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Empathetic Listening – An Eastern Perspective
‘When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.’ The Dalai Lama It is September 2024 and we are within 2 months of the presidential election in America. By the way – I live in a battleground state. The “spend” on political ads…
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Prelude to the Harris – Trump Presidential Debate
In a few days, we will be treated to a substantive debate between Kamala Harris and Donald J. Trump. The important information that will be gleaned from this titanic battle will certainly influence the the course of American history. (Does the word hyperbole come to mind?) With this in mind, I felt that it important…
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg / Antonin Scalia – Friends First – Judges Second
I came across this article which was posted on the Pacific Legal Foundation’s website. I decided to reprint the article in its entirety so that you can read it and think about it. I will offer comments following the article regarding our current Presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and how the lessons…
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To Our New Alien Friends – Let Me Introduce You to Life in America
Imagine for a moment that you are the person (Big Cheese) responsible for helping 100 aliens from a distant galaxy become acclimated to life in America. Your job is to make their assimilation into our culture as smooth as possible as they settle their families in a suburb just outside Washington DC. You have been…
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My American Is Different Than Yours and That’s Not Bad!
“There are children playing in the streets who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago”. J. Robert Oppenheimer Tabula Rasa is a Latin term meaning Blank or Erased Tablet. In 1690, John Locke presented the concept that the human mind is…
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A SIMPLE technique to help with Listening and Making Friends!
I worked full time for over 45 years, and I can honestly say that during that period, my most satisfying work was the time spent training salespeople. Many would posit that this is not the most honorable work; I respectfully disagree. Too often the perception by the public is that salespeople are out for themselves…
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Ulysses S. Grant – Great Leader – Great Listener!
Under the heading of full disclosure – I am a great admirer of Grant! What I find most appealing about Grant was his humility and lack of pretense. Grant was not a top student at West Point; many of his classmates were more gifted academically and they were projected to advance much more quickly through…
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Are You Too Busy to Listen or Just Too Afraid?
Author – Tom Monastra July 2024 “Always keep your ego in check and not be afraid to listen. Listening is a great art form.” Clint Eastwood Conflict and lack of respect for others has been part of the human experience from the beginning of time. Most of us have struggled to follow the Golden Rule,…
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Post # 1 – Is Listening to Understand a Dying Art?
Author – Tom Monastra – July 2024 Imagine you go into your therapist and the conversation goes like this: Therapist Susan- “So Joe, how was your week?” Joe – “To tell you the truth Susan, it was a tough week! My girlfriend told me that she needed space because she is seeing someone else and…
