Thanks Mike ... for the flowers!

SURPRISE FOR THE DAY!

We received a bouquet of flowers today. Mike (our Fall 2005 Intern) sent over flowers with the following message:

Thank you for everything you taught me. My experience with R|CAT was just what I needed, and my work habits are 100% better because I was your Intern. I hope all is well. Thank you. Mike. (I hope all is well.)

Very cool!

Intern Ama's Deskmate - Todd

TBCS ... I mentioned how Amabelle shares her desk occasionally with another person ... that would be this guy, Todd of Todd Brozek Consulting Services (aka TBCS).

He comes by every once in a while.

I'm also told he will occasionally post comments on this blog. He can be entertaining and insightful!

end of wk 2 ... intern still with us!

Amabelle is still with us ... This is good. We are glad. We hope she also is glad. She has one more week (or so) until her "mid-term presentation". (More on that in a later post.) Her probation period ends after week 3. (Here she is during week 1.)

Meanwhile, just a quick blurb ... and a pic of her digs! What's not to like!?

• Oak desk: Sure it's a dining room table, but it's oak!
• A view: She's not in cubicle although she does occasionally share her desk, but she has a view! that's gotta make up for it.
• Eating at desk: We are o.k. with that; it's a dining room table.
• Color-coded folders - Pink: She chose pink. We have interns pick a color for their file folders; makes it easier to find among other projects we have.
• Supplies: We give her supplies - folders, binder clips, post-it, pens/pencils, more folders, etc.
• Wi-fi: We don't know how to hack. We are networked. She has her laptop with access to our network. We don't make her pay for access. (HA!)
  
• Live plants: We like live plants. (I worked at a place that did not allow live plants - something about attracting pests, using water, etc. - there was a memo issued make the reasons clear. eMail was not yet prevalent.)
• Pets allowed: She gets to hang out with my "pets". Actually, its a small pod Eco-Sphere, which is pretty cool - when the little guys live. If she had a pet (that had fur and legs), she could bring him/her to work.

Down-sides? Don't know. This is a home-office setting; there are pluses and minuses, I suppose.

a "socratic" approach for our interns

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.

Jengyee's mysterious eMail hint

CURIOUS!? Check out my other blog's post.

If you are reading this, you may have received an eMail from Jengyee - who wrote ...

"I, of course, have some projects in queue and may need to be careful about going overboard. If you're curious about my projects, I'll reveal my first in a matter of weeks. However, I shall provide a hint while plugging my friend's blog: ..."

I'm that friend. I'm sure you'll figure out what she's up to from the "hint"!

You are welcome to comment here ... and I'll poke Jengyee with a stick to remind her to check-in on this blog that she encouraged me to start. Words of encouragement, feedback, or whatever floats your boat are welcomed comments.

And eventually, she'll have her stuff "in queue" and revealed "in a matter of weeks", eh!? Much success to Jengyee!

bosses can be dogs, too!

check out interns can be dogs ... so the result of my personality test is below. You can press the 'play' button. Let the little film run its course for the czesky terrier's ORIGINS and PERSONALITY. And then go on and take the test yourself at the game link!



What say you!?

interns can be dogs!

PERSONALITY TESTS! Somewhere along one's career (or even outside of the workplace), we learn our personality - from a test - administered by an indifferent or paid 'professional' or both. Be prepared, as you may be asked to take a test. Beat 'em to the punch! Here are a few to start -

alphabet soup ... Myers-Briggs (based on Jung) - a person learns his/hers "four letters" - I/E, N/S, F/T, J/P ... generally defined as - introvert/extrovert, intuitive/sensing, feeling/thinking, judgement/perception. if you search on the web, there are many variants (like keirsey) of M-B.

rainbow ... Colors that can also provide insight to one's personality - blue, gold, green, orange. (by the way, i PURPOSELY made sure i put blue & gold next to each other - GO BEARS!).

dogs ... by the (Canine (A)lgorithmic (T)ransfer (S)ystem ... A well-kept secret (though not among some of our more recent interns and the loads of people to whom we have forwarded this test) ... dog breeds! Gone to the Dogs has a great personality test (see the "Game" link), which we use after week 1 of our 10-12 week internship program.

The downside of this on-line test is you don't get to see scroll through the different 'dog personalities'; take the test, and you'll see. The upside (which totally makes up for the downside) is that you gotta get others to take the test.

If you are wondering about how I have tested - ENFP ... Blue/Green (with the higher scores) and then Gold/Orange (with the lower scores) ... Czesky Terrier.

Simply put - Interns can be cool!

Because Jengyee suggested it ... here is my blog on intern-related topics. I'm not an Intern; I'm just one of those business owners that takes on Interns.

As a start, I posted a blurb about our current intern and about a friend who has written a book for students and others.

HOW THIS ALL STARTED ... About a year after I started my solo consulting practice, a colleague, Dan, asked if I could use some help - maybe take on an Intern. His son was on break from college and was majoring in environmental engineering. I wasn't sure whether to take Dan up on his offering up his son. Then Dan said his son would volunteer. I all of a sudden became very sure. "YES! I can use (free) help. YES! when can your son start!?" That was more than 10 years ago.

Since then, Interns have come and gone. Some have come back for "Round 2", even. When I last tried to recall the exact number of Interns we've had, I came up with 13, or was it 14? 11? (Double-digit, for sure.) Sometimes the experience has been good; other times, not so much. Regardless, I will share what I can.

Hope you enjoy! - Shirl