365!

It's here isn't it? The time of year when reality hits us that another 365 days have come and gone...just like that. All the promises and resolutions we stated that we'd begin or either end. Now we're looking at the end of another episode of 365 concluding and many of us are no further along than we were at the beginning of this year.

For some of us we can even say that nothing has changed in the 365 days of hauling butt to succeed in our endeavors and for all our hard work what do we have to show for it?

We have the knowledge that we succeeded in trying. Yes! We worked hard in our attempts to make the grade, to make the connections, to market ourselves as the professionals/experts of industry, to believe even in the face of dismal outlooks, disturbing situations and even daunting challenges. We tried at something rather than sitting and complaining about nothing!

We all had to learn some pretty hard lessons this year. We had to learn that everyone that says, "They're for us," really aren't. We had to learn that family members who love us (hopefully) but do not understand us or our quests and really couldn't be supportive is still on our Christmas lists (wink), and finally, that the tears we shed and the lone pep talks we gave ourselves actually worked...look, we made it to the end. And even though some of us have plans for 2011 that are quite different than our plans we had for 2010 due to the restructuring and reinventing that we have drafted over the past weeks - it is not because we are failures, we are winners!

We win because we're willing to try other means, other ideas, be creative will maintaining a sense of cautiousness moving still with optimism and faith that as we're blessed to be offered another 365, we will be further along and closer to our destinies as this conveyor belt of life moves us through yet another year.

Finally, in encouraging you to seek after those things that are pure and honest those things that will assist you in meeting your destinies wholeheartedly and unafraid. To live the lives you were meant to live by embracing humanity and doing your part uplifting humanity from the rungs of despair ensuring that my children and yours have a world to go into.

I wish to empower you to seek opportunities outside of the norm knowing inwardly that when you're in 'purpose' provision has already been made for you. Seek out the unknown (it may be in another country or another town), knock on doors that have been primarily closed to you for whatever reason(s). Ask, believe and move forward....and I shall see you at the end of another 365!!!

Merry Christmas dear friends! Endure a truly powerful New Year!

Simply Put, Love Loving

I was just about to click off all the browser windows open and head to bed when I decided to post this blog before completing retiring. It's well after 12AM and I can hear the rain coming down in Phoenix where we seldom smell rain let alone actually see it come down...but hey, we get a splash of Fall.

This is probably the second posting that is really interpersonal. Derived from the strained relationships oftentimes experienced within families. Yes, I said family. Sometimes we want to divorce the family we were actually born in to and most of us sometimes wish we could just scrap everything and start over - only to find out what we got is all we get!

Please know that this post isn't to send anyone off the deep end or to put you in chronic depression but it simply speaks naked truth that most times family relationships suck. And there is only one profound element that when lacking this dysfunctional unit is most pervasive is when it lacks love.

Usually the one that is dogged the most is the one the usually loves the most. They endure all the pain and bitterness from the 'blind' family member(s) that are usually the culprits of estrangement. A member may be bitter because his/her life ambitions never manifested for whatever personal reason, then too, there's that evil and hateful enemy called jealousy. You know jealousy. The deceitful, cold, dog-hearted enemy that caused one brother to kill another (Cain & Abel) simply because one chose to obey while another decided to disobey. Both provided the same opportunity and both had equal opportunity to decide rather to follow instructions. One did, another did not and because of Cain's hard headed neglect he gets mad and kills his brother, buries him and for what? For disregarding his chance to obey command he turns murderous.

Isn't that how it is still? One family member disregards instruction and chooses to live life the way they choose and hates the sibling that chooses to obey instruction (not saying that person does not make mistakes - that's not the discussion here), live his/her life no matter what the fate - someone is jealous. Someone has to become a stumbling block to the other, someone has to try to kill the dreams of the other, someone has to make an attempt to destroy the influence of the other, someone has to attempt getting more attention than the other until no one is happy and no one can lice peaceably together.

How sad it is when family can dwell together under one roof, even in the worst recession ever, when resources should be pulled together to make the load easier for all, the family has to separate due to the lack of love. Wherever love is lacking, violence is permeating.

What's even more disappointing is the fact that just because siblings grow older it doesn't get better, it actually worsens. That's how violence erupts and death occurs - because it didn't get better, the relationships worsened to the point that they didn't even regard each other as brother or sister or vice versa. One didn't regard the other as family and launched a deadly attack that left either the one or both dead. These are the things that are most disturbing and even disheartening. If family is really the nucleus of the community and we have this fate to contend with is it not apparent that the escalation of violence we witness on the evening news daily is just the repercussions of volatile family life? What else can it be? What else can we say then?

My dying mother said as best she could with slurred speech and a fading heart, "Don't recompense evil for evil. But overcome evil with good."

Wisdom spoke from her heart and warned those standing beside her as she lay dying, that in this life you will be confronted with many choices to strike back at those who offend you intentionally...to rise up and meet with force those who despitefully entreat you, causing unnecessary pain, tears, and frustration. The answer to meet this ill-treatment is not to abort one's own life by doing something criminal - but in fact, live your life much more abundantly by disallowing the hatred to throw you off course. But in fact, you live the more abundantly, happily, prosperously by doing good in the face of scorn and ridicule.

Enjoy the neighbors, enjoy friends and those times spent in the solace and security of true friendship, enjoy the days when the purple clouds cover the sun and the rain falls from the sky like sheets of water sloughing against the buildings, enjoy the water as it runs down the streets as mini urban rivers. Enjoy the quiet of the night. Love loving. Fall in love with simply loving.

This! is how you overcome the evil that is done to you. As that embittered hateful person has to contend with him or herself, alone, brooding, pathetic and pitiful, you can rejoice in the light of day, and the dark of night through the courage and enlightenment given that your days are filled with the hope of life and not the drudge of self-hatred.

Moral of the story: Simply love loving.

Goodnight.

Change...Still A Scary Thing

Today I opened my Gmail Inbox and happily found that someone reputable (other than 'Hot Body67') was actually following me on Twitter and I absolutely cannot tell you how they got my name to even begin following me but they did. Wow! This was going to be the start of a great day, I could just feel it.

Well, needless to say as most of us have already figured out that once someone follows you, more than likely you'll end up following them too. It ended up being a subscription service for social media management. Well hey, thinking to myself, I'm a business consultant so this may not be too bad. Well what happened next nearly stroked me. I was sent an article from my new followers regarding an article from Payscale.com, written by Carol Tice regarding pay salaries offered by companies employing Social Networking Site Managers, Marketing Specialist, etc. I could have died right there when I saw that wopping $120K annually for these hired guns to develop and maintain their employers social networking sites via: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogger, and other sites accordingly.

I had just a few minutes to sit, stare and attempt to absorb this mind-blowing news before running out to an afternoon consult w/a new prospect.While driving to this prospect's home, I couldn't help but ponder this question: "If corporations are willing to pay this kind of money to have someone build and maintain their social networking sites, just how much money are they making?"  I recall reading a headline the other day that in 2009, Google helped to generate $54B for businesses and nonprofits. "The report from Google looked at the economic activity generated by the company's search engine, the ads that run next to search results, the amount the company pays to Web sites that run ads, and grants made by its nonprofit arm, Google.org" (Google.com). Wow...that dear reader is quite a bit of money!

As I arrived at my meeting I sat there listening to this prospect explain their depth of PC knowledge and was looking for finding opportunities to develop the product, which of course, heavily involved SEO (search engine optimization), platform development, advertisers, that whole myriad of developing something so extensive that this would be no easy project but doable.

I began to ask the 'normal' questions regarding what tools or methods where in place to draw attention to this product, self-promotion, you know, the history and background of the expert. Then I asked the fatal question: Are you blogging? I think I passed out because when I rejoined the conversation my partner was handing me water. And then more water. Then I needed ice.

I literally could not believe that one so knowledgeable and gifted, one with so much to share with others, including the global community and yet, here this person, needing funding and promotion, visibility and investors was not using the very tools....sigh.

What are we truly afraid of we it comes to technology? That its moving so fast? What...that it has changed the way we live, work and play forever? Are we afraid that one day we're going to wake up and poof! It's all gone away as if all this was nothing more than a bad dream? What really keeps us (society) from engaging in and embracing technology? The answer is simply, change.

It's that underlying fear that we have that the world as we knew it and for the most part, didn't know us, will all but disappear, and nothing will have any relevance. If everything is going digital then what's significant? How significant is it to try to keep up with the changing times? Or change with the times? How does one make sense of the world around him or her? How have the rules of engagement changed in the workplace? In the community? At the grocers? God forbid one should go to the bank and ask a question...please! Even health-care clinics and doctors offices look like scenes from Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica with all the digital note-taking and scanning devices we are subjected to nowadays.

Yes, the world has changed. In many ways. But the one thing that is constant is that we are still human beings with human needs that won't be going away. As with moving to another city, state, country, or even making a major appliance purchase, or auto purchase...you have to get used to it. And you do it in the simplest terms...one day at a time. Engage with the tools that are most interesting, then fun. Watch demonstrations, watch young people interact with technology, and above all, don't be afraid to touch it. The best way I find to learn new programs, widgets, applications, or online services is to first make a mess of everything and then go back and correct the problems. Who has that kind of time? You do if you want to connect and embrace technology. If you want to develop and expand your business, your web presence, and possibly even attract some of that $54B economic activity being generated by those who have taken the plunge, one must find him or herself engaging in more activities other than emailing.

Make the transition as easily as possible. Start with a Google site and develop it. And pictures, music, an Amazon product carousel, a blog, monetize it, and last but not least, show it off!

Change is essential but it is also inevitable. I do not deny that at times it is not scary, but that should not make any one become paralyzed; stagnant. Keep exploring and move on into the mainstream of change. Journal your experiences and share them with others who may be experiencing the same fears. Who knows, that journal may end up being an 'ebook!' Happy Transformations!

And I Thought I was Embarassed Before

When Arizona State University denied bestowing an Honorary Doctorate Degree to our President Barak Obama, stating that he has not published a significant amount of work...I thought I would die. Especially since Arizona State has never had a U.S. President deliver the commencement address at their 'little college' before well quite naturally I was appalled and simply put...embarrassed.

Now that has been trumped by this past week's  legislation at the State House. The Concealed Weapons Law that was passed that now allows individuals to carry concealed weapons without a license signifies a "blood bath waiting to happen." Is that Wyatt Erp?

The streets of Arizona will be more like the westerns we watched as children on television when John Wayne reigned as a the prime-time king. Now police officers can shoot randomly at any of claiming we looked as if we were armed and they had probable cause to shoot up our cars, homes, and us.

Then the bigots came up with the "Birther Bill" stating our newly elected President cannot campaign here in 2012 if he chooses to campaign for another Presidential term if he does not turn over documents proving his legitimacy as a naturalized citizen. Is that John McCain voting? Oh, excuse me, my eyes are playing tricks on me tonight, I thought I saw a huge Red and Blue campaign sign for John McCain.. Senator, you were born in Panama right?

Last but certainly not least, the Immigration Bill...sigh.Can you imagine for a moment as to what would happen if Mexico simply got tired of America's bigotry and just said, "Enough. Hey Russia or North Korea, we want to shake hands with you. We want to open our arms to you and let you come in and sup with us. What will the U.S. do? Pass another Immigration Bill? This one to include shaking down Nail shops.

Arizona used Hispanic workers to build all these 'empty-foreclosed' homes built by greedy home builders and financed by lying, conniving, greedy mortgage lenders and bankers. They used Hispanic workers to clean their toilets, mow their lawns, do their laundry and babysit their children and when the economy went south...to Mexico...they now want to kick not only Hispanic peoples but anyone crossing the southern borders out. Clearly brown and black skin is being profiled. So this too makes one wonder to whom the Concealed Weapons Law is really for?  If the U.S. was not in the economic downturn that it is currently experiencing I have no doubt that the 'cheap labor' home builders profited from would still be getting exploited.

I have one more question before going to rest my 'tricky' eyes because I'm seeing so much stuff or lack of...for instance, does anyone see Border Patrol or legislation affecting the 'northern' borders as is the southern? Canadians, Bosnian s, Slovenian's, anyone white, long legs, blue eyes, blonde hair..Hollywood? Oh my, my eyes are simply making me somewhat embarrassed. Or is it Arizona?

Redeemed Or Not Redeemed?

Of all the redeemable items we see saturated among the American consumer, I often wonder if we really know the true price of redemption and as to whether or not one of the most important resources we seemingly pilfer away is actually redeemable?

We see coupons that are redeemable for what ever item(s) useful or not blighted over entire sections of advertisements relating to everything from cereal to motor oil. Even Christ redeemed our souls from eternal damnation for which the wise are most grateful.But the most precious asset we have that unashamedly and most abused that is wasted and not redeemable is 'time.' We utterly destroy our resource of time through our consistent procrastination, our constant distractions that we allow, and our fruitless acts of going nowhere fast!

Time. We do not have to pay anything for it, yet it is most precious so much so that songs have been written, volumes have been published, commandments have been given and yet, it is not cherished, and neither is it utilized to its fullest potential. The question now becomes whether or not if time had a monetary value would it be cherished more deeply?

I believe it would. simply because the majority of us were not born with 'silver-spoons' in their mouths and because of that money is heavily guarded and held to the highest regard. We all had the dreams of living large and lavish only to awaken to the hum drum of hitting a 9 to 5. So if we are required to pay for something then we place a deeper value on it than not. So what would happen if we had to pay for it...time? What if time was rationed out to us in amounts as cellphone minutes. A certain amount of time each month and after the limit was met, then you had to barter for more or pay excessive amounts of money for more. How apt would we be to guard it more precisely and actually come in each month with a surplus? I guarantee this that if that type of mandate was placed on time we would witness one of the greatest redemption's of time the world has seen. Believe me, if we had to pay for it in monetary terms...It would be utilized down to the inths of a second.

Is not it a shame that something more valuable even more than the Benjamin's is utilized less and regarded as less? Money you can always get more of - but can we say the same of time. For every second of every minute that our hearts beat, and our lungs expand to engulf air so that we breathe every effort should be spent using time to complete the most auspicious of affairs. First, we should make every effort to build, strengthen and secure those relationships that matter most in our lives. Second, we should strive to leave an inheritance for our children whether it be monetary or not, it should speak to our integrity and character; it should be a testament for the coming generations. Last, but not least, we should have put our hand to the plow of strengthening humanity to end poverty and injustice in whatever way we illustrated it through our own personal deeds.

And by doing this, it is exemplified as revering, respecting and redeeming the Time.

Same Message or Different Messenger?

Many of us think of the New Year as a new beginning, new thrills, new perspectives, even new 'dance' partners.

We make all these decrees of how we're going to do this better, and say that better, and buy this differently, or represent self more vividly, we're going to change our courses in life; change the course of our destinies in the New Year.

All of it 'sounds good and for a moment even feels good, but the underlying fact of the matter is that 99.5 percent of these decrees are not carefully planned, meditated on, sought out and never executed.

So on or about March our optimism although still superficially masking this go-getter attitude of changing our destinies is beginning to cast a waning yellowing light, we now know that if we do not hurry and implement some real, visible changes toward our quest for a better more fulfilling life we're looking at the coming summer months somewhat miserably.

God forbid that June, July, and now August has come and the reality that half the year is gone by with us having done nothing even remotely looking like change.

Albeit this entry has not started out on a hoop hoop hooray shout and wave that the New Year is here, with hand holding nostalgia, yet does not mean that I am being a 'Humbug.' So, let's get to where I am going.

Anytime true change takes place it happens inwardly and the express outward show of change is behavior modification. Even before asked, it is already visible that change has come. It's in that determined, focused look and poster that we carry ourselves in that says, "I am here on a mission and please don't bother me with foolishness."

It is visible in the relationships we relinquish or foster, it is in the way we dress, the classes we fight to enroll in or the books we get for our personal and professional development. It's even visible in our dedication to our faith-based foundations. We take note of our investments and here is the meat and potatoes of this declaration.

Our investment…The investment in ourselves. We spend time in salons looking the part. We spend time keeping the company of 'seeming' movers-and-shakers so it appears we too are of the same mind. We invest in expensive transportation and clothing to be considered among the 'serious-minded' players. We invest in everything we 'think' looks good or acceptable for meaningful change and that's exactly what it is...a look!

This time the investment cannot come solely from pocket to the back but from soul to the head. Your investment is every waking moment on developing you. Your investment is in all facets of your life. Intimate relationships with Christ, your family, your friends and (if there) your significant other are investments encouraged and should carefully be prioritized in the development process.

We understand that it is not money that makes us happy for it is no more than a tool used to advance a goal. Nothing more. An investment to financial literacy is something that should not be overlooked nor overstated. Neither should all energies be absorbed accomplishing financial gain when you are ethically, morally and spiritually challenged. Anna Nicole Smith had more wealth than some of us will ever see in 3 lifetimes and to what avail? So let's not get mislead on financial striving.

The major concern with understanding our investment is understanding the most essential aspect of the investment: Our Time.

Time is the only real asset we have. How we expend time determines how we value the investment in ourselves. No matter what you do or where you go, or even who you encounter, TIME is the richest asset given to us and the most wasted; unrecoverable. If one ever wanted to know a surefire way of knowing what the future holds, go stand in front of a mirror and ask the person standing there, "What are you doing today, right now?" This answers your question regarding the future. If you aren't doing anything today, you won't be doing anything in the future. No preparation, no planning, no executing all equals...no change.

Guard your time. You have to conscientiously know how much time you're giving to any one person as well as any project. Do not allow your time to be used up on matters that do not directly feed into your development. If we begin to consider our time as rich, rare, invaluable jewels, we would guard our time just as we would those jewels. We'd have heightened security, set times for viewing and wearing, only worn in the presence of certain company, when traveling they'd only be handled by courier and the insurance alone would be provided by the best investment house in the world. Are we not more valuable than that? Are we not valued more than mere minerals?

The only thing that can be said about both the investment of ourselves and our most precious asset, time, and the value of minerals like diamonds, gold, amethyst, sapphires, and rubies is that they are both uncertain. We don't know what the value of precious minerals will be from one day to the next, so it is with our lives. We have no idea from day to day where it will end.

But this we do know...it will end.