[alyssagoch]

Try not to slow jam to this. You're welcome.

[alyssagoch]

Take your own advice

[alyssagoch]

Sometimes by avoiding conflict, conflict is created. If we don't confront things, it almost implies a lack of honesty, which slows trust from being returned, which makes room for more insecurity. If we know our team is willing to learn, and we've encouraged them that failure and mistakes are a part of the process, then we need to help them through the process and give them the respect they deserve as humans and be upfront: Fess up about the mess-up. Communicate and provide a solution right away. Be relevant. Be encouraging but realistic.  Waiting until after the fact or until the evaluation and letting out the hot air of the negativity balloon all in one rush is demoralizing; overwhelming. Communicating requires a consistent flow of encouragement and constructiveness. With out either, silence becomes an unknown and fear thrives in the unknown. Silence becomes frightening as if, in the silence, the admonishment is lying in wait for an opportunity to pounce on its timid victim. And a timid victim is rarely a worthy opponent, and even less so, a supportive and responsive team member. Refinement requires a number of small movements and exposures to the fire--not a long hot burning meltdown. On that note--if I mess up, tell me. If I have food on my face, there's no point telling me days after I cruised around a whole day with chocolate stupid smeared on my cheek. If I screw up, the fact that you care enough to tell me right when it happens means I should care enough to take your advice and implement it sooner too. If it's a part of the process, I need to get through it to move forward. Hit me with it.

[clientsfromhell]

The links don’t light up when I hover my finger over them on the iPad. They’re just underlined and blue. How will anyone know they are links?

(via clientsfromhell)

[alyssagoch]

-all your bases are belong to us-

I play hard. On my team, we're not out to get the biggest and the best, but we're definitely not afraid of it. We're the people who shut up, work hard, and play harder to win things money can't buy: respect, dignity, integrity, a good challenge.

We keep our bases loaded and our eye on the ball. We follow through with a pitch and walk with our heads held high. We stand up when the world is trying to put us down. 

This is not a one-man game; we're a team. We're in it to win it over and over again. Every day we hit home runs. Every day we beat the odds. Every day we push ourselves to new limits. We're unbeatable despite what the critics say because our success isn't measured by numbers. If it could be measured, it would be measured in the combined depth, passion, and determination of our people. We don't fight for number one in the pack because on this team, together we are one and together we have won.

[alyssagoch]

I’m on top of the world, Waiting on this for a while now Paying my dues to the dirt I’ve been waiting to smile, Been holding it in for a while, Take you with me if I can I’ve tried to cut these corners Try to take the easy way out I kept on falling short of something I coulda gave up then but Then again I couldn’t have ’cause I’ve traveled all this way for something And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down And it’s a long way up when you hit the ground Get up now.

[alyssagoch]

It's been a long, weird, and exhilarating three years. I remember 3 years ago I wanted to go to TEDxDetroit SO bad because it was a challenge that would normally make me queasy: a lot of really inspiring people I didn't know all together in a big scary room in a forbidden city. Instead I settled for 3 years of finding amazing folks online and in the meantime somehow found myself falling more and more in love with a city I knew nothing about. I had more fascination than fear of this faraway place and the same for people that inspired me from a distance. You know they're good people doing great things when what they're doing resonates with you from a distance. I'm thankful for 3 years of being able to establish those connections however digitally; that's all I knew how to do. I'm thankful for the people that led me to where I'm at right now because I'm actually able to face people in person without freaking out and hiding in a bathroom the whole time. I'm more excited than ever to finally see you all and meet you all in person. TEDxDetroit is about the city. The ideas. It's about you. And it's about time.  Please pray I don't fall off a cliff before Wednesday. Find me some wood to slam my fist into because gosh-darnit I'm going to TEDxDetroit dead or alive.

[alyssagoch]

Broken bones and muddy shoes Running through the fields I knew Join the ranks of the favored few What have I become? Before the day is done Now that we have Got what's left Lost my rights when I was young Taken by the Ones I trust Long before I knew of love All the things I understood Fighting for the greater good Now tell me why this feels so wrong Feels so wrong, to hold this gun

[charliecurve]

The Defenders of the Status Quo will hate your idea.

They don’t like anything bold or fresh or daring. They are quick to dismiss the passionate, creative and resourceful who venture creatively forward. They have a distaste for heretics, catalysts, innovators outliers, linchpins and people who make it happen. They don’t even like the taste of bacon.

The Defenders of the Status Quo live in a neat and tidy nine to five world. They love to say “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” They put the kibosh on possibility before it’s ever seen the light of day.

The Defenders of the Status Quo are perfectly happy milking their cash cows to death. They are terrified you’ll put your creative idea into action. Quit waiting.

The Defenders of the Status Quo are no match for you. 

Download the posters (four options)

The Defenders of the Status Quo - full manifesto

The Defenders of the Status Quo - kosher version

Will Hate Your Idea version

Are No Match for You version

Or visit the #makeithappen board on Pinterest

[alyssagoch]

The Defenders of the Status Quo are no match for you.

[alyssagoch]

Probably the most obcure "Realistic Job Preview" you'll never read for a job you wish you had.

We apply for jobs with expectations that a job will be the exact romanticized position we’ve created in our minds.

Fact is, it can be. But won't be unless you make it that way.

The mainstream wants you to believe that jobs are either not fun, or fun only if you're making lots of money. Truth is, it’s the employee who's either not fun or fun and happen to make money in the meantime. Simple as that.

This is a job. It can be as menial or as meaningful as you make it.

Yes, there will be hot, busy weekends where lines of customers seem to continue like a raging river through the store. Yes, there will be that customer who will blame you and you alone for every imperfection in his or her life. Will you be above that and help the customer find the one spark of good left in their day?

You don’t have to. It’s not your job.

But this job gives you the freedom to go beyond what the cynics tell you. There will be those times where you fall short and you’ll hear about it. Fact is, if you hear about it, it’s because the person who told you knows you well enough to know you’re capable of more.

This job is what you make it. You can be an employee--just like everyone else. Or you can be the best damn team superhero you can be (and even that isn’t good enough for you). This opportunity is yours. If you want it, work for it.

[alyssagoch]

Halfway Point

The first half of 2013 found me brushing the surface of internal goals I didn't think I could reach. From meeting people, to taking on new challenges, exploring new places, and breaking a few rules. Granted when you're me, a lot of action usually results in a good amount of stupid moves too. I've caused my share of foolishness. But I've still been able to learn from it. Now to apply my internal progress to external action. The next half of 2013 is going to be a lot more productive than the first half. I'll just need a hand. :)

[alyssagoch]

I felt like I was drugged walking into best buy clutching my debit card and 2 minutes later walking out $55 lighter. I didn't even so any pre-purchase research! But three days without my FM transmitter had me clawing at the lack of good jams on the radio. Now life can resume. I'm sorry I'm so non-mainstream. Carry on. (at Best Buy)

[alyssagoch]

I’ve tried to cut these corners Try to take the easy way out I kept on falling short of something I coulda gave up then but Then again I couldn’t have ’cause I’ve traveled all this way for something I take it in but don’t look down ‘Cause I’m on top of the world Waiting on this for a while now Paying my dues to the dirt I’ve been waiting to smile Been holding it in for a while And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down And it’s a long way up when you hit the ground Get up

[alyssagoch]

Does he drive the interstate, or does he take them old back roads? Can he melt your heart with a country song, every good old boy should know? I didn't think so... He can't even bait a hook He can't even skin a buck He don't know who Jack Daniels is He ain't ever drove a truck Knows how to throw out a line, But not the kind in a field and stream book :)

[alyssagoch]

Rehinking Traditional Education

The last TEDx Grand Rapids talk has me thankful for my background in homeschooling, but it's nothing exclusive. The same ideas I picked up from my schooling are useful everywhere. "Personalized education" as Luis de la Fuente called it. Everyone has that opportunity. Everything became a field trip, an experiment, a research project. I was taught that education is everywhere.  We're different. We learn differently. If our education methods encourage our unique learning styles and passions, we'll embrace learning something meaningful from every situation. Gaining good from every person and every experience will be inevitable.

[tedxuofm]

We are thrilled to announce that our talks from this year’s conference TEDxUofM Untapped_ can now be found online. Scroll below to find the list of speakers and talks.

Robert Quinn: Untapped_exchange

Robert Quinn holds the Margaret Elliot Tracey Collegiate Professorship at the...

[alyssagoch]

To think this was my second home. And a little over a year ago I dove in completely to learn everything I could about propagation, irrigation, cultivation, and the whole gamut. Do I miss it, more than I can express. Will I go back? I don't need to. I took it with me. (at Blake's Big Apple Orchard)