What a great opportunity!

Yes, that is the Washington Memorial in D.C., and yes, those are real people 'scaling' the exterior of the structure! (lucky!)  I took this photo last year shortly after an earthquake struck portions of the east coast.  Structural engineers were hired to inspect the tower for damage, and they had to visually inspect every square inch.  I thought to myself 'Those guys are so lucky to be able to scale the Washington Memorial!'  Really, how many people can honestly say 'I repelled from the Washington Memorial'?  To the best of my knowledge, that is not one of the tourist attractions in our nation's capitol.  In fact, I am fairly certain that you would be quickly escorted to '3 hots and a cot' for even attempting to do so. Yet those few engineers were given that rare and unique opportunity, and even got paid to do it!

I read a statement several months ago given by Winston Churchill about optimism (and being quite the optimist, I rather liked the statement).  He said: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" 


That is so true.  Now regarding the optimist/pessimist divide, I want to be sure to point out that people are not inherently either.  You are not born optimistic or pessimistic.  Both are attitudes that are learned by practice and more practice.  So practice being optimistic, and you WILL become great at it!  Great musicians became great by...playing music!  Great runners became great by.....running!  And you can become a great optimist by...practicing optimism!

When an optimist gets laid off (downsized, let go, fired, or any one of the other great terms used for booted to the curb), he/she does not say 'Why does everything bad always happen to me?'  Instead the optimist is grateful for the opportunity to advance to the next level in another great company or venture!  And having an optimistic attitude creates the environment in which that great opportunity will be found.  I had a wonderful experience (series of experiences) over 10 years ago.  I was blessed to be let go from a great job I had, where I had contributed to much growth and success for the company where I worked.  3 days later I started another great job where I learned some awesome skills that provided for our family for much of the past 10 years.  Less than a week into that new job, my appendix ruptured giving me a great opportunity to rest for a month or so (which is not easy for a get up and go kind of guy).  When I was finally able to get out and work again, I did so with great zeal and excitement!  And a month into it the owner called a surprise company meeting early one morning.  He gave us all (10-12 guys) the opportunity to, as he put it, 'work at Burger King' through the winter months until construction picked back up in the spring!  I was literally overjoyed at that news!  And I really mean that!  I got home that day and excitedly announced to my wife that I had been laid off (she was 8 months pregnant with our 2nd child, and we were in the middle of having our mobile home moved out to some property we had just purchased).  And the next day, I got a business license, a ladder, a compressor, and printed up some business cards.  By the end of the day I had multiple jobs line up and hired 8 of my previous co-workers and we ran hard for over two years before I sold the business and moved on to other ventures.  That truly was a great blessing!

See the opportunity in every difficulty instead of the difficulties in every opportunity.  Great things are in your future, starting now!

What does your sign say?

Intro-humor: A priest & pastor are standing by the side of the road with a sign that reads, "The End is Near! Turn around before it's too late!" They hold up the sign to each passing car. "Leave us alone you religious nuts!" yelled the first driver as he sped by. From around the curve they heard screeching tires & a big splash. "Do you think," said one clergy to the other, "we should put up a sign that says 'Bridge Out' instead?"

Clearly communicating is tough! We all have messages that we try to get across, but all too often what we try to say isn't what other people actually hear.  And as easy as it is to blame the listener for not listening (which may occasionally be true), chances are what you said, or the sign you were holding up, did not convey with clarity or accuracy what you wanted others to understand.

Think in terms of a foreign language.  We all have experiences with people who speak a foreign language (and often when we are the ones speaking the foreign language).  No matter how slow or loud you talk, if the other person does not speak the same language (or speak it very well), you will have a very hard time communicating.  Hand gestures and theatrics can only go so far! (although such things can be fun and entertaining)  

Much the same principle applies to communicating with people in your native tongue!  Everyone has different backgrounds, upbringing, education styles/levels, cultural complexities, and numerous other factors that will change how they both speak to, and understand what is said by, others.  So more than likely what needs to change is your 'sign', and not your audiences ability to understand your message.  Go out of your way to make your message clear, and present it in a way that others can both understand it and benefit from it.  And maybe then, they won't end up in the river!

Lift me up!

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.  John Quincy Adams

We all have some level of leadership within us, and the great thing is that we don't need a title to go along with it.  Are you a parent?  A teacher?  A friend?  A mentor?  A neighbor?  A volunteer?  Do you interact with others even occasionally? (it's kind of difficult to go through life without at least some interaction with others...)  If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, then you are some form of leader, and have the potential to lead others to great heights or down steep and slippery slopes.  Remember that you are a leader and that you can inspire others to dream, learn and do more!  And when you inspire others to be more, you become more too!  So get out there and inspire someone!