Long time ago when I was in high-school I was part of the Scouts team. For some years we have been on the mountains tops cleaning and watching the beauties of our country.

This year I went on the mountain again because we discovered heaven on Earth: Valisoara region. Because this place is so beautiful and inside are hidden a lot of treasures (like protected animals, plants, insects, caves etc.) my friends Mihai and Kinga who are owners of Association Biounivers launched at the beginning of August a thematic route “Biodiversity- treasure hidden in Valisoara”.

At the launching  event I met a lot of interesting people from Alba, Cluj and Sibiu. The guys from Salvamont Alba taught us how to orient in the forest with compass and map  and the biologists from Biounivers taught us how to recognize protected plants and animals.

This thematic route is amazing. Words cannot express the beauty of the place, the air and the perfect wild views. Go to Valisoara to discover this route and Pensiunea Cucului (if you want to hear the blackcock singing)!

Enjoy, Mihaela

I feel like the happy puppy. Maybe you (who read now my words) feel the same. Also, there are people that feel like the sad puppy. It is human nature. The idea is that we choose our mental and soul state and we are the only responsible for how we feel and behave. Many times we run away and hide when we need to take decisions and to assume our personal responsibility.

From all my Japanese and international colleagues (and I am grateful to all of them!), I learned at this academy that you need to take your time to think deeply before you speak, to pass everything to your own internal filter and to take full responsibility for your decisions and actions. And most important, take all the challenges that came into your life one by one and to solve them with calm and happiness. Patience and wisdom are the basis.

I put Konosuke Matsushita and his peaceful garden (that I dream to visit it one day!) on my door because I appreciate his leadership style and because this entire JCI academy was about creating new leaders to embrace world peace. Why I appreciate his leadership? In 1933 Matsushita came with a vision that had the following list of guiding principles (that are very similar with JCI principles):
• Service to the Public
• Fairness and honesty
• Teamwork for the common cause
• Untiring effort for improvement
• Courtesy and humility
• Accordance with natural laws
• Gratitude for blessings

Matsushita knew also the story with the happy and sad puppy (its human nature after all!) and said: “Human beings are sometimes slaves to the ugly and weak side of human nature. However, if you set high goals for yourself and every day continue to reflect on them, step by step you will be more focused and make yourself a better human being, becoming a happier person for it..”.

One of the goals for my life (and the academy through our course leader taught me this) is Be a ray of hope! If sounds very idealistic and makes you laugh, but it is my personal mission on this Earth. Yes, I found it and this academy gave me all the reasons to believe that I am on the right track for my life.

My good friend who shared the above story, Constantin D. Pavel wrote in his newsletter about optimism the following: “Being optimist means to make the best choices for the moment and place where you are. And more you choose what is good from what is bad, more you perseverate in cleaning your life path by all people, things, feelings and thoughts that are obstacles for your life mission. Because you came on this Earth with a great mission: to live fully and to be happy of what is good in life in any moment! You choose what you will reflect in the mirror of your life…”.

So, what is your mirror reflecting? It’s your choice to be the happy or the sad puppy. We are the creators of our own reality!

In the end, I would like to offer you some food for thought:
• ”Service to others is the price you pay for your room here on Earth”. (Muhammad Ali)
• “At times of challenge we seek leadership. We need leadership. We are nurtured by the dream that is bigger than ourselves.” (John O. Burdett)
• “Curious minds have no boundaries”. (Joe Navarro)
• “Logic will not change an emotion, but action will.” (Richard Denny)
• “Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.” ( Clarence Thomas)

Mihaela

I am one of the 140 graduates of the 23rd JCI Academy that was held in Tsukuba, Japan. Maybe is important to say that by birth I am Romanian, but after one week spent at the academy with colleagues from over 80 countries from all around the world, I strongly believe that I am in the same time Romanian, international and JCI in my heart.

When I joined JCI in February 2006 I saw the opportunity to learn from people that are more evolved than me and I was attracted by the slogan Be Better! I always wanted to be better in every second of my life. But I never thought that one day I will go to Japan and my life will change forever because there I will find my path in life: Be a ray of hope!

Two years ago I met with a delegation of Japanese investors who wanted to bring their businesses in Romania and they offered me a calendar with a beautiful Japanese garden put together by Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic Company. I put the pictures on my bedroom door and I’ve started to dream that one day I will travel to Japan.

Those days came, now I have many Japanese friends and even a Japanese family (Wakita). Believe me that law of attraction works if you strongly desire something! Personally, before travelling to Japan I really wanted to change my life. Completely! I was looking for new path/ motto for my life. This JCI Academy offered me the path. I felt that entire academy was designed especially for me: all my principles, all my values that were treasured inside me found their way to be expressed. More amazing is that not only I had those principles and values, also the rest of the participants for all around the word. So this means that nothing is wrong with me and that is good to have OMOYARI spirit inside (mutual understanding, compassion and active citizenship).

To understand my soul state now and to show exactly what I intend with these words, let me tell with you a Japanese story that a good friend shared with me: “In a village situated at the end of the world was a place called House of the 1000 mirrors and the old people say that if you enter there you could find out the truth about yourself.

A tiny puppy, very happy by its nature, went to visit this place; when he entered in the house with his ears up and wiggling his tail, he saw suddenly 1000 happy puppies that were wiggling their tails like him; he smiled and received back 1000 happy and friendly smiles. When he left, he said: This is a wonderful place; I will come back another time!

Another puppy, from the same village, sad and unfriendly all the time, went to visit the same house. Bored, with the tail between the legs and head down, he entered in the house and saw 1000 unfriendly puppies looking at him. Being scared, he barked and 1000 puppies barked back at him. He left the place thinking: What an awful place; I will never come back here!” (to be continued)

Mihaela

Tomorrow, Friday 21 May 2010 at 12.00 o’clock I launch officialy first issue of Nonverbal Magazine. Yuppiee!

If you like to join me the location is: Sala de Consiliu of University of Sociology and Social Assistance, from 9 Schitu Magureanu street.

After six months of hard working, this first issue is ready. Please spread the word!

I come back with pictures and details,
Miha

Today newspaper Romania Libera published an interview with me called “Having success at job interview using body language”.

If you want to learn more about me and about my passion for nonverbal communication, read this interview!

I am grateful to Eugenia Mihalcea because she found a very good way to sintetize the last 8 years of work, since 2002 when I founded Acta Nonverbal.

Read the interview here: Having success at job interview using body language

Mihaela

If your answer is YES, then go and apply for the project Start & Grow, developed by startups.ro.

What is Start & Grow? It’s a program offered to support 4 promising businesses and they have free access to the best business resources.

You can have access for consultancy from the best specialists in: strategy, HR, sales, management, PR, accounting, law and coaching.

So, what are you waiting for? Enroll now here: Start & Grow!

Good luck, Mihaela!

8 of March 2010 will remain a special day for my professional life: my first appearance in Forbes Romania!

It is a major achievement for me, you can imagine! Thank you very much Silviu Stefanescu for a very professional approach and dedication to your job!

I dedicate this success first of all to my mother! You are my inspiration and support! Love you, mama!

Then to all who believed in me: my family, my mentor Joe Navarro, my PhD Coordinator prof. dr. Septimiu Chelcea and many many more. I am grateful to you all and you are forever in my heart, even though your name is not written here. Thank you all!

Aparitie Forbes  aici

Why I am grateful to JCI after all after all these years? Because helped me to bring at conscious level what means to be human. Even though our parents, our teachers, our children teach us every day what means to be human, inside JCI global community you become aware of importance to be human and importance of what impact we can have on other people. Positive and life change!

To whom I am grateful in JCI after this delightful experience? First of all, I am grateful to world president of JCI, Mr. Jun Sup Shin (I discovered him as a leader during this congress) for his real example: the moment that touched me the most when he shared with us his dream- his father used to be many years ago local president of a chapter in Korea; Suppy was raised in the entrepreneurial spirit of JCI and became very successful businessman and also president of JCI in 2009! It took a lot of history and work to achieve this, both father and son! Why this touched me? Because in that moment I has a vision: nobody taught me how to be an entrepreneur, but I will teach my son and also share with him the spirit of JCI as the best MBA, university or whatever high school you want; because here is reality and you train for LIFE! I just wish that 18 years from now JCI Romania will be still on, so my Filip could join!

Second, I am grateful to all the people that I met during congress, different religions, different languages, different cultures, and different businesses; there at the congress we were all equal, no matter our function or business! I learnt a lot from all of them and I wish to keep contact with them for the future. Also I can’t wait to see the input of the new president of JCI in 2010, Roland, who is a real charismatic leader and has a lot of energy to share with the entire world and can help us to be the change!

Last but not least, I am grateful to all my JCI colleagues, from 2006 until now: you taught me a lot of things, you helped to become better, you made me believe in power o network and sincere friendship. Let’s keep inside JCI Romania the real spirit of JCI, so we can all develop our best side of our personality. I don’t want to give names, but be sure that all have a special place in my heart. Thank you once more for your support!

What JCI taught me after all in one sentence? Always to Dare for more, to believe in Friendship and in human potential, to reach all the times the highest levels of Excellency, to be free to Speak and to Act, to put Passion in actions and above all, TO LOVE PEOPLE AROUND ME!

If you ask me what to do to FEEL this, I will give you ten hints:
1. Show gratitude and give yourself to others!
2. Be dedicated to your people and serve them!
3. Keep a high level of professionalism and be better in your education!
4. Celebrate always your successes with people!
5. Delegate responsibilities & offer personal example!
6. Be very inventive and look for models around you!
7. Keep the faith alive and hit always the top!
8. Be enthusiastic and have a strong dream!
9. Just do it! Action maters!
10. Take your responsibilities for your actions!

This is my LEGACY! Be better and let us be the change!
Love, Drd. Mihaela Liliana Stroe (JCI Romania)

I believe that what attracted me to JCI in February 2006 were these two words “positive change”. First of all, I felt positive change on myself, at personal and professional level. Starting my own business at 25 years old, being part of an organization of young entrepreneurs seemed logical at that time. But I didn’t realize then the great impact JCI had on my personality… with every JCI general assembly, meetings and projects that I took part either in JCI Bucharest (my initial local organization) or in JCI Romania as member of national board, within JCI Media & PR Academy, with every JCI member that I met along the years and last, but not least, the world congress in Hammemet, Tunisia.

Regarding the congress in Tunisia I would like to express my experiences as chief delegate of JCI Romania (me), as entrepreneur and professional (myself) and as a person (I). Its not just a joke!

ME as chief delegate of JCI Romania- When you go in a world congress as chief delegate of a country don’t think that you will be only in parties and VIP receptions and have just fun all the time; it is a great responsibility, you receive a kit with instructions what you should do all the period during congress (meaning every meeting you must attend). Despite this very strict program, there are also benefits: you have the chance to know all the important persons in JCI, starting with the president, board of directors, senators, presidents of countries, etc. It is a great pleasure to speak with them and to share ideas, visions and why not, dreams about your national organization.

I had the honor to represent Romania in all official meetings and during the voting sections. Also I signed the twinning partnership between JCI Bucharest and JCI Eurasia (Turkey) and received the Award Recognition for JCI Romania due to our contribution to the JCI Social Campaign “Nothing but Nets”. I am grateful to all the JCI members that contributed to this campaign during our National Congress in Iasi. Thanks to them JCI Romania has its moment of victory on the scene of the congress in front of everybody!!!

Myself as entrepreneur and professional- During a world congress you have the chance to meet wonderful and successful entrepreneurs from all over the world. You never know when you sit next to a millionaire! You can attend many interesting training courses that can help you get news ideas for your company. If you participate in Business Networking Events, you will know in such a short time a lot of potential clients from all over the world. As professional, you are respected by the others; it’s a lot of respect in the air and everybody is curios to find out what is your expertise in. Myself, as profiler and nonverbal expert on detecting deception, I found many people interested in what I am doing and they are very eager to continue our discussions!

I as a person- Probably the biggest gain that you have when attending a world congress is at the personal level. Why? First of all, you have the chance to meet a lot of new friends from all over the world; you enjoy visiting the Global Village and meet a lot of cultures; you attend the ceremony of Top Outstanding Young Person and you realize that you are still small on this planet- here you have the chance to meet extraordinary people, that put a lot of passion in what they do and they really change life of people around them; you can participate in the Debate and Public Speaking competitions and you enhance these skills learning from the best; you can participate in the trainings provided during congress and become better in many fields you choose. Last but not least, you can feel the warm and hospitality of the COC Committee- I will give you just a small example: one night I made a confusion with a location of a reception and went to the wrong hotel; when I ask help from COC the person said “Wait! I will bring a bus for you to take you at the correct place”; and there I go, alone in the bus! That’s real customer service.

Miha

It was my first time to participate in a world congress of JCI (Junior Chamber International- www.jci.cc). Maybe is the excitement of something new that is happening in your life that drives me to write these thoughts, maybe is the flu that put me down, but this experience was a life changing one for me and that’s why I share it with you. Even though 2009 was challenging for everyone in each country in every corner of the world, the fact I received as “a gift” from my family this trip to JCI world congress makes me think again that up there in the sky “somebody loves me” and I am really grateful for this.

Also it was my first time in Africa and in Tunisia. I discovered the beautiful resort Yasmine Hammamet and old city Hammemet (only places I had time to visit), a vibrant and exciting culture, a relaxing and exotic place with beaches and camels, people very warm at heart and very carrying for every one of us. For sure I will return to Tunisia because I know now there are many other places to discover and a lot of history to learn from old Carthage.

At the congress participated 2 500 JCI members from over 96 countries. I met personally over 80 JCI members from Europe and over 90 JCI members from other continents (Asia, Americas, Australia, etc.). It was taught and challenging to meet all in only 7 days but the feeling was after first 2-3 days that we know each other for many years.

Why is this possible? Because we shared the same vision, same values and the same spirit- JCI mission, values and spirit- and they are identical everywhere in the world. I would to write them down (for the ones who read this article and don’t know about I am talking about):

JCI Vision- “To be the leading global network of young active citizens”.

JCI Mission- “To provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change”.

JCI Values- The declaration of principles:
“We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;
We believe that the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations;
We believe that economic justice can be won by free men through free enterprise;
We believe that government should be of laws rather than of men;
We believe that earth’s great treasure lies in human personality;
And we believe that service to humanity is the best work of life.”

As JCI Secretary General, Edson A. Kodama (one of the best man that can teach you what leadership and respect are) said: “congress is a great hallmark of JCI, a wonderful time for us as individuals to come together and be inspired by one another’s collective accomplishments as we think about new ways to create positive change”. And believe me, everything that he says is truth. I’ve been there and felt this!

Miha