The 7.8% Mistake

I was sitting in the office today (12/18) when the weekly email came from a friend from my days at Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA.  Jeff Tobin and I spent many an hour yucking it up at the college radio station.  He's now got a public speaking business based in Pennsylvania and sends out a weekly email with sometimes just random thoughts and other times with food for thought.  The latter category applies to this week's offering that he has titled the 7.8% mistake.  It's worth a read and it may just help make a difference in your life.   


The 7.8% Mistake

Catching the Younger Generation

I have been doing some marketing work lately.  Even though I have no degree in the area, I have actually been teaching fundamentals of marketing for about five years now, primarily through my association with Optimist International.  There have been frequent presentations at conferences and seminars at international conventions and at each one I have been amazed that how little is known about marketing yet how easy it is to accomplish. 

I won't get in to all of that right now.  I do have ready made marketing programs and session that can be tailored to specific organizations.  This is not rocket science yet it can be a doorway to increasing the visibility of your organization or company.    It all about tailoring your message to the demographic (s) you want to reach.  As an example below is a link to a blog post on marketing to the 20 and 30 something crowd, also known as the millennial generation.  Fajen Consulting LLC has a great blog post on this topic

http://welaunchit.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/data-on-millennials-the-lucrative-generation-is-worth-the-marketing-effort

You'll see that structuring a marketing program doesn't have to be complicated.  If you need a consultation I would welcome the opportunity  My profile has the contact info. 

Make it a good week.

A Little Help from Your Friends

I have had a mentor in public speaking.  He is one of the best in my humble opinion.  I ran into Michael Angelo Caruso at an Optimist International Convention several years ago.  After the presentation we talked and I asked him to come to Iowa to address one of our district Optimist conferences so those who could not make it to an international event could hear one of his presentations.  It was very well received.

Then this week an email from Michael with an offer two good to refuse.  Feel free to post some of my articles on your blog or website.  Now that's a nice gesture.  Here's an example and from time to time on this blog,you'll be able to find comments from Michael who several years ago turned the phrase "5 Cool Ideas" into a multi-faceted teaching tool.  Want to learn more?...

www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com.

 

5 cool ideas for meeting your goal

1. Study your desired goal for one hour a day. There’s no shortage of books, white papers, magazine articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. Within a few months, you’ll be an expert. Achieving your goal will be much easier when you actually know what you’re doing.
2. Get in better physical shape. Even if your goal has nothing to do with athletic performance, you’ll gain increased energy, better stamina, and more confidence.
3. Network like crazy. Associate with others who are connected to your goal. Seek out people who share your goal, ideally people who have already achieved something similar. Connecting with these folks will almost guarantee more opportunities and a faster learning curve.
4. Approach your goal differently. History tends to remember people who take the road less traveled.
5. Work toward small victories. Keep your eyes on the big prize, but be ready to celebrate small victories.

Why?

I saw this on Sunday and it made me wonder.  By the end of the day all kinds of questions were running through my head.  So I've decided to share.

I was in church Sunday morning while visiting our son, daughter in law and two grand children over the weekend.  To my left was an elderly gentleman in a wheel chair.  He was wearing what looked like a horse shoe cushioned brace that ran from the middle of the back of his neck to the middle of his throat area. He said nothing and could not raise his head.  What really hit home was during communion when his wife, who held his hand often during the service, had to force the wafer into his mouth so he could eat it.

It was at that moment that I looked to my right to see my wife holding our five month old grand daughter who was peacefully sleeping in her arms. In that second or two I witnessed the beginning and nearly the end.  Even more perplexing is the thought that at one time, the man to my left was just likely my grand daughter to my right.  There was a time when his body was like her body, new and developing and just about perfect. 

There are a number or levels through the above two paragraphs where the question, Why?...would be appropriate.  Why do people have to go through that kind of suffering?  Why was he put in my path at the same place of my grand daughter?  I know the beginning and the end story of life so why was this example so vivid? .  Why did I come up with these and other questions?  And last but not least, why did I feel compelled to go through this exercise using this blog on line in order to pose these questions?

I know maybe an answer or two to the above but in the interest of stimulating discussion, what do you think? .  If you are so inclined reply with a sentence or two or a paragraph at my email address
jim.boyd4512@gmail.com.  Or you can comment below.  It's your option.  I look forward to your input.

Jim Boyd

Lessons from Frustration

I've wanted to do this for a few weeks now ever since I got really ticked off about something and learned a lesson in the process.  I decided to do this today (Aug 28th) because it happened again.

The first incident involved my wife and vacation plans for 2013.  We usually go to the Colorado mountains for a week and I look at it as a time to reconnect with her.  But we have now made plans to take with us a son, daughter in law and two grand children.  I found it frustrating that my plans for re-connection would be interrupted.  But before blowing my stack about it, I instead allowed the idea to sink in and now the idea seems less intrusive and actually may be beneficial to all of us.

Today, an email from corporate headquarters came in my inbox indicating a new program to be implemented in early September that would challenge my staff.  Instead of going off the deep end, I again let the idea sink in and within a couple of hours, had figured out how to implement it with the least amount of angst.

The point should be clear.  If you are faced with something frustrating, take a step or two back from it, think on it a bit, and clarity should emerge.  It may not be the best scenario, but it sure beats kicking the dog.

A Miracle

I waited a few days to write this entry on the blog.  I wanted to make sure the emotions were right. 

We had sat down for the 4^th of July dinner at our place and had invited a couple of friends over.  In the middle of it, the phone rings.  I told my wife, Judy, not to answer it since we were eating.  She did and I’m glad she did.

Our youngest son, Nick, was on the other end of the phone to tell us that we were grandparents for the 9^th time.  Graham Wesley Heeren had been born less than two hours before the call.  We were at the hospital 90 minutes later.

It was the first time since my daughter was born just over 26 years ago that I had held a human being who four hours earlier was not in our world.  It is really hard to put into words the emotions that were churning inside. Here was this fragile person in my hands who had his full life ahead of him.  Here was a person who would be influenced by dozens and dozens of people over the next several decades that would shape and mold him yet I did not know how that will turn out.

 But most importantly I held in my hands a miracle.  There is no other accurate way to describe it.  When you consider the complexities of the human body, it was a miracle. And I know of only one place where miracles originate. The newborn is also a gift.  It is a gift to be treasured, to be nurtured and to be appreciated.

I am pretty certain those attributes will be a part of Graham’s life.  We can only hope that every child, who should be viewed as a miracle, has an opportunity to experience those attributes as well.

Lessons from Father's Day

I had a great Father's Day.  I got to spend several hours with my daughter at a minor league baseball game.  It's rare that we get that much time together anymore just the two of us .  But in the days that followed something else became very clear.  I was really a lucky father.

Think about this for a moment.  How many father's were unable to experience such a day because of an estranged relationship with their son or daughter?  How many sons and daughters were in a similar situation?  How many children don't even know who their Dad is?  Sobering questions to say the least.

It made me think most of the latter, those children  who don't know or who's Dad just isn't around.  The studies suggests these are the young people who could easily fall into the "at risk" category.  It also is moving me toward doing something.  Perhaps getting involved in a program that tries to help at risk young people.  Or volunteering in projects that could be of some intervention. 

Those of us who have it better than others need to seriously think about getting involved, perhaps by getting our hands "a little dirty" so that there's a positive impact in a child's life.  Change happens only one person at a time and it often happens when one person makes a decision to try to create change.

Are you that person?  

When Lightning Really Strikes

So I’m making dinner on Friday night. It was cooking and I went to the patio door.  My wife was on the other side of it and we were engaged in small talk.  Have you ever heard lightning as it hits.  It’s a sound I’ll never forget.  We both jumped.  I distinctly remember going about four inches off the ground. Scared? Maybe a little but of course being a guy you never let on to that sort of thing. 

After dinner I sat down in the living room and went to turn on the television connected to the satellite box.  There was no response.  The same thing happened to the TV in the basement and in the upstairs bedroom.  Turns out it was the next door neighbor’s house that got hit and our proximity to the strike effectively “fried” the satellite receivers and apparently the upstairs television.  Internet service was knocked out as well.  We found it would take three days before the service could be repaired and later learned it would be a week

This became a lesson in creativity and of remembering the past.  The lack of service allowed time for some long neglected work around the house.  It provided time to write this blog. (Made it to a coffee shop in order to post it)  It also provided an opportunity to step back and undertake what used to be a favorite past time of mine and that was listening to music with the headphones. I pulled out some albums from those days and no sooner had the music been in my ears than I was transported back to the late 70’s and early 80’s.  This in turn allowed for a lot of pleasant memories to come flooding back.  It was a good couple of days. 

Maybe the real lesson here is to not have to wait for lightning to strike.  Maybe there a need for all of us to turn it off from time to time…the box, the computer, whatever else it might be from distracting us from accomplishing so much more in life. Life just might be a little more fulfilling.

Perseverance

I learned something this past week. 

The lesson came from an unexpected source and it proves the point that we can all learn something from someone regardless of their place in society or on the chronological spectrum we all are on at this time.

My daughter graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Simpson College in 2008. But after four years of a quality higher education she spent the next 18 months or so trying to figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life.  (I decline the inclination at the moment to offer commentary on why this decision making did not happen before graduation.)  But the decision she eventually made appears to have been the correct one.

Blair returned to her Alma Mater to pursue a master’s degree in education.  She wanted to teach Spanish; something she had studied since the ninth grade. Her decision required sacrifice and indebtedness.  She sacrificed, to an extent, the life of a typical early 20 something in order to hit the books when others were socializing. She  sacrificed financially by having to go deeper into debt.            

Fast forward two years to this past week when got a phone call late in the afternoon.  I heard a slight whimper on the other end and said, “Hi, Blair.” 

“Dad.”   “I got the job.”  She had just learned she was going to be the high school Spanish teacher in a central Iowa school district and the tears were tears of joy.  “After all of that work, Dad, it paid off.” “Thank God.”

This is a lesson for someone in their 20’s like Blair, to someone in their 50' like me and older.  You can set a goal in life.  You can hope it will come out the way you want it to come out.  You can seek the help of others as you pursue it.  But in the end, it’s up to you.  You have to put in the work, the sacrifice, and be persistence to reach that goal you have set in life.  All of it translates into perseverance that is needed to reach the desired result.  

And it’s a lesson I learned from a 20 something for a goal that I have set for myself.  Perseverance is key to the success of any business including the one associated with this blog.

Planting a Seed

Greeting to my connections on LinkedIn and thanks in advance for the read.  Since LinkedIn is supposed to be a business to business type of social media it seemed only appropriate to announce here that I have decided to turn my public speaking endeavor up a notch.  This doesn't mean at the moment that I am giving up on broadcast journalism but instead means I am trying to expand my horizons by trying to seriously expand this aspect of my life.  I thoroughly enjoy public speaking and have come to thoroughly enjoy teaching during the process.  I teach about life so I guess that puts me into a category of being a "life coach." 

I asked you to come here to plant a seed.  You belong to various organizations that are always searching for interesting speakers for programs, conferences and seminars.  I only ask that you keep me in mind if you have any input with regard to the selection process.  You can learn more about what I'm trying to do at www.keys-4-life.com.  And before you ask, credit my wife for the name of the company.  She said if you are teaching people about life, their potential can be unlocked by opening the door but you cannot do that without first having the key to do so.  She's right.

Thanks again for the read.

Jim

Getting Away and Reconnecting

            Have you ever had an event that has really had an impact on you to the point that you had to process what happened over several days before you could actually tell people about it?  That happened earlier this month when I attended a men’s retreat sponsored by my church. This was a tremendous opportunity to recharge my depleted spiritual batteries.  They had been drained over the past couple of weeks because of work related issues.       The retreat was a perfect forum to escape and to refocus.  The 21 hours spent in an area away from most of society allowed for time for reflection.  Try and imagine this.

            You get up at the crack of dawn or before then because the person in the next bunk is snoring up a storm, but this development provides all kinds of opportunities. You grab a warm beverage and walk to the shore of the lake. (All camps have one)  It brings renewal. The world is awakening before you and this has nothing to do with traffic or your job or the rest of society.  It’s you and nature. On this particular weekend in this particular location it was the sound of Canada geese greeting a new day.  Picture it for a moment.  It’s in the upper 40’s, there is steam coming off the water creating an almost fog like atmosphere.  Then when all is quiet the piercing sound of the call of a goose shatters the morning quiet.  It could be a loon, or just a roster in the nearby field announcing the day depending on where you are.  You sense something surreal about your surroundings and it forces you to pause and for a long time your mind wonders to a quiet place.  You breathe deeply, savoring the moment. You are at peace.  And this is just the first 10 minutes of your day.

            The point here is to make certain that you plan for yourself a getaway.  You don’t necessarily have to go to a camp although I highly recommend it.  It could be your favorite chair at home, with a good book.  It could be for a walk near your home (leave your cell phone at home) but get away.  Take the time to pause and reflect.  Take the time to spend some time with yourself. You are important and you need to take care of yourself.  We all need to stop and get off the merry go round of life and recharge.  Yes, I was fortunate that I could go on a retreat to do so…but just a day ago, it was two hours in a coffee shop, a couple of green teas and a blueberry muffin and some reading.

            I do hope you find the opportunity to take some time soon and recharge. It will be time well spent.

Playing in the Dirt

The last three days have really been a reat great time.  It’s not because of any major accomplishments at the office nor is it because of a reaching a completely harmonious relationship with my wife.  Judy will tell you there are days that I’m not even close.  And no, I am not celebrating recent lottery winnings. 

            For the last few days I have been able to spend about 90 minutes or so playing in the dirt, just like I did when I was a little boy and probably just like any other man did who is reading this when he was a little boy.  It been only a few years now but I have found a wealth of enjoyment through flower gardening.  There is something almost serene about sitting or kneeling on the ground with a small spade in hand, turning the soil and planting something. It’s even more amazing to drop a bulb in the ground and then seeing something break through the dirt a few days later, not really understanding what when on out of sight beneath the surface. It’s one of those periods in time through which I can usually block out everything else in life that may be of concern and concentrate solely on the proper depth and separation of this plant or that one.  Planters by the way, and I am not ashamed to say this, are a great way to score points with the Mrs. The combination of geraniums, salvia, petunias, marigolds seemed to do the trick.  Great color too!  This is just one more example of taking a step back from the fast pace in which we all live and putting some context back into life about what is really important.  It may not be gardening for you, but I’m betting there is something that will help pave the way toward a positive, enriching escape.

            The tradition established earlier has been maintained by the way.  The cell phone stays in the house when I’m in the garden because the last thing I need is to be “playing in the dirt” and have that peacefulness interrupted by a text message.  Now if I can just get the dirt out from under my fingernails…

Stepping Away to Enjoy Life

This falls under the category of the need to take a step back and enjoy some of the blessings in life. It will demonstrate how there are times for the digital world to invade our lives and there are times for it to be put aside.

It was the weekend of March 31 when my wife and I traveled north to her hometown and the celebration of her mother's 95th birthday. It is a milestone in and of itself because of the longevity that is involved. But it was also an opportunity to bring family together something that happens all too infrequently in this day and age. Grand children and great grand children were present, friends of the honoree that in some cases date back decades, and some long lost acquaintances who showed up unexpectedly to round out the day. Someone actually provided about three dozen helium filled balloons to be launched as part of the celebration. (Just try getting the extended family together to do that sometimes) The opportunities for fellowship and coming together as a family are becoming less and less so the celebration served as a reminder to take advantage of them whenever you can. This was not the time for the digital age to intrude in our lives.

But just before this celebration was a perfect example of using the digital tools at our disposal to communicate with one another in a meaningful way. It was on the way to the celebration that in came a message on my wife's smart phone with a picture attached. It was just a half hour earlier that our 8th grand child was born (a girl) and grandma suddenly became very excited. She quickly forwarded the information on to those who needed to know. And yes, the parents had up on their Face Book pages pictures of their daughter within a few hours. So even though she already has a digital footprint that will grow in the years to come, technology and social media did play an important role in getting the word out. Just don't let it interfere with those special family times. Just put down the phone and the computer and enjoy.

What's on both will still be there in a couple of hours.