Kouros Hotel & Suites Questions & Answers

Hi, is this place located where the white buildings with blue windows are ? I am just trying to stay in the main part of Mykonos where the layout is as from the pictures of Mykonos.

over a year ago Answer

1 answer

Property representative
Mykonos Town, Greece
Helpful answer
Not as helpful

Hello Ms. Tanja!

We will indeed be very happy to see you here with us!

All of Mykonos is built in the same 'sugar-cube' architecture and white and blue (or grey) style, as the uniformity of the beauty of our Island is protected by law, and buildings cannot be built otherwise (skyscraping high buildings, red roof-tiles, other wall colors, etc, are all not permitted).

What we can add is that our Hotel is indeed located in the Mykonos Town area, where the central part of Mykonos is located in terms of everyday life, shops, restaurants, cafe's, nightlife etc, and where the beautiful Myconian landmarks (the Windmills, Paraporiani church, Little Venice area) are found.

We would like to thank you for your question and we remain at your disposal for further enquiries that you may have.

Thank you!

George D. - Guest relations team

over a year ago
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venerdì 5 aprile 2013

Review of Matteo Mela: Astor Piazzolla Complete Guitar Works, Stradivarius

Tango. A sad thought that is danced. A word. A sensation. An emotion. Music. Atmosphere. A composer. Piazzolla. It’s difficult to find another term that with one word is able to communicate immediately with these concepts, this combination of pathos, history, music, sweat, dance and music, being able simultaneously to cut off from his place of origin and making it a world's cultural heritage. Jazz? Too many genres below. Rock? Which? Pop? Yes, but when there was Andy Warhol. Blues? That's right, the blues is good. But the Tango have a plus, because the blues is the blues, but the Tango has Piazzolla as its poet and heavy champion. Because it takes a genius, a real genius to make a musical genre born in brothels, fuse it with jazz, classical music and klezmer and give it a spirit, a soul strong enough to make it universal and immortal. It takes nerve, muscle, talent and great passion to play at its best this music for dancing or for a guitar. Matteo Mela, Per Arne Glorvigen, Lorenzo Micheli, Ivan Ramaglia and I Solisti di Parma have talent, passion, intuition and they have to sell. This record is a solid, compact monolith, without a single smear, without a single failure, without a single loss of emotional and musical tension. It leaves you breathless, stunned, for its devotion and passion. 74 minutes of pure talent. Here there is no room for smoking, here is just the roast: the Tango Suite for two guitars, the Histoire du Tango for violin and guitar, the Cinco Piezas and Double Concerto "Hommage a Liege". All played at their best, with a control on the instruments and a so superlative technique that doesn’t interferes in any way with the emotions, feelings and colors that musicians forward with the simplicity and the skill of someone who has studied and played a lot. Buy this record. Listen to this record. Give this record. Open the doors to tango. Don’t regret it. Matteo Mela and Astor Piazzola Complete Guitar Music, thirteenth Volume of the Stradivarius Guitar Collection will not disappoint you.

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Entre/view & Resisting Definition:

Deconstruction is a term French, post, neo and/or anti-structuralist philosopher, Jacque Derrida, coined in Of Grammatology. Applying Martin Heiddegger’s concept of Destruktion (destruction) to textual reading, Derrida believed that all references--metaphors, derivations, reductions or extensions--used to interpret a text are themselves texts; “there’s nothing outside the text.” By this, he suggests (never commits to meaning) that there is no truly objective, discourse-free reference from which interpretation can begin. Thus, deconstruction is “an effort to understand” a text through its relationships to various contexts.

But don’t be misled.

Deconstruction is not an analysis.
Deconstruction is not a critique.
Deconstruction is not a method.
Deconstruction is not a theory.

Instead, deconstruction might be closer to a game with its “unenclosable, not wholly formalizable ensemble of rules for reading, interpretation and writing” (Derrida, 7) or perhaps, a performance as Derrida mysteriously infers in his letter to a Japanese friend in 1983: “[d]econstruction takes place, it is an event” (Derrida, 30). Yet it only gains momentary, albeit assymptotic meaning, one might argue in practice, when it is applied con/textually. Then again, perhaps not.

Such an application might be discernible in Limited, Inc., wherein Derrida de-structures/displaces/re-contextualizes his argument, most notably in Signature Event Context (SEC). Here, the reader (aka misguided interloper) is introduced to another palimpsestual layer of (non)deconstruction, aptly and playfully placed at the end of SEC:

"Deconstruction cannot be restricted or immediately pass to a neutralization: it must, through a double gesture, a double science, a double writing--put into practice a reversal of the classical opposition and a general displacement of the system. It is on that condition alone that deconstruction will provide the means of intervening in the field of oppositions it criticizes and that is also a field of nondiscursive forces. Every concept, moreover, belongs to a systematic chain and constitutes in itself a system of predicates. There is no concept that is metaphysical in itself. There is a labor--metaphysical or not--performed on conceptual systems. Deconstruction does not consist in moving from one concept to another, but in reversing and displacing a conceptual order as well as the nonconceptual order with which it is articulated" (Derrida, 21).

Here deconstruction resembles simultaneity, the slash (/) itself devoid of ontological sedimentation, and even a red herring. Or better yet, is deconstruction the McGuffin.

Each attempt to affix a definition, a meaning, defies its signification.

While deconstruction involves a “certain attention to structures” and tries to “understand how an ‘ensemble’ was constituted,” (Derrida, 32) it is both (or neither) a structuralist and an anti-structuralist gesture tied up with the “structural problematic” generated by the tension entre what Derrida refers to as genesis--“the essential mode of creation or movement,” such as sensory notions, tacit knowledge--and structure--“systems, or complexes, static configurations,” such as binary oppositions (Derrida, 34). Both are part of the act of description, and yet difficult to reconcile, which creates the ensuing structural problematic, propelling deconstruction forward into an endless “debate that makes new reductions and explications indefinitely necessary.” (Derrida, 35). A task even Sisyphus would renounce.

But let’s be serious, and not needlessly tarry in the “pleasure of the threshold (limen)” (Derrida, 39).

(Non)Practical Application:

Limited, Inc can be seen as two “statements” or playful illustrations/performances/applications of deconstruction.

SEC begins with a question: does the word or signifier “communication” communicate a determinate content, an identifiable meaning or a describable value? He then proceeds, almost phenomenologically, to maddeningly deconstruct, break apart, and ultimately reverse and reconstruct the act of questioning itself:

"However, even to articulate and to propose this question I have had to anticipate the meaning of the word communication: I have been constrained to predetermine communication as a vehicle, a means of transport or transitional medium of a meaning, and moreover a unified meaning. If communication possessed several meanings and if this plurality should prove to be irreducible, it would not be justifiable to define communication a priori as the transmission of meaning" (Derrida, 1).
Derrida continues on in this vein of archaeological, ontological digging until he finds an example that showcases a nonsemantic modality of communication--a movement, a tremor, or a transmission--which he claims possess neither conceptual content, nor semiotic operations or even linguistic exchange.

He concludes (as he begins) this “dry discussion” in double-negative fashion by portending that “writing, communication, if we retain the word, is not the means of transference of meaning, the exchange or intentions and meanings, discourse and the communication of consciousness...but rather the increasingly powerful historical expansion of general writing, of which the system of speech, consciousness, meaning, presence, truth, etc, [is] only an effect, and should be analyzed as such. It is the exposure of this effect that I have called elsewhere logocentrism.” (Derrida, 20).

Tucked away tellingly in footnote 9 from the Afterword, Derrida admits that “deconstruction (as he has always practiced it) begins with deconstructing logocentrism” (Derrida, 156). By proceeding in this ‘style’, Derrida seeks to propose an entirely “different ‘logic’ and a ‘new articulation’ between concept and metaphor (effect), which is to say between philosophy, science and logic on the one hand, and rhetoric on the other” (Derrida, 156), and thereby disrupt the fear and dogmatism that motivates the various self-installed ideologues of communication to denounce the absence of rules and confusion at “the slightest difficulty, the slightest complication, and slightest transformation of rules” (Derrida, 157).

Yet the year Derrida died the legacy of confusion persisted. Every newspaper in the world attempted “to communicate,” to ascribe proximal meaning to this “Rube Goldberg of Philosophers,” as Christopher Orlet of the American Spectator put it, and to crystallize/reduce his practice of deconstruction to an aggregate of meaning paradoxes, overlooking his preferred metaphysical transcendence of logocentrism. However, the iterative propagation of misfires unconsciously catalyzed the Babelian performance of interpretation, to which he might have given a wry smile and a passing wink.

Articulating Disambiguation in the Sciences:

In Muddling Through: Pursuing Science and Truths in the 21st Century, Mike Fortun and Herbert Bernstein apply the “deconstructive theory” for the purpose of excoriating paradoxes inherent in scientific inquiry.

The authors observe that PET scan technology is a site for an “articulation within an articulation.” The picture generated from the scan presents a mode of communication that is simultaneously a transmission of data and the meaning that transmission possesses. When “these articulated images and their articulated meanings are assembled within the public or legal spheres of power” (Fortun, 63) and used to confer legitimacy for differing purposes, a paradox emergences between transparency and mediation.

Transparency, they argue is often “accorded an ideal status, against which the qualities of mediation are then defined, making mediation a negative term” (Fortun, 64).

By interrogating the PET scan through the double lens of Derridian differance, such easy hierarchal binaries are displaced. Unlike the semiologist, de Saussure, who believed that the sign is a discrete unit of meaning, composed of the arbitrary, but transparent relationship between the signifier, and the signified, and that knowledge emerges out of the chain of signifiers, Derrida used the intentionally misspelled differance to imply that language is not only a structured system of signs, and that meanings of individual signs are produced by the difference between that sign and another, but more importantly, that meaning--this web of signification--however, symbiotic, even non-hierarchical, the relationship is, must always be “deferred,” postponed through the ceaseless chain of signifiers. Knowledge is thus never total and complete, except within contingent contexts.

Whereas Derrida is convinced that the sign and signifier are irrevocably severed, the American pragmatist, Charles Sanders Pierce, theorized that by adding a “third” level of articulation, the interpretant, to the sign and signifier system, the two would be reconnected--contextualized through the act of interpretation into a meaningful reality. Isabel Stern calls this third level the category of mediation: “[t]hirdness is the factor of final causation which manifests itself as a ‘gentle force’ bringing together in a certain measure all that which without it must remain an arbitrary and unmediated opposition” (Fortun, 68).

Taken together, Fortun and Bernstein, envision such a “linked up, and spreading disseminating structure” comprised of “densely quilted network of First, Seconds and Thirds,” (Fortun, 68) to resemble a Peircean triad, which relies on the interpreter for sense-making. Thus, reality is recast as realitty to denote that it is “neither discovered or constructed, [but instead...] pursued and performed” (Fortun, 32). Realitty rests entre the /.

As the author’s conclude in Chapter 4: “[r]ealitty is between a community and its practices, between trained practitioners and their thought-style, between disciplined experimenters and the instruments, which they invented... realitty is a kludge job” (Fortun, 70).

Deconstruction, too, is a kludge job, and when pursued to its end, it might resolve in a /.

Related Terms:

Derrida, Jacques. Limited, Inc.
Fortun, Mike and Herbert Bernstein. Muddling Through: Pursuing Science and Truths in the 21st Century.
Orlet, Christopher. “Derrida’s Bluff.”


Curry for Change

Changing the lives of families
who suffer from hunger.

Change Lives

Change Lives

One in nine people around the world suffer from chronic hunger because they don’t have enough to eat.

Find Your Feet and Health Poverty Action are the UK charities behind Curry for Change, and we help vulnerable rural families to build a future free from poverty.

By getting involved in Curry for Change, you have the chance to change the lives of people like Ramsheela, Edward and Anna.

Your support could help women like Ramsheela to improve their crops and break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

- Ramsheela, Sakdukla Village, India.

Your support could help people like Edward build skills and knowledge in order to earn an income.

- Edward, Saziya Village, Zimbabwe.

We are supporting young mothers like Anna to access vital information on nutrition, breastfeeding and hygiene, so they can provide healthy food for their children.

- Anna, Bengvilay Village, Laos


Incenter Locus

ACB represents a string of length L pinned at A and B, and used to draw an ellipse.
D is the center of the incircle of the triangle ABC.
Drag C and observe the locus of point D.

This document requires an HTML5-compliant browser.

You can change the length of the string (L), or the distance AB.

App generated by Geometry Expressions


2D mesh geometry import issue for large meshes

0 votes
asked Apr 20, 2017 by m.weber (120 points)

I've been successfully using RiverGIS for mesh creation, but if a mesh includes too many cells the HEC-RAS Geometry import fails. I'm not sure where the threshold is, but it definitely does not work at around 250,000 cells. This is a problem for me, as I often work with large 2D models.

What happens is that the cells that were created along the breaklines are absent. Here's an example screenshot where the regular grid imported, but the curvilinear portion within the channel fails.

Anyone else notice this issue? What is going on here?

FYI, I cross-posted this issue to github: https://github.com/erpas/rgis/issues/28

commented Apr 20, 2017 by rpasiok (3,561 points)
Hi Matt,

Thanks for your report. We didn't get into such problems. Would you like to share your dataset? That would help us reproduce the problem and look into it if we had the following layers:

1. FlowAreas2D
2. BreakLines2D
3. BreakPoints2D (if any)
4. DTM (optional)

1 Answer

0 votes
answered Apr 23, 2017 by rpasiok (3,561 points)
Hi Matt,

The size of your model might not be relevant here. The problem is that your breakline endpoints are located outside of the 2d flow area. Modify your breakline to start and end inside of the 2d area - it should not cross the 2d area boundary. Hope that helps.
Welcome to RiverGIS Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.

Visit rivergis.com for documentation and general info about the QGIS plugin.


Location:Home > Engineering Case

Engineering Case

Renewable energy umbilical

Zhoushan island is in the East China Sea of Zhejiang Province. It has more than 1390 islands and has a total area of 22,200 km2, Among which land area is 1371 km2. Guanshan is located in Daishan of the Zhoushan Islands.

Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co., Ltd. has signed a contract in 2010 with Harbin Engineering University. Orient designed, manufactured and provided 863 plan of guanshan area of tidal power generation project DC 600V 2x400 mm2 cable. The total length is 1km.

Harbin Engineering University, the PLA military engineering Institute was founded in 1953, "The military ", is now part of the people's Republic of China Ministry of industry and information technology, national defense, the Ministry of education, the Chinese people's Liberation Army Navy, the Heilongjiang provincial government building of the Quartet. It's China's " three sea a nuclear " shipbuilding, naval equipment, marine development, application of nuclear energy and other areas important for personnel training and scientific research base.

The whole cable adopts the Lazy-s linear and connected test power catamaran boat and shore - based variable - pressure energy storage devices. The test power catamaran boat attached to the seabed with four anchor chain. The entire dynamic cabling system bounded by twin test generation ship anchoring device for anchoring, and against bending and harbor the retention fixture.

The entire system used many accessories to ensure the stability and reliability of the cable during linear maintaining and running. Such as the test power catamaran boat anchored on the platform device; dynamic cable against bending under hull ; submarine fixed clamp ; submarine hit the ground end of bending limit etc.

Most of the accessories of the entire system were designed by us, based on its application characteristics to select specific parameters and targeted development. Be better in tidal power generation system to facilitate such adverse environments as high velocity large waves.


Great Artwork of Famous Artists

Over the years, paintings, illustrations and sculptures has amazed the public and costs millions of dollars to buy and acquire. Some artworks by some artists stand out and have become a symbol of their movements.  These paintings have been used in songs, talked about in shows and some have even become slangs or a quote. One thing is common though, these paintings by these artists speak all over the world.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting ‘Mona Lisa’ can be termed to be the mother of all paintings. The painting sits in a museum in Paris and is seen by close to a million people every year. The painting is one of the tourist destinations of Paris. The ‘Mona Lisa’ has had movies made about it, songs have been written with catch phrases making reference to the ‘Mona Lisa’ painting. The Mona Lisa painting was done close to the period Leonardo Da Vinci died in 1519.

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Fantastic Chef 1: Stuffed Peppers

Fantastic Chef 10: Peach Cobbler
Fantastic Chef 6: Pear Pie
Fantastic Chef 5: Chili
Fantastic Chef 7: Chicken &...
Fantastic Chef 3: Oatmeal Raisin...
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Fantastic Chef 1: Stuffed Peppers

Fantastic Chef 1: Stuffed Peppers

Cook  Cooking

If you like cooking games, you're going to LOVE this one. You're in a big kitchen and there are plenty of ingredients. No worries you've got your recipe book. Come on, now. Let's make some stuffed peppers!

To Be a Little Chef
World Class Chef: Germany
Fantastic Chef 4: Shrimp Gumbo
How to be A Chef
World Class Chef: Japan
Fantastic Sea World


Who were the Bee Goddesses and Bee Priestesses of the Ancient World?

By Krista Holland

Time and again we see priestesses and goddesses of the ancient world referred to as bee priestesses and bee goddesses. Many goddesses of old have their names and titles in someway mythologically or etymologically connected to the words for bees and or honey. As we dig through the remnants of the bee-venerating cultures the world over there is still much to be understood.

The ancient cultures that honored the bee goddesses may have left precious secrets and ephemeral treasures in their myths, allegories and symbols. There are some who claim there is an unbroken, hidden lineage and shamanic line of bee priestesses that profess their origins to have begun long, long ago in the archaic cultures of ancient times. We do know that there has been a trail of symbols and signs left in the ruins and artifacts of the ancient world that point strongly to the deep ties and tangible relationships that women and honeybees have forged and nurtured in each other over vast periods time.

Crete in particular is resplendent with images of women tending to honey bees and with sacred symbols of hybrid creatures that are half female - ¬ half Hymenoptera. The ancient medallions, coins, jewelry, insignia and art are evocative of the rich attendant gifts and medicine that come along with stewarding the bounty and buzzing beauty of a hive.

In our time together on Crete during the Eleusinian Mystery Field School, we will be just dipping a finger into the mysteries of the bee priestesses so as to enjoy but a sweet taste of the subtle essence of what these myths and symbols might nourish in us archetypally, metaphorically and culturally. When we apprentice to the awe inspiring depth and breadth of the Divine Feminine it is helpful to remember that She is the “One who Desires to Become Many” and is multifarious by nature. She expresses herself in a multitude of dimensions, expressions and through many different symbolic and embodied manifestations and incarnations.

She is the maiden of the caves and caverns. The progenitor of the sacred springs, rivers, grottos and all water. She is the mistress of the beasts and snakes. She is the lady of the mountains and Queen of the Honey Bees. She is Rhea, Demeter and Aphrodite, Potnia and Cybele. She is the oracle of Delphi. She is the power of prophecy and ecstasy that animates the mystai, the muses and the melissae. She is the keeper of cyclical time and shamaness of the sacred drum. She is the orchestrator of seasonal rhythms and ceremonial rites. She is the moon, the womb, the circle, the web weaver, the labyrinth walker, the ritualistic dancer, the mead maker and the initiator of the sacred mysteries. She is pure feminine power and manifest energy. She is life giver, sustainer, destroyer, and rebirther. She is the co-creatrix of all Life.

There is deep territory to discover when approaching any shamanic tradition. We are each encouraged to trust the perfect timing of the Divine Feminine in her guidance and to relax into the flow of transmission with a sense of ease in the unfolding mysteries, by simply opening, to Her grace.

Krista Holland is a yogini, frame drummer, multifaceted teacher and Renaissance woman. Krista’s work and teaching draws from her in-depth practice and studies of yoga, Ayurveda, Tantrik philosophy, sacred drumming and permaculture. Krista was first introduced to Eastern philosophy, mysticism and various practices of meditation at an ashram in India at the age of twelve. Krista is a devoted practitioner and teacher of the essence of non-dual tantra yoga. She is known for her gift of weaving the ancient wisdom of yogic philosophy through the embodied practice of full spectrum yoga and Embodied Life Coaching. Krista is a faculty member of the College of the Melissae - Center for Sacred Beekeeping where she teaches on the Mythology, Symbol Systems and Sacred Drumming connected to the ancient Bee Priestess traditions. She is also the co-founder of Gaia Women Global. The synthesis of her multidisciplinary career and dharma is brought together in her body of work called Yoga and Living Arts, where she offers a rich mandala of teachings and private coaching dedicated to personal and planetary healing, spiritual awakening and the full flowering of embodied life mastery.  kristaholland.com


The Known. The Frustration. The Support

I absolutely love this quote from A Plethora of Technology:

“Psychologists tell us that a student learns only when the task is a little too hard for that student. When a student can do work with little effort, and virtually independently, that student is NOT learning, but rather REHEARSING THE KNOWN. When a student finds a task beyond his or her reach, FRUSTRATION, not learning, is the result. Only when a task is a bit beyond the student’s comfort level, and the student finds a SUPPORT SYSTEM to bridge the gap, does learning occur.”

– Based on the work of Tomlinson, C.A. (2003)

I think there’s a great deal in that:

  • Finding a task easy isn’t always a reason to celebrate. It may actually waste your time.
  • Finding a task difficult can often be overcome with a bit of a push and the right help.
  • Finding a task overly frustrating even begin can often end in no learning at all. Just as much of a waste as the simple task.

That’s why people can be productive when they face a challenge.

Let’s look at the three possibilities in more detail:

Easy tasks (The Known)

This is where the major danger lies. For many of us, we feel slightly smug and very pleased when a piece of work can be rushed off expertly in no time at all. Even if we don’t admit it to others, we like to give ourselves a pat on the back, breathing a sigh of relief that no hard work was needed. In a way, it can even boost our confidence when we realise our skill is sufficient to get good grades with little effort.

But because of these seemingly positive thoughts, the trap is in wanting more of this easy work. As soon as a task becomes more difficult, the blinkers tend to come on and even a relatively small challenge is treated like a mountain of impossibility. Sometimes it’s just an excuse for laziness.

Change the outlook. You may be happy to find a task easy, but don’t dwell on it. Just get it out of the way and move on. Of course, if you imagine a particular task will be difficult and then surprise yourself at the ease in which you tackled it, you’re bound to be happy. So enjoy a brief celebration and then crack on with the rest of your work. Let your success act as a reason to push you forward further, rather than basking in the same position!

Overly troubling tasks (The Frustration)

Situations can arise in which an individual genuinely tries to reach a conclusion and fails, no matter how hard they try to crack it.  This is not to be confused with the frustration at having to do a bit of old-fashioned hard work.  Don’t kid yourself.

If the difficulty lies more with you than the task itself, generate a sense of urgency about the matter.  With this mentality, you can push yourself a lot further than you ever would.

But when attempts fail, despite giving it your all, the first thing to do is to admit defeat.  Don’t give up, but do allow yourself the admission that you can’t complete this particular task under current circumstances.

A couple of times in the past, I carried on breaking my back with aggravating study.  But it just made matters worse, because I stopped focusing on the task itself and simply got annoyed with both myself and the situation.  I learned the hard way, but at least I learned.  All too often, this is a regular unproductive way of approaching work.  It must be hell to drive yourself barmy for no useful reason whatsoever.  I wouldn’t recommend it!

Generally, the problem will either be due to a set task or from an overall problem/misunderstanding with a broad subject.  Either way, speak to your relevant tutor about it.  Ask for direct help, as well as books and websites that could help you on your way.  Try to pinpoint what you’re missing out on.  Maybe you’ve been looking at the problem from the wrong angle, or you’ve missed the point.  Maybe a tutor has made a mistake or misquoted something.  There may actually be a reason why you can’t continue with the work…all the more reason to get help as soon as you can.

While this can be doubly frustrating when a problem looks like it should have a clear answer.  It’s still wise to admit defeat when the options have dried out.  You may find that there is no answer.  It goes to show that you can revisit every last resource, but it may not get you any closer to a result.

Difficult tasks (The Support)

A lot of what you do should rest in this category.  A difficult task involves you, but doesn’t overwhelm you.  It’s the reason why so many productivity tips are out there.  It’s what makes your degree a source of learning.

A ‘support system’ is not necessarily about getting support from people.  The support system is about you understanding how to make the most of a task and building up to an answer.  With all the right mental tools, time-management, research skills, people networking, and so on, you can take these difficult – but manageable – issues, and turn them into solutions.

You can work creatively, emotionally, through analysis, or in any way you choose.  So long as you have the right tools in place to support your moves from initial task to final draft, this is where the main bulk of learning will take place.  A challenge is there to be devoured.

So may I be the first to hope that, from now on, all your study is difficult…

Just not too difficult.


Engineering for the Future

Ever wonder how robots can explore space, complete complex surgeries, and analyze human behavior? Explore these engineering endeavors in the following videos. Invite your students to discover careers in engineering, explore the engineering design process, and learn how engineers design bridges, create websites, and even build robots that can think and act like humans.

  • What is Structural Engineering? | QUEST

    Structural engineering is a specialized branch of civil engineering that entails analyzing and designing structures, like buildings, bridges, concert stages, and even roller coasters.

    Grades: 6-11
  • The Engineering Design Process: A Taco Party

    When engineers set out to solve a real world problem, they go through an engineering design process in much the same way you would throw an impromptu taco party. In this animated video, learn how engineers design and test different prototypes. This video is part of the Engineering for Good Unit.

    Grades: 6-12
  • Are Robots Taking Our Jobs?

    From robotic surgeries to driverless cars, robots are able to perform all different kinds of tasks. This means they could put some people out of work as technology continues to advance.

    Grades: 6-12
  • Career Spotlight: Mechatronics Engineer

    In this video from KQED meet Leila Madrone, a mechatronics engineer — a combination of electrical and mechanical engineering — who works at Otherlab. She leads an engineering team that is trying to improve large solar power fields. By changing the size and materials of heliostats, structures that include large mirrors to reflect sunlight, she can make high-concentration solar systems more energy efficient and less costly. Madrone has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT. Before she joined Otherlab she was part of the Intelligent Robotics Group at NASA, where she created a device for taking high-resolution panoramic images. She chose to become an engineer because she wanted to help create a better world. She says that if you’re curious and have a desire to improve the world around you, you may enjoy a career as an engineer.

    Grades: 6-12
  • Career Spotlight: Robotics Engineer

    Maria Bualat is a robotics engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA where she develops robotics systems for space exploration.

    Grades: 6-12
  • Career Spotlight: Software Engineer

    In 2013, Jessica Egoyibo Mong arrived in the Bay Area with $100 in her pocket and a desire to enter the field of software engineering. Fast forward two years, and Jessica is now a software engineer with SurveyMonkey, a tech company that creates and designs custom online surveys. Jessica works on the billing side, writing code to ensure that customers can access and pay for surveys.

    Grades: 6-12
  • Career Spotlight: Spatial Interaction Engineer

    Alex Okita teaches computers to see like we see. He designs and develops tools and games for the Structure Sensor, an attachment for the iPad that can 3-D scan rooms, objects, and even people. While many in his field have advanced degrees, Alex started working straight out of high school.

    Grades: 6-12
  • Career Spotlight: Civil Engineer

    Alishia Ballard graduated in 2015 with a degree in civil engineering from San Diego State University. After graduating, she has been interning with San Francisco Public Works in their structural engineering section. Structural engineering is a subcategory of civil engineering, and it often involves designing, inspecting and analyzing structures like bridges and buildings.

    Grades: 6-12


The foundation underlying our individualized designs is our creative problem-solving process. This systematic, top-down approach ensures that our understanding is comprehensive and that each project is easily documented and under control.

  1. Define project. Identify building type, basic requirements and constraints.
  2. Gather client data. Understand client’s motives, desired functionality, lifestyle, needs and wants, and budget.
  3. Gather site data. Survey site for points of interest, elevation, wind and solar orientation, topographical, seismic and physical constraints. Identify local building-code constraints.
  4. Develop design hypotheses + estimates. Draft preliminary design schemes and material estimates based on gathered data.
  5. Make design adjustments/revisions. Review design with client, gather critique and revise accordingly.
  6. Finalize design. Finalize design and forward to engineers for analysis.
  7. Additional revisions. Discuss any design changes from engineers with client. Revise design accordingly.

© 2010 Andrews & Partners, Inc.


Though technological innovation is an integral part of our operations, it is ultimately for the benefit of our individual projects. For each project, the technology is reanalyzed for optimal configuration, given the project’s requirements.

  1. Define requirements. Identify design constraints required by the design concept.
  2. Determine most suitable construction method. Pinpoint which among our suite of building technologies to deploy for a specific design and project phase.
  3. Evaluate site soil. Consultant evaluates soil integrity of site.
  4. Determine detailed structural design.  Consultant maps out detailed structural analysis and design.
  5. Determine mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) layout. Consultants lay out MEP analysis and design.
  6. Finalize design. Synthesize architecture, structural, and MEP designs and publish to blueprint.
© 2010 Andrews & Partners, Inc.


mont blanc

A classic dessert of sweetened, pureed chestnuts subtly flavored with vanilla. The mixture is riced and mounded into a high, fluffy mountain on a platter. This sweet alp is capped with whipped cream or crème chantilly. Mont Blanc (“white mountain”) is a peak in the French Alps near the Italian border.


Four Organizational Strategies That Can Make Your Business Operate More Effectively

As many corporate leaders understand, operating in an organized manner can play a key role in helping a company optimize its conversion rates. Being organized can also optimize other key processes such as interoffice communication, marketing, and project management. Below you’ll find just four of many organizational strategies that corporate leaders can utilize to make their businesses operate more effectively:

1. Trello.

Trello is a collaborative tool that can take a business’s level of productivity from average to awesome. This web-based system is effective because it enables company leaders and their employees to create lists that everyone can view, update, and optimize from one central virtual location. The lists can contain sticky notes with attachments and other documents that enable everyone to see how close the project is to being completed. Note that Trello enables project participants to recruit attachments from data sources such as Salesforce and BitBucket. Teammates will also be able to communicate and collaborate with one another through this project management system. Finally, the virtual whiteboard can be taken anywhere the employee goes on her or his smartphone.

2. SMART Goals.

In addition to using organizational tools like Trello, business owners should implement SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Specific) goals. These goals optimize organization by ensuring that the corporate leader knows which tasks need to be accomplished while also enabling her or him to establish deadlines. A sample SMART goal would be “I will hire a digital marketing manager by 7/1/2018 to increase monthly online sales by 10%.” Notice that this goal is measurable given that the business owner’s expected sales increase is by 10%. Additionally, the goal has a deadline of 7/1/2018.

3. Stop Micromanaging.

One final organizational strategy that business owners can utilize to keep their companies going and growing is ending their proclivity to micromanage. Interestingly, many business owners micromanage their employees with the intent of keeping everyone on track to completing activities that are important for business growth. Yet while micromanaging is ultimately an attempt at keeping everyone and everything organized, it rarely works. This is the case for many reasons, including the fact that many if not most staff members take offense when they perceive that their employees don’t believe they possess the level of confidence and/or competence necessary to complete tasks quickly and correctly. In many cases, micromanagement causes employees to become discouraged, at which point they may leave tasks incomplete or quit. This is why business owners who are determined to keep their companies organized should avoid micromanagement at all costs.

Instead of micromanaging, business owners should focus on consistently, effectively training employees to complete more and more assignments with excellence and expedience. This way, the business owner can delegate with the confidence that the staff member has the good judgment and expansive skill set necessary to get things done quickly and correctly.

4. Product Optimization.

Using the right products is one of the best ways to ensure that your business will begin operating more effectively. This technique works because it decreases the likelihood of your machines and devices breaking down or malfunctioning in a manner that precludes your staff members from getting things done. In the event that you’re looking for a copiers Dallas company to provide you with printing products, know that the professionals of CESCO Inc. can assist you.

Four organizational strategies that business owners can utilize to facilitate company expansion include Trello, SMART goals, putting an end to your proclivity to micromanage, and product optimization. Start using these organizational strategies soon so your business can begin to operate more effectively!


Hints on the Study of Octaves, Thirds and Sixths

The performance of pure legato octaves is undoubtedly the greatest stumbling block in the path of a pianist striving for virtuosity. This is surprising, as with proper placing, correct use of the down-up motions of the wrist, and relaxation of the muscles, octaves may approximate the speed, depth and equality of single notes. Pure, perfectly even, resonant octaves cannot be acquired when the muscles are rigid, hands misplaced, and a faulty principle applied.

The ear plays a very important part in octave playing, as it requires constant listening to each tone, in order to discover inequality. All previous training of the fingers and muscles for scales, chords and arpeggios has been a splendid preparation for octaves, although the latter should be a daily study even for comparative beginners, as they are a great aid in developing strength and giving elasticity to the first and fifth fingers.

One case, of a very gifted girl who performed in public the Rubinstein D Minor Concerto, comes to mind. The task was accomplished only by applying the principles for octave playing to which I have so often referred, as the young girl had little mechanical development or capacity. With a very short thumb, and no stretch between the latter and the index finger, she certainly had enough to contend with, but added to that the fingers were stiff and the hand not large by any means.

By means of dogged determination and patient application of the correct principle, she was enabled in six years (from the time she received her foundation) to make her debut, performing an entire program of extreme difficulty, winning encomiums from press and public.

That convinced me how unimportant comparatively, a find hand was, and how much could be accomplished by musical and intellectual gifts, when combined with perseverance and correct guidance.

White Key Octaves

When performing on white keys only, the hand should remain over the margin between the front of the keyboard and the black keys, always using the straight lines for scale and arpeggio passages, but when using black and white, never move in and out, but invariably remain inside.

The rules for octaves are as follows:

  • Play in a straight line
  • Use even pressure
  • Observe regularity of the up-down motions
  • Complete devitalization when pressing down the octave

The chromatic scale in octaves should be a daily study. In the chromatic scale (played in octaves) use the slow, deep clinging legato touch, bearing down from the triceps, but never growing rigid. Never play with the arm (when using the triceps muscles) as only the pulsation of the latter is felt, and the arm, although relaxed is perfectly steady.

In performing thirds and sixths, the main difficulty lies in the connection of both tones when passing under and over the keys. Most performers retain only one note of the thirds or sixths, thereby destroying the equality and perfection of the passages. By using the same rules laid down for scales, relaxing the wrist when crossing over and under, and retaining both notes until the last moment, a perfect connection is assured.

The Chopin Berceuse in D Flat Major is an exceptionally fine work for developing thirds and other intricate passages, and some editions have a set of preliminary studies to prepare for the difficulties. However, if all the technical rules have been carefully observed studies will be unnecessary, and thirds or double notes of any kind will glide smoothly and perfectly, to the complete satisfaction of the performer.


Category Archives: poem

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Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance.
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance.
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

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Question everything!

Rudyard Kipling, the famous author had quoted in his poem- “The Elephant’s Child”
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who
I strongly feel the need for us- the whole of mankind to take assistance from these six men in our day-to-day lives. All our actions must be based on the resultant answer we get, by asking these six men. I believe the resultant answer will weigh heavily in terms of ethic, logic and practicality and thus justify humans in the sanctity of truth, honesty, integrity and righteousness.
To put it in simpler words, I’d say that one needs to constantly ask himself these 6 questions- What, Why, When, How, Where and Who, before performing any action in his life. When he receives a Clear answer to those questions, he should go about those actions without a second thought. Every action is justified in this case. But, the moment he fails to get a clear answer to those questions from his conscience, he should stop. If he does go about doing that task or activity despite the ‘warning’, he is bound to be at a loss. The loss/failure may not be of materialistic nature but purely based on ethic, logic and practicality.
This concept is widely used in Journalism, Research, Police Investigation, Strategy building and other fields as well. The very basis of these fields is – Questioning Everything. Unless and until you question, you’ll not get the answers and it’s based on these answers that you need to build your foundation and eventually, reach a solution to the given problem. This is referred to as the process of Information gathering to get a Complete story of some occurrence/incident/thing.
Coming back to the six honest serving men,
  1.  Who? Refers to the Participants/Stakeholders
  2.  What? Refers to the Event/Happening/Occasion
  3.  Where? Refers to the Venue/Location
  4.  When? Refers to the Time and Date
  5.  Why? Refers to the Reason/Purpose
  6.  How? Refers to the Process/Modus Operandi/Course/Route

Following the above rule, let’s see how we can apply this in our lives. Consider a simple example-

A 15-year old kid, just out of school, wants a bike.
We start the process by asking questions. The questions need to be asked to all the stakeholders or the people involved with the idea.
Q1. Who?
Ans: The kid, his Parents and the Showroom
Q2. What?
Ans: The Motorbike
Q3. Where?
Ans: The answer for this question could possibly be -The bike is available at the showroom
Q4. When?
Ans: The answer for this question could possibly be – As soon as possible or in the next 10 days or in the next 2 weeks, etc.
Q5: Why?
Ans: The answer for this question could possibly be – Since the kid stays far away from college, a bike would help him commute comfortably, also saving a lot of time and energy.
Q6: How?
Ans: The answer for this question could possibly be- Convince the parents, i.e Sell the idea to the parents. Receive a feed back- Yes or No. Depending on that answer: if it’s a Yes, Select the bike of your choice, go and buy the bike after making the payment.
If it’s a No, forget about the bike or keep trying to convince your parents

Another question that becomes a part of this process is- ‘Which’. But, it is a sub-module of How in most cases. ‘Which’ refers to choice. In the above case, the choice of Bike answers the ‘Which’ question. This answer is again dependent on other factors. In the above case, the factors may be Brand, Mileage, Looks, Budget, Comfort, Manoeuvrability, etc.

The Application of this law in our lives should reap rich benefits, and the best part is the ‘Feel Good factor’. When we do something good, for ourselves or others, we get a really good response from our Conscience and that is one feeling that cannot be felt in any other way.

So, always remember- The first step of the Learning process is Questioning. Develop a sense of curiosity. Keep Questioning and seek answers for the same.

Happy Questioning! :)

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Taking the Untrodden Path

 Greetings! to everyone who is reading this blog. This is my first ‘serious’ attempt at blogging. I had tried a couple of times before but failed to move on after my first attempt. ‘Blogging’ simply didn’t excite me in the past. Despite having a friend’s circle consisting of chronic bloggers, I never really felt the necessity, until now.

 Its been more than a week since I joined my new job, (infact my first job!) and the fact that it specializes in providing Social media services to Enterprises makes my foray into the Blogging world and reviving my Twitter account, all the more necessary.

 As of now, planning to write this on a weekly basis. Will talk about all those things that are dear to me and hope you can connect to it in some way or the other. Will try not to run into pages and pages and keep it concise. But there might be occasions where I might just lose track and keep on typing and typing. (Just hope that does not happen too often!)

 I’ve named my blog- The Untrodden Path. There is a deep meaning behind it. I’m sure all of you have come across Robert Frost’s famous poem- ‘The Road not Taken’The last 2 lines of that poem –
“I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference”

have been a great source of inspiration to me. Every individual in this world comes across a certain crossroads in his life a number of times, where he/she has to make a critical decision and choose from one of the few paths offered. Of course making a choice among the available options takes a lot of thinking, research and what not. But, at the same time it also takes courage to choose the less-opted path or walk on the less traveled path or simply the untrodden path. It involves a lot of risk and the uncertainty surrounding it makes it all the more adventurous.

 The courage to take the untrodden path is a hallmark of Entrepreneurs, Leaders, Pioneers, Inventor, Daredevils, Discoverers and all other kinds of Go-Getters.

 ‘The Untrodden Path’  refers to-  being Innovative, being Unconventional, being Unorthodox, being Distinct, being a Non conformist, being Unique, being Different… and that is what I believe in and that’s what I am!


Risk a Conversation

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“I am looking for another position.” A client told me that he planned to transfer or leave his job. I was surprised since he had seemed to be enjoying his work and his recent presentation to his company was positively received.

Notice your assumptions. What conversation can you risk engaging in?

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What is your Resilience Strategy?

“She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails.”—Elizabeth Edwards

The head of Learning and Development of a large organization asked, “Are your other clients experiencing the same level of stress as our leaders?” Her organization, like most these days, is experiencing significant disruption. Most feel overwhelmed as they try to keep up with the current workload, create a new direction, and respond to changing market conditions and the introduction of new technology while supporting others.

Many leaders are stressed and overwhelmed. They are working long hours and don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Some are opting to leave stressful environments. Others are building their resilience strategies and are positively influencing others.

We all face challenges and setbacks in the workplace and in other dimensions of our lives.  Resilience is our capacity to respond to these pressures and disappointments effectively.

It is important to reflect and reframe your mindset regarding the stressful time and to develop some habits that keep you present and grounded to see what needs to be done and what can be let go. (I find that often leaders fail to consider what not do.)

Each of my clients develops their own ritual or practice. For example, you can start your day visualizing positive and productive interactions rather than focusing on how hard things are. You can ground yourself by noticing your feet and taking some long deep breaths to feel centered. Then remind yourself that “things are working out”and if things don’t go exactly as you want, you will learn and make things work. It is useful to remember that life is a growth opportunity and that we learn the most when we face such challenges. You can also be grateful that you have a job, home, health etc.

It is also important to check in with yourself and make sure you are taking care of yourself. The basics are vital—getting enough sleep, eating nourishing food, moving and connecting with friends and engaging in real conversations. Giving and receiving empathy and being vulnerable creates community and lightens our load.

Take time to identify what fortifies you and eases your stress and follow your resilience strategy.  Engage a friend to track your progress and learning. I wish you ease.

Contact us at any time.

Do Your Colleagues Know You Care?

“Caring about the happiness of others, we find our own.”—Plato

A highly successful manager told me she was disappointed. She had devoted many years of long days and nights to her organization and felt like she was disposable and not cared for by her boss.  Another person told me that his boss said he could not save his job in a corporate downsizing. He did not feel valued and appreciated for his contribution. Another high achiever does not feel recognized for her extraordinary impact and feels her boss does not really know or care about her.

Unfortunately, these are not isolated events.  I hear complaints from people at all levels saying they don’t feel valued. This lack of genuine care results in frustration and disengagement.  You have heard the statistics by Gallop that employee engagement is less than 35%. They define engagement as “those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to the work and workplace.”

So much energy is wasted when people don’t feel personally valued or cared about.  When we feel we are not valued or seen as an individual, we lose motivation and trust.  Managers can become so focused and pressured for results that it is easy to forget to demonstrate care for colleagues.  We can fail to show we care about family members and friends too.

Reflect on your past bosses.  How was it different for you when you knew your boss cared for you?  A colleague told me he is so much happier and more productive with his new boss who takes a personal interest in who he is and what he wants.

When people know we care about them a sense of trust and safety evolves. When people know we care about them, we are better positioned to give them direct feedback and we are better positioned to create results together.

How can you demonstrate care?  First make the conscious decision to be caring. Visualize demonstrating care to each person on your team or in your family. It is likely to look different depending on individual styles and needs.  Ask your colleague or family member about how they are doing and show interest in their lives both in the workplace and outside. Be sure to give empathy and work to understand their perspectives. Be vulnerable yourself and share your perspective and share developments that are happening in the organization. Be candid and open yourself.  Take time to connect.

Reflect on your colleagues and others. How are you showing you care?

Contact us at any time.

Are You Open to Being Influenced?

T., an executive coaching client, was clearly an expert in his field. He was recognized both inside and outside his organization as being very bright. The company valued his contribution and considered him a key player.  He received awards and recognition for his innovative ideas and programs.

T. was asked to work with an executive coach to round out his leadership style.  After I interviewed peers, colleagues and clients, it became clear that while T. had strong leadership skills and influenced how things were done and interpreted, he was not open to being influenced.

Many people complained that T. did not listen and always thought that he was “right.”  The challenge is that he felt he was the most knowledgeable person in the room or the team.  T. tended to cut people off and left people with the sense that he felt he was better than most.  He was able to use his quick wit and fast mind to his benefit most of the time. However, as he progressed in more senior roles, his overly confident style and lack of openness began to hurt him.

T. could not understand why so many people complained about him to HR. He felt justified in telling people that they did not have the answers needed.  The company struggled with how to keep his talent without his challenging style. These days, no matter how bright or capable an individual is, no one has all the answers.  We will only succeed by being open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

Fortunately, in this case, T. learned that effective leaders not only influence others, but are also open to being influenced. As he practiced listening more, giving empathy and reflecting what he heard, he developed an entirely new relationship with colleagues and clients. His new mindset of openness became contagious. People became more open to sharing their ideas as well as supporting his efforts.

T. had not thought about the power of being open-minded and listening to others.  When he practiced being open he became a much more effective leader and continued to be valuable and progress in his career.  The biggest surprise for him was the deeper connections and more trusting environment he fostered. To his delight, he and his team excelled at an even higher level than he dreamed possible.  Energy was shifted from complaining and stress to more positive avenues.

T. and his company were fortunate. I recall a similar experience where people advocated that a company keep a leader due to his knowledge and expertise.  People put up with his abrupt style. He was not open to feedback or input. People did not trust him and felt he was not open to other’s ideas. However, after a few years and after strong people left the organization because they did not want to work with him, he was finally asked to leave.  It was a loss for him and the organization. However, without the ability to listen and be open to others and create a trusting environment, this leader could not be effective.

Ask yourself, “Am I open to being influenced as much as I am focused on influencing?”  Envision a see-saw. How balanced is the ride?

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Be Grounded

“Get yourself grounded and you can navigate even the stormiest roads in peace.”—Steve Goodier

“I feel out of sorts.”  “I have to give negative feedback to one of my staff.” “I can’t believe what she did!”  “We are not making our numbers.”  “The new boss is difficult.  “I have too much on me.” “He is out to get me.” “My team members are fighting one another.” “We need to get all of the leaders on the same page.” “My elderly parent is sick.” “My teenager is depressed.” “There is not enough time.” “My position is uncertain.”

These are a few of the comments I have recently heard from executive coaching clients. We are all facing many challenges. The pace is high these days in the world and in organizations.  We need to be collaborative and innovative and execute effectively and efficiently amidst a diverse workforce. Deadlines loom and we seem to be working harder than ever with increased competition. Emotions are contagious and we pick up the uncertainty and polarization in our political system and the myriad challenges in our world.

Amidst the turmoil, we need leaders towell…be leaders. We all need to be leaders, too, even if we don’t have a formal title. Given that emotions are contagious, leaders are positioned to create positive and productive environments where people can reflect, engage in dialogue and create amazing results together.

Where should a leader start? One of the first things I recommend is to make the simple practice of being grounded. When your head is spinning with all that needs to be done, what is going wrong and all the pressure on you, it is hard to see possibilities and to be innovative.

What do I mean by being grounded? Literally, tap your feet on the ground and notice the sensations. You may imagine being like a tree with roots firmly uniting you with the sustenance of the ground. Then as you walk from one meeting to the next, let go of your worries and notice your steps on the floor. This simple practice allows you to take a break from your thoughts and to reconnect with your body. Ideally, you take a few breaths and center yourself. Recall that you are a leader and you can make a difference in your sphere of influence.

As you remain calm, you access a different part of the brain. You may even recall a place in nature or another time when you are more in a state of flow. I call this your oasis. When you access this state, a different part of your brain is activated and you can see more of the whole picture and more possibilities. You may even notice a bit of gratitude for the challenge before you and the opportunity. Sometimes it is helpful to say something like, “Things are working out.”

By making it a practice of becoming grounded between meetings and even in meetings, you will be able to quickly access this grounded oasis state. It gets easier with a little practice as you build this habit.

My clients report that this simple action does indeed make a difference in how they see things and how they are perceived. They report that they feel more confident and experience success on many fronts.

Practice bringing attention to your feet and feeling grounded. Remember to breathe and recall an oasis experience. Notice your impact.

Contact us at any time.

How Do You Influence?

Contact us any time at Potentials.com.

Me or We?

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Should You Send an Email or Call?

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An executive I work with shared with me the frustration he was experiencing over a colleague. He learned that she was criticizing him and telling people that he was “out to get her”. He was frustrated and angry during our discussion. He had been working on being collaborative and this accusation of hers which she broadcasted to others seemed to come out of nowhere.

As we worked to understand the circumstances, he reviewed the details. The last email he sent to his colleague was meant to give her a “heads up” that an issue falling under her responsibility was going to be addressed at an upcoming Executive Leadership Team (ELT) meeting. He had written in his email, “I want to make perfectly clear that I am trying to let you know what I heard…”  He thought he was being a good citizen to let her know. When she received the email, she reacted in a way he didn’t expect. She was defensive about what her team had accomplished, blamed my client, and copied many people. Then he started hearing from people that she believed he was out to get her. She did not want the issue that he identified to be addressed at the next ELT meeting. She didn’t feel ready to do so and assumed my client put it on the agenda (which he did not). So where did my client go wrong?

Well, we found a few places. The week before, he had learned that the budget he had anticipated had not been approved. And what’s more, he felt that his colleague’s team should give up some of her budget or a person from her team to compensate for a new role he needed filled that would benefit both of them. So he complained about the situation to her boss and to his own boss. She heard about the complaint (of course!) and she was angry and felt, “He is trying to throw me under the bus.” My client heard that she was upset, and so he chose to send the troublesome email assuming he was helping her. From her end, when she received his email, she read it with the perception that he was against her, even though it was not the case.

What to do?  My client needed to vent his disappointment and anger about losing resources. He then needed to speak with his colleague. Instead, they were conveying messages to each other through others rather than talking directly to one another.  Once he calmed down, he was able to speak with her, give her empathy and recognize that it was not her fault that he did not receive the budget he wanted. He explained that he was actually trying to let her know that an issue important to her was going to be addressed at the ELT meeting and that he had not proposed the agenda item. They were able to communicate effectively and resume their positive relationship. As it turned out, they each were focused on different issues and had different views of their team’s responsibilities. As a result of their conversation, they were able to clarify and reconnect. They also came up with a solution to the budget and staff issue.

When you know there is some disruption in a relationship, consider calling or talking in-person (when possible) before sending an email. It is so easy to read the tone of emails differently depending on our mood. It is useful to recognize our own mistakes, too. It may seem efficient to send an email and document. However, many issues have been cleared up with an open-minded conversation. In addition, relationships can be strengthened.

Where would a call or a visit serve you today rather than sending an email? What lessons have you learned about communicating via email?

Contact us at any time at www.Potentials.com.

The New Normal

“There is a river flowing very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold onto the shore. They will feel torn apart and suffer greatly.

I used to think busy or chaotic periods were just that—unique and that soon things would settle down and get back to normal.  Likewise, organizations would plan for implementing a change and then return to a steady state. Well… most of us have experienced change fatigue and now we need to accept that chaos and rapid change is the new normal.  The military coined the term VUCA to characterize our times—volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.

While we recognize that change is constant, disruptive and fast, we need to shift our internal paradigm of change.  How do we adapt? First, we need to give ourselves and others empathy.  The shifts we are experiencing are not easy and difficult to manage. In fact, the concept of managing may be outdated.  Instead, we need to be resilient and flexible and work with what is evolving. We need to work to be resilient and flexible.

The Hopi Elder suggests that rather than holding onto the shore for safety and fighting the elements that we allow ourselves to experience the river as it turns and shifts.  This does not mean we close our eyes and hope for the best. We can keep our heads above water by staying centered and present and making course corrections as we see obstacles. We can learn to ride the rapids. Ideally, we join with others and support each other on this challenging journey. When we relax into the evolving river of change we will see more opportunities.

Experiment with shifting your view of change from waiting for stability to learning to flow and experiencing the opportunities.  Who will you connect with on this journey for support?

Check Your Blind Spot

I don’t know what I don’t know

The election has heightened our awareness that we are seeing the world differently. Many have expressed their shock at how they were blind sighted by the number of people with different views.

Just as we can’t see cars that are in our blind spot when driving, we always have a blind spot in our interactions with others.  We each have different life experiences that influence how we view the world and make interpretations. Continue reading