sticks which connotes death. Do not drop the chopsticks it is considered bad luck. Do not eat all of your meal. If you eat all of your meal, the Chinese will assume you did not receive enough food and are still hungry. Women do not usually drink at meals. Lastly, tipping is considered insulting, however the practice is becoming more common.(Taylor 1998)
Negotiation Strategies, what is the best practice?

When preparing to negotiate with another culture, etiquette, languages, and beliefs are of high importance, in addition to product issues cost, and terms must be considered as well. While, the negotiation site is relatively unimportant to U.S. negotiators; they are comfortable negotiating in their office, over the telephone, or in another country. In some countries, however, the location of where the negotiation will take place is of high importance to many different cultures.
(Cohen, 1998).
Negotiations in other countries can be challenging and the uncertainty of the outcome can create much anxiety, but with proper education and reading what the country you are doing business with requires, and also assuring you do it correctly, there is no reason you can’t be a successful business person, anywhere you go.

Tinzley Bradford 9/5/2009



References:

Chaney and Martin,2007, by Pearson Education, Inc.retreived on August 31



S. Taylor, (2008), China, retrieved on September 4,2009 from
http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/china.htm
Gale Group,(1998), Global Negotiations, Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company, retrieved on September 4,2009 from
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Next+for+communicators%3a+global+negotiation.-a053527378

Do People think they aren't living unless they are always doing something? It's okay to sit back and do nothing..

I have noticed lately that there are many people, ( including friends of mine) who feel that if they aren't out doing something, even if it's technically nothing, then they are not having fun or living life.

Can I say, " Get to know yourself! " You will be surprised how more connected with yourself you can get when you turn down all the hype, and just sit back and do nothing.

In my opinion,there are many influences that cause one to feel he or she just has to find somewhere to go, someone to hang out with, and even with little or no money, somewhere to shop. Television shows people with money always into something, but many of them may always be into drama as well.�While it's okay to do these things that you may consider " Living the Life,", consider not doing them everyday or all the time.

I remember when I was always on the go, it seemed I couldn't think straight and there were times I made decisions that were'nt really wise and my vision was cloudy. But when I realized the secret to slowing down and doing nothing, I was able to connect with myself therefore knowing with a clear mind, just what is best for me and began to act on it.

Some ways to do nothing is to read a good book about a topic of interest and reflect on it, you might learn a lot from it,or sit down and write down your deepest thoughts, write down your passions that you may have forgotten about, your vision for your future, and any goals that you may have set, but failed to meet.

This can give you something to look forward to doing that doesn't include being out and about all the time. I have began to reconnect with myself and lets just say, I can see clearly now...I actually look pretty darn good..How do you look ? Who are you ? Get to know yourself...


Tinzley Bradford

Depression Hurts

photo by flicker


Depression is defined as a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity that usually stems from life issues that one just can't seem to get past.

Finding ways to cope and not dwell on past or negative experiences can be helpful in remaining focused, positive, and joyful. Throughout the course of my life, I have noticed I feel much better about any and everything, when I choose to not let whatever 'it' is get the best of me.

We all go through things and at times we may feel ashamed or embarrassed for whatever reason, therefore we dwell on the negative leaving no room for error in our lives. This could be stressful and hard to deal with if you don't allow yourself to make human errors, get over them, and keep it moving.

I can honestly say from past experiences that not taking things too seriously and beating myself up over things that I have no real control over seem to minimize my frustrations, and my need to dwell on those frustrations. I have learned to accept different people and the fact that they can and will be cruel at times. I have also learned to not allow what others are thinking to weigh me down. Many people do and they are looked at as people pleasers who care more about what others think then they do about making sure they are okay.

This can be very stressful trying to live up to everyone else's expectations. If there are things in your past that you may be ashamed of and you have not let go, I can suggest first, you must identify the problem and see what is causing you to be so hard on yourself for simply making a mistake. You must then take time to evaluate ways to deal with what has happened to you, and whether or not it is really that bad.

Do you have true friends or judgmental friends? True friends try to support and inspire you when you are down. Judgmental friends only make you feel worse and at times, they may even rub your nose in your pain which doesn't help. I know at times we may be afraid to do a real analysis of our friends and whether or not they are worth keeping. Believe it or not, there are many people who don't know how to bring you joy in your life, because they lack joy in their lives. You must separate yourself from anyone who can do nothing to lift you up and keep you feeling positive. If you know you aren't happy when this person comes around, you might want to re-think their place in your life and whether or not they even fit in. Sorry, but no one needs a negative person around them all the time. Eliminate all negativity.I can suggest surrounding yourself only with people who will bring out the best in you, who have a smile on their face with a welcoming demeanor, who love and care about how you are doing, and who motivates you.


Be willing to take time out for peace and quiet, time to find a good inspiring book that may be centered on issues you are going through, and read it. Be willing to listen to what begins to surface in your head, meditate, talk to your spiritual guide, write things down and release it from inside you.

Steps to healing from past hurts takes time and patience, and you must be willing to go the extra mile in order to find that level of peace you have been in search of. You have to learn how to love yourself and the rest will fall into place. When someone makes you mad, try not getting as upset as you usually would and assess the situation to see if it's really that serious, if not try dealing with it in a different way. Anger is very draining, but an open mind makes accepting things a lot easier. Always remember you too have made mistakes.

You must begin to love yourself enough to recognize the shame you are feeling, and your need for healing. One of the most valuable things in life is learning unconditional love, but not just for others, but for you as well. Forgive yourself and eliminate all negativity in your life, and you will began to see things differently.

"Remember, you may not be able to go back and make a brand new start, but you can start from now, and make a brand new end." (Courage to Change)

Jvaneece aka Tinzley

Arguing On the Internet, Is This an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

I’m sure I don’t speak for myself when I say that many people seem to be obsessed with blogs and comments on these blogs. I have began to notice many who seem to take commenting on blogs to a certain extreme such as that of one who suffers from ‘Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.’ This disorder is defined as an, “anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and persistent thoughts and feelings and repetitive, ritualized behaviors.” (Sort of like over commenting and bullying people via blog comment section, sound familiar?)

I mean it’s okay to occasionally leave a comment on a post that is interesting to you, and that you may have wanted to share your view about, but when those comments turn into a back and forth match of personal attacks against another and their views, then there may be more of a problem that stems much deeper then the blog. People who have to get the last word, who seem to harass you simply because you did not agree with them, who try and make personal attacks against your character all in the favor of appearing knowledgeable.

This behavior usually comes from an excessively dominant person who feels that what they are doing is right and they should get kudos for it, when in reality their behavior is beginning to reflect who they truly are and to most, appear to be that of a bully.

Blogging in a community should serve as a place where people can get together and share information, inspire each other, learn and grow from each other. Sure there will there will be disagreements, but that’s normal and expected, but how one handles that is what matters. Dominant bullies seem to ruin what blogging really stands for. Don’t get me wrong, it’s okay to have an opinion and voice that opinion as you feel, but one should be willing to accept the feedback they might get w/o becoming too personal or defensive.

So how do we deal with these dominant bullies?

In a recent article, author Allan Chapman shares the definition of an excessively dominant person and ways an average non-assertive person can deal with them.
He says:
“Non-assertive' people (in other words 'normal people') do not generally want to transform into being excessively dominant people. They usually just want to learn:

• How they can become more able to resist the pressure and dominance of excessively dominant people?
• How they can stand up to bullies (or one bully in particular)?
• And also, how they can exert a little more control in situations that are important to them?

“The fact is that most excessively dominant people are usually bullies. Bullies are deep-down very insecure people. They dominate because they are too insecure to allow other people to have responsibility and influence, and this behavior is generally conditioned from childhood for one reason or another. The dominant bullying behavior is effectively reinforced by the response given by 'secure' and 'non-assertive' people to bullying. The bully gets his or her own way. The bullying dominant behavior is rewarded, and so it persists.” Believe it or not, one should have sympathy for bullies because they too are victims. (A.Chapman, 1995-2008)

I agree with this a lot, overly dominant people are often concerned with satisfying their ego and selfish drives to get their own way, to control, to achieve a certain status that will make them feel more accomplished, looking for ‘yes men and women’ to follow them on their controlling and dominating journey. Smart people know its okay to be non-assertive; it is viewed as strength not a weakness, having the ability to communicate effectively without losing your temper, is wise and can have many benefits.

According to Chapman and his theory, ways to face your bully with confidence is:

1. Be prepared for a certain behavior and practice ways to respond to this behavior w/o being too personal.
2. Know your facts or have credible information to support your stance on a subject, bullies usually fail to prepare their facts; because they dominate through bluster, force and reputation.
3. Ask questions that bullies dislike most like deep, constructive, incisive and probing questions, especially if the question exposes a lack of thought, preparation, consideration, consultation on their part.
For example:
• What is your evidence (for what you have said or claimed)?
• Who have you consulted about this?
• How did you go about looking for alternative solutions?
• How have you measured (whatever you say is a problem)?
• How will you measure the true effectiveness of your solution if you implement it?
• What can you say about different solutions that have worked in other situations?

In my experience as a blogger, there have been times when I just wanted to curse someone out for the comments they left on my blog; but once I realized why they do this and how sad and insecure a person they are I feel sorry for them, and instead I either ask a question regarding their comment or ignore it all together and I always thank them for their comment. This can surprise a bully because their mission is usually to create a scene so they can get an audience and feel they are ahead.

So one can either choose to go tick for tack with an insecure, close-minded, one-sided excessively dominant bully, or one can learn to communicate effectively, not get too personal, and be able to sleep tonight. I choose the latter.

Jvaneece aka Tinzley

Source citation A. Chapman from http://www.businessballs.com/self-confidence-assertiveness.htm

Manipulated Minds, Slaves to Society.

This is for people who don't seem to feel they fit, even in their own society. You are more then the enemy thinks.You are special, a beautiful creature, you are special a unique child of God and the beauty He created in His eyes, you are a precious jewel.

Someone said to me today, " Know Thyself." Know thyself she said. So what did she mean? Who am I ? Am I my own person or am I someone elses creation in form of manipulation? Does someone have me in the palm of their hands? Know thyself she said. Why don't I know myself? Who is keeping me from me? Is it that song on the radio? Is it that program on the T.V.? Or is it me, whoever I am?

I look around at what this nation has become and it seems as if everyone is walking around, starring into a mirror in some sort of daze .Trying to figure out what they will never know unless they ask themselves and not everyone around them. If someone told you that you weren't who you thought you were would you believe them? Or would you try to find out for yourself? What method would you use? Would you call family and ask or would you just Google yourself in hopes of discovering who you are? Once again being manipulated by some strangers theory. Know thyself she said.

How long can this nation go without gossip and hear say? How many people will hear someone's answer before they even ask the question? If someone said that the world would end today, would you believe them or would you ask them what their source is? Would you Google it or would you read a history book in an effort to find facts, not fiction created by the enemy. No one wants you to know who you are, because if you knew, you would be okay with yourself, instead of trying to figure out where in your society you fit. Are you a slave to society and whatever he or she thinks so be it, or are you your own person living in your society?
I encourage you to research your history and culture and find answers to unanswered questions that lay doormat inside your ever curious mind. No one should feel thay can dictate your every move, but you. Know thyself she said...


Tinzley Bradford