When Freedom of Speech Doesn't Apply to Facebook

Facebook can be hazardous to your career. I met up with some friends and all the drama was buzzing about public complainer. Multiple people were talking about privately and replying to a person's highly cynical comments. The message stated was, "I am tired of working at this job and not making any money...its getting old!" Even the owner of the business chimed in by the end of the night adding to the overall drama.

Social Media like Facebook and Snapchat are not free of risks. We can't simply post whatever we want, when we want it. There are social and financial consequences to freedom of speech. While we may be able to speak freely we are not free from the consequences of what we say.

In the case of our workplace complainer, people are wondering if he will still have a job in a few weeks. The owner and him are likely to have some disagreements now that his true sentiments are stated publically. Only time will tell if he will still have his job.

Freedom of speech is a powerful tool and should be used when there is a purpose beyond oneself. For example, helping people to learn, fighting against wrongdoing, public debate, and support for others are just a few of the reasons. Misdirecting ones anger and life choices onto another is wrong and a misuse of that freedom.

Lesson:

1. Freedom of Speech comes with responsibilities.
2. Social media is not a free for all to say anything.
3. People who chronically complain have low emotional intelligence and are toxic by nature.
4. We socially frown on people who complain all the time.

The Sound of Water and Nature's Rich Beauty

Hiking through the woods you will soon come across different rivers and pools. In the winter these can be particularly beautiful with ice crystal formation as the water solidifies. You will also notice an abundance of wild game tracks and the calming solitude of running water. 

Part of the beauty of being in the woods is that you are connected back to your beginning in a real way. Some places in the world, like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, you can see the world in much the same way it was 100s of years ago when settlers cut their farms from the thousands of acres of untapped land. 

The Power of Emotions for Ethics and Action

Feelings are a perception of the world and help us see the world in new ways. According to a theorist Jean Paul Sartre, an Existentialist, emotions are an attempt to change our perception of the world. Understanding our emotional nature also helps use understand how we perceive the world around us. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize and use emotions to enhance our perception.

When we are faced with a difficult situation our emotions kick in and adjust our perception of the problem. Emotions become part of a process of learning and create motivation to act on a particular problem. We may flea, fight, or begin to think about the issue until it is resolved. 

We may not completely understand a situation until we experience and feel emotions in a way that allows our perspective to change and see new solutions to current problems. The same process can occur in business or in our personal lives if we are open to seeing the problem from a new perspective.

It is also possible to argue that emotions are a deeply rooted ethical value system. When we care about a topic we will feel emotions which give us new paths to ponder. When we don't care at all we won't fell anything and will often lack insight. Emotions used effectively can help us determine our emotional stance and the appropriate way to act toward a situation in a constructive way. 

Emotions are our friend when we have the intelligence to understand where they come from, how they impact us as and in turn how they can enhance our perception if we use them appropriately. Emotions should not be ignored but encouraged and felt to determine what course of action is most appropriate given the ethical and personal dilemmas we may face. 

Why We Share and Collaborate for Business Profit

As a human species we have learned that it is beneficial to share ideas and resources in order to get more of what we need out of life. Our survival rate increased and our lifestyle increased compared to our ancestors and this may be due in part to collaboration. Business also can improve their health through sharing and collaborating. Hedging resources can be a good thing when both companies can succeed together.

If collaboration is in our blood as a species why don't all businesses collaborate? In many cases this occurs because these businesses compete with each other. Sharing information and resources can lead to advantages that may help one business over another.

The other option is to collaborate on businesses that are not in the same markets. For example, a technology company and auto supplier can provide updated smart products that are more efficient than what is currently on the market. They are not natural competitors and can gain more then they lose.

Two businesses working together typically is on beta test through the use of a collaborative team with supportive resources. The team focuses on specific projects and works to achieve some objective such as a new product line or solution to a long-standing problem. If the project is successful they can work on more complex tasks.

To be innovative companies should explore the possibilities of hedging current competencies and resources in order to develop new products and services. Collaboration can lead to a win-win outcome for both businesses if a trusting relationships arises. Industry knowledge is an additive process and the more we put into it the more it returns.

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen States Higher Education is Needed in Global Economy

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen states that higher education will increasingly be important in a global economy. As the world changes and the borders become more permeable and new skills will be needed to maintain a reasonable lifestyle. The changes are coming and education offers the hope of personal development that meets these global needs.

The world is complex and will continue to change quickly. Human beings must continue to adapt and adjust to those changes or they will slowly decline in financial healthy. Higher education helps people be more adaptable to coming technology changes.

Technology will continue to put pressure on worker skills. “While globalization will likely continue and technology will continue to advance, we don’t know how fast the economy will grow, what new technologies will be developed, or how quickly and consistently employment will expand," she told graduating students at the University of Baltimore. 

As workers we sometimes become lethargic in our learning process. We rely on our employers to keep us up-to-date on necessary skills. While this may be adequate in terms of our ability to maintain employment with that employer it is not wise to wait for companies to tell us to update our skills because their actions are focused on their current needs. 

To stay ahead of changes means updating our skills. It doesn't necessarily need to be higher education but it does need to be a constant engagement with personal development, training and other learning. To be effective one must learn to be a life-long learner that can accumulate and integrate new knowledge. Higher education provides a conduit for personal development for many people. 

Holding Students Accountable for Learning

Student learning is one of the essential requirements of obtaining a degree. That learning starts with the personal standards the professor maintains. This requires day-in and day-out dedication to the needs of students and holding the line even when students grumble. At the end of the day the university wins and the students win.

One thing professors dislike hearing is, "no other professor graded me down for this". Sometimes it may be true while at other times it may not be true. However, the total learning experience is the different grading requirements by different professors.

It is the total educational experience that counts.

Students who deal with different expectations also learn to be adaptable and adjust their learning process to the expectations of the professor. If the professor gives an easy A the students learn to do less work and expect more.

Professors who maintain their standards do the students, the university and other professors a favor. The students learn more by putting forward more effort, the quality of the university rises as the educational standard rises, and other professors obtain the benefit of a more competent student who have high expectations of their own work.

Wetlands as a Place for Birds to Habitate

Birds flock toward habitats that offer lots of cover, food, water, and nesting areas. Birds also love to socialize so they desire having many places to sit near each other engage in their communal activities. Even in the cold of winter some of these birds hang around for the season when they can find what they need for survival.

Wetlands offer adequate cover to protect them from the natural elements and predators. A source of water is also vitally important. During the hunting season wetlands offer excellent bird hunting areas. Because wetlands are rich with wildlife it is important to ensure they are not protected areas.

Black-Capped Chickadee