Tuesday, October 29, 2013

#LeadWell

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One of my favorite encouragements that I share is to Lead Well. I share this as often as possible, with whoever I am speaking or writing to.
I have always believed that everyone is a leader, because everyone has some level of influence. Even if we consider ourselves as the lowest of low, there are others who look at us, who look to us.

Without realizing it, we exert influence: At home, on the job, socially, and religiously.

Most people don't consider themselves as leaders. They simply won't embrace the truth that they do hold sway over others. Even purchasing habits influence marketers and product brands.

Toward good or toward bad, we lead. Aggressively or passively, we lead. With purpose or by default, we lead.

Give it your best. Base it on your convictions. Value those you invest in. Lead Well.

Question: How do you Lead Well? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Infrastructure Maintenance

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There is a lot of activity going on in the counties where I live and work. Some call it road work. Others call it development. Most everyone calls it a huge inconvenience. I call it Infrastructure Maintenance.


Roads being resurfaced, bridges being repaired, drainage culverts being replaced. Things that are needed and necessary. Some things that are preparing for the future. Improvements, preservation, expansion. However one defines it, it's happening.

A thought occurred to me as I observed the many projects that all seem to be scheduled at the same time: Even as our public systems require Infrastructure Maintenance, so do we as people.

There are basically four areas of our lives that need consistent attention, upkeep, and regular Infrastructure Maintenance. Like road work it involves effort. Like development it requires time and attention. Like any lifestyle improvement it begins as an inconvenience.

Allow me to briefly describe them here:

  • Physical - (Following is not a discussion what to eat/not to eat; do/not to do.) Our bodies need proper nutrition, exercise, rest, and if you'll allow me, fasting to maintain our physical health. A lifestyle of healthy eating (as opposed to going on a diet) tends to keep us out of the doctor's office and decelerate the aging process, and regular exercise and rest keeps our bodies working much better more than pills, medicines, and surgeries do.
  • Mental - (Following is not a discussion on what to read and what to watch.) How well do we stimulate and exercise our minds? Are we constant learners, avid readers, and critical thinkers? Or, do we sit for hours watching mindless TV shows, video game screens, and cat videos?
  • Emotional - (Following is not a discussion on who to have as friends and who to avoid.) Are our relationships healthy? Do we invest in other people, or simply see what is in it for ourselves? Do those whom we have relationships with enrich us? When others speak to us, do we seek to listen and be interested, or jump in with our comments/stories and be interesting?
  • Spiritual - (Following is not a discussion on whether or not there is a God.) I believe that this is the most important part of Infrastructure Maintenance. If we are not healthy spiritually, than we cannot be healthy physically, mentally, or emotionally. This is the way were created, designed, and fashioned. Are you healthy spiritually, in right relationship with God?

Infrastructure Maintenance. Our roads need it. Our bridges need it. Our sewers need it. We need it.

Question: When have you found that your lack of Infrastructure Maintenance has affected you? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Confessions Of A Creative Boy Scout

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Disclaimer: This post serves no inspiration or influential purpose. It is accurate (as best as I can recall), and strictly for entertainment purposes... Enjoy!

One of the highlights of my time as a Boy Scout during my teenage years was the summer I spent as a counselor at our council's Summer Camp.

Nine weeks of scoutcraft, teaching, leadership, and sweating in the South Florida sun.

One of the highlights of that summer was a practical joke that myself and two accomplices played on the entire camp.

My best friend Larry (who was also my cabin-mate, and Boy Scout mentor) and I were talking late one night, evaluating the past pranks of previous camp staff. It seemed that the same pranks were pulled year after year: Reversing the layout of the dining hall, moving the camp director's car to the middle of the parade ground, adding green food coloring to the camp water supply (green oatmeal for breakfast), and holding hostage the 12-gauge cannon that we used for our evening "colors" salute.

Maybe it was tradition, maybe it was a lack of creativity, but the same pranks were pulled year after year. The only thing different was the camp staff who pulled them.

As we discussed the current lack of authentic ideas for pranking, an original idea began to formulate after I made the statement, "Wouldn't it be cool if we could color the milk?"

My friend Larry - who was also in charge of the dining hall (an asset for our prank: keys to the kitchen) responded that it could be done... All we needed were syringes and red food coloring.

Syringes weren't easy to come by back then, so we enlisted then help of an adult with medical connections who secured the syringes. A trip to a restaurant supply store on our day off landed us four quarts of red food coloring, and we were ready to go.

Twice a week, 300 half-pint milk cartons were delivered to our camp by a local dairy. The milk sat in the walk-in cooler until the next morning when each camper and staff member received two cartons with their breakfast.

In the middle of the night before the breakfast with milk, Larry, the previously mentioned adult with medical connections, and myself let ourselves into the kitchen. We proceeded to fill the syringes with red food coloring, and inject each milk box with 4cc's of the colorful liquid. A quick shake and then carefully stacking the milk boxes into the crates, and our prank was ready to be unleashed.

The next morning, 140-plus campers and staff gathered in the dining hall. No food or drink was touched until everyone was present, the Boy Scout Oath was recited, and a prayer was voiced by the camp chaplain.

The usual buzz could be heard as the campers began to eat, and then the buzz turned into yells, screams, and laughter as milk cartons were opened and our pink milk was discovered.

The camp director was ready to call the dairy to complain, the other camp staff immediately saw it as a prank, and Larry and myself simply were amazed with everyone else. We never let on that we were responsible.

Years later, campers and staff alike referred to the Pink Milk Prank as the greatest of all pranks that were ever played at our Boy Scout Camp.

Question: Got any original pranks that you initiated? Share below in 'comments'.

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Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Driving In A Roundabout

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I love Roundabouts.  Maybe I just love driving. But for me, Roundabouts make driving more fun.
When used properly, Roundabouts can take flowing traffic and move it effortlessly through an intersection.

Roundabouts almost completely eliminate the most deadly of crashes at intersections: The perpendicular or "t-bone" crash.

To me, Roundabouts are the traffic equivalent of of a fine watch: The gears sync precisely with the other gears, making the unit function as one, keeping perfect time.

Europeans have been using Roundabouts since 1768. Washington, DC is full of them (the only reason I liked driving in DC when I lived there for 10 years).

Proper usage of a Roundabout:

  • Approach the roundabout with caution, but do not stop (unless signage mandates it).
  • If at all possible, enter the roundabout at the same speed as the traffic in the roundabout.
  • Signal your intention to leave the roundabout when your exit approaches.
  • Exit the roundabout without slowing down.

Roundabouts are a great picture of relationships:

  • When everyone is working together properly, they flow smoothly.
  • Yielding is essential, and ultimately others yield for you.
  • Sometimes you are behind, other times you are in front.
  • Interaction is mandatory.

I believe that Roundabouts were designed with my Mini Cooper in mind. Maybe that's why I like to drive in Roundabouts so much...

Question: What are your thoughts on Roundabouts, and Relationships? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Tuesday, October 01, 2013

A Refreshing Passion

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My oldest son had a friend over to "jam" this evening. When I got home from work, I was greeted by guitar and drum riffs emanating from our open garage.
Most people my age would be put off by the loud noise. I on the other hand, was encouraged to hear young musicians make music. (Or maybe it was because it didn't seem that loud to my tinnitus-affected hearing...)

I love to see and hear young artists pursue their passion. I love to feel the creative energy, the boundless enthusiasm, the infinite optimism.

Later we invited my son and his friend inside to join us for dinner. It was there, around bowls of my wife's homemade chili and fresh-baked bread, that we also heard the heart of this young man.

He spoke of his broken family, of his Puerto-Rican heritage, and of his younger brother back in New England. He shared his musical influences, and his heroes. And with deeper probing by my wife and me, he shared the vision and passion for his life.

He expressed a desire to move to New York, and to work with industry-leading musicians and producers. He gave a timeline that not only included geographic information, but also musical achievements.

What impressed me the most about this young man was that instead of using words like rich, make money, and be famous, he used the words impact, influence, and mentor.

His passion was to be excellent at his musical craft. But his passion wasn't to be excellent for the sake of personal gain. Rather, it was so that he could influence others both in his field and in the culture as a whole.

A refreshing passion.

Question: What is your Refreshing Passion Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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