Not All Online Degrees Are Created Equal

Online education has exploded in recent years, and the diversity of programs and degrees offered continues to grow. Completely new, online-only colleges and universities have emerged while existing schools have also brought some of their degree programs on to the web to allow for greater accessibility.

This growth of the field had created more opportunities, but also a few pitfalls. Anyone now considering pursuing their degree online must thoroughly research their options because the characteristics and quality of available programs varies widely.

To better understand the differentials, we've compared the online offerings of three schools: The University of Southern California, Western Governors University and Southern New Hampshire University.

School Profiles and Degrees Offered

Each of these three schools has a different profile. The University of Southern California is a highly ranked, private, non-profit research university that offers a Master's in Teaching and a Master's of Social Work online program in addition to its on-campus offerings. Western Governors University, on the other hand, is a completely online university that was created in 1997 and offers both Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in a number of subject areas that include business and information technology. Finally, Southern New Hampshire University, like USC, is a private non-profit school with a physical campus and offers a number of undergraduate and graduate degrees through its online program.

Academics

Though teaching methods can vary by program, each school uses a somewhat standard approach with their online offerings. USC's MAT program includes live online classes with small groups of students and a professor using webcam technology, documentary-style videos, online readings and tools, as well as a fully interactive online community where students can have discussions with classmates. The student-to-faculty ratio is the same as the on-campus program, and USC maintains the same high standards for professors in the online program.

Instead of courses, WGU employs a competency-based approach, in which students can move past subjects they've already mastered by demonstrating their proficiency. Each WGU student works with a mentor who supports them during the program, which they advance through at their own pace. The mentor helps the student identify the resources necessary to build subject competency, resources which can be anything from video lectures and an online library to printed textbooks or learning modules.

SNHU organizes its program around classes, which adjunct faculty instruct using materials developed by SNHU's on-campus professors. Adapted from classes taught on campus, the adjunct professors work from a framework that can include a syllabus, readings, assignments and exams. SNHU does not appear to offer interactive online courses as USC does, but students can still interact with professors and peers through email and the Blackboard learning management system.

Admissions

USC has the most strict admissions standards of the three schools, and maintains the same standards for its online students and on-campus students. Applicants must submit past transcripts, a resume, three personal essays and two letters of recommendation. WGU requires applicants to take a Readiness Assessment exam rather than any standardized testing, as well as submitting transcripts and work history. SNHU has the fewest requirements with their rolling admissions process that asks for transcripts, work history and an optional interview.

Alumni Networks

Many online students fear they will miss out on the valuable alumni connections that on-campus students establish. At USC, however, students in the MAT program gain instant access to the USC Alumni Association, which has over 300,000 members worldwide. The Alumni Association has regional chapters and Young Alumni groups that hold events around the country and the world, and alumni serve as resources for each other through these channels. MAT@USC program members have also held their own meet-ups in major cities to become acquainted with classmates.

As a younger school, WGU has fewer graduates than USC, but their ranks have already swelled to 10,000. WGU provides an online alumni association for its graduates as well as career services to help connect them with jobs. SHNU also has an alumni association, but how graduates of the online program fit in with graduates from on campus remains unclear.

The three schools profiled above share some similarities and are all accredited educational institutions, but in many ways their online degrees are completely different from one another. When thinking about pursuing an education online, one must understand every school takes a different approach, so researching and comparing multiple programs is essential.

This article was written by Social Media Outreach Coordinator, Sarah Fudin on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2tor – an education-technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as USC to deliver their Masters in Teaching degree online.

Thanks to Sarah Fudin / Careerealism
http://www.careerealism.com/online-degrees-equal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+careerealism+%28CAREEREALISM%29

The Length Of A Resume Does NOT Matter

I repeat, the length of a resume does NOT matter. I write this because I am tired of reading blog postings on the subject and receiving resumes from candidates who have been told it is a capital offense for a resume to be longer than one or two pages. Style over substance? Unbelievable!

Let's take a couple of examples:

Young woman. Five years work experience. One-page resume. I called her up. The conversation went something like this. "Thanks for sending me your resume." "You're welcome." "Who was it that told you a resume should only be one-page long?" "My friend." "Get a new friend." "Why and how did you know?" "You sent me a resume with quarter inch margins, written in 6-point font. I can't print it because the margins are too narrow; my printer requires at least half inch margins. And the print is too small for me to read. It's a PDF file so I can't make the changes myself. Send me a proper resume, one-inch margins, 12-point font. And, how do I know? Because it's my job to know." She sent me an excellent three-page resume!

(Here's the funny thing. I am an "Ambassador" with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Recently we had an event at Microsoft in mid-town Manhattan. One of the guests was an HR director, recently laid off. We started talking about resumes and she told me about a resume she received from a woman, one-page, quarter in margins, 6-point font. If I remember correctly, she said she did not even bother to contact her…)

Two candidates. Both applied through me for a Systems Administrator position. It was a seven-page resume vs. a one-page resume. There was nothing that could be removed from the seven-pager without diminishing quality and content. The one-pager was a solid resume showing ten years' experience. The seven-pager won. Why? Because the seven-pager had seven times more quality than the one-pager. And believe me, my client had no problem reading about what the candidate had done at Microsoft, Cisco, IBM…

Let's consider some of the claims that are made in support of the one- or two-page resume limit:

People don't read. It's a good thing nobody told J.K. Rowling! People read. HR professionals read. Hiring managers read. Business owners read. Children read – even if it's not homework. We love to read. But it has to be quality.

Resume recipients are tired. Absolutely! For every job opening they can receive hundreds of applications, meaning resumes. And they are boring. They are awful. They are one, two or three pages in length – and sometimes more. And they are absolutely what you, as a candidate, hope for. The resume recipient spends five to ten seconds, I repeat, SECONDS, glancing at those tributes to irrelevancy and then, like an oasis in the desert, your resume appears. Have you thanked professional resume writers for setting the bar so low?

I was looking to fill a position and must have received fifty unsolicited resumes. (That's when I decided to stop listing active searches on my website!) They all began the same way, with a dishonest "Objective," "I wish to utilize my education and work experience to… " Please! An honest "Objective" would read: "To get the job for which I am applying." Now THAT'S a candidate I would want to meet!

Next came the "Executive Summary" consisting of self-praise without any hard facts. It would make any mother proud to learn that her child had become a "consummate professional," "trust worthy," a "team player," someone who "exceeds expectations." But it means nothing to me. I don't care what a candidate thinks of herself; I care what she has actually done.

Then, as my eyes start to tear from staring at the computer reading dribble, it appears. Your resume! The five-page resume of my dreams. And I click "print." Why? Because, you understand me. You know I'm tired and bored and just want the facts.  You make my job easy. You know that your job search is about me, not you. You have to meet my needs; I don't have to meet yours. You're incidental to the process. I'm a recruiter. I have to make my client happy. If you want to make me happy, let me make my client happy. And what makes my client happy? A candidate who gets to the point and does not waste time.

It all comes down to differentiation. And you're lucky. Be grateful for the resume writers who insist on keeping resumes to a page. Someone else is paying them to make you look good!

So how do you look good?  Get rid of the Objective and Summary statements. They're nonsense. Start with a heading, "Selected Accomplishments," followed by four to six bullet points that highlight objective, verifiable achievements that you have had that speak to the position for which you are applying. The tired, bored resume recipient will, in five seconds, know what you have to offer. Then they will check to see if you meet the minimum qualifications for the job (years experience, education, certifications) and whether or not you are a "jumper" or keep your jobs for a good length of time. If you pass that test, you can expect your phone to ring.

I think it was Corey Harlock who told me on my radio show the one question everyone should ask before hiring a resume writer or career counselor is, "Have you ever hired anyone?" Great question. Ask it! For the record, I have. (For the record, it's important because persons who have not actually hired anyone have an academic approach to resume writers, while we have a practical approach.)

Bruce A. Hurwitz, Ph.D., President and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, Ltd., has been an executive recruiter and career counselor since 2003. CAREEREALISM users are eligible for a half-price discount on his Udemy.com course, How to Conduct an Effective Job Search. When prompted enter Coupon Code CR201101.

Thanks to Bruce A. Hurwitz, Ph.D. / Careerealism
http://www.careerealism.com/resume-length-matter/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+careerealism+%28CAREEREALISM%29

 

10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Any Interview

Your cover letter and resume has made a positive impression on a potential employer and they've called you in for an interview. Now you need to ensure the employer stays impressed with you and your potential in their organization.

There's an old saying first impressions count – and there is no better instance of the truth to this than the impressions made during an interview. A variety of factors are in effect. It may include the way you are dressed, how you communicate, your personality, and a number of other considerations. It takes a lot to develop a positive impression, and conversely requires very little to leave one that does not work in your favor as key decisions are made for the new talent they need to bring on.

All the time invested into planning and preparing becomes obsolete with these mistakes commonly seen with some job candidates.

1. Arriving late. Everyone's time is value. Show respect and do not waste other people's time. If there is an unexpected delay, at the very least, give a call to apologize and inform your contact of your expected arrival time.

2 . Jumping into the discussion of pay and benefits. There will be a time for this discussion – generally not in the first interview, unless it is approached by the employer. You do not want to appear as though all you care about is "what is in it for me." At the same time, approaching the topic of salary is especially risky. You may end up putting yourself in a position where you are asked to present a desired salary and fall under what the company had anticipated. Learn more about the position and conduct research before going into discussion of salary.

3. Answering a cell phone. Show respect by letting your employer know this interview is more important than any call you have. Turn off your cell phone. If you forget and it rings, apologize and turn it off.

4. Talking bad about your previous or current employer. Regardless of the reality of the situation, never talk bad about your current or previous employer(s). It brings to question if you will do the same with this potential employer in the future.

5. Being brief or hiding from questions or talking too much. Just as you want to learn about the employer, the employer wants to learn about you. At the same time, you don't want to be the only one talking throughout the interview. Learn to listen and have a balanced conversation where you both have a chance to receive information and ask questions.

6. Not asking questions. Regardless of how thorough the interview discussion is, when asked, "Do you have any questions for me?," always have a question. When you do not have a question, it may come across as though you are not sincerely interested in the opportunity. For additional tips, take a look at our post on "The 4 Most Important Questions to Ask at an Interview."

7. Dressing inappropriately. Your appearance includes not just what you wear but how you groom yourself. Employers will not be impressed with a sloppy appearance. You need to appear and dress the part of what is expected of the position.

8. Being unprepared. Conduct research so you have at least a general sense of the type of business the company is in and what the position you are applying for is about. You will be able to better tailor your communication during discussion and questions with the employer.

9. Lying. False information can lead to an immediate disqualification and exemplify your weaknesses.

10. Being inattentive. Carefully listen to what the interviewer is saying and show you are attentive. You do not want to appear disinterested and come off as inattentive. It is not a desirable characteristic for any position.

Most candidates will only receive one opportunity to make an impression. Make sure the one you leave is as positive as possible by keeping these tips in mind during your next interview.

Don Goodman, president of Resume Writing Service – About Jobs is a nationally recognized career expert.

Thanks to Don Goodman / Careerealism
http://www.careerealism.com/interview-mistakes-ruin/

 

Don’t Assume An Employee Knows The Rules

In my many years of consulting with small companies I have seen a lot of mistakes be made by employers, but I have probably not seen as many as defense attorneys have seen. I was reading a post by attorney Daniel Schwartz entitled Things Employment Lawyers Don't Want to Hear. Very interesting and I recommend you read it. But one thing he said struck me was that you don't assume an employee knows the rules.

Actually I paraphrased what he said. What he actually said was

""How does the employee know the rule? Trust me. He knows." I love this one. In defense of the employer, it's probably true more often than not. However, you will never be able to get the employee to admit that he knew it if the rule isn't in writing. And if you don't have it in writing, you won't be able to defend yourself if the employee "forgets" what he "knew."

This falls into the category documentation. I tell clients and students that you have to live the mantra of "document, document, document." I don't do this because I love documentation, but I am realistic and experienced enough to know that without documentation rules and events get easily forgotten.

One of the easiest forms of documentation is your employee handbook. You want to make it complete but try not to get lost in the details. It is NOT necessary to point out every possible rules violation that could possibly occur, but you certainly want to cover the major issues. And of course you need to have the acknowledgement signed as that is really the first step in your defense that the employee was exposed to the rules. But honestly you need to go beyond that. You need to make sure that the employee was exposed to and learned the rule through a well conducted onboarding process. With this process you can avoid the mistake of assuming the employee knew. After all we all know what ASSUME means, correct?

Thanks to Michael Haberman / Omega HR Solutions, Inc.
http://omegahrsolutions.com/2011/12/dont-assume-an-employee-knows-the-rules.html

 

The Learning And Development Book By Tricia Emerson, Mary Stewart

The Learning and Development Book By Tricia Emerson, Mary Stewart Price: $16.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Ships from and sold by Amazon.com 7 new or used available from $16.14 Average customer review: (1 customer reviews)

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This book was written for the experienced, time-challenged L&D professionals looking for ways to be more effective. The insights in this book are meant to help when you feel stalled. They are about the gotchas - the hard-won knowledge that comes from skinned knees and bumped heads. They might jump-start your creativity, give you a fresh idea, and remind you of something that worked in the past, or simply change your perspective. In addition to enabling effective learning, from time to time you must articulate the need for it. This book gives you simple ideas and concepts to illustrate these needs and illuminate learning and development efforts for you, your clients, your teams and your company leadership. L&D is simple. Our chapters are written to be short and easy to digest. Each contains just one "nugget of wisdom" from years of learning and development consulting experience. L&D is flexible. Open to any chapter! No need to start at the beginning. Read the table of contents and pick something that interests you. Each chapter is self-contained, so read one or read them all, in any order you like.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #587566 in Books
• Published on: 2011-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .41" h x 6.14" w x 7.11" l, .66 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

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This is a great little book - very well written and easy to understand. I was also pleasantly surprised when Amazon notified me of a refund - "because the price of the item(s) decreased after you ordered them, and we gave you the lowest price."

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http://astore.amazon.com/amazon-book-books-20/detail/156286808X

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Hadrat Sultan Salah Ad-Din Abu Al-Afdal Yusuf Ibn Al-Ayyub Alaihir Rahma

Hadrat Sultan Salah ad-Din Abu al-Afdal Yusuf Ibn Al-Ayyub Alaihir Rahma

 

 

Sultan SalāH ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb was a Kurdish Muslim who became the Sultan of Egypt and Syria. He led Islamic opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant. At the height of his power, he ruled over Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Hijaz, and Yemen. He led the Muslims against the Crusaders and eventually recaptured Palestine from the Kingdom of Jerusalem after his victory in the Battle of Hattin. As such, he is a notable figure in Kurdish, Arab, Persian, Turkish and Muslim culture. Hadrat Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was a strict practitioner of Islam. His chivalrous behavior was noted by Christian chroniclers, especially in the accounts of the siege of Kerak in Moab, and despite being the nemesis of the Crusaders he won the respect of many of them, including Richard the Lionheart; rather than becoming a hated figure in Europe, he became a celebrated example of the principles of chivalry.

Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was born in the year 532 AH/1137 CE in Tekrit on the West Bank of the Tigris between Mosul and Baghdad, loved dearly by his father, Ayyub. His family was of Kurdish background and ancestry, and had originated from the city of Dvin, in medieval Armenia. His father, Najm ad-Din Ayyub, was banished from Tikrit and in 1139, he and his brother Asad al-Din Shirkuh, moved to Mosul. He later joined the service of Imad ad-Din Zangi who made him commander of his fortress in Baalbek. After the death of Zangi in 1146, his son, Nur ad-Din, became the regent of Aleppo and the leader of the Zengids.

 

 

Salahuddin Ayyubi, who now lived in Damascus, was reported to have a particular fondness of the city, but information on his early childhood is scarce. About education, Salahuddin Ayyubi wrote

"Children are brought up in the way in which their elders were brought up."

According to one of his biographers, al-Wahrani, Salahuddin Ayyubi was able to answer questions on Euclid, the Almagest, arithmetic, and law, but this was an academic ideal and it was study of the Qur'an and the "Sciences of Religion" that linked him to his contemporaries. Several sources claim that during his studies he was more interested in religion than joining the military. Another factor which may have affected his interest in religion was that during the First Crusade, Jerusalem was taken in a surprise attack by the Christians. In addition to Islam, Salahuddin Ayyubi had a knowledge of the genealogies, biographies, and histories of the Arabs, as well as the bloodlines of Arabian horses. More significantly, he knew the Hamasah of Abu Tammam by heart.

According to Imad al-Din, Salahuddin Ayyubi had fathered five sons before he left Egypt in 1174. There are no known details about most of the wives and slaves who bore him children. Salahuddin Ayyubi's eldest son, al-Afdal was born in 1170 and Uthman was born in 1172 to Shamsa who accompanied Salahuddin Ayyubi to Syria. Al-Afdal's mother bore Salahuddin Ayyubi another child in 1177. A letter preserved by Qalqashandi records that a twelfth son was born in May 1178, while on Imad al-Din's list, he appears as Salahuddin Ayyubi's seventh son. Mas'ud was born in 1175 and Yaq'ub in 1176, the latter to Shamsa. Nur al-Din's widow, Ismat al-Din Khatun, remarried to Salahuddin Ayyubi in September 1176. Ghazi and Da'ud were born to the same mother in 1173 and 1178, respectively, and the mother of Ishaq who was born in 1174 also gave birth to another son in July 1182.

 

 

"No sooner did he assume the overlordship of Egypt the world and its pleasures lost all significance in his eyes", says ibn Shaddad the Qadi of his army. He renounced the temptations of pleasure and took to a life of sweat and toil, which increased day by day until Allah summoned him to his Mercy. Such are the words of Allah:

"Perhaps you hate a thing while it is good for you and you may love a thing while it is bad for you."

"When Allah gave me the land of Egypt with so little trouble, I knew that he meant for me the blessed land also, for He Himself implanted the thought in my heart", said Salahuddin. He soon had the satisfaction of seeing his administration respected and order established in all aspects. He generously spent on the people from the money the Fatimids had been storing up in the palace walls, won the hearts of his people, and brought the faction-ridden country under obedience and his rule. He took great pains to establish the Sunnah more firmly in Egypt with the aid of the 'Ulama.

People came to visit him from every walk of life and flocked to his court from all parts. He never disappointed the hopes of visitors nor allowed them to depart with empty hands. When the crusaders heard that Salahuddin was ruling successfully they were convinced that he would soon overtake them, lay waste their usurped dwellings and wipe away all traces of their rule. This would most probably have happened but Salahuddin had one substantial obstacle - the disunity of the Muslims. They had immense riches and natural strength in the region and spent most of their time fighting each other rather than the real enemy. It took Salahuddin 18 years to get the attention of the Muslims in order to liberate Muslim lands. During that time Muslims were barely holding out in Egypt and Syria. Yet slowly, Salahuddin as example through persuasion, teaching, time and understanding worked to unite the Muslims. Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Egyptians - they were all Muslims and his servants when he called, Lane writes. "In spite of their differences of race, their national jealousies he had kept them together"

 

 

When Salahuddin had finally united the hearts in the core lands of Islam, virtually all the blessed lands returned to Muslim hands within five months. By Friday 27th Rajab/2nd October 1187 C.E. the Muslims were knocking on the door of al-Aqsa Masjid. Allah allowed the Muslims to take the city as a celebration on the anniversary of the Me'raj Sharif, the Prophet Ascension into heaven. Truly, this was a sign that this deed was pleasing to Almighty Allah. "It was a victory of victories, recalls ibn Shaddad. "A testimony of faith to a multitude of people, scholars, noblemen, merchants and masses who were brought there by the news of Salahuddins victories and success in the lands of the Mediterranean coast. All the Ulama came to join Salahuddin, both from Egypt and Syria. There was not a single well-known dignitary but he had come. The joyful shouts of "Allahu Akbar" and "La Ilaha Illallah" reached to the skies. After 90 years Friday prayers were again held in Jerusalem. A huge cross that glittered on the Dome of the Rock was thrown down. It was an indescribable event, the joy of the blessings and the victory of Allah were to be witnessed everywhere on that day.

The non-Muslims of Jerusalem asked for mercy and he gave it. Every man, woman and child was allowed to ransom themselves for a paltry price. He kept order in every street and refused to allow the People of the Book to be verbally abused, much less molested. What a far cry from the victorious Christians of 1099 (and the 1980s) who killed, tortured, shot in cold blood and burnt defenseless Muslims in the streets of Al-Aqsa. "Fortunate were the merciless because they obtained mercy at the hands of the Muslim Sultan", said Lane. Salahuddin said: "Well, when by Allahs help not one crusader is left on this coast, I intend to divide my territories and to change the successors with my last commands, then, having taken leave from them, I will sail on this sea to its lands across the water until there shall not remain on the face of this earth one unbeliever in Allah or I will die in this attempt"

 

 

Letter from Sultan Salah ad-Din to the Muslim Ummah

 

Following is a letter written by Sultan Salah ad-Din Ayyubi when he started his Jihad against the crusaders more than 9 centuries ago:

"We hope in Allah most high, to whom be praise, who leads the hearts of Muslims to calm what torments them and ruins their prosperity.

Where is the sense of honor of Muslims? The pride of Believers? The Zeal of the Faithful?

We shall never cease to be amazed at how the disbelievers for their part have shown trusts, and it is the Muslims who have been lacking in zeal. Not one of them has responded to the call. Not one intervenes to straighten what is distorted; but observe how far the Franks have gone what unity they have achieved. What aims they pursue. What help they have given. What sums of money they have borrowed and spent. What wealth they have collected and distributed and divided amongst them. There is not a King left in their lands or islands, not a lord or a rich man who has not competed with his neighbors to produce more support and rival his peers in strenuous military efforts. In defense of their religion they consider it a small thing to spend life and soul; and they have kept their infidel brothers supplied with arms and champions of war; and all they have done and all their generosity has been purely out of zeal for him they worship in jealous defense of their faith.

The Muslims on the other hand are weak and demoralized; they have become negligent and lazy, the victims of unproductive stupefaction and completely lacking in enthusiasm. If , Allah forbid, Islam should draw rein, obscure her splendor, blunt her sword, there would be no one, east or west, far or near who would blaze the zeal for Allah's religion, or choose to come to the aid of truth against error.

This is the moment to cast off laziness, to summon from far and near all those men who have blood in their veins; but we are confident (he speaks about himself and the small party of believers who began with him and then became a large party); but we are confident, thanks to Allah -Alhamdulillah- in the Help that will come from him and entrust ourselves to him in sincerity of purpose and deepest devotion.

In sha Allah, the disbelievers shall perish and the faithful have a sure deliverance."

— Salahuddin Ayyubi 12 CE

 

 

"After I die, you will see these Muslims fall apart in disunity, and you will see the Europeans grow strong. The best thing to do for now is to continue the fight until we drive them from the Coast (of Palestine) or die."

These are the Ominous words of Sultan Salah ad-Din about our Ummah. Salahuddin Ayyubi stated this after King Richard of England proposed that Salahuddin Ayyubi's brother, Sayf ad-Dîn (popularly known as "Safadin" in the West), should marry his siter Joanna. So admirable was Salahuddin Ayyubi's character that his worst enemy who had traveled over 2000 miles to eliminate him, ended up offering his own sister to his family. This is the result of Perfect Islâmic "Ikhlâq" and "'Adab".

Also, Salahuddin Ayyubi stated in regards to the troubles he endured uniting the entire Muslim world under one banner:

"I do not know what will happen to me, if Allâh wills that the enemy should grow strong. They have established a base from which they can retrieve other lands. you will see these Muslim leaders sitting at the tops of their grandiose towers saying, 'I shall not come down,' until the Muslim world will be destroyed."

How did Salahuddin Ayyubi destroy his enemies, drive the Franks from Jerusalem and most of Palestine, and be written of so well by the European historians whose people he defeated? This is how:

"On July 3 Salâh ad-Dîn performed the Friday prayer in the Mosque of al-Aqsa, He was seen prostrating and repeating his prayers over and over again as his tears soaked the prayer mat."

 

 

On February 20, 1193, Salahuddin Ayyubi rode out to meet the Pilgrims returning from the Hajj in Makkah al-Mukarrama. He had longed to perform the Hajj his entire life, but the constant Jihâd did not allow such. That night he fell ill and broke out into a tempestuous fever. On the fourth day of his illness they had him bled, which was a tradition of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon him). Salahuddin Ayyubi would not stop sweating. On the ninth day of his illness he stopped taking liquids. By March 3 on the eleventh day of his illness, Salahuddin Ayyubi had sweat so much that the bed was soaked and the floor stained. The scholars who witnessed this testified to it being a match to the description of a good death in the Sunnah.

On the morning of March 4, 1193, the Imâm Abû Ja'far was reciting from the Qur'ân as Salahuddin Ayyubi's son al-Afdal, and his friend and administrator al-Fâdil, as well as others looked on. As the Imâm reached following verse of Sûrat at-Tawbah, the Qur'ânic chapter most associated with Jihâd:

حسبي الله لا إله إلا هو عليه توكلت وهو رب العرش العظيم
"Allah suffices me; there is no worship except for Him; only Him have I trusted, and He is the Lord Of The Great Throne."

Hadrat Salahuddin Ayyubi smiled from ear to ear, and breathed his last. Since Salahuddin Ayyubi had given most of his money away for charity when they opened his treasury, they found there was not enough money to pay for his funeral. And so Salahuddin Ayyubi was buried in a magnificent mausoleum in the garden outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.

— — —

Thanks to Rehmat-e-Alam.com
http://rehmat-e-alam.com/

 

The Accidental Creative: How To Be Brilliant At A Moment's Notice By Todd Henry

The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice By Todd Henry List Price: $25.95 Price: $14.42 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Ships from and sold by Amazon.com 46 new or used available from $12.95 Average customer review: (40 customer reviews)

Product Description

Have better ideas, faster, without the stress and burnout.

It isn't enough to just do your job anymore. In order to thrive in today's marketplace, all of us, regardless of our role, have to be ready to generate brilliant ideas on demand.

Business creativity expert Todd Henry explains how to establish effective practices that unleash your creative potential. Born out of his consultancy and his popular podcast, Henry has created a practical method for discovering your personal creative rhythm. He focuses on five key elements:

* Focus: Begin with your end goal in mind.

* Relationships: Build stimulating relationships and ideas will follow.

* Energy: Manage it as your most valuable resource.

* Stimuli: Structure the right "inputs" to maximize creative output.

* Hours: Focus on effectiveness, not efficiency.

This is a guide for staying inspired and experiencing greater creative productivity than you ever imagined possible.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3138 in Books
• Published on: 2011-07-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .88" h x 6.36" w x 9.32" l, .94 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"My copy of The Accidental Creative has notes and highlights throughout. Invaluable for anyone who thinks for a living."
-Seth Godin, Author of Linchpin

"Mr. Henry's prescription for maximizing productivity is sagacious, innovative, and sublimely practical. I've already incorporated into my own regimen three of his notions and they are working like gangbusters. The Accidental Creative is high-octane fuel for creative productivity."
-Steven Pressfield, Author of The War of Art

"Todd Henry has spent years breaking down the secrets of highly effective creatives. Read this book and prepare to ramp up your brilliance!"
-Chris Guillebeau, Author of The Art of Non-Conformity

"The Accidental Creative is an inspiring and practical guide for staying fresh and doing brilliant work. If you regularly need great ideas, this book will help you find them."
-Tony Schwartz, Author of Be Excellent at Anything

"There are two definitive versions of you with Todd's book: you before reading it, and you to the 100th power immediately after."
-riCardo Crespo, SVP/Global Creative Chief, 20th Century Fox FCP

"This book is a practical awakening to a life of surprise and usefulness. It contains wisdom, practices, and guidelines to help calm and focus us in a world vibrating with distraction."
-Peter Block, Author of Community

"The Accidental Creative should be required reading whether you are starting out in business or already a CEO. It presents a step-by-step model that will immediately help you generate business-building ideas for your job."
-Bob Gilbreath, Chief Strategy Officer, Possible Worldwide, and Author of The Next Evolution of Marketing

"I was struck with how relevant and practical this book is for anyone in the creative field at any level. It is full of invaluable life lessons."
-Tim Hale, SVP of Marketing and Design Communications, Fossil

"The gift of creative insight is not to be squandered! Todd Henry has assembled a guide that will enrich your creative pursuits. Don't dream without it."
-Scott Belsky, CEO, Behance, and Author of Making Ideas Happen

About the Author
Todd Henry is the founder and CEO of Accidental Creative, a consultancy that helps organizations generate brilliant ideas. In 2006 he started The Accidental Creative, one of the top business podcasts. Henry is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and coach. Visit AccidentalCreative.com to learn more.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
Plan for Great Creating
By HolaMindy
As soon as I finished reading this, I bought four more copies for my writer friends. This book will serve creative professionals and dedicated hobbyists of all stripes, from writers, painters, and graphic designers to design engineers and computer programmers.

This book will help you bring a thoughtful structure to your every day creative work. It's work in the best way; Todd teaches you how to examine your life as a whole to make sure that you have the key elements necessary to support your creating over the long term.

So often I find myself exhausted from a long day at work, with little energy left to give to my own personal art. After reading the book I've made some small, intentional changes to my daily habits and I've been excited to find I have so much more left in the tank for my writing and creating sessions. I even find myself waking up early, filled with new ideas. That's in the short term; I'm excited for the long term change to my production.

This book stands on its own (no knowledge of the podcast necessary), but fans of the podcast will especially love this book! It's definitely money well spent and I even find that it is helping me to synthesize the ideas from other creative revolution books like Daniel Pink's "A Whole New Mind." The book has earned a spot on my desk, not on my bookshelf.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
The Perfect Cure For Creative Misdirection...and Preparation
By meStudio
If only I had been armed with this information in college but Oh how grateful I am to have it now!
A few years ago, I stumbled upon Todd Henry and his podcast. Instantly I was drawn in by his accessible manner, as he painted the picture of what creative burn-out looked like..and it was my self portrait. His emphasis on "filling your tank" with artistic input before you even begin expelling your creative output, changed my entire perspective of the process.

This book, How To Be Brilliant At A Moment's Notice is not only the compilation of the Accidental Creative's brilliant, prolific and healthy golden nuggets but reveals to you what's at the core of your blocked and frustrating creative moments. And then helps you create workable resolutions. I am thrilled to say that it exceeded all expectations that I had. It is the essential user's manual for any creative! If your creative outlook was impacted by Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art" then this book will blow you away.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Four Hour Body for the mind
By BEN LOVE
After being a listener of the Accidental Creative podcast for years, it was great to see Todd finally release a book.

This is an important book worth sharing for a few reasons...
1. it's hits all the strong points from Accidental Creative podcasts - and there are many,
2. it covers a ton of uncharted territory extremely relevant to the modern knowledge worker,
3. it articulates art and creativity in way that almost anyone can digest, bringing it closer to home for engineering minds (like mine) and knowledge workers, and
4. brings all this together with a focus on mental and physical health too - it's like a Four Hour Body for the mind.

A thoroughly recommended, refreshing read.

http://astore.amazon.com/amazon-book-books-20/detail/1591844010

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