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Articles from Susan Dunn | Selfgrowth.com
- Thanksgiving, an Occasion of Civilized Dining - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2003 from Susan DunnThe days of dining by plucking fruit from trees and roasting small animals over the fire, eating with fingers, and perhaps fighting with others over the scraps are long gone. Or are they? More and more we swing our car through the drive-in, grab our food from the window, and proceed to eat ...
Views: 1262 - How to Beat Procrastination - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2003 from Susan Dunn“In the time you spent complaining about this, Susan, you could’ve had it done.” Did anyone else’s mother used to say that? She also might’ve added that if I’d just gone ahead and done it, I would: 1. Feel good about myself, with a sense of accomplishment 2. Free the energy of feeling like ...
Views: 1187 - Excerpts from Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach’s New Book, “How to Live Your Life with Emotional Intelligence” - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2003 from Susan DunnHOW JEN USES EQ Jen is a manager for a department store “If you don’t learn how to get along with the Accounting Department,” Bob the Boss yelled, “I’m going to fire you. I’m tired of them coming to me…” Jen got up and closed her office door. Mercy was getting raked over the coals for the ...
Views: 1584(1 vote) - Has Everyone in Your Office Been Grafted, So There's No More Evolving? - by Submitted on Oct 23, 2003 from Susan DunnHas everyone in your office been grafted so there’s no more evolving? Let’s say the “party line” is demanded of everyone, like a graft on a plant, so eventually everyone’s thinking the same way. New people are hired, chosen to be as similar to the old as possible, and then they get grafted. ...
Views: 1009(2 votes) - How is Coaching Different from Therapy? - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2003 from Susan Dunn“Oh,” said Bob, after listening to me explain what I do, “So coaching’s like therapy for healthy people?” No, because for one thing there are healthy people in therapy, and for another, coaches aren’t doing therapy. In fact this strikes many of us coaches as funny, because we intentionally ...
Views: 1244(1 vote) - What's Your Definition of Fun? - by Submitted on Oct 04, 2003 from Susan Dunn“What you need to do is to have some fun,” a therapist friend of mine told me last month. I wasn’t there as his client, but I could be, if that sort of conversation continues. You see, I’d just had what I call “fun”, in visiting with him. He’s funny, he listens to me, he has interesting ...
Views: 7523(1 vote) - Grasso, Kennedy, Frost, Public Service and You - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2003 from Susan Dunn“Something we were withholding made us weak/Until we found out that it was ourselves," wrote Robert Frost, in "The Gift Outright." Frost recited this poem at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961. With the words, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask ...
Views: 1822(1 vote) - What Makes Us Feel Good/What Makes Us Feel Bad - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2003 from Susan DunnEmotional Intelligence is all about self-awareness, understanding how emotions work within you and others. Our feelings are regulated by neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Here are some things to know about serotonin, called the "feel good" ...
Views: 2923(1 vote) - The Fable of the Elephant and the Woman Who Wasn't Blind - by Submitted on Sep 12, 2003 from Susan DunnThis isn’t the story about the four blind men and the elephant, this is the story of me looking at that 6 ton elephant in the zoo, tethered to that tiny stake, and wondering why on earth she doesn’t break loose. Instead she rocks back and forth when it should take an electric fence, iron bars, ...
Views: 1199 - There Are Times When We Aren't Open to Reason - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2003 from Susan DunnThe reptilian brain takes over sometimes; it's there to keep us alive, and it's instinctual messages are strong. The limbic brain can also "flood" us with emotions. Have you used the phrase, "talk til you're blue in the face"? These are some of the times when our neocortex (thinking brain) shuts ...
Views: 1169(1 vote) - The Question Freud Couldn't Answer - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2003 from Susan DunnHave you received “King Arthur’s Dilemma: A Wise Lesson for All Men to Learn” in your email? (I have no idea to whom to attribute it.) Here’s how it goes: As a test, young Arthur was asked to answer the question, “What do women really want?” (Freud’s eternal question.) He finally went to ...
Views: 2993(1 vote) - If the Floor's Dirty, Don't Call a Meeting, Pick Up a Broom - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2003 from Susan DunnMother Theresa. How would you describe her? Compassionate? Kind? That’s not what people who knew her said. In my Strengths course, I ask the learners to name the major strength of different well-known people. Here’s what Pamela Sheppard replied: “The standard is compassion, but, having ...
Views: 1845(1 vote) - How Do You Know What Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence) Is? - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2003 from Susan DunnIf you’ve been reading about Emotional Intelligence, the Catch-22 has probably occurred to you: Since EQ begins with self-awareness, the people who have the worst EQ are also going to be the worst at assessing their own. Top EQ performers, said Daniel Goleman, Ph.D. (author of “Emotional ...
Views: 1106(1 vote) - Lessons About Life from the Apple - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2003 from Susan DunnWe transform ourselves and our lives when we look at things differently. Take a new look at THE APPLE and what it can teach us. "The Botany of Desire: A Plant's Eye View of the World," (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375760393/susandunnmome-20 ) is a delightful book full of fascinating ...
Views: 1860 - When Something's Wrong About Your Career, Part I/VI: How Do You Fix It? - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2003 from Susan DunnHow do you figure out what you were meant to do? How do you know what you're really good at? What can you do that makes you shine? One obstacle most of us have is that we really don't know. People are quick to point out our weaknesses and most of us in childhood and onward were pushed toward ...
Views: 1029(1 vote) - The Dignity of Labor - by Submitted on Aug 29, 2003 from Susan DunnI love artists, because I’m a wordsmith and they say things I can never say. Here are two of my favorite paintings about work, both by Caillebotte: http://www.webstrategies.cc/caillebotte1.jpg ; http://www.webstrategies.cc/caillebotte2.jpg . My mother was full of aphorisms. I grew up with ...
Views: 5878(3 votes) - Gut Instinct: How to Develop Yours - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2003 from Susan DunnHe did it again – my stockbroker. He rolled a ten-bagger into my lap. That means the stock he picked for me went up x10. Then he had me sell just before it started its decline. I bought low and sold high. Or rather he did. Making me (and him) that kind of money isn’t what I’d call ...
Views: 5544(1 vote) - When You're Traveling Abroad, Don't Forget to Pack Your EQ - by Submitted on Aug 17, 2003 from Susan DunnWhat do you do when you don’t know the language or customs? That’s when your EQ, or Emotional Intelligence, comes in handy. On my recent tour to Russia, the people in large cities (Moscow, Saint Petersburg) knew English, but not in the small villages (Yaroslavl, Uglich). I thought I’d pick ...
Views: 1399(1 vote) - How to Plan a *Super* Family Reunion - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2003 from Susan DunnMy years in public relations taught me a lot about setting up successful events – and that’s what you family reunion can be. Here are some tips. 1. You take the lead. Maybe your family’s never had a family reunion. Probably they’d all like it, but someone has to get the ball rolling. It ...
Views: 1350(1 vote) - Things to Do Before Your Granddaughter Comes to Visit - by Submitted on Jul 06, 2003 from Susan Dunn1. Get caught up on all details requiring thoughtful attention so you can devote your attention to her and to the moment. 2. Check to see what movies and attractions are in town, and schedules for amusement parks, skating rinks, library, Sunday School, etc. Check newspaper and with friends for ...
Views: 1161(1 vote) - Things to Think About Before You Move - by Submitted on Jul 05, 2003 from Susan DunnDECLUTTER Consider anything that might be more costly to move than to rebuy. Have a garage sale, take things to Goodwill, call Habitat to come pick up big items. When you come across something you haven’t used in a couple of years, unless it’s sentimental, get rid of it. TRANSFER ...
Views: 1161(1 vote) - Over 50 and Looking for Work? - by Submitted on Jul 04, 2003 from Susan DunnAs a midlife transition career coach, I often encounter clients are are initially afraid they won’t get hired because of their age. They’ve all gotten good jobs, but I decided to verify my experience with some senior HR professionals. Here’s what they told me: Q: Is age an issue? A1: "Age ...
Views: 1357(1 vote) - Okay, So Now I’m Supposed to Develop My Intuition? How Does That Work?” - by Submitted on Jun 27, 2003 from Susan Dunn“Intuition is vital to the empowered employee,” says Garrett Boone, CEO of the Container Store, in “Fast Company,” but intuition certainly doesn’t come to the unprepared mind. The more knowledgeable you are, the better informed you are, the better prepared you are to use your intuition.” So ...
Views: 1548(1 vote) - Goals That Help and Goals That Hinder - by Submitted on Jun 25, 2003 from Susan DunnShort-term goals, long-term goals, decisions and choices. What to do? Have your goals, and yes, write them down. The short-term goals should get you to your long-term goal, but keep your eye on the long-term goal, as if you were jumping hurdles. The long-term goal is the line to cross at the ...
Views: 994(1 vote) - It's Okay if Things are a Little Different at Nana's - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2003 from Susan DunnMy granddaughter has great parents and also great grandparents, and we all do things differently. As parents, we love our children and also are responsible for emotional intelligence training and also character training! We want them to grow up to be responsible adults, contributing members ...
Views: 1308(1 vote) - Multicultural Chaos - by Submitted on May 14, 2003 from Susan DunnThere we were, newly married, living thousands of miles from either of our homes, in Durham, NC where he was in medical school. My husband was from Texas, and I was from the North Shore of Chicago. We came from two different cultures ourselves, and now were together in a new one. It turned ...
Views: 1267(1 vote) - How to Celebrate Mother's Day with Emotional Intelligence - by Submitted on May 08, 2003 from Susan DunnI am a mother. I had a mother. I write about emotional intelligence. There is nothing more emotional than "mother." Be prepared to welcome some visceral emotions. We depend absolutely on our mothers for survival, and this sort of feeling, or instinct resides in the reptilian brain, hundreds of ...
Views: 1366(1 vote) - Emotional Intelligence & Feeling Good - by Submitted on May 07, 2003 from Susan DunnTwo emotions, or ways of feeling, are especially troublesome to most of us – anger management and depression. Depression appears to be epidemic now, globally, and without going into the etiology (the causes), or pinpointing definitions or degrees of severity (they vary; there are many) lets ...
Views: 3022(1 vote) - Emotional Intelligence & Addiction: 10 Key Points - by Submitted on May 07, 2003 from Susan Dunn"Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom." -- Victor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning Emotional Intelligence creates or extends that space between stimulus and response, which ...
Views: 6852(1 vote) - Multiculturalism: The New Reality - by Submitted on May 01, 2003 from Susan DunnMulticulturalism is a reality in the US and for those of us who do business globally. The US has more legal immigrants yearly than all the other countries in the world combined. Also there are vast cultural differences among "native" Americans living in the US for several generations, as you ...
Views: 1488(1 vote) - The Top Ten Things Employees Say They Want & How Managers Miss the Mark by Low Emotional Intelligence - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2003 from Susan DunnA major problem for employers today is getting the best employees and then keeping them. How do you do this? By understanding what it is employees really want. Being able to sense what others feel and want is empathy, an emotional intelligence competency. SOMETHING THAT HASN’T CHANGED IN 50 ...
Views: 23793(2 votes) - Does It Take "Soft" Skills to Win the BT Global Challenge? - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2003 from Susan DunnHave you heard of the BT Global Challenge? It’s known as the world’s toughest yacht race because it’s sailed “the wrong way” ‘round the world—against prevailing winds and currents. All kinds of waves and weather conditions are likely to be encountered. The originators have designed it crewed ...
Views: 1565(3 votes) - Destructive Emotions and What We Can Do About Them - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2003 from Susan Dunn“Anger kills,” says Redford Williams, director of Duke University Medical Center's Behavioral Medicine Research Center. He references studies of cancer and cardiac patients. He has also authored the book, "Anger Kills". And “Prayer saves lives,” says Harold Koenig, director of the medical ...
Views: 1367(2 votes) - Is Emotional Intelligence Just the Fad du Jour? - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2003 from Susan Dunn“I’ve been doing this for 15 years,” Annette told me. “It just wasn’t called this.” I was explaining to a counselor in Australia about the field of emotional intelligence, and she was sure she’d found it first. Likely you'll feel the same way. “Oh, I know what you’re talking about,” James ...
Views: 2577(2 votes) - Talking About the War - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2003 from Susan DunnMatthew is not ambivalent about the war. He’s for it, 100%. This is his “first” war, being 30 years old. He’s watching the news avidly on t.v., is glad we’re over there, and sends me emails to that affect. My client in Australia has strain in her voice when we talk. She assumes I’m “against ...
Views: 1275(2 votes) - Emotional Intelligence: The Shot Felt 'Round the World? - by Submitted on Mar 25, 2003 from Susan DunnI just hung up the phone with Li-Yan, who wants me to come to Malaysia and present a workshop with her on emotional intelligence for businesses. She quit her corporate job there, because she found the work environment stifling, unethical and demoralizing. Now she wants to help businesses in ...
Views: 1356(1 vote) - Answers to Your Questions About Executive Coaching - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2003 from Susan DunnWhat is executive coaching? Coaches help executives increase their productivity, work relationships and work satisfaction, and the quality of their lives and that of the organization by increasing their emotional intelligence. They also help the executive define authenticity and values. ...
Views: 1434(1 vote) - Corporate Ethics, Your Ethics, Intentionality & Emotional Intelligence - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2003 from Susan DunnMy granddaughter is 5. Last time she smacked her little brother and I had words with her, she said, “I didn’t mean to hit him.” A preposterous statement since I’d seen her walk over, pick up a book and whack him with it. But then she’s only 5. It continued, as I comforted both the offended ...
Views: 1501(1 vote) - Are You an Entrepreneur Who’s Not Afraid to Think Outside the Box and Make Some Money? - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2003 from Susan Dunn“It’s called Companion Air,” my client Sarita bubbled. She wants to take a trip and doesn’t want to leave Rudy, her dog, at home. So there she is, with lots of money and time, staying home. I LOVE MY DOG AND I WANT TO TRAVEL What is Companion Air? ( http://www.companionair.com ) ...
Views: 1478(1 vote) - Emotional Intelligence & Your Toddler - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2003 from Susan DunnI was in the grocery, knew I was approaching the toy aisle, and braced myself. Adam was sitting happily in the grocery cart, but I knew what was coming: a tantrum! I knew he was tired and hungry – this was an emergency run to the grocery. I knew I was tired and hungry, too. Adam and I were ...
Views: 2749(1 vote) - Olivia is 5, and Learning Emotional Intelligence - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2003 from Susan DunnOlivia and I returned from going to the rodeo, and we’d been talking about going swimming. “That would be fun,” I said. “We’re hot and sticky. Let’s ask your Dad if you can.” When we got to the house, Olivia ran ahead of me. While I was talking to her Dad, she came running out in her ...
Views: 1440(1 vote) - How Do You Help Your Child Develop Emotional Intelligence? - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2003 from Susan DunnIn her book, “Taking Charge: Your Life Patterns and Their Meaning,” Gudrun Burkhard writes: “It is important that the child’s feeling life should find fertile ground on which to grow. Such fertile soil can be provided by art or religion, but above all by loving authority which comes from ...
Views: 1686(1 vote) - How to Choose the Right Coach for YOU, Using Your Emotional Intelligence - by Submitted on Mar 16, 2003 from Susan DunnMore people are hiring a coach every day. Choosing a coach is an important decision. To choose wisely, use your emotional intelligence - all parts of your brain, emotional as well as cognitive. HOW TO START YOUR SEARCH Start by doing the research. · Enter "EQ coach" on a search engine, ...
Views: 1280(1 vote) - How to Become Change-Proficient - by Submitted on Mar 16, 2003 from Susan DunnIn today's fast-changing world, there's hardly a more important emotional intelligence competency to have than resilience. Resilience means being able to bounce back after setbacks, failures, disappointments and losses. It means not giving up, and continuing to face the future with optimism ...
Views: 1300(1 vote) - Teaching Emotional Intelligence to Your Kindergartner - by Submitted on Mar 16, 2003 from Susan DunnCasey’s 5 years old and reminds me of Edith-Ann. She sometimes even stomps her foot and tosses her head. And that’s the truth! Casey’s what you’d call “high-maintenance.” She likes things to be just so, reacts strongly to what’s going on, and tends to get wound-up. We’ve been working on ...
Views: 1752(1 vote) - How Do You Get Them to Buy-in to Your Idea? - by Submitted on Mar 16, 2003 from Susan Dunn“How can I get them to buy-in to this idea?” Anna, a bank manager, asked me. She had an idea for restructuring the department. She knew it would work, but only if everyone would agree to it. She talked about different department members: Bob, who disagreed with anything anyone proposed. ...
Views: 1848(2 votes) - About Formal Nights on Cruises - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2003 from Susan DunnMuch excitement and mystery surrounds the “formal nights” on cruises. It’s customary to have one formal night on a 5-day cruise, more in proportion on longer cruises. On my first cruise, I wondered what it would be like, how dressed-up people got, and what I would feel comfortable in. Let ...
Views: 3964(1 vote) - How Immune Are You? - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2003 from Susan DunnCurrently, the leading causes of death for women in the US are: 1. Heart Disease, 29.9% 2. Cancer, 21.8% 3. Stroke, 8.4% 4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases, 5.1% 5. Diabetes, 3.1% 6. Influenza and pneumonia, 3.0% 7. Alzheimer’s disease, 2.9% 8. Unintentional injuries, 2.8% 9. Kidney disease, ...
Views: 1257(1 vote) - Plant A Garden in Your Soul This Spring - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2003 from Susan DunnHave you considered having a personal rebirth this spring, recreating your life, planting new seeds to bring about a different harvest? A coach can help you do this. "A garden in the early stage is not a pleasant or compelling place: it's a lot of arduous, messy, noisome work -- digging up ...
Views: 1305(1 vote) - Motivation: It's an "EQ" Thing, not an "IQ" Thing - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2003 from Susan Dunn"Motivation is not a thinking word," say John P. Kotter and Dan S. Cohen, in their book, "The Heart of Change." (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578512549/susandunnmome-20 ) They go on to say ANALYSIS HAS 3 LIMITATIONS: 1. In a remarkable number of cases you don’t need it to find the ...
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