TURN OUT EVERY Member of Congress running for election in Nov 2010. They aren’t doing the job and should go. Vote ‘em out; send the message!
I am asking everyone that reads this to enter the above tweet everyday you go on Twitter. It can have an astonishing impact if everybody gets into the habit of posting at least one time every day.
Are you satisfied with the gang in Washington, D.C.? I’m not. I say lets get rid of the all. A great opportunity comes up in November, 2010 when we vote on every Congressman and a whole gaggle of Senators.
I have a very small following; but together we can make an impact.
We can send a message and it will be heard loud and clear. The best way to wake them up is to TURN them out.
Make no mistake; it will not matter if you vote out some that one might consider good. Those that replace them can be as good as the ousted; they can’t be much worse.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Leadership - Part 13 – 24 Jul 09 – Evaluate and Plan for the future
Continuing our discussion that we started in “Part #12”; are you into a career that you find is not living up to your expectations? Have you made a choice that has not worked out like you thought it would?
How do you respond? Is the career not taking you there?
This is a difficult position to be in; but the most has to be made from the bad situation. At least, lets hope what you are doing is putting the bread on the table. How long can you survive in the position you currently hold? The current economy will not last forever. The ramp-up could be just around the corner. Plan you next moves now and be positioned for the future. It will come; just like tomorrow morning. Be ready to execute.
Are you “burning out”, to use an all to frequently used cliché, in a career path that initially challenged you, but no longer does? Is this a real problem or a matter of interpretation? Might it just possibly be just some sort of mid-career slump? How would you go about rejuvenating the ole career if this is the situation?
Consider discussing this with your management. They might just have the answer you are looking for. Maybe the direction is a tangent to your current duties and responsibilities. Maybe there is room for additional responsibilities that can be added to your existing load that would tend to breathe new life into the somewhat routine day you find yourself facing. Sometimes what is needed is some sort of refresher training or just some “cutting edge” approaches to the current routine.
If there aren’t other avenues open due to size or maturity of the organization; this could be a hard nut to swallow. Tough decisions might have to be made. Pulling up the stakes, dislodging the roots and moving elsewhere at mid-career is a real tough decision to make; especially in the market we are currently in. If this avenue is not an option at the present; look at taking up a new outside interest. Search for one that requires somewhat “great” effort and considerable attention to detail. The “burn” has to be stroked no matter where the fire source comes from.
How do you respond? Is the career not taking you there?
This is a difficult position to be in; but the most has to be made from the bad situation. At least, lets hope what you are doing is putting the bread on the table. How long can you survive in the position you currently hold? The current economy will not last forever. The ramp-up could be just around the corner. Plan you next moves now and be positioned for the future. It will come; just like tomorrow morning. Be ready to execute.
Are you “burning out”, to use an all to frequently used cliché, in a career path that initially challenged you, but no longer does? Is this a real problem or a matter of interpretation? Might it just possibly be just some sort of mid-career slump? How would you go about rejuvenating the ole career if this is the situation?
Consider discussing this with your management. They might just have the answer you are looking for. Maybe the direction is a tangent to your current duties and responsibilities. Maybe there is room for additional responsibilities that can be added to your existing load that would tend to breathe new life into the somewhat routine day you find yourself facing. Sometimes what is needed is some sort of refresher training or just some “cutting edge” approaches to the current routine.
If there aren’t other avenues open due to size or maturity of the organization; this could be a hard nut to swallow. Tough decisions might have to be made. Pulling up the stakes, dislodging the roots and moving elsewhere at mid-career is a real tough decision to make; especially in the market we are currently in. If this avenue is not an option at the present; look at taking up a new outside interest. Search for one that requires somewhat “great” effort and considerable attention to detail. The “burn” has to be stroked no matter where the fire source comes from.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Little Gus Growing Up, well starting to!
Last night, Little Gus decided to take the first step in growing up on his own. We think he was trying to tell us the previous night that he was ready to take the first step, but I don’t think either of us was really ready to listen to him. He’s just six and a half months old now so all of his wishes and desires are not usually that straight forward.
After arriving in the bedroom last night about 10:01 PM, Gus laid down beside the bed and simply refused to let either of us pick him up to be put into his box//bed. He had tried it basically the same way the night before but my will was stronger than his. Well, it was gonna be different this time. He wasn’t budging this time. He rolled onto his back with his legs straight out.
Both Patsy and I looked at one another and said: “OK, let’s see what he does?”
I picked up the two blankets out of his big plastic box//bed and handed them to Patsy while I carried the box//bed out into the hallway for the night. Patsy spread the blankets out on the floor and we went about our night time rituals: face washing and the such.
Little Gus just laid there and watched. He didn’t move from his staunch position – not giving up until he had his way, so to speak. Just to be on the safe side; Patsy went down stairs and brought up the kitchen gate – hoping that if he roamed, he would at least be inside the bedroom when all was said and done.
After the two of us were in bed, we both peered over to see what Little Gus was doing. Shortly he picked himself up and moved over and lay down on the blankets. He rearranged himself and the blankets several times over the next ten minutes or so. Soon the lights were turned out on both sides of the bed – no more noise from Little Gus.
Upon waking this morning, Patsy found Little Gus right where she saw him last; sniggled up on top of his blankets – right where she hoped he would be. He was the recipient of a lot of praise immediately and for some time after that.
Little Gus had taken the first step to growing up all on his own.
After arriving in the bedroom last night about 10:01 PM, Gus laid down beside the bed and simply refused to let either of us pick him up to be put into his box//bed. He had tried it basically the same way the night before but my will was stronger than his. Well, it was gonna be different this time. He wasn’t budging this time. He rolled onto his back with his legs straight out.
Both Patsy and I looked at one another and said: “OK, let’s see what he does?”
I picked up the two blankets out of his big plastic box//bed and handed them to Patsy while I carried the box//bed out into the hallway for the night. Patsy spread the blankets out on the floor and we went about our night time rituals: face washing and the such.
Little Gus just laid there and watched. He didn’t move from his staunch position – not giving up until he had his way, so to speak. Just to be on the safe side; Patsy went down stairs and brought up the kitchen gate – hoping that if he roamed, he would at least be inside the bedroom when all was said and done.
After the two of us were in bed, we both peered over to see what Little Gus was doing. Shortly he picked himself up and moved over and lay down on the blankets. He rearranged himself and the blankets several times over the next ten minutes or so. Soon the lights were turned out on both sides of the bed – no more noise from Little Gus.
Upon waking this morning, Patsy found Little Gus right where she saw him last; sniggled up on top of his blankets – right where she hoped he would be. He was the recipient of a lot of praise immediately and for some time after that.
Little Gus had taken the first step to growing up all on his own.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Leadership - Part 12 – 13 Jul 09 – What’s Important to You?
How long have you been doing whatever it is that you do?
Are you enjoying yourself; not necessarily every day and every little bit of the day. But, in general; do you like what it is that you do?
Do you get up every morning with a burn that can’t wait until you get to work because there is something you just gotta get at? This may not be your routine but ask yourself if it should be.
Here’s another question you might ask yourself. Are you doing what you really want to do? I don’t mean “are you on permanent vacation?” Of course, we all would like to be in that rare air that allows us to get up every day and fish a different hole; but no, that’s not what I’m getting’ at.
Does what you do allow you to do what you want to do when you are not at work? There is just so much leisure time available to any of us. You have to bank it and spend it wisely. They will not let you buy anymore than your allowed allotment.
While you are at it; here’s just one more question you need to consider. Is what you do gonna get you where ever it is that you want to go professionally? If the answer to this is no; buddy, you need to start thinking and planning right now. There isn’t enough time on this earth to spend any where you don’t really want to be. Oh, I know this may not be the time to walk away from a paying gig; but it is always the time to think and plan to be able to walk away from a paying gig that isn’t getting you where you want to go.
Are you enjoying yourself; not necessarily every day and every little bit of the day. But, in general; do you like what it is that you do?
Do you get up every morning with a burn that can’t wait until you get to work because there is something you just gotta get at? This may not be your routine but ask yourself if it should be.
Here’s another question you might ask yourself. Are you doing what you really want to do? I don’t mean “are you on permanent vacation?” Of course, we all would like to be in that rare air that allows us to get up every day and fish a different hole; but no, that’s not what I’m getting’ at.
Does what you do allow you to do what you want to do when you are not at work? There is just so much leisure time available to any of us. You have to bank it and spend it wisely. They will not let you buy anymore than your allowed allotment.
While you are at it; here’s just one more question you need to consider. Is what you do gonna get you where ever it is that you want to go professionally? If the answer to this is no; buddy, you need to start thinking and planning right now. There isn’t enough time on this earth to spend any where you don’t really want to be. Oh, I know this may not be the time to walk away from a paying gig; but it is always the time to think and plan to be able to walk away from a paying gig that isn’t getting you where you want to go.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Leadership - Part 11 – 06 Jul 09 – Integrity is Integrity
Several time over the 4th of July weekend, I heard someone refer to an individual’s level of integrity. I have seen this recently on resumes and have heard politicians spout off about their level of integrity.
Integrity, as defined by “The American Heritage Dictionary”, the second college edition, on pages 667 & 668, published by the Houghton Mifflin Company of Boston in 1985 is (1) the rigid adherence to a code or a standard of values, (2) the state of being unimpaired, soundness; (3) the quality or condition of being whole or undivided, completeness. OK, so the dictionary is a little old; but I’m here to tell you: integrity is integrity.
Look back up there at the definition. Tell me now; just where do you see any line of demarcation that allows one to have a degree of integrity? Right! There isn’t any degree of integrity; it just doesn’t exist. See the words: rigid, unimpaired, soundness, whole, undivided and completeness. You can’t get there without going all the way. There is no path to integrity that takes you half way; it’s all or none.
Look around and see if you can find integrity. I bet you have a hard time locating what might even be considered something close to integrity.
To borrow from Henry Ford, integrity is not just doing the right thing when others are looking. It’s doing the right thing all the time.
Let us also borrow from Mark Twain while we are at it: “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” from “Mark Twain in Eruption”.
Oh, I guess one might make allowances for politicians. To my knowledge, these days no one expects a politician’s integrity to measure the whole nine yards. I don’t understand or know why that isn’t true anymore; but that’s the way it seems.
But, back to the meat of the subject, when you hear someone refer to their level of integrity; ask them to be more specific: “Just how did you obtain your level of integrity?”
Maybe there’s a school out there that presents classes in integrity and gives out “grades” at the end of the instruction based on the attendee’s level of understanding. It’s probably one of those internet diplomas from the University of Integrity headed by the Prime Minister of Nairobi and you can complete the instruction in three easy emails; but first you must send them your first born and six fifths of you Social Security check for the next twenty-three and a half years. There’s just a chance that you might be able to qualify through a FBI website; that scam is running around the net again.
First, before you apply, make sure you understand the fine print. Be sure to get the entire program. Don’t get short changed and obtain less than the entire “integrity” certification. You owe it to yourself.
Integrity, as defined by “The American Heritage Dictionary”, the second college edition, on pages 667 & 668, published by the Houghton Mifflin Company of Boston in 1985 is (1) the rigid adherence to a code or a standard of values, (2) the state of being unimpaired, soundness; (3) the quality or condition of being whole or undivided, completeness. OK, so the dictionary is a little old; but I’m here to tell you: integrity is integrity.
Look back up there at the definition. Tell me now; just where do you see any line of demarcation that allows one to have a degree of integrity? Right! There isn’t any degree of integrity; it just doesn’t exist. See the words: rigid, unimpaired, soundness, whole, undivided and completeness. You can’t get there without going all the way. There is no path to integrity that takes you half way; it’s all or none.
Look around and see if you can find integrity. I bet you have a hard time locating what might even be considered something close to integrity.
To borrow from Henry Ford, integrity is not just doing the right thing when others are looking. It’s doing the right thing all the time.
Let us also borrow from Mark Twain while we are at it: “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” from “Mark Twain in Eruption”.
Oh, I guess one might make allowances for politicians. To my knowledge, these days no one expects a politician’s integrity to measure the whole nine yards. I don’t understand or know why that isn’t true anymore; but that’s the way it seems.
But, back to the meat of the subject, when you hear someone refer to their level of integrity; ask them to be more specific: “Just how did you obtain your level of integrity?”
Maybe there’s a school out there that presents classes in integrity and gives out “grades” at the end of the instruction based on the attendee’s level of understanding. It’s probably one of those internet diplomas from the University of Integrity headed by the Prime Minister of Nairobi and you can complete the instruction in three easy emails; but first you must send them your first born and six fifths of you Social Security check for the next twenty-three and a half years. There’s just a chance that you might be able to qualify through a FBI website; that scam is running around the net again.
First, before you apply, make sure you understand the fine print. Be sure to get the entire program. Don’t get short changed and obtain less than the entire “integrity” certification. You owe it to yourself.
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