5 Ways to Stagnate your Federal Career

Working in the Federal job sector is a calling, but whether or not it is your calling or not, here are a few tips to keep your career from eventually stagnating or taking a toxic downturn.

1. Homesteading. Maybe your military career, or life in general, moved you around from place to place so much that you are truly looking to settle in one spot for a while. However, if you want your career to continue to develop, you can either wait for everyone ahead of you to retire or move on, or you can do like most savvy professionals and move around every few years or so. Moving around, even within the federal government, is the best way to ensure you are adding all of the positions and skills necessary to land your dream job for your high-3 retirement calculation.

2. Promotion beyond your Abilities. You have been waiting a LONG time, and the job has finally come open! You take it and find out that you were completely unprepared for the level of responsibility. You used to be the golden child of your department, and now you are just waiting to get the ax; constantly looking for a new job.

Believe it or not, this happens to a LOT of people. In the federal government, you may indeed have to wait a long time for promotions because of homesteaders, but whether you personally want to go for the carrot or whether managers senior to you are goading you on, be sure you sit down and think through the pros and cons of the promotion and go through a true period of self-reflection to determine if you have the skills and motivation to be successful in that new role.

and never… ever... forgot to talk to your family about it first.

3. Leadership through Policy. John C. Maxwell, one of the greatest leadership speakers and authors of our time, goes to great length to explain his “5 Levels of Leadership.”

The first level of leadership is leading by  title only, i.e. people follow you because of your position; because they have to. At this level of leadership, especially in a very regimented society like the federal government, you can become so entangled in leading by the letter of the law, that you begin to live in the shadows of people’s disdain for your leadership by policy mentality.

Everyone around a Level 1 leader will begin to bypass that leader and reach out to leaders who understand the “spirit” behind policies, i.e. how to use those policies to develop best business practices for the organization. Coworkers, executives and customers don't want leaders that say no to everything because of this rule or that rule, but they want leaders that say "here are your options."

4. Bad Santa. No matter how great you are at anything in life, if you have a bad attitude, you just won't make it very far. Even if you do make it further than expected, you will never reach your full potential. It just won’t happen. (If the old adage is true that it success is 10% hard work and 90% attitude, then someone with a bad attitude is only going to reach 10% of their potential).

Sad to say, there is something that happens to federal employees once they pass their probationary period, and it becomes next to impossible to be fired for performance issues. Employees lose their smiles, they start to act like customers are bothering them, or may even purposefully procrastinate on paperwork and deadlines just to prove they are in charge. 

If you are a shining example of a Bad Santa within your organization, then you need to fix that frown on your face, be happy that you have customers, coworkers or a team to lead. Remember, that your talents may carry you for a while, but one day your bad attitude will make the wrong (more influential) person mad or fed up with your attitude, and they will begin to nitpick at your work so as to systematically get rid of you.

5. The Yes Man. One of the worst aspects of working within the government is its dynamic system of continuously intensifying bureaucracy. That is why working within the government is a calling; it requires people with the certain temperament that is rarely seen in the corporate and private sector. Even worse than that is the "YES" men and women who never stand up to the bureaucracy's monotony. 

If you are going to survive in the federal job sector, you have to learn to say NO. You have to learn to say NO because it is the right thing to do, to say NO because you have higher priorities that require your attention at the time, and to say NO because there is a way to do it better. 

If you are the type of person who is able to work on the small picture while looking at the big picture (organizational mission), then you will be an asset to your organization. Be the type of team member or leader that is committed to constant improvement, and not to doing the bare minimum. Moreover be a leader who knows how to keep themselves, their team and organization on track.

Working in in the federal job sector is a great opportunity to serve one's country, but remember it is a calling. I hope that you will take the points I made here to heart, and that it will help you to reflect on where you have come from, where you are now, and where you want to be in years to come.

Benjamin Moriniere is an entrepreneur, martial artists, musician, songwriter, artist and business consultant currently living in Japan. He has worked within federal HR for 8 years and is an HR leader for the top HR Office within the US Marine Corps. 

Top 5 Health and Fitness Trends for 2016

Gone are the days of wading through the waters of yearly resolutions grasping at every new diet and every new fitness plan. Here are the top 5 health and fitness trends for 2016, and what you can do to get ahead of the pack today!

1. Wearable Technology

Smart watches, and other wearable devices that help track your health gains, are paving the way to fine tune our workout regimens. Invest in wearable technology and learn how to maximize the features, maximize your workouts and maximize your day!

Data is king! With the right tech gear providing accurate feedback we no longer have to guesstimate how great of a workout we had, and we can tweak our workouts on the fly.

2. Body Weight Training

Our lives are busier than ever and for those who are on the go all the time, it can be hard to consistently get a great workout in . It can be even harder to carry around burdensome and awkwardly shaped training equipment in suitcases or throughout daily commutes.

Savvy fitness gurus will continue to come out with more and more body weight training exercise videos that can stream directly to your tablet or phone. Martial arts like Capoeira and other rhythmic workouts will keep you interested and excited about staying fit. Invest in the routines and instructors that keep you motivated. 

3. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

HIIT like the Burn with Kearns MMA Fitness program will continue to build steam, literally, and will eventually replace the . These action packed, generally less than 30 minute workouts, are an awesome choice for those who want to maximum burn in a short amount of time.

30 minutes to 1 hour of just lifting things and putting them down is outdated. Professional instructors will be able to explain the functionality of each workout as it pertains to "real life," and entertain you at the same time.

4. Weightlifting

Tried and true weightlifting will continue to be a staple of everyone's recommended exercise regimen. You may not want to bulk up, but even light weightlifting through full ranges of motion will bring you a sleeker, sexier and stronger body and enhanced core stability. 

Find yourself a professional strength and conditioning coach that can give you a few pointers on proper weightlifting form for basic exercises and then add weightlifting to your training regimen. Don't leave it to your significant other or friends (unless they are professional strength and conditioning coaches) because weightlifting is just as much a science as any other activity requiring body mechanics. In other words, there is a right and wrong way to weight lift.

5. Flexibility Increasing Routines

Increasing flexibility is a well-known method of injury prevention and speeding up recovery. Indeed, for a well-rounded and healthier body we should not focus on just aerobics and strength training.

Pilates, gymnastics, Capoeira,  yoga and many other programs all involve great stretching, which is why for people from all walks of life are adding these to their routine. From office workers to construction engineers and even professional Sumo wrestlers, the more flexibility we have the better our bodies perform throughout a full range of motion. 

Ensure you start and finish every workout with a good stretch, and add a few 30-minute sessions of stretching a few times a week. This will help your body to recover quicker and more completely.


Thank you for checking out this blog. I wish you the best in 2016!

BENJAMIN MORINIERE "Sensei" 

Owner / Head Instructor / Performer / Fighter / Master Fitness Trainer (BwK Level 3)

Capoeira Academy Okinawa

Capoeira Zoador | Yudansha MMA | Ladies Kickboxing | Caveirinha BJJ
www.capoeira-okinawa.com
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15th Annual Samba Parade and Show in Okinawa, Japan

We had such a great show this weekend in Okinawa City.

For thr past 8 years we have participated and it has been a blast every time.

Thank you to O Peixe for putting the show together every year.

Benjamin Moriniere
Instrutor Foguete
Capoeira Academy Okinawa

Understanding Proper Promotions in Martial Arts

Belt promotions and stripes are a huge part of today's martial arts world. Teachers constantly struggle to update their curriculum as well as lead and guide each student towards their goals.

A promotion is a result and all results can be measured. When the promotion of a person doesn't makes sense many students will try to calculate how it happened and teachers that promote the wrong people erode the trust factor from within their own organization.

This leads to students who are disheartened by working hard only to watch more influential, but less prepared, students be promoted faster, or worst of all, the student can become disappointed in the instructor or staff completely.  At the worst levels, students begin to see what is commonly referred to as a McDojo. A McDojo is a fast paced, cookie cutter martial arts academy that is generally more interested in the bottom line than in quality students. Irregardless of a students actual ability, they may get promoted, or there may be so many stripes and belt colors that few people can figure out what is going on, other than the money is rolling in.

There can also be a clear case of nepotism or favoritism amount instructors and students. It is great to see promotions from within the ranks, and most students appreciate that. What they appreciate the most is seeing people who deserve to be promoted, get promoted.

In conclustion, teachers with proper promotion strategies are transparent in their promotion processes and students learn exactly what it takes to be promoted within that system and with that instructor. Students many learn that their instructor values their work ethic, behavior, contributions to the team or maybe community service, tournament participation and board breaking.  Every teacher is different, but every teacher can have clear standard and guides for all to follow and gauge their current level at any given moment.

Benjamin Moriniere "Sensei" " Foguete" is a professional martial arts instructor, coach, fighter, dancer, performer in Okinawa, Japan known for innovative training techniques and passionate teaching.
@CapoeiraOkinawa
www.capoeira-okinawa.com

Amazing Insight from a Washington. D.C. Insider - How to Change Executive Mindsets

Recently, I had a great opportunity to sit down with a Washington D.C. insider, a man that spent the last three decades as an attorney and policy writer for a federal organization. Not only was he the lead on writing many policies that govern federal agencies, but he is one of the only people have gotten away with telling the White House "No."

During one of our lunch breaks, I asked a pointing questions - How do you change the mindsets of senior executives, who rely on safe, outdated methodologies in a world that is ever changing? This is what he said:

1. What is in it for Them

A simple principle that most negotiators know - people generally only care about what is in it for them. After years of climbing their way to top, senior executive have developed their level of self-centeredness to the highest levels. This does not mean they are bad leaders or jerks, it just means that they are looking for a win-win situation at every turn.

To that extent, when presenting or writing policies, you must speak to their wants and needs to be heard. No matter what else is presented in your argument or presentation, there are certain things they need to hear. Therefore a large portion of your research should be finding out what makes them tick and what they need or want, and preparing to address those points.

2. No is not an Answer in Itself

Whether it is you who has to answer no, or the executives, NO is never an answer in itself.  If it is you that has to say No, be prepared to back that up with overwhelming data. If no is coming from the senior executives, make them do their jobs by asking HOW you can both arrive at your goals, not WHY they said no.  They may or may not ever tell you WHY, but they can provide you a lot more ammunition and courses of action when you ask them HOW.

3. Find a Champion among the Executives

You have to find a champion among the executives that can speak about you and your agenda on a peer-to-peer level.   They will provide the momentum for you to garner buy in for your ideas.

4. Rebuild from the Ground Up

Don't get used to putting small fixes (band-aids) on broken policies and processes.  It is much better to define what your end state should be, and then back track all the way back to the beginning to create something you truly want instead.



Benjamin Moriniere "Sensei" is a entrepreneur, business consultant,  and professional martial artist, instructor in Japan.   @CapoeiraOkinawa

4 Ways Negativity Poisons Your Life and Career

A positive attitude is just good medicine for all aspects of life. Negativity is like a poison that will systematically destroy your life and career, but hopefuly by the end of this short article you will understand the downspiraling process.

It all starts with influence. It starts with family, friends, music, television, social feeds, etc. When you get a steady diet of positivity, you are inclined to be positive. When you have a steady diet of negativity, you will, in turn, be inclined to be negative. Even people who are generally positive can find themselves on the dark side because of who and what they have let begin to influence them.

1. Battlefield of the Mind

Influential people and things knock on the doors of our mind through our 5 senses. These influences, people or things, are like mailmen dropping off a package at your house, we can sign for the package or we can refuse it.  The reason we can become so negative at times, is that we have let too many negative influences drop off their garbage and we voluntarily accept the trash.  If we can stop the negative poison at this point it won't take root.

2. Roots of the Heart

If we continue to let the poison of negativity  into our minds, then it takes root in our heart. You know you have arrived at this point when you think about negative issues way too much. You might even day dream about negative issues or how you can get even with someone. You frown all the time or you may even lose sleep and feel stressed out. This is the most dangerous point in the process, because negativity is eating at you down on the inside. If not dissipated, it will become so full that like a cup it will start to overflow and show up on the outside.

3. Words Hurt

When the poison of negativity begins to overflow from your heart it shows up in your words.  Your conversations will start to take a toxic turn for the worse, especially when conversing with those you may see as the cause of your anguish.

Everytime you open your mouth, negativity will find its way into the conversation and when you do say something nice, it is with great mental pressure and choice words that carry an aire of dissatisfaction.

You may even begin to speak negatively, whether true or not, spreading negativity just like those people and things that spread it to you when they bombarded your mind.   In other words, welcome, to your new job as as postmen who somehow also delivers the trash.

4. Trashy Relationships

How would you feel if every time we met I kept leaving my trash bags with you?  I see you at home, and I leave a trashbag with you, or I see you at work and I leave a trashbag with you.  Then maybe I see you at the mall and I am like, Hey here is my trash.

How long would it be before you stopped talking to me or started avoiding me?  That is exactly what happens in all of our relationships when we let the toxicity of negativity have its day.  It destroys our family lives, our friendships and even our careers.

The Antidote for Negativity

I hope that by now you understand how negativity can ruin your life. It is a process of time, and reversing the effects of negativity and maintaining a positive life is also a process that takes time.

Mainly, watch who and what you let influence you. The problem with most of us, and why we don't know how we or a situation got so bad, is that we don't think these influential people or things are truly influencing us. We think, Oh it is just a song, or don't mind my friend, that is just the way she is, or he was in Vietnam and that is just the way old Army dogs talk, etc. Everyone and everything you come in contact with influences you in some way.

Fill your cup with positive influences and then that is what starts to show up in your speech, relationships and physical and mental health.

When influencers come to drop of their trash, don't take it. Learn to tell your friends, family, coworkers and even your spouse that your are not a trash collector and you would appreciate them being more positive. Guess what magically begins to happen when you keep denying their trash, they take their trash elsewhere or find ways to deal with it.

Eventually if enough people deny their trash, they will have to face the mirror and see that they need to rid themselves of that trash once and for all.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope that you understand how negativity is poison to everything around you and everything you hold dear.

Lastly, you may ask how can I help others with their negativity?  The process for helping others through their bouts with negativity is tough, but explaining and moreover modeling the correct, positive behavior is truly the best strategy.   You can also share and discuss this article with them.

Benjamin Moriniere "Sensei"

Professional Martial Artist, Inspirational Speaker and Business Consultant.

Bruce Lee Talked a Lot of Crap - But He Backed it Up - 4 Ways to Accelerate your Martial Arts Training

Advancement in many martial arts schools in the 21st century follow two general paths; either rapid promotion, or very slow promotion. Both ways have their pros and cons, but both are standard business models used the world over. So, what does that mean for you? How do you navigate through your art form to ensure that you are reaching your goals just as much as martial arts instructor/business owner is trying to meet theirs?

Give yourself a Deadline

Set a deadline for when you want to obtain a certain rank. If the rank you are trying to obtain has a standard time limit, then be ready BEFORE that limit is reached.  

If you want to be a mover and shaker in the martial arts world, you are going to have to prove yourself worthy of a that rank or title, and you are going to have to do it against peers.  Bruce Lee talked a lot of crap, BUT HE BACKED IT UP.  To accelerate your growth, your goal should be to work your butt off to a level where you prove yourself to be on the level in front of your peers and instructors. Despite the color on your belt, your actions on the mat will be speak louder than the color of your belt... in a good or bad way.

Focus on your Strengths

Teachers do a great job of passing on their skills, but you must remember that we all have our strengths and our weaknesses. There are some movements that I have learned and teach, but never use. This does not take away from their usefulness or effectiveness, but the movements just don't fit my style of fighting. 

In this case when I say style, I don't mean the name of my martial art, but my personal way of expressing it through my body's strengths and weaknesses.  Teachers may teach you all sorts of crazy, cool moves, and some will work for you, and some won't. To develop your style of martial arts at a exponential level, focus on your core set of movements and then push the limit with variations and scenarios. 

Your basics, or foundation, should remain firm through rigorous training, and when coupled with focusing on  your strengths, your personal development will accelerate exponentially,

Less Talking, More Training

Training partners can make you or break you. To be a good training partner, show up to class; to be a great training partner, FOCUS in class on getting better. Don't spend your time jabber jawing. If you have enough time to work your mouth muscles, then you have done yourself and your partner a disservice.

If you have a problem with focus, realize it and fix it, and if your partner is the culprit, model the behavior that they should follow while verbally affirming or reaffirming it from time to time. If they still don't listen, find a new training partner. 

Stop Trying to Win... Learn More

Why are people so obsessed with winning, because we are super competitive group, us martial artists. There is a saying that says you win or you learn, and it holds true for this as well. If you are winning all the time, then train or spar with someone who will give you a greater challenge, or change the scenarios; only work on certain movements or find handicaps that you can build in to the training.  

Otherwise you get funneled right into doing the same movements, the same limited language over and over, and never develop your skills pass your self-inflicted homeostasis.  To accelerate your learning curve, challenge yourself and always ask questions. 

Happy training to you and I hope to spar, roll, or have a cup of coffee with you one day. / 

Benjamin Moriniere "Sensei," Instrutor Foguete"  @CapoeiraOkinawa