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Dyslexia Burger King Step It UP

1/8/2017

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Dyslexia: some 1 in 5 people live with dyslexia on a daily basis .
Albeit to varying degrees, dyslexics constantly working out the world and coping with what nondyslexics find easy.

see the thing is and one frustration is the written word is not a natural thing and is relatively new development in our evolution . 

There is a high regard put on reading and those that find it easy generally frown upon those that make mistakes or read things wrong.

However one of the world's largest companies set out to give diners a taste of what its like for a larger proportion of the population.

Generally Dyslexics remember words like picture so reading becomes possible , however give a dyslexic a new word they you've made up and they generally will struggle with it.


However one of the world's largest companies set out to give diners a taste of what it's like for a larger proportion of the population.


I  salute Burger King for doing this awareness PR stunt, yes it raises awareness of Burger King, I think its brilliant 

well done Burger King 
"Where Loving It" 

 
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Releasing Your Potential 

1/5/2017

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Throughout my corporate career, I worked for some major global business, the focus was always on continue improvement. I spent time as a trouble shooter and Senior leader looking after major accounts. The last role included having a budget of 23m 3 sites and 150 plus staff. Big responsibility!
 
I've since completed several projects with companies to “release their potential” or make major improvements to their operations. I did this without really having a “formula” to speak off well that’s what I thought. The one day my wife said, what do you actually do what process do you follow. I looked into what I had been doing and it appears I was following a 4-point plan. This I want to share with you as it could help you and your business improve.
 
 
It's important to note that you don’t need to have a deep understanding of a business to implement changes, lots of business owners think you do. Here is an example
 
I went to complete some work for a company that refurbished vending machines.
They were 4 weeks away from losing an 800k customer due to inconsistency quality results.
 
I was asked prior to the assignment:
 
“What do you know about vending machines what experience do you have”
 
I replied
“I put money in the top and take an item from the bottom”
 
See my view is and always has been business are about 2 things
PEOPLE & PROCESS
Identify areas of improvements in these areas and the business will improve
 
So, therefore, an in-depth knowledge of the product or service is frankly the concern for the business and its employees.
 
My reply may have been bit flippant, but I was there to look at where their issue lay and sometimes it better not to have a preconception of the product or service, you heard the saying “A fresh pair of eyes”, it means I ask a lot of questions.
So your reading this for the 4 areas so here goes
 
1. Gap
2. Boulders
3. Innovate
4. Own It
 
 
 
1.    Gap
 
We hear talking about the journey when discussing business and plans and yes it’s important. However, let's remember before we set off on a journey we may know the destination but we need to know where we are starting.
 
The difference between where we are and where we are going is the GAP.
 
So before I start any improvements we need to gather some data that why we can begin to see what needs doing.  I would start with a high-level process map to understand what happens start with 4 to 5 steps
 
a.    When customer orders and how
b.    How fulfilled order is fulfilled
c.    How it gets to customer
d.    Invoicing payments
You can go deeper in each area in this example the issue was in b fulfilment so a further process map of that was required.
 
I had identified that order fulfillment process needed looking at further and this process was mapped out further.
 
The company already had a lot of information on service performance, install & failures. Which was great however like a lot of companies they were trying to resolve every single problem. The result of this approach is firefighting and compounding the issue and frustration.
 
To remove the confusion take all the data and then sort it into worst to least incidents, you’ll normally find that there are one or two big issues with a long tail of one-offs or smaller incidents. You could apply the “Pareto Principle”, where 20% of the incidents will be 80% of the overall problem. Therefore focusing on the 20% will have a massive impact.
 
Therefore the strategy was to focus on the top 3 problems and ignore the rest, this can be met with resistance and the “All the problems are important”. I cannot agree with that statement as this is what gets people in the mess in the first place.
 
Once we have our 20% problems then we can drill down into why this is happening before generating a solution.
We found 3 separate components that had recurring issues, these were not only causing problems to the end user but causing inefficiency and lost time in the operation, this put further pressure on to rush things through and further exacerbate the failure rate. So this was the focus area.
 
Now before we rush off changing things we have more steps. seriouly wait
 
 
 
2. Boulders
 
It's been a recurring thing that business, operations or sites with issues there are boulders. Imagine a stream flowing and you throw a massive rock or boulder into it, what happens ?. The water can not flow freely and has to find another way around. So by removing the boulder water can once again flow.
These boulders normally come in the form of individuals or departments not willing to change or innovate and develop, they are happy with the status quo and resist change. In business, this could even be YOU!, unwilling to adapt change or scared of the unknown. It could even be a lack of confidence. You may also identify stuff you are not good at or don't like doing , so either get training or outsource it then get on with what you are good at .
 
So we need to identify the boulders what's stopping the change, in the example, we are reviewing one individual was reluctant to change and was, in fact, damaging preventing the team from implementing potential solutions. In this instance, we need to either get them on board or you guessed it remove the boulder. This business lets remember was weeks away from losing its biggest customer and therefore risk going under. So we moved the individual on to another project same grade same responsibility just a different department.
 
If you are only one or two people take a step back and do a swap analysis. Take a sheet of paper divided it into 4 boxes and write
strength
weaknesses
opportunities
risk
 
map these out be honest, or even get someone you trust to work on this with you. Be honest though or you won't  identify the potential solutions. (see Boston Matrix at bottom)

 
 
3. Innovate
 
This is my favourite part of the process it's where I get a real buzz.
 
So we had our 3 main problems and knew we had to improve them, we had got to the why these were causing a problem. So now we needed the solution not a sticking plaster but a real solution that would remove either totally or to an acceptable level.
 
I find the best way to do this is getting a team from the operation they employees that do the job not just the leaders but the doers.
 
outline the data what the problems are, what impact this is having and then look to brainstorm a solution.
 
I like to use a post it note brainstorm (if there is only you get someone else to help). get the individuals to write down potential solutions or where the issues may be. By doing it on post it notes then the others are not influenced but other answers if just shouted out.
 
the gather those post-it notes, group them in relevance, then look to remove the least relevant or those solutions that may prove uneconomic. If the solutions are to cost an unrealistic amount then it's simply a non-starter.
 
The solutions to the three areas where outstanding, the team had an idea for a very simple and easy to make testing equipment they could implement as one of the main issues. This was amazing as once used the problems were removed within a short space of time and wasted rework hours were also eradicated.
 

 
 
 
4 Own It
 
Once this process is done it's not done that may sound crazy, but remember we only focussed on the top 3 problems, so now we have   3 more top problems to focus on. These may have less of an impact but still we can remove or focus on them.
 
So it's important the company/department keep updating the data and keep revisiting the issues for continual improvement.
 
You find that by involving the team or you having someone else help you through the process, owning the solutions will become more natural and sustainable, why because "you - they" developed it, feel part of it and responsible. it's pretty powerful stuff "Empowerment".
 
Now the danger is we complete all this work and shy a relief and back peddle or worse focus on the wrong or less important things
 
Stephen Covey author of
 "The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People," says:
"Keep the first things first"
 
As humans, we can be reactive or focus on the less important things because we enjoy them more, we are all guilty of this.
 
Take a piece of paper and split into 4 boxes (Boston Matrix)
 
on the bottom left write Urgent and top left write not urgent
across the bottom in the left-hand corner write Important and the bottom right, put Not Important.
 
now keeping first thing first and being proactive not reactive means spending as much time in the Important but not urgent sections.
 
As an example, you may have a peak in sales say in the summer, it's now winter so planning staff, extra stock etc is not urgent but it's important. So if you focus on that action or business need when the break comes you won't be firefighting panicking and messing up orders or failing customers.
 
but all too often we find ourselves in the urgent but not important box, these could be other people's needs, emails, social media, talking to friends or family when you should be working on your plans and tasks.
 
It's not easy there is so much noise in our modern life which no doubt will get even noisier and distracting. Try to put "first things first"
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The Instant in your business

9/30/2016

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Thought I would share this with you, we all get frustrated in business and life, really we do. Even the most successful people you can point to have experienced it too.
 
See we are fed images and expectations about success, how its attainable and it is attainable but it take a period of time its not instant, well not unless you been handed a stack of cash, even then it will take some time to get established or work on you product or service.
 
We often don’t take time to look where we’ve come from and how far we are on our journey  when was the last time you reviewed this day a year ago. What are the milestones you’ve passed, what are the successes the experiences and even the failures (they are just as important trust me ).
 
 
But there is an Instant you can rely on here is my statement
 
 
“The only thing instant in you’re business is the coffee in your cupboard”
 
know this and things may become a little clearer and as the coffee is instant grab one now and write down or bullet point what you’ve achieved in the last year and since you began your business journey.. you’ve come a long way right .
 
Now think about the person just starting on that journey , they would be amazed where you are currently !!..
 
So I set out to encourage people to start their own biz journey , especially from the dyslexic community as its something close to my own experience and passion…
 
So I sat down and looked back over the last year and this is some of things that have happened.

  1. 1 year ago today I completed my first public speaking event , at “4networking” group.
  2. Went on a “Be A Better Speaker” course with a pretty successful public speaker Brad Burton
  3. Went for a day's filming in Taunton for 4NTV, for my “Are Dyslexics Predisposed Entrepreneurs”
  4. Won Business “Dad of The Year with Networking Mummies” (I am sponsoring next years category)
  5. Started my own Radio Show on “Radio Warwickshire” , it's all about business, adversity and Dyslexia.
  6. Started a POD cast on Itunes “Duggystone”
 
That’s just some of the highlights in the last year, so when I get frustrated I need to remember
 
 
 “The only thing instant in your business is the coffee in your cupboard”
 
I’ve not finished yet and I know there will be many more early morning coffee’s drunk in the next year and beyond.
 
Why I am doing all this well put it simply
 
“I am here to change things”
 
Thanks for reading
 
Duggystone 

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Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD)

8/21/2016

1 Comment

 
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Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD)
 
As Well as being Dyslexic I suffer with a condition called SAD (seasonal Affected Disorder). When I mention this to people they say “is that really a thing”, yes it is and its kinda debilitating at times. The issue is the loss of day light which causes various symptoms


  • A persistent low mood
  • A loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
  • Irritability
  • Feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
  • Feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day
  • Sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning
  • Craving carbohydrates and gaining weight
For some people, these symptoms can be severe and have a significant impact on their day-to-day activities.


For years I did not realise why I felt the way I did and it seemed to affect my job in the winter months. I find that once the day light returns in spring its like ive had a massive boost of energy I want to do things be active , uber happy and enthusiastic about everything.


The winter for me is a real drag and it starts around Sep as the day’s light is beginning to become less and less. I feel totally fed up for no reason, cannot get going on things I know I should be doing.


Light therapy is a good way to counter the effects, normally in the form of a light box. A very bright light which signals the brain its sunlight. Various ways of using a light box there are ones that are like and alarm clock and slowly get brighter simulating sunrise. Ive got one of these but found I was waking up before it went off (so pretty much a waste for me). Alternatively sit in front of one for 15 min’s a day in the morning.


What I now use which I find absolutely perfect are ear lights, it looks like an MP3 player but instead of music they omit light into the ear. This light stimulated the brain via the inner ear, sounds crazy but trust me I’ve found after 5 days I notice the difference. I start using them from end of Aug until late Feb.
What I like about this system is I get up in the morning , grab a coffee put the earlight in and catch up with social media or emails, its only on for 12mins then I am ready to start the day.


I wanted to share this as I imagine there will be loads of people that are unaware that they may suffer with SAD and just put it down to other things (insert problem). Just take a step back or ask a family member do they notice a difference in mood during the winter months.
Also if you are an employer you may find a trend with some of your staff that work exceptionally well in the summer and seem to lack that same sparkle in winter. This could be affecting your business, productivity , profitability and also having an impact on moral (especially if its a leader). I would seek some professional HR advice my go to person would be Tanya Brink (link to profile) for best way to approach the situation. 


Am just about to embark on this winters light therapy I feel it coming on already


Good luck fellow SAD sufferers "Get The Lights On"


www.duggsytone.com
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​Failure the Key to Success 

8/20/2016

1 Comment

 

 
Failure the very word invokes negativity  when expressed , “oh Jane is a failure, john’s just failed to gain that job” you get the idea.
 
What most people see is success, the end result the world class athlete, the Michelin star chef, the billionaire business man, the football player that broke the latest transfer figure, the actor that’s a box office hit.
 
What ever the arena or interest we are aware of the success the end result, the perfection.  Its like the façade of a lavish building we don’t see behind the back where all the actions taking place the things people don’t want us to see. There is a problem with this in people especially those that may currently feel like a failure or struggling with some kind of adversity, feel even more of a failure which can be very damaging.
 
Failure is so important as the saying goes
“Learn from your mistakes”
 
What most people are not aware of lets take the successful biz person. Unless they were handed a few million pounds from a relative the successful businessperson has failed prob more times than they were successful. The fundamental difference is they take that failure and use the learning to prevent the same thing happening and do what ever they were trying faster and more effective.
 
Its like learning to ride a bike no one just jumps on a bike for the first time and peddles away do they!. Either they have stablizers or  a balance bike to practice on. When the day comes to take the stabilizers off, guess what they prob fall off. Now we could simply say “oh that’s it ill never ride that bike and give up” or we can get back on a practice some more adjust how we sit, how we control the bike and balance better. Eventually were off riding confidently and safely. Just imagine that Olympic athlete winning a cycling gold “they have fallen off too”…
 
Failure and also adversity do something that will be life changing, either positive or negative. When a human feels they cannot get any lower or have lost everything they either give up or it can be like hitting a reset button. The only way is up everything they once thought was important say not losing that job or becoming homeless and penniless. It strips away the façade it reveals what truly important and to all those successful people that have experienced true adversity true failure it’s the fundamental building block to their success.
 
I only have to look at my own story to see some failure points times of adversity where I’ve come back stronger more determined and with the guts if you like to be the best I can be.
 
Over the last few years I’ve met some pretty amazing people, then heard some of their stories. What I’ve come to realise is people I admire , are great people fantastic business people , have had a pretty hard time at least once in the past.
 
So if you are currently feeling that you are in the worst place you’ve ever been then know this what happens next is determined on how you react to the situation you find yourself, cast away preconceptions and focus on what is truly important to you.
 
 
“you cant make an amazing omelet without breaking a few eggs”
 
what I mean by that statement you have the raw ingredients you “the egg” without failure or adversity you’ll just be an egg , become an omelet something even better than you was before.
 
www.duggsytone.com
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You Can’t Read Well “Stupid”

7/16/2016

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You Can’t Read Well “Stupid”
 
Tell someone something over and over again, if society label’s you, if education measures you, if employers ignore your ability. Guess what happens you become that thing, give up & potential worst of all drop out of society as a whole.
 
 “You can’t read well you’re stupid”
 
I feel I had to write something, why because I read another article from someone in education, expressing how all children should be able to read and we need to identify the potential non readers early so we can teach them to read “really”. The article by a school talking about kids struggling to read , the article went on to talk about getting kids to read by a certain age or they are destined to failure. Oh great you can't read you’ll end up in prison. Its true the prison population has a high proportion of “nonreader” for want of a better word. Having low literacy is not the reason they are criminals its because a vast proportion of them lets call them dyslexics , have never been given a chance, been cast aside because they don’t fit into the mold. Don’t fit into the sausage machine of education, struggle to gain a decent paying job because the entry test are not suited.
 
 
Education is important, language, reading and writing is important am not saying its not. However we don’t need everyone to be exactly the same or be fluent in a certain communication method to be intelligent, successful or have value in a business. For some reason the highest regard has been placed on grades on levels on a certain way. There is an old saying “There is more than one way to skin a cat”. When it comes to language apparently there is only one way, you cannot master that skill then you are the problem not the systems.
 
If you’ve every been to a country where you don’t speak the language on holiday, struggle to read a menu and struggled to get your point across or understand some simple directions. How did that make you feel? I imagine not very confident or comfortable. Were you stupid , were you less intelligent than the French waiter trying to take you order , that’s right no your not , the vast majority would expect the person to speak your language understand your point of view. Yet when in school a child struggles to get their point across struggle with the language , the words that they are expected to absorb but struggle to , society regards them as being less intelligence. Naively the view is we must be able to get this in their heads as look the other 80% find it a breeze.
 
Would it not make more sense to accept that not everyone is good at everything, we don’t look at some that cannot play an instrument and find every increasing way to get them to learn , we don’t try and get every child to be able to run 100mtrs in a certain time, we don’t get frustrated that not every child finds physics or chemistry easy …. I find this absolutely bonkers . Now am not saying don’t educate that’s obscured just step back realise not every-one can be good at everything or the same things either. That would make a crazy boring world, what I suggest is realise that pupils will get to a certain level their level” find out what they are good at and fire energy into that .
At the start I mentioned a high proportion of the prison population are dyslexic the same can be said for entrepreneurs . A high proportion of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. There are in essence two routes we can send our future generations down , let's show them the right path. Let’s education for entrepreneurial, not penal (prenuership), the results less people in prison and more great businesses.
 
“Stop putting square pegs in round holes”
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Business Growth Why It’s a Problem

6/16/2016

4 Comments

 
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Its drummed into us all the time that you’re business has to keep on growing, why because if you don’t you stand still and everyone passes you by. Growing makes sense!.
 
Now there is a real problem with business growth, not gaining more clients or even retaining the ones you have initially. Ive witnessed it so many times during my career and whilst running my own business for the last 6 years.
 
Most business start out as 1 or two people with an idea a passion or a product, it works well ticks over nicely. The reason is everyone involved knows everyone else, knows the strategy, know the goals. The business is small enough to react adapt and change direction.
 
Systems will tend to involve excel spread sheet, off the shelf software you know the stuff that works and is designed for medium type use and a few users with not a lot of data. Processes aren’t needed to be written down because they been leant or passed within the teams, why would you need to write a process if its just you and your partner, yes a waste of time.
 
The business owners are the, HR department , the PA, the marketing team, The customer service department, the engineering team, project development, process mapping … you get the picture they do everything and prob only outsoruce say the accounts to a professional.
 
Now unless you’ve been trained in all those areas and are really, really good at each one at some point you’re going to have a problem. Here is why, you’ll get busy and you will focus on the elements you like to do. Even if you think you wont you will its human nature. So that’s the first issue identifying when you need help or an employee, remember those processes you never wrote down well osmosis works for plants but not training employees.
 
Secondly, generally when a business expands or grow’s it bolts on things to what it already has , because its easier to do that than change everything. Financially it makes sense to, why re engineer your entire business every time you add something new to it “Crazy”. It pretty much like having a property it fits you’re budget and needs at the beginning , then you out grow the space so add more space or rent/buy another storage property to store stuff, or produce part of a product lets say.
 
You end up with various spread sheets with bits of data in or multiple systems. Whilst you’ve been busy growing the processes or methods of work you’ve bolted onto.
 
So that nice little business or building to the outside world looks like the house that jack built. It in no way works effectively yes it still runs but a lot slower than if you had got an architect to design a purpose built house or premises with your expanded needs or even future requirements it would look totally different.
 
This is where I tend to find myself going into a company, the business employees and owners have grown with these changes and don’t notice them. Pretty much like the frog placed into a pan of cold water that’s heated, slowly over time it gets hotter and the frog does not notice till its too late.
 
I see it time and again those closest to the business don’t notice the water increasing in temp.
 
So what needs to happen, well its worth looking at your business especially if you’re going through growth or are finding your not as effective or losing clients to competitors. If you bring a person from outside which does not have to be 5 days a week for 3 months it could be for a day a week or even a day a month until the business has deployed some new systems, processes or effective ways of working. Think of it like business renovation not the building but the interior workings day to day. Most people will agree if they needed some building work done and they were of with a bit of DYI the chances are they would get a professional build in to say do an extension. So when it come to you’re business being in someone with the right tool box, experience and time to focus on it for you. You’ll save money in the end and the results you’ll be proud of.
 
Duggystone “can we fix it, yes we can”

4 Comments

Dyslexia – You’ve Got it All Wrong 

5/13/2016

3 Comments

 
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In 2010 I discovered at the age of 44 I was dyslexic, sent me on a path I never expected. My discovery like a lot of dyslexic out there is the sheer stigma, misunderstanding around the subject.
 
So I set out to research it at university and understand the pros and cons of being dyslexic …..
 
It saddens me when I read or hear parents when they find out their child is dyslexic. They almost blame themselves and feel their amazing child is defective, is going to fail in life, will struggle to get a job make ends meet and basically its like world has ended.
 
See the problem is this; dyslexia as well as AHDA, Dyspraxia and autism are all classified as learning difficulties and also fall into the disability at work act 2010. I want to challenge this, why? Well if you tell someone they are disabled, have learning difficulties guess what they don’t really expect much from themselves. It smashes confidence leaves the individual feeling less worthy. Parents are confused, upset and focus energy in trying to force spelling, reading into the young persons head. Teachers feel well he/she is going to struggle they have difficulties.
 
The results everything & everyone are further pushing that individual to expect a lot less from life and their potential abilities.
 
Its time to look at this a totally different way !!!!!!!
 
Somewhere along the way the ability to read and write has become the bench mark of ability, ability to learn and great emphasis placed on passing test that have been deemed the demonstration of a particular field. Now am not saying don’t educate people don’t complete exams, what I am laying down a stake in the ground is “STOP THINKING THIS IS THE ONLY BEROMETER”.
 
Lets put it another way; there are athletes out there people who are good at sports excel at it. We don’t test out students on there ability to run 100mtrs in a specific time and if they don’t say “Oh he’s got a disability he’s got training difficulties”  how crazy would that be. Yet today in 2016 we still classify a very intelligent group of people c 10-15% (23million people across Europe) as having a disability.
 
This classification, this paradigm on dyslexia, set up to help is in fact very damaging. Its time to look through new lenses and new thinking.
 
The facts are over 30% of Entrepreneurs are dyslexic, these people that all their time in education and employment are made to feel they are not a 100% human being. Can you see the madness in that; I know a large number of successful business owners who are dyslexic, their ability to create amazing companies. Develop new product, services or solve problems is simply magical.
 
Why are they entrepreneurs, their minds may not have the same flare for academic studies in the same was as other students, their abilities are far greater than that its almost in another dimension of thinking.
 
Its time in the UK, we stop classing dyslexic as not able, disabled or have difficulties. To one where they are seen as the foundations of greatness and the potential to help put the UK in the forefront of business and educational blue prints the world would envy. 
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Labels, We All Fall For Them !

4/15/2016

1 Comment

 
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Humans are very complex in makeup, yet we  to simply things where possible, it makes sense it makes the world easier to understand.
 
See back when we were walking around hunting and gathering, fast decisions were very important. Well kind of life and death important , it's that thing friendly is it going to kill me ? , can I eat that brightly coloured insect ?. You know the stuff we’ve seen enough natural history and nature programs.
 
This kind of labeling things has worked pretty darn well for us to become the dominant species on the planet (for now at least) . However there is a bit of a problem with this system let me explain.
 
We make sense of the world by labeling things, situations, societies, people. These are very generalized rounded views, so when we talk about a culture or a people lets say someone from Scotland. What is the imagine that pops into your head. Someone in a kilt with ginger hair swigging whisky whilst doing the highland fling?. To some extent these stereo types hold some truth but they are like cartoon drawings of people, the elements are they kind of , we sort of know who the drawings of but its exaggerated image of reality. You kinda get the point I think .
 
Now we take this labeling to a whole new level when we look at groups of people & their traits, conditions or disabilities. For me dyslexia, ADHA, Autism  & dyspraxia is classic of this, we establish a label for this group of people, exaggerate it a cartoon image of reality. People that cannot learn properly, struggle to fit in cannot read basically are totally different and don’t function like “normal people”.  
 
The irony is these people are more than that just wired different but no less normal than everyone else “what ever normal is”.  The labels reinforce the stereotype the misconception the ignorance of the abilities, aptitude or skills.  Why. well remember we have been programmed  from way back to try and make sense of the world around us and those things that are different.
 
Let's take dyslexia the stereo-type is someone that cannot read, words jump all over the page, have problem learning. Therefore the assumption is they have a problem and are less able or intelligent than the person that is a Grade A student of English language. Well here is the thing that may help flick your paradigm on this cartoon figure.
 
I take a mixed group of people, artists, designers accountants etc to lets say Russia . None of the group speak a word of Russian or can read it either. Does that make any of those individuals any less talented, able or intelligent? I say not. They may have an issue communicating but fundamentally those people are still intelligent, able and have value in their respective fields. So why do we relate comprehension of the written word to equal intelligence or ability THE LABEL. It's time to stop labeling and start understanding , learning.
 
So next time someone mentions the word dyslexia think about the Scottish guy in his kilt. Look past the label and discover the true drawing not the cartoon.
 
Dyslexia Rocks   
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Social Media What a Waste Of Time 

4/14/2016

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Like everyone we are bombarded with social media day in day out. Some political updates silly cat videos and other less interesting stuff.
 
I know a lot of people look at social media thinking “what a waste of time”, well it is when you get sucked into some of the shizzle people post. “Worthless meaningless posts”, I mean we cannot afford time on things that don’t add value to our lives can we.
 
Daily I get contact by people trying to “sell me their stuff” you know the thing, your website needs updating or we can help you with this or that. I had one such private message a few months ago here is how it went.
 
 
“Hello can you tell me a bit more about your networking group!”, so I looked at the persons profile and noticed he was in India. I thought oh this is a new way of trying to draw me in , I had a few mails that week and was a little frustrated with it, so I replied
“What you trying to sell me as not really interested”.
 “no am really interested tell me more”,
oh this guy is not giving up is he. So I thought ill give ya the information and explained what we did where we met and what the benefits were of being involved. I ended the message saying
 “As your in Delhi I’ve no idea why you would want to know” yeah I was a little abrupt.
 
A few weeks passed and this guy walks into my group and introduces himself, I nearly chocked on my coffee, yep he had come from Delhi to MY group. He explained he was an entrepreneurial had decided not to go to university but get out there go meet other entrepreneurs, network and see what business was like in the real world.
 
We’ve become really good friends to the extent I am an admin and contributor to his Facebook page “Learnsmart” . Its been a really interesting experience with people ive never met in Delhi corresponding with me and asking
 “kirk  when you coming to India we need you here , looking forward to meeting you”.
 
Its crazy, people that live thousands of miles away are aware of me interested in what I have to say and want to meet me.
 
Yeah so Social media is a waste of time when you don’t use it right or just post meaningless topics or post.
 
I am sure at some point in the future ill be posting some photos and video from Delhi 
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