Get the Most Out of Your Self-Defense Class

The world can sometimes be a dangerous place. I read last week about a lady who was in a shopping mall and got into a verbal altercation that later resulted in being jumped by others. The sad story occurs over and over throughout the country. Having basic self-defense classes helps in raising your confidence levels and giving you those few moves that can protect you from serious injury.

I have been doing Kenpo for a few years, engaged in martial arts previously, and do some kickboxing but decided to attend a free self-defense class. I learned very quickly how the basics can help you. A few simple moves can go a long way when you don't have time to think and things heat up quickly.

For example a chicken wing block whereby your put your elbow up by the side of your head is simple and easy to remember and protects your head from injury. Soft spots such as the neck, eyes, groin, and nose are very helpful for striking which puts an opponent down quickly. It doesn't take much to give yourself the few moments you need to escape.

Everyone should learn the basics. Kids might need a basic self-defense class that protects them while others could use a few counter strikes to stun or injure their opponent. Students should be able to understand the difference between self-defense, playing around, and being an aggressor.

8 Standards of International Corporate Ethics

Ethics goes a long way in building trust in an international business system. As information spreads faster along quickening fiber optic cables the world will continue to integrate in terms of interrelated laws, regulations, cultures, and business standards. Having an international standard of ethics is important in ensuring that companies are encouraging  better business environment. 

 When companies move into international locations they will need to understand and respect the cultures of those nations. There is a difference between respecting local culture and becoming involved in unethical practices. When few options are left, organizations can seek to remove themselves from such countries. Each company will decide what they stand for.

Today’s world needs a new way of looking at business and how that business interacts with other countries. Developing strong international ethical systems means that both companies and countries come to an understanding of what a “good international citizen” is. Below you will find 8 ethical standards (Be George, 1997):

1.      Do not intentional direct harm.

2.      Produce more good than harm for host countries.

3.      Contribute to the host countries development.

4.      Respect human rights.

5.      Respect local culture.

6.      Pay a fair share of taxes.

7.      Cooperate with local government when beneficial.

8.      Withdraw from a country if it becomes impossible to act with integrity.

De George, R. (1997). Human rights and the multinational enterprise. Dilemma, 6, 6–14.

The Politics of Language-Personality and Expression

Language impacts just about everything our lives that range from our perspective on life all the way to how we react to new information. The book Symbol, Status and Personality by S.I. Hyakawan provides insight into the nature of language and how it influences our personality and our effectiveness in getting the things we want out of life. 

No one exists in isolation. We are cultural creatures that are part of a long line of ancestors, cultures, symbols, values, and people. In childhood we engrain people’s values and beliefs into our own. A few adults learn that these values and opinions are not always correct and can master them.  

Words also have emotions and images attached to them. In politics we use words to stir people to action on certain events. Creating the image, using certain types of words, and giving people an outlet for their concerns is a primary political activity. 

Within any conversation there are lots of needs, goals, objectives, and perceptions being shared.  Language is goal directed. It determines how we relate to others and create influence others. Politicians and entertainers have learned a higher skill of language used to gain influence and prestige.

As we develop as a person language becomes more subjective as our own grounded personality takes precedence. We are able to use that personality to step away from language and culture to see the similarities and differences between people’s communication patterns.  

It is important to understand that language is subjective and based upon the symbols a person uses and how they construct the view of their world. This view is deeply anchored to their early development as a person and is difficult to stand over and in judgement of one’s own language. As one masters this skill, they are better able of “controlling their tongue” and critically think about political rhetoric around them.  

Hayakawa, S.I. (1953). Symbol, Status and Personality. U.S: Wittenboar, Shultz Inc.,  

Life is a Beach-Let's Live Like It!

Life is full of stressors includes family, work, finance, health, or any other sphere of our existence. We know that life is a “beach” but we can learn to roll with the punches and work our way through challenges in ways that are easy and less stressful. Living like you're on a coast beach will help you maintain focus and let the stress melt away.

Stress is part mental and part physiological. Sometimes you can conquer both by changing your perspective. One party may be psychological but the other part has  more to do with how you eat, sleep and take care of yourself. We can go through life like people who are on some tropical beach eating kale, jogging down the pier, and drinking freshly squeezed pineapple juice.

The first skill we should learn is to live in the moment by focusing on what is front of you now. Even though you make plans to obtain your goals and get the things you need out of life you should focus each day on that day. Living in the present will help reduce any worries or considerations that might eat at you.

Eating right will help your body stay at its peak performance which helps reduce long-term stress and raise energy levels. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and the like are helpful in giving you energy and increasing your outlook on life. You won’t get that “heavy” feeling after eating a bowl of macaroni & cheese.

Exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Physical fitness and outdoor activities have a natural way of getting you relaxed. Find some hobbies and sports that get you in shape while getting you connected with nature. The more you take care of your physical needs the better off you will feel. You will also look better as well.

Stress management is a habit that integrates into your daily life. It is the way we think about life, how we live our life, and what we spend our time on. A few good habits practiced in one area can lead to many higher levels of habits in other areas. As you begin to reap the rewards of a happy beach mentality you will also come to put the rest of life in proper perspective. Our way of viewing the world is one important predictor of success.

Does Military Budget Cuts Offer New Opportunities?

The world is changing and the military is changing with it. As the heavy trench warfare of WWI and WWII subsides and new forms of guerrilla warfare emerge it becomes important for the U.S. military to maintain its capacity to use both pinpointed and mass insertion strategies. This requires a higher level of knowledge and ability that will likely put pressure on the Army to adapt to higher forms of combat.

General Martin Dempsey announced at the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing that dwindling resources is a major factor in a reduction from 490,000 to 450,000 troops (1).  There has already been a 13% in civilian and 11% in civilian billets (2). This will mean that current resource levels will need to be used more efficiently and effectively to ensure that they create maximum results.

What happens in government is important for the Army. Overspending in some areas leaves other areas with less. Balancing the national budget ensures that the military has adequate supplies and resources when they are needed. Resources are used as a deterrent and as a capacity builder for our armed forces.

Even though reduction in budgets does come with some tough choices it does offer a few opportunities to adapt the system to do more with less. All systems change the most when under pressure. The Army’s design can be improved to encourage new ideas, technology, learning, and skill sets that can create responsiveness to new threats. It is possible to use the platform of the old to create something even greater.

The military of the future will look less like the past as new levels of functionality are created. Robotics and high technology gear will make their way onto the battlefield and this will require a new type of soldier. Recruits will need to be highly adaptable, fast learners, and high skilled to keep up with new needs.

A few ideas among the thousands:

-Integration of Functions with Other Agencies: ISIS has taught us that lines between insurgent and civilian can be blurred. Integrating certain intelligence and operational functions helps utilize information more effectively.

-Outsourcing Non-Essential Functions:  Entities that focus on their core value propositions often have higher results due to focus of effort. Evaluate which functions are non-essential and whether or not they can be outsourced to save money and improve functionality. For example, some aspects of education and training can be outsourced.

-Actively Recruiting High Performers: Actively recruiting promising young recruits that either have the potential or realized physical and mental skill to engage in modern military practices creates a stronger base to build from. With fewer slots available the basic skill requirements should move upward.

-Using Veterans in Support Functions: Veterans knowledge and skill shouldn’t be wasted once they leave the military. Encouraging veteran’s to work in support functions helps to ensure that these functions get more efficient and effective over time.  

-Developing Innovative Internal Frameworks: Developing mechanisms for the exploration and implementation of new knowledge, ideas, and efficiencies. The same innovative policies and approaches should be encouraged among suppliers.  A flatter organization could be beneficial with a rise in soldier skill and knowledge.

-Raising Active Duty Years: Higher skills will require additional costly training.  Raising the years of service requirements and potential pay/incentives for highly skilled soldiers encourages a higher return on investment from training. Age is more subjective in today’s world.

-Streamline and Cut Fat: Once new ideas are developed and are shown to be effective they should be streamlined to create efficiencies while still allowing for sufficient adaptability. Streamlining allows for less waste and greater effectiveness that saves taxpayer dollars.