Comments for mediatorinthemaking.com http://mediatorinthemaking.com adventures in learning the practice of mediation Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:10:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 Comment on More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) by vickie http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-61 vickie Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:39:54 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-61 good analysis - living in los angeles, I often compare mediating to acting. A lot of try outs. Some work in commercials, long dry spells. You have to work the crowd constantly or they forget you. And you're only as good as your last movie. How could we have let john travolta's talents go unused as long as they did? This isn't a job, it's a new restaurant with scorpians and quail eggs on the menu. To shamelessly mix my metaphors. No surprise either that you find so many lawyer-artists here. We're lucky that we can freelance as lawyers on the side. There's still more money in war than in peace! good analysis - living in los angeles, I often compare mediating to acting. A lot of try outs. Some work in commercials, long dry spells. You have to work the crowd constantly or they forget you. And you’re only as good as your last movie. How could we have let john travolta’s talents go unused as long as they did? This isn’t a job, it’s a new restaurant with scorpians and quail eggs on the menu. To shamelessly mix my metaphors. No surprise either that you find so many lawyer-artists here. We’re lucky that we can freelance as lawyers on the side. There’s still more money in war than in peace!

]]> Comment on Silly pseudoscience to mindfulness by brain exercises http://mediatorinthemaking.com/mindfulness/silly-pseudoscience-to-mindfulness/#comment-49 brain exercises Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:57:22 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/mindfulness/silly-pseudoscience-to-mindfulness/#comment-49 Well said. Well said.

]]> Comment on More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) by make money online http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-48 make money online Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:46:03 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-48 <strong>make money online...</strong> Very well said. Thanks for your regular updates.... make money online…

Very well said. Thanks for your regular updates….

]]> Comment on More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) by Rachel http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-47 Rachel Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:00:13 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-47 Diane, very good point about providing info on the field in advance of training rather than on the last day. It would be pretty easy for training providers to send out a recommended reading list -- print and online resources -- and could be very helpful to students. I also hadn't thought about the range of quality of training programs. When I chose my program, I relied heavily on your pieces about how to do so. These two were especially helpful: <a href="http://mediationchannel.com/2007/01/21/mediation-certification-and-credentialing-getting-accurate-information-on-becoming-a-mediator/" rel="nofollow"> Mediation certification and credentialing: getting accurate information on becoming a mediator </a> <a href="http://mediationchannel.com/2006/05/02/how-to-become-a-mediator-five-frequently-asked-questions-about-training-and-careers-in-mediation/" rel="nofollow">How to become a mediator: five frequently asked questions about training and careers in mediation</a> I interviewed the training provider and an alum of the program, using the above posts as guides for my questions. I think I take for granted that I landed with an ethical program. Diane, very good point about providing info on the field in advance of training rather than on the last day. It would be pretty easy for training providers to send out a recommended reading list — print and online resources — and could be very helpful to students.

I also hadn’t thought about the range of quality of training programs. When I chose my program, I relied heavily on your pieces about how to do so. These two were especially helpful:
Mediation certification and credentialing: getting accurate information on becoming a mediator
How to become a mediator: five frequently asked questions about training and careers in mediation

I interviewed the training provider and an alum of the program, using the above posts as guides for my questions. I think I take for granted that I landed with an ethical program.

]]> Comment on More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) by Diane Levin http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-46 Diane Levin Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:45:17 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-46 Rachel, really sharp post here -- with a sojourn into economic theory no less! You're correct to point out that many people sitting in a mediation training program have unrealistic expectations about the field and the likelihood of commercial success as a mediator. I'm not absolving people of the responsibility to do some due diligence in advance of signing up for a training, but I do think Urska is right to place primary responsibility on mediation trainers for providing information about the realities of the profession. And that information should be supplied <em>in advance of the mediation training</em>, and not on the last day of the program. Not only is mediation an unlicensed and unregulated field, but even more so is that true of mediation training. Anyone can call themselves a mediation trainer. It makes it extremely difficult for people to know where to turn for accurate information. When you're applying to grad school, you know you need to apply to an accredited university. But no one is accrediting mediation training programs. This makes it all the more difficult for consumers of mediation training services. There are plenty of mediation trainers who conduct themselves ethically, but there are also a few poorly run training programs out there making absurd representations about the prospects for success for those who complete their programs. Rachel, thanks for expanding on the conversation in such an insightful and thought-provoking way. Great ideas here! Rachel, really sharp post here — with a sojourn into economic theory no less! You’re correct to point out that many people sitting in a mediation training program have unrealistic expectations about the field and the likelihood of commercial success as a mediator.

I’m not absolving people of the responsibility to do some due diligence in advance of signing up for a training, but I do think Urska is right to place primary responsibility on mediation trainers for providing information about the realities of the profession. And that information should be supplied in advance of the mediation training, and not on the last day of the program. Not only is mediation an unlicensed and unregulated field, but even more so is that true of mediation training. Anyone can call themselves a mediation trainer. It makes it extremely difficult for people to know where to turn for accurate information. When you’re applying to grad school, you know you need to apply to an accredited university. But no one is accrediting mediation training programs. This makes it all the more difficult for consumers of mediation training services. There are plenty of mediation trainers who conduct themselves ethically, but there are also a few poorly run training programs out there making absurd representations about the prospects for success for those who complete their programs.

Rachel, thanks for expanding on the conversation in such an insightful and thought-provoking way. Great ideas here!

]]> Comment on More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) by Geoff Sharp http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-45 Geoff Sharp Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:25:01 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/making-money-mediating-for-free/#comment-45 Rachel, what a wonderful post. I swing between glass half full and glass half empty on this topic - I will highlight your post over at blahblah. Rachel, what a wonderful post. I swing between glass half full and glass half empty on this topic - I will highlight your post over at blahblah.

]]> Comment on All careers are careers in conflict resolution? by More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) | mediatorinthemaking.com http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/careers-conflict-resolution/#comment-44 More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) | mediatorinthemaking.com Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:38:53 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/careers-conflict-resolution/#comment-44 [...] to see a study echoing comments I’ve made myself in posts such as the one referenced above, and this one. My reactions were similar to many readers’ to the questions and hypotheses posed, the anecdotal [...] […] to see a study echoing comments I’ve made myself in posts such as the one referenced above, and this one. My reactions were similar to many readers’ to the questions and hypotheses posed, the anecdotal […]

]]> Comment on Giving the milk away – was Mom right? by More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) | mediatorinthemaking.com http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/mediating-for-free/#comment-43 More on Mediating for Free(or … Giving the milk away, Part Deux) | mediatorinthemaking.com Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:38:21 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/the-profession/mediating-for-free/#comment-43 [...] might have seen my recent post, “Giving the milk away – was Mom right?” Well, a very good conversation occurred recently on MediationMensch, MediationChannel, and [...] […] might have seen my recent post, “Giving the milk away – was Mom right?” Well, a very good conversation occurred recently on MediationMensch, MediationChannel, and […]

]]> Comment on Overheard in small claims by Marvin Schuldiner http://mediatorinthemaking.com/learning-experience/overheard-small-claims/#comment-41 Marvin Schuldiner Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:37:16 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/learning-experience/overheard-small-claims/#comment-41 Excellent post. I haven't mediated in small claims court in a while, but it is where I got my start (in Manhattan's court...some interesting cases there). By the way, NYC small claims court is where the People's Court and Judge Judy get their cases from. Small claims cases are among the most challenging and are often harder to resolve than the multi-million dollar cases. Other than their time, there is little for a litigant to lose. Keep plugging away and learn. As you know, mediation is not formulaic for the most part and experience, intuition and understanding of people are your best tools. Excellent post. I haven’t mediated in small claims court in a while, but it is where I got my start (in Manhattan’s court…some interesting cases there). By the way, NYC small claims court is where the People’s Court and Judge Judy get their cases from.

Small claims cases are among the most challenging and are often harder to resolve than the multi-million dollar cases. Other than their time, there is little for a litigant to lose.

Keep plugging away and learn. As you know, mediation is not formulaic for the most part and experience, intuition and understanding of people are your best tools.

]]> Comment on Overheard in small claims by Diane Levin http://mediatorinthemaking.com/learning-experience/overheard-small-claims/#comment-40 Diane Levin Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:58:00 +0000 http://mediatorinthemaking.com/learning-experience/overheard-small-claims/#comment-40 Wow, welcome back, Rachel! The ADR blogosphere seemed a lot quieter without you. Glad to know that you're back, and that you let us know with this great post on small claims mediation. Wow, welcome back, Rachel! The ADR blogosphere seemed a lot quieter without you. Glad to know that you’re back, and that you let us know with this great post on small claims mediation.

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