“Brain, heart, and muscle power. Not willpower.” – Raj Gavurla
“Everyone is smart. What do you want to study?” – Raj Gavurla
Which one of the NAE Grand Challenges For Engineering is most important to you? I selected two because one is essential to the other thirteen. Combined they have the greatest impact. They are Advance Personalized Learning and Engineer Better Medicines. Which ones do you want to fund?
Advance Personalized Learning
Make Solar Energy Economical
Enhance Virtual Reality
Reverse-Engineer The Brain
Engineer Better Medicines
Advance Health Informatics
Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure
Secure Cyberspace
Provide Access To Clean Water
Provide Energy From Fusion
Prevent Nuclear Terror
Manage The Nitrogen Cycle
Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods
Engineer The Tools To Scientific Discovery
I selected Advance Personalized Learning because learning, its application, learn how to learn is the catalyst to transform performance, innovation, and/or entrepreneurial leadership and to live a robust life. I selected Engineer Better Medicines because of devastating side effects, allergic reactions, and to eschew medical hardship and emergency room visits.
Engineers are developing new systems to use genetic information, sense small changes in the body, assess new drugs, and deliver vaccines.
Doctors have long known that people differ in susceptibility to disease and response to medicines. But, with little guidance for understanding and adjusting to individual differences, treatments developed have generally been standardized for the many, rather than the few.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Raj Gavurla
For programs and services, contact Raj Gavurla at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com, LiiiVEN.
Sometimes you need to praise people. Especially, the ones you learned or learn from. Take a look:
It’s a connection made possible by an app and website that students created as part of the university’s celebrated Creative Inquiry program and that will be shared with the public as Clemson’s STEAM Exhibit returns to Artisphere for a fourth year.
The bell-ringing will be among 17 activities geared for all ages that shine a light on how science, technology, engineering, arts and math complement each other. The public response to the exhibit in years past has been huge, with more than 75,000 visiting last year alone.
Some of this year’s activities are big hits returning for another run and several will be making their festival debut. Visitors can expect to venture into virtual reality worlds, play an underwater musical instrument and program robots to draw on paper.
One new activity will allow visitors to design an operating room in virtual reality while the audience observes their brainwave activity. Another will teach children about protecting the environment by having them make art out of recycled materials.
The STEAM Exhibit will be free and open to the public for the duration of the festival, which runs May 12-14.
The exhibit will be in the same place as the first three years: the corner of Main and Broad streets next to Grill Marks restaurant.
Here’s a list of activities scheduled for this year:
Color Booth
Experiment with the effects of colored light in this exhibit. Learn how theatrical lighting designers make informed decisions when picking color filters for lights on stage. Visitors can see and experiment with the effects of colored light on theater scenery and costumes and play a challenging guessing game.
EMAG!NE
The STEAM outreach network of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences has developed hands-on activities for K-12 students, families and other festival-goers.
Big Data is All Around Us
Gummy bears and virtual reality will help illustrate how many data points a single person leaves in a year. Each gummy bear will represent a single data point, such as a phone call, credit transaction or a log-in. Visitors will also be asked questions about Greenville and their answers will be added to a live database illustrated in a diagram on a large screen. Small children can help build a visualization using chalk and a chalkboard and will receive a gummy bear with parental permission.
Recycled Art
This activity will help educate children about how they can turn trash into something useful. It will make them more familiar with recycling and teaches them about caring for the environment while triggering innovation.
Kinetic Energy Visualized IN Art (KEVIN)
Discover the visual delights of variable motion with these kinetic sculptures. This exhibit displays sculptures that use wind power, gravity, motors and strobe lights to provide unique visual effects.
Real-time Brain Response to Designing a Virtual Operating Room
This experience will allow the user to wear a head-mounted device that provides external input (virtual reality) and internal input (brain wave activity). The user will be able to move equipment in a virtual reality world to design an operating room while the audience observes the user’s brainwave activity in real time.
Playing Fraction Pies
Connect your knowledge of fractions and equivalency to musical notes and rhythms. Simply choose your fractions and press play. Your fractions will transform into a musical composition you can see and hear.
Small Bugs Making Big Waves: How Microbes Benefit Humankind
Despite being so small that they are invisible to our eyes, the microorganisms in our world have a big impact on our lives. This exhibit combines the art of microscopy and the viewing of these microbes with a connection to the daily application of the everyday things they provide. Come by for a live view under a microscope as well as past images of these mysterious creatures and examples of their hidden contributions to society.
Coding for the Carillon: Automating Clemson’s Bell Tower
Watch live video and audio feed from the top of Clemson’s iconic bell tower as songs play entirely automatically through a system implemented by a team of Clemson students in a Creative Inquiry project. Visitors can interact with the bells in real time through a virtual display and keyboard.
Science as Art 2017
Science as Art has challenged Clemson University students, faculty and staff, as well as pre-college students around the state, to share the powerful and inspiring visual images produced in laboratories, workspaces and learning environments. Science as Art aims to draw interest and understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through visually captivating images that are described in basic terms.
The Magnificent Microcosm
If you have ever wondered what a butterfly mouth or a starfish looks like under a microscope, you will not want to miss “The Magnificent Microcosm” sponsored by the Clemson Light Imaging Facility. You will have the chance to look at samples under a microscope, see images from the “HOOKEd on Microscopy” contest and build your own hologram projector to use with a smartphone or tablet.
Drawing with Robots: R2D2 Meets Rembrandt
This exhibit is an interactive activity that introduces children and young adults to computing programing through art. They write the code for shape they wish to create and download it to a small Scribbler robot that then “draws” their picture.
Cutting, Folding, and Stacking: Turning Paper into Resilient Structures
In this hands-on exhibit, attendees will try to fold a piece of paper into a tessellated structure as a scaled model bridge and use precut pieces of cardboard to create a structurally sound mini chair. The purpose of this exhibit is to show that different geometric designs can affect the strength and stability of a structure.
Light flow
Did you know that optical technologies such as lasers and optical fibers are important for applications ranging from communications to health care? This interactive exhibit invites participants to learn more about these technologies from a highly visual and artistic perspective. Light Flow offers opportunities to manipulate laser light with water, send music from a mobile phone to a speaker with a laser beam and create your own colorful shapes using a special form of light-diffusing optical fiber.
Clemson Baja SAE
Clemson Baja is student-designed and -driven organization where participants challenge engineering principles by building a fully capable off-road vehicle.
Drawbot and Air Piston Musical Instrument
Use an iPad to control a Drawbot to create fun pictures from audio files. Come play a unique musical instrument using a rotating disk with specific hole sizes on it and pistons producing the air needed to make sound. Visitors can use the pistons to produce sounds and musical notes.
Biomimetics – Showcasing Nature through the Eyes of an Engineer
Come experience the power and creativity of Mother Nature, from a simple abalone shell to powerful synthetic shark jaws and prehensile seahorse tail marionette.
More about the exhibit:
The STEAM Exhibit is a collaboration of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences and the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.
The chief organizers of the exhibit are Brad Putman, associate dean for undergraduate studies in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences and Shannon Robert, associate professor of scene design in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.
Richard Goodstein, dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, said a dedicated group of faculty, students and staff have been working for months to ensure that this year’s exhibit is a success.
“Their efforts illustrate how imagination and creativity can bring together the STEAM disciplines,” he said. “Our collaborative efforts help position Clemson as a national leader in STEAM education.”
Anand Gramopadhye, dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences said the exhibit serves as a reminder that engineering, computing and science are closely related to the arts and creativity.
“It also gives our students and faculty a place to showcase their work and provide a public service,” he said. “We have had a positive response in past years and are looking forward to another great festival.”
Also this year, Todd Anderson of Clemson University was chosen as one of Artisphere’s four jurors. The assistant professor of art and printmaking will be on the Jury Review Panel with Darin Gehrke, Mercedes Jelinek and Marilyn Zapf.
Kerry Murphy, executive director of Artisphere, said that Clemson’s contributions help enhance the festival.
“The STEAM exhibit is innovative, unique and well-received by festival-goers each year,” she said. “Clemson’s offerings are not only educational but also fun for adults and children alike. We are glad to have Clemson back at Artisphere in 2017.”
“Let go of the thoughts that don’t make you strong.” – Unknown
For programs and services, contact Raj Gavurla at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com, LiiiVEN.
“Win your better outcomes: High Value and Valued ROI” – Raj Gavurla
Your valued employee is missing work more often and you can tell some things aren’t making sense. As leadership and management, you think about what’s happening to them. Then, your office manager or human resource person informs you they gave them the Employee Assistant Program (EAP) phone number. Of course, something serious happened yet you’re still puzzled. However, because you don’t know what to do or policy you don’t initiate to share authentic dialogue with your valued subordinate.
Your subordinate doesn’t know what’s happening as all they think is I’ve been having very unusual thoughts and not feeling well. It’s as if the microprocessor (brain) in my computer (body) isn’t consistently functioning. They really don’t know when told they have a mental health diagnosis what that means. They just hope the doctor determines the right treatment to help/cure/exhibit teamwork to allow them to successfully continue working and living a robust life. Sometimes for a percentage of workers, this happens and they continue successfully working and living a robust life. Often times the facts are this doesn’t happen and your employee’s performance is valued for periods of time and then an episode or something happens and they miss work or they aren’t exhibiting their consistent valued performance. A mental health challenge doesn’t discriminate based on socioeconomic or sociodemographic status.
There is a highly customized fluid solution for your valued subordinate. An example is:
1. You (Boss) initiating and sharing private authentic dialogue with your employee. It takes research better outcomes, preparation, interaction, and communication to deliver better outcomes for your subordinate (employee).
2. Understanding what his or her treatment plan is and the teamwork needed.
3. Forming a “small individual/personal matters team/group” to help your subordinate by involving a select group of trained employees as this employee’s support system in your workplace.
4. Understanding the high-value importance/urgency of their family, work, and financial sustainability to your subordinate’s wellness is essential. Their family is experiencing similar uncertainty as you about the well-being of your employee.
5. By taking the initiative and being proactive with a process your employee becomes better and your costs tremendously decrease because your employee is still able to work although it might be scaled back and is given the review and evaluation of their work during this time to continue being a forward performing valued successful employee.
Yes, taking these steps are asking for more effort on your part as Boss and employer. However, the following are some of the better outcomes (results) from taking initiative:
1. I know as employer, Boss, team, and employee each is doing everything they can to see each other succeed and your clients succeed. As an employer, you don’t have to do the bare minimum to be in compliance. There are value-add resources that can help you. As a strong mental health advocate, performance consultant/coach, and entrepreneurial leadership expert, my services might be a value-add to your current protocol for this situation.
2. Donating to charity is important and I encourage you to continue doing so to make your business and community stronger. However, a lot of times companies donate to non-profits (a humanitarian cause/need) without knowing the person they are helping to receive support services. By allocating funds for mental health in your company, you are essentially creating “charity in the workplace” and seeing your dollars actually being put to use for your valued employee and receive quality work completed for your efforts.
3. The sensation of having this humanitarian lens is very fulfilling, highly satisfying, and delivers a win for all (your business and community). Businesses are here to contribute to family and societal progress. Being a humanitarian to me means more than “spiritual brothers and sisters have to eat”. Being a humanitarian means “spiritual brothers and sisters have to thrive”. We are very capable of this mission and aspiration being a reality because of the forward progress we consistently make in employer/employee relationships and societal progress.
4. Most likely your employee becomes more loyal and continues to make forward progress in your company. Also, you now have an employee with high-value empathy skills and is part of your succession planning for your “small personal matters team(s)/group(s). Although most of your employees don’t have a mental health diagnosis, they do have mental health challenges whether spurred from a workplace issue or life issue that sharing authentic dialogue with select people in a “small personal matters team/group” would greatly benefit your business.
5. Mental health is our current major employer/social health challenge to the robust viability of our workplace we have to triumph along with cancer (you could imagine this affects a person’s mental health).
6. I’ve heard too many personal stories of talented, skilled, and educated people who are underemployed and not doing meaningful work. Because of this, there might be relationship problems because of the stigma associated with mental health and the individual might lose hope.
Sports often is at the forefront of employer and societal progress. An example is Lebron James addressing the Cavaliers in the locker room, welcoming, and helping Larry Sanders (mental health challenge) join the team and continue to progress in his NBA career. Yes, there are a lot of small business owners who are also helping and supporting individuals with a mental health challenge. How about your Fortune 500, mid-size, or over 50 employees small business?
Remember, being a humanitarian is more than “spiritual brothers and sisters have to eat”. Being a humanitarian is “spiritual brothers and sisters have to thrive”. It’s a win for all. It’s worth it!
If you are an executive, in management, or are a workplace leader, who is challenged by mental health in your business, please contact me to share authentic dialogue. Your leadership is needed and wanted.
“One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” Henry Miller
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com, LiiiVEN.
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com
“Transform your performance and entrepreneurial leadership in business, work, sports, and life.”
– Raj Gavurla
“The way you tell your story to yourself matters.” Amy Cuddy
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com
Looking to deliver this message and relevant messages for clients.
“Grow, build, and develop the right way.” – Raj Gavurla
In the following weeks, I will focus on delivering practical and pragmatic entrepreneurial leadership tools. To receive these entrepreneurial leadership tools and much more you can invest in my manual Entrepreneurial Thinking Tools.
Buy now: motivateyourresults.com
This week we’ll apply the entrepreneurial leadership learning to the importance of probability (uncertainty).
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #1:
Entrepreneurial Success =
(Time (1 or 0) + Work (1 or 0) + Money (1 or 0)) x Probability (1, .5, or 0)
Probability (Uncertainty) (1, .5, or 0)
In 2017 where are you investing your entrepreneurial leadership? To maximize entrepreneurial leadership you want to invest in projects/endeavors at various stages and at various times with varying probability (uncertainty). Yes, the probability (uncertainty) of you being alive tomorrow has a probability factor based on lots of living factors.
In your business and projects, you want meaningful work with a probability (uncertainty) of a 1 (do it now), .5 (carefully consider doing it), and 0 (don’t do it). There are no other numbers besides 1, .5, or 0. If probability (uncertainty) is a 1 then you know what to do. If it’s a .5 how to make it a 1 is very important to determine. If it is a 0 then it’s not worth investing. Don’t try to make a 0 a .5 or a 1. You’ll be wasting your time. Better results and time are of most value to you.
Therefore, Entrepreneurial Success = (Time + Work + Money) x Probability (Uncertainty)
Ex. 1: Entrepreneurial Success = (1+1+1) x (1) = 3 (do it now)
Ex. 2: Entrepreneurial Success = (1+1+1) x (.5) = carefully consider it (how to make it a 3?)
Ex. 3: Entrepreneurial Success = (any total other than 3 for time, work, money) x (any probability) = don’t do it
“Let go of those who bring you down and surround yourself with those who bring out the best in you.” Unknown
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com.
Money (1 or 0)
In 2017 where are you investing your money? To maximize your money you want to invest in high-value services and products with ten times the return on investment (ROI).
Q1: Do your research and preparation show your suppliers service(s) and/or product(s) are of high value towards your objectives?
This focuses on the qualitative aspects of doing business. For example, setting a record, a pilot, image, brand awareness, and having more than one supplier so you’re more efficient and effective.
Q2: How do you determine there will be a ten times return on your investment?
This focuses on the quantitative aspects of doing business. The robust investments/projects return ten times greater ROI upon completion of the investment/project. If it makes sense to reinvest and/or add service(s) and product(s), then best to do so. All others vary based on time period. Work with your supplier to determine how to receive high value and ten times the ROI.
Think of three investments made in your business?
1. Invested in a marketing campaign
Depending on if this is already a revenue producing service or product or if it is a pilot the same formula applies:
Investment = High Value and ten times the ROI
In a marketing campaign of high value is brand awareness. Also, you need to determine the way to receive ten times the ROI. The reason is because your project and business are unsustainable without it.
2. Invested in technology
Of high value are increased capabilities, efficiency, ease of use, and status. Also, you need to determine the way to receive ten times the ROI. The reason is because your project and business are unsustainable without it.
Investment = High Value and ten times the ROI
3. Invested in education
Of high value are increased skillset, get a better job and new opportunities, and adding your skillset to another market. Also, you need to determine the way to receive ten times the ROI. The reason is because your education/learning and business are unsustainable without it.
Investment = High Value and ten times the ROI
4. Think of three private investments made?
Examples are a house, car, healthcare, and the food you eat. Of high value are shelter, safety, warmth, nutrition, and good health. Also, you need to determine the way to receive ten times the ROI. The reason is because your living is unsustainable without it.
Investment = High Value and ten times the ROI
I will cover funding (entrepreneurial fund (EF)) when I teach my second Entrepreneurial Success Tool.
Calculate your qualitative (high value) and quantitative (ROI) for each of the above. Are you researching, is your preparation, and investments done with the right mindset? Determine how high value delivers a ten times ROI for you.
“Your qualitative drives your quantitative.” – Raj Gavurla
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com.
Work (1 or 0)
In 2017 where are you investing your work? To maximize work you want to do work that is meaningful, has value, and is important to you. This includes work that has value in your business, professional association(s) member volunteer work, community volunteer and advocacy work, home project(s), and faith-based volunteer work. To reiterate, it should be meaningful to you, has value, and is important to you. This doesn’t mean it needs to be work your family or friends want to do. It’s work you want to do. In the Entrepreneurial Success Formula work has a value of “1” (has value to the company) or “0” (no value to the company).
“Don’t let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of going after yours.” – Zig Ziglar
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com.
Time (1 or 0)
In 2017 where are you investing your time? You want to maximize your time. This has the most value to you in living your great dreams, goals, vision, and mission. The best way to maximize your time is to prepare.
Do you attend a meeting by preparing? This is the number one reason one person does business with you versus with another person.
Do you schedule an in-person meeting when a meeting isn’t wanted?
Do you schedule a conference call when an in-person meeting is wanted?
Do you return a phone call or reply to an e-mail?
As a humanitarian and citizen, maximizing your time gives you the time to do community volunteer and advocacy work.
Put your criteria to determine the best approach for you and the other party. Just because you or they want it doesn’t mean it’s the best approach. Only, do what adds value for the both of you. Next week, we’ll apply the entrepreneurial leadership learning to the importance of your work. In the Entrepreneurial Success Formula time has a value of “1” (can be done in a timely manner/worth the time) or “0” (time prohibitive).
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #2:
Invest, Save, Benefits, Entrepreneurial Fund (EF)
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tools #3:
Grow, Build, Develop
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tools #4:
Performance Shift (PS) and Entrepreneurial Shift (ES)
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #5:
Better Results / Faster
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #6:
Do 1% Better
I will add more. To receive these tools and much more you can invest in my manual Entrepreneurial Thinking Tools. Buy now: motivateyourresults.com
“Every moment you live in the past is a moment you waste in the present.” Tony Robbins
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com.
“Grow, build, and develop the right way.” – Raj Gavurla
In the following weeks, I will focus on delivering practical and pragmatic entrepreneurial leadership tools. To receive these entrepreneurial leadership tools and much more you can invest in my manual Entrepreneurial Thinking Tools.
Buy now: motivateyourresults.com
This week we’ll apply the entrepreneurial leadership learning to the importance of your money.
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #1:
Entrepreneurial Success =
(Time (1 or 0) + Work (1 or 0) + Money (1 or 0)) x Probability (1, .5, or 0)
Work (1 or 0)
In 2017 where are you investing your work? To maximize work you want to do work that is meaningful, has value, and is important to you. This includes work that has value in your business, professional association(s) member volunteer work, community volunteer and advocacy work, home project(s), and faith-based volunteer work. To reiterate, it should be meaningful to you, has value, and is important to you. This doesn’t mean it needs to be work your family or friends want to do. It’s work you want to do. In the Entrepreneurial Success Formula work has a value of “1” (has value to the company) or “0” (no value to the company).
“Don’t let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of going after yours.” – Zig Ziglar
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com.
Time (1 or 0)
In 2017 where are you investing your time? You want to maximize your time. This has the most value to you in living your great dreams, goals, vision, and mission. The best way to maximize your time is to prepare.
Do you attend a meeting by preparing? This is the number one reason one person does business with you versus with another person.
Do you schedule an in-person meeting when a meeting isn’t wanted?
Do you schedule a conference call when an in-person meeting is wanted?
Do you return a phone call or reply to an e-mail?
As a humanitarian and citizen, maximizing your time gives you the time to do community volunteer and advocacy work.
Put your criteria to determine the best approach for you and the other party. Just because you or they want it doesn’t mean it’s the best approach. Only, do what adds value for the both of you. Next week, we’ll apply the entrepreneurial leadership learning to the importance of your work. In the Entrepreneurial Success Formula time has a value of “1” (can be done in a timely manner/worth the time) or “0” (time prohibitive).
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #2:
Invest, Save, Benefits, Entrepreneurial Fund (EF)
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tools #3:
Grow, Build, Develop
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tools #4:
Performance Shift (PS) and Entrepreneurial Shift (ES)
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #5:
Better Results / Faster
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #6:
Do 1% Better
I will add more. To receive these tools and much more you can invest in my manual Entrepreneurial Thinking Tools. Buy now: motivateyourresults.com
“Every moment you live in the past is a moment you waste in the present.” Tony Robbins
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com.
“Grow, build, and develop the right way.” – Raj Gavurla
Happy, Good Health, and Prosperous New Year to You and Your Family!
In the following weeks, I will focus on delivering practical and pragmatic entrepreneurial leadership tools. To receive these entrepreneurial leadership tools and much more you can invest in my manual Entrepreneurial Thinking Tools.
Buy now: motivateyourresults.com
This week we’ll apply the entrepreneurial leadership learning to the importance of your time.
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #1:
Entrepreneurial Success =
(Time (1 or 0) + Work (1 or 0) + Money (1 or 0)) x Probability (1 or 0)
Time (1 or 0)
In 2017 where are you investing your time? You want to maximize your time. This has the most value to you in living your great dreams, goals, vision, and mission. The best way to maximize your time is to prepare.
Do you attend a meeting by preparing? This is the number one reason one person does business with you versus with another person.
Do you schedule an in-person meeting when a meeting isn’t wanted?
Do you schedule a conference call when an in-person meeting is wanted?
Do you return a phone call or reply to an e-mail?
As a humanitarian and citizen, maximizing your time gives you the time to do community volunteer and advocacy work.
Put your criteria to determine the best approach for you and the other party. Just because you or they want it doesn’t mean it’s the best approach. Only, do what adds value for the both of you. Next week, we’ll apply the entrepreneurial leadership learning to the importance of your work.
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #2:
Invest, Save, Benefits, Entrepreneurial Fund (EF)
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tools #3:
Grow, Build, Develop
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tools #4:
Performance Shift (PS) and Entrepreneurial Shift (ES)
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #5:
Better Results / Faster
Entrepreneurial Leadership Tool #6:
Do 1% Better
I will add more. To receive these tools and much more you can invest in my manual Entrepreneurial Thinking Tools. Buy now: motivateyourresults.com
“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
For programs and services, contact Raj at 864.569.2315, raj@rajgavurla.com.