Becoming - The Blog

Expanding Your World: Luxembourg Shines, and So Do You

 

 It’s time for another series of Expanding Your World posts featuring my pictures from Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, and Luxembourg!  If you don’t remember this series of posts, I show a picture and ask a personal reflection question, and you respond via the Comments section of this blog. 

 

 

This week’s picture is of Place Guillaume II and City Hall in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.  Luxembourg is a small country surrounded by some big European players.  Though it is small, I couldn’t help being impressed the splendor of the place at every turn!

 

 

At times in our lives, we may feel as if others around us are bigger stars and more successful than we are, but you must never forget that even though you are just one person in a very large world, you make a difference. 

 

 

So, here is my question for you.

 

 

What can you do today to make your star shine, to stand out in the crowd and make a difference? 

 

 

And feel free to share your ideas here!  Best of luck in shining bright!

 

Expanding Your World: From the Ghent Castle of the Counts – Take the Bird’s Eye View

 

 

This Expanding Your World photo hails from Ghent, Belgium.  Jon and I climbed to the top of the Castle of the Counts for a bird’s eye view of the canal below us, which got me thinking about bird’s eye thinking.  So often, we get mired in the details, in the minutia of our lives that we don’t think about the long-term  - from creating something from scratch to improving our relationships or careers. 

 

 

So, this week’s personal reflection question is more of a challenge…

 

 

Climb up the tower in your mind and get out of your everyday thinking.  Name one long-term outcome or relationship you would like to see, and commit to working on it this week.   Write 2-3 action items that will help you get started, and get to work!

 

 

And feel free to share your plans here!   Best of luck in your bird’s eye thinking!

Expanding Your World: Creative Bike Parking in Amsterdam

 

 

Hello my faithful readers!  It’s time for another series of Expanding Your World posts featuring my pictures from Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, and Luxembourg!  If you don’t remember this series of posts, I show a picture and ask a personal reflection question, and you respond via the Comments section of this blog. 

 

 

Ready?  Let’s first head to Amsterdam!

 

 

I took this picture on our first day there – many folks park their bikes in creative places.  This person decided to park his or her bike by hanging it from the side of a canal bridge!  So, it made me think of this question to ask all of you…

 

 

Take a look at a process you are trying to improve or a problem you are trying to solve it – what’s a more creative approach or solution?  Share your stories of creative process reinvention and problem solving via the Comments link. 

 

 

Look for more posts in this series soon!

Expanding Your World: Un Gaucho de la Argentina

 

 

I had to dig deep into the archives for this week’s Expanding Your World pic.  I took this in March 2007 while on an MBA study trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Here is a real life gaucho, or Argentine cowboy, on Estancia (Ranch) Santa Susana, about one hour outside of the city.  Well, at least he seems real life to this tourist.  We had a fun day on the ranch after a week of corporate visits in Buenos Aires.  Wide open spaces, delicious Argentine beef and chimichurri, and so much more.

 

 

So here’s my question to go with the picture…

 

 

How can you become a cowboy, or cowgirl, in your own life, even if just for a day?

 

 

Exciting news!  Check back in late March for many more posts in this series, as I will have many pictures to share of Jon’s and my upcoming trip to Amsterdam, Ghent, Bruges, Brussels, and Luxembourg City!

Expanding Your World: Where Am I Going To?

 

 

Where am I going to?  Many of us ask ourselves this question.  My pal Josh shared this story with me this week, and I thought I’d pair it with a picture from Jon’s and my travels that depicts a simpler life.  It’s from Yeosu, South Korea – a couple of fishing boats docked in the river.

 

 

 

The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman

 

 

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. "Not very long," answered the Mexican. "But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American. The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family. The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs ... I have a full life." The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. "And after that?" asked the Mexican. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise." "How long would that take?" asked the Mexican. "Twenty, perhaps 25 years," replied the American. "And after that?" the Mexican asked. "Afterwards? That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!" "Millions? Really? And after that?" "After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

 

 

I welcome your comments!  What did you think of the story?  How can you relate it to your own life?

 

Expanding Your World: Fall in Seoul, Change in You

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s fall, a time of change.  This week, I was fondly remembering Korea in fall - the beauty of the foliage and the cool, crispness of the air – and thought I would share three of my favorite fall pictures from Seoul.  The first is a view of the Han River in autumn’s last light; the second is a view to central Seoul from the summit of Bukhansan (Bukha Mountain); and the third is of a quiet street in Suwon, a smaller city about 30-45 minutes south of Seoul.

 

 

As the season changes, so do you.  So, here’s a reflection question to go along with the pictures – feel free to leave your answers here!

 

 

How are you changing this fall?

Expanding Your World: A Chance to Pause - The Oregon Coast

 

 

It’s been a while since I offered an “Expanding Your World” post.  If you’re a newer reader, from time to time, I’ll post an inspirational picture from my travels.  In this post, we journey to the Pacific coast of Oregon.  Looking out at the vast Pacific Ocean always gives me pause; so, why don’t we take a pause together.  Here are some questions for the pause.

 

 

 

 

• What is the first thing you think of when you see this picture?  Why?
• Where does this picture make you want to travel to?  Why?
• How can you expand your own world?

 

 

Enjoy the pause, and hopefully some of you will post your responses! 

Expanding Your World: China Picture of the Week - Tiger Leaping Gorge

 

 

This week's picture is of Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is located in Yunnan province and is 4km deep (more than 2 times as deep as the Grand Canyon in the US!).  The trek Jon and I took through the gorge got me thinking about 2 d's - daring and depth.  With those two ideas in mind, here are this week's questions.

 

 

1.  When was the last time you did something daring?  What was/were the result(s), and how would you characterize the result(s)?

2.  When was the last time you took the time to deeply understand someone or something?  What was your process for "going deep"?  Were you happy with the result?  Why or why not?

 

 

 

This will be my final post in this series - I hope you have enjoyed th pictures and personal reflection!  I may write a summary post of my China experiences, but after that, I will return to my regular weekly posts (of course after the jet lag subsides!) about personal reflection, professional development, and community building.  Best wishes to you all from Yangshuo in Southern China! 

Expanding Your World: China Picture of the Week - Chengdu Panda

Last week, Jon and I enjoyed some time with giant and red pandas at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Center outside Chengdu (Sichuan province), and it got me thinking about our often flawed expectations.  Let's think about pandas for a moment - the picture I have posted should help.

When you think of bears, you think - carnivores.  However, giant pandas are vegetarians; they eat a diet of exclusively bamboo. 

When you think of bears, you often envision roaring predators, perhaps chasing after their prey or protecting their cubs.  In contrast, giant pandas live a solitary, docile life - because bamboo does not give them all of the nutrition bears need, they pretty much eat all day, and when they are not eating, they sleep. 

So, if our expectations about giant pandas are skewed, we may have flawed expectations in our professional and personal lives.  Here are this week's personal reflection questions about expectations in our lives.

1.  What do you expect in your career?  Are your expectations optimistic?  Realistic?  Pessimistic?  Something else?  Why do you think so?

2.  Think about a past personal or professional situation in which you had certain expectations about the outcome(s).  Did you expectations help or hinder you?  How? 

3.  How can you shift your expectations in the future?

Feel free to post some thoughts here or share this post with your family, friends, and colleagues.  Jon and I are now in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in the south of China.  I promise to post at least one more time before this journey concludes.  All the best to you from southern China!

Expanding Your World: China Picture of the Week- Shaolin Temple Kung Fu

This week's picture is of a Kung Fu demonstration I enjoyed at Shaolin Temple outside Luoyang, about 10 hours south of Beijing via slow train in Henan province.  Kung Fu actually orginiated at Shaolin.  I had only ever seen Kung Fu in action movies, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it live. 

 

So here are this week's questions to accompany the picture.

 

1.  Some Kung Fu moves seem almost impossible.  Is there something almost impossible in your life that is holding you back?  If so, how can you overcome it?

2.  I visited this temple and enjoyed this demonstration with a completely Chinese tour group; Jon and I were the only foreigners, and they loved having us in their group.  When was the last time you reached out to someone who was different than you?  What were the benefits of doing so?  What did you learn?

Jon and I are now in Xi'An, China's first capital and home of the Terracotta Warriors.  I look forward to posting a new picture and new questions next week!

Expanding Your World: China Picture of the Week - The Great Wall

While I am on holiday in China, I intend to post a picture a week with one or two personal reflection questions.  I promise to return to blogging about career coaching, personal and professional development, corporate training, and community building when I return to the US in late October.  For now, I hope that you'll enjoy China, and some personal reflection, with me!

This week's picture is of The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, about 90 km northeast of Beijing, where Jon and I are based through the end of this week.  Jon and I hiked the wall today, and it was awe-inspiring.  And it was extra special for me because my grandmother visited the Great Wall for her 80th birthday.  I am thinking of you Bubbie!

So here are this week's questions to accompany the picture.

1.  You can see the wall as it snakes into the distance.  Where is your path leading to? 

2.  The hike along the wall was rigorous, yet invigorating.  What can you do to build your own resilience?

Best wishes to everyone from Beijing, and I look forward to posting a new picture and new questions next week!

Expanding Your World: Life Lessons Learned as a Traveler

 

 

In place of post this week, I am writing to let you know the newest semiannual inspirational message, about lessons I learned while traveling through Southeast Asia and Western Australia, is available. 

 

 

Here’s a sneak preview:

 

 

Life is light and dark.  On this trip, among other things, I explored a royal Khmer palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, enjoyed numerous relaxing Balinese massages, and sampled so many delicious foods, from gudeg (an Indonesian combination of coconut, jackfruit, rice, and chicken) to simple, fresh Chinese vegetable dishes in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown.  Yet, only two days into my journey, I learned by email that my Bubbie (my maternal grandmother), who I have written about in previous messages, died at age 93.  Though sadness enveloped me for a day or two, I pledged to savor this trip in her honor – after all, she was a world traveler herself.  She spent her 80^th birthday in China!  Question For You:  How can you turn something dark into something light?

 

 

Want more?  Read the full message, which is titled “30 Days in Southeast Asia and Western Australia”.   Click here   to view the semiannual inspirational messages page of this site.

 

 

I’ll be back next week with a Becoming Interview with Farzin Khan, a passionate community organizer and resourceful networker.

 

Expanding Your World: To Southeast Asia and Australia!

Friends, it is time for me to take a break from blogging.  Jon and I are off to Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Australia for a month-long holiday.  I am energized by this vacation because I have never before traveled for so long, and to multiple countries, on one trip!  I do my best thinking while on vacation and am excited for all of the new cultures and experiences.

 

 

I promise to take many pictures, record my learning experiences, and share them with you via this blog and a semiannual inspirational message when I return in May.

 

 

I will leave you with some questions for you to ponder. 

 

 

1.  Where and when will you take your next vacation?  How can you ensure that it will replenish you?

2.  If you cannot take an extended vacation, where can you go close by, perhaps for a day or a weekend?

 

 

I wish you a happy spring or fall wherever you are in the world!  Look for my next post in mid-May!

Expanding Your World: Yeosu, Korea and Personal Reflection

This week, I share some simple pictures of the beautiful Southern coastline of the Korean peninsula.  I encourage you to glance through them and then immediately take at least 5 minutes for some quiet personal reflection.  As always, I am here for you if you need me.  Reach out via the comments on this blog or by email at any time! 

   

Expanding Your World: A Higher Elevation

This weekend, I visited the late 18th century Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Korea.  The wall encloses the city center and was built by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty to commemorate his father, Prince Sado. 

The wall is extremely high, and you must climb many, many stairs to get up to the path.  Perhaps you could call it Korea's mini-version of the Great Wall of China? 

Climbing up to the path got me thinking about reaching higher elevations in our lives.  We are all striving for something, right?  Here are some questions for personal reflection.

1.  How did you reach your most recent professional or personal peak? 

2.  Was there a struggle involved?  If so, how did you grow from the struggle?

3.  Where and when will your next peak be?  How will you get there?

My latest peak is a personal one.  My partner Jon lived here last year, and I decided to join him this year ro teach English to Korean adults.  I followed my heart to Korea and have been rewarded a thousand times over.  Our relationship has reached a higher elevation!  In fact, the decision to be here with him also helped me reached a professional peak - I am finally teaching full-time, and it feels great.  This is work I am passionate about, and it has re-energized me.  If you would like to hear more about my decision to move to Korea, I gave a teleconference about it earlier this year for the International Association of Business Communicators.  The audio recording is at http://philadelphia.iabc.com/2009/03/brian-fishbone-presentation-to-iabc-philly-032509. 

For more information about Hwaseong, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwaseong_Fortress.  If you would like to see more pictures of Hwaseong and Suwon, please email me or leave a comment.

As always, I am happy to be a best supporting actor in your life.  Feel free to post your replies to the reflection questions here, or email me for more personal follow-up.  I wish you all the best in reaching your next peak!

Expanding Your World: 2009 Incheon Global Fair Reflection Questions

 

This weekend, I was lucky to experience the 2009 Incheon Global Fair, Korea's version of a world's fair and showcase of the future.  I have provided some pictures of the fair and have some reflection questions - feel free to post your responses!

1.  How do you define your world?  How do you see it?

2.  How can you expand your world? 

3.  To where would you like to travel next?  Why?

I wish you all the best!  Check back soon for the next Becoming Interview about a friend who has both her PhD and MBA. 

 

 

Expanding Your World: To Seoul!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know that I am a relatively new blogger, but I already need to take a 1-2 week break.  I am moving to Seoul, Korea to teach English to businesspeople, college students, and other professionals at Pagoda Academy (http://www.jobpagoda.com/en/pagoda/jobinfo/top10.jsp). 

 

So, while I get settled in Korea, I thought I would leave you with a picture of Gyeongbuk Palace in Seoul (http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/66) and a few questions for reflection.  This picture was taken on a bitter cold December afternoon - I lived in Cheonan, approximately 80km south of Seoul, for two months last year.

 

1.  What does this picture make you think of?  How does it relate to your world?

2.  Are you happy where you are?  Why or why not?

3.  Where are you going next? 

 

Please feel free to post your responses and comments here.  I promise to post again when I am settled in Seoul.