Give your next COF meeting an Asian-focus to reflect Anne Kreamer's assertion that America is opening up to Asian culture and customs. Watch a Japanese cartoon or see a foreign film or play; go out for sushi, Thai or Vietnamese; and enjoy Asian libations such as sake and ginger martinis. Take a walk through your city's Chinatown, or other smaller ethnic areas such as Koreatown if your city offers. Identify some common Asia-centric themes that could help your business. What adjustments might you make if your company opened a branch in one of the neighborhoods you walked through? Are there any current values in your company that would export well when dealing with Asian counterparts?

All The Right Moves offers career guidance in tumultuous times. In the first question, Polly LaBarre suggests changing jobs into a 'means of expression rather than merely a means to an end.' Have group members pinpoint a dream job that would allow them to express themselves, whether it be restaurant manager, sailing instructor, park ranger, etc. If group members are choosing between options, have them run the 'gifts + passion=value' formula to narrow their choice. Arrange a job swap for a day. What skills can you bring to this new job, and what would your swappee bring to your job? After the switch discuss how your dream job rated against your expectation. Would you find yourself more or less typecast than your dream job? Did you feel the sense of expression that you expected?

Richard Wiseman offers readers a new perspective on luck with empirical proof through his research. Test his theory -- along with your own luck -- by taking a trip to the local casino or riverboat. While there, observe other people's attitudes on winning and losing; count how many times you overhear the word 'luck' mentioned in a postive or negative way. How did Wiseman's four principles work out for your bottom line at the end of the night, particularly listening to lucky hunches? How can you position yourself for better luck in gambling, business and life?

Daniel Richards contributed this month's Next Steps.

July 2003 Connexus | Flash Points | Next Steps

Action Packs home