magz silver lining tips ...

SL Tip #2: on the project management book

(repost 02/13/2006)

Try to read the Project Management book
sooner rather than later;
it will take longer than 50 minutes.

- Silver Lining

the book says it's a 50-min. commitment. this is suppose to mean 50 minutes on EARTH ... it's not. it's probably more like jupiter (or is it the other direction, and it's like mercury?) anyway, as noted on the internship syllabus-lite, you will get a workbook on project management. SL's tip is good. keep it in mind.

side note: here is the book over here


.

magz silver lining tips ...

missin' magz ... also known as silver lining, margaret (or magz) was nicknamed silver lining (or SL) while she had a summer internship with us back in 2006. magz ALWAYS had a great silver lining approach with a few good, healthy moments of snark.

[pic L-R: amabelle, margaret,
moi, todd at influx, san diego]

tips for other interns ... SL had a few tips for other interns, and in fact, her tips simply remain no-nonsense in the workplace - well, depending on the workplace culture.

(repost from 02/12/2006)

SL Tip #1: on the socratic approach

My tip? Just answer the question.
(I mean that in a good way!!)

- SL (aka Silver Lining)

SL's tip is a good one for our socratic approach for our interns. it's really that simple. remember, we can't read minds.

(repost from 01/28/2006)

There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.
- Socrates

TEACHING BY ASKING QUESTIONS ... One of the different characteristics of our internship program is our approach - a Socratic approach. We didn't purposely set out to do this; it evolved out of our realizing we enjoyed the internship program when we were in "teacher" mode. It's one thing to tell interns to do a task and give them details about getting to the right answer. It's another experience to encourage interns to approach a task by understanding the goal, developing and executing a plan to complete a task, and asking questions about their accomplishing the goal. Critical thinking is important in the work-force. And frankly, because of my curious nature, this whole Socratic thing is a bit unavoidable.

WHAT IS IT ? ... google and see what ya get? Just a few here - Wikipedia's description includes a description of method and application. Interestingly, the last item in W's blurb is "Socratic Method in Psychotherapy ... It can be used to clarify meaning, feeling, and consequences, as well as to gradually unfold insight, or explore alternative actions." (Later on that, maybe.) I like the "difference between dialogue and debate" on StudyGuide. And I'm certain that those with whom we have had as interns have heard several questions we have asked from the Socratic Questioning Cheat Sheet. Those who have interned - we did NOT have this cheat sheet, really. But you've likely heard many of these questions.

A GOOD PRIMER FOR FUTURE INTERNS ... From my web search, the socratic questioning highlighted on this site is a good primer for anyone interested in our internship. The types of questions you would hear from us ...

• conceptual clarification
  
• probing assumptions
• probing rationale, reasons, and evidence
• questioning viewpoints and perspectives
• probe implications and consequences
• questions about the question

For some interns, it may take a while to become comfortable in such a work setting, particularly if you expect an internship experience where you are just "resume building". It's an investment on our part to take on interns - and we hope that interns will also see our approach as in investment in their professional development.

hope you are doing well, magz!

f|back (june '06): interns in the '90s

interns ... i thought about my internship program because of my recent post for the love project. at cubeopolis, i have recently had an opportunity to (re)repackage my r|cat internship program (formally structured in 2004 but in place less formally since 1995) to modify it a bit for an internship effort. stated differently - i look forward to working with a friend to implement an off-shoot of my internship program this year in cubeopolis.

(2006 intern, amabelle,
as part of reality: intern, aka r|intern)

program features ... i REALLY loved the internship program i had developed and truly believe in the value of its elements - outlined 10-12 weeks activities and deliverables, stated qualifications, areas of responsibility to choose from and focus, mid-program (aka mid-term) and final presentations, evaluation of presentation (a little like a mini-toastmasters), goals and objectives, draft of resume content (BEFORE completion of internship program) when outlining project(s), and peer/mutual evaluation as an informal performance review. i am also glad that there are others who see the value of the program.

random memorable moments ... with every intern, there is ALWAYS a memorable moment. i am glad that in 2006 i captured those for interns from the '90s decade. (note to self: pull together the 2000-2006 batch of interns!)

(repost from 06/03/2006) i've been asked how many interns we've had. labing-lima. quinze. quindici. fifteen. quince.
a few things before i list those whom i can remember...

• volunteer - some have volunteered time
  
• honorarium - still a volunteer, but some have received a form of gratitude, which is not necessarily compensation commensurate with services (e.g., laptop carrier, wireless card, meals, reference materials, etc.)
  
• independent contractor - some have served as independent contractors, often if they have some level of work experience

the following are first name only, some characteristics i recall, and a random memorable event (RME).

1. jason (dan's son) [1995, 2001] ... (flagship of interns!) interned with us twice; first volunteered for experience and then as an independent contractor. first time was during summer while finishing up environmental engineering degree. second time was after a couple years of work. very hard worker. creative. good self-starter. RME: 1st time - blue blazer (symbol of adulthood, tho' a little "wham-looking" type of blazer) when we had a meeting with my 1st client (City of Chula Vista). 2nd time - deb's party in aliso viejo.
   


2. cris [1996, 2000] ... interned with us twice; first volunteered for experience and then as an independent contractor. had a geology degree. met him when he was as hired as a summer student worker at my last "corporate america" job (with the electric/gas utility). he was coming out of high school and was very self-motivated ... by the tide. he'd do at least an 8-hour work day - and flex time around the tide. to surf. yeah. to surf. RME: 1st time - benigan's & "his" driver's license. 2nd time - dinner & drinks at old town mex.
   


3. susan [1996, 2000] ... interned with us twice; first volunteered for experience and then as an independent contractor. totally bright. self-motivated. entertainingly sweet. was seeking a degree in environmental-related field. quite organized and RME: 1st time - working on an air quality permit (1st one) and totally kicking butt! (it was awesome.) 2nd time - speed-calling for a project that resulted in meeting a very aggressive deadline.
   


4. maria [1997] ... volunteered. recommended by a work colleague who was teaching an air quality extension course at UCSD. brief stint. helped on emission calculations, permitting and regulatory review. extremely fast-learner. attended a client meeting with me. spoke (and still does) italian (1st language), german, french and english. had tendency to say numbers in german. RME: 11:00 PM (yeah - night!) phone call to discuss a table of emissions and regulatory interpretation.
   
   
5. agnes [1997] ... volunteered. her background in geography (GIS interest). developed maps as part of my presentation material to my first distributed generation (DG) related client that was in the process of commercializing a new gas turbine. client very happy! RME: at dinner, having a philosophical conversation about life.


6. ryan [1998] ... honorarium. SDSU internship program. part of international business class. our 1st time (only time) with this program. (had other prospects in subsequent years but no fits from the candidates that applied) stipend (tax-deductible) to the school. knew MS Access. made a database for fledgling san diego greenmap effort. RME: an odd habit - though not disturbing and remaining unnamed - that hopefully has not carried into his professional life.


7. christina 1 [1998] ... volunteered. communications major. girlfriend of the son of a friend of mine. (follow that?) helped with a newsletter that i wrote for a local association. RME: attending an association meeting while men twice her age gawked. (to give you an idea - she had a stint as a newscaster in florida).
   


8. greg [1999] ... honorarium. my friend's co-worker asked my friend if she knew of summer job opportunities for her friend's son. that's how greg came to us. environmental engineer student. worked a brief stint - air emissions calculations + regulatory interpretation. bright. self-motivated. attended client meeting. RME: attending a client meeting and being reminded i was short, because he was tall (as was everyone in the room).


9. laurel [1999] ... independent contractor. environmental science major. had a previous summer job with a corporate environmental department. did mega-work with us. jammed through many-many activities. high energy. committed. attended client meeting often. RME: one of hundreds of gals who attended/participated in a local radio event-stint ... where some guy was looking for a date ... gals were lined up to impress him and get the date. she did this before work - cute leather jacket, fitting top, home-baked cookies, a little 'gift', and a sweet opening line. (we heard her on the radio) she didn't get the date, but we had some extra cookies!
   

o.k. - interns of this decade (2000) in another post.

f|back: what i value ...

coupled with my 1994 epiphany, i had a set of values for catalysts: a network promoting intelligent change. below is what evolved since the original 1994 version (click image on the right).

since 1994, i have refined my mission|vision|values statements - it's part of the lens that i look through as i walk through and participate in life.

The CATALYST’s VALUES are based on

the following RELATIONAL ELEMENTS:

• Catalysts RESPECT that an individual is a member of multiple COMMUNITIES –FAMILY, SCHOOL, FAITH, EMPLOYER, TOWN, NATION, and WORLD.
  
  

• Catalysts encourage each individual to be RESPONSIBLE for his or her community.
  
  

• Catalysts challenge each community to be ACCOUNTABLE to each individual.
  
  

• Catalysts APPRECIATE each individual in a community is UNIQUE yet shares common goals.
  
  

• Catalysts ACKNOWLEDGE that each community has a FINITE mix of individuals.
  
  
  

COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES WILL DISCOVER THAT
DIVERSITY IN THE ENERGY MARKETPLACE

CAN PROVIDE GREATER OPTIONS
IN ACHIEVING MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL

AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES

• Catalysts stimulate DISCUSSION among communities and businesses toward Collaborative and Results-oriented decision making for practical, creative, and cost-effective Solutions.
  
  

• Catalysts enhance AWARENESS of a community’s and business’s interactions with, and responsibilities toward, the Environment.
  
  

• Catalysts commit during a community’s and business’s PLANNING phase of economic development, energy management and environmental compliance to Integrate and Implement public policies.
  
  

• Catalysts provide CHOICES for communities and businesses to make informed decisions for Sustainability.
  
  

• Catalysts identify and present economic OPPORTUNITIES for a community based on Directing growth and Connecting key community and business objectives.
  
  

• Catalysts choose to RENEW communities to accomplish their goals toward Restoration and Preservation of the environment.

a little about the original values ... they were crafted as a result of constant re-hashing and (re)interpretation of my "tracing paper scribbles" - what looked like many disparate ideas, flow charts, and doodles, turned out to serve as my discovery of what moves me in life. and for at least ~13 years, i was directly expressing many elements of my mission|vision|values through my consulting practice and related professional and personal development activities. i am glad i did not let others who mocked me and my ideas deter me from the scribble-fest of ideas.

feels wonderful to reconnect.

f|back (may '07): my 1994 epiphany and vision

(repost from 05/18/07)

in may 1994, an early saturday morn ... around 5:30 am (pacific), i had an epiphany. from it - the following -

There are BRIDGES yet to be constructed by those who live and

breathe in their ENVIRONMENT — AIR, LAND and WATER. Egos stand firm

on the ground that they were born and choose not to acknowledge that

to get one step closer they must go one step FURTHER.

MY VISION IS TO CREATE THOSE BRIDGES.

[by Shirley © 1994]

a little context ... i was living in san diego, and for nearly 3 years, i had been working for a large corporation's environmental department. meanwhile, california was going through the beginning of electric utility restructuring. for several months, posted in my open workspace was a quote translated from louis pasteur's -

"dans les champs de l'observation le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés."

translated as -

in the field of observation, chance favors the prepared mind.

and for quite some time beginning toward the end of 1993, i also was experiencing amazing coincidences, which of course i realized later weren't necessarily coincidences but more along the lines of "... the prepared mind." nevertheless ...

a whirlwind began early in '94 ... meeting people and making new friends, reconnecting with old friends and work colleagues, chance meetings resulting in the beginning of an expanding network of people in the environmental field, creating opportunities for friends, ... and amidst all this excitement, i also had challenging work circumstances - gnarly working relationships with a select few, literally negative work space, and did i say gnarly working relationships. (ask me about what may have been "group therapy" with ratepayer dollars, who knows?!) ... and among all this, i also had some sort of funky atypical eyeball thing going on (which no longer exists).

coffee talk ... to keep sane, i coffee-d regularly after work at least two evenings a week with a good friend, dash. to collect my thoughts, i carried a large leather satchel around with a journal, prismacolor pencils, and tracing paper. later, i added a voice recorder because ideas were flying around. i constantly journal'd, scribbled, sketched, and talked about what i saw in the future and how i may possibly shape it.

the result ... what i consider my '94 epiphany.

f|back (sept '06): paper planner or pda

back in 2000, i used a handspring visor as my pda. loved it. then, i decided to give it to an intern and upgrade to one of the 500 series HP jornada pda. ultimately, i decided to return to my tried and true (and battery-less) paper organizer approach. when faced with an option to return to a pda (via cell phone) back in 2006, i stuck with phone only and went quo vadis for myself.

(repost 09/20/06)

ms. t ... IT. it arrived today! my paper planner. while you look for your stylus, i will pull out my pen or pencil. (or perhaps i will borrow someone else's pen or pencil)

sure, it doesn't fit in a small bag or a shirt pocket. maybe it's so i have an excuse to buy a bag (...and maybe a pair of shoes to match). or perhaps, it's my retail therapy & organization 'thing'.

i own a parka ...

... because back in the day when i first moved back to the BA (well, 2 years ago) and wasn't in cubeopolis, i was traveling to north dakota during winter.

(repost from feb 8, '07)
mmmmmmm ... warm this morn!
in my new - and very useful - down comforter jacket north face arctic parka.
with a new travel mug holding the tasty liquid o' ...
... rocky road mocha from/at boneshaker coffee company

whilst outside weather, it is approx. 4 deg F.

interesting thing (and shared with my colleague, also) ... since the past 2+ days, 5 deg F kinda is now o.k.; it's the evening minus 10 deg F that's a b****, esp. with the wind.

lunch at Windy's Pizza and Bar in Bowman.

back to BA tomorrow morn. am actually looking forward to next trip to BIS. (two more drinks, and i get a free coffee at boneshaker and get to wear my parka again.)

next week, SD.

[notes to self - no need bring parka.

be on the lookout for belt-loop-boy.

get dessert fix.]