Religion

Part of my life’s lessons is trying to understand religion.
Too many times I see people talk the talk about being religious but fail to walk the walk.
I am not singling out any particular religion I see across the board.
I do believe that a person walked the earth thousands of years ago and was from a poor background but delivered an uplifting message of forgiveness and love and his words were so powerful they have been passed on even back in a time when there was no mass communication.
Unfortunately some people hide behind their religion and forget the true message, they gossip and hate and some hurt and kill all in the name of religion.
I try to learn every day and try to forgive and I try to not hold hate or envy in my heart.
The message is timeless - All we need is Love -

The State of Hate

Why do people hate ?
Who gives anyone the right to dictate another person’s life ?
We must agree to disagree- it is ok for you to believe in whatever you want or not to believe-
It is up to you how you want to live your life and who you want to live your life with as long as I can have the same right and privilege- what you do behind closed doors is none of my business.
So why do people hate ? Why do some people feel the right to tell others what to do or who to do it with ?
The only thing I can think of is insecurity and being scared ... why else do they care ?
Live and let live.
This holiday season try to release any hate or negative and instead try to smile and shake a hand and help to try to improve your own life and your own ideals.

Expectations

Setting expectations is important in business.
What do you think you can deliver ?
It is better to under promise and over deliver then to to promise something that you are not sure you can fully deliver.
Setting expectations in your personal life is just as important- do not over reach financially.
When you live beyond your means you start to owe your time to the master and you begin having to do things you may not want to do but have to do in order to make that paycheck.
Set your expectations for yourself as well as your employees and keep moving the goal post so that you are always trying to improve and learn and to be your very best.
Be honest.
Be honest with yourself, you do not know everything and never will , there is nothing wrong with saying - I don’t know- once you admit that you do not know everything you will have more respect for everyone around you and you listen to those around you you will have an opportunity to learn.
Set honest expectations

Accountability

To build a TEAM in sports or in business each individual must have ACCOUNTABILITY.
The Patriots have been successful because each and every player is accountable.
Of course everyone points to Brady but without an offensive line , running backs and receivers all doing their job he could not succeed and listening to and respecting the coaches and the overall plan is vital for the whole team.
Being part of being a good team member is always being prepared, the next man up mentality.
A good team is always mentoring and training and wanting their teammates to do good, their is no jealousy or pettiness, at least not on the successful teams.
The same holds true in business, you can not grow and succeed when people are not all working together and that is the job of a good leader, you need to oversee the process and the people and make people accountable and to do that YOU also need to be accountable.
Stay in the day to day, listen and observe and advise when necessary, your crew or staff or department needs to know that you care and appreciate them and most of all that you want them to achieve their personal goals as well as the teams.
Be accountable!

Happy and Merry

Here we go - it is the holiday season so we greet everyone with happy and merry.
What would be even nicer is if we actually mean it.
We smile and say these very nice salutations and then turn around and gossip and talk negative.
How about you try to make yourself this one resolution- be nice.
Try to be more conscious on what you say - eliminate gossip - nothing good comes of it.
If you do not agree with someone or their philosophy on life or politics or work then make it your goal to try to knock down the walls, do not match hate with hate or negativity with negativity-
“ like water off a duck’s back “ - let it roll off-
Rather then just say Happy and Merry - try to be happier and merrier - take the high road and lighten your load -
Let it Be

Happy Holidays

Isolation

People say we got it made
Don't they know we're so afraid
Isolation
We're afraid to be alone
Everybody got to have a home
Isolation

Just a boy and a little girl
Trying to change the whole wide world
Isolation
The world is just a little town
Everybody trying to put us down
Isolation

I don't expect you, to understand
After you caused so much pain
But then again, you're not to blame
You're just a human, a victim of the insane

We're afraid of everyone
Afraid of the sun
Isolation
The sun will never disappear
But the world may not have many years
Isolation

John Lennon 

Finish line

Here’s the thing ... you never really reach the finish line in your true goals.
Eating right and eating clean... you want to lose weight and feel healthy? You need to make a change in your life that you can live with- no fad diets or thinking when you hit a certain weight you can go back to your unhealthy habits- you have to make a life change.
Exercising- want to exercise more? If you are over 50 you are losing muscle mass every day- want to add a weight and cardio program to your daily and weekly life ? You should.
Realize that it really never gets easy - you will feel better after you workout but getting there or doing it never gets easy.
You never reach the finish line in either but you will feel and look better for it.
Baby steps - if you want to start being healthy- do it.
Set short goals and stay the course - create good habits.

Thank a Vet

Please thank a veteran today

Military veterans hear it all the time: “Thank you for your service.”

Usually, they say, “You’re welcome,” or “Thank you for your support.”

They are in the 1 percent who took an oath to protect the nation, accepted the risks that might be assigned to them, and managed to come out alive on the other side.

Pressed, they would tell you that they signed up voluntarily, knowing the risk-reward calculus, and were only doing the jobs they were given. Most seem to be uncomfortable to be regarded as heroes.

But to the vast majority of Americans, and count us among them, that is what they are. We see some of the very best young people America has go off to fight.

Veterans were treated differently when they returned from the Vietnam War — not only by angry war protesters, but by their own government.

Unlike veterans today, those who served in Vietnam — many of them drafted, and forced to go — were sent home singly, without ceremony. They were dumped back into a society where large numbers failed to appreciate their experience, and felt inclined to blame the warrior, not just the war policy.

Their own government wasn’t prepared for their baffling needs, from exposure to toxic chemicals to the mystifying, unseen hazards of post traumatic stress disorder.

It is amazing and humbling, thus, to see the way Vietnam veterans have turned out for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are there, in the funeral processions, at the parades, in the public square, holding out their hands and saying, “Welcome home.”

When you ask one why, he might say: We don’t want them to be treated the way we were.

So it’s a better thing that today’s veterans are welcomed, thanked and appreciated. But we cannot forget that they are very much like the rest of us, full of hopes, fears, anxieties and uncertainties — humans like the rest of us, confronted with choices and just trying to do the right thing.

Too many who serve give their lives in the process. Last week’s scenes from North Ogden, Utah, where the mayor was mourned after he was killed in an insider attack in Afghanistan, remind us of the ultimate cost of military service.

The mayor, Brent Taylor, was a major in the Utah National Guard. He was on his fourth war-zone deployment. Before he left, he told his constituents he would be in Afghanistan for about a year, because “service is really what leadership is all about.”

I just don’t know of a finer man,” one North Ogden resident told reporters.

Mr. Taylor is survived by a wife, Jennie, and seven children. His death at the hands of an Afghan man he was helping to train leaves an enormous hole in his family, his community and a grateful nation.

At a service on Wednesday night, his widow spoke of her husband’s love of his country and his desire to serve in the military.

”God bless America,” she said. “I know not what else to say — God bless America.”

“Thank you for your service” may not be the perfect words, but sometimes, they are all we have.

Be consistent and be honest

If you want to succeed in life - be consistent and be honest.
Always treat everyone the same and with respect and tell the truth.
People will always forgive you if you make a mistake or if you change your mind on a topic or program but they will never forget if you straight up lie.
No matter what it is - be honest- tell them why you made the decision you did and speak from the heart and you can not go wrong.
And here’s the thing, if you are disrespectful or dishonest with someone you can guarantee they will tell others and it will make it that much harder to gain their trust.
It is not that difficult- really-
Be consistent and be honest - ALLWAYS AND WITH EVERYONE!

Speak out

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.


First they came ..." is a poem written by the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984). It is about the cowardice of German intellectuals following the Nazis' rise to power and subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group. Many variations and adaptations in the spirit of the original have been published in the English language. 
It deals with themes of persecution, guilt and responsibility.

Walls and Doors

Ever since the world's existed
There's one thing that is certain
There are those who build walls
And those who open doors
Ah but this my love I'm thinking you already knew

For some it's always winter
While others have the spring
Some people find good fortune
While others never find a thing
Ah but this my love is something you already knew

That's how it's always been
And I know you know it
There can be freedom only when nobody owns it
I'm going to say that again
Because I know you know it
There can be freedom only when nobody owns it

Of what use is the moon if you don't have the night?
Of what use is a windmill with no Quixote left who'll fight?
Ah but this my love is something you already knew
At some point on the horizon
Sky can be confused with earth
Some people dream of God
While others dream of wealth
But of course my love this is what you see out on the street

It's how it's always been
And I know you know it
There can be freedom only when nobody owns it
Let me say that again
Because I know that we both know it
There can be freedom only when nobody owns it
When nobody owns it
When nobody owns it

Ever since the world's existed
There's one thing that is certain
Some people build walls

Talk is cheap

Talk is cheap
I have sat in way too many meetings with “ the higher ups” and all they do is talk- the greater their title the more they like to hear themselves talk.
My mentor and best business man I ever knew was a Paul Arpin and his meetings were short and sweet and to the point and when you left the room there was a direction and you had best follow up because he sure was going to.
Also when I worked for him he would tell me to avoid other meetings if possible because all they do is waste your time , time that you should be using for something productive.
The problem in most businesses now are the leaders did not work their way up like a Paul did so they simply don’t get it and definitely do not respect the workers that they are supposed to be leading.
Paul respected everyone and expected you to - do your job. He respected honesty and read right through the bull shit.
Talk is cheap- talk less and listen more - watch and learn.
As much as Paul knew he would say he was always learning.