tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76718443812896275152024-02-08T05:21:55.228-08:00Intelligent Influence in LifeIntelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-31620385604010810322018-04-23T11:49:00.000-07:002018-04-23T11:49:59.177-07:00Influence Love: The Secret of Successful Relationships<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have
you ever had a relationship that started out in a seemingly perfect way? You
were both incredibly attracted to each other. You spent hours talking on the
phone. You spent much of your day thinking about that person. You could not
wait to get together again for your next date. You were falling in love with
this person when they started saying things that you disagreed with. At first
you ignored some of their comments. However, over time they started to really
bother you. The two of you began to argue frequently until you both decided
that your relationship had no future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Influence Love<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone
has been a part of a relationship story similar to this one. Sometimes these
stories play out over a few weeks other times they play out over a few years. No
matter how long the relationship lasted, we find ourselves asking the question
“How could something that started so good end so badly?” The answer is found in
a concept called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Love</i>”
based on the four-step “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent
Influence</i>” framework on successful human interaction outlined in my book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence: The 4 Steps of Highly
Successful Individuals and Organizations</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
concept of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Love</i> is rooted
in the belief that we are products of our influences. I am known for saying “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we do what we do, think the way we think and
accomplish what we accomplish because of influence</i>.” Influence determines
everything from our favorite foods to our favorite sports teams to our favorite
music. I enjoy telling audiences that “I know what the best music in the world
is.” When I say that people in the audience look at me as if I am crazy.
However, when I tell them that the best music in the world is the music they
heard between ages 10 to 20 they start nodding their heads. They realize that
this music has a special place in their heart because it helped them through
emotional times like their first kiss or first bad break-up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
our musical tastes are based on influence, then our perspective, behavior and
desires in a relationship are also based on our influences. People in a
relationship are in synch or in conflict because of their past influences. It
is therefore almost impossible to have a happy healthy relationship without
understanding our influences and making the necessary influence adjustments to
ensure influence compatibility with our significant other. This is the reason
that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Love</i> is the most
important ingredient in a relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Love</i>? The word “Love” is
defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “an intense feeling of deep
affection.” I define “Influence Love” as an “intense feeling of deep affection
guided by an alignment of influences.” All too frequently, love doesn’t last.
People fall in and out of love very quickly these days because their influences
are out of alignment. The relationship starts out strong but the influences
from our past (when ignored) lead to conflict. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Love</i> on the other hand is a key to a lasting relationship because, in
addition to the intense feeling of love that brings people together initially,
there are common influences that keep people together for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A Relationship Example<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Frequently,
people fall in love but the relationship falters because they fail to discuss
their influence differences. A simple example of the way influence can destroy
a relationship is a situation where the wife came from a family where the dad cheated
on her mother and the husband came from a family where his parents were
faithful and deeply in love but the Dad traveled frequently. This same couple
is experiencing conflict because the husband, who is faithful, is constantly on
the road for his job but the wife works close to their house. The wife, because
of her family influences, becomes overly jealous and constantly calls and
questions the husband about his travels and the women he works with on a
regular basis. The husband, who is not interested in any other woman, is
constantly on edge because of his wife’s insecurities. Their relationship is
doomed if they do not have an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Love</i> intervention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Influence Love Development Process <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
ignored, these influences can destroy a marriage. However, if they follow the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Love</i> four-step development process
they can transform a troubled marriage into an outstanding marriage. The first
step in the process is called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Awareness</i>.” In this step, the couple openly and honestly shares the relationship
related influences that they bring to the marriage. The second step in the
process is called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Impact</i>.”
In this step, the couple discusses how these influences help or hurt the
relationship. This enables them to identify what influence related differences
the couple needs to work on to improve their relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
third step in the process is called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Management</i>.” In this step, the couple develops a plan to overcome their
influence related differences. The fourth and final step in the process is
called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Maximization</i>.” In
this step, the couple implements the plan developed in step 3 in an effort to
align their influences in a way that increases the chance of their relationship
being successful for a long period of time. This process can be done by the
couple alone or with the help of a counselor. Regardless of how they do it,
every couple needs to go through the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Love</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Development Process</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
table below provides more information about this important process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Influence Love
Development Process<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Step
1: Influence Love Awareness:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Discuss how each of you
have been influenced. What are your musical tastes? How did your parents
influence you? Whose relationship do you emulate? What has influenced your political
beliefs? What has been the biggest influence on your view of love? How were you
influenced to view commitment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Step
2: Influence Love Impact:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> How are your influences similar? How
are your influences different? How do your influences impact your interaction?
How do your influences create conflict in your relationship?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Step
3: Influence Love Management:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> What are you doing to
make sure that your different influences align? What external influences will
bring you closer together? What influences do the two of you need to improve
your relationship? What is your specific plan to improve your relationship by
aligning your influences?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Step
4: Influence Love Maximization:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> How will you implement
the plan developed in Step 3? How do you maintain “Credibility” with each
other? How do you ensure that there is mutual respect? How do you maintain
“Creativity” in the relationship? How do you ensure that you are intellectually
compatible and remain interested in spending time with each other? How do you
maintain a “Connection” in the relationship? How do you ensure that there is a
strong emotional and physical connection with your partner?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
increasing social stress on relationships makes the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Love</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Development Process</i>
more important than ever. If you would like more information about enhancing
your relationship through this process, please contact Dr. Dale G. Caldwell at
(732) 208-9808 or at <a href="mailto:DrDGCaldwell@gmail.com">DrDGCaldwell@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-33912649652191639062018-03-17T08:57:00.000-07:002018-03-17T08:57:18.254-07:00Intelligent Influence in Life<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some people
have likened the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i>
framework to the mythical substance Vibranium made popular in the blockbuster
movie Black Panther. Vibranium is an amazing material that enabled the imaginary
African city Wakanda to become the most technologically advanced country in the
world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An ideal
life is someone who has <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Love</i>
with their significant other, their child is well-behaved because they utilize <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Parenting</i> and is doing well in
school because of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Teaching</i>,
they are on the verge of getting a promotion because they are an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Leader</i> at work and, they live
in a safe community because of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Policing</i>. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In addition, they are using <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i> to enhance their spiritual and physical
health. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Vibranium
has made Wakanda a nearly perfect society. In the same way, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i> can help to move
people toward a very successful and happy life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Intelligent Influence</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> is extremely valuable because it is
the only four-step process that teaches people how to use their past, present
and future influences to succeed in any activity involving human interaction. The
framework helps people utilize influence to enhance their marriage, improve their
success as parents, increase the quality of education their children receive
and excel in their profession. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent
Influence</i> also enables police departments to do an exceptional job of
protecting and serving communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The popularity
and evolution of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent
Influence</i> process inspired me to create <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Love</i> to improve relationships, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Parenting</i> to improve parenting skills and success, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Teaching</i> to improve classroom management, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Leading</i> to improve success at
work and, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Policing</i> to
improve community policing. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Love</i> is the optimal state of connection between a couple because it is
based on compatible influences not on superficial commonalities. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Parenting</i> is the only way to
successfully guide children because it enables parents to strategically manage positive
and negative influences. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Teaching</i> is the secret of effective classroom management because it empowers
teachers to provide positive educational influence to all students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence
Leading</i> is the most effective type of management because it involves
motivating a diverse team to get the most out of their skills and abilities. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Policing</i> significantly
enhances the effectiveness of a police department because it moves officers
from the traditional control/force/military policing model to one of protecting
and serving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will
describe each of these unique forms of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent
Influence</i> individually and in greater detail in subsequent articles. My
hope is that every person reading this article will be able to live an
enjoyable life guided by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent
Influence</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-57338982400070889522017-11-19T16:33:00.000-08:002017-11-20T08:47:11.225-08:00What is the Middle Class Movement?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">According
to the World Bank, the global poverty rate is 9.6% and the percentage of people who
are considered to be working poor is 10%.
Many people think that these percentages are understated. Regardless of what the real percentages are,
the world clearly has a significant poverty problem. The “<i>Middle
Class Movement</i>” or “<i>MCM</i>” was
founded to influence a reduction in poverty that would lead to an increase in the
global middle class. <i>MCM</i> is focused on utilizing social
impact measurement to influence an economic revitalization of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Definition of the Middle Class<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The term “Middle Class” has historically had many
different definitions because so called experts have attempted to assign an
income threshold to the term. The amount
of money to be considered middle class differs significantly in different parts
of the world. We therefore define the
middle class simply as “<i>households that
can pay their basic bills on time</i>.” If a
household has sufficient income to pay their basic bills (i.e. housing, food, health care, child care, transportation, insurance, etc.) on time, they may still feel
like they are struggling economically.
However, they do not feel the emotional, mental and financial stress of
households that do not have enough money to pay basic bills on time. These households are frequently forced to
commit crimes to survive. We therefore consider
households that cannot pay their basic bills on time “Poor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></i></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Theoretical Framework<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In writing my dissertation this year, I discovered the
importance of having a theoretical framework that provides guidance on one’s
research. I believe that this is
extremely important for successful social movements as well. Dr. King relied on Mahatma Ghandi’s “Theory
of Nonviolent Communication” (Bode, 1995).
His non-violent approach to the Movement was a key factor in its
success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In 2010, I was writing a book on leadership and looked
up Webster’s definitions of the words “Leadership,” “Command,” and,
“Authority.” I was surprised to discover
that the word “Influence” was used in each of these definitions. This discovery convinced me to refocus my
book on influence instead of leadership.
This research led me to develop “<i>Intelligent
Influence Theory</i>” which states that people “<i>do what they do, think the way they think, and accomplish what they
accomplish because of influence</i>.” <i>Intelligent Influence Theory</i> suggests
that the right publicly accepted social impact measures will influence leaders
to adopt policies that grow the middle class and reduce poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></i></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mission<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The mission of the <i>Middle
Class Movement</i> is “<i>to increase the
middle class by reducing financial, educational and emotional poverty</i>.” The extant literature suggests that previous efforts
to reduce poverty have failed because they have focused on reducing financial
poverty and largely ignored educational and emotional poverty (Caldwell,
2017). If a household receives more
income and they are illiterate, the income will likely not be sustainable. If a household receives more income and is
literate but they are dealing with emotional and behavioral issues, that income
will likely not last. It is therefore
essential to ensure that people are financially, educationally and emotionally
healthy for them to reach and remain in the middle class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Strategy<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">MCM’s</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
strategy to influence global change is to use social impact measures to
influence leaders to adopt policies and programs that reduce, financial,
educational and emotional poverty and grow the middle class. Measures like the Living Wage Index (LWI)
that we created based on the MIT Living Wage Calculator, clearly show the percentage of households that can pay their
bills (the middle class). By holding
leaders accountable for increasing measures like the LWI, we can influence a
growth in the middle class through job creation programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></i></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Funding<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We do not believe that grant funding is sustainable so
we are focused on generating our own income.
<i>MCM</i> is in the process of
establishing a 15 city music tour making stars of previously unknown local
artists that we call the <i>People Up Music
Tour</i>. This unique entertainment
program, which is owned exclusively by <i>MCM</i>,
will identify the next generation of music artists and provide significant funding
for the operations of the <i>Middle Class
Movement</i>. Entertainment is the
perfect vehicle to provide sustainable funding for <i>MCM</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></i></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">84% Solution<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The roll of two or more dice hundreds of times results in what statisticians call a bell curve or normal probability distribution. This type of distribution is surprisingly frequent in nature. If household income data fell into a normal distribution, then it is likely that even with the most
effective programs possible, 16% of the world's households will be extraordinarily
wealthy and 16% of the households will extremely poor. We therefore believe that a realistic global
goal is for 84% of households to earn sufficient income to be classified as middle
class or wealthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The good news is that if this goal is achieved, the
world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will reach record highs and the quality of
life throughout the world will be increased significantly.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">If more people can pay their bills and become
middle class, the existing middle class and the wealthy will earn more income so
everyone will benefit.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is
absolutely no political or financial reason not to support the </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Middle Class Movement</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We are therefore looking for as many people
as possible to help us use the </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">MCM</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> to
push the world toward this “84% Solution.” If you would like more information about <i>MCM</i>, please visit www.MiddleClassMovement.com.</span></div>
Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-278601773137950562017-11-09T07:08:00.000-08:002017-11-19T16:33:57.420-08:00The Two Levels of Dating<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -4.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: list .3in;">
As a divorced single dad, I have learned a lot from my varied dating experiences. I love discussing relationships with anyone
at any time so I have gained tremendous additional insights from my many male
and female friends who have had very different experiences in dating. The world of dating is scary, exciting,
challenging, difficult and fun all at the same time. Most people are dating because they are
trying to find that “love connection” with the right person in the right way at
the right time. However, for many people, it is a very challenging process. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In my book “<i>Intelligent Influence</i>,” I explain why all people “<i>do what they do, think the way they think
and accomplish what they accomplish because of influence</i>.” This understanding of influence has taught me
that every person has three “selves” and there are two levels of dating driven
by influence. The first “self” is their “<i>Emotional Self</i>” which controls how they
feel. The second self is their “<i>Rational Self</i>”
which controls how they think. Finally, the third self is the “<i>Physical Self</i>” which controls how they envision using or actually use their body. Everything
we do is influenced by one or more of these selves. The secret of successful
dating is controlling the order in which you utilize these selves in the two
levels of dating.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I call the first level of dating “<i>Superficial Dating</i>.” Most people utilize our three selves in the
same order in a healthy way in “<i>Level One
Superficial Dating</i>”. We typically start
with the “<i>Superficial Physical Self</i>.” We begin the superficial dating process by
identifying someone in-person or online that we are attracted to
physically. This attraction is
subconsciously based on whether or not we can see ourselves kissing or being
intimate with that person. It is
important to remember that who we find attractive is largely based on our prior
influences. We then move to the “<i>Superficial Rational Self</i>” and determine
whether that person is intelligent and interesting to talk to. After that self is revealed we move to the “<i>Superficial Emotional Self</i>” and
determine whether we feel good with them and enjoy spending time with them.
This process is normal and healthy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As daters, we begin to make mistakes
when we move to <i>Level Two</i> of dating. In the second or “<i>Serious Dating</i>” level, we should begin with our “<i>Serious Rational Self</i>.” It is essential that we take significant time
to think whether or not this person is someone whom we can develop a serious
relationship with for a long time before we “fall” for them. If they pass this test, then we should move
to the “<i>Serious Emotional Self</i>” and
open ourselves up to falling in love with this person. If this happens, then we can open ourselves
up to allow the “<i>Serious Physical Self</i>”
to take control and develop a deep physical intimacy with them. Couples that have followed this pattern are
likely to have a more successful relationship than others who use the wrong
order of “selves.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, many of us make the
mistake in <i>Level Two</i> dating of
starting with our <i>Serious Emotional or
Physical Self</i> before we use the <i>Serious
Rational Self</i>. We therefore fall in
love with or have sex with someone who is wrong for us. We then move to the <i>Serious Physical or Emotional Self</i> and fall deeper in love physically
or emotionally with the wrong person. When
the relationship is not working out we begin to release our <i>Serious Rational Self</i>. Unfortunately, it is often too late because
we are deeply involved with the wrong person and it becomes painful and
difficult to extract ourselves from the relationship.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The best way to successfully date is to
utilize the <i>Superficial Physical,
Rational and Emotional</i> selves in that order in <i>Level One Superficial Dating</i>.
We are the only ones who can determine when we are ready to move to <i>Level Two Serious Dating</i>. Once we make that determination, we must resist
the temptation to release our <i>Serious
Emotional or Physical Self</i> and, instead, use our <i>Serious Rational Self</i> to assess whether there is a realistic future
for this relationship. We need to honestly determine, regardless of how
beautiful or handsome this person is, if they are too controlling, selfish, needy,
inconsiderate, etc. Once we determine
that this relationship has a serious chance of succeeding we can move to the <i>Emotional</i> and <i>Physical </i>selves and enjoy the ride.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I provide a simple summary below of healthy
and unhealthy dating. I hope that this
is helpful as you embark on the dating journey.
Good luck finding the man or woman of your dreams.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><u>Dr. Caldwell’s Secret of Successful
Dating<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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<b><i><u>What Most People Do<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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<b><i><u>They
Experience Healthy Level One Superficial Dating<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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They
release their <i>Superficial Physical</i>; <i>Superficial Rational</i>; and, <i>Superficial Emotional Selves</i> in that
order and move to <i>Level Two</i> or <i>Serious Dating</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><u>However,
they Follow Unhealthy Level Two Serious Dating<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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Once
they have completed <i>Level One Superficial
Dating </i>they mistakenly release their <i>Serious
Emotional</i> and/or <i>Serious Physical
Selves</i> (in either order); and then <i>Serious
Intellectual Selves</i> (once things are not working) and find themselves in
the wrong relationship at the wrong time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><u>What People Should Do<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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<b><i><u>Healthy
Level One Superficial Dating<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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They
should release their <i>Superficial Physical</i>;
<i>Superficial Rational</i>; and, <i>Superficial Emotional Selves</i> in that
order and move to <i>Level Two</i> or <i>Serious Dating</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><u>Healthy
Level Two Serious Dating<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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Once
they have completed <i>Level One Superficial
Dating</i> they should release their <i>Serious
Rational</i>; <i>Serious Emotional</i>; and,
<i>Serious Physical Selves</i> in that
order. This will increase the likelihood
of finding the right relationship at the right time.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-34929799099775725702014-07-26T06:04:00.001-07:002014-07-27T04:58:49.329-07:00Intelligent Influence<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been amazed by the many positive comments about the TEDx
speech I gave several years ago in Princeton called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i>.” This talk focused on one of the most
important words in the world that, amazingly, is “hidden in plain sight.” The
word “<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Influence</span></i>” is used in
conversations virtually every day by millions of people around the world who
have not taken the time to understand the meaning and potential of this very powerful
concept.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe that positive strategic influence is the secret to leadership
and organizational success in today’s complicated business environment. My
research on influence led me to develop a concept called <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Intelligent Influence<sup>®</sup></span></i>
that is tailor-made for the business (and human interaction) realities of the
21<sup>st</sup> century. This unique leadership and strategy framework, which
consists of four components, has the potential to change how people interact
(especially in the business world). This approach has been so well received
that I founded an international management consulting firm named Strategic
Influence, LLC that has successfully helped executives, corporations,
government agencies and nonprofits effectively utilize <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i> to achieve extraordinary success. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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This concept is extremely useful when you apply it to your
career goals and objectives. The first component, “<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Influence Awareness<sup>TM</sup></span></i>”, is understanding how an
individual or group is influenced. Think about the person, events or things
that influenced you to pursue your current career or develop a passion for a
particular hobby or even sports team. <i>We all do what we do, like what we
like and accomplish what we accomplish because of influence</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second component, “<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Influence Impact<sup>TM</sup></span></i>”, is understanding how an
individual or group currently influences others. Take a minute or two to think
about the influence that you have on others at home, at work and in your
community? Ask yourself the question “How am I currently influencing my boss,
co-workers, subordinates, family and friends?” My research indicated that there
are six distinct types of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent
Influence</i>. These are: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Authority
Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Belief
Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inspiration
Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reputation
Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resource
Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thought
Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>. It is essential that you explore the extent to
which you have each of these types of influence at home and work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The third component, “<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Influence Management<sup>TM</sup></span></i>”, is proactively managing
how you are influenced based on your analysis of your current influence (or
lack thereof). Every person should identify their developmental goals and write
down a plan to get the <i>Internal Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> (training,
mentoring, etc.) they need to accomplish their <i>External Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>
(personal and professional) goals. Make sure that you have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Integration</i> and spend time being influenced by people who
think very differently than you do. This means that HR executives should spend
time with engineers, sales persons should spend time with finance executives
and CEOs should spend time with front line workers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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The fourth and final component “<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Influence Maximization<sup>TM</sup></span></i>,” is maximizing influence
by connecting the three <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Caldwell Spheres
of Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> that in combination are the secret behind the
success of all influential individuals and organizations. The first sphere, “<i>Credibility,</i>”
represents the influence that motivates people to take a person or organization
seriously. The <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">second sphere, “<i>Creativity,”
</i></span>represents the influence that makes people respect an individual or
organization because of their innovative approach and ideas. The third and
final sphere, “<i>Connection,”</i> represents the influence generated when a
person or organization makes an emotional connection with a person in a
significant enough way to get them to follow the person or buy a product.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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When a leader or organization can demonstrate each of these
three types of influence in combination they can accomplish extraordinary
things. The <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Intelligent Influence</span></i>
framework anchored by <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Influence
Maximization</span></i> occurs in every sector of society with both individuals
and organizations. In business the three spheres of influence account for the extraordinary
success of companies like Apple, McDonalds, Nike and Coca-Cola. For example,
when Coke was the number one soft drink it had <i>Credibility</i> because of its
long storied history;<i> Creativity</i> because of its “secret formula”; and, <i>Connection</i>
because of the very successful “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’d Like
to Teach the World to Sing<sup>®</sup></i>” commercials which has resonated
emotionally with millions of people over the years. Coca-Cola has been the
number one brand because of their ability to demonstrate the three spheres of
influence consistently over many years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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If you are serious about becoming an exceptional leader (or
just having extraordinary relationships) you must identify the influences that
shaped who you are (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Awareness</i>);
honestly assess your current influence strengths and weaknesses (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Impact</i>); develop a career (and
life) plan that identifies your influence-based developmental needs (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Management</i>); and, demonstrate
credibility, creativity and connection to maximize the influence that you have
on the people who determine the level of success you have in both your life and
your career (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Maximization</i>).
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i> is the secret
of success in the complex, diverse and fast paced world of today. Are you ready
to use this strategy to influence the world around you?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-85865197966390074152014-06-22T15:48:00.000-07:002018-04-23T12:03:28.088-07:00Neuroinfluence<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: black;">I have been overwhelmed by the extremely positive response
to my book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent
Influence: The 4 Steps of Highly Successful Leaders and Organizations</i>. This
publication is built around the belief that “<i>we do what we do, think the way we
think and accomplish what we accomplish because of influence</i>.” People from
around the world tell me that this book has changed the way that they view
themselves and the world. My research for this book has also changed my view of
the world by teaching me that there are two very distinct types of influence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The first type is “Social Influence” where a person is influenced
to do or think things because of other people or situations. This type of
influence, depending on its intensity, is often temporary. The second type of
influence is a term I created called “<i>Neuroinfluence<sup>TM</sup></i>” which is
defined as “influence that is powerful enough to cause neurological changes in
an individual.” These changes to the brain frequently make this type of
influence more permanent because the only way to change it is to expose a
person to counter-influences capable of causing neurological changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p></o:p>
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<span style="color: black;">I am frequently asked the question: What types of
influences are strong enough to change the brain? The traumatic experiences
that many individuals face on a regular basis can directly affect the parts of
the brain that control emotions and memory. Studies, such as the Adverse
Childhood Experiences (ACE) research on 17,000 Kaiser Permanente patients,
clearly indicate that traumatic childhood experiences are a fundamental reason
why individuals do poorly in school and suffer later in life. Additional
research has indicated that the hippocampus, the part of the brain involved in
memory forming, organizing and storing, and the amygdala, the part of the brain
that processes emotions such as anger, fear and pleasure, are extremely
sensitive to stress and trauma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If a person is exposed to prolonged or extreme trauma
(which is called “Negative Neuroinfluence<sup>TM</sup>” or “NNI”) the amygdala
and hippocampus change in a way that negatively affects an individual’s
stability, sensitivity to others, memory and ability to learn. However, the
good news is that “Positive Neuroinfluence<sup>TM</sup>” or “PNI” can reverse
the changes to the brain caused by the trauma generated by NNI.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p></o:p>
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<span style="color: black;">The recognition of the widespread impact of negative and
positive neuroinfluence has the potential to drastically change public policy
in areas as diverse as healthcare, law enforcement and public education. The
right public policy will influence physicians to use MRI’s more frequently to
examine the impact of trauma on the brain. These policies would enable law
enforcement to identify potential violent criminals before they commit a crime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p></o:p>
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<span style="color: black;">The chronic academic achievement gap between urban and
suburban and black and white students exists because current special education
programs are inadequate in addressing the neurological problems of many urban
and black students. These students, therefore, continue to do poorly in class
and often distract other students from learning. Unfortunately, these classroom
distractions, and their root causes, are one of the main reasons that there is
a 30 point academic achievement gap on standardized tests between black and white
students. The right public policy will lead to the creation of PNI programs
that can transform students struggling from NNI into outstanding students.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p></o:p>
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<span style="color: black;">Violence, suffering and abuse has become an unfortunate way
of life for far too many students living in cities like Atlanta, Camden,
Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New York and Trenton where the
school that I lead is located. Many students hear gunshots on a regular<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> basis in their neighborhoods. Sometimes they are
threatened at gun point or deal with the brutal murder of a family member or
friend. To make matters worse, many of these students are forced to skip dinner
or have to move from house to house or car to car for shelter at night. Some of
these students experience unthinkable abuse that causes even greater trauma to
their young lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">There are many programs treating Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (negative neuroinfluence) in war veterans. Society is starting to
realize how significant a problem this is for people who have fought for their
country. Unfortunately, there are not enough programs effectively treating this
ailment in public school students and their parents. Educational leaders ignore
the sad reality that many urban students have great difficulty learning because
they are suffering from a form of NNI caused by violence, hunger, homelessness
and abuse in the communities where they live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p></o:p>
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<span style="color: black;">Studies have shown that positive neuroinfluence programs
designed to help students improve their self-esteem can help students
significantly increase their academic proficiency. Programs like Northwestern
University’s Project Harmony music program (where students learn to play
instruments) change the brain in a way that makes it easier for students
experiencing NNI to learn. According to Hugh Knowles, professor of neurobiology
and physiology and director of the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at
Northwestern, “musical training has a positive effect on biological processes
important for auditory learning, memory and hearing speech … which appear to
translate into better language learning results.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p></o:p>
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<span style="color: black;">PNI programs can help war veterans, victims of violence and
traumatized students improve their social and emotional response mechanisms so
that they can succeed in school, work and life. Unfortunately, violent crime
will increase and the academic achievement gap will likely widen unless policy
makers support the expansion of PNI programs designed to address the social,
emotional and learning needs of children, youth and adults who have experienced
significant trauma in their daily lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-30976807005513728862014-01-21T11:40:00.000-08:002014-01-21T11:41:25.081-08:00Twilight Tutoring<div style="text-align: justify;">
There has been a lot of discussion on the relative value of lengthening the school day.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Not surprisingly, there is a
great deal of disagreement about the need to lengthen the school day in
successful schools. However, there is almost unanimous agreement that the
school day needs to be lengthened in schools where student academic proficiency
rates are low.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
the son of a Civil Rights Leader who knew and marched with Dr. King, Head of
School of a Charter School in Trenton, a school board member in New Brunswick,
president of the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission (MRESC) and
chair of the New Brunswick Housing Authority, I have a unique understanding of education
and the roots and consequences of poverty in America. However, I returned a few
days ago from an amazing 14 day trip to China over Christmas and New Year’s that
opened my eyes to the deficiencies in the American education system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
trip was designed to connect New Jersey and New York school leaders with
Chinese educators to share best practices and foster student exchanges.
However, to my surprise, it provided extraordinary insight into the ways that
the US needs to adjust our approach to education to maintain our competitive
advantage over other countries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most
educational leaders know that Chinese students are among the best in the world
when it comes to international assessments of academic achievement. The US is
falling further and further behind other countries on these tests. My trip to
China taught me some fascinating things. First, the good news is that the
American education system is the best in the world when it comes to educating
students from 8am to 3pm. Our class sizes, the quality of our classrooms and
our teacher training is as good as it gets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Contrary
to the view of many educational leaders, I do not think we need to make major
adjustments to our standard educational approach before 3pm. We visited some of
the best schools in China where the ratio of teachers to students was more than
50 to 1 and the classrooms (and bathrooms) were so cold every student wore a
heavy coat throughout the day. No American parent would tolerate student
learning in these conditions. However, academically, these students can run
circles around our best students.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
therefore asked myself the question, if our schools are better during the day how
can we be so far behind academically? I was initially confused by this
contradiction until I realized that China is as focused on the education of
students from 3pm to 8pm as they are from 8am to 3pm. Many of the K through
12th grade schools in China have more than 6,000 students. However, students
from very poor families and those that live far away are housed for free near
the school. Consequently, to create a culture of learning at the school, more
than 4,000 of these students live in local dorms. These dorms ensure that
students are as focused on academic excellence after school as they are during
the school day. This is not the case in the US. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
trip opened my eyes to the reality that the primary reason American students
are not doing as well academically as Chinese students is that in suburban,
urban and rural schools most students are more focused on entertainment from
3pm to 8pm than they are on learning. They would rather listen to the most
popular music, play the latest video game, watch TV or communicate via social
media than study the subject areas that confuse them. Most students do their
homework. However, academic excellence comes from working on academic
weaknesses in addition to completing homework in the evening. American students
are not doing this. We have a culture of after-school entertainment while China
has a culture of after-school learning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Proposals for a longer school day are being criticized by teachers unions who
want more money for a longer day and parents who think their students have
enough homework. I believe that the school day should be lengthened only for struggling
students and teachers that are willing to work for standard hourly rates. If
government is serious about increasing student achievement it should advocate
for (and in some cases support financially) a two hour academic excellence
program immediately after the end of the school day for struggling students. I
call this a “Twilight Tutoring” program. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
good news is that new technology programs allow for very focused and productive
tutoring. The only way that this tutoring will be effective is if the students
are assessed weekly by a technology program that is highly correlated with
state standardized tests that identifies the specific remediation needs of the
students (and provides curriculum to help them address these needs). The
tutoring must therefore be aligned to this curriculum and focused specifically
on the areas were the student is weak based on the assessment. The program will
enable the school and the students’ parents to measure academic growth on a
weekly basis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
manage program costs the government can set hourly rates and open it up to
teachers and others who have the knowledge and experience to ensure that the
tutoring is aligned to the unique needs of the students. This will keep contentious
negotiations out of the process and enable the most committed tutors to
participate. This approach will not guarantee that the US catches up
academically to China. To do that we need to establish boarding programs directly
aligned with poor performing public schools. This will ensure that struggling students
are in environments in the evening that are conducive to achieving academic
excellence. However, the Twilight Tutoring program that I am proposing will
significantly increase the academic achievement of struggling students. This approach
is an essential first step in making American pre-college education a global
leader once again.</span></div>
Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-50277317319183176862013-05-08T03:47:00.000-07:002015-06-19T08:18:35.871-07:00The United Hymnal<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>The Musical Divide<o:p></o:p></u></i></div>
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As the son, grandson and great grandson of activist ministers, I have been influenced to make religion an essential part of my daily life and examine its importance in the lives of human beings around the world. My research on religion taught me that music is a powerful vehicle in faith because it influences people to develop a deeper emotional bond with God. By singing to and about God on a regular basis individuals can experience a very personal and lasting connection to both the worship service and their Lord. </div>
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Many people believe that God has given human beings the gift of music to bring them together. However, throughout history, music has fueled religious differences. There is clearly a doctrinal divide among the religions of the world. However, I am convinced that the musical divide (because of the powerful connection between music and human emotion) is one of the major reasons for the intensity of the doctrinal divide and religious warfare. This deep musical divide in religion takes place because there is a lack of sensitivity to the “Musical Influences“ of others.</div>
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Whether we want to admit it or not, as human beings, we are a product of our influences in life. The language we speak, the food we eat, the people we find attractive, our political views, our occupation, etc. are determined largely by the unique mix of influences in our lives. This fact is at the heart of the religious music divide.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Musical Arrogance<o:p></o:p></u></i></div>
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Throughout human history there has been a passionate debate about music. People argue intensely that their favorite music is the best music of all time. I have enjoyed telling people that my research on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i> (for my book of the same name found on <a href="http://www.unitedhymnal.org/"><i>www.IntelligentInfluence.com</i></a>) has enabled me to identify the “best” music in human history. When I say that to someone they usually look at me skeptically and ask me “What do you think is the best music?” I respond by saying “The best music ever created is the music that people hear between the ages of 10 and 20.” Most people take a second to think about my statement and respond with “You are so right! I never thought of it that way.”</div>
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This critical and challenging time in every human being’s life is a period when they use music to help them through the emotional, developmental and intellectual challenges they face when growing up. Most people on earth are influenced to fall in love (typically for the rest of their life) with the popular music on the radio, television, record/CD players and the internet that helped them mature through puberty to adulthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The religious music chasm is rooted in the way that people have been influenced to worship (or not worship) God (especially during the ages 10 to 20). The extent of this influence is directly related to the amount of time and intensity of the music a person is exposed to. Most people do not listen to religious music as much as they do secular music. However, the intensity of the music at their favorite religious institution subconsciously increases the power and influence of that type of music on their psyche. </div>
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Many individuals, who grew up in the traditional church, mosque, temple, synagogue, etc., are influenced to believe that the traditional music of their place of worship represents the only “true” religious music. Others, who attend more modern religious institutions on a regular basis, are influenced to feel that their modern version of religious music is the only way to connect with God. This “Musical Arrogance” is at the heart of the music-driven conflict between religious institutions.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>The United Hymnal<o:p></o:p></u></i></div>
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Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “Hymn” as simply “a song of praise to God.” A “Hymnal” is therefore a collection of songs of praise to God. Over the years I have developed a passion for writing and studying hymn music. In my research, I was surprised to discover that there was no Christian hymnal that celebrated traditional hymns; gospel and praise music equally. I therefore was not surprised to find that there is no hymnal that contains the songs of praise to God of the four most influential religions of the world-Christianity; Hinduism; Islam and Judaism. </div>
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I have been deeply troubled by the human suffering caused by religious zealots in each of these faiths. I feel compelled to attempt to do what little I can to bring people together through music. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence </i>framework has inspired me to create something that I call the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">United Hymnal</i> (both electronically and in traditional book form) to enable people to understand the power of worshipping God through different religions and music. </div>
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This one of a kind hymnal will celebrate the music of different Christian denominations and reduce musical arrogance throughout the globe. My hope is that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">United Hymnal</i> will influence people to respect other religions, eliminate the religious music divide and prove to the world that people who truly believe in God have many things in common. If this hymnal is well-received, then another hymnal will be developed to celebrate the music of Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and any other religion that believes in one divine God.</div>
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I recognize that as this project receives greater visibility it is likely to be criticized by those who use religious differences to gain political power within their religion. However, those who truly believe in God will understand the need for a hymnal designed to bring a divided religious world together through music. I clearly cannot do this alone. I am hoping to connect with people who believe in God and the power of bringing people together through music. </div>
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If you are interested in helping me create the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">United Hymnal</i> please email me your contact information at <a href="mailto:dalegcaldwell@aol.com">dalegcaldwell@aol.com</a>. My team will let you know where we are in the process of developing the hymnal and how you can help. Our goal is to provide the most powerful Christian hymns sung in the "Traditional", "Praise" and "Gospel" music styles in an e-book, on an app accessible on all platforms and on the website <a href="http://www.unitedhymnal.org/"><i>www.UnitedHymnal.org</i></a> by 2016.</div>
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I look forward to working with you to bring the world together through religious music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-73045316145241989752013-04-09T04:36:00.001-07:002013-08-17T08:31:43.185-07:00Neighborhood Economics<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Neighborhood Economics<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Economics</i>” as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a social science concerned chiefly with the description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.</i>” Webster’s defines “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Macroeconomics</i>” as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the study of the entire economy in terms of the total amount of goods and services produced, total income earned, level of employment of productive resources, and general behavior of prices.</i>” It defines “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Microeconomics</i>” as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the study of the economic behavior of individual consumers, firms, and industries and the distribution of total production and income among them.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Federal, state and local government policies have failed because they are based on national macro and micro economic models that define a community where 100 people make $1 million a year and 1,000 destitute people make $0 a year as a thriving neighborhood (because the average annual salary of the 1,100 residents is $90,909.) This faulty economic analysis has allowed government to largely ignore the employment needs of people struggling in economically challenged neighborhoods. This results in social problems plaguing communities where unemployment is rampant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Macroeconomics explores aggregate national economic indicators largely without regard to the unique trends of local economies. Microeconomics explores aggregate corporate and individual economic indicators largely without regard to the unique trends of local economies. I believe that there is an unexplored subset of macro and microeconomics that I call “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neighborhood Economics<sup>TM</sup></i>” that has not received the focus and attention it deserves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tip O’Neil, the late Speaker of the US House of Representatives, was famous for saying that “all politics is local.” It is clear that “solutions to global problems are local” as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>History has proven that a “strong” global economy does not mean healthy communities around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way to effectively solve the most challenging problems in the world is to develop solutions that are custom designed for the unique needs of local communities and neighborhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One size does not fit all in politics or economics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Neighborhood Capitalism<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Capitalism</i>” as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Webster’s defines “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Living Wage</i>” as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a wage sufficient to provide the necessities and comforts essential to an acceptable standard of living.</i>” Many experts believe that individuals have an “acceptable standard of living” when their housing expenses are 25% or less of their income. A living wage can therefore be defined as 4 times the average housing costs in the community where an individual lives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Communities with high living wage employment are more likely to have low unemployment, higher literacy rates, better health care, lower crime and less poverty. Consequently, the single most important measure of success of local, state and national government public policies should be the extent of living wage employment in a community. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I call the establishment of policies based on living wage statistics in a community <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neighborhood Capitalism<sup>TM</sup></i> because it is based on free-market economic policies targeting local communities. Most economic theories fail when they are converted to public policy because they are focused on applying aggregate national economic indicators to explain the health of local communities. I am convinced that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neighborhood Capitalism</i> is more reliable than the federal government’s current aggregate economic policies because it is focused on using local economic indicators as the foundation for assessing the health of the national and global economy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The one indicator that most accurately measures the success of government policies based on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neighborhood Capitalism</i> is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Living Wage Index<sup>TM</sup></i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI</i>) which I created last year. The equation for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>is: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">L / W</i></b> where “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">L</i></b>” represents the number of people in “Living Wage Jobs” in the target community and “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">W</i></b>” represents the total number of people of “Working Age” in the target community. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Living Wage Index<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If every government in the world were evaluated based on this relatively simple equation applied to key large communities they would be influenced to move more rapidly toward peace and prosperity. Public policies would be focused on increasing the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI</i> by providing incentives for large and small businesses and nonprofits/NGOs to hire unemployed workers at living wages. These new government programs would reduce crime, improve health care, enhance public education and reduce the likelihood of terrorism and war. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI </i>is frequently called the “Small Business Index” because this measure puts pressure on politicians to support policies that grow small and independent businesses who are the largest employers of local residents around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The beauty of this approach is that it does not matter how neighborhoods are determined geographically as long as the same geographic boundaries are used when identifying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI</i> trends. An added benefit of this approach is that the data generated by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI</i> could be aggregated in a way that would enable economists to recommend macroeconomic policies benefitting a broader group of people. In a relatively short period of time this very simple measure of free-market prosperity (if enforced) would influence government leaders to significantly increase the quality of life for every person on the planet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If pressure were placed on government leaders to provide quarterly reporting (as required by publicly traded companies) on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Living Wage Index </i>in predetermined geographic areas (i.e. municipalities or counties) it would be significantly easier to measure the success or failure of public policy. This trend analysis would enable policy makers and average citizens to understand the relationship between increases in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI </i>and increase in average incomes, reduction in crime, elimination of poverty, improvement in healthcare and an increase in high school graduation rates. The case could also be made that an increase in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI</i> would lead to less pollution because people earning living wages are more interested in the environmental health of the community in which they live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Most importantly, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI </i>trends would enable the voting public to quantify the success or failure of their political leaders and make more informed political choices on election day. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LWI </i>will not solve every problem facing the world today. However, it should increase employment and reduce poverty and crime in local communities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-30572129624374553202013-03-20T03:45:00.000-07:002013-03-20T03:45:02.509-07:00Human Social Evolution<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">If you are like most people, you have been influenced to think that, as human beings, we are living in a fully evolved civilization that has been around since the early days of the universe. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Contrary to popular opinion, human beings are in the early stages of their social evolution. Many well respected scientists have said that if the history of the universe were condensed into one full year then humans would have been on the earth for less than two hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Infancy of Human Evolution<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Using the one year time frame, the Big Bang would have occurred on January 1<sup>st</sup>; Earth would have been formed around September 25<sup>th</sup>; and, the first humans would have arrived between <st1:time hour="22" minute="0" w:st="on">10:00pm</st1:time> and <st1:time hour="23" minute="0" w:st="on">11:00pm</st1:time> on the last day of the year - December 31<sup>st</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As amazing as it may seem, we are therefore in the infancy of human evolution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Most people don’t believe this because humans can send a person to the moon, fly around the world in a few hours, use smart phones to communicate and process complex equations utilizing powerful computers. However, one of the little known secrets of human evolution is that throughout history most people remain satisfied with their world because they believe that they have evolved to the highest extent possible. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and even the Nazi Germans all thought that they had evolved to the highest level possible for humanity. However, history has proven that they were very wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The case can be made that biologically we are extraordinarily advanced. However, the wide-spread prejudice, poverty and violence in our global society indicate that we are in the very early stages of human social evolution. The world is comprised of people of different experiences, genders, races, cultures, physical features, religions, sexual orientation, financial means, etc. It is logical to assume that the most advanced human society would celebrate and support this diversity in a way that would lead to wide-spread prosperity and peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Intolerance<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, human society has not come close to evolving to that stage in social evolution. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intolerance</i>-the lack of respect for people who are different, and the lowest level of human social evolution, is the rule not the exception. Tragically, the manifestations of intolerance (prejudice, discrimination and hatred) are commonplace in every country in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Tolerance<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The good news is that there are many people who demonstrate the second stage of social evolution-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tolerance</i>. They recognize that diversity exists. They may not like or agree with people who are different. However, they choose to tolerate them. This reduces the violence caused by intolerance. However, it does not lead to a harmonious society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Concern<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">There are a smaller number of people who demonstrate the third stage of social evolution-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concern</i>. They do more than tolerate others. They are concerned about the well-being of people who are different from themselves. Unfortunately, this concern is frequently pity for the plight of the people who are different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Empathy<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The fourth stage of social evolution is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Empathy</i>. In this stage people have an intellectual identification with the perspective of people who are different. The individuals who demonstrate this social ability are often extraordinarily successful in society because they have the ability to connect with many more individuals than people without this skill. Empathy is not the highest state of human social development because it inherently is rooted in a subtle arrogance of the people demonstrating the trait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Interness<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The final and most complex state of human social evolution is a state that I call “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Interness</i>.” In this state people may maintain many of their personal perspectives, however, they develop a deep emotional connection with the perspectives of people who are very different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They approach human interaction from a state of perfect equality where neither party is superior in any way. This is the highest state of social human evolution because it creates the perfect balance between human beings who are inherently different. A society demonstrating this state of social interaction will celebrate and support diversity in a way that leads to wide-spread prosperity and peace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Diversity Matters<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">People evolve socially when they interact with diverse groups of people on a regular basis. Fortunately, globalization and the internet have exposed more people than ever before to diverse groups of people. This has rapidly moved the youngest generations of people away from the stages of intolerance and tolerance. As a result a higher and higher percentage of people are moving toward the evolutionary stages of concern and even empathy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">However, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Interness</i> is an extremely difficult state to attain because it requires that people internalize the cultures of diverse groups of people around the world. This stage of social evolution can only be reached when most people on earth spend considerable time on a daily basis with many people who are very different. The good news is that the world is on a path to this stage of human social evolution. The bad news is that we are evolving very slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What stage of human social evolution are you in? What are you doing to move to the next stage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-478810786804675512013-02-05T03:41:00.001-08:002018-04-23T12:11:43.890-07:00The Influence of the Emancipation Proclamation<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tonight I will lead the second Emancipation Discussion at the
Princeton Public Library from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. If you are in the area please
join me for what should be a great evening of fascinating discussion. Thanks to
the gracious invitation of Janie Hermann of the Princeton Public Library in
Princeton, New Jersey, my father, a person who knew and marched with Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., and I, several weeks ago, facilitated the first discussion on
the many different influences that shaped President Lincoln’s views of
emancipation and the Civil War. Our discussion, with a standing room only
crowd, turned out to be the kind of conversation on race and class that rarely
takes place in America. My father wrote the following after the discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b><i>A "Review" of the discussion on the
Emancipation Proclamation led by a father and son team; Dale G. Caldwell and
Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell at the Princeton Public Library in New Jersey on
January 15, 2013</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell, Jr.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My South Carolina born and bred grandmother had many
"sayings" that reflected the influence of South Carolina's Black
Culture on her. I think of her saying, "Self praise has no
recommendation" as I write this. She meant, we who praise ourselves are on
thin ice and what we say about ourselves has little to recommend. Yet, I dare
to review a discussion of which I was a lead participant with my son
Dale. "What fools (we) mortals be".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our discussion last evening at the Princeton Public Library, made
possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities attracted
over 40 persons and the discussion that ensued had a fervor and quality that I
have seldom experienced in my many years. I believe that the kind of discussion
held last evening is essential to meeting our national need to break through
the "gridlocks" of all kinds, of these times. The National Endowment
has in the past expressed through funding and programs, a concern for deepening
our capacity to engage in civil conversation. Last evening was a living
embodiment of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Harvard's Henry Louis Gates has said; "The African slave who
sailed to the New World did not sail alone. People brought their culture, no
matter how adverse the circumstances. And therefore part of America is
African."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This year (2013) is not only the 150th anniversary year of the
signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, In August we will acknowledge the
50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech at
the March on Washington. I was not living in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln signed
the Emancipation Proclamation, but I was 29 when I attended the March on
Washington.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Christian Scripture Jesus is described as "the stone that
the builders rejected who became the cornerstone". I suggest that new,
fresh and different discussions about race, history, culture, government and
the USA could become one way to reverse the polarization, anger and distrust of
these times. We have avoided candid conversations about race because it too
often becomes divisive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We remember President Bill Clinton's effort to have the nation
engage in discussions about race that proved to be less than positive. The
finger of blame should not be pointed at anyone, rather it could be that there
is a readiness in 2013 to begin those discussions again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Two devastating events in 2012 have created a sense of
unarticulated "togetherness" that we may have missed. The devastation
wrought by Hurricane Sandy on the coasts of New Jersey, New York and
Connecticut have made those who suffered, remember the devastation of Hurricane
Katrina and recognize possibly for the first time for some, the solidarity that
is theirs, despite race, between residents on the Gulf Coast and residents on
the Atlantic Ocean in the above mentioned states.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown,
Connecticut cannot help but remind us of the deaths of 4 black girls in a
church in Birmingham, because of a bombing, 50 years ago, this September. It is
when we realize that the tragedy's we have known in the places where we live
are similar and related to the tragedy's of people in other places, that human
solidarity cannot help but emerge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I suggest, not with tongue-in-cheek, but with seriousness, that
the chemistry between a father who was a "foot soldier" in the Civil
Rights Movement and an Ivy League - educated son who share with others, the
differences, yet similarities of their respective experiences, can excite and
involve others in conversations they may not have had before. Dale and I saw and
felt that last night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have dedicated the remaining years of my life to keeping the
history and the reality of the Civil Rights Movement alive. In so many ways,
with its belief in the potential and possibilities of the nation, its
nonviolence, its respect for the humanity of those with whom we disagreed,
it/we represented the best of America. I have wondered how best to pass the
baton of the CR Movement to new generations. Last night I experienced as a
father/son team, leading a discussion, the best way to do what I have wanted to
do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I look forward to the next time and the next time. Respectfully submitted by </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell of Asbury Park, New Jersey. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I would like to further the discussion. If you care to, please feel free to contact me at </span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">caldwellchurch@aol.com.</span></div>
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Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-8467013778971817332012-12-12T10:28:00.000-08:002015-10-22T12:16:40.818-07:00Living Wage Index<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">One of the most important sayings in business is “you can’t improve what you don’t measure.” This anonymous quote explains why the American economy is weak and crime, unemployment, and poverty are major problems throughout the country. Politicians recognize that all politics is local. However, they ignore the fact that public policy solutions to chronic social problems must be based on local employment statistics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Federal, state and local government policies have failed because they are based on national economic models that define a community where 100 people make $1 million a year and 1,000 destitute people make $0 a year as a thriving neighborhood (because the average annual salary of the 1,100 residents is $90,909.) This faulty economic analysis has allowed government to largely ignore the employment needs of people struggling in economically challenged neighborhoods. This results in social problems plaguing communities where unemployment is rampant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The quickest way to turn a community around is to ensure that a majority of residents have a living wage job </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">(where an individual earns sufficient money to cover basic living expenses-this is typically four times the average housing costs). When these jobs are plentiful chronic problems like </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">crime, low graduation rates, poverty and poor healthcare disappear. Tragically, living wage jobs are vanishing in local communities because the small and independent businesses providing these jobs are under assault in America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Government policies have ensured that the large businesses that are supposedly “too big to fail” increase profit margins. Mega-businesses like the major banks, oil companies and big-box stores are being given unfair financial gifts that have provided them with a significant competitive advantage over the small independent businesses that provide living wage jobs to most local residents. Economists have ignored the fact that local businesses who hire most people in America are “too small to fail.” The small size and entrepreneurial nature of these companies motivates them to take the risk of hiring local residents (who historically have been the backbone of the American workforce and economic system).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, because local employment trends are rarely measured, politicians are not held accountable for the loss of living wage jobs resulting from the closing of small businesses. Thousands of local businesses are dying in secret across the country. It is therefore essential that every municipality in America utilize a simple measure of free-market living wage employment that holds local, county, state and national politicians accountable for the closing of small businesses and the loss of local jobs. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This simple measure is called the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Living Wage Index</i></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">” because it quantifies the percentage of people holding jobs that enable them to pay their bills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The simple equation for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Living Wage Index</i> is: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">L / W</i> where “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">L</i>” represents the number of households earning a living wage in the target community and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">W</i>” represents the total number of households in the target community. Albert Einstein said "equations are more important to me, because politics is for the present, but an equation is something for eternity." This equation has the potential to permanently change public policy in a way that politicians cannot.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wall Street is driven by measures like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and quarterly corporate reporting. Federal government policy is guided by aggregate indicators like national unemployment, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and housing starts. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Living Wage Index</i>, if utilized to measure municipal employment trends, will force political and business leaders to advocate for policies that would strengthen small businesses and rapidly increase local living wage employment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The best way to save local businesses, transform poor communities and revive the national economy is to rely on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Living Wage Index</i> to influence politicians to develop community programs like a “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shop Local Create Jobs<sup></sup></i>” campaign. This type of effort would have the dual benefit of increasing living wage employment and saving those businesses who are truly too small to fail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-77919125235434518452012-10-04T03:33:00.000-07:002012-10-04T03:33:55.895-07:00Influence-Driven Peace<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The governments of the most powerful countries in the world have failed because they are forced to deal with the extremes of social policy. They are pulled in one direction by the extreme conservatives who want no government influence. They are pulled in the other direction by the extreme liberals who want complete government influence. This has led to extraordinary political conflict which has forced political leaders in the world’s richest countries to advance policies designed to treat the complicated symptoms of problems instead of the root causes of economic, social and environmental challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The tragic result of treating symptoms has been chronic high global unemployment, sub-standard health care, wide-spread illiteracy, uncontrollable crime, global military conflict and environmental decay. It is time for the political leaders in the most influential countries in the world to use the principals of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Italic','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">®</span></sup></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> to advance policies designed to address the root-causes of the world’s most significant problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Influence Awareness</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> analysis tells us that the two-party system driven by powerful conservatives and liberals has led to a policy focus on short-term solutions designed to achieve temporary political gains instead of long-term improvements. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Impact </i>analysis tells us that this approach to government has failed because high unemployment, poor health care, crime, war and poverty continue to be major problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Influence Management</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> analysis tells us that every developed country is made up of neighborhoods and communities each with very different populations, characteristics and problems. However, the one factor that determines the relative success or failure of these communities is the percentage of people of working age holding living wage jobs (where an individual makes sufficient money to cover reasonable food, clothing, housing, health care, education and retirement expenses for their household). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I believe that there is an unexplored subset of economics that I call “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neighborhood Economics<sup>TM</sup></i>” that has not received the focus and attention it deserves. Tip O’Neil, the late Speaker of the US House of Representatives, was famous for saying that “all politics is local.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is clear that “solutions to global problems are local” as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>History has proven that a “strong” global economy does not mean healthy communities around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way to effectively solve the most challenging problems in the world is to develop solutions that are custom designed for the unique needs of local communities and neighborhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One size does not fit all in politics or social sciences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Communities with high living wage employment are more likely to have low unemployment, higher literacy rates, better health care, lower crime and less poverty. Consequently, the measure of success of local, state and national government policies should be the extent of living wage employment in a community. I call this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neighborhood Capitalism<sup>TM</sup></i> because it is based on free-market economic policies targeting local communities. Most economic theories fail because they are focused on using aggregate economic indicators and applying them to local communities. My theory of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neighborhood Capitalism</i> is more reliable than these theories because it is focused on using local economic indicators as the foundation for assessing the health of the national and global economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The one indicator that most accurately measures the success of government policies is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peace Influence Index<sup>TM</sup></i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">P2I</i>) (which is frequently called the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Caldwell Peace Index</i>”). Every rational human being is striving for peace of mind, peace in their communities and peace in the world. It is therefore essential to have a measure of peace and prosperity that can be applied to communities everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The equation for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">P2I</i> is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>P = L – G<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">/</b>W where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">P2I </i>is symbolized by the letter “P” which represents the percentage of “Peace” (and prosperity) in a target area; “L” represents the number of people in “Living Wage Jobs” in the target community; “G” represents the number of people employed in living wage jobs subsidized by 51% or more government funding; and, “W” represents the number of people of “Legal Working Age” in the target community. It is important to note that I subtract living wage jobs subsidized by 51% or more of government funding because these positions rarely serve as the foundation of a community’s long-term financial well-being. They are simply recycling tax dollars in a way that usually does not lead to sustainable economic growth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Influence Maximization</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> analysis tells us that if every government in the world were evaluated based on this relatively simple equation applied to key large communities they would be influenced to move more rapidly toward peace and prosperity. The beauty of this approach is that it does not matter how neighborhoods are determined geographically as long as the same geographic boundaries are used when identifying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">P2I</i> trends. Public policies would be focused on providing incentives for large and small businesses and nonprofits/NGOs to hire unemployed workers at living wages. These new government programs would incentivize free market employment in a way that would reduce crime, improve health care, enhance public education and lead to the elimination of terrorism and war. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a relatively short period of time this measure of free-market prosperity would move the world toward peace by significantly increasing the quality of life for every person on the planet. It is time for average citizens to ask their government leaders for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peace Influence Index</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">P2I</i>) trends in the communities where they live and work. This would enable them to measure the success or failure of their political leaders and make more informed political choices on election day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
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Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-55731369653637083652011-06-16T07:46:00.000-07:002011-06-17T03:16:46.896-07:00Intelligent Influence In Business <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The future influences the present just as much as the past.</i>”</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Friedrich Nietzsche</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The word “influence” is “hidden in plain sight” in the language of today’s complex business world. The term is used by millions of business people on a daily basis without a comprehensive understanding of the vitally important role influence plays in business success or failure. Modern technology provides the data necessary for today’s executives to develop comprehensive plans for the future of their business. As described by Nietzsche more than 150 years ago, these future plans not only have a direct influence on current business operations, they also impact how employees need to leverage past business and personal influences for future success.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The strategic use of influence is the foundation of individual and organizational success. Corporations seeking to exceed profitability goals must develop business strategies focused on maximizing their influence in the marketplace. The productivity of employees at every level of an organization is directly correlated with the influence they have on their peers, subordinates and supervisors. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Based on an analysis of extraordinary people and companies, I developed a framework on individual and organizational success that I call <i>Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>. This unique approach to management consulting provides an effective new process designed to increase the productivity and profitability of corporations. </span><i>Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> is defined as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a learned competency that leads to extraordinary results driven by effective human interaction</i>.” This framework is custom designed to help corporations improve organizational efficiency; develop exceptional leaders; increase the engagement and retention of employees; assess the talent of current and future employees; and, maximize the effectiveness of a diverse workforce.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The seamless interconnection of dynamic global economies has challenged leaders to develop new approaches to address constant business change. Armed with knowledge about how people have been influenced and how they intelligently influence others, managers can approach problems and challenging situations more effectively. Insight into how these managers have been influenced and how they influence others enables them to maximize their success as leaders within any organization that requires significant human interaction. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The utilization of <i>Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> in business involves the application of a custom designed consulting process to help individuals value the influence based differences of their peers, subordinates and supervisors in a way that increases their engagement and effectiveness within the organization. Regardless of how they are formed, why they come together, at what level in the organization and for how long, all effective teams need to learn how to manage their internal influences and maximize their external influences to achieve their goals. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">All extraordinary teams understand how to manage their internal influences in a way that will enable them to have the external influence they need to be high performing teams. The <i>Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> in business consulting process offers a suite of unique influence based tools and resources that can bring out the best in senior, management, functional and project teams. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">This framework is especially effective in helping corporations in the areas of Organizational Effectiveness; Leadership Development; Employee Engagement; Talent Assessment and Recruitment; and, Diversity and Inclusion. This comprehensive approach to organizational improvement is based on enhancing the internal and external influences of both employees and organizations in a way that will help them maximize their effectiveness in today’s competitive business environment. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The most successful people within an organization are those with the most positive influence. The <i>Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> in business consulting approach provides tools, resources and strategies to help individuals at every level of an organization enhance their influence in a way that will increase both their productivity and that of the department or division in which they work. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">For more information about the <i>Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> in business consulting approach please visit <a href="http://www.strategicinfluencellc.com/">http://www.strategicinfluencellc.com/</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
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</div>Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-76401014292480119272011-02-28T08:37:00.000-08:002011-02-28T08:37:20.451-08:00Influence Driven Education<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">15 year old Steven (the name has been changed to protect his identity) was the kind of student that used to go to his local library regularly for peace and quiet and the opportunity to read books. He was an engaging young man who was liked by his classmates and teachers. In many ways he represented the majority of students who attend schools in the United States. Tragically, he was killed last Wednesday evening in cold blood as he approached the library he used to frequent. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I have the great honor of serving as the President of the school district where Steven was a student. As the President of this school district, a resident of Steven’s home state and a citizen of the United States, I am calling upon political leaders, educators and my fellow American citizens to completely redesign public education to ensure that students like Steven have the opportunity to get the education they need to become productive citizens. The future of our country depends upon the redesign of education to ensure that all students receive positive educational influences from <time hour="8" minute="0" w:st="on">8am</time> to <time hour="20" minute="0" w:st="on">8pm</time>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Our State Department of Education (DOE) recently released the state test scores and once again there is a tragically wide gap in test scores between black and Hispanic students and white and Asian students. As reported by the DOE “60% of the black or African-American 3<sup>rd</sup> graders failed to achieve proficient scores, compared with 21.4 percent for Asian students and 31 percent for whites.” Sadly, this gap has remained relatively consistent in spite of decades of focus on curriculum revision and targeted school funding. Publicly, educational leaders state that they believe that this gap can be closed. However, privately, many of these leaders know that this gap will never change with an exclusive focus on the <time hour="8" minute="0" w:st="on">8am to 3pm</time> education. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">As a school board member who has served on public, private and charter school boards I am convinced that the quality of the curriculum and teaching provided students in schools is a vitally important component of their learning. However, as someone who has established and run after-school programs for students and their parents I have learned that the influences in the lives of students outside of school are more important to their academic success. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, current education policy assumes that a student’s classroom experiences account for 100% of the positive influence they need to succeed in school. It is clear that influences outside of school account for at least 50% (and probably more like 75%) of the educational influences in a student’s life since students spend more than 70% of their day outside of a classroom. However, funding does not reflect this fact.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Steven was yet another of the hundreds of thousands of victims of negative community influences. He was not a member of a local gang in his hometown. However, he was killed by a gang member and was clearly a victim of the negative forces in his neighborhood. Tragically, our district has applied for funding from government and nonprofit organizations to create programs for students like Steven that would enable us to provide the positive educational influence from 3pm to 8pm that these students need to succeed in school and stay alive. However, we have not received funding because of the almost exclusive focus of public and foundation dollars on the <time hour="8" minute="0" w:st="on">8am to 3pm</time> education of students.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">To close this achievement gap public policy must utilize a concept that I call “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i>”. This approach to academic and life success is founded on the belief that the influences in every person’s life blend seamlessly with their personality to determine their actions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Frequently, the quality of the curriculum and teaching is very often irrelevant to a student’s success. Many students in urban schools with outstanding teachers get excellent grades because they have a mix of positive influences throughout the day and evening that complement their personality in a way that ensures their academic success. Conversely, students in the same class who are struggling in school have an overwhelming number of negative influences after-school and in the evening that blend with their personality to ensure academic failure or even death (as in Steven’s case). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Few people would argue with the fact that students who are influenced by positive mentors to do homework after-school and in the evening will do better academically than students who are influenced by gangs to ignore their school work. However, public policy and funding virtually ignore the need to provide the after-school and evening influence necessary to turn struggling students into exceptional students. To make matters worse, there is very little research on the impact of influences outside of the classroom on the test scores of students. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Some people believe that it is exclusively the parent’s responsibility to provide this positive influence after-school and at home. However, the number of broken or unhealthy homes outnumbers the healthy homes in most poor communities. Far too many parents are incapable (either because of their lack of education or the fact that they are working multiple jobs to feed their family) of providing this critical positive influence on a consistent basis. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">If as a society we are serious about closing the achievement gap, reducing crime, minimizing taxes and saving lives we need to support programs that provide the educational influences students need from 3pm to 8pm. This can be done without increasing taxes. As a former senior state government official I can guarantee that a seamless integration of current state funding from the Departments of Education, Human Services, Law and Public Safety and Community Affairs will enable the state to adequately support 3pm to 8pm programs (at current funding levels) that increase high school graduation rates, significantly increase test scores, reduce crime, minize taxes and save lives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">We call the utilization of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence<sup>TM</sup></i> in public education (i.e. investing in the integration of positive influences into the lives of all students before, during and after-school) “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Influence Driven Education<sup>TM</sup></i>” If we do not provide this type of education to students, the gap in test scores will continue to widen and crime will continue to increase because more students will succumb to the temptations of the urban streets. Even more tragically, Steven’s death will have meant nothing to society as a whole.</span></div>Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671844381289627515.post-52119692505451579552010-11-23T06:29:00.000-08:002011-06-17T03:05:58.014-07:00Why Influence Matters More Than Leadership<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">For most of my life I have been fascinated by leadership. When I was a child all of my heroes were famous people who were leaders in their respective endeavors. I was mesmerized by iconic individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; John F. Kennedy; Arthur Ashe; Henry Ford; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Mahatma Gandhi; Lew Alcindor; Cassius Clay and others who used diverse styles to lead very different groups of people toward extremely difficult goals. I was fascinated by their success. However, at that time in my life I could not understand why some people holding leadership positions succeeded and others failed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">I learned a great deal more about leadership later in life because I had the honor of serving as the President and/or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 10 organizations. These positions convinced me that leadership is one of the most important subjects in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leadership plays a vitally important role in every aspect of human society and life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health, education, the environment, religion, science, business, government, nonprofits, families and basic human interaction are all directly affected by leadership in one way or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Effective leaders can improve the quality of life for every human being on earth while ineffective leaders can create global chaos. Since the right leader can inspire followers to cure disease, eradicate poverty, sustain the environment, increase employment, eliminate illiteracy, reduce crime and bring about global peace it is essential, for the good of humanity, to understand the foundation of successful leadership. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Several years ago I began the process of learning as much as I could about leadership. I read many books and papers, observed leaders at all levels of society and studied a great variety of organizations dedicated to the study of leadership or the training of leaders. My goal was to figure out what makes a leader successful. To my surprise this analysis taught me much more about success in life than I ever imagined it could. In my research I uncovered some amazing secrets about successful human interaction. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">I have always been fascinated by word definitions. In my review of the definitions of common leadership terms I was surprised to discover that one word connected all of the traditional definitions of leadership. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines a “<i>Leader</i>” as “<i>a person who has commanding authority or <u>influence.</u></i>” “<i>Authority</i>” is defined as “power<i> to <u>influence</u> or command thought, opinion or behavior.</i>” “<i>Command</i>” is defined as “<i>exercising a dominating <u>influence</u> over.</i>” Since a person’s <i>authority</i> and ability to <i>command</i> is driven by <i><u>influence</u></i> it is logical to conclude that the relative success of a leader is determined by the extent of their influence over others. In other words “<i>Leadership is driven by <u>influence.</u></i>”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “<i>Influence</i>” as “<i>The act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command</i>.” This definition forced me to examine whether influence was more than the foundation of leadership. I therefore spent a great deal of time studying the role of influence both on the world and in my life. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">In doing this research I discovered how important influence was to the lives of every person on earth. Influence “produced” many of the most important “effects” both in everyday activities and major human events. However, I was amazed to discover that there was little substantive research on both the role of influence in daily life and major historical events. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “Theory” as “the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another.” I developed “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intelligent Influence Theory</i>” based on my analysis of a set of facts about the amazing relationship of influence to individual and organizational success. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This unique blog will expose the role of influence in some of the most popular subjects in the world. My hope is that regular readers will learn to use the power of "Intelligent Influence" to become better leaders and enhance their success both at home and at work.</span></div>Intelligent Influencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13872108809170895058noreply@blogger.com2