During the last couple of weeks we saw Adam Sandler on a SNL Highlight show singing the ‘Hanukkah Song. It’s a fun song that hopefully you have heard and here are the words including a brief introduction.
Intro: this is a song, that uh, there's a lot of xmas songs out there, but not too many about hanukkah, so I wrote a song for all those nice little jewish Kids who don't get to hear any hanukkah songs--here we go...
Put on your yalmulka, here comes hanukkah
Its so much fun-akkah to celebrate hanukkah,
Hanukkah is the festival of lights,
Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights.
When you feel like the only kid in town without a x-mas tree, here’s a list of People who are jewish, just like you and me:
David lee roth lights the menorrah,
So do james caan, kirk douglas, and the late dinah shore-ah
Guess who eats together at the karnickey deli,
Bowzer from sha-na-na, and arthur fonzerrelli.
Paul newmans half jewish; goldie hawns half too,
Put them together--what a fine lookin' jew!
You don't need deck the halls or jingle bell rock
Cause you can spin the dreidl with captain kirk and mr. spock--both jewish!
Put on your yalmulka, it's time for hanukkah,
The owner of the seattle super sonic-ahs celebrates hanukkah.
O.j. simpson-- not a jew!
But guess who is...hall of famer, rod carew--(he converted!)
We got ann landers and her sister dear abby,
Harrison fords a quarter jewish--not too shabby!
Some people think that ebeneezer scrooge is,
Well, he's not, but guess who is:all three stooges.
So many jews are in show biz--
Tom cruise isn¹t, but I heard his agent is.
Tell your friend veronica, it's time you celebrate hanukkah
I hope I get a harmonica, on this lovely, lovely hanukkah.
So drink your gin-and-tonic-ah, and smoke your mara-juanic-ah,
If you really, really wanna-kah, have a happy, happy, happy, happy Hanukkah! happy hanukka!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Problem Solver
‘…Whatever your job title is, your real job is problem solver. This is what you do all day long. Where there are no problems to be solved, there are no jobs. The bigger, the more difficult, more complicated, and more expensive the problems, the greater the opportunities there are for you to get paid more and promoted faster.
The highest paid people in every industry are the very best problem solvers in that industry. And remember, a goal unachieved is just a problem unsolved. Your job is to find ways up, over, around and through any obstacle or difficulty that is thrown in your path. Your ability to solve problems will determine your entire quality of life, both at home and at work.’
From: ‘Create Your Own Future’ by Brian Tracy
The highest paid people in every industry are the very best problem solvers in that industry. And remember, a goal unachieved is just a problem unsolved. Your job is to find ways up, over, around and through any obstacle or difficulty that is thrown in your path. Your ability to solve problems will determine your entire quality of life, both at home and at work.’
From: ‘Create Your Own Future’ by Brian Tracy
Monday, December 27, 2010
Which way do we go?
It’s time to decide. Which will it be?
‘Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.’
Source: December 27 of ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
‘Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.’
Source: December 27 of ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
Saturday, December 25, 2010
What kind of letter would you hope to receive?
Below is an interesting letter to a Dad from his daughter reprinted from the 12/24/10 Wall Street Journal.
After reading this letter I wondered what type of letter would I hope to get from my son or my daughter when they turn 45. Hopefully it would deal with the things that we taught them that have benefited them in some way. I'm sure we may have messed up on some things and hope that the good outweighs the untaught or the overlooked.
You should know that we have not provided the type of education identified in the letter for our kids and we are not capable of fulfilling the requests that are made. Just think of the things that you can provide based on your income.
This letter identifies one type of giving and that is the giving of money or material things that most people desire. Things that they think will make their lives easier and more satisfying. Things that don't last.
The things that will most benefit our kids are the intangibles, like qualities of character for example, that last a lifetime and beyond.
‘All I Want for Christmas’
Dear Dad,
Can you believe your baby’s almost 45? I can’t believe how the years have flown. It’s all thanks to you. Putting me through Vanderbilt. Sending me to Harvard for an MBA. Buying me a starter home. And look at how it’s paid off, Dad – a great job, a fabulous husband, a lovely son…I’m all grow up! Anyway, here’s what I want from Santa this year.
A Car. I would visit more often if I had some modest conveyance to get to you, for example, a Starfire Pearl Lexus LXII with burled walnut interior accents and a rear-seat entertainment system. Call the Skokie dealership and ask for Patrick at extension 481. (Patrick is out of the office from December 23 – 28, but he said you could call his cell 847-555-4901.) I think I could even join you and Mom for Easter if I had a car! (If out of pearl, get onyx, not black.)
Timmy’s Tuition. Kindergarten costs more than it used to, Dad. You can’t give an enterprising boy a nickel and a stick of gum and then watch him build a multimillion dollar business, like you did. If kids today want to get ahead, they need a serious advantage, and trust me, $40,000 is well spent on giving Timmy that edge.
A Job for Richard. I don’t see why Santa can’t help my husband find a job in your company, Dad. I’ve asked for this Christmas gift before, but Santa didn’t hear me. No one is saying that Richard is the best personal-injury attorney in the world, but neither is he “negligent, obtuse and woefully unprepared” – I don’t care what Mom or the State of Pennsylvania has to say about it.
A Kitchen. I love to cook. But you try cooking for your family in a kitchen without Clive Christian cabinetry and granite counter tops. A new kitchen would motivate me. Just think of what you’d save on restaurants!
And Daddy, to start paying you back for all that you have done for us, I want to invite you and Mom over for Christmas dinner. I should warn you that my culinary skills haven’t improved much since last Christmas – or “mouth Armageddon,” as you joked – so if you wan me to make a reservation at your club, just let me know!
Love,
Julie
After reading this letter I wondered what type of letter would I hope to get from my son or my daughter when they turn 45. Hopefully it would deal with the things that we taught them that have benefited them in some way. I'm sure we may have messed up on some things and hope that the good outweighs the untaught or the overlooked.
You should know that we have not provided the type of education identified in the letter for our kids and we are not capable of fulfilling the requests that are made. Just think of the things that you can provide based on your income.
This letter identifies one type of giving and that is the giving of money or material things that most people desire. Things that they think will make their lives easier and more satisfying. Things that don't last.
The things that will most benefit our kids are the intangibles, like qualities of character for example, that last a lifetime and beyond.
‘All I Want for Christmas’
Dear Dad,
Can you believe your baby’s almost 45? I can’t believe how the years have flown. It’s all thanks to you. Putting me through Vanderbilt. Sending me to Harvard for an MBA. Buying me a starter home. And look at how it’s paid off, Dad – a great job, a fabulous husband, a lovely son…I’m all grow up! Anyway, here’s what I want from Santa this year.
A Car. I would visit more often if I had some modest conveyance to get to you, for example, a Starfire Pearl Lexus LXII with burled walnut interior accents and a rear-seat entertainment system. Call the Skokie dealership and ask for Patrick at extension 481. (Patrick is out of the office from December 23 – 28, but he said you could call his cell 847-555-4901.) I think I could even join you and Mom for Easter if I had a car! (If out of pearl, get onyx, not black.)
Timmy’s Tuition. Kindergarten costs more than it used to, Dad. You can’t give an enterprising boy a nickel and a stick of gum and then watch him build a multimillion dollar business, like you did. If kids today want to get ahead, they need a serious advantage, and trust me, $40,000 is well spent on giving Timmy that edge.
A Job for Richard. I don’t see why Santa can’t help my husband find a job in your company, Dad. I’ve asked for this Christmas gift before, but Santa didn’t hear me. No one is saying that Richard is the best personal-injury attorney in the world, but neither is he “negligent, obtuse and woefully unprepared” – I don’t care what Mom or the State of Pennsylvania has to say about it.
A Kitchen. I love to cook. But you try cooking for your family in a kitchen without Clive Christian cabinetry and granite counter tops. A new kitchen would motivate me. Just think of what you’d save on restaurants!
And Daddy, to start paying you back for all that you have done for us, I want to invite you and Mom over for Christmas dinner. I should warn you that my culinary skills haven’t improved much since last Christmas – or “mouth Armageddon,” as you joked – so if you wan me to make a reservation at your club, just let me know!
Love,
Julie
Friday, December 24, 2010
It is hard being you
I think this line from the movie 'The Fighter' will bring clarity to a lot of people who have ever wondered why they either couldn't be or couldn't be like someone else.
‘You can’t be me! You have a hard enough time being you…’
‘You can’t be me! You have a hard enough time being you…’
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thoughts lead to a destiny
I have seen the following phrase many times in the past and I believe it makes a lot of sense. It is a simple formula that will allow you to do new things or to change things you are currently doing.
I am not sure who to attribute it to but here it is:
Sew a thought, reap an action,
Sew an action, reap a habit,
Sew a habit, reap a character,
Sew a character, reap a destiny,
Here is my interpretation of what it means:
Your thoughts (positive or negative) can lead you to take an action. You have to make a decision to take a specific action.
Your choices will cause you to repeat actions and in the process develop habits. I have read that if you do something for 21 days straight you will develop a habit.
Your habits make your character. Think about the people you know with good character. What habits do they consistently exhibit? Honesty, integrity, dependability, timeliness, etc.
People know us by our character. A good character means we can have a good and positive influence in people’s lives. A bad character means we turn off the majority of people because of who we are and what we do.
Our character influences people and people will remember us by our character. This is our destiny.
The way we live now will determine our destiny unless we consciously make choices to make changes.
Are you happy with your destiny?
I am not sure who to attribute it to but here it is:
Sew a thought, reap an action,
Sew an action, reap a habit,
Sew a habit, reap a character,
Sew a character, reap a destiny,
Here is my interpretation of what it means:
Your thoughts (positive or negative) can lead you to take an action. You have to make a decision to take a specific action.
Your choices will cause you to repeat actions and in the process develop habits. I have read that if you do something for 21 days straight you will develop a habit.
Your habits make your character. Think about the people you know with good character. What habits do they consistently exhibit? Honesty, integrity, dependability, timeliness, etc.
People know us by our character. A good character means we can have a good and positive influence in people’s lives. A bad character means we turn off the majority of people because of who we are and what we do.
Our character influences people and people will remember us by our character. This is our destiny.
The way we live now will determine our destiny unless we consciously make choices to make changes.
Are you happy with your destiny?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
To move beyond
The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression and speak it clearly and boldly.
From December 15, in ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
From December 15, in ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A Pattern for Change
‘How to change things when change is hard’. This is the subtitle for the book 'Switch'
It seems like change is most always hard and that is probably why many people don’t like change.
I recently read this book on change by Chip and Dan Heath who became well known through their best selling book ‘Made to Stick’.
Their book ‘Switch’ …is a book to help you change things. [They] consider change at every level – individual, organizational and societal.
…all change efforts have something in common. For anything to change, someone has to act differently.
So there are hard changes and easy changes. What distinguishes one from the other? In this book we argue that successful changes share a common pattern. They require the leader of the change to ...consider a three part framework...that can guide you in any situation where you need to change behavior:
o To change someone’s behavior, you’ve got to change that person’s situation
o Change is hard because people wear themselves out. What looks like laziness is often exhaustion
o If you want people to change, you must provide crystal-clear direction
It seems like change is most always hard and that is probably why many people don’t like change.
I recently read this book on change by Chip and Dan Heath who became well known through their best selling book ‘Made to Stick’.
Their book ‘Switch’ …is a book to help you change things. [They] consider change at every level – individual, organizational and societal.
…all change efforts have something in common. For anything to change, someone has to act differently.
So there are hard changes and easy changes. What distinguishes one from the other? In this book we argue that successful changes share a common pattern. They require the leader of the change to ...consider a three part framework...that can guide you in any situation where you need to change behavior:
o To change someone’s behavior, you’ve got to change that person’s situation
o Change is hard because people wear themselves out. What looks like laziness is often exhaustion
o If you want people to change, you must provide crystal-clear direction
Good Information
For all of you leaders and would be leaders this book, ‘The Truth About Leadership’ written by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, is very informative and interesting. Kouzes and Posner are the best selling authors of ‘The Leadership Challenge’ and several other books.
This is the index for the ‘The Truth About Leadership’:
o You make a difference
o Credibility is the foundation of Leadership
o Values drive commitment
o Focusing on the future sets leaders apart
o You can’t do it alone
o Trust rules
o Challenge is the crucible for greatness
o You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all
o The best leaders are the best learners
o Leadership is an affair of the heart
o Leaders say yes
This is the index for the ‘The Truth About Leadership’:
o You make a difference
o Credibility is the foundation of Leadership
o Values drive commitment
o Focusing on the future sets leaders apart
o You can’t do it alone
o Trust rules
o Challenge is the crucible for greatness
o You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all
o The best leaders are the best learners
o Leadership is an affair of the heart
o Leaders say yes
Monday, December 13, 2010
Impact of the Messenger
…If you are highly credible, people are much more likely to enlist in your campaign for the future. But if others don’t believe in you, then the message you are delivering about an uplifting and ennobling future rests on a weak and precarious foundation.
People may actually applaud your vision of the future but be unwilling to follow you in that direction. They may agree that what you are saying needs to be done, but they just won’t have the faith and confidence that you are the one to lead them there.
We refer to this principle as The Kouzes-Posner First Law of Leadership: ‘If you don’t believe in the messenger, you won’t believe in the message’.
Source: The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
People may actually applaud your vision of the future but be unwilling to follow you in that direction. They may agree that what you are saying needs to be done, but they just won’t have the faith and confidence that you are the one to lead them there.
We refer to this principle as The Kouzes-Posner First Law of Leadership: ‘If you don’t believe in the messenger, you won’t believe in the message’.
Source: The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ask Him to send you!
Below these comments is a post I made to my blog on 6/1/08 and titled ‘What I saw’ after a group of us from our church had come back from a trip to Juarez, Mexico. We are talking again this year about sending people, at their own expense, to Mexico, Haiti and Kenya as part of our church’s outreach efforts so I thought I would re-read this post.
The trip was an encouragement to me as I look back on it for many reasons. Will I ever do it again? I don’t know.
But if you are not sure about doing something like this perhaps my thoughts and observations may encourage you. I know it may not be the best time for you to do something like this for lots of reasons – finances, family situations, job problems, health, questions about your faith, concerns about your church, or whatever else there is.
Doing things for God requires stepping out on faith. If we all wait for conditions to be perfect before we do anything then not much will get done.
But most importantly God’s strength will allow you to do this and many other things. He will provide whatever is necessary for you. You need to provide the willingness and the desire to serve Him.
Be like Isaiah who said in Isaiah 6:8:
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Pray for God’s guidance and depend on Him and His strength and take the steps necessary to impact people for Him.
You can do this.
Just trust God.
Following is my 6/1/08 blog post:
The mother of the woman we built a house for in Juarez, Mexico, came over for the dedication of that house on a Wednesday evening. She lived next door and her grandson, Jonathan, who would be living in the new house with his mother, had helped us in building his mother’s house.
His grandmother was short, about four feet tall. Her skin was tanned, wrinkled and appeared leathery. She wore a scarf over her head and wore a long dress and she carried her Bible.
She smiled during the dedication service and read some scripture in Spanish when given the opportunity. At the end of the simple proceedings there were many hugs but more tears as the house was presented to the new owner.
I didn’t think much more about the grandmother as we went to the dedication of the second house just a few hundred yards up a dirt road where we encountered another family that was truly thankful. Again many hugs and more tears.
Thirty four of us had traveled from the Philadelphia area to El Paso, Texas, where we boarded four vans. In El Paso we had stayed in a church on Sunday, Thursday and Friday nights where we slept on the floor, on pews or on chairs.
On Monday morning we went to the offices of Casas por Cristo to meet up with our project managers, Scott and Jason. After we got some tools and made plans we added two pickup trucks to the caravan and headed to Juarez, Mexico. Juarez has had a lot of crime recently and the US State Department had issued a warning to Americans traveling there.
Casas has a fairly new community center they had built in the area where we would be working. We would be sleeping on the concrete floor of this center and making and cooking our food here from Monday to Thursday.
This area of Juarez is on top of an old dump with dirt roads, run down shacks, lots of stray dogs, empty plastic bags and plastic bottles everywhere and lots of dust. There were dust storms and hot sun every afternoon.
Interestingly there were used tires everywhere and many appeared on roofs apparently holding roof coverings secure.
Casas has been a presence in this area of one million plus people since 1993, I believe. They have had such a positive influence that whenever people, whether adults or children, saw our caravan they waved and smiled.
As we loaded into the four vans on Wednesday evening to leave the second dedication we drove down the road toward the first house we had built. Up to this time I had not been moved emotionally by this experience. I was glad that I came and glad that we could do a little to help these people in such difficult circumstances.
As we passed the first house we had built, I noticed the grandmother stepping into the doorway of her house next door. I watched her as she looked at our van and clapped her hands for us – she was applauding us. She then raised her right hand high over her head and gave us a thumbs up sign.
The only thing that came to my mind was ‘what you do for the least of these you do for me’. I know it isn’t the exact scripture but I think it captures the meaning. You can check it at Matthew 25:40.
For me that was the reason we had come.
The trip was an encouragement to me as I look back on it for many reasons. Will I ever do it again? I don’t know.
But if you are not sure about doing something like this perhaps my thoughts and observations may encourage you. I know it may not be the best time for you to do something like this for lots of reasons – finances, family situations, job problems, health, questions about your faith, concerns about your church, or whatever else there is.
Doing things for God requires stepping out on faith. If we all wait for conditions to be perfect before we do anything then not much will get done.
But most importantly God’s strength will allow you to do this and many other things. He will provide whatever is necessary for you. You need to provide the willingness and the desire to serve Him.
Be like Isaiah who said in Isaiah 6:8:
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Pray for God’s guidance and depend on Him and His strength and take the steps necessary to impact people for Him.
You can do this.
Just trust God.
Following is my 6/1/08 blog post:
The mother of the woman we built a house for in Juarez, Mexico, came over for the dedication of that house on a Wednesday evening. She lived next door and her grandson, Jonathan, who would be living in the new house with his mother, had helped us in building his mother’s house.
His grandmother was short, about four feet tall. Her skin was tanned, wrinkled and appeared leathery. She wore a scarf over her head and wore a long dress and she carried her Bible.
She smiled during the dedication service and read some scripture in Spanish when given the opportunity. At the end of the simple proceedings there were many hugs but more tears as the house was presented to the new owner.
I didn’t think much more about the grandmother as we went to the dedication of the second house just a few hundred yards up a dirt road where we encountered another family that was truly thankful. Again many hugs and more tears.
Thirty four of us had traveled from the Philadelphia area to El Paso, Texas, where we boarded four vans. In El Paso we had stayed in a church on Sunday, Thursday and Friday nights where we slept on the floor, on pews or on chairs.
On Monday morning we went to the offices of Casas por Cristo to meet up with our project managers, Scott and Jason. After we got some tools and made plans we added two pickup trucks to the caravan and headed to Juarez, Mexico. Juarez has had a lot of crime recently and the US State Department had issued a warning to Americans traveling there.
Casas has a fairly new community center they had built in the area where we would be working. We would be sleeping on the concrete floor of this center and making and cooking our food here from Monday to Thursday.
This area of Juarez is on top of an old dump with dirt roads, run down shacks, lots of stray dogs, empty plastic bags and plastic bottles everywhere and lots of dust. There were dust storms and hot sun every afternoon.
Interestingly there were used tires everywhere and many appeared on roofs apparently holding roof coverings secure.
Casas has been a presence in this area of one million plus people since 1993, I believe. They have had such a positive influence that whenever people, whether adults or children, saw our caravan they waved and smiled.
As we loaded into the four vans on Wednesday evening to leave the second dedication we drove down the road toward the first house we had built. Up to this time I had not been moved emotionally by this experience. I was glad that I came and glad that we could do a little to help these people in such difficult circumstances.
As we passed the first house we had built, I noticed the grandmother stepping into the doorway of her house next door. I watched her as she looked at our van and clapped her hands for us – she was applauding us. She then raised her right hand high over her head and gave us a thumbs up sign.
The only thing that came to my mind was ‘what you do for the least of these you do for me’. I know it isn’t the exact scripture but I think it captures the meaning. You can check it at Matthew 25:40.
For me that was the reason we had come.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
A good principle
This is a good piece about expectations in relationships. It is difficult for many people to be bigger than the problem or the situation and take responsibility, or as some would say ’take the blame’. I think how you phrase it has a big impact on your attitude. Responsibility is positive and shows you are being proactive and want to resolve things. Blame is negative and causes you to see the other person negatively and I believe makes it harder to overcome.
See my Blog Post titled ‘Best & Worst on November 7, 2010 that also talks about expectations and relationships.
Following is an Excerpt from 'The 100/0 Principle' by Al Ritter posted at Simple Truths by Mac Anderson, Founder
What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
•STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
•STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
•STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
•STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.
See my Blog Post titled ‘Best & Worst on November 7, 2010 that also talks about expectations and relationships.
Following is an Excerpt from 'The 100/0 Principle' by Al Ritter posted at Simple Truths by Mac Anderson, Founder
What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
•STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
•STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
•STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
•STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Learning economics from Seinfeld.
Many people are Seinfeld fans. When I hear people discussing the old episodes that are playing in reruns on cable channels most of the time I only hear about the humor that is gained or recognized in the episodes.
Now some economists have created websites that explain economics by using episodes of Seinfeld. I read about this at ‘Economics: Using Seinfeld to Teach the Dismal Science’ at Bloomberg Businessweek.
There are discussions about:
• The Soup Nazi being a monopolist
• Elaine and the contraceptive sponge
• George joining the book club to impress a girl
• Jerry bartering away the intellectual property rights
• And 200 other scenes at the site referenced
Economics may not get any easier or understandable but you will probably enjoy some of your favorite episodes as well as see things from a different perspective.
Here are the sites. You can comment at the sites if you choose.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_48/b4205026175789.htm
http://www.yadayadayadaecon.com/
Now some economists have created websites that explain economics by using episodes of Seinfeld. I read about this at ‘Economics: Using Seinfeld to Teach the Dismal Science’ at Bloomberg Businessweek.
There are discussions about:
• The Soup Nazi being a monopolist
• Elaine and the contraceptive sponge
• George joining the book club to impress a girl
• Jerry bartering away the intellectual property rights
• And 200 other scenes at the site referenced
Economics may not get any easier or understandable but you will probably enjoy some of your favorite episodes as well as see things from a different perspective.
Here are the sites. You can comment at the sites if you choose.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_48/b4205026175789.htm
http://www.yadayadayadaecon.com/
Finding Your Purpose
Good Advice to help find your purpose in the following from ‘Simple Truths’ by Mac Anderson.
What are you trying to do with your life?
What are your greatest gifts?
What are you meant to do here?
How can you best serve mankind?
These are questions you must answer to find your true purpose in life. They sometimes surface during major life transitions such as family strife, job loss, spiritual awakenings, or the death of a loved one.
I feel fortunate to have found my purpose in life. I have that reason to get up in the morning and it fuels my passion. In one of the greatest compliments I ever received, someone said to me, "Mac, when you write you've been blessed with the ability to connect with others...soul to soul." I thought about those words and have chosen to shape my life around that gift.
Every person is a unique being. There is only one of you in the universe. You have many obvious gifts and other gifts waiting to be discovered.
I truly believe, however, that one of the most important questions you can ask yourself in your journey to find your purpose is, "How can I serve others?" Albert Schweitzer said it well:"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
Success is a very personal thing, but I think most people would agree that true success is about being fulfilled in life. It's that feeling of deep satisfaction that starts in your soul and radiates through your being. The end result is true happiness and peace of mind.
What are you trying to do with your life?
What are your greatest gifts?
What are you meant to do here?
How can you best serve mankind?
These are questions you must answer to find your true purpose in life. They sometimes surface during major life transitions such as family strife, job loss, spiritual awakenings, or the death of a loved one.
I feel fortunate to have found my purpose in life. I have that reason to get up in the morning and it fuels my passion. In one of the greatest compliments I ever received, someone said to me, "Mac, when you write you've been blessed with the ability to connect with others...soul to soul." I thought about those words and have chosen to shape my life around that gift.
Every person is a unique being. There is only one of you in the universe. You have many obvious gifts and other gifts waiting to be discovered.
I truly believe, however, that one of the most important questions you can ask yourself in your journey to find your purpose is, "How can I serve others?" Albert Schweitzer said it well:"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
Success is a very personal thing, but I think most people would agree that true success is about being fulfilled in life. It's that feeling of deep satisfaction that starts in your soul and radiates through your being. The end result is true happiness and peace of mind.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Blog Topics
I get lots of ideas for blog posts most days. For me the difficulty is spending the time to write the idea down, think it through, determine the important points and arrive at some kind of conclusion.
Over the weekend my wife and I were traveling and we had lots of time to talk. We usually talk about lots of stuff every week. Some of the topics include families, jobs, friends, finances, future plans, travel, health,sports, spirituality, donations, economics, travel, challenges, business, politics, sex, volunteering, etc. Usually nothing is off limits.
Our discussions don’t always follow the order of the items above but we usually cover most or all of these topics at least weekly and sometimes more frequently. Some times the discussion is polite and civil and sometimes it gets a little heated because we both have some views on topics that are in opposition to each other.
An interesting aspect of our discussions is that many times one idea leads to another and this to another and then to another.
My wife is a good discussion partner (in discussing what word to use here we both thought ‘foil’ may not be understandable to all) because she is well read, a good thinker and a quick processor. Many times she asks questions that I haven’t thought about or challenges my ideas and conclusions. That isn’t always fun because if I like what I am writing and think it is really good I don’t want to be questioned or challenged.
So what’s the point of all this? I am finding that some days I have good ideas and some I don’t. Some days it is easy to write about a topic and some it is hard. And some days there’s nothing there.
I have gained a greater respect and appreciation for writers who can successfully craft a piece or a book that is interesting and flows well and keeps your interest.
Over the weekend my wife and I were traveling and we had lots of time to talk. We usually talk about lots of stuff every week. Some of the topics include families, jobs, friends, finances, future plans, travel, health,sports, spirituality, donations, economics, travel, challenges, business, politics, sex, volunteering, etc. Usually nothing is off limits.
Our discussions don’t always follow the order of the items above but we usually cover most or all of these topics at least weekly and sometimes more frequently. Some times the discussion is polite and civil and sometimes it gets a little heated because we both have some views on topics that are in opposition to each other.
An interesting aspect of our discussions is that many times one idea leads to another and this to another and then to another.
My wife is a good discussion partner (in discussing what word to use here we both thought ‘foil’ may not be understandable to all) because she is well read, a good thinker and a quick processor. Many times she asks questions that I haven’t thought about or challenges my ideas and conclusions. That isn’t always fun because if I like what I am writing and think it is really good I don’t want to be questioned or challenged.
So what’s the point of all this? I am finding that some days I have good ideas and some I don’t. Some days it is easy to write about a topic and some it is hard. And some days there’s nothing there.
I have gained a greater respect and appreciation for writers who can successfully craft a piece or a book that is interesting and flows well and keeps your interest.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Have a positive impact
About a month ago I had a discussion with a friend about one of his children who was running for an office in a school group. Sounded like there was some trepidation on the child’s part because it was a new school, I think, and all that being the new kid brings with it but a real desire to see this through.
Saw that friend today and found out the child had lost the election but all is well.
As adults many of us realize that that first election or recital, game, event is or can be just a stepping stone to more elections, more achievement and more success for the child if handled properly. Handling properly is the parent’s responsibility and that includes encouragement, teaching and support. The power and influence that a parent has with a child is enormous.
So if you don’t do the positive the other options are apathy or negativity. Choosing either of these just creates more problems for the child and the parents in relationships and development.
A great example of the positive behavior is displayed in the Bible when God spoke to Moses to encourage him that he could lead the Jews out of slavery in Egypt. And then when Moses was succeeded by Joshua. God and Moses both said to Joshua several times ‘Be strong and courageous!’.
If you didn’t get the positive piece from your parents or other important people in your life then learn from the positive that God and Jesus displayed. Don’t continue the problem. Learn to be a part of the solution.
What you say and do has a great impact on your children and those you lead.
Saw that friend today and found out the child had lost the election but all is well.
As adults many of us realize that that first election or recital, game, event is or can be just a stepping stone to more elections, more achievement and more success for the child if handled properly. Handling properly is the parent’s responsibility and that includes encouragement, teaching and support. The power and influence that a parent has with a child is enormous.
So if you don’t do the positive the other options are apathy or negativity. Choosing either of these just creates more problems for the child and the parents in relationships and development.
A great example of the positive behavior is displayed in the Bible when God spoke to Moses to encourage him that he could lead the Jews out of slavery in Egypt. And then when Moses was succeeded by Joshua. God and Moses both said to Joshua several times ‘Be strong and courageous!’.
If you didn’t get the positive piece from your parents or other important people in your life then learn from the positive that God and Jesus displayed. Don’t continue the problem. Learn to be a part of the solution.
What you say and do has a great impact on your children and those you lead.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Best & Worst
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it
was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. . . .
from ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Charles Dickens in 1859
This quote has been used to describe many topics but one that comes to mind for me is marriage. For two people to meet, get to know each other over a short time, make a (lifetime) commitment to each other and expect that everything will be simple, easy, perfect and without conflict for the remainder of their lives seems foolish to those of us who are currently or have been married.
Although we used to have a neighbor who was married three times and divorced three times. I don't think she was able to identify the problem and repeated it three times.
Our marriage, that covers several decades, has experienced both the best and the worst during this time. Not intentionally but because of the dynamic of two different personalities trying to work together and stay in harmony and then adding two additional personalities, our children who are each married now, our expectations of a lifetime of constant peace and harmony were at best naïve and at worst bordering on the ridiculous.
Our mistakes included each of us expecting the other to change and adapt to the other's expectation. How often does that happen successfully without coercion? Expectations of certain behaviors or actions from a spouse, children, family, friends, managers, employees and others can only lead to difficulties and broken relationships. This is pure unadulterated selfishness.
Through lots of trial and error and two times at a minimum where we thought seriously about divorcing we have come to a pretty good place where we love and respect each other and have developed a mutual appreciation for each other and our particular gifts and talents.
We started out as friends (which I think is very important because we developed trust in each other from the beginning), became interested in each other romantically prior to and into marriage, evolved into a strained relationship with animosity toward each other, communicated our desire to each other to have a better relationship, found the best way for us to live our lives together was by giving our lives to and dedicating our lives to God and constantly seeking his direction through Bible reading, prayer, serving and fellowship with other mature committed Christians.
I only know what has worked for us and I think some or all of this can work for you. We are currently best friends and I always look forward to our opportunities to be together where we talk, laugh a lot and show each other that we truly care for each other.
I think the more important thing for a successful marriage or relationship to work is to stop blaming each other for the problems or situations. Accept your responsibility for making things work and include God in your life and marriage. It may not be simple to turn things around but it is possible.
was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. . . .
from ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Charles Dickens in 1859
This quote has been used to describe many topics but one that comes to mind for me is marriage. For two people to meet, get to know each other over a short time, make a (lifetime) commitment to each other and expect that everything will be simple, easy, perfect and without conflict for the remainder of their lives seems foolish to those of us who are currently or have been married.
Although we used to have a neighbor who was married three times and divorced three times. I don't think she was able to identify the problem and repeated it three times.
Our marriage, that covers several decades, has experienced both the best and the worst during this time. Not intentionally but because of the dynamic of two different personalities trying to work together and stay in harmony and then adding two additional personalities, our children who are each married now, our expectations of a lifetime of constant peace and harmony were at best naïve and at worst bordering on the ridiculous.
Our mistakes included each of us expecting the other to change and adapt to the other's expectation. How often does that happen successfully without coercion? Expectations of certain behaviors or actions from a spouse, children, family, friends, managers, employees and others can only lead to difficulties and broken relationships. This is pure unadulterated selfishness.
Through lots of trial and error and two times at a minimum where we thought seriously about divorcing we have come to a pretty good place where we love and respect each other and have developed a mutual appreciation for each other and our particular gifts and talents.
We started out as friends (which I think is very important because we developed trust in each other from the beginning), became interested in each other romantically prior to and into marriage, evolved into a strained relationship with animosity toward each other, communicated our desire to each other to have a better relationship, found the best way for us to live our lives together was by giving our lives to and dedicating our lives to God and constantly seeking his direction through Bible reading, prayer, serving and fellowship with other mature committed Christians.
I only know what has worked for us and I think some or all of this can work for you. We are currently best friends and I always look forward to our opportunities to be together where we talk, laugh a lot and show each other that we truly care for each other.
I think the more important thing for a successful marriage or relationship to work is to stop blaming each other for the problems or situations. Accept your responsibility for making things work and include God in your life and marriage. It may not be simple to turn things around but it is possible.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Benefits of struggle
Struggle marks our time on earth. As Booker T Washington points out below it is from the struggles that we learn the most. If all goes well all the time we don’t have to work to get better or to improve. If everything were easy for us all the time we wouldn’t change. There would be no need to change.
So you may need to rethink your attitude about difficulties, challenges and struggles and the benefit they provide to you. The seeds of success are in the struggles.
I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
Booker T Washington
So you may need to rethink your attitude about difficulties, challenges and struggles and the benefit they provide to you. The seeds of success are in the struggles.
I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
Booker T Washington
Monday, November 1, 2010
Change the future
What can be a future altering election is happening on Tuesday, November 2nd, in the US.
The current administration and their supporters in the US Congress and US Senate want to retain power so they can control the future of the US and that means controlling you, your family and future generations. And government means less choices for you.
By watching their actions you can see what they are about. Giving the government more control and the individual less control over their lives. By giving money to people the government is all about controlling them and getting their votes to remain in control.
A government interested in helping people is one that encourages and challenges them to get better. To do more and to accomplish more. This helps all of mankind not just the unions, trial lawyers and the friends of big government.
You can have a great impact on the future by accepting responsibility to vote out those who don’t believe in the people of America but believe in more government at all levels.
The future of the US can be and will be driven by Americans who don’t want government handouts but want opportunity to control their destiny.
Government has its purpose as identified in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. By allowing government, rather than these documents, to be the grantor of our rights and privileges we acknowledge that they can control us because they decide when to give and when to take rights.
It will be challenging but we can do it. Let’s start right now!
The current administration and their supporters in the US Congress and US Senate want to retain power so they can control the future of the US and that means controlling you, your family and future generations. And government means less choices for you.
By watching their actions you can see what they are about. Giving the government more control and the individual less control over their lives. By giving money to people the government is all about controlling them and getting their votes to remain in control.
A government interested in helping people is one that encourages and challenges them to get better. To do more and to accomplish more. This helps all of mankind not just the unions, trial lawyers and the friends of big government.
You can have a great impact on the future by accepting responsibility to vote out those who don’t believe in the people of America but believe in more government at all levels.
The future of the US can be and will be driven by Americans who don’t want government handouts but want opportunity to control their destiny.
Government has its purpose as identified in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. By allowing government, rather than these documents, to be the grantor of our rights and privileges we acknowledge that they can control us because they decide when to give and when to take rights.
It will be challenging but we can do it. Let’s start right now!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Build up noble character
I found the following Taekwondo Tenets (rules) at a local site. Rules can bring structure to a person’s life, help them control their behavior if the rules are consistently followed and can help you obtain a ‘noble character’ as stated below. This is good stuff!
Perhaps we should have everyone in the world take TKD so they can learn better behaviors and treat each other better.
Or you can become a Christian where we are encouraged to live the same way without all of the physical stuff. We learn these things by learning about Jesus and the way he lived. For us it is a choice.
I don't think there is much choice in TKD.
I wonder how many people don’t take TKD because they don’t like the rules? Many most likely take it because they want to learn these things or need help learning them.
Tenets of Taekwondo
Definitions that are in bold are for children younger than 6.
COURTESY (Ye Ui)
Taekwondo-Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct the training in an orderly manner as well.
1) To promote the spirit of mutual concessions / To agree to disagree
2) To be ashamed of one's vices, and avoid the tempting of others' vices.
3) To be polite to everyone.
4) To encourage the sense of justice and humanity.
5) To distinguish Master from Instructor, Instructor from Student, Elder from Youth, Man from Woman.
6) To behave oneself according to etiquette.
7) To respect others' possessions.
8) To handle matters with fairness and sincerity.
9) To refrain from giving or accepting a gift when in doubt.
INTEGRITY (Yom Chi)
I do not lie to myself or others.
I do not cheat myself or others.
I do not steal from myself or others.
PERSEVERANCE (In Nae)
To pursue your dreams earnestly and strenuously without giving up / To follow through
SELF-CONTROL (Guk Gi)
To be in control of oneself.
I am in control of my feeling.
I am in control of my actions.
I am in control of my thoughts.
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (Baekjul Boolgool)
To do what is right at all times even when it doesn’t benefit you / To follow through no matter the cost.
Perhaps we should have everyone in the world take TKD so they can learn better behaviors and treat each other better.
Or you can become a Christian where we are encouraged to live the same way without all of the physical stuff. We learn these things by learning about Jesus and the way he lived. For us it is a choice.
I don't think there is much choice in TKD.
I wonder how many people don’t take TKD because they don’t like the rules? Many most likely take it because they want to learn these things or need help learning them.
Tenets of Taekwondo
Definitions that are in bold are for children younger than 6.
COURTESY (Ye Ui)
Taekwondo-Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct the training in an orderly manner as well.
1) To promote the spirit of mutual concessions / To agree to disagree
2) To be ashamed of one's vices, and avoid the tempting of others' vices.
3) To be polite to everyone.
4) To encourage the sense of justice and humanity.
5) To distinguish Master from Instructor, Instructor from Student, Elder from Youth, Man from Woman.
6) To behave oneself according to etiquette.
7) To respect others' possessions.
8) To handle matters with fairness and sincerity.
9) To refrain from giving or accepting a gift when in doubt.
INTEGRITY (Yom Chi)
I do not lie to myself or others.
I do not cheat myself or others.
I do not steal from myself or others.
PERSEVERANCE (In Nae)
To pursue your dreams earnestly and strenuously without giving up / To follow through
SELF-CONTROL (Guk Gi)
To be in control of oneself.
I am in control of my feeling.
I am in control of my actions.
I am in control of my thoughts.
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (Baekjul Boolgool)
To do what is right at all times even when it doesn’t benefit you / To follow through no matter the cost.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tough Times for Pot Farmers
Does the harvest party make it all worth it?
This excerpt is from Bloomberg Business Week titled ‘From Reefer Sadness for Pot Farmers’
Now a new set of variables has thrown the business into even greater uncertainty. On Nov. 2, California will vote on Proposition 19, the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010," a ballot initiative introduced by an Oakland pot enthusiast named Richard Lee that proposes to legalize marijuana for personal use. The new law would permit individuals to possess up to 1 ounce and cultivate 25 square feet worth of plants at private homes, with no medical requirement. Beyond that the initiative's language is murky. Regulation of commercial production and sale of cannabis would be done by counties and municipalities, leaving the mechanics of how it would all work undefined.
One thing seems clear, though, if the measure is adopted: A quasi-black market will be replaced by a much more legal one, and prices for pot are likely to go down. It's impossible to know by how much, but a 2010 Rand study called "Altered State? Assessing How Marijuana Legalization in California Could Influence Marijuana Consumption and Public Budgets" estimates that retail prices could eventually drop by 80 percent. First, suggests Jonathan Caulkins, a public policy professor at Carnegie Mellon University and a co-author of the Rand study, there would be a "honeymoon" period of several years when production would ramp up as California product began to push out inferior Mexican pot across the country. Once that happens, you could have "a real change in industry structure," according to Caulkins. Growers would have to professionalize their operations and become even more industrial-scale to squeeze out smaller margins of profit. In such an environment, people probably won't make the $150,000 or so Jason says he clears every year, and "mom and pop" farmers will be wiped out. Jason is planning ahead. "You wanna go up top and walk through them fields of glory?" he asks. "If you can grow twice as much, you'll make the same amount of money, even if the price is half."
At harvest time, which starts in October, he hires trimmers to cut the buds off plants for $200 a pound. "Somehow I tapped into this endless lesbian crew. They come out from North Carolina or Idaho, jumping trains the whole way," he says. "One year I had a CPA from Paris." He hires a cook to feed them and provides music, wine, and, of course, plenty to smoke. "It's a party," he says, bouncing up and down and making Edward Scissorhands motions with his fingers. His plots are scattered around the forest along with a collection of greenhouses that are visible from overhead but, he hopes, aren't numerous enough to invite a raid.
Jason says he clears $150,000 to $200,000 a year in profit from the land surrounding his house, depending on how good the crop is. He earns more from other plots he owns nearby. He doesn't pay taxes on the income because he doesn't file a return ("I don't lie about it. That's when you get in trouble"). Spending all that cash in the middle of nowhere can be a challenge. He and his wife eat all-organic, and he's got a few trucks to play with as well as a $28,000 Kubota backhoe. Some of the money is "seasoned" slowly into a bank account, so as not to draw attention.
This excerpt is from Bloomberg Business Week titled ‘From Reefer Sadness for Pot Farmers’
Now a new set of variables has thrown the business into even greater uncertainty. On Nov. 2, California will vote on Proposition 19, the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010," a ballot initiative introduced by an Oakland pot enthusiast named Richard Lee that proposes to legalize marijuana for personal use. The new law would permit individuals to possess up to 1 ounce and cultivate 25 square feet worth of plants at private homes, with no medical requirement. Beyond that the initiative's language is murky. Regulation of commercial production and sale of cannabis would be done by counties and municipalities, leaving the mechanics of how it would all work undefined.
One thing seems clear, though, if the measure is adopted: A quasi-black market will be replaced by a much more legal one, and prices for pot are likely to go down. It's impossible to know by how much, but a 2010 Rand study called "Altered State? Assessing How Marijuana Legalization in California Could Influence Marijuana Consumption and Public Budgets" estimates that retail prices could eventually drop by 80 percent. First, suggests Jonathan Caulkins, a public policy professor at Carnegie Mellon University and a co-author of the Rand study, there would be a "honeymoon" period of several years when production would ramp up as California product began to push out inferior Mexican pot across the country. Once that happens, you could have "a real change in industry structure," according to Caulkins. Growers would have to professionalize their operations and become even more industrial-scale to squeeze out smaller margins of profit. In such an environment, people probably won't make the $150,000 or so Jason says he clears every year, and "mom and pop" farmers will be wiped out. Jason is planning ahead. "You wanna go up top and walk through them fields of glory?" he asks. "If you can grow twice as much, you'll make the same amount of money, even if the price is half."
At harvest time, which starts in October, he hires trimmers to cut the buds off plants for $200 a pound. "Somehow I tapped into this endless lesbian crew. They come out from North Carolina or Idaho, jumping trains the whole way," he says. "One year I had a CPA from Paris." He hires a cook to feed them and provides music, wine, and, of course, plenty to smoke. "It's a party," he says, bouncing up and down and making Edward Scissorhands motions with his fingers. His plots are scattered around the forest along with a collection of greenhouses that are visible from overhead but, he hopes, aren't numerous enough to invite a raid.
Jason says he clears $150,000 to $200,000 a year in profit from the land surrounding his house, depending on how good the crop is. He earns more from other plots he owns nearby. He doesn't pay taxes on the income because he doesn't file a return ("I don't lie about it. That's when you get in trouble"). Spending all that cash in the middle of nowhere can be a challenge. He and his wife eat all-organic, and he's got a few trucks to play with as well as a $28,000 Kubota backhoe. Some of the money is "seasoned" slowly into a bank account, so as not to draw attention.
We are all teachers
So here’s my premise.
Many people when asked by another person, let’s use the term ‘questioner’, for help with something will look at the current situation or status and begin to solve or propose solutions almost immediately.
It seems like the ‘expert’ doesn’t try to understand what caused the problem but they assume that the ‘questioner’ is ok getting to the current point and if the ‘expert’ just offers some suggestions or solutions then it will fix the problem.
What is helpful for me is for the ‘expert ‘to try to understand what I comprehend to this point, without going into a lot of detail, to make sure I have an understanding of the process for example. This may be considered using a holistic approach.
Granted I have a responsibility in the questions I ask and how I ask them to further my understanding but I think many times the ‘expert’ is trying to solve things in as little time as possible.
As a result maybe I won’t get the understanding that I need to be able to perform this task or process on my own. I think this is or should be the ultimate aim of training and education. And at some point we are all teachers.
Many people when asked by another person, let’s use the term ‘questioner’, for help with something will look at the current situation or status and begin to solve or propose solutions almost immediately.
It seems like the ‘expert’ doesn’t try to understand what caused the problem but they assume that the ‘questioner’ is ok getting to the current point and if the ‘expert’ just offers some suggestions or solutions then it will fix the problem.
What is helpful for me is for the ‘expert ‘to try to understand what I comprehend to this point, without going into a lot of detail, to make sure I have an understanding of the process for example. This may be considered using a holistic approach.
Granted I have a responsibility in the questions I ask and how I ask them to further my understanding but I think many times the ‘expert’ is trying to solve things in as little time as possible.
As a result maybe I won’t get the understanding that I need to be able to perform this task or process on my own. I think this is or should be the ultimate aim of training and education. And at some point we are all teachers.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Calling
I recently saw a reference to this quote by Bob Shank:
‘Career is what you are paid for, but a calling is what you are made for’.
‘Career is what you are paid for, but a calling is what you are made for’.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Passion
‘What carries you through the tough times? What gives you the power to overcome adversity? Passion! Poet William Arthur Ward suggested that the key to success is to
Believe while other are doubting
Plan while others are playing
Study while others are sleeping
Decide while other are delaying
Prepare while other are daydreaming
Begin while other are procrastinating
Work while other are wishing
Save while other are wasting
Listen while other are talking
Smile while other are frowning
Commend while other are criticizing
Persist while other are quitting
What will give you the energy to believe, plan, study, decide, prepare, begin, work, save, listen, smile, commend and persist? The answer is passion!’
Quoted in ‘Put Your Dream To The Test’ by John C. Maxwell
Believe while other are doubting
Plan while others are playing
Study while others are sleeping
Decide while other are delaying
Prepare while other are daydreaming
Begin while other are procrastinating
Work while other are wishing
Save while other are wasting
Listen while other are talking
Smile while other are frowning
Commend while other are criticizing
Persist while other are quitting
What will give you the energy to believe, plan, study, decide, prepare, begin, work, save, listen, smile, commend and persist? The answer is passion!’
Quoted in ‘Put Your Dream To The Test’ by John C. Maxwell
Near – Death Experiences
It may be difficult for you to believe in an after life but the piece below references some evidence to that effect. Do you think you have to be able to see spirits in order to believe they exist? How much impact does the spirit world have on us?
Is it fact or fiction?
The excerpt below is from an article titled ‘Seeking Proof in Near-Death Claims’ in the 10/26 Wall St Journal
‘In addition to floating above their bodies, people often describe moving down a dark tunnel toward a bright light, feeling intense peace and joy, reviewing life events and seeing long-deceased relatives—only to be told that it's not time yet and land abruptly back in an ailing body.
The once-taboo topic is getting a lot of talk these days. In the new movie "Hereafter," directed by Clint Eastwood, a French journalist is haunted by what she experienced while nearly drowning in a tsunami. A spate of new books details other cases and variations on the theme.
Yet the fundamental debate rages on: Are these glimpses of an afterlife, are they hallucinations or are they the random firings of an oxygen-starved brain?
"There are always skeptics, but there are millions of 'experiencers' who know what happened to them, and they don't care what anybody else says," says Diane Corcoran, president of the International Association for Near-Death Studies, a nonprofit group in Durham, N.C. The organization publishes the Journal of Near-Death Studies and maintains support groups in 47 states’.
Some investigators say the most remarkable thing about near-death reports is that the core elements are the same, among people of all cultures, races, religions and age groups, including children as young as 3 years old.
In his new book, "Evidence of the Afterlife," Jeffrey Long, a radiation oncologist in Louisiana, analyzes 613 cases reported on the website of his Near Death Research Foundation and concludes there is only one plausible explanation: "that people have survived death and traveled to another dimension."
Dead or Alive?
An analysis of 613 near-death experiences gathered by the Near Death Research Foundation found:
About 75% included an out-of-body experience
76% reported intense positive emotions
34% described passing through a tunnel
65% described encountering a bright light
22% had a life review
57% encountered deceased relatives or other beings
Note: Patients could report more than one sensation.
Is it fact or fiction?
The excerpt below is from an article titled ‘Seeking Proof in Near-Death Claims’ in the 10/26 Wall St Journal
‘In addition to floating above their bodies, people often describe moving down a dark tunnel toward a bright light, feeling intense peace and joy, reviewing life events and seeing long-deceased relatives—only to be told that it's not time yet and land abruptly back in an ailing body.
The once-taboo topic is getting a lot of talk these days. In the new movie "Hereafter," directed by Clint Eastwood, a French journalist is haunted by what she experienced while nearly drowning in a tsunami. A spate of new books details other cases and variations on the theme.
Yet the fundamental debate rages on: Are these glimpses of an afterlife, are they hallucinations or are they the random firings of an oxygen-starved brain?
"There are always skeptics, but there are millions of 'experiencers' who know what happened to them, and they don't care what anybody else says," says Diane Corcoran, president of the International Association for Near-Death Studies, a nonprofit group in Durham, N.C. The organization publishes the Journal of Near-Death Studies and maintains support groups in 47 states’.
Some investigators say the most remarkable thing about near-death reports is that the core elements are the same, among people of all cultures, races, religions and age groups, including children as young as 3 years old.
In his new book, "Evidence of the Afterlife," Jeffrey Long, a radiation oncologist in Louisiana, analyzes 613 cases reported on the website of his Near Death Research Foundation and concludes there is only one plausible explanation: "that people have survived death and traveled to another dimension."
Dead or Alive?
An analysis of 613 near-death experiences gathered by the Near Death Research Foundation found:
About 75% included an out-of-body experience
76% reported intense positive emotions
34% described passing through a tunnel
65% described encountering a bright light
22% had a life review
57% encountered deceased relatives or other beings
Note: Patients could report more than one sensation.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Hello?
Interesting thing about when you ask God for something. The answer may never come, it may come eventually or it may come quickly.
I believe I got an answer from God this afternoon to a prayer I prayed and posted on Friday that was looking for truth.
Was it a positive answer like the one that I expected? Not necessarily.
Was I full of hope as I expected I would be when I heard it? Not necessarily.
Was I surprised when I head it? Not necessarily because I didn’t realize it was an answer when I first heard it. I came to a realization later in the evening that I was hearing truth as I was reading through the Bible.
I don’t think it was the passage that I was reading at the time as much as it was that I was reading the Bible and I was reading it and trying to concentrate and understand what I was reading.
Some of the truth that I had heard earlier was that I didn’t give myself a chance to hear God because I always have noise (radio, TV, etc) around me.
I believe there is a great deal of truth in what I heard because it was a confirmation of some of the things that I was thinking over the last few weeks as I asked God to help me. This message put things into context and offered some possible steps to take and some solutions.
How, you ask, was the message delivered? It was offered through my wife who, as she explained it, has been praying for me. She stated her love and concern for me but also explained how she was able to hear more from God in recent weeks by reducing the amount of noise in her life.
It is easy for me to get caught up in everything that is happening around me so this seems like an appropriate answer to the prayer and who God chose to deliver it. Because it both included some things that I had thought of and it also included some things I did not think of and these would be challenging for me to do. It was also delivered by my wife who I trust explicitly. I may not always agree with her but the timing of the message and the appropriateness cause me to believe that it was from God.
It requires me to trust God and stop thinking about myself.
I asked. I heard. Now I have to be faithful and follow what I believe is God’s direction.
I believe I got an answer from God this afternoon to a prayer I prayed and posted on Friday that was looking for truth.
Was it a positive answer like the one that I expected? Not necessarily.
Was I full of hope as I expected I would be when I heard it? Not necessarily.
Was I surprised when I head it? Not necessarily because I didn’t realize it was an answer when I first heard it. I came to a realization later in the evening that I was hearing truth as I was reading through the Bible.
I don’t think it was the passage that I was reading at the time as much as it was that I was reading the Bible and I was reading it and trying to concentrate and understand what I was reading.
Some of the truth that I had heard earlier was that I didn’t give myself a chance to hear God because I always have noise (radio, TV, etc) around me.
I believe there is a great deal of truth in what I heard because it was a confirmation of some of the things that I was thinking over the last few weeks as I asked God to help me. This message put things into context and offered some possible steps to take and some solutions.
How, you ask, was the message delivered? It was offered through my wife who, as she explained it, has been praying for me. She stated her love and concern for me but also explained how she was able to hear more from God in recent weeks by reducing the amount of noise in her life.
It is easy for me to get caught up in everything that is happening around me so this seems like an appropriate answer to the prayer and who God chose to deliver it. Because it both included some things that I had thought of and it also included some things I did not think of and these would be challenging for me to do. It was also delivered by my wife who I trust explicitly. I may not always agree with her but the timing of the message and the appropriateness cause me to believe that it was from God.
It requires me to trust God and stop thinking about myself.
I asked. I heard. Now I have to be faithful and follow what I believe is God’s direction.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Truth
Lord,
Bring your truth into my life today
Help me to recognize that truth
Help me to be willing to accept that truth
Help me to respond to that truth in a way that is honoring to you
Thank you Lord,
Amen
Bring your truth into my life today
Help me to recognize that truth
Help me to be willing to accept that truth
Help me to respond to that truth in a way that is honoring to you
Thank you Lord,
Amen
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Growth is a process
This excerpt on Personal Growth by John Maxwell is from ‘Leadership Wired’.
I’ve heard it said that we are either growing or dying. There is no cruising in life although that is what many people attempt to do. People who want to grow are constantly looking for and seeking ways to grow, change and improve.
Personal Growth requires a conscious decision and consistent effort. It is a process. Anything in life worth having requires constant effort. Some things we value more than others so we pay more attention to those things and apply more effort.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. So does personal growth and accomplishment. Anything is possible a step at a time.
Read the article and then begin your journey by taking the next step.
*******************************************************
Five Ingredients of Personal Growth By John C. Maxwell
As any farmer knows, the growth of a crop only happens when the right ingredients are present. To harvest plentiful fields, the farmer has to begin by planting the right seed in rich topsoil where sunlight and water can help the seed to sprout, mature, and bear fruit. If any of the ingredients (seeds, topsoil, sunlight, or water) are missing, the crop won't grow.
Growing as a leader also requires the proper ingredients. Unless the right attitudes and actions are cultivated an aspiring leader will sputter and fail rather than growing in influence. Let's look at five basic qualities essential for growth in leadership.
1) Teachability
Arrogance crowds out room for improvement. That's why humility is the starting point for personal growth. As Erwin G. Hall said, "An open mind is the beginning of self-discovery and growth. We can't learn anything new until we can admit that we don't already know everything."
Adopting a beginner's mindset helps you to be teachable. Beginners are aware that they don't know it all, and they proceed accordingly. As a general rule, they're open and humble, noticeably lacking in the rigidity that often accompanies experience and achievement. It's easy enough to have a beginner's mind when you're actually a beginner, but maintaining teachability gets trickier in the long term especially when you've already achieved some degree of success.
2) Sacrifice
Growth as a leader involves temporary loss. It may mean giving up familiar but limiting patterns, safe but unrewarding work, values no longer believed in, or relationships that have lost their meaning. Whatever the case, everything we gain in life comes as a result of sacrificing something else. We must give up to go up.
3) Security
To keep learning throughout life, you have to be willing, no matter what your position is, to say, "I don't know." It can be hard for executives to admit lacking knowledge because they feel as if everyone is looking to them for direction, and they don't want to let people down their people. However, followers aren't searching for perfection in their leaders. They're looking for an honest, authentic, and courageous leader who, regardless of the obstacles facing the organization, won't rest until the problem is solved.
It took me seven years to hit my stride as a communicator. During those seven years I gave some boring speeches, and I felt discouraged at times. However, I was secure enough to keep taking the stage and honing my communication skills until I could connect with an audience. Had I been insecure, then the negative evaluations of others would have sealed my fate and I never would have excelled in my career.
4) Listening
Listen, learn, and ask questions from somebody successful who has gone on before you. Borrow from their experiences so that you can avoid their mistakes and emulate their triumphs. Solicit feedback and take to heart what you're told. The criticism of friends may seem bitter in the short-term but, when heeded, it can save you from falling victim to your blind spots.
5) Application
Knowledge has a limited shelf life. Unless used immediately or carefully preserved, it spoils and becomes worthless. Put the lessons you learn into practice so that your insights mature into understanding.
ABOUT
John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries worldwide. Each year he speaks to the leaders of diverse organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, the National Football League, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. His blog can be read at JohnMaxwellOnLeadership.com. He can be followed at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell.
I’ve heard it said that we are either growing or dying. There is no cruising in life although that is what many people attempt to do. People who want to grow are constantly looking for and seeking ways to grow, change and improve.
Personal Growth requires a conscious decision and consistent effort. It is a process. Anything in life worth having requires constant effort. Some things we value more than others so we pay more attention to those things and apply more effort.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. So does personal growth and accomplishment. Anything is possible a step at a time.
Read the article and then begin your journey by taking the next step.
*******************************************************
Five Ingredients of Personal Growth By John C. Maxwell
As any farmer knows, the growth of a crop only happens when the right ingredients are present. To harvest plentiful fields, the farmer has to begin by planting the right seed in rich topsoil where sunlight and water can help the seed to sprout, mature, and bear fruit. If any of the ingredients (seeds, topsoil, sunlight, or water) are missing, the crop won't grow.
Growing as a leader also requires the proper ingredients. Unless the right attitudes and actions are cultivated an aspiring leader will sputter and fail rather than growing in influence. Let's look at five basic qualities essential for growth in leadership.
1) Teachability
Arrogance crowds out room for improvement. That's why humility is the starting point for personal growth. As Erwin G. Hall said, "An open mind is the beginning of self-discovery and growth. We can't learn anything new until we can admit that we don't already know everything."
Adopting a beginner's mindset helps you to be teachable. Beginners are aware that they don't know it all, and they proceed accordingly. As a general rule, they're open and humble, noticeably lacking in the rigidity that often accompanies experience and achievement. It's easy enough to have a beginner's mind when you're actually a beginner, but maintaining teachability gets trickier in the long term especially when you've already achieved some degree of success.
2) Sacrifice
Growth as a leader involves temporary loss. It may mean giving up familiar but limiting patterns, safe but unrewarding work, values no longer believed in, or relationships that have lost their meaning. Whatever the case, everything we gain in life comes as a result of sacrificing something else. We must give up to go up.
3) Security
To keep learning throughout life, you have to be willing, no matter what your position is, to say, "I don't know." It can be hard for executives to admit lacking knowledge because they feel as if everyone is looking to them for direction, and they don't want to let people down their people. However, followers aren't searching for perfection in their leaders. They're looking for an honest, authentic, and courageous leader who, regardless of the obstacles facing the organization, won't rest until the problem is solved.
It took me seven years to hit my stride as a communicator. During those seven years I gave some boring speeches, and I felt discouraged at times. However, I was secure enough to keep taking the stage and honing my communication skills until I could connect with an audience. Had I been insecure, then the negative evaluations of others would have sealed my fate and I never would have excelled in my career.
4) Listening
Listen, learn, and ask questions from somebody successful who has gone on before you. Borrow from their experiences so that you can avoid their mistakes and emulate their triumphs. Solicit feedback and take to heart what you're told. The criticism of friends may seem bitter in the short-term but, when heeded, it can save you from falling victim to your blind spots.
5) Application
Knowledge has a limited shelf life. Unless used immediately or carefully preserved, it spoils and becomes worthless. Put the lessons you learn into practice so that your insights mature into understanding.
ABOUT
John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries worldwide. Each year he speaks to the leaders of diverse organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, the National Football League, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. His blog can be read at JohnMaxwellOnLeadership.com. He can be followed at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
New Experience
Went away with some guys I know this past weekend and had some fun and a new experience. We did some shooting of sporting clays or what I would refer to as skeet shooting.
I have not had much experience shooting rifles and have never shot a pistol. This weekend we used a shotgun and it was fun and a good experience although it didn’t start out well because I couldn’t get them targeted in but eventually I was able to hit the clays pretty consistently. It was a good feeling and I am looking forward to doing it again.
This was just one thing we did but we had fun with a number of activities and games that I think most guys would enjoy.
The real value in the weekend was in getting to know the other guys better through interaction and discussions. These guys have been meeting together for a couple of years and have great bond of friendship. Although I know each of these guys, some better than others, I have only been attending the weekly sessions for about 5 or 6 weeks.
During the weekend there was a time with a serious discussion and there were times of just having fun and joking with each other and sometimes challenging each other.
One interesting aspect of the weekend was that there was no real ultra competitiveness expressed or evident. There was some trash talking but it wasn’t crazy and guys were more interested in having fun as far as I can tell. There was a level of respect and appreciation for everyone that made the weekend enjoyable.
These types of experiences are available to other men but I’m not sure many men are interested in participating. You might ask, why not.
After working with men closely over the last few years I think there are several reasons.
o Some guys are shy and because of this are very uncomfortable in this kind of setting especially if they are encouraged to meet other men or to express their thoughts or opinions.
o Some are insecure and think everyone is looking at them and judging everything they do. But in reality almost everyone else is only worried about themselves and they don’t care about others and what they are doing.
o Some are prideful and think they have it all together and don’t need or want that type of experience. In fact many think they are much better than the guys who are involved in that group and so don’t need that type of thing.
o Some guys don’t want to think about attending and participating because this allows them to avoid the decision.
o And some guys don’t go because they have obligations they can’t get out of, like work, family or other commitments. Although I have expressed in other posts that many of the things we do can be postponed and rescheduled many times we just don’t choose to do that.
If you haven’t thought about improving yourself as a man or in your relationships with other men then that is most likely a reason why you don’t go to these types of events that are typically called retreats. I have been to many men's events both large and small and usually gain something that helps me to be a better man.
As men we all need to improve because we aren’t great or even good at everything and it takes a conscious decision and effort. Your family will appreciate it if you make this effort because as you become a better man you become a better husband, father, employee, manager and /or friend.
Don’t let any of the reasons above stop you from going or getting involved with a group of guys. Do yourself a favor and get involved with a group of guys, or talk with the guys you are already meeting with, and start to plan a weekend away each year to have some fun and get to know each other better.
Interestingly, during the weekend the guys were making suggestions of things we could do next year.
I have not had much experience shooting rifles and have never shot a pistol. This weekend we used a shotgun and it was fun and a good experience although it didn’t start out well because I couldn’t get them targeted in but eventually I was able to hit the clays pretty consistently. It was a good feeling and I am looking forward to doing it again.
This was just one thing we did but we had fun with a number of activities and games that I think most guys would enjoy.
The real value in the weekend was in getting to know the other guys better through interaction and discussions. These guys have been meeting together for a couple of years and have great bond of friendship. Although I know each of these guys, some better than others, I have only been attending the weekly sessions for about 5 or 6 weeks.
During the weekend there was a time with a serious discussion and there were times of just having fun and joking with each other and sometimes challenging each other.
One interesting aspect of the weekend was that there was no real ultra competitiveness expressed or evident. There was some trash talking but it wasn’t crazy and guys were more interested in having fun as far as I can tell. There was a level of respect and appreciation for everyone that made the weekend enjoyable.
These types of experiences are available to other men but I’m not sure many men are interested in participating. You might ask, why not.
After working with men closely over the last few years I think there are several reasons.
o Some guys are shy and because of this are very uncomfortable in this kind of setting especially if they are encouraged to meet other men or to express their thoughts or opinions.
o Some are insecure and think everyone is looking at them and judging everything they do. But in reality almost everyone else is only worried about themselves and they don’t care about others and what they are doing.
o Some are prideful and think they have it all together and don’t need or want that type of experience. In fact many think they are much better than the guys who are involved in that group and so don’t need that type of thing.
o Some guys don’t want to think about attending and participating because this allows them to avoid the decision.
o And some guys don’t go because they have obligations they can’t get out of, like work, family or other commitments. Although I have expressed in other posts that many of the things we do can be postponed and rescheduled many times we just don’t choose to do that.
If you haven’t thought about improving yourself as a man or in your relationships with other men then that is most likely a reason why you don’t go to these types of events that are typically called retreats. I have been to many men's events both large and small and usually gain something that helps me to be a better man.
As men we all need to improve because we aren’t great or even good at everything and it takes a conscious decision and effort. Your family will appreciate it if you make this effort because as you become a better man you become a better husband, father, employee, manager and /or friend.
Don’t let any of the reasons above stop you from going or getting involved with a group of guys. Do yourself a favor and get involved with a group of guys, or talk with the guys you are already meeting with, and start to plan a weekend away each year to have some fun and get to know each other better.
Interestingly, during the weekend the guys were making suggestions of things we could do next year.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
If I were the commissioner...
If I were the Commissioner of all sports, all Leagues, all broadcasts etc there would definitely be some changes. I will make the rules for all leagues.
Here is part of the change (did I really say that?) I will propose:
o All football teams would have to use the no huddle offense – Huddles are passé and waste a lot of time. And the ball can be snapped for the next play whether the defense is ready or not.
o The offense in football should be able to move any time they choose and move anywhere they want up and down the field on any play. The defense in football has had an advantage for a long time. It’s funny to hear the defenders complain when they think someone goes after their legs but it doesn’t bother the defense when they throw shoulders into another player’s head or upper torso and cause players to be helped off the field does it.
o Anytime Lou Holtz appears on TV the sound will automatically be turned down until he is done talking. Lou likes to talk about Notre Dame every time he is asked a question or asked to comment. Or he talks about how good ND is at recruiting or something similar. I think Bob Costas qualifies for turning down the sound also.
o The clock doesn’t stop at the end of any basketball game for fouls the way it does now. It’s annoying and makes the game too long. The new rule would be that if a player commits a foul in the last three minutes of the game the team that is fouled gets three points for every foul and the clock keeps running. Let’s keep the game moving.
o Baseball umpires can hang it up too. We can use electronics and computers to make all the calls, including balls and strikes. For any sport we may only need one or two officials in the booth to review the calls and override calls when necessary.
o One way to stop fights in all sports, including hockey, is that anyone involved in fighting is automatically thrown out of the game and suspended for three games whether the player started the fight or retaliated. Plus the team of anyone who is involved in a fight automatically gets a loss for every fight.
o All whining in Pro Soccer would result in immediate suspensions and then maybe soccer would go away. Did you see the World Cup this year and all the complaining? Or is that just a cultural thing?
I am starting to like this I think I can come up with some more great ideas. Maybe I need to take a look at the mascots.
It’s Half Time!
Here is part of the change (did I really say that?) I will propose:
o All football teams would have to use the no huddle offense – Huddles are passé and waste a lot of time. And the ball can be snapped for the next play whether the defense is ready or not.
o The offense in football should be able to move any time they choose and move anywhere they want up and down the field on any play. The defense in football has had an advantage for a long time. It’s funny to hear the defenders complain when they think someone goes after their legs but it doesn’t bother the defense when they throw shoulders into another player’s head or upper torso and cause players to be helped off the field does it.
o Anytime Lou Holtz appears on TV the sound will automatically be turned down until he is done talking. Lou likes to talk about Notre Dame every time he is asked a question or asked to comment. Or he talks about how good ND is at recruiting or something similar. I think Bob Costas qualifies for turning down the sound also.
o The clock doesn’t stop at the end of any basketball game for fouls the way it does now. It’s annoying and makes the game too long. The new rule would be that if a player commits a foul in the last three minutes of the game the team that is fouled gets three points for every foul and the clock keeps running. Let’s keep the game moving.
o Baseball umpires can hang it up too. We can use electronics and computers to make all the calls, including balls and strikes. For any sport we may only need one or two officials in the booth to review the calls and override calls when necessary.
o One way to stop fights in all sports, including hockey, is that anyone involved in fighting is automatically thrown out of the game and suspended for three games whether the player started the fight or retaliated. Plus the team of anyone who is involved in a fight automatically gets a loss for every fight.
o All whining in Pro Soccer would result in immediate suspensions and then maybe soccer would go away. Did you see the World Cup this year and all the complaining? Or is that just a cultural thing?
I am starting to like this I think I can come up with some more great ideas. Maybe I need to take a look at the mascots.
It’s Half Time!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Success and Significance
'...Organizations led by servant leaders are more likely to create environments where people at all levels can experience both success and significance.
We’ve found over the years that when you focus only on success, you will never reach significance. That’s the problem with self-serving leaders – they never get out of their own way. On the other hand, if you focus on significance – generosity, service and loving relationships – you’ll be amazed at how much success will come your way. Take Mother Teresa. She couldn’t have cared less about accumulating wealth, recognition and status. Her whole life was focused on significance. And yet what happened? Success came her way. Her ministry received tremendous financial backing, she was recognized all over the world and she was given the highest status wherever she went. She was the ultimate servant leader. If you focus on the significance first, your emphasis will be on people. Through that emphasis, success and results will follow.’
Leading at a Higher Level' - Ken Blanchard
We’ve found over the years that when you focus only on success, you will never reach significance. That’s the problem with self-serving leaders – they never get out of their own way. On the other hand, if you focus on significance – generosity, service and loving relationships – you’ll be amazed at how much success will come your way. Take Mother Teresa. She couldn’t have cared less about accumulating wealth, recognition and status. Her whole life was focused on significance. And yet what happened? Success came her way. Her ministry received tremendous financial backing, she was recognized all over the world and she was given the highest status wherever she went. She was the ultimate servant leader. If you focus on the significance first, your emphasis will be on people. Through that emphasis, success and results will follow.’
Leading at a Higher Level' - Ken Blanchard
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Giants and Braves down to the wire
Currently watching the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves in the MLB (Baseball) National League Division Series. San Francisco has been in control for most of the game until the 8th with a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the eighth the Atlanta Braves got a two run home run and took a 2-1 lead.
Is this more deflating to the Giants now than if the Braves took the lead 2 or 3 innings ago?
I know the Giants are professionals, they get paid like professionals and the expectation is that they will come back, if possible.
So the question is does the money they get paid create the attitude of a winner? Or did they have the attitude that they would win before they got the big bucks?
BTW the Giants just tied the game in the top of the 9th with two outs.
Advantage Giants? Is it the attitude, the talent, the synergy of the team or a combination of these items?
Is this more deflating to the Giants now than if the Braves took the lead 2 or 3 innings ago?
I know the Giants are professionals, they get paid like professionals and the expectation is that they will come back, if possible.
So the question is does the money they get paid create the attitude of a winner? Or did they have the attitude that they would win before they got the big bucks?
BTW the Giants just tied the game in the top of the 9th with two outs.
Advantage Giants? Is it the attitude, the talent, the synergy of the team or a combination of these items?
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Give it a go
It’s not always easy for men to ask for help whether from their spouse or from other men. But if a man has a friend who he likes to spend time with and as their friendship grows and their trust for each other grows they each realize they can ask each other for their opinions or thoughts on specific situations. This may be different for you because you probably think you have all the answers.
Being willing to ask about things then becomes the issue. Do you realize that people who know you well can figure out when you are hurting, under pressure or having some difficulty? And you don’t have to say anything for them to know this.
And then those who know you well wonder why doesn’t he ask me or someone else, he has a relationship with, for some assistance or guidance or how to handle these situations. It can come down to you looking foolish for asking some questions or looking foolish for not asking some questions. Either way you may look foolish. But if you think you are above the other man it will be hard to talk with him about these things. You are more concerned about 'losing face' than resolving the issue.
But from my own experience I have found that when you are sincerely seeking answers and willing to work to resolve situations then you gain even more respect. More respect than was previously afforded to you. And isn’t this what you really want?
If necessary, start small. Ask some lighter, easier questions that don’t make you feel too uncomfortable. And then progress from there. Take a step at a time. It can get easier over time depending on the issue. And as you develop the habit it should become easier.
In the quote below Howard Hendricks provides a simple explanation of how this type of relationship works.
‘…But has it ever occurred to you that spiritual growth is rarely the product of assimilating more information? If it were, we could have transformed the world several million books ago. But inasmuch as knowing Christ involves a relationship, growing in Christ also involves relationships. One of the most helpful of these involves a mentor. That’s because most of us don’t need to know more nearly as much as we need to be known more. We don’t need a set of principles to practice nearly as much as we need another person to help us. We need someone to believe in us, stand by us, guide us, model Christ for us. We need another’s encouragement, wisdom, example, and accountability. We need his smiles, his hugs, his frowns, his tears…People will forget most of what you say: they will forget almost nothing of what you do. Therefore, whatever behavior you model for your protégé is the pattern he will tend to follow – or in some cases reject.’
This quote is from Chuck Swindoll’s book ‘The Church Awakening’ quoting Howard Hendricks from his book ‘Standing Together: Impacting Your Generation’
Being willing to ask about things then becomes the issue. Do you realize that people who know you well can figure out when you are hurting, under pressure or having some difficulty? And you don’t have to say anything for them to know this.
And then those who know you well wonder why doesn’t he ask me or someone else, he has a relationship with, for some assistance or guidance or how to handle these situations. It can come down to you looking foolish for asking some questions or looking foolish for not asking some questions. Either way you may look foolish. But if you think you are above the other man it will be hard to talk with him about these things. You are more concerned about 'losing face' than resolving the issue.
But from my own experience I have found that when you are sincerely seeking answers and willing to work to resolve situations then you gain even more respect. More respect than was previously afforded to you. And isn’t this what you really want?
If necessary, start small. Ask some lighter, easier questions that don’t make you feel too uncomfortable. And then progress from there. Take a step at a time. It can get easier over time depending on the issue. And as you develop the habit it should become easier.
In the quote below Howard Hendricks provides a simple explanation of how this type of relationship works.
‘…But has it ever occurred to you that spiritual growth is rarely the product of assimilating more information? If it were, we could have transformed the world several million books ago. But inasmuch as knowing Christ involves a relationship, growing in Christ also involves relationships. One of the most helpful of these involves a mentor. That’s because most of us don’t need to know more nearly as much as we need to be known more. We don’t need a set of principles to practice nearly as much as we need another person to help us. We need someone to believe in us, stand by us, guide us, model Christ for us. We need another’s encouragement, wisdom, example, and accountability. We need his smiles, his hugs, his frowns, his tears…People will forget most of what you say: they will forget almost nothing of what you do. Therefore, whatever behavior you model for your protégé is the pattern he will tend to follow – or in some cases reject.’
This quote is from Chuck Swindoll’s book ‘The Church Awakening’ quoting Howard Hendricks from his book ‘Standing Together: Impacting Your Generation’
A song remembered
One of the songs that I remember from the past is 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man' by Bob Seger. This was the song that was playing when I went to my first official fraternity party. I have never known or cared to know the lyrics I just liked the tune and the sound of the song.
It is a cool upbeat song with a lot of energy.
It is a cool upbeat song with a lot of energy.
Just thought this would help
During the course of my life there are a number of things I have noticed while out and about that I think will improve all of our lives and society in general. Here are a few thoughts:
o You, and we, would be better off if you would save your change each month and take it to a store with a change counting machine rather than standing at the checkout counter at any store and digging around in your purse, wallet, pockets or whatever for a few coins so you can pay with exact change. You’re extending the time that the rest of us have to wait in line and watch you struggle while you try to produce the coins that you thought you had. And many times you didn’t have the coins. It seems this happens whenever I am in a hurry.
o If you are prone to be distracted easily, and you may not realize this about yourself, but you may want to go grocery shopping either very early in the morning, before 8:00AM or very late in the day, after 10:00PM. Otherwise you will stand in the middle of the aisles looking at the shelves and trying to find something or decide what brand or size to buy or you may be talking to someone and those of us who are trying to get our shopping done quickly are forced to stand and wait or go back the way we came and go down another aisle and it take longer than we planned.
o When driving in an area where you aren’t too familiar with the exits on the Interstate or expressway it would probably be better to not panic when you realize that you are at your exit and traffic is flowing at about 70mph and you have to cross two or three or four lanes of fast moving traffic to try to get to that exit. Worse yet is trying to stop and force everyone behind you to transfer almost all of the rubber on their tires to the road surface. It would be better to start to get over to the right lane when traffic allows and drive on to next exit. Get off at that exit and go under or over the highway and head back in the direction from which you came so you can get off at the correct exit. A simpler solution is to get a GPS unit.
o If you drive a hybrid or electric car, like a Prius, you would help all of us out by staying out of any lanes on the highway other than the very far right lane. Hybrids or electric cars are like the train we learned about as a kid that keeps thinking I think I can…, I know I can. It just doesn’t seem to happen so everyone is slowed down.
These are just suggestions that may help us all as we strive to make it through life. Granted there may be one or two things I have to work on so I’ll try to figure out what they could possibly be and then try to get some resolution on these.
o You, and we, would be better off if you would save your change each month and take it to a store with a change counting machine rather than standing at the checkout counter at any store and digging around in your purse, wallet, pockets or whatever for a few coins so you can pay with exact change. You’re extending the time that the rest of us have to wait in line and watch you struggle while you try to produce the coins that you thought you had. And many times you didn’t have the coins. It seems this happens whenever I am in a hurry.
o If you are prone to be distracted easily, and you may not realize this about yourself, but you may want to go grocery shopping either very early in the morning, before 8:00AM or very late in the day, after 10:00PM. Otherwise you will stand in the middle of the aisles looking at the shelves and trying to find something or decide what brand or size to buy or you may be talking to someone and those of us who are trying to get our shopping done quickly are forced to stand and wait or go back the way we came and go down another aisle and it take longer than we planned.
o When driving in an area where you aren’t too familiar with the exits on the Interstate or expressway it would probably be better to not panic when you realize that you are at your exit and traffic is flowing at about 70mph and you have to cross two or three or four lanes of fast moving traffic to try to get to that exit. Worse yet is trying to stop and force everyone behind you to transfer almost all of the rubber on their tires to the road surface. It would be better to start to get over to the right lane when traffic allows and drive on to next exit. Get off at that exit and go under or over the highway and head back in the direction from which you came so you can get off at the correct exit. A simpler solution is to get a GPS unit.
o If you drive a hybrid or electric car, like a Prius, you would help all of us out by staying out of any lanes on the highway other than the very far right lane. Hybrids or electric cars are like the train we learned about as a kid that keeps thinking I think I can…, I know I can. It just doesn’t seem to happen so everyone is slowed down.
These are just suggestions that may help us all as we strive to make it through life. Granted there may be one or two things I have to work on so I’ll try to figure out what they could possibly be and then try to get some resolution on these.
Wizzdom from a song
Jim Croce was a singer whose life ended too soon at age 30. He had some interesting songs and it occurred to me that the refrain from his song ‘Don’t mess around with Jim’ released in 1972 could be advice that will live through the ages for your career.
o 'You don't tug on Superman's cape' – SM was the man of steel. Faster than a speeding bullet. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. The man. So don’t challenge the Big Dog unless you are prepared and ready to defend your argument or recommendation or to depose him. This could be the fight of your life. If you mess up you’re done.
o ‘You don't spit into the wind’ – As kids we used to say don’t wizz into the wind the reason being that the blow back would mess up your clothes. This is the same as knowing which way the wind is blowing. This doesn’t mean don’t do anything but be aware and know if you have to make adjustments to get your ideas accepted and/or implemented. Be in control.
o ‘You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger’ The Lone Ranger was a a Texas Ranger who wore a white hat and a black mask over his eyes. The point is to have your facts and arguments ready because you are going to expose the LR and take away the LR’s identity or position or power or all of these. He will be exposed and embarrassed. Do your research and due diligence and be prepared for a fight but go for it.
And you don't mess around with Jim, da do da do...
Web Site
http://www.jimcroce.com/dontmess.shtml
o 'You don't tug on Superman's cape' – SM was the man of steel. Faster than a speeding bullet. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. The man. So don’t challenge the Big Dog unless you are prepared and ready to defend your argument or recommendation or to depose him. This could be the fight of your life. If you mess up you’re done.
o ‘You don't spit into the wind’ – As kids we used to say don’t wizz into the wind the reason being that the blow back would mess up your clothes. This is the same as knowing which way the wind is blowing. This doesn’t mean don’t do anything but be aware and know if you have to make adjustments to get your ideas accepted and/or implemented. Be in control.
o ‘You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger’ The Lone Ranger was a a Texas Ranger who wore a white hat and a black mask over his eyes. The point is to have your facts and arguments ready because you are going to expose the LR and take away the LR’s identity or position or power or all of these. He will be exposed and embarrassed. Do your research and due diligence and be prepared for a fight but go for it.
And you don't mess around with Jim, da do da do...
Web Site
http://www.jimcroce.com/dontmess.shtml
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Meetings: Good or Bad?
Have you complained or heard others complain about having to attend meetings?
In this blog by Ron Ashkenas titled ‘Why We Secretly Love Meetings’ at the Harvard Business Review site, he identifies some interesting reasons in favor of having meetings.
'Unfortunately these basic and widely understood guidelines for effective meetings are probably the least followed procedures in corporate history. If the government conducted "meeting audits" almost every company would fail. Most managers still complain about ineffective meetings, and then proceed to schedule multiple meetings and run them poorly. It's an amazing phenomenon.
This leads to one of the dirty little secrets of organizational life: Despite their protestations, at an unconscious (or conscious) level most managers actually like meetings, and for several reasons.
They encourage social interaction. Most people don't enjoy working alone; they want contact and relationships with other people. Meetings make them feel part of a community, and give them an outlet for sharing their personal feelings and opinions, not only on work issues but also on personal or political topics. So, some of the seemingly off-target chatter in meetings (even the complaining) is actually the realization of an important social outlet.
They keep everyone in the loop. As firms have become more matrixed and interdependent, meetings serve as the informal loom that weaves together the organizational threads. People need to know what's going on in other parts of the organization. They need informal sources to supplement the formal communication mechanisms — and to guide them through political and personal minefields. These information networks are created, reinforced and expanded through meetings.
They often represent status. Membership on multiple committees means that you are important, your opinion is valued, and you have a seat at a decision-making table. Attendance at staff meetings means that you are part of the leadership team. Even being asked to present or answer questions at a meeting on a one-time basis gives you visibility with senior people and is status-enhancing.
These psychological drivers of meetings are very powerful — and usually trump all of the logical and rational "meeting management" advice that is doled out in courses and articles. In other words, what seems like wasted or unproductive time for many managers is actually fulfilling important personal and organizational needs.
This does not pardon meetings run wild and the time we lose to them. Managers at all levels need to be continuously on guard against unnecessary meeting proliferation and poor meeting disciplines. For example, several years ago in GlaxoSmithKline's research organization there was a realization that — as a result of multiple project meetings and the inclusion of all functions on drug development teams — many people were spending as much time in meetings as they were on actual drug development work. As a result the company developed a "fit for purpose" meeting process in which only the people directly involved in a particular phase or issue of the project attended the meetings, while others just received information.
All organizations should periodically look at their meeting patterns and make adjustments like this in addition to encouraging the use of agendas, virtual meeting approaches, and all the rest. However just complaining about too many meetings or poorly run meetings won't do much good. Like moths to a flame, we'll keep coming back, no matter what we say.'
In this blog by Ron Ashkenas titled ‘Why We Secretly Love Meetings’ at the Harvard Business Review site, he identifies some interesting reasons in favor of having meetings.
'Unfortunately these basic and widely understood guidelines for effective meetings are probably the least followed procedures in corporate history. If the government conducted "meeting audits" almost every company would fail. Most managers still complain about ineffective meetings, and then proceed to schedule multiple meetings and run them poorly. It's an amazing phenomenon.
This leads to one of the dirty little secrets of organizational life: Despite their protestations, at an unconscious (or conscious) level most managers actually like meetings, and for several reasons.
They encourage social interaction. Most people don't enjoy working alone; they want contact and relationships with other people. Meetings make them feel part of a community, and give them an outlet for sharing their personal feelings and opinions, not only on work issues but also on personal or political topics. So, some of the seemingly off-target chatter in meetings (even the complaining) is actually the realization of an important social outlet.
They keep everyone in the loop. As firms have become more matrixed and interdependent, meetings serve as the informal loom that weaves together the organizational threads. People need to know what's going on in other parts of the organization. They need informal sources to supplement the formal communication mechanisms — and to guide them through political and personal minefields. These information networks are created, reinforced and expanded through meetings.
They often represent status. Membership on multiple committees means that you are important, your opinion is valued, and you have a seat at a decision-making table. Attendance at staff meetings means that you are part of the leadership team. Even being asked to present or answer questions at a meeting on a one-time basis gives you visibility with senior people and is status-enhancing.
These psychological drivers of meetings are very powerful — and usually trump all of the logical and rational "meeting management" advice that is doled out in courses and articles. In other words, what seems like wasted or unproductive time for many managers is actually fulfilling important personal and organizational needs.
This does not pardon meetings run wild and the time we lose to them. Managers at all levels need to be continuously on guard against unnecessary meeting proliferation and poor meeting disciplines. For example, several years ago in GlaxoSmithKline's research organization there was a realization that — as a result of multiple project meetings and the inclusion of all functions on drug development teams — many people were spending as much time in meetings as they were on actual drug development work. As a result the company developed a "fit for purpose" meeting process in which only the people directly involved in a particular phase or issue of the project attended the meetings, while others just received information.
All organizations should periodically look at their meeting patterns and make adjustments like this in addition to encouraging the use of agendas, virtual meeting approaches, and all the rest. However just complaining about too many meetings or poorly run meetings won't do much good. Like moths to a flame, we'll keep coming back, no matter what we say.'
India or China
China and India have the largest populations in the world and will soon have the largest markets in the world. Each has advantages and each has disadvantages when you analyze them.
What would you think would give one the advantage over the other? The two paragraphs below are from the end of the article titled ‘India's surprising Economic Miracle’ that appeared in the September 30 issue of The Economist.
It is a fairly short article but one worth reading.
‘The Indian government recognises the need to tackle the infrastructure crisis, and is getting better at persuading private firms to stump up the capital. But the process is slow and infected with corruption. It is hard to measure these things, but many observers think China has done a better job than India of curbing corruption, with its usual brutal methods, such as shooting people.
Given the choice between doing business in China or India, most foreign investors would probably pick China. The market is bigger, the government easier to deal with, and if your supply chain for manufactured goods does not pass through China your shareholders will demand to know why. But as the global economy becomes more knowledge-intensive, India’s advantage will grow. That is something to ponder while stuck in the Delhi traffic.’
What would you think would give one the advantage over the other? The two paragraphs below are from the end of the article titled ‘India's surprising Economic Miracle’ that appeared in the September 30 issue of The Economist.
It is a fairly short article but one worth reading.
‘The Indian government recognises the need to tackle the infrastructure crisis, and is getting better at persuading private firms to stump up the capital. But the process is slow and infected with corruption. It is hard to measure these things, but many observers think China has done a better job than India of curbing corruption, with its usual brutal methods, such as shooting people.
Given the choice between doing business in China or India, most foreign investors would probably pick China. The market is bigger, the government easier to deal with, and if your supply chain for manufactured goods does not pass through China your shareholders will demand to know why. But as the global economy becomes more knowledge-intensive, India’s advantage will grow. That is something to ponder while stuck in the Delhi traffic.’
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Missin' it
We are missing something great today in Atlanta, GA. From October 6 – 8 the Catalyst Conference ‘happens’ in Atlanta.
It is a great conference designed to reach the ‘next generation of Christian Leaders’. But we find it is great for anyone who wants to be around people excited about God. You learn. You get recharged. You get inspired. You do more.
My wife and I have not attended Catalyst during the last two years but we were there the three years previously. As with many conferences it is motivational and inspirational but it is also challenging.
It is almost as if the issue you are dealing with at the time will be addressed by one of the speakers and you will encounter someone who has had the same situation you are dealing with and found a way to get beyond it with God’s help.
That may not matter to you and that’s ok. But I think if you are a Christian you will want to know as much as you can about God and his word and how to live the way that God wants you to live. It is a process and one that you grow into every day.
I pray that you get a hunger to know God like no hunger has ever possessed you before.
What kind of hunger is that? The kind that you have when you are learning about a sport, like football, and you start to watch every game on TV, you go to as many games as you can, you get a team jersey and wear it everywhere, you debate anyone about how great your team is, you get into a Fantasy Football league and know all the statistics and you think about football almost all the time. That is someone who truly loves football. Substitute your own interest. Do you have the same passion?
God wants us to love Him in the same way. With the same passion that we may love football. One of the ways you get that is by getting together with people who are excited about what you are excited about. Who are passionate about God and want to live like Christ. And people who will challenge you.
It could be about new ideas. But many times it’s about refining and applying what you already know and learning how to share that with others.
It’s not just showing up at church once a week or hanging out with the same people every week and talking about the same type of stuff all the time although there is some importance to that.
It’s about becoming more effective as a Christian.
Previous post on Catalyst
More Catalyst 5/7/08
Catalyst Site
http://catalystconference.com/
It is a great conference designed to reach the ‘next generation of Christian Leaders’. But we find it is great for anyone who wants to be around people excited about God. You learn. You get recharged. You get inspired. You do more.
My wife and I have not attended Catalyst during the last two years but we were there the three years previously. As with many conferences it is motivational and inspirational but it is also challenging.
It is almost as if the issue you are dealing with at the time will be addressed by one of the speakers and you will encounter someone who has had the same situation you are dealing with and found a way to get beyond it with God’s help.
That may not matter to you and that’s ok. But I think if you are a Christian you will want to know as much as you can about God and his word and how to live the way that God wants you to live. It is a process and one that you grow into every day.
I pray that you get a hunger to know God like no hunger has ever possessed you before.
What kind of hunger is that? The kind that you have when you are learning about a sport, like football, and you start to watch every game on TV, you go to as many games as you can, you get a team jersey and wear it everywhere, you debate anyone about how great your team is, you get into a Fantasy Football league and know all the statistics and you think about football almost all the time. That is someone who truly loves football. Substitute your own interest. Do you have the same passion?
God wants us to love Him in the same way. With the same passion that we may love football. One of the ways you get that is by getting together with people who are excited about what you are excited about. Who are passionate about God and want to live like Christ. And people who will challenge you.
It could be about new ideas. But many times it’s about refining and applying what you already know and learning how to share that with others.
It’s not just showing up at church once a week or hanging out with the same people every week and talking about the same type of stuff all the time although there is some importance to that.
It’s about becoming more effective as a Christian.
Previous post on Catalyst
More Catalyst 5/7/08
Catalyst Site
http://catalystconference.com/
Make a wise choice
Yesterday I was in a meeting with some co workers when a disagreement broke out with some pretty heated exchanges. The two people involved have known each other for some time and work together well, normally. As is usually the case things eventually settled down but there was some discomfort for all in the room for awhile.
While this disagreement was occurring I started to wonder if I was going to have to choose a side to support. Usually that is not the best approach as you become an enemy of the party you oppose at worst, or strain your relationship with that person at best.
It occurred to me almost immediately after having the thought above that I need to choose to side with Jesus as I profess Him as my Lord and proclaim that I want to be more like Him. God said He first wants us to love Him and then to ‘love others as we love ourselves’ but unless we work at it I don’t think that will happen.
Too many times in the past I have chosen a side in a dispute and lost a friend or ended up in a long term disagreement that was very uncomfortable for all as everyone knew that eventually something would happen or something would be said that would cause the peace to be interrupted.
I am glad that God helps me to understand how to deal with these situations by helping me to remember some scripture that gets me to focus on Him. My reminder was from Psalms.
But what was it He said in Matthew? Something like ‘blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God’. By focusing on how and what the world does we lose sight of what God wants us to do and we become less effective in being examples of Christ.
While this disagreement was occurring I started to wonder if I was going to have to choose a side to support. Usually that is not the best approach as you become an enemy of the party you oppose at worst, or strain your relationship with that person at best.
It occurred to me almost immediately after having the thought above that I need to choose to side with Jesus as I profess Him as my Lord and proclaim that I want to be more like Him. God said He first wants us to love Him and then to ‘love others as we love ourselves’ but unless we work at it I don’t think that will happen.
Too many times in the past I have chosen a side in a dispute and lost a friend or ended up in a long term disagreement that was very uncomfortable for all as everyone knew that eventually something would happen or something would be said that would cause the peace to be interrupted.
I am glad that God helps me to understand how to deal with these situations by helping me to remember some scripture that gets me to focus on Him. My reminder was from Psalms.
But what was it He said in Matthew? Something like ‘blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God’. By focusing on how and what the world does we lose sight of what God wants us to do and we become less effective in being examples of Christ.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Laying it on the line
To see what the US and Allied Troops are dealing with in Afghanistan see the piece on Sunday night’s ’60 Minutes’ titled ‘A Relentless Enemy’.
We owe all of the US and Allied troops, both men and women, a debt of gratitude for their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way as they attempt to eliminate the terrorist threat to the world.
When you see a member of the US or Allied forces make sure to thank them for their commitment, their service and their willingness to protect us.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml
We owe all of the US and Allied troops, both men and women, a debt of gratitude for their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way as they attempt to eliminate the terrorist threat to the world.
When you see a member of the US or Allied forces make sure to thank them for their commitment, their service and their willingness to protect us.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Is improvement needed?
The excerpts below are from ‘How to Raise Boys Who Read’ by Thomas Spence in the 9/24/10 Wall Street Journal. I have some comments and suggestions at the end.
‘Everyone agrees that if boys don’t read well. It’s because they don’t read enough. But why don’t they read enough? A considerable number of teachers and librarians believe that boys are simply bored by the ‘stuffy’ literature they encounter in school. According to a revealing Associated Press story in July these experts insist that we must ‘meet them where they are’ – that is, pander to boys’ untutored tastes.’
‘AP reported that one school librarian treats her pupils to ‘grossology’ parties. For elementary- and middle-school boys, that means ‘books that exploit [their] love of bodily functions and gross-out humor.’ ’Just get ‘em reading’, she comments cheerily. ‘Worry about what they are reading later’.
There certainly is no shortage of publishers ready to meet boys where they are.
‘If you keep meeting a boy where he is, he doesn’t go very far’.
‘The secret to raising boys who read, I submit, is pretty simple – keep electronic media, especially video games at home and recreational internet, under control (that is to say, almost completely absent). Then fill your shelves with good books.’
‘Most importantly, a boy raised on great literature is more likely to grow up to think, to speak and to write like a civilized man.’
‘I offer a final piece of evidence that is perhaps unanswerable: ‘There is no literacy gap between home schooled boys and girls.’
*************************************
It’s not that boys don’t want to learn or can't learn it’s just that they have been exposed to a newer way of learning and communicating (electronically) and they like it.
That boys can learn and excel at video games tells a lot. It tells that they are capable of learning in a fast paced environment. This is an environment that many or most schools don't offer. So why not change the learning environment, the methods and the content?
Why not update the (stuffy or classical) books and stories to modern examples to get the student's attention and then provide some appropriate comparisons to the original? Or use electronic media and then after they have some interest start to read from the books.
Why not develop videos that depict various circumstances (life situations, skills and subject related items, etc) to introduce topics that the boys and girls can watch and solve problems. Options from there could include multiple endings or solutions to the videos that require different thinking skills, discussion situations where they could work in teams to come up with suggestions and solutions, and moving to the books that they think are boring, etc. May need to wet their appetite.
The author of this article is the president of a publishing company so it is obvious that he isn’t in favor of the new media because of his suggestions.
Satellite learning environments may need to be set up at other areas that may be more conducive to learning.
Just having a teacher lecture students all period was boring when I was in school and it probably still is boring for today’s young people. We may also need a new kind of teacher or instructor to help our kids move into this new millennium.
If you see my post titled ‘History Repeats‘ about young people and advice from older people this may help you realize that young people know how to learn but we are just not keeping up with them. Current methods may even be slowing them down.
‘Everyone agrees that if boys don’t read well. It’s because they don’t read enough. But why don’t they read enough? A considerable number of teachers and librarians believe that boys are simply bored by the ‘stuffy’ literature they encounter in school. According to a revealing Associated Press story in July these experts insist that we must ‘meet them where they are’ – that is, pander to boys’ untutored tastes.’
‘AP reported that one school librarian treats her pupils to ‘grossology’ parties. For elementary- and middle-school boys, that means ‘books that exploit [their] love of bodily functions and gross-out humor.’ ’Just get ‘em reading’, she comments cheerily. ‘Worry about what they are reading later’.
There certainly is no shortage of publishers ready to meet boys where they are.
‘If you keep meeting a boy where he is, he doesn’t go very far’.
‘The secret to raising boys who read, I submit, is pretty simple – keep electronic media, especially video games at home and recreational internet, under control (that is to say, almost completely absent). Then fill your shelves with good books.’
‘Most importantly, a boy raised on great literature is more likely to grow up to think, to speak and to write like a civilized man.’
‘I offer a final piece of evidence that is perhaps unanswerable: ‘There is no literacy gap between home schooled boys and girls.’
*************************************
It’s not that boys don’t want to learn or can't learn it’s just that they have been exposed to a newer way of learning and communicating (electronically) and they like it.
That boys can learn and excel at video games tells a lot. It tells that they are capable of learning in a fast paced environment. This is an environment that many or most schools don't offer. So why not change the learning environment, the methods and the content?
Why not update the (stuffy or classical) books and stories to modern examples to get the student's attention and then provide some appropriate comparisons to the original? Or use electronic media and then after they have some interest start to read from the books.
Why not develop videos that depict various circumstances (life situations, skills and subject related items, etc) to introduce topics that the boys and girls can watch and solve problems. Options from there could include multiple endings or solutions to the videos that require different thinking skills, discussion situations where they could work in teams to come up with suggestions and solutions, and moving to the books that they think are boring, etc. May need to wet their appetite.
The author of this article is the president of a publishing company so it is obvious that he isn’t in favor of the new media because of his suggestions.
Satellite learning environments may need to be set up at other areas that may be more conducive to learning.
Just having a teacher lecture students all period was boring when I was in school and it probably still is boring for today’s young people. We may also need a new kind of teacher or instructor to help our kids move into this new millennium.
If you see my post titled ‘History Repeats‘ about young people and advice from older people this may help you realize that young people know how to learn but we are just not keeping up with them. Current methods may even be slowing them down.
More evidence
FYI -
Judge Grants Discovery of Postings on Social Media (in New York State)
Plaintiff must give defendant access to private postings from Facebook and MySpace that could contradict personal injury action claims
Judge Grants Discovery of Postings on Social Media (in New York State)
Plaintiff must give defendant access to private postings from Facebook and MySpace that could contradict personal injury action claims
Joe should go
I was a fan of Penn State football up to about 10 or so years ago when Coach Paterno had several losing seasons. I totally gave up on him because he wouldn’t apply to himself the same criteria he does to his players.
If a player can’t get the job done he is replaced. The only reason Paterno could provide for continuing to coach during and after the losing seasons was that he ‘loved coaching’ and what would he do if he retired. Who cares Joe?
Paterno has created more of a problem for Penn State now than the wins he has accumulated since that period. As much as the media like to hype Penn State the Lions are no longer an elite football team. That’s because Joe has the ultimate say in what happens and the premier high school players don’t see PSU as the place to go to win or to improve their prospects to become a pro.
I know what you sycophants are saying, what about the high graduation rates? I think Joe uses that to cover over his lack of championships. I think the great players may be harder to deal with and Joe doesn’t like that so what may have started out as a legitimate reason to work with young men has now turned into an excuse for why PSU is somewhat mediocre.
Penn State turned into a power by beating up on the weak teams in the East during most of its history. They did win some bowl games against some strong teams but given the amount of time a team has to prepare for a bowl game it is not surprising that PSU won many bowl games.
But, Joe, why can’t you win the big games week after week. It seems to me that that is what the premier recruits want to know.
Just like everything else in life when you lift your head up to look around you realize that there is a lot of world out there and there are better, more interesting and more exciting teams and coaches out there.
I for one will be glad to see Joe leave coaching.
Go PSSnooze!
If a player can’t get the job done he is replaced. The only reason Paterno could provide for continuing to coach during and after the losing seasons was that he ‘loved coaching’ and what would he do if he retired. Who cares Joe?
Paterno has created more of a problem for Penn State now than the wins he has accumulated since that period. As much as the media like to hype Penn State the Lions are no longer an elite football team. That’s because Joe has the ultimate say in what happens and the premier high school players don’t see PSU as the place to go to win or to improve their prospects to become a pro.
I know what you sycophants are saying, what about the high graduation rates? I think Joe uses that to cover over his lack of championships. I think the great players may be harder to deal with and Joe doesn’t like that so what may have started out as a legitimate reason to work with young men has now turned into an excuse for why PSU is somewhat mediocre.
Penn State turned into a power by beating up on the weak teams in the East during most of its history. They did win some bowl games against some strong teams but given the amount of time a team has to prepare for a bowl game it is not surprising that PSU won many bowl games.
But, Joe, why can’t you win the big games week after week. It seems to me that that is what the premier recruits want to know.
Just like everything else in life when you lift your head up to look around you realize that there is a lot of world out there and there are better, more interesting and more exciting teams and coaches out there.
I for one will be glad to see Joe leave coaching.
Go PSSnooze!
Go BLUE!
I am watching some of the U of Michigan – Bowling Green Univ college football game and find myself hoping that Michigan is back to its winning ways and that the dry period is over.
I am not a Big Ten fan but I would like to see Michigan become a college football power again because Ohio State, the perennial Big 10 champion, needs a team to whip them and Michigan has done that many times in the past but not so much in recent years.
The Big 10 will be a much stronger league with a powerful Michigan program.
And besides while Michigan has floundered no other team has stepped up to take their spot. Iowa and Penn State have tried but both seem to be posers. Iowa tries but can't seem to get it done. Penn State needs to replace Paterno before they will consistently challenge for the league title. I'll be blogging on that topic.
Go BLUE!
I am not a Big Ten fan but I would like to see Michigan become a college football power again because Ohio State, the perennial Big 10 champion, needs a team to whip them and Michigan has done that many times in the past but not so much in recent years.
The Big 10 will be a much stronger league with a powerful Michigan program.
And besides while Michigan has floundered no other team has stepped up to take their spot. Iowa and Penn State have tried but both seem to be posers. Iowa tries but can't seem to get it done. Penn State needs to replace Paterno before they will consistently challenge for the league title. I'll be blogging on that topic.
Go BLUE!
Friday, September 24, 2010
History Repeats
If you are older, giving advice to young people is no longer easy. And young people seldom or often don’t listen to advice from older people.
This piece from the Wall Street Journal and titled, ‘Want my advice? Um, Not Really’ addresses this issue.
This is a quote from a 28 year old woman: ‘The older generations totally mean well,’ she says, ‘but they’re giving advice based on things they did in the past, when times were different.’
Older people have always offered advice to younger people, with words of wisdom culled from their memories of youth. And, of course, in every era, young people have found advice from elders to be outdated and ineffectual. These days however, given how fast the world is changing, there’s been a clear widening of the advice gap.
It’s rooted in a devaluation of accumulated wisdom, a leveling of the relationships between the old and young. On many fronts, people from Generation Y –now ages 16 to 32 – assume their peers know best. They doubt those of us who are older can truly understand their needs and concerns.
‘Among tips from young adults for their advice giving elders:
Question your assumptions:
What worked in your youth might have little relevance today.
Offer suggestions, not pronouncements:
Say ‘you could’ not ‘you should’.
Welcome a dialogue:
Listen, don’t lecture; you’ll learn things and give better advice
Resist saying:
‘When I was young’.
Don’t belittle technology:
If you’re critical of social media, young people may dismiss you as a dinosaur.
Accept your limitations:
The young understand the world today. Sometimes the best advice is: ‘Trust your instincts’.
If you ask many older people today about the advice they accepted or rejected when they were young I bet many would say that they learned a lot from their elders when they were willing to listen.
What’s that quote about forgetting the lessons of history? Oh that’s right you young people never learned it and obviously you won’t listen to any of us older people so I guess you’ll have to learn it the hard way.
This piece from the Wall Street Journal and titled, ‘Want my advice? Um, Not Really’ addresses this issue.
This is a quote from a 28 year old woman: ‘The older generations totally mean well,’ she says, ‘but they’re giving advice based on things they did in the past, when times were different.’
Older people have always offered advice to younger people, with words of wisdom culled from their memories of youth. And, of course, in every era, young people have found advice from elders to be outdated and ineffectual. These days however, given how fast the world is changing, there’s been a clear widening of the advice gap.
It’s rooted in a devaluation of accumulated wisdom, a leveling of the relationships between the old and young. On many fronts, people from Generation Y –now ages 16 to 32 – assume their peers know best. They doubt those of us who are older can truly understand their needs and concerns.
‘Among tips from young adults for their advice giving elders:
Question your assumptions:
What worked in your youth might have little relevance today.
Offer suggestions, not pronouncements:
Say ‘you could’ not ‘you should’.
Welcome a dialogue:
Listen, don’t lecture; you’ll learn things and give better advice
Resist saying:
‘When I was young’.
Don’t belittle technology:
If you’re critical of social media, young people may dismiss you as a dinosaur.
Accept your limitations:
The young understand the world today. Sometimes the best advice is: ‘Trust your instincts’.
If you ask many older people today about the advice they accepted or rejected when they were young I bet many would say that they learned a lot from their elders when they were willing to listen.
What’s that quote about forgetting the lessons of history? Oh that’s right you young people never learned it and obviously you won’t listen to any of us older people so I guess you’ll have to learn it the hard way.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
All about your example
God always wraps His truth in a person. That's the value of a godly mentor. He shows what biblical truth looks like with skin on it.
'Iron Sharpens Iron' by Howard Hendricks - p 28
'Iron Sharpens Iron' by Howard Hendricks - p 28
For a friend
When we experienced challenging times in the past some of our Christian fiends would offer Bible scripture as a solution. I used to really resent that and couldn’t understand why they did that.
I have come to realize after going through many difficulties (health, relationships, finance issues, job loss, etc) and getting closer to God that God’s words provide comfort, assurance, direction and hope.
These words are for a friend going through a difficult and challenging time.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
I have come to realize after going through many difficulties (health, relationships, finance issues, job loss, etc) and getting closer to God that God’s words provide comfort, assurance, direction and hope.
These words are for a friend going through a difficult and challenging time.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Teaching others to lead
‘Are you willing to take the time to work with people to help them accomplish their goals and task assignments?
One aspect of ‘building people’ is that you take time with them. This means you will have to organize your calendar so that you have time to meet with the people you lead. For the leader who takes a hands – off approach for leadership, this may not be easy. The people you lead need to spend time with you, and you need to spend time with them. This is a vital step in practicing the principles of leading like Jesus. Jesus always made time for His disciples: we must follow His example as we make time for the people we lead. Although you may not be with them 24/7 you do need to be with them in all kinds of situations, not only at work.’
From ‘Lead Like Jesus Study Guide’ by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, Lee Ross & Avery Willis p.155
One aspect of ‘building people’ is that you take time with them. This means you will have to organize your calendar so that you have time to meet with the people you lead. For the leader who takes a hands – off approach for leadership, this may not be easy. The people you lead need to spend time with you, and you need to spend time with them. This is a vital step in practicing the principles of leading like Jesus. Jesus always made time for His disciples: we must follow His example as we make time for the people we lead. Although you may not be with them 24/7 you do need to be with them in all kinds of situations, not only at work.’
From ‘Lead Like Jesus Study Guide’ by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, Lee Ross & Avery Willis p.155
Pottsville, PA NFL Team
In 1925, the Pottsville Maroons, a football team from the heart of Pennsylvania coal country, joined the fledgling National Football League.
Built by an eccentric owner, molded by a visionary coach and loaded with hardscrabble miners, college All Americans and the 'sky's the limit' ethos of the Roaring Twenties, the Maroons did the unthinkable and dominated the NFL in their rookie season. (Their improbable rise was chronicled each week in the local paper by a rookie Pottsville sportswriter named John O'Hara.)
Little Pottsville outscored its first seven opponents 162-6. The boys so thoroughly pummeled one opponent, angry fans shot up their train car as the Maroons rode out of town. In the final game of that first season the Maroons traveled to the Midwest to face the league-leading Chicago Cardinals in what was viewed as the championship game for 1925. The Maroons overcame a Windy City snowstorm and an injury to their best player to defeat the Cardinals 21-7.
Built by an eccentric owner, molded by a visionary coach and loaded with hardscrabble miners, college All Americans and the 'sky's the limit' ethos of the Roaring Twenties, the Maroons did the unthinkable and dominated the NFL in their rookie season. (Their improbable rise was chronicled each week in the local paper by a rookie Pottsville sportswriter named John O'Hara.)
Little Pottsville outscored its first seven opponents 162-6. The boys so thoroughly pummeled one opponent, angry fans shot up their train car as the Maroons rode out of town. In the final game of that first season the Maroons traveled to the Midwest to face the league-leading Chicago Cardinals in what was viewed as the championship game for 1925. The Maroons overcame a Windy City snowstorm and an injury to their best player to defeat the Cardinals 21-7.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Is he wrong?
‘Don’t run when you lose, don’t whine when it hurts. No one likes a cry baby’
Michael Gouglas as Gordon Gekko
From the movie ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’
Michael Gouglas as Gordon Gekko
From the movie ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’
Will he or won't he?
Lots of speculation about whether Joe Torre will manage again.
J. P. Ricciardi on ESPN tonight said that he thinks Joe Torre may manage again but not until 2012. Torre, age 70, has announced his retirement as Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of this season.
The primary requirement would be a team that is close to winning it all and doesn’t need much building to be a winner according to J.P.
Ricciardi didn’t name a team where he thought Torre would manage but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Torre end up at Atlanta. The Braves will come close to winning the National League East this year and Bobby Cox, current manager of the Braves, is retiring this year.
J. P. Ricciardi on ESPN tonight said that he thinks Joe Torre may manage again but not until 2012. Torre, age 70, has announced his retirement as Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of this season.
The primary requirement would be a team that is close to winning it all and doesn’t need much building to be a winner according to J.P.
Ricciardi didn’t name a team where he thought Torre would manage but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Torre end up at Atlanta. The Braves will come close to winning the National League East this year and Bobby Cox, current manager of the Braves, is retiring this year.
Where are you from?
Best Selling Non Fiction books in 1995
1. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, John Gray
2. My American Journey, Colin Powell
3. Miss America, Howard Stern
4. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra
5. The Road Ahead, Bill Gates
6. Charles Kuralt's America, Charles Kuralt
7. Mars and Venus in the Bedroom, John Gray
8. To Renew America, Newt Gingrich
9. My Point...and I Do Have One, Ellen DeGeneres
10. The Moral Compass, William J. Bennett
Check out numbers 1 and 7. Same author. Same theme.
Are you wondering why these are best sellers? Understanding your spouse is important to a long and happy marriage.
1. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, John Gray
2. My American Journey, Colin Powell
3. Miss America, Howard Stern
4. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra
5. The Road Ahead, Bill Gates
6. Charles Kuralt's America, Charles Kuralt
7. Mars and Venus in the Bedroom, John Gray
8. To Renew America, Newt Gingrich
9. My Point...and I Do Have One, Ellen DeGeneres
10. The Moral Compass, William J. Bennett
Check out numbers 1 and 7. Same author. Same theme.
Are you wondering why these are best sellers? Understanding your spouse is important to a long and happy marriage.
It's what you believe
Watching the Phillies and Braves on Monday night I was made aware of a peculiar habit of the Rookie Pitcher for the Braves. It was more than a peculiar habit, it was a superstition.
Between innings the pitcher would unlace and lace his spikes.
I believed in superstitions while playing sports when I was growing up. I didn’t play organized football but we played a lot of touch football. I had a Purdue Univ football jersey that I liked to wear every time we played. I thought it made me play better.
I just think it is interesting that pro athletes that are blessed with such great talent and great ability believe in superstitions. Wearing the same socks or, not stepping on the lines, carrying a good luck charm or loosening and tightening their batting gloves after every pitch or slapping a sign that says 'play like a champion today' are just a few of the many superstitions.
Even Michael Jordan had a superstition. He always wore his blue North Carolina basketball shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform for good luck.
I tend to think that it is a habit that athletes grow up with or maybe it is just a part of the culture of sports.
Is the superstition necessary to play well, to play the best you can or to win? Whatever it is the athlete believes the superstition helps them perform and maybe that's all that matters.
Between innings the pitcher would unlace and lace his spikes.
I believed in superstitions while playing sports when I was growing up. I didn’t play organized football but we played a lot of touch football. I had a Purdue Univ football jersey that I liked to wear every time we played. I thought it made me play better.
I just think it is interesting that pro athletes that are blessed with such great talent and great ability believe in superstitions. Wearing the same socks or, not stepping on the lines, carrying a good luck charm or loosening and tightening their batting gloves after every pitch or slapping a sign that says 'play like a champion today' are just a few of the many superstitions.
Even Michael Jordan had a superstition. He always wore his blue North Carolina basketball shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform for good luck.
I tend to think that it is a habit that athletes grow up with or maybe it is just a part of the culture of sports.
Is the superstition necessary to play well, to play the best you can or to win? Whatever it is the athlete believes the superstition helps them perform and maybe that's all that matters.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Would you like a free bottle of water?
This was the phrase we used as we had a great experience yesterday in New York City at an outreach event that was called Love NYC. My definition of outreach is an event where the people of the church work to create positive interactions with people and show these people the love of God.
People from a number of churches from Indiana, Maryland, New York State and Pennsylvania came to New York City to support the outreach efforts of two new churches located in the city. This event has gone on for five years for one church and I believe this was the first year for the newer church.
By offering people who were passing by us on the streets of New York, free items (bottled water, granola bars and chewing gum) we were able to show them the concern of the church for the people of NYC and most importantly by symbolically providing them with something free, a gift, we were showing them the free gift of love that God has offered to all of us.
It was a successful event, I believe, as our group of 10 people were stationed in teams of 2 or 3 all around the Columbia University campus. The people we were able to interact with represented people from many countries, many cultures, many races, many sexual orientations, many ages and many beliefs.
The reaction we received to our free offers was interesting. Some ignored us completely and just walked by, some stopped and questioned our motives and refused our offer, some stopped and questioned our motives and then accepted the gift and some immediately accepted our offer.
That free gift brought us to a moment where we accepted them for who they were, they did not have to qualify, and they did the same for us. There were no guarantees that this acceptance would continue but at that moment they accepted our offer and hopefully would consider the offer to come to church and come into a closer relationship to God.
We believe we were doing what God calls us to do - to reach out to all people.
You should plan on participating with us next year.
People from a number of churches from Indiana, Maryland, New York State and Pennsylvania came to New York City to support the outreach efforts of two new churches located in the city. This event has gone on for five years for one church and I believe this was the first year for the newer church.
By offering people who were passing by us on the streets of New York, free items (bottled water, granola bars and chewing gum) we were able to show them the concern of the church for the people of NYC and most importantly by symbolically providing them with something free, a gift, we were showing them the free gift of love that God has offered to all of us.
It was a successful event, I believe, as our group of 10 people were stationed in teams of 2 or 3 all around the Columbia University campus. The people we were able to interact with represented people from many countries, many cultures, many races, many sexual orientations, many ages and many beliefs.
The reaction we received to our free offers was interesting. Some ignored us completely and just walked by, some stopped and questioned our motives and refused our offer, some stopped and questioned our motives and then accepted the gift and some immediately accepted our offer.
That free gift brought us to a moment where we accepted them for who they were, they did not have to qualify, and they did the same for us. There were no guarantees that this acceptance would continue but at that moment they accepted our offer and hopefully would consider the offer to come to church and come into a closer relationship to God.
We believe we were doing what God calls us to do - to reach out to all people.
You should plan on participating with us next year.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wrong message for VW
In my life to date I have owned or driven 8 different volkswagens.
I have found them to be dependable and durable and a lot of fun to drive. That’s the way I prefer to think of the VW.
Not like the current campaign where people punch each other when they see a VW.
Yo, Vdub! I just want you to know that when that commercial comes on I either turn down the sound and ignore the commercial or I change the channel.
I have found them to be dependable and durable and a lot of fun to drive. That’s the way I prefer to think of the VW.
Not like the current campaign where people punch each other when they see a VW.
Yo, Vdub! I just want you to know that when that commercial comes on I either turn down the sound and ignore the commercial or I change the channel.
Pull a Jeter
By now you have most likely seen the incident with Derek Jeter of the Yankees dozens of times when he was hit by a pitch, or was he. It depends on the camera angle used.
Your reaction may be determined by whether you are a Yankee fan or not. It depends on whether you believe in winning at all costs.
The excerpt below from a USA Today article by Mike Lopresti indicates it happens frequently in many sports - football, baseball, basketball.
The desire to win by both players and fans appears to override our values.
Should Jeter have told the umpire he didn’t get hit? I don’t know. Will this change the future of the world? Doubt it.
Aren’t there more important more pressing issues to be concerned with? Yea there are. Let’s forget the trivial stuff and make an effort to focus on the important stuff.
What we do in our everyday lives is much more important than one incident in a baseball game.
****************************************
‘Jeter is what makes this so fascinating. You wonder if that .262 average has him desperate to find new ways to get on base. You try to decide if there is something unsettling in watching a Bronx god indulge in human chicanery.
Perhaps. But there is really no more reason for condemnation here than there is for the receiver who holds the football high in the air with two hands after trapping a pass, trying to convince the side judge a catch was made.
Or the shortstop who holds up his glove, trying to win an out call on a tag he missed.
Or the basketball forward who collapses like a soufflé, hoping to draw a charge. Some notoriously flop, but nearly everyone at least ... emphasizes.
The word is "gamesmanship," and this is the way it is in professional sport, where not only glory but also livelihoods are at stake. More accurately, it is trying to make use of the power of suggestion. Feel free to throw this matter onto the pile of reasons for the use of more replay in baseball. The camera is immune to the power of suggestion.
If one could quibble with anything about Jeter's performance, it'd be his postgame script. He needed to be, ah, fuzzier in his memory of the event.’
Your reaction may be determined by whether you are a Yankee fan or not. It depends on whether you believe in winning at all costs.
The excerpt below from a USA Today article by Mike Lopresti indicates it happens frequently in many sports - football, baseball, basketball.
The desire to win by both players and fans appears to override our values.
Should Jeter have told the umpire he didn’t get hit? I don’t know. Will this change the future of the world? Doubt it.
Aren’t there more important more pressing issues to be concerned with? Yea there are. Let’s forget the trivial stuff and make an effort to focus on the important stuff.
What we do in our everyday lives is much more important than one incident in a baseball game.
****************************************
‘Jeter is what makes this so fascinating. You wonder if that .262 average has him desperate to find new ways to get on base. You try to decide if there is something unsettling in watching a Bronx god indulge in human chicanery.
Perhaps. But there is really no more reason for condemnation here than there is for the receiver who holds the football high in the air with two hands after trapping a pass, trying to convince the side judge a catch was made.
Or the shortstop who holds up his glove, trying to win an out call on a tag he missed.
Or the basketball forward who collapses like a soufflé, hoping to draw a charge. Some notoriously flop, but nearly everyone at least ... emphasizes.
The word is "gamesmanship," and this is the way it is in professional sport, where not only glory but also livelihoods are at stake. More accurately, it is trying to make use of the power of suggestion. Feel free to throw this matter onto the pile of reasons for the use of more replay in baseball. The camera is immune to the power of suggestion.
If one could quibble with anything about Jeter's performance, it'd be his postgame script. He needed to be, ah, fuzzier in his memory of the event.’
Using SCRUM to get things done faster
I was aware of the term scrum in rugby but just became aware recently of how SCRUM is used in business. The process has been used primarily in IT and software development applications. It appears that it has applications in many different areas.
The following adaptation is from the site:
http://knol.google.com/k/what-is-scrum#
How does Scrum work to get product development done faster?
Scrum is a very powerful agile project management tool that improves team collaboration and helps improve team productiveness and product quality through a clear definition of roles and responsibilities.
At a more expansive level, however, Scrum is a framework, a value-system, and a process.
Scrum is a framework for managing projects or, more generally, work. It is iterative and incremental.
Scrum is a value system that asks teams to work together to accomplish a common goal, focusing on the output of the team rather than the input of the individuals. It values communication, openness, transparency, self-organization, and the worth of employees as individuals and professionals.
Scrum is a process that invites the application of those values by asking that teams generally organize themselves into three roles, participate in four regular meetings, and produce and maintain three artifacts.
What are the benefits of Scrum? First, it provides structure without unnecessary bureaucracy or hoops to jump through. This structure regiments communication and makes room for conversations that might otherwise not take place, resulting in less miscommunication. Reduced miscommunication often results in fewer defects and mistakes.
Scrum gives both team members and management a voice and increases the day-to-day control individuals have over their work. Unsurprisingly, this results in higher employee retention and satisfaction. Regular interactions help make things visible and transparent earlier than they may with more traditional, heavyweight processes.
Output is also considered more valuable than input that means that Scrum helps teams focus on big picture metrics like ROI, not how busy they are or look to managers. Therefore, Scrum helps us make more stuff that works for all the reasons above. If you’re in the business of selling stuff that works, you will probably make more money using Scrum.
Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to: With Scrum, you will probably produce better work for less money, in less time than using any other project management framework, value-system or process.
The following adaptation is from the site:
http://knol.google.com/k/what-is-scrum#
How does Scrum work to get product development done faster?
Scrum is a very powerful agile project management tool that improves team collaboration and helps improve team productiveness and product quality through a clear definition of roles and responsibilities.
At a more expansive level, however, Scrum is a framework, a value-system, and a process.
Scrum is a framework for managing projects or, more generally, work. It is iterative and incremental.
Scrum is a value system that asks teams to work together to accomplish a common goal, focusing on the output of the team rather than the input of the individuals. It values communication, openness, transparency, self-organization, and the worth of employees as individuals and professionals.
Scrum is a process that invites the application of those values by asking that teams generally organize themselves into three roles, participate in four regular meetings, and produce and maintain three artifacts.
What are the benefits of Scrum? First, it provides structure without unnecessary bureaucracy or hoops to jump through. This structure regiments communication and makes room for conversations that might otherwise not take place, resulting in less miscommunication. Reduced miscommunication often results in fewer defects and mistakes.
Scrum gives both team members and management a voice and increases the day-to-day control individuals have over their work. Unsurprisingly, this results in higher employee retention and satisfaction. Regular interactions help make things visible and transparent earlier than they may with more traditional, heavyweight processes.
Output is also considered more valuable than input that means that Scrum helps teams focus on big picture metrics like ROI, not how busy they are or look to managers. Therefore, Scrum helps us make more stuff that works for all the reasons above. If you’re in the business of selling stuff that works, you will probably make more money using Scrum.
Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to: With Scrum, you will probably produce better work for less money, in less time than using any other project management framework, value-system or process.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A Worthwhile Search
I heard something disturbing tonight.
While with a group of guys tonight one of them, a younger man, talked about being disappointed over a number of years by a number of men he had asked to mentor him. He explained that he asked several men several times if they would mentor him but none accepted so he took it upon himself to try to find out what he didn’t know and harder yet to find out, what he didn’t know that he didn’t know yet.
He understood the importance of learning from another man or from other men and what that could mean for him and his future. Gaining knowledge, wisdom, an understanding of better or easier ways of doing things, dealing with relationships, learning about and growing closer to Christ and many other things.
Fortunately for him he didn’t give up. He worked and developed relationships with men, asked questions and earned a college degree.
He is now working on a Master’s of Divinity degree and interning at a local church.
His experience is not the exception but more like the rule. In the book ‘Iron Sharpens Iron’ by Howard Hendricks he explains that there are many young men who would welcome mentors but have a hard time asking or finding mentors.
Many men think they don’t have anything to offer younger men. But every man has something to offer. Examples include: taking care of a car, learning to fish, playing the guitar, learning a language, managing employees, getting promoted, relationship issues, becoming a Christ follower and just about anything you can do.
Guys, don’t hesitate to ask other men for help. And guys if you are asked for advice or guidance don’t hesitate to participate. And if you are having trouble finding a mentor you can use books, cds, dvds, mp3's and seminars to help you grow until you find someone.
Hendricks also suggests not using the word mentor but rather asking someone if they could help you with something or if you want to mentor someone just ask them to go for coffee or lunch or some other activity that you both may enjoy and let the relationship develop.
Oh yea, one of the reasons it was a disturbing night for me was because I was one of the guys my friend repeatedly asked for help. Hopefully I have learned from this and will be more aware next time.
While with a group of guys tonight one of them, a younger man, talked about being disappointed over a number of years by a number of men he had asked to mentor him. He explained that he asked several men several times if they would mentor him but none accepted so he took it upon himself to try to find out what he didn’t know and harder yet to find out, what he didn’t know that he didn’t know yet.
He understood the importance of learning from another man or from other men and what that could mean for him and his future. Gaining knowledge, wisdom, an understanding of better or easier ways of doing things, dealing with relationships, learning about and growing closer to Christ and many other things.
Fortunately for him he didn’t give up. He worked and developed relationships with men, asked questions and earned a college degree.
He is now working on a Master’s of Divinity degree and interning at a local church.
His experience is not the exception but more like the rule. In the book ‘Iron Sharpens Iron’ by Howard Hendricks he explains that there are many young men who would welcome mentors but have a hard time asking or finding mentors.
Many men think they don’t have anything to offer younger men. But every man has something to offer. Examples include: taking care of a car, learning to fish, playing the guitar, learning a language, managing employees, getting promoted, relationship issues, becoming a Christ follower and just about anything you can do.
Guys, don’t hesitate to ask other men for help. And guys if you are asked for advice or guidance don’t hesitate to participate. And if you are having trouble finding a mentor you can use books, cds, dvds, mp3's and seminars to help you grow until you find someone.
Hendricks also suggests not using the word mentor but rather asking someone if they could help you with something or if you want to mentor someone just ask them to go for coffee or lunch or some other activity that you both may enjoy and let the relationship develop.
Oh yea, one of the reasons it was a disturbing night for me was because I was one of the guys my friend repeatedly asked for help. Hopefully I have learned from this and will be more aware next time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
