http://ja-nae.net/blog Adventures In: Experimentation, Imagination & Sophistication Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:43:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 http://ja-nae.net/blog/break-the-rules http://ja-nae.net/blog/break-the-rules#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:57:15 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=4608 New adventures and opportunities do not always show up at your door step. Sometimes, you have to break the rules and get out of your comfort zone in order to find them. Here's how.]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/break-the-rules/feed 1 http://ja-nae.net/blog/setting-the-example http://ja-nae.net/blog/setting-the-example#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:32:31 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=4567 Sometimes, it is not always easy to lead a team or turn the other cheek when someone does something to hurt or offend you. I don’t know about you, but my first instinct is to defend and protect myself. However, that does not always solve the issue. Instead, ask yourself the following questions: How can I best handle this situation? If I respond by doing X, what will the outcome be? How do I want this to be resolved? By taking the time and thinking it through, you may find a resolution that you were not expecting and one that opens up other opportunities. Related Posts How to Fail The Secret to Flexibility How Leaders Can Make the Best Decisions ]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/setting-the-example/feed 2 http://ja-nae.net/blog/how-to-be-curious http://ja-nae.net/blog/how-to-be-curious#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 15:07:03 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=4060 Do you shy away from the unknown or do you welcome the unexpected? Ever since I was a little girl I have thrived on curiosity and questioning things. However, many colleagues I know in business stick like glue to the familiar. They rely on the routine things that have served them in well in the past, and avoid anything new and different. This attitude can maintain stability, but if you’re not curious you are doomed to the same experiences without ever growing in business or in life. This article by Donald Latumahina at Lifehack tells of the virtues of curiosity.  Curiosity gives you a fresh perspective, allowing you to discover fresh ideas. Being curious makes you more observant and opens up new worlds and possibilities you wouldn’t otherwise consider while also adding the spice of variety to your life. Some of my best ideas for projects, as well as some of my best adventures, have come from stepping outside of my comfort zone and following my curious nature. For these reasons, curiosity should be a quality you cultivate. So here are some things you can do to be more curious in your life: Do Not Ignore the [...]]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/how-to-be-curious/feed 2 http://ja-nae.net/blog/the-revolution-how-you-can-help http://ja-nae.net/blog/the-revolution-how-you-can-help#comments Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:33:50 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=3281 Life has a funny way of teaching us the lessons we are supposed to learn. As I strolled through the silent snowy streets today, I realized that these lessons I have learned over the passed few months were always there waiting for me. I had to laugh out loud (and then looked around to see if anyone saw this woman walking in the middle of the street laughing to herself), because life is so simple that sometimes we forget. We forget what we are suppose to learn, but also what we’re meant to teach others. So, it’s time. Each of us have the power to change the world. Everything you do sets the course for a series of events. Some will directly impact you and some will not. But they still come from you. And that is why I need your help. Starting in February, I’m launching Revolution! Revolution! is an interactive transmedia project that will empower each and every one of us to help facilitate change in some way, no matter how small. Whether its change at home, in your community, globally or just within you- you will have the tools you need to be the change you wish to see [...]]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/the-revolution-how-you-can-help/feed 3 http://ja-nae.net/blog/channeling-anger-into-artistic-energy http://ja-nae.net/blog/channeling-anger-into-artistic-energy#comments Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:30:05 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=2783 As artists, we are passionate people full of raw emotion and creativity. But we can channel our anger into a burst of creative thinking. Here are a few ways I have learned to turn my anger into creative problem solving:]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/channeling-anger-into-artistic-energy/feed 1 http://ja-nae.net/blog/creative-strategy-learning-the-benefits-of-travel-and-living-abroad http://ja-nae.net/blog/creative-strategy-learning-the-benefits-of-travel-and-living-abroad#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:34:27 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=2136 My surrogate sister, Sara, has been over in China studying and teaching for about a year and a half now. Her experience of acclimating into another culture made me curious to see what creative benefits there are to living aboard. In Psychology Time’s article,”Can living abroad make you more creative,” Art Markman asks just that: The idea here is that when you go to a different culture, there are often subtle differences that you have to learn about. For example, in the US, if you go to someone’s house and they offer you a drink or snack, you respond “Yes” or “No” depending on whether you want a snack. In Russia, though, it is impolite to say “Yes” the first time something is offered, and so you refuse the first request. The host asks again, and after a brief negotiation, you may settle on having a snack. A Russian visiting the US for the first time might refuse the offer of a snack, only to be surprised that she is not asked a second time. Eventually, she must learn that the practices are different. To read the entire article, click here. What are your thoughts? Have you ever lived abroad? Did you feel [...]]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/creative-strategy-learning-the-benefits-of-travel-and-living-abroad/feed 3 http://ja-nae.net/blog/leaders-entrepreneurs-view http://ja-nae.net/blog/leaders-entrepreneurs-view#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 13:41:59 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=1256 Whether you are starting a business or are a leader of a successful organization, you will constantly be faced with obstacles. The question then becomes, “How will you overcome them?” Many times that can easy be accomplished by changing your view or perception of the situation. Which is sometimes harder than it sounds. Mike is the CEO of a mid size company and has 200 people answering to him, as well as, watching his every move. Though the company is making millions of dollars, morale is extremely low and employees are constantly on the hunt for new jobs. This situation is not new to Mike. He has seen it evolve over a period of a year and decided to do nothing about it. Finally, when he realized that things were spiraling out of control, he said to his C-Row, “Dammit! We need culture. Someone take care of that, will ya!” Nothing was done. What Mike failed to realize is that as the leader of this company, people were looking to him to lead the charge. It wasn’t until one day when his daughter asked him to play Follow the Leader that the light bulb went off. It took a kids game, something so [...]]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/leaders-entrepreneurs-view/feed 3 http://ja-nae.net/blog/entrepreneurs-achieving-happiness http://ja-nae.net/blog/entrepreneurs-achieving-happiness#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:00:19 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=840 In my recent blog post, “How to Live: Lessons from the Jedi Masters” I discussed the need to find a balance between living in the moment while planning for the future.  Achieving that balance is central to achieving happiness; but sometimes, our own habits prevent us from taking that leap to get to great opportunity.  This is true for any entrepreneur, but even more so for any parent who is also an entrepreneur.  Being in charge of a home based business – and at the helm of a family – means that you must always anticipate future outcomes while handling the tasks of today. That being said, I propose the following three steps to achieving happiness. This is a more scaffolded approach to a simple recommendation! 1. Let go and say yes: For one day this week, say yes to any opportunity that comes your way. Life has a tendency to present what we need and want in a way that we may not understand immediately. By saying yes, you can allow yourself to overcome any fear or anxiety that may be preventing you from getting in the game.   This article regarding improvisational acting has a great take on the benefits of [...]]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/entrepreneurs-achieving-happiness/feed 1 http://ja-nae.net/blog/leadership-just-breathe http://ja-nae.net/blog/leadership-just-breathe#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:04:22 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=808 http://ja-nae.net/blog/leadership-just-breathe/feed 4 http://ja-nae.net/blog/spirituality-living-jedi-masters http://ja-nae.net/blog/spirituality-living-jedi-masters#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:13:12 +0000 Ja-Naé Duane http://ja-nae.net/blog/?p=467 I LOVE the first three movies of the “Star Wars” saga (I’m talking about Episodes I, II, and III of more recent years, which gets a little confusing given the whole “prequel” thing).  In my opinion, “Star Wars” has been one of the most profound blockbusters of recent cinematic history, operating with the help of several themes.  Like so many have claimed of “The Godfather,” ”Star Wars” carries lessons that are relevant to our everyday lives.  For example, in Episode I, the following conversation unfolds between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: Qui-Gon: Don’t center on your anxieties, Obi-Wan.  Keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs. Obi-Wan: But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future. Qui-Gon: But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan. This idea of living in the moment while planning for the future extends from master to teacher once again, when Qui-Gon explains to Anakin that he must “not think, just do.”  The lesson we are taught is that we must trust our instincts, make quick yet sound decisions, and be mindful of the future while keeping it in the background of our minds. I am not alone in recognizing the [...]]]> http://ja-nae.net/blog/spirituality-living-jedi-masters/feed 2