The Art of Applying STEM: Why STEAM Matters

By Matthew Fritz & Deborah Mills-Scofield

Intentionality of design is an important component of any successful project. It means understanding the customers’ needs to ensure the final product meets, or exceeds, those needs in the customers’ own context and constraints. Wouldn’t it be great if these were baked-in at the beginning? If we intentionally designed products, services, and processes not only to be useful, but preferred? We are great at designing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM, into products, but not as great with design from the actual users’ perspective. Design Thinking is not new, but through “STEAM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design and Math), its gaining recognition and validation in more aspects of our lives – in the things we use and how we use them – next iPhone, Golden Gate Bridge, pacemaker, insulin pump, etc.

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Effective advising, just as an effective implementation of STEAM in any environment, requires empathy and understanding commensurate with technical credibility. The result? Together, the NATO team was building a system that was Afghan-appropriate, effective and sustainable. In the end, that is what ultimately mattered.

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Thank You For Your Service

From the Blog - Mills-Scofield LLC - Innovanomics, strategic alignment for innovation

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This is one of most honored posts I’ve ever ever hosted.  Lt. Col. Matthew Fritz is Director, Commander’s Action Group of NATO’s Air Training Command in Afghanistan.  Training a newly formed Afghan Air Force is the epitome in complex continual change management.  Matt has become a very dear friend, thanks to Angela Maiers, and fellow blogger at Switch & Shift.  I can’t put into words my respect, admiration and thankfulness for Matt, his leadership, elegance, eloquence, professionalism and humility.  I literally wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for men and women like Matt who fight for, preserve and train others to protect our precious freedom.  Please read every word – and hold Matt, his work, our military and their ever sacrificing families in your prayers for safety and strength.
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Thank You For Your Service!
by Matthew T. Fritz

Monday started like so many Mondays here in Kabul…wakeup, head through Kabul ice/snow to the Dining Facility to grab breakfast to go, and then trudge over to the office to see what staffing challenges waited in the new day.  The routine pleasantries occurred along the way, “Good morning, sir!” and “Nice weather, eh?”  The morning prayers of the local population could be heard echoing through the loudspeakers outside the large 25-foot concrete T-walls topped with barbed wire that surround our compound, a Forward Operating Base within an Afghan Air Force base.  My feet crunched through the snow propelling my frozen fingers to key-in the cipher code, which opened the cold metal front door of the headquarters building.

 

Matthew Fritz‘s insight:

Honored to share this post with my good friend, Deb, and her amazing audience!  Thanks, @dscofield for letting me be a part of your team!

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Why Veterans Make Great Entrepreneurs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. veteran population was more than 21 million strong as of 2014.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.inc.com

America is aware of the abilities that U.S. veterans acquire during their time in service. Many of these abilities overlap with the skills needed to become a successful entrepreneur, as many veterans-turned-entrepreneurs have demonstrated. Hard-working individuals create businesses that adapt and change with the times, and veterans are proving that higher education isn’t the only way to find a place within the ranks of successful business owners.

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Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas

Time to take a break with family & friends...

KC-135 and SantaBest wishes to you and yours this holiday season!  As you take some time to recharge and revitalize, reflect upon the leadership successes and challenges you’ve experienced throughout the year.  Use the wisdom you gain as an opportunity for growth and strategy on behalf of your team.  Each of us has the capacity to lead in one form or another, whether it be in our home, family, church, school, community or workplace.  May 2016 be filled with leadership successes for you and your team, along with the opportunity to grow and inspire new leaders along the way!

Things Only Military Brats Understand – YouTube

Mistaking anyone in uniform for your parent was a common problem. Check out more awesome BuzzFeedYellow videos! http://bit.ly/YTbuzzfeedyellow MUSIC Swing Ki…

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.youtube.com

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5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Use Emotional Intelligence for Marketing

In addition to growing your business faster, using these emotionally intelligent strategies will ensure you are connecting with the right customers who will also help you grow faster.

Source: www.entrepreneur.com

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When Emotional Intelligence Goes Wrong

People skills can be dangerous. Especially in the wrong frame of mind. Let’s all promise never to do these things…ever…

Source: www.theatlantic.com

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Why We Write at GeneralLeadership.com

Over the past year, GeneralLeadership.com has been fortunate to experience a surge in popularity, interest and exposure through the Internet. We now boast 40,000 views a month and over 10,000 regular subscribers to our mailing list. As part of this increasing influence, we have received quite a few queries on why we individually devote a significant amount of time to The General Leadership Foundation. Recently, I was in a class with fellow General Leadership Curator Matthew T. Fritz and, during a class break, one of our student peers looked at us and said, “Aren’t you two the General Leadership guys?” After a few minutes of conversation, the inevitable two questions arose that always seem to be on people’s minds: “How much money do you make from it?” and, “If not for money, then why?”

Source: generalleadership.com

Well, those are easy questions to answer. The General Leadership Foundation is a non-profit organization and we do not receive any monetary compensation for our work. Each of our curatorsvoluntarily dedicates significant time and effort to the success of our endeavor. However, what we do receive is the personal satisfaction of promoting positive principles of leadership and facilitating active conversations between you and America’s most trusted leaders — hopefully to inspire positive change. We believe leadership is a choice, that experience promotes growth, and real-world examples are the best way to inspire change.

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Great Day in Alabama



I relished the opportunity to enjoy some sun and crowds at #Selma50 in Selma, Alabama today…especially given the preceding week’s rainy weather. Feeling fortunate to have been in town for this historic event!







If It’s To Be, It Has To Be Me! | Business Innovation Factory #BIF10

Join me 17-18 September in Providence, RI for the #BIF10 Summit for Two Days and 32 Storytellers worth of good times, great stories, excellent interaction and collaborative learning.

Register for the #BIF10 Summit Today!


From the program – “…Fritz’s grandfather on his mother’s side, Delbert Taylor, owned a restaurant and a clothing store before he became mayor of the village board. “My earliest memories are of him, out there, sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store, shaking hands, reading the people,” he recalls.

He was “politicking,” Fritz says, and modeling the behavior of the ideal citizen—committed, engaged, proactive. “He used to say, “If it’s to be, it has to be me.’ That’s something I grew up with. Especially in a small town, you’re expected to participate in church, community and school; otherwise it just isn’t going to work.”

Read More at www.businessinnovationfactory.com