Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Why do little girls..

Why did the little girls grow crooked
While the little boys grow tall
The boys were taught to tumble
The girls told not to fall
The girls answered the telephone
The boys answered the call
why little girls grew crooked
While the little boys grew tall

Why did the little girls grow crippled
While the little boys grow strong
The boys allowed to come of age
The girls just came along
The girls were told sing harmonies
The boys could all sing songs
That's why little girls grew crippled
While little boys grew strong

Why did the little girls come broken
While the little boys came whole
The little boys were set aflame
The girls told to fan the coals
The boys all told to be themselves
While the girls were told play the roles
That's why little girls came broken
While little boys came whole

Why were the little girls all frightened
To be just what they are
The boys were told to ask themselves
How high how far
The girls were told to reach the shelves
While the boys were reaching stars
That's why little girls were frightened
To be just what they are

And still they bled for us all
As the moon rode the sky
They carried our seed
When our need ran high
They fed all our children
In the night as they cried
Womankind wept
As mankind died

Why were the little girls left hurtin'
When all the boys were done
And the girls left in the moonlight
When the boys went to meet the sun
And when the girls were open
Why had the little all won?
That's why little girls were hurtin'
When the little boys were done
Why did the little girls grow crooked
While the little boys grew tall
It's maybe because the little boys
Didn't ever have to grow up at all

Lyrics by Harry Chapin

Trust

If it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck and looks like a duck..
It is probably a duck.
Who do you trust?
Trust is pivotal to success, and who you trust is very important. Remember their are those that mostly have their best interest at heart and will “say” whatever they need to to prop themselves up.
If those around you are constantly pointing the blame to others are always making excuses , you need to look beyond their words. Be careful who you trust and trust few.
Actions always speak louder than words.
Those that refuse to take responsibility are not people that you can follow , they either are not true leaders or are above their heads , either way they are the type people that will say whatever to whoever to stay in power- be very careful.
If your radar or gut are telling you something- Listen. Trust yourself, trust your gut. Remember if it quacks like a duck..it probably is.
Access your situation and hitch your wagon to those that truly care about YOU and that you can trust!

Monday, October 16, 2017

Insecurities

One of the main ingredients into why people do what they do is insecurities.
We get defensive or angry or protective.
Many of our insecurities may come from our upbringing, some of them may be because we simplify do not fully believe in ourselves.
Maybe we are worried about bills and money or being stabbed in the back at work.
All can truly block our true potential, when we use our energy in the world of being insecure we hold we waste a lot of time. In order to do our best we will mess up, make mistakes and maybe not always conduct ourselves in the best of ways..it happens.
When we worry more about making mistakes or what others may think or say we never reach our true potential..let it go...let them go.
This sounds easy but our insecurities may run deep but try to recognize them and understand we all of them so don’t beat yourself up or think less of yourself.
You are no better then anyone else and NO one is better then you.
Just do your best.
We all only have so much time and so much oxygen in a day.. use it positively.
Life...live it.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

TEAM

Ever been part of a winning TEAM ?
Maybe a sports team or a team that you may have worked with ?
It is a great feeling !
When you stop making it all about YOU and you have people around you that take on the same attitude then you can do some really great things.
You will not only accomplish more you will feel good doing it.
Working WITH others is so much better then trying to go it alone, for one someone will be there when you fall to help recover and two you will learn so much more.
Be a part of something bigger then you, - say “ we” rather than “I” and LIVE it.
Be respectful of your team and listen to their opinions, Never point the finger and never publicly dress down a TEAM member- be supportive.
Create and be a part of a true TEAM, I guarantee you that you will grown and smile and succeed.


Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Standing in the Breach

Lyrics by Jackson Browne..


And though the earth may tremble and our foundations crack
We will all assemble and we will build them back
And rush to save the lives remaining still within our reach
And try to put our world together standing in the breach

So many live in poverty while others live as kings
Though some may find peace
In the acceptance of all that living brings
I will never understand however they've prepared
How one life may be struck down and another life be spared

And though the earth may tremble and cast our works aside
And though our efforts resemble the fluctuating tide
We rise and fall with the trust and belief
That love redeems us each
And bend our backs and hearts together standing in the breach

You don't know why it's such a far cry
From the world this world could be
You don't know why but you still try
For the world you wish to see
You don't know how it will happen now
After all that's come undone
But you know the change the world needs now
Is there, in everyone

The unpaid debts of history
The open wounds of time
The laws of human nature always tugging from behind
I want to think that the earth can heal
And that people might still learn
How to meet this world's true challenges
And that the course we're on could turn

And though the earth may tremble and the oceans pitch and rise
We will all assemble and we will lift our eyes
To the tasks that we know lie before us
And the power our prayers beseech
And cast our souls into the heavens, standing in the breach

You don't know why it's such a far cry
From the world this world could be
You don't know why but you still try
For the world you wish to see
You don't know how it's going to happen now
After all that's come undone
And you know the world you're waiting for may not come
No it may not come
But you know the change the world needs now
Is there, in everyone

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Karma

Do you believe in karma ?
I sure do !
I absolutely believe that you get what you give in life.
You can fool some of the people some of time but sooner or later it will catch up to you.
It is pretty simple, treat people with respect and how you want to be treated and you will see it returned.
It is human nature to get angry or to want revenge but it is all negative energy- don't bother.
You do not need to get revenge because it will happen on its own- karma baby.
You only have so much time here on Earth , you only have so much oxygen in a day.. do not waste a day.. do not use your energy trying to avenge or hate.
Be positive.. that too will come back to you.
KARMA

Monday, October 2, 2017

Money and Power

What dictates decisions in your work organizations?
Money and Power are on the top of the list.
Profitability is on the list but individual money and Power is the main struggles in a work organization. Generations ago there were more mom and pop buisneses so the " power" chart was really non existent but today everything is chain stores and huge conglomerates and the top of the organization chart fight for more more power and more money. Because most of the people with the titles making the " big money " are mostly worried about their own paycheck they start to eat their own, another words the top brass start the little clicks amongst themselves to survive, as in one of John Lennon's lines in his song - A Working Class. here- " first you need to learn to smile as you kill".
When I started at Arpin in 1985 I had left Honeywell, Honeywell treated me very good but they were huge, their main office was in Minneapolis and I worked in East Providence RI and was number 46892 ( I ado not remember my exact employee #) and as a young man just starting a family I wanted to work for a company that knew ME and not just be " a number " because at the end of the day if decisions were going to be made on who to keep or promote I wanted the owner to know ME and my work ethic.
It was the correct decision, Paul Arpin and David Arpin got to know me and respected my work and I stayed there for 35 years and helped it grow from a 7 million dollar buisness to over a 200 million dollar buisness. Through the years of growth I watched as it grow and it went from no HR, no titiles other than Paul, David and Peter , no committees, to dozens of titles and structures and committees and in that change is inevitable. It was good because I was able to witness first hand how buisness can change and sometimes bigger is not always better.
As more titles came to be the more people rose to power that may not have had Paul and David's goals or philosophies and so started the fight not for the main goal but for individual power and money.
It did not happen overnight but I witnessed first hand and observed how when people are put in power positions that only start to worry about their own buisness life and lose sight of the people that actually do the work , the hard work every day.
Because we all now live in the world of huge conglomerates and businesses this is a way of life for many, our hope is that the people at the top of organization chart earn their spot and appreciate not what only got them there but who really does the heavy lifting every day.

This goes for your government too.



(It is important to note that this blog piece is not directed toward anyone or any particular buisness, in all of my jobs and places I worked I met and worked with many many very fine individuals and learned from them along the way. I am only writing my observations along the way.)