I heard a friend of mine tell his daughter that she should be careful what she puts on her facebook page because employers and colleges are looking at those things before they hire or allow enrollement.
This not the first I have heard of this either. Many of you have probably heard the same thing. I have learned that people have lost their jobs because they posted something on a blog page that their employers did not like. Im not talking about negative remarks about a boss or co-worker. Things like political ideas or sexual preference.
What is this world coming to? Ill tell you what it is coming to. Its becoming a place where a few people feel that their ideas need to be adopted by the whole world. So much so that they will do anything they can to keep you from wanting to have your own ideas. At the very least they are wanting to keep you from expressing them.
Dont let them have that. Dont let them do it. Express your ideas and opinions every chance you get. Get your friends, family and yes...even co-workers used to hearing things they dont agree with or like. Lets get this nation back to a place where men are free to think as they please.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Its All Over So Soon
I hope everyone is greeting the spring with as much anticipation and excitment as I am. Warmer weather has always drawn me. Ever since I was a kid growing up in south Texas, I have loved the hot sun and warm breeze of summer.
There is so much to be done and enjoyed. The beach, surfing, heading to the lake, wakeboarding, fishing, weekends on the motorcycle all lay just ahead in the coming weeks. Wow, I cant wait!
As I prepared for my day today, I was reflecting on all the wonderful days I have spent in the warmth of the sun. The Beach Boys song comes to mind I am immediately transported back to my teenage days, tearing up the town in Corpus Christi.
It dawned on me though that the best days are truly ahead. Sure, we can reflect and enjoy memories but we should not live in them. I like to say that the best weekend I ever had is NEXT weekend. Always leave yourself something to look forward to.
I hope everyone is gearing up for the best summer ever. Remember that this ride is all over so soon. Enjoy each moment of it. Live for today, live for tomorrow.
There is so much to be done and enjoyed. The beach, surfing, heading to the lake, wakeboarding, fishing, weekends on the motorcycle all lay just ahead in the coming weeks. Wow, I cant wait!
As I prepared for my day today, I was reflecting on all the wonderful days I have spent in the warmth of the sun. The Beach Boys song comes to mind I am immediately transported back to my teenage days, tearing up the town in Corpus Christi.
It dawned on me though that the best days are truly ahead. Sure, we can reflect and enjoy memories but we should not live in them. I like to say that the best weekend I ever had is NEXT weekend. Always leave yourself something to look forward to.
I hope everyone is gearing up for the best summer ever. Remember that this ride is all over so soon. Enjoy each moment of it. Live for today, live for tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Dont Let it Get You Babe, Dont Let It Get to You
I think it was Tom Petty who said that. I suppose he sang that but I love to repeat it to myself on occasion. I have to admit that recently I have not done that enough.
Yes, I am guilty. I have let it get to me...babe. And how.
I have written blogs in the past to try to motivate others to do the best that they can. I suppose that the setting for my writing has most often been intended to be the workplace. Yeah, that is truly it. I like to focus on work. So much so that I have become ineffective at the work itself. I have recently become work consumed and it has caught up to me.
This week I found myself in a CT scan trying to find out what the crushing pain in my lower abdomen was. As I lay there hoping, wondering, praying and, true to form, worrying, I realized that maybe I have lost touch with what is really important. Life itself is what really matters.
It could be colon cancer, or simply constipation. It could be obstructed bowel or a kidney tumor. All of the "what ifs" entered my mind. Then I asked myself if I had done it right. Had I been living right? When I worry is it about the right thing? When I strive is it for the right thing?
I suppose that my answers are not yet clear to me. I will say this though. I am going to worry a little less. I cant, in fact, WE cant live our lives knocking ourselves out and fretting and worrying over every little aspect of our work lives. While it is important, it is not everything.
I commit to realize the things that I can influence and work on those things only. I will let the other stuff go. I will take time to relax and not feel quilty about it.
Please do the same. Things can change so quickly my friends. Quickly indeed.
Yes, I am guilty. I have let it get to me...babe. And how.
I have written blogs in the past to try to motivate others to do the best that they can. I suppose that the setting for my writing has most often been intended to be the workplace. Yeah, that is truly it. I like to focus on work. So much so that I have become ineffective at the work itself. I have recently become work consumed and it has caught up to me.
This week I found myself in a CT scan trying to find out what the crushing pain in my lower abdomen was. As I lay there hoping, wondering, praying and, true to form, worrying, I realized that maybe I have lost touch with what is really important. Life itself is what really matters.
It could be colon cancer, or simply constipation. It could be obstructed bowel or a kidney tumor. All of the "what ifs" entered my mind. Then I asked myself if I had done it right. Had I been living right? When I worry is it about the right thing? When I strive is it for the right thing?
I suppose that my answers are not yet clear to me. I will say this though. I am going to worry a little less. I cant, in fact, WE cant live our lives knocking ourselves out and fretting and worrying over every little aspect of our work lives. While it is important, it is not everything.
I commit to realize the things that I can influence and work on those things only. I will let the other stuff go. I will take time to relax and not feel quilty about it.
Please do the same. Things can change so quickly my friends. Quickly indeed.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
You Dont Have to Be Perfect.
For the past 5 years, I have been part of the coaching staff for Stony Point High School Boy's Lacrosse. I have some players that are well over 200lbs so it is kind of hard to call them "boys" but that is for another day.
During my coaching tenure, I have heard and often repeated the phrase, "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect". After many days of practice and many days of pursuit of perfect, I have realized that neither perfect practice or perfect truly exist. They are both truly a pursuit. Perfection is a golden cup ,that for all of us will lay eternally in the future.
That is not to down play the importance of the pursuit however. In fact, it is the pursuit that separates the high performers from the status quo, rank and file. For most high performers, the goal of perfection is never attained. Even though some spectators might observe a beautiful play and call it perfection, the players will always think that something could have been better. So they go on pursuing it.
This is not a sign of obsession or some dangerous work-a-holic attitude. It is a sign of greatness. The great ones will always go on pursuing better methods and better performances. They understand that with out the pursuit, there is nothing. Only the memory of past performances and victories. The great ones always look to tomorrow for the opportunity to do better than they did today.
So don't go out and kill yourself because you did not have a perfect day. Study your technique, keep what worked and redesign what did not. Keep pursuing the goal of perfection. It is the journey that matters.
During my coaching tenure, I have heard and often repeated the phrase, "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect". After many days of practice and many days of pursuit of perfect, I have realized that neither perfect practice or perfect truly exist. They are both truly a pursuit. Perfection is a golden cup ,that for all of us will lay eternally in the future.
That is not to down play the importance of the pursuit however. In fact, it is the pursuit that separates the high performers from the status quo, rank and file. For most high performers, the goal of perfection is never attained. Even though some spectators might observe a beautiful play and call it perfection, the players will always think that something could have been better. So they go on pursuing it.
This is not a sign of obsession or some dangerous work-a-holic attitude. It is a sign of greatness. The great ones will always go on pursuing better methods and better performances. They understand that with out the pursuit, there is nothing. Only the memory of past performances and victories. The great ones always look to tomorrow for the opportunity to do better than they did today.
So don't go out and kill yourself because you did not have a perfect day. Study your technique, keep what worked and redesign what did not. Keep pursuing the goal of perfection. It is the journey that matters.
Monday, October 19, 2009
You Are You for a Good Reason.
For the last 12 years, I have had the pleasure of working for a great medical device company. My career has been challenging and rewarding. In the process of learning how to "sell", I have learned a few things about "me". While the lessons have been many, one of the most important things I have learned about myself is that I am not all that bad of a guy. In fact, I have learned to really like myself.
Now that may sound like such an obvious revelation. Wait on that thought for just a little bit. Really ask yourself if you have taken the time to really get to know yourself and like yourself. Its not always an easy thing to do. It is also difficult to recognize the some of the patterns that may indicate that you don't really know yourself at all.
With the benefit of hindsight, I eventually realized that I made a mistake very early in my career. It was the mistake of taking it for granted that I needed to change. This "changing" came in the form of believing that I needed to perfectly mimic the successful sales persons that I was being trained by.
At that time I thought I was learning to be a sales rep. What I was really learning was how to act like a sales rep. I spent so much time playing the part, I lost my own identity in the process. Also, I missed out on the true thought processes behind good selling.
Later on in my career and more and more everyday, I realize that what my customers really want is a genuine article. I remember some of my customers commenting on how formal I was when communicating with them. I have always been respectful, but for me to be described as formal was really a surprise. Outside of work, I love to be down to earth and approachable. How was it that I changed at work? Because the sales rep that I trained under was a formal type guy.
That was the model I learned. That was the role I had learned to play.
When you leave home for work, you cant leave yourself at the doorstep. That's what I am wanting to get across to my readers today. Be yourself with your customers. They will see you as a real person, just like they are. You will gain more credibility because you are genuine. Also, you wont have to remember the scripts. You just go about your day as yourself.
You are a great person with a unique personality and a variety of experiences to share and stories to tell. Take that to your customers this week. Be yourself. Its a great thing.
Now that may sound like such an obvious revelation. Wait on that thought for just a little bit. Really ask yourself if you have taken the time to really get to know yourself and like yourself. Its not always an easy thing to do. It is also difficult to recognize the some of the patterns that may indicate that you don't really know yourself at all.
With the benefit of hindsight, I eventually realized that I made a mistake very early in my career. It was the mistake of taking it for granted that I needed to change. This "changing" came in the form of believing that I needed to perfectly mimic the successful sales persons that I was being trained by.
At that time I thought I was learning to be a sales rep. What I was really learning was how to act like a sales rep. I spent so much time playing the part, I lost my own identity in the process. Also, I missed out on the true thought processes behind good selling.
Later on in my career and more and more everyday, I realize that what my customers really want is a genuine article. I remember some of my customers commenting on how formal I was when communicating with them. I have always been respectful, but for me to be described as formal was really a surprise. Outside of work, I love to be down to earth and approachable. How was it that I changed at work? Because the sales rep that I trained under was a formal type guy.
That was the model I learned. That was the role I had learned to play.
When you leave home for work, you cant leave yourself at the doorstep. That's what I am wanting to get across to my readers today. Be yourself with your customers. They will see you as a real person, just like they are. You will gain more credibility because you are genuine. Also, you wont have to remember the scripts. You just go about your day as yourself.
You are a great person with a unique personality and a variety of experiences to share and stories to tell. Take that to your customers this week. Be yourself. Its a great thing.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Connecting with a Motivator
What a great weekend I had! I hope you all did too. What made my weekend so great? Almost too much to mention. However, the greatest thing about my weekend was a visit from one of my nephews.
He arrived Friday evening and I have to say, he arrived to probably one of the most deflated couples he had seen in a long time. I was worn pretty thin from my week at work and my wife was beaten down from her week at school. In addition, we had a sick kid in the house that was needing a little attention as well.
After the usual greetings, we decided to go grab a bite of late dinner and try to get caught up with all that was going on in our nephews life. We ducked into a local pub and tiredly slid into a booth. After yawning a few times and making lame attempts at conversation, my wife and I sat staring blindly at the menu. My nephew grabbed all the menus and said that he needed our attention. In his usual "take command" way, he pointed out that since he walked through our front door, we had complained about our work week, pointed out that our son had a bad cold, complained about the poor choice of restaurants, and asked him several questions about his life that included such fun topics as his divorce, his ex-wife, and his challenges at work. He then asked if he could expect the whole weekend to be such an uplifting experience.
My wife hesitated for a few seconds and then just busted out into laughter. My nephew was so right. We were wasting a great Friday night by complaining and lamenting our lives. Once he saw that he had support, my nephew continued to push and prod us into having a great time. We finally found our feet and ended up laughing and dancing until 2am. What a great time.
As I reflected on the weekend last night, it dawned on me what a great lesson we learned Friday night with my nephew. He was a great motivator for us. He reminded us to live in the moment and to only work the problems until you have done your best. At that point, let it go. I woke up this morning with a new found interest in making the most of the day. Not wanting to worry or lament. Just wanting to to have a good time doing what I do.
If you know of a motivator in your life, take the time to connect. It will do all the good in the world!
He arrived Friday evening and I have to say, he arrived to probably one of the most deflated couples he had seen in a long time. I was worn pretty thin from my week at work and my wife was beaten down from her week at school. In addition, we had a sick kid in the house that was needing a little attention as well.
After the usual greetings, we decided to go grab a bite of late dinner and try to get caught up with all that was going on in our nephews life. We ducked into a local pub and tiredly slid into a booth. After yawning a few times and making lame attempts at conversation, my wife and I sat staring blindly at the menu. My nephew grabbed all the menus and said that he needed our attention. In his usual "take command" way, he pointed out that since he walked through our front door, we had complained about our work week, pointed out that our son had a bad cold, complained about the poor choice of restaurants, and asked him several questions about his life that included such fun topics as his divorce, his ex-wife, and his challenges at work. He then asked if he could expect the whole weekend to be such an uplifting experience.
My wife hesitated for a few seconds and then just busted out into laughter. My nephew was so right. We were wasting a great Friday night by complaining and lamenting our lives. Once he saw that he had support, my nephew continued to push and prod us into having a great time. We finally found our feet and ended up laughing and dancing until 2am. What a great time.
As I reflected on the weekend last night, it dawned on me what a great lesson we learned Friday night with my nephew. He was a great motivator for us. He reminded us to live in the moment and to only work the problems until you have done your best. At that point, let it go. I woke up this morning with a new found interest in making the most of the day. Not wanting to worry or lament. Just wanting to to have a good time doing what I do.
If you know of a motivator in your life, take the time to connect. It will do all the good in the world!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Remembering Not to Settle
You are out there every day of the week giving it your best. You are dedicated and motivated and you continue to strive for the everything you dream of. You make progress daily and continually gain ground. Then you get smacked in the face with a set back.
Challenges take many forms but no matter which form they take, they often have a similar toll on your spirit. They sap a little bit of energy. If you are a little worn out, they can sap massive amounts of energy. They can leave you drained and asking yourself if you have what it takes.
You are a seasoned professional though. You have proven that you are tough. So, you quietly tell yourself that you will not quit, but is that enough? Are you really telling yourself that you will keep trying, but not trying as hard?
Times like these is when you cant tell yourself that good is good enough. If your set back is a big one and far reaching, it will be easy to look at all you have accomplished in the past and call it good enough. "Hey, I'm not in President's Club, but I had a good year". To some, that may sound like a great, positive attitude. Only if it is at the end of a year where you gave it all you had and came up a little short. If you find yourself thinking that kind of thought after a set back, you need to check yourself.
As I have said before, "be happy with everything you have, but don't be happy with all the things you don't have." After a tough work situation hits you, it is more important than ever to re-focus on your goals. Do not settle for "good" when your real dream is greatness.
Challenges take many forms but no matter which form they take, they often have a similar toll on your spirit. They sap a little bit of energy. If you are a little worn out, they can sap massive amounts of energy. They can leave you drained and asking yourself if you have what it takes.
You are a seasoned professional though. You have proven that you are tough. So, you quietly tell yourself that you will not quit, but is that enough? Are you really telling yourself that you will keep trying, but not trying as hard?
Times like these is when you cant tell yourself that good is good enough. If your set back is a big one and far reaching, it will be easy to look at all you have accomplished in the past and call it good enough. "Hey, I'm not in President's Club, but I had a good year". To some, that may sound like a great, positive attitude. Only if it is at the end of a year where you gave it all you had and came up a little short. If you find yourself thinking that kind of thought after a set back, you need to check yourself.
As I have said before, "be happy with everything you have, but don't be happy with all the things you don't have." After a tough work situation hits you, it is more important than ever to re-focus on your goals. Do not settle for "good" when your real dream is greatness.
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