If the experience is sufficiently strong, it can call our current values and beliefs into question. To resolve the ensuing tension, we have four options: learn to be comfortable with our inconsistencies, change how we view the conflict through a paradigm shift, change our belief system, or change our actions to become consistent with our beliefs. Change requires process time. Process time is more effective when it closely follows the new experience. A minor adaptation to our belief system occurs with minimal effort and happens rather quickly. Experiences that challenge close held values usually require more effort and time to process and often disrupt our state of being during process period. If strong enough, this disruption manifests itself as actions that fall outside our normal behavior.

The above concept illustrates why the Action/Reflection Model commonly used in outdoor adventure education is often an effective strategy for values clarification and change. Debrief circles, mini solos, solo, etc. are examples of structured “reflection or process” strategies. It is extremely important for instructors to remember that reflection must be preceded by a valuable experience, and not all experiences are equally valuable. Instructors can facilitate metaphoric learning by scheduling process time after some significant experiences. The “trick” lies in recognizing these experiences at the time they occur, having the power and flexibility to adapt the course itinerary, and having the human skills to successfully intervene/assist if the situation reaches crisis proportions. Depending on the student population, the individual student, and the nature of the crisis, instructors may need advanced training in counseling to be successful; hence, the use of trained mental health workers in wilderness therapeutic programs is needed. Fortunately for most outdoor educators and guides all that is required to a clients with processing their experience is good observation skills, the ability to schedule “down” time immediately following a “valuable experience”, and have an attentive ear.

In addition to a minimum level of fitness and health, safe travel in a wilderness environment and/or participating in an adventure activity require a minimum level of outdoor and human skills on the side of the participants. The level of each varies depending on the specific activity and the environment. The progressive development of skills required for safety during these trips also provides the framework for value forming experiences. In outdoor education, instructors design and manage a progression of outdoor activities that enable their students to master the skills they need in order to be at safe and provide an opportunity for them to consciously examine their values and beliefs in light of their actions as they learn those same skills. Metaphoric learning occurs as students strive to master the outdoor and human skills required to succeed in the trip environment. It is during moments of stress that their character emerges and they find themselves face to face with the questions.

• A top manager has a vision. He makes sure that the others share this vision with him/her. Communicating a vision doesn’t mean you have large message boards with your vision written on them placed at strategic locations. It might be effective to catch attention but to retain that attention you are going to have to do something else. You have to make sure that your team understands your vision and shares your vision with you. Visionary managers make the employees feel that they have stake in the organization’s success. They also inspire others to have their own visions and to reach out for these visions.
• No management training can impart you the skill of integrity. A top manager has to remember action and not word set a precedent. Mouthing moralities and practicing unethical business practices does not mean you have integrity. You have to practice what you preach.

• A top manager has to have enthusiasm for his job and the job that he is doing. A negative leader will only bring the team down. So, when you are choosing a field, choose carefully. Unless you enjoy what you do it is hard to be productive. Enthusiasm is infectious. If you have that attitude, it is sure to pass on to the other members of your team.
• Management training programs will tell you that delegating responsibility is an important skill that a manager should possess. This also means that sometimes you will have to train your subordinates or team members to do a job better that you. But, fear of being overshadowed by their own protégée stops managers from doing this. If you are a good manager there is nothing to fear. As, Bill Gates says there are enough jobs in the world for good managers. The world is short of good managers.

• As much as delegating responsibility is necessary; it wont do any good if you just dole out jobs without doing anything yourself. You also have to take up responsibility. Action speaks louder than words. If the team feels that you are not doing anything yourself and are only speaking of doing something then, you are going to lose the respect of your team. It will be even better if you take on less attractive tasks. This will show the other members of your team that, doing such tasks are also important.

• Always think carefully making a decision. At the same time, don’t take too long to arrive at a decision. Once you have arrived at a decision don’t change it. People do not respect indecisive managers. If you have to change your decision, it questions your motivation for arriving at the earlier the decision. The implementation of the changed decision might also become difficult. You can of course reconsider your decisions with changed circumstances but if you make a habit of it you are not going to be a successful manager.

• Management trainings also emphasize that top leader routinely reward their staff. The reward maybe in the form of a good word, a promotion, a pay rise or a bonus. It should be something that shows to your members and subordinates that their work is also important to the working of the organization.

• Prepare an overview of your expenses-calculate everything that you pay out from your groceries to your utilities. Find out what it currently costs you to live.

• Look into your future-some of your costs may increase, but you will have other costs that will decrease in the future. Try to be specific about what it will cost you to live. Don’t forget to factor in inflation.

• Calculate long-If you retire at age 65, you average life expectancy is another 20 years, but what if you live another 30. You had better plan for the fact that you might beat the odds.

• Know where you are-calculate where you stand know and approximate what you will be able to save in the future. Be conservative in your estimations. Don’t forget about pensions, 401K and Social Security.

• Make adjustments-if you have done your calculation and find that you are falling short of where you need to be, make the necessary adjustments so that you will be prepared. You may need to save more, delay retirement, work part time or reduce your spending so you are prepared for retirement.

It is no secret that the soon you start preparing for retirement, the better off you will be. It is also important to know where you stand at any given time. You should evaluate where you are in the retirement saving process and where you want to be and what your time line is. This is something you should do regularly to avoid surprises.

We have a little joke in our home—we know we are a member of our family when we have to go back to get something three times after leaving the house. For instance: I need to get some water, I forgot my sun glasses, and I need to grab the thing I am returning, and so forth and so on. We have come up with the solution on how to actually leave at the time we want to leave:

·If we want to leave at 9:30 we say we have to leave at 9:20. It works every time (almost). We actually pull out of the drive way at the time we wanted to leave.

·I set my clocks 3 minutes ahead. I have chosen the number 3 because I am not sure if the clock could lose a minute or two so 3 is my ‘magic’ number. If I chose 5 it would be easy to say “oh, I have 5 minutes more”.

·I think it is common courtesy to be on time so I prepare by have my purse ready, putting the things in the car ahead of time I know I will need when running errands—not waiting until it is time to leave to carry everything out.

·Resist answering the phone when I am on my way out the door. The answering machine will pick up the call and they can always call me on my cell phone.

·I set a timer to remind myself when it is time to get ready. We are all busy and we get involved with other things. Doing something this simple takes the stress out of my life.

·If you need to take paperwork or other things with you have them organized the night before and either put them in front of the door you are leaving by the next morning or in the car the night before.

·It does take some planning to be on time to appointments. Factor in the time it takes to get to the destination. There is traffic, construction, metered ramps, slow moving vehicles and emergencies to consider.

When my daughter was dating her husband to be he lived ten minutes from us. Invariably he was ten minutes late picking her up for dates which would irk her. She finally explained to him that he needed to leave earlier than he planned to be to our home. He had actually never thought that through. From then on he was on time as he didn’t plan on leaving his place at the time he was to be at our place.
I do try to be on time but sometimes things happen and I am late. When that happens I call the person to let them know I am on my way and will be a few minutes late. It eases my mind and they appreciate it. I was reared with the idea that being on time is common courtesy and I still feel that way.

On the other side, we find some star performers, who finish the most difficult work finding different ways and overcoming insurmountable obstacles. Why this difference? If you study carefully, a non-achiever will always begin a work with great enthusiasm, then slowly the enthusiasm will get replaced by tiredness and excuses and by the time they were supposed to finish, they would have invented excuses. Whereas though the achievers don’t show great enthusiasm in the beginning, one can see that they are studying the situation. After some study, they plan out the way to finish the task and then begin. They stop only after finishing it. Right from beginning, you will find determination in them that they would be able to do it.

Can we turn a non-achiever in an achiever. Yes. It can be done. The first step is to talk to the non-achiever and without hurting his/her self esteem, point it out that the achievements are very low. Then in a friendly manner, and without making any criticism, ask them for the reasons. They will come out with their old script of how things never turn out right for them. Listen them out. Don’t get irritated. Don’t show any other expression but understanding on your face. Let them know that you are for them and not against them. Tell them that you understand what they say.

Now is the time to plan something with them. Give them a small task and monitor the progress. As they proceed, you will see the signs written earlier. At this juncture, gently show them different ways to finish the work and tell them that the happiness of completing the job will be much greater than the happiness of blaming others if the job remains incomplete. Carry out this exercise with them few more times and they will begin to realize their mistake. They will slowly begin achieving and turn out to be a lesson for other non-achievers.

Non achievers are commonly found in the world. This problem is found by many employers in their employees, by many parents in their children and by many coaches in some members of their team. Everyone of us can not be a success from day one. We must support and contribute to the development of other personalities. If a person is a non achiever , that does not mean that he/she is a bad person. it only implies that they lack some skills. It also means that they have a different way of looking at life and get satisfaction by not achieving. Our job is to show them the right path by becoming their friends.