Good Morning!
I have been thinking about what it will take to return our country to the greatness that it once enjoyed. This is the challenge that our representatives (presidential candidates, Senators and the like) will face in the next few years.
It is THE most critical issue and it can not be laced with political rhetoric any longer...it demands the right action...
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One of my "Epiphanies of the Utter Obvious" is...
"...History is a loving teacher...and she'll patiently repeat herself...until we learn the lessons that she wants us to learn!"
Albert Einstein is given credit for a quote that goes somewhat like this...
"Insanity is doing things the same old way and expecting different results..."
The political challenge is much deeper than addressing the nature of our economy...
It is all about what our society has become...
...SPOILED...
Our majority has been lead to believe that they are entitled to more than they have earned...
That there is a bigger return for the price that they have paid...
The fact is that every expected return has a cost!
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History is trying to teach us a lesson...RIGHT?
I think that it is to "learn from our mistakes and leverage (repeat those things that led to ) our successes..."
This begs the question...
Why do we constantly think that we have to invent something new?
"...nothing is new under the sun..."
What was is and will be...until we learn the lesson that "History" is trying to teach us!
The problems and challenges are the same...the antidotes are the same too!
Yet we remain arrogant and stubborn!
How long will we allow our egos to drive our problems solving strategy?
I think that it would be much easier if someone would just say..."let's just go with what we are good at!"
What do I mean?
Let's dig a bit deeper!
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Deeply embedded in every challenge is the answer!
These issues need to be addressed with logic and facts...it has to be solved with "the past" keenly in mind...this is a world completely controlled by cause and effect...
Don't think that you can break the immutable laws of nature!
Every effect has a cause...
Every achievement has a cost!
The higher the aspiration...the higher the cost!
If there is an attempt to repeat what was attempted in the past and it was a failure...and we expect different results from doing the same thing...
...you know what we should think about that!
If there is an attempt to repeat that which has worked in the past...and we expect the same results...
I would call that common sense!
It is that simple!
Let me repeat...
"...Nothing is new under the sun..."
Failed attempts were precipitated by flawed logic...and will fail in the future!
Successful attempts were the result of calculated and correlated Cause &Effect...
...now that I have laid a foundation...
Let's get down to the facts
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America was built by a few people...it was occupied by many who helped...not vice versa!
The upper class was and is the upper class because they earned it...somehow...
The middle class was and is the middle class because it is where they choose to be...
Yes there are many who aspire to rise but do not want to pay the price...
There are a few that want to rise...who use that desire to rise...and do so...
But those who do are a minority!
They do not need to be punished for their aspirations...but rewarded...
Cause and Effect!
Behavioral Psychologists tell us that rewards are a good motivator...
Reward those who succeed and they'll continue to strive...
Punish them and they'll quit!
I would...wouldn't you?
The rich are rich...
They chose to be that way and worked for it...
The middle is the middle...
They chose to be that way and worked hard enough to get it...
There is no "glass ceiling"
It is a deception of self...a jaded excuse for stopping...
It is admitting that they were not willing to pay the price for what they wanted!
It is entitlement...so sad!
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But you may argue that it was the needy who made America great...
Let's seriously consider...
Who built America?
When I think about it...it is a short list...
Cornelius Vanderbuilt, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, J. P. Morgan, John D, Rockefeller...
That was then...
There are a "New Few" now...
Yes these men rose from obscurity and followed their dream...
They desired to be rich...
They were afforded that opportunity...by our government...
They provided jobs and built industry...
They are among the few who aspired to have the following inscriptions on their headstones...
"I wish I spent more time at the office..."
All of the others lives (the middle class, et al) were made possible by the few who aspired for wealth and greatness...and put that desire ahead of all of their other priorities...
How many would truly give up their free time and family for the sake of wealth?
Who would dedicate their entire life to serve a business or an industry...
It is the relentless few who made America great!
It is not the middle class...
The middle class was made possible by the rich few...
Let's not deceive ourselves...
We are not entitled to wealth or opportunity without a cost...
The cost is HIGH...the sacrifices are HUGE...
So high in fact that many will not attempt because they are not willing to sacrifice their other priorities...
We have to make it worthwhile for the few who were and are willing...to make America great and reap a reward for doing so...
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This is the crux of our society...
Distributing wealth and opportunity does not work...
Not long ago there were 12-14 countries operating under this system...
Now there are 4...that are faltering at best...
Why did they fail?
Their governments went bankrupt...they lost support and enthusiasm...
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What is history trying to teach us?
We are surviving because of what we were...we emphasized free enterprise...
What history shows is that industry is built by people of high aspirations...and focused vision...
It is those "few" who employ the majority...
Is is "the few" who built the land of opportunity...
It is "the few" who had jobs waiting for the shiploads of immigrants that landed on our shores!
Alfredo Pareto learned that many years ago...and it holds true today...it is the 80/20 rule!
In my experience...I have seen few, if any, of the middle class employ people in numbers of sufficient numbers to effect our economy...
It is "the few" who made America the "land of opportunity..."
The "bell curve" shows us that these type of people are rare and "not normal"
...they are people of the "tails" and not people who among the majority...
Although we would love to believe that we are capable of the performance of "the few"...let's not deceive ourselves...
The majority are in the majority because they can not or do not want to do the things that are necessary to build economy changing businesses...the kind of businesses that employs a nation...the kind of businesses that make it possible for others to rise...the kind of business that makes it possible for America to invite the under-privileged with open arms...
Although I am often angered by the fact that it appears that "the rich" get all of the breaks...it is actually a reward for "what they have done and do for our society..."
It is an incentive to do more of what they have done...
The fact of the matter is...you want those tax breaks...work hard and get rich!
I do not know of a tax law that gives a specific individual or company (by name) a tax break...
When you achieve a certain level of success...you get the breaks!
You want those breaks...go and get them...
Sacrifice...PAY THE PRICE...
Earn them!
Some may argue that "enough is enough" and it is time to give the breaks to the "lesser people"...
We can do that...it doesn't hurt the rich...those who have acquired all they need to live opulent lives...
If we begin to punish them for their efforts...they'll just pull in their investments...live off what they have...stop growing...or move to another country...
That leaves us without a growing economy...
All of that "BIG TALK ABOUT EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION" may sound like a great thing to do...but it simply buys votes that are offset with excuses in the future when the promises can not be fulfilled...
I also believe that there should be rewards directly related to the cost or investment...made by the people who paid the price...regardless of current status...
Those who pay a bigger price should get a bigger return...
I could rant on this topic for volumes...
Let's close this thought with a quote from a VERY famous Democrat President...an individual who made that party proud...
"...ask not what the country can do for you...ask what you can do for your country..."
It is not time for to attack the "New Few"
It is time to realize that we are NOT entitled to anything that we have not earned...
EVERYONE HAS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO THE TAX BREAKS...
It is time to "man-up" and sacrifice our self-deceptions and excuses for failure...and admit that we have what we worked for...
Another "Epiphany of the Utterly Obvious" is...
That many people fear that all they have is what they are going to get for what they have given...the fact is...they are right!"
You want more...WORK HARDER...
Stop asking the country to do more for you and ask what you can do for our country!
Enough Said!
Breaking the Chains of Paradigms that keep us from Success and Authentic Happiness...
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
What Really Divides Us From Success
Good Morning...
At the end of each week...I stop and assess my journey...
I look back at where the week started...(my point of departure)...
and then I look down...(my current position)...
and I look outward...(to my destination)...
These 3 data points give me a pretty good idea of my progress...DUH!
Yet I often wonder if my assessment is accurate...or perhaps my optimism or pessimism has tainted my perception...
Is my progress REAL?
This is the foundational question that often leads to "Is this all worth it?"
********************************************
The Basics of Any Journey...
If the journey to success was as simple as traveling from point of departure to a destination...
...Success would be simple...and...
...This weekly assessment would be simple...
In actuality, I find it to be one of the hardest activities within my routine...
Why?
Because it is not only an assessment of progress...but one of value...it is me taking personal stock of my decisions and the value of each...it is me being critical of myself...it is about me being personally honest with myself...
I have observed...that it is easier for people to be more honest with others than they are with themselves!
That is a weird thing...but I am beginning to see it more true that not!
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Success is an Elusive Goal!
If success were as simple a defining it...and assessing what was needed to get there...anyone who desired success would obtain it...yet...
Few achieve the success they desire!
Why?
There are as many reasons or excuses...as there are people in this world!
The answer actually lies in the previous statement...
EXCUSES!
Excuses are simply explanations for delays...failures...or quitting!
When an individual encounters a delay or a failure...they excuse it!
A successful endeavor generally contains no excuses!
When we add (or allow) excuses into our life's equation...we have opened the door...and invited FAILURE in!
I know that you are thinking...
We need understanding or explanations or answers to the question "Why did this happen?"
Understanding and excuses are not the same!
The difference between the two is subtle...but critical!
That difference can be explained in a single sentence...
An excuse carries with it the demand or expectation for forgiveness...
What?
An excuse looks for comfort...and a confirmation that "It's OK!"
It is an expectation of oneself and others to "EXCUSE" and accept the failure...
Truly successful people seek to understand the cause/effect equations...but they make NO EXCUSES for them!
Success is elusive because many (perhaps a majority of people) allow excuses into their life's equation...
Still others fail to seek true understanding for each of life's events...
In the end...it is simply that they have treated life improperly...and allowed subtle but destructive elements to travel with them on their journey!
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This Makes No Sense!
Many may think that what I am presenting is simply a matter of definitions...
Excuses are often used to explain situations...they are a surrogate for understanding...
WRONG!
Excuses include an emotional expectation ("A Free Pass")...and...
...Simple understanding doesn't...
Nature does not care!
Nature does not include emotion...
It is unrealistic to insert emotion into our journey toward success and expect it to drive us forward...
Emotion (in the form of an excuse) is wasted energy...and oftentimes,,,has a negative affect our our efforts!
Am I advocating "Excuse-Free" existence?
Yes and No!
We need to minimize the use of excuses and replace them with understanding...
Just like "Excuses" carry emotional expectations with them...True understanding also carries a subtle element...
A change in behavior!
When one understands something...it results in either a focus of activity or a ceasing of an activity!
Seek understanding...
Does this make sense?
I do agree that this is a matter of definition...
It is the understanding of those subtleties that makes all of the difference...
What is important is agreement and action!
Think about this...It is not personal, political or religious views and beliefs that cause divisions between and us...it is a matter of definition and a clarity of understanding...
******************************************
Back On Path
Life has a macabre way of using curves and "twists and turns" to straighten our path!
The truly successful people use those "twists" to gain understanding with the express purpose of avoiding them in the future!
Life will continue to throw the same things at us until we understand the real lesson it intends to teach us!
That is why we say..."History repeats itself!"
It does!
Because we make excuses and not efforts to understand and adjust!!!
As you assess your daily journey...take time to gain understanding...
...Look at where you are...
Say to yourself...
Yesterday...I was there...
Today...I am here...AND...
That is because of "X"
Some "Xs" are good and need to be repeated...
Other "Xs" are bad and need to be avoided!
In its simplest form...success on any level is a matter of understanding of today and the appropriate action tomorrow...
Yes it is a matter of definition...
It is those definitions that provide us with understanding...
Now it is a matter of doing the things that will make tomorrow better...
Pura Vida!
At the end of each week...I stop and assess my journey...
I look back at where the week started...(my point of departure)...
and then I look down...(my current position)...
and I look outward...(to my destination)...
These 3 data points give me a pretty good idea of my progress...DUH!
Yet I often wonder if my assessment is accurate...or perhaps my optimism or pessimism has tainted my perception...
Is my progress REAL?
This is the foundational question that often leads to "Is this all worth it?"
********************************************
The Basics of Any Journey...
If the journey to success was as simple as traveling from point of departure to a destination...
...Success would be simple...and...
...This weekly assessment would be simple...
In actuality, I find it to be one of the hardest activities within my routine...
Why?
Because it is not only an assessment of progress...but one of value...it is me taking personal stock of my decisions and the value of each...it is me being critical of myself...it is about me being personally honest with myself...
I have observed...that it is easier for people to be more honest with others than they are with themselves!
That is a weird thing...but I am beginning to see it more true that not!
*********************************************
Success is an Elusive Goal!
If success were as simple a defining it...and assessing what was needed to get there...anyone who desired success would obtain it...yet...
Few achieve the success they desire!
Why?
There are as many reasons or excuses...as there are people in this world!
The answer actually lies in the previous statement...
EXCUSES!
Excuses are simply explanations for delays...failures...or quitting!
When an individual encounters a delay or a failure...they excuse it!
A successful endeavor generally contains no excuses!
When we add (or allow) excuses into our life's equation...we have opened the door...and invited FAILURE in!
I know that you are thinking...
We need understanding or explanations or answers to the question "Why did this happen?"
Understanding and excuses are not the same!
The difference between the two is subtle...but critical!
That difference can be explained in a single sentence...
An excuse carries with it the demand or expectation for forgiveness...
What?
An excuse looks for comfort...and a confirmation that "It's OK!"
It is an expectation of oneself and others to "EXCUSE" and accept the failure...
Truly successful people seek to understand the cause/effect equations...but they make NO EXCUSES for them!
Success is elusive because many (perhaps a majority of people) allow excuses into their life's equation...
Still others fail to seek true understanding for each of life's events...
In the end...it is simply that they have treated life improperly...and allowed subtle but destructive elements to travel with them on their journey!
*********************************
This Makes No Sense!
Many may think that what I am presenting is simply a matter of definitions...
Excuses are often used to explain situations...they are a surrogate for understanding...
WRONG!
Excuses include an emotional expectation ("A Free Pass")...and...
...Simple understanding doesn't...
Nature does not care!
Nature does not include emotion...
It is unrealistic to insert emotion into our journey toward success and expect it to drive us forward...
Emotion (in the form of an excuse) is wasted energy...and oftentimes,,,has a negative affect our our efforts!
Am I advocating "Excuse-Free" existence?
Yes and No!
We need to minimize the use of excuses and replace them with understanding...
Just like "Excuses" carry emotional expectations with them...True understanding also carries a subtle element...
A change in behavior!
When one understands something...it results in either a focus of activity or a ceasing of an activity!
Seek understanding...
Does this make sense?
I do agree that this is a matter of definition...
It is the understanding of those subtleties that makes all of the difference...
What is important is agreement and action!
Think about this...It is not personal, political or religious views and beliefs that cause divisions between and us...it is a matter of definition and a clarity of understanding...
******************************************
Back On Path
Life has a macabre way of using curves and "twists and turns" to straighten our path!
The truly successful people use those "twists" to gain understanding with the express purpose of avoiding them in the future!
Life will continue to throw the same things at us until we understand the real lesson it intends to teach us!
That is why we say..."History repeats itself!"
It does!
Because we make excuses and not efforts to understand and adjust!!!
As you assess your daily journey...take time to gain understanding...
...Look at where you are...
Say to yourself...
Yesterday...I was there...
Today...I am here...AND...
That is because of "X"
Some "Xs" are good and need to be repeated...
Other "Xs" are bad and need to be avoided!
In its simplest form...success on any level is a matter of understanding of today and the appropriate action tomorrow...
Yes it is a matter of definition...
It is those definitions that provide us with understanding...
Now it is a matter of doing the things that will make tomorrow better...
Pura Vida!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
How many "Senses" do you Possess?
Good Morning!
Believe it or not...I have been focused on teaching...
One of the classes that I have now taught multiple times is psychology...
One of the specific lectures was focused on "The Senses"
The lecture begins with the question..."How many senses does a "fully functioning" human" possess?
I find (almost without exception) that the answer that I receive is..."5"
If I give the class a look of disappointment...The number increases to "6" and they reference ESP as the "sixth sense."
At this point in the lecture...they begin demanding the correct answer...and I play with them for a few minutes...asking questions related to looking inwardly and becoming aware of things that they sense that transcends what they sense with their eyes...ears...fingers...nose and mouth...
Guess what?
With a little bit of prodding and directive thinking...they discover the other 2 for themselves...
That's right...normally functioning human beings possess 7 senses!
Hearing - The ability to detect variation in sound and interpret it...
Sight - The ability to detect variation in light and interpret it...
Taste - The ability to detect solid chemical compositions and interpret them...
Smell - The ability to detect gaseous chemical compositions and interpret them...
Touch - The ability to detect physical interactions and interpret them...
That's 5...what about the other 2?
No...Extra-Sensory Perception does not count among the remaining 2!
They are:
Kinesthesis - The ability to detect the position and motion of parts of one's body and interpret them...
Vestibular - The ability to detect the "uprightness" of one's body and respond to it...
This is a great piece of trivia...but...
So what?
Awareness of these "facts" helps establish an understanding of ourselves and potential application to activities that lead to meaningful and significant differences in our lives...
***************************************
SO WHAT?
You either have been thinking...
"Tell me something that I didn't know..."
...or...
"What does this matter in the scheme of things?"
It is because life is simply a replication of patterns of success!
Mother Nature has a simple method...that which works...it repeats and adds to...
...and...
That which doesn't work..."she" quickly and effectively stops!
From a Mother Nature perspective...that is how we went from a simply combination chemicals...in the primordial ooze...to a "self-gathering and self-sustaining single cell" to a human being...
The fact of the matter is...we are not an apex organism...Mother Nature is not yet done with us......or...Life on a whole!
Success will occur, despite our best efforts at doing what we want to do and standing in its way!
It is our "stupidity" that "tests" Mother Nature's creations...but...
...Rest assured...she stops STUPID quickly...
If it doesn't make her work better...she doesn't waste her time!
Remember that Successes are repeated...failures are discarded!
This FINALLY takes us to the "So What?"
The 7 senses are an example of a successful evolution!
My guess that Mother Nature tried other senses (what I will probably never know)...and...
They didn't work!
...and at this point in our species' development...this is what we have to work with!
Because...given our current environment and challenged to survival...it is the 7 senses are what works!
Since they work...perhaps we can look at them and apply what we know into other aspects of our existence!
*******************************************
The Senses of the Successful...
Over time...Mother Nature had found a a successful combination of senses...
As far as we know there are no more...but let's not forget that there may be more planned...
But for now...this is what we have to work with!
The 7 senses are positioned as the foundation for human (perhaps every complex creature's) ability to survive in this or their environment...
If we consider "success" as another world (or environment)...like trying to live on Mars...we may be able to learn something!
To be successful we need to be aware of our "success senses" and optimize their use!
*******************************************
Upcoming Submissions...
I just realized that I have written quite a bit today!
More than I had promised...
Over delivering is often as bad as under-delivering or not delivering at all!
Think about what I just wrote...it is also important to success...and another topic!
Over the course of the next 7 weekends...the Weekend Update (WEU) will focus on one of the success senses at a time!
They will parallel our human senses...but will give you insight into the elements of success that we often overlook!
As it is with a human being...not using a sense causes it to atrophy...
Even more important...not having one of the senses...handicaps and individual...just like not having sight makes life more difficult for a "blind" person!
These are things to think about...
I am finding this journey VERY interesting and I can tell you that it is already changing my life!
Have a great weekend!
Life is good!
PURA VIDA!!!!!
Believe it or not...I have been focused on teaching...
One of the classes that I have now taught multiple times is psychology...
One of the specific lectures was focused on "The Senses"
The lecture begins with the question..."How many senses does a "fully functioning" human" possess?
I find (almost without exception) that the answer that I receive is..."5"
If I give the class a look of disappointment...The number increases to "6" and they reference ESP as the "sixth sense."
At this point in the lecture...they begin demanding the correct answer...and I play with them for a few minutes...asking questions related to looking inwardly and becoming aware of things that they sense that transcends what they sense with their eyes...ears...fingers...nose and mouth...
Guess what?
With a little bit of prodding and directive thinking...they discover the other 2 for themselves...
That's right...normally functioning human beings possess 7 senses!
Hearing - The ability to detect variation in sound and interpret it...
Sight - The ability to detect variation in light and interpret it...
Taste - The ability to detect solid chemical compositions and interpret them...
Smell - The ability to detect gaseous chemical compositions and interpret them...
Touch - The ability to detect physical interactions and interpret them...
That's 5...what about the other 2?
No...Extra-Sensory Perception does not count among the remaining 2!
They are:
Kinesthesis - The ability to detect the position and motion of parts of one's body and interpret them...
Vestibular - The ability to detect the "uprightness" of one's body and respond to it...
This is a great piece of trivia...but...
So what?
Awareness of these "facts" helps establish an understanding of ourselves and potential application to activities that lead to meaningful and significant differences in our lives...
***************************************
SO WHAT?
You either have been thinking...
"Tell me something that I didn't know..."
...or...
"What does this matter in the scheme of things?"
It is because life is simply a replication of patterns of success!
Mother Nature has a simple method...that which works...it repeats and adds to...
...and...
That which doesn't work..."she" quickly and effectively stops!
From a Mother Nature perspective...that is how we went from a simply combination chemicals...in the primordial ooze...to a "self-gathering and self-sustaining single cell" to a human being...
The fact of the matter is...we are not an apex organism...Mother Nature is not yet done with us......or...Life on a whole!
Success will occur, despite our best efforts at doing what we want to do and standing in its way!
It is our "stupidity" that "tests" Mother Nature's creations...but...
...Rest assured...she stops STUPID quickly...
If it doesn't make her work better...she doesn't waste her time!
Remember that Successes are repeated...failures are discarded!
This FINALLY takes us to the "So What?"
The 7 senses are an example of a successful evolution!
My guess that Mother Nature tried other senses (what I will probably never know)...and...
They didn't work!
...and at this point in our species' development...this is what we have to work with!
Because...given our current environment and challenged to survival...it is the 7 senses are what works!
Since they work...perhaps we can look at them and apply what we know into other aspects of our existence!
*******************************************
The Senses of the Successful...
Over time...Mother Nature had found a a successful combination of senses...
As far as we know there are no more...but let's not forget that there may be more planned...
But for now...this is what we have to work with!
The 7 senses are positioned as the foundation for human (perhaps every complex creature's) ability to survive in this or their environment...
If we consider "success" as another world (or environment)...like trying to live on Mars...we may be able to learn something!
To be successful we need to be aware of our "success senses" and optimize their use!
*******************************************
Upcoming Submissions...
I just realized that I have written quite a bit today!
More than I had promised...
Over delivering is often as bad as under-delivering or not delivering at all!
Think about what I just wrote...it is also important to success...and another topic!
Over the course of the next 7 weekends...the Weekend Update (WEU) will focus on one of the success senses at a time!
They will parallel our human senses...but will give you insight into the elements of success that we often overlook!
As it is with a human being...not using a sense causes it to atrophy...
Even more important...not having one of the senses...handicaps and individual...just like not having sight makes life more difficult for a "blind" person!
These are things to think about...
I am finding this journey VERY interesting and I can tell you that it is already changing my life!
Have a great weekend!
Life is good!
PURA VIDA!!!!!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Success and Time in the Wilderness
Good Morning!
I bet that you didn't even notice that I stopped posting Weekend Updates for a while!
I didn't stop because I lost interest or didn't have things to write about...
Much to the contrary!
I have much to write about...it is my passion to share thoughts and observations that will help people become more successful...
It is all about "...making meaningful and significant positive differences in the lives of individuals and the performance of organizations..."
My mission!
It is so embedded in my being that many times during the day...I find myself saying it to someone!
It has become my standard of performance!
When I set about doing something...I actually take time to see if what I am doing aligns with that mission!
It may sound a little crazy...but I realize how important it is to craft your mission and then act consistently on it!
****************************************
My Personal Epiphany
Not long ago...I noticed that I was writing the same things (same topics) over and over...
I felt like a parent of children who were not listening!
It was frustrating...
I was sending messages and lessons and not receiving any feedback...
I didn't know if what I was writing about was making a difference...OR NOT!
Was I adding value to the world around me...or wasting peoples' time?
I had to assess my efforts!
Could they be better spent on other things?
I decided to stop and walk in the proverbial wilderness and look at my efforts from an outside view...
Perhaps that will allow me to assess the value in an unbiased fashion...
You know how difficult to see reality?
Especially when you are stuck in the middle!
***************************************
The Wilderness Experience
Although I do not believe that what I do counts as earth shattering...
I act to make a difference!
Yet there are many things that can be learned and leveraged into even the most menial efforts...
One day I realized that many of the great missions began with time in the wilderness!
Perhaps the wilderness time was an essential component of a mission's effectiveness...
I wanted to spend some time in the wilderness...and see what value it really adds to an effort!
***************************************
The Wilderness Experience as an input to an Effort
What is the wilderness?
In a VERY general sense...it is a separation from the comforts, safety and habits...
It is leaving life behind and walking into unknown territory...
It is usually a lonely experience...
It is a reduction of life to the critical needs...
Are you getting the picture?
Why do it?
When I look at it from the reductionist perspective...it provides an external (inward looking) view of those things temporarily left behind...
***************************************
My Wilderness
On the day of "my wilderness" I decided that I needed to stop blogging...but not thinking!
I needed to step away from my blogs and and see....
1 - If anyone notices...
2 - Anyone who notices...care enough to ask "Why they stopped?"
3 - For those who asked "Why?" Find out what they are still looking for!
The sad thing was...from my perspective...no one noticed...so the next two questions were never asked!
***************************************
The Wilderness Decision
It is funny...those who enter the wilderness go there with questions...
When they come out...they have direction!
So while I was in the wilderness...what did I have to look for?
Answers to my question?
After some time in the wilderness...I realized that I didn't have to look outward to my readers...
But inward!
I needed to look into my heart!
I needed to evaluate my intent...
I needed to evaluate my mission and purpose...
I needed to know that my writing was part of my purpose and a part of the bigger picture...
It didn't matter what "they" thought...
What matters is what I knew...
What matters is that I believed that it matters...
That is what puts substance into a mission...
***************************************
The Mission Continues
I went into the wilderness with questions...
and exited it with determination!
It is what I am supposed to be doing...
The Blogs will continue!
There is a lesson to be learned in this relative to our pursuit of success...
No matter how clearly one sees their mission and goals...it pays to go into the wilderness and take time to look inward!
It is not what others think of what you are doing...
Determination comes from the inside and not the outside...
The wilderness is that first phase in every "effort of meaning" that provides the clarity of heart that makes it worth the effort when there is seemingly no value coming back...
Perhaps it is time to spend some time in the wilderness!
Pura Vida!
I bet that you didn't even notice that I stopped posting Weekend Updates for a while!
I didn't stop because I lost interest or didn't have things to write about...
Much to the contrary!
I have much to write about...it is my passion to share thoughts and observations that will help people become more successful...
It is all about "...making meaningful and significant positive differences in the lives of individuals and the performance of organizations..."
My mission!
It is so embedded in my being that many times during the day...I find myself saying it to someone!
It has become my standard of performance!
When I set about doing something...I actually take time to see if what I am doing aligns with that mission!
It may sound a little crazy...but I realize how important it is to craft your mission and then act consistently on it!
****************************************
My Personal Epiphany
Not long ago...I noticed that I was writing the same things (same topics) over and over...
I felt like a parent of children who were not listening!
It was frustrating...
I was sending messages and lessons and not receiving any feedback...
I didn't know if what I was writing about was making a difference...OR NOT!
Was I adding value to the world around me...or wasting peoples' time?
I had to assess my efforts!
Could they be better spent on other things?
I decided to stop and walk in the proverbial wilderness and look at my efforts from an outside view...
Perhaps that will allow me to assess the value in an unbiased fashion...
You know how difficult to see reality?
Especially when you are stuck in the middle!
***************************************
The Wilderness Experience
Although I do not believe that what I do counts as earth shattering...
I act to make a difference!
Yet there are many things that can be learned and leveraged into even the most menial efforts...
One day I realized that many of the great missions began with time in the wilderness!
Perhaps the wilderness time was an essential component of a mission's effectiveness...
I wanted to spend some time in the wilderness...and see what value it really adds to an effort!
***************************************
The Wilderness Experience as an input to an Effort
What is the wilderness?
In a VERY general sense...it is a separation from the comforts, safety and habits...
It is leaving life behind and walking into unknown territory...
It is usually a lonely experience...
It is a reduction of life to the critical needs...
Are you getting the picture?
Why do it?
When I look at it from the reductionist perspective...it provides an external (inward looking) view of those things temporarily left behind...
***************************************
My Wilderness
On the day of "my wilderness" I decided that I needed to stop blogging...but not thinking!
I needed to step away from my blogs and and see....
1 - If anyone notices...
2 - Anyone who notices...care enough to ask "Why they stopped?"
3 - For those who asked "Why?" Find out what they are still looking for!
The sad thing was...from my perspective...no one noticed...so the next two questions were never asked!
***************************************
The Wilderness Decision
It is funny...those who enter the wilderness go there with questions...
When they come out...they have direction!
So while I was in the wilderness...what did I have to look for?
Answers to my question?
After some time in the wilderness...I realized that I didn't have to look outward to my readers...
But inward!
I needed to look into my heart!
I needed to evaluate my intent...
I needed to evaluate my mission and purpose...
I needed to know that my writing was part of my purpose and a part of the bigger picture...
It didn't matter what "they" thought...
What matters is what I knew...
What matters is that I believed that it matters...
That is what puts substance into a mission...
***************************************
The Mission Continues
I went into the wilderness with questions...
and exited it with determination!
It is what I am supposed to be doing...
The Blogs will continue!
There is a lesson to be learned in this relative to our pursuit of success...
No matter how clearly one sees their mission and goals...it pays to go into the wilderness and take time to look inward!
It is not what others think of what you are doing...
Determination comes from the inside and not the outside...
The wilderness is that first phase in every "effort of meaning" that provides the clarity of heart that makes it worth the effort when there is seemingly no value coming back...
Perhaps it is time to spend some time in the wilderness!
Pura Vida!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
How intense should your passion be?
Good Morning!
A while back I was at a restaurant and a person sitting a few tables away suddenly grabbed their throat, with a look of terror...and violently thrashed around...
It was apparent that this person was choking...
Before I could react...a quick-thinking server raced up behind the person...and performed the Heimlich maneuver...displacing a piece of steak that was absolutely HUGE!
The dining room applauded the feat...
The person thanked the server...
The restaurant manager appeared on the scene...
and things quieted down...
A brief moment of terror and drama!
AND...I almost forgot about that incident!
**************************************
Something wouldn't leave me alone!
Periodically I would think about what I observed and wonder what lesson I could glean from that experience...
On a bike ride...(I actually call it "thinking on wheels")...it hit me!
It was the initial look on the choking person's face that I needed to understand...
As I thought...
The need for "air" is the single most important and basic item on Maslow's hierarchy of needs...
It all starts there!
We can live for a few days without water...even longer without food...but the time that we survive without air can be measured in minutes!
That is INTENSE!
When a person chokes...the terror and urgency elevates IMMEDIATELY...
People do not say to themselves..."I am busy right now...I'll take care of this inability to breath...later"
IT WAS THE FACE OF THE PERSON WHO WAS CHOKING...and the subsequent behavior that I needed to understand (which I did) and a potential application of this lesson to our lives...that was "eating at" me!
**************************************
Choking!
Of all of the "emergency" situations that we encounter...(and I hope that we don't) "choking" seems to be the most serious.
Although I am repeating myself...the need to change the situation is immediate...and critical!
All other things stop...until the situation is changed...
I have belabored this point...you get the picture!
We often claim and deceive ourselves that we have made our pursuit of a specific goal as "the highest priority" in our lives...
Think about what that means...we are saying that what we are doing is as important as breathing!
Yet when something happens...we simply put our pursuit on hold and address the other situation...then we go back to it...when it is convenient,,,
Would you do the same...if you were choking?
Get real! Life is not like that!
Life is dynamic and certain commitments require us to focus on different things at certain times...
Right?
I agree to a certain extent...
The problem lies not in the dynamics of life...but what we tell ourselves about our priorities...
If we CLAIM that our dreams are the most important thing in our lives and do not react to a disruption of our pursuits of our goals and dreams like we are choking...
Then...
We have deceived ourselves and the world around us!
I have always held that the hardest person to be honest with is yourself!
This is a place that where we unintentionally believe something that can ultimately become a incurable cancer in our life!
Priorities have to be fully understood and our reactions need to be absolutely consistent...
Take time to ask yourself..."If something comes up that interferes with my pursuit of my dream...will I drop everything to get back on my goal...as if I were choking or...will I simply put it on hold until I can get back to it?"
Get Real...and be HONEST with yourself...
How important is your dream?
Is it as important as breathing?
It is less important?
Stop believing that it is #1...if it is not...
Then...
Redefine your goals...and work accordingly!
Be honest with yourself and the messages that you are sending to the outside world!
It will change the way you work and your TRUE happiness in your pursuit of success!
Pura Vida!
A while back I was at a restaurant and a person sitting a few tables away suddenly grabbed their throat, with a look of terror...and violently thrashed around...
It was apparent that this person was choking...
Before I could react...a quick-thinking server raced up behind the person...and performed the Heimlich maneuver...displacing a piece of steak that was absolutely HUGE!
The dining room applauded the feat...
The person thanked the server...
The restaurant manager appeared on the scene...
and things quieted down...
A brief moment of terror and drama!
AND...I almost forgot about that incident!
**************************************
Something wouldn't leave me alone!
Periodically I would think about what I observed and wonder what lesson I could glean from that experience...
On a bike ride...(I actually call it "thinking on wheels")...it hit me!
It was the initial look on the choking person's face that I needed to understand...
As I thought...
The need for "air" is the single most important and basic item on Maslow's hierarchy of needs...
It all starts there!
We can live for a few days without water...even longer without food...but the time that we survive without air can be measured in minutes!
That is INTENSE!
When a person chokes...the terror and urgency elevates IMMEDIATELY...
People do not say to themselves..."I am busy right now...I'll take care of this inability to breath...later"
IT WAS THE FACE OF THE PERSON WHO WAS CHOKING...and the subsequent behavior that I needed to understand (which I did) and a potential application of this lesson to our lives...that was "eating at" me!
**************************************
Choking!
Of all of the "emergency" situations that we encounter...(and I hope that we don't) "choking" seems to be the most serious.
Although I am repeating myself...the need to change the situation is immediate...and critical!
All other things stop...until the situation is changed...
I have belabored this point...you get the picture!
We often claim and deceive ourselves that we have made our pursuit of a specific goal as "the highest priority" in our lives...
Think about what that means...we are saying that what we are doing is as important as breathing!
Yet when something happens...we simply put our pursuit on hold and address the other situation...then we go back to it...when it is convenient,,,
Would you do the same...if you were choking?
Get real! Life is not like that!
Life is dynamic and certain commitments require us to focus on different things at certain times...
Right?
I agree to a certain extent...
The problem lies not in the dynamics of life...but what we tell ourselves about our priorities...
If we CLAIM that our dreams are the most important thing in our lives and do not react to a disruption of our pursuits of our goals and dreams like we are choking...
Then...
We have deceived ourselves and the world around us!
I have always held that the hardest person to be honest with is yourself!
This is a place that where we unintentionally believe something that can ultimately become a incurable cancer in our life!
Priorities have to be fully understood and our reactions need to be absolutely consistent...
Take time to ask yourself..."If something comes up that interferes with my pursuit of my dream...will I drop everything to get back on my goal...as if I were choking or...will I simply put it on hold until I can get back to it?"
Get Real...and be HONEST with yourself...
How important is your dream?
Is it as important as breathing?
It is less important?
Stop believing that it is #1...if it is not...
Then...
Redefine your goals...and work accordingly!
Be honest with yourself and the messages that you are sending to the outside world!
It will change the way you work and your TRUE happiness in your pursuit of success!
Pura Vida!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Reverence IS a CRITICAL Component of Success
Good Morning!
Last Sunday evening we built a fire in our "chiminea."
It was a cool night for Florida and a perfect opportunity to simply sit on the patio...take in the aroma of the fire and feel the warmth...When we can't go camping...for me it is the best next thing!
That simple fire with 4 pieces of wood took be back to another moment that affected my thinking and the way I look at life and nature...
I felt moved to share this with you...
*************************************
Setting the Stage
Whenever I had the opportunity, I would stop and visit a my friends that lived on a local Native American Reservation...
My presence was frequent enough that I did not seem or "feel out of place."
I felt welcomed...and...as I reflect on it...should have felt honored!
Enough of the background...
I was often invited to spend the evening and sit with them around a central fire...which by the way was a regular evening event reserved for the "inner circle."
I was told ahead of time to "keep my mouth shut" and take in the experience...
Which, believe it or not, I did!
I did not know what to expect...but it immediately became evident that everyone sat quietly around the fire...few things were said...and most often quietly and between two sitting next to each other with a short phrase and a nod confirming what was said...
**************************************
The Fire, the Tree's Spirit and its Warmth
As I quietly looked into last Sunday's fire I was taken back to that time and place...
It was much more quiet...
No traffic noise...no sirens...
No airliners flying overhead...
The hush of the evening was only interrupted by the intermittent crackles of the fire, the crickets, and an occasional owl "hoot" or nighthawk "buzz"...
On this particular evening I was one of the first to take a place around the fire..the oldest of the circle arrived sometime later and sat next to me...
He was an interesting person...from what I observed, he thought a lot...listened nearly as much and talked very little! He was VERY different from the others that sat around the fire...
As the fire grew...the regular hush came over the circle and we sat and gazed into it...transfixed by the dancing flames...
After some time...he turned to me and in a voice just slightly above a whisper said...
(Note: These are not his exact words...but how I remember them)
"The flames that you are watching is the spirit of the tree from which the wood has come...This tree has a strong spirit...it has for many years withstood wind and cold. It was from its life...standing against the wind and cold and rain that it grew strong and held its place..."
"It did not get this spirit all at once...
"The tree's spirit grew over a long period of time...and the heat that you feel is that which it has kept given to it by he sun and the sky and the water and the earth..."
"The heat that you feel comes from everything that it lived through and now it shares that strong spirit with us..."
"You feel the heat from the flames...and may think that it lasts for only as long as the fire burns...that is not true...the tree's spirit it taken in by you and becomes a part of you..."
"We are quiet because we look on fires with reverence...for it is nature and this tree sharing its spirit with us..."
"We are quiet because we are listening and taking in as much of this spirit as we can..."
"...because the fire does not last for but an evening...and then this particular spirit is gone..."
"...we have but one chance to share that spirit...you should not ever miss a chance to share the spirit..."
"AND this my friend is also true with the warmth that we share with each other...during this time...we do so with reverence..."
"Unlike people like you...we build a small fire, sit closely and share each others' warmth..."
"You build BIG fires and sit far apart..."
"So often you keep the heat for yourself and do not do what nature longs for you to do!"
"I go so that you may share the warmth..."
I nodded without saying a word...as I had observed others did...and he stood up and left...
"I was a bit confused...turned to my friend and asked..."Does he think that he was keeping the heat from the fire from us?"
My friend smiled and explained," You totally missed the lesson! He is the Elder. He sat next to you this evening because he had something important to say to you...and he did! You probably missed the fact that because of who is is...his presence keeps us quiet...
He said that he was leaving so that we could share the warmth...he did not say...the warmth of the fire...Did he?
He left so that we can talk and share...OUR WARMTH. The warmth is not the heat from the fire...but the heat from each of our spirits..."
**************************************
Reverence and Success
I could NEVER look into a fire the same!
Whether in our "chiminea" or at a camp...or a bonfire...or even a charcoal grill...I still quiet my spirit and listen...
From that time to today...I look with reverence into the flames and absorb the spirit...
Those simple phrases, from a wise man, changed the way that I perceived the world around me...
Sharing the warmth of the flames that arise from the past experiences of the tree is special...
I think about what the tree went through to accumulate such heat...
My mind then moves to the understanding that we are not unlike the tree...
Our experience feeds our spirit...
Our good experiences and our bad experiences strengthens our spirit...
We grow strong...
And like the tree...our experiences serve no purpose if we simply keep them to ourselves, sit far apart and do not share "the warmth!"
Moreover...if we do not share...we are simply "left to rot" and our spirit is wasted!
It is important to sit closely and share the warmth of the fire within us...
It is important for us to share and learn from each other and continue to do so for future generations...
***************************************
Sharing and Success
The warmth that we share...is not a temporal event...AND as it is with the warmth of the campfire...it becomes part of us!
We need to take time out of the day...and share our warmth...with others...
It is a time of reverence and listening...and more important...Thinking and applying the warmth to your life...
As was shared with me long ago...build a small fire...sit closely and share the warmth of the spirit...
It is critical to your success...
Pura Vida...
Last Sunday evening we built a fire in our "chiminea."
It was a cool night for Florida and a perfect opportunity to simply sit on the patio...take in the aroma of the fire and feel the warmth...When we can't go camping...for me it is the best next thing!
That simple fire with 4 pieces of wood took be back to another moment that affected my thinking and the way I look at life and nature...
I felt moved to share this with you...
*************************************
Setting the Stage
Whenever I had the opportunity, I would stop and visit a my friends that lived on a local Native American Reservation...
My presence was frequent enough that I did not seem or "feel out of place."
I felt welcomed...and...as I reflect on it...should have felt honored!
Enough of the background...
I was often invited to spend the evening and sit with them around a central fire...which by the way was a regular evening event reserved for the "inner circle."
I was told ahead of time to "keep my mouth shut" and take in the experience...
Which, believe it or not, I did!
I did not know what to expect...but it immediately became evident that everyone sat quietly around the fire...few things were said...and most often quietly and between two sitting next to each other with a short phrase and a nod confirming what was said...
**************************************
The Fire, the Tree's Spirit and its Warmth
As I quietly looked into last Sunday's fire I was taken back to that time and place...
It was much more quiet...
No traffic noise...no sirens...
No airliners flying overhead...
The hush of the evening was only interrupted by the intermittent crackles of the fire, the crickets, and an occasional owl "hoot" or nighthawk "buzz"...
On this particular evening I was one of the first to take a place around the fire..the oldest of the circle arrived sometime later and sat next to me...
He was an interesting person...from what I observed, he thought a lot...listened nearly as much and talked very little! He was VERY different from the others that sat around the fire...
As the fire grew...the regular hush came over the circle and we sat and gazed into it...transfixed by the dancing flames...
After some time...he turned to me and in a voice just slightly above a whisper said...
(Note: These are not his exact words...but how I remember them)
"The flames that you are watching is the spirit of the tree from which the wood has come...This tree has a strong spirit...it has for many years withstood wind and cold. It was from its life...standing against the wind and cold and rain that it grew strong and held its place..."
"It did not get this spirit all at once...
"The tree's spirit grew over a long period of time...and the heat that you feel is that which it has kept given to it by he sun and the sky and the water and the earth..."
"The heat that you feel comes from everything that it lived through and now it shares that strong spirit with us..."
"You feel the heat from the flames...and may think that it lasts for only as long as the fire burns...that is not true...the tree's spirit it taken in by you and becomes a part of you..."
"We are quiet because we look on fires with reverence...for it is nature and this tree sharing its spirit with us..."
"We are quiet because we are listening and taking in as much of this spirit as we can..."
"...because the fire does not last for but an evening...and then this particular spirit is gone..."
"...we have but one chance to share that spirit...you should not ever miss a chance to share the spirit..."
"AND this my friend is also true with the warmth that we share with each other...during this time...we do so with reverence..."
"Unlike people like you...we build a small fire, sit closely and share each others' warmth..."
"You build BIG fires and sit far apart..."
"So often you keep the heat for yourself and do not do what nature longs for you to do!"
"I go so that you may share the warmth..."
I nodded without saying a word...as I had observed others did...and he stood up and left...
"I was a bit confused...turned to my friend and asked..."Does he think that he was keeping the heat from the fire from us?"
My friend smiled and explained," You totally missed the lesson! He is the Elder. He sat next to you this evening because he had something important to say to you...and he did! You probably missed the fact that because of who is is...his presence keeps us quiet...
He said that he was leaving so that we could share the warmth...he did not say...the warmth of the fire...Did he?
He left so that we can talk and share...OUR WARMTH. The warmth is not the heat from the fire...but the heat from each of our spirits..."
**************************************
Reverence and Success
I could NEVER look into a fire the same!
Whether in our "chiminea" or at a camp...or a bonfire...or even a charcoal grill...I still quiet my spirit and listen...
From that time to today...I look with reverence into the flames and absorb the spirit...
Those simple phrases, from a wise man, changed the way that I perceived the world around me...
Sharing the warmth of the flames that arise from the past experiences of the tree is special...
I think about what the tree went through to accumulate such heat...
My mind then moves to the understanding that we are not unlike the tree...
Our experience feeds our spirit...
Our good experiences and our bad experiences strengthens our spirit...
We grow strong...
And like the tree...our experiences serve no purpose if we simply keep them to ourselves, sit far apart and do not share "the warmth!"
Moreover...if we do not share...we are simply "left to rot" and our spirit is wasted!
It is important to sit closely and share the warmth of the fire within us...
It is important for us to share and learn from each other and continue to do so for future generations...
***************************************
Sharing and Success
The warmth that we share...is not a temporal event...AND as it is with the warmth of the campfire...it becomes part of us!
We need to take time out of the day...and share our warmth...with others...
It is a time of reverence and listening...and more important...Thinking and applying the warmth to your life...
As was shared with me long ago...build a small fire...sit closely and share the warmth of the spirit...
It is critical to your success...
Pura Vida...
Saturday, April 7, 2012
If I ONLY Would Win the Lottery...The things that I could do!
Good Morning!
The recent Mega-Millions hype brought up some very interesting discussions. More often than not...I heard this phrase..."The things I would do if I won the lottery..."
Some time ago I heard myself saying the same thing...
At that point I stopped and assessed what I was saying...and looked to see if there was some real value (deeper) that I could derive from it!
Sure enough I found some...
In fact...the value of that statement was "hiding in plain sight!"
AND...it is HUGE!
*******************************************
Please forgive me...
In order to make sense of my logic...and ..."build suspense" (that is my literary license)...I have to take you through the whole series of thought...
*******************************************
The "If Only..." Thought is NOT Rare...
First - When we think of what we would do..."if only..." it does not have to be based in the lottery...we have many "if only" thoughts throughout our lives...I realized that I was no exception...I have thought..."if only" I had pursued different degrees...or made different choices or decisions...focused harder or not as hard...these are thoughts in retrospect...
Then there are those "if only" thoughts that are based in planning...better stated future oriented "if only's.". "If only" or "when" I win the lottery most often fits into this class. That is not to say...I look back and say..."20 years ago "if only" I won the lottery!
I know that this differentiation seems petty...but it was telling! I needed to differentiate between the two to understand what I was really saying. My thought paths diverged...
The question that I asked of myself was..."Where do I spend the majority of "if only" time?"
Was it focused on my past..."REGRETS"?
or...
Was it focused on future "PLANS and CONTINGENCIES"?
Enough of that...
Ask yourself that same question...and be honest with yourself...it sets the foundation for a deeper understanding of your inner drivers...
AND...
Do not dismay..."the paths" actually come back together toward our destination!
******************************************
The "If Only..." List is Important
At this point in my thoughts...I found that the two "If Only..." paths ran parallel!
In fact...as I waked each and looked over at the other...they appeared nearly identical!
OK...enough of the analogies!
I literally made two "If Only..." lists...
One list was based upon my past... e.g "If Only... I had done it differently..."
The other list was based on my future desires... e.g. "If Only... I win the lottery..."
What I discovered was that the two lists were nearly identical!
(Now does the parallel paths looking the same make sense? Ha! Ha!)
This may not be the case for you...but what I found out about me...it that my retrospective "If Only's" and my perspective "If Only's" had the same outcomes in mind!
WOW...that woke me up!
With a few minor exceptions...what I wished I could have been doing in the present was the same as what I hoped to do in the future...
Are your "If Only" lists the same...or at least close to the same?
*******************************************
The Paths Converge Again!
There he goes with the "path" thing again!
I had to do it!
I could belabor the point and take your down to the many dead-ends that I encountered...
Instead I will run forward to the point where the paths converge and the insight(s) that I drew from this exercise of introspection...
Having discovered that the two lists were the same...I reviewed them for what they told me...
What I discovered was that the items were quite commendable! I impressed even myself!
They were things worth aspiring towards!
Some were selfish...others were selfless...
Whether a regret or a hope...each was a good thing!
They were of value to myself, my family, the community AND sometimes the world itself!
WOW!
Things worth doing even though my past had not brought them to fruition in my present...
Perhaps that is why I had the "Hope" or "Perspective" list...
Good things for me to keep trying to accomplish...
So wishing, dreaming and hoping that I win the lottery is a good thing!
...or is it?
This is where it gets interesting...
If my hopes and dreams and aspirations hinge on the lottery...then the chances of them coming to fruition equals my chances of winning the lottery...1 in 175,000,000!
I do not want those odds of success...even if it is a dream!
I want better odds! More lottery tickets?
NOT!
If the things that I aspire towards are of value...then it is important for me to find ways to make them happen...
The lottery is definitely the easy way out!
I took my lists and said...if doing "X" is important...then find a way to make it happen without millions of dollars...
This Epiphany of the Utterly Obvious changed the way I look at things...
It changed the way I attack my challenges...
It even changed many of my dreams and aspirations...
I have reduced my list to a critical few...
That in the event I win the lottery (yes I play 1 ticket every Wednesday and Saturday)...I can focus on those things that will optimize my efforts towards
...making meaningful and significant POSITIVE differences in the lives of individuals and the performance of organizations...
AND that I do it from the Keys!
PURA VIDA!
The recent Mega-Millions hype brought up some very interesting discussions. More often than not...I heard this phrase..."The things I would do if I won the lottery..."
Some time ago I heard myself saying the same thing...
At that point I stopped and assessed what I was saying...and looked to see if there was some real value (deeper) that I could derive from it!
Sure enough I found some...
In fact...the value of that statement was "hiding in plain sight!"
AND...it is HUGE!
*******************************************
Please forgive me...
In order to make sense of my logic...and ..."build suspense" (that is my literary license)...I have to take you through the whole series of thought...
*******************************************
The "If Only..." Thought is NOT Rare...
First - When we think of what we would do..."if only..." it does not have to be based in the lottery...we have many "if only" thoughts throughout our lives...I realized that I was no exception...I have thought..."if only" I had pursued different degrees...or made different choices or decisions...focused harder or not as hard...these are thoughts in retrospect...
Then there are those "if only" thoughts that are based in planning...better stated future oriented "if only's.". "If only" or "when" I win the lottery most often fits into this class. That is not to say...I look back and say..."20 years ago "if only" I won the lottery!
I know that this differentiation seems petty...but it was telling! I needed to differentiate between the two to understand what I was really saying. My thought paths diverged...
The question that I asked of myself was..."Where do I spend the majority of "if only" time?"
Was it focused on my past..."REGRETS"?
or...
Was it focused on future "PLANS and CONTINGENCIES"?
Enough of that...
Ask yourself that same question...and be honest with yourself...it sets the foundation for a deeper understanding of your inner drivers...
AND...
Do not dismay..."the paths" actually come back together toward our destination!
******************************************
The "If Only..." List is Important
At this point in my thoughts...I found that the two "If Only..." paths ran parallel!
In fact...as I waked each and looked over at the other...they appeared nearly identical!
OK...enough of the analogies!
I literally made two "If Only..." lists...
One list was based upon my past... e.g "If Only... I had done it differently..."
The other list was based on my future desires... e.g. "If Only... I win the lottery..."
What I discovered was that the two lists were nearly identical!
(Now does the parallel paths looking the same make sense? Ha! Ha!)
This may not be the case for you...but what I found out about me...it that my retrospective "If Only's" and my perspective "If Only's" had the same outcomes in mind!
WOW...that woke me up!
With a few minor exceptions...what I wished I could have been doing in the present was the same as what I hoped to do in the future...
Are your "If Only" lists the same...or at least close to the same?
*******************************************
The Paths Converge Again!
There he goes with the "path" thing again!
I had to do it!
I could belabor the point and take your down to the many dead-ends that I encountered...
Instead I will run forward to the point where the paths converge and the insight(s) that I drew from this exercise of introspection...
Having discovered that the two lists were the same...I reviewed them for what they told me...
What I discovered was that the items were quite commendable! I impressed even myself!
They were things worth aspiring towards!
Some were selfish...others were selfless...
Whether a regret or a hope...each was a good thing!
They were of value to myself, my family, the community AND sometimes the world itself!
WOW!
Things worth doing even though my past had not brought them to fruition in my present...
Perhaps that is why I had the "Hope" or "Perspective" list...
Good things for me to keep trying to accomplish...
So wishing, dreaming and hoping that I win the lottery is a good thing!
...or is it?
This is where it gets interesting...
If my hopes and dreams and aspirations hinge on the lottery...then the chances of them coming to fruition equals my chances of winning the lottery...1 in 175,000,000!
I do not want those odds of success...even if it is a dream!
I want better odds! More lottery tickets?
NOT!
If the things that I aspire towards are of value...then it is important for me to find ways to make them happen...
The lottery is definitely the easy way out!
I took my lists and said...if doing "X" is important...then find a way to make it happen without millions of dollars...
This Epiphany of the Utterly Obvious changed the way I look at things...
It changed the way I attack my challenges...
It even changed many of my dreams and aspirations...
I have reduced my list to a critical few...
That in the event I win the lottery (yes I play 1 ticket every Wednesday and Saturday)...I can focus on those things that will optimize my efforts towards
...making meaningful and significant POSITIVE differences in the lives of individuals and the performance of organizations...
AND that I do it from the Keys!
PURA VIDA!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
"Reinventing yourself" MUST be a Daily Activity
Over the course I have come across many people who have euphemistically stated to me that they are "reinventing themselves..."
What they are really saying is that they got caught in a position of apathy with their own value to others (including companies) and found that they no longer could find gainful employment. It was a nice way of admitting that they can't find a job!
This hit home recently when I was talking with an individual that was teaching mathematics. This person has a resume (CV) that is absolutely amazing! We talked about the background and experiences...the awesome assignments and accomplishments. I was impressed! Then I asked..."with all of these amazing things...why are you teaching?"
I expected a cool answer like "because I wish to share this with others..."
But what I got was..."this was all I could get!"
I was dumbfounded!
This person went on to explain that they had rested on their abilities...and refused to advance with the times...
Now..."when I interview for even an entry level engineering position...the question is asked...Can you use such and such software system...I have to answer no...I can do it all by hand...and a novice gets the job over me!"
The conversation went deeper and this person confessed that "the writing was on the wall!"
It seems that over the course of an exemplary career...the time to deliver amazing products was falling behind expected delivery goals! Finally the company could not afford to wait and chose to sever the ties!
This is extreme situation...but it made me sit back and take stock of areas in my own life where I may not be keeping up!
Everyone has these areas in their life...places that we depend on...and we take them for granted and stop growing!
Then we wake up and find that we are no longer needed!
The question then becomes...What should we do?
...or...
Should we be reinventing ourselves?
The answer is YES!
Reinvention is a necessary part of life!
If we are not constantly assessing ourselves...and what we are truly capable of relative to the outside world...we will find ourselves way behind...and perhaps in a position where we are only worth 1/10th of what we were being paid a year ago! "Yes that is what the math teacher person found!"
Reinvention is not an event but an ongoing process...
I believe that it is often too late to wait...
REMEMBER that "The greatest mistake that a person can make is not starting..." and in this situation...let's add...and not staying the course!
If you desire to stay on top...assess and reinvent...YOURSELF...
Become the learning and adaptation machine that you were designed to be...
Pura Vida
What they are really saying is that they got caught in a position of apathy with their own value to others (including companies) and found that they no longer could find gainful employment. It was a nice way of admitting that they can't find a job!
This hit home recently when I was talking with an individual that was teaching mathematics. This person has a resume (CV) that is absolutely amazing! We talked about the background and experiences...the awesome assignments and accomplishments. I was impressed! Then I asked..."with all of these amazing things...why are you teaching?"
I expected a cool answer like "because I wish to share this with others..."
But what I got was..."this was all I could get!"
I was dumbfounded!
This person went on to explain that they had rested on their abilities...and refused to advance with the times...
Now..."when I interview for even an entry level engineering position...the question is asked...Can you use such and such software system...I have to answer no...I can do it all by hand...and a novice gets the job over me!"
The conversation went deeper and this person confessed that "the writing was on the wall!"
It seems that over the course of an exemplary career...the time to deliver amazing products was falling behind expected delivery goals! Finally the company could not afford to wait and chose to sever the ties!
This is extreme situation...but it made me sit back and take stock of areas in my own life where I may not be keeping up!
Everyone has these areas in their life...places that we depend on...and we take them for granted and stop growing!
Then we wake up and find that we are no longer needed!
The question then becomes...What should we do?
...or...
Should we be reinventing ourselves?
The answer is YES!
Reinvention is a necessary part of life!
If we are not constantly assessing ourselves...and what we are truly capable of relative to the outside world...we will find ourselves way behind...and perhaps in a position where we are only worth 1/10th of what we were being paid a year ago! "Yes that is what the math teacher person found!"
Reinvention is not an event but an ongoing process...
I believe that it is often too late to wait...
REMEMBER that "The greatest mistake that a person can make is not starting..." and in this situation...let's add...and not staying the course!
If you desire to stay on top...assess and reinvent...YOURSELF...
Become the learning and adaptation machine that you were designed to be...
Pura Vida
Saturday, March 24, 2012
The Dream Jar
I used to be a passionate advocate of Vision Boarding!
For those who do not know what a Vision Board is...please allow me to briefly explain...
A Vision Board is a collage of pictures that depict ones dreams, goals and aspirations.
The purpose of a Vision Board is to create a mental and physical image of your goals...which in turn is supposed to assist in making them real...
I do not disagree with the fact that the first step in the success journey is "visioning" yet I find that many people create the Vision Boards and believe that that activity is sufficient and their dreams will magically come true!
Something just seemed to be lacking...
I have a Vision Board...I have had a Vision Board for years!
Many of the items on my Vision Board have become real...others have not!
The ones that are now real are those that I focused on and worked my hardest to achieve...
There are those that are still in process and I am working on...
AND...there are those that I am no closer to realizing than the day I paste the photo into the collage!
What is the difference?
It is quite apparent (because truth hides in "plain sight!")...the difference is work...or a cost!
It hit me as it does you! (An Epiphany of the Utterly Obvious or DUH!)
Dreams and Visions are cheap...in fact...they are free...but making them REAL often...if not always...has a cost!
This bothered me...
How can I reconcile a Vision Board to reality?
About a week ago...I was carrying the recycling from the kitchen to the bins.
In the armful of "green" trash" was a large jar.
As I walked I realized that I could make my Vision Board REAL!
What came from that epiphany was my Dream Jar!
I believe that the ability to "multi-task" is a deception that we try to live...
Life is about focus and prioritization...
We can only do one thing (with excellence) at a time...
Try Singing and Eating at the same time!
Enough of that!
The collage (by its very nature) is a set or consolidation of multiple goals. It is a "ToDo List"
Success comes from picking the most important thing and focusing on it and doing it well!
A Dream Jar...is goal specific...
One can have multiple Dream Jars...but the fact of the matter is...
You can only put specific coins (or whatever) in any single jar at a time. If you have a handful of coins...you can mete them across the set of jars that you have...
You get the picture...I am getting ahead of myself...
Let's go back to the Dream Jar!
I was lucky because the jar that I used has no label...and it was clear to me that a Dream Jar had to have its purpose clearly indicated on it...
I made this label...
...and affixed it to the jar...
I then slotted and glued the lid in place...
Why would I do that?
So that if I felt compelled to use the money in the jar for anything other than my dream...I would have to shatter the jar and that dream!
What goes in the Dream Jar...
In the case of my ocean-side dream...it would require a down-payment...so money goes in this jar!
But this does not always need to be the case...what goes in the jar is the actual stuff that makes the dream possible...SUBSTANCE!
At first I committed to putting only the coins that I find on the ground...
But in short order it began collecting all of my excess change!
Every day I see the dream getting closer and closer...it is amazing...
I need not belabor the point...but let's look at the difference between a Vision Board and a Dream Jar...one more time!
The Vision Board simply contains pictures of your goals...The commitment to the goal(s) are external to the exercise...
On the other hand...The Dream Jar goes the necessary distance! It contains the picture, but only one picture...AND that extra step is that it also contains the substance of action!
Dreaming and Visioning is OK...in fact it is a critical component of success...but it will always be ethereal...if there is no action (cost) behind the dreams and visions (picture(s)).
The difference is the ACTION...pure and simple!
Vision Boarders...consider taking your activity up a level with a Dream Jar...or for those with high aspirations...Dream Jars!
You will be surprised how quickly your activities become MORE focused on your dream!
Pura Vida!
For those who do not know what a Vision Board is...please allow me to briefly explain...
A Vision Board is a collage of pictures that depict ones dreams, goals and aspirations.
The purpose of a Vision Board is to create a mental and physical image of your goals...which in turn is supposed to assist in making them real...
I do not disagree with the fact that the first step in the success journey is "visioning" yet I find that many people create the Vision Boards and believe that that activity is sufficient and their dreams will magically come true!
Something just seemed to be lacking...
I have a Vision Board...I have had a Vision Board for years!
Many of the items on my Vision Board have become real...others have not!
The ones that are now real are those that I focused on and worked my hardest to achieve...
There are those that are still in process and I am working on...
AND...there are those that I am no closer to realizing than the day I paste the photo into the collage!
What is the difference?
It is quite apparent (because truth hides in "plain sight!")...the difference is work...or a cost!
It hit me as it does you! (An Epiphany of the Utterly Obvious or DUH!)
Dreams and Visions are cheap...in fact...they are free...but making them REAL often...if not always...has a cost!
This bothered me...
How can I reconcile a Vision Board to reality?
About a week ago...I was carrying the recycling from the kitchen to the bins.
In the armful of "green" trash" was a large jar.
As I walked I realized that I could make my Vision Board REAL!
What came from that epiphany was my Dream Jar!
I believe that the ability to "multi-task" is a deception that we try to live...
Life is about focus and prioritization...
We can only do one thing (with excellence) at a time...
Try Singing and Eating at the same time!
Enough of that!
The collage (by its very nature) is a set or consolidation of multiple goals. It is a "ToDo List"
Success comes from picking the most important thing and focusing on it and doing it well!
A Dream Jar...is goal specific...
One can have multiple Dream Jars...but the fact of the matter is...
You can only put specific coins (or whatever) in any single jar at a time. If you have a handful of coins...you can mete them across the set of jars that you have...
You get the picture...I am getting ahead of myself...
Let's go back to the Dream Jar!
I was lucky because the jar that I used has no label...and it was clear to me that a Dream Jar had to have its purpose clearly indicated on it...
I made this label...
I then slotted and glued the lid in place...
Why would I do that?
So that if I felt compelled to use the money in the jar for anything other than my dream...I would have to shatter the jar and that dream!
What goes in the Dream Jar...
In the case of my ocean-side dream...it would require a down-payment...so money goes in this jar!
But this does not always need to be the case...what goes in the jar is the actual stuff that makes the dream possible...SUBSTANCE!
At first I committed to putting only the coins that I find on the ground...
But in short order it began collecting all of my excess change!
Every day I see the dream getting closer and closer...it is amazing...
I need not belabor the point...but let's look at the difference between a Vision Board and a Dream Jar...one more time!
The Vision Board simply contains pictures of your goals...The commitment to the goal(s) are external to the exercise...
On the other hand...The Dream Jar goes the necessary distance! It contains the picture, but only one picture...AND that extra step is that it also contains the substance of action!
Dreaming and Visioning is OK...in fact it is a critical component of success...but it will always be ethereal...if there is no action (cost) behind the dreams and visions (picture(s)).
The difference is the ACTION...pure and simple!
Vision Boarders...consider taking your activity up a level with a Dream Jar...or for those with high aspirations...Dream Jars!
You will be surprised how quickly your activities become MORE focused on your dream!
Pura Vida!
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