I'll be the first one to admit I am not in to New Year's resolutions. In fact, I would argue it's almost become a punchline in recent years because everyone jokes about the resolutions they made at the start of the year only to realize by the end of January that they forgot what they resolved to do (with all good intentions) a few short weeks earlier. As I poke fun I must admit three things about myself that may seem just as silly to you about myself: First: I am proud to have been born, raised and lived most of my life in the great state of Texas, Second: I AM extremely superstitious and Third: (as we say in Texas) I will be eating me a big ole bowl of black eyed peas for good luck on New Year's Day!
It's worked pretty well so far and I see no reason to jinx it now!
So although I am not a fan of the New Year's reSolution I think the New Year is a great time to consider what reVolutions need to be made. What a great contrast can be drawn here just by changing one letter in a word. Although the difference in spelling and and grammar is minute the difference in meaning is enormous! Paraphrasing my trusty desk dictionary a resolution is an individual decision meant to change an individuals thinking. A revolution, by contrast is a radical and pervasive change that impacts society as a whole. So I ask you, as we sit on the doorstep of 2012, is your intention to make incremental changes in your thoughts and behaviors that might (for a short time) make you feel better about yourself or would you rather do things radically different that dare I say, could change the world and leave an indelible mark?
Mahatma Gandhi said "we must be the change we want to see." This is one of those things that is so simple that you have to ask the question "then why are so few people doing anything?" If we are waiting for others to change our circumstances, our well-being and our world then I suggest 2012 will be just another year where very little does change and we diligently seek to find people and things to blame - all except, of course, ourselves. What if instead we make 2012 a year where we are the catalysts and we do the work to be the change? Do you see your future getting brighter and your opportunities coming in to focus? I sure do. Let me quickly add a warning sign as you enter the freeway for change and start accelerating to your destinations for 2012:
Warning: Lots of Hard Work Ahead.
The truth is, most people don't like (read are afraid) of change. The more you try the more resistance you will face. I challenge you to keep pushing forward and not be dissuaded by nay sayers and so called realists who will tell you all the reasons why what you have set out to change won't work. It may not be easy but most of the best things in life never are. I submit the examples of Thomas Edison, Mother Theresa and Anne Frank if you want to use their lives as examples of drawing a road map of success in the most trying of circumstances.
In closing, my challenge for you is to make 2012 the year of 212. It's still one of my favorite analogies. At 211 degrees water is hot. At 212 water boils. With boiling water comes steam. With steam you can power a train. One extra degree makes all the difference. I challenge you to find the one extra degree of difference that will make 2012 a REVOLUTIONARY new year!
Thank you for reading my blog this year. I am humbled and honored that you consider it a good use of your time and I appreciate the great feedback, comments and compliments I have received. Happy New Year to all of you!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Giving is Receiving
Like most of you, I recall fondly the Christmases and holiday times of my childhood. I guess I'm getting old and can say it was a lot better and more fun when Christmas wasn't so commercialized and every time you settled down to watch Frosty the Snowman or the Little Drummer Boy on television you weren't accosted by holiday ads from retailers trying to "out sale" their competitors. I must say, however, I am amused by some of the creative names that companies have come up with to call their sales during this time of year - not!
Over the last few years of definitely the most significant economic crisis of my lifetime I have learned first hand how to budget my time, money and resources in such a way where I can honestly say there are very few things that I don't already have that I really need. Health? Check. Beautiful and wonderful wife? Check. Three great kids? Check. A business that I love with all of my heart and can't wait to get to every morning (even though it might have been more fun when we were making more money)? Check! People that I love to work with and that challenge me to be a better person? Check. I could go on but you get the point. So what was it I was saying I really needed? How about you?
I don't mean to be ignorant or irresponsible. I definitely recognize that many people this Holiday are out of work and there is great need all around us that is waiting to be met by those of us who are blessed with so much. I can never do enough but I must do my part - and so must you. The holidays are a great time to count our blessings and share our blessings with others and a lot of people do just that. It's easy to donate time and money to wonderful organizations that help people enjoy the holidays a little bit more.
A couple of years ago my wife and I took our kids on Christmas morning to help feed homeless people a hot prepared meal and to pass out some coats, socks and other daily necessities. Without the generosity of the church and the volunteers that Christmas morning the people we served would have had no other means to enjoy the food and necessities that were provided that day. Christmas to them would have been just another day like every other day.
As we helped to serve the hundreds of people that came through the doors that chilly morning I was struck by the fact that we were practically tripping over the other volunteers that came out that morning. What a wonderful thing that so many people would give up a few hours of their Christmas morning and early afternoon to help those less fortunate. I also couldn't help but think as I looked out over the throng of volunteers, I wonder how many of these people will be back here on January 25th, February 25th and every other month of the year?
Like I said, if we allow ourselves to consider how much need there is around us we can easily become overwhelmed and feel as though our minute contributions don't matter. I'm sure if we're honest a lot of us would have to admit that's what holds us back. What if, however everyone had that attitude and there was no one to lend a hand? Thank goodness, that's not the case. So my challenge to all of you is to do something - anything! Don't worry about the outcome and don't look for or expect any rewards. I can't tell you what to do or how to do it but I can promise you this from my own experiences. When you get outside of yourself in this way it's a little scary - and totally invigorating!
Once you take the first step the ones following get easier as you move along. By the time you're finished you will be filled with a feeling that I cannot explain but can only recommend. Along the way, you will see things that will inspire you and things that will break your heart. Most importantly, you will see that we are all created alike and each of us has a lot more in common than we have things that separate us. Most importantly, you'll find the greatest gift you can receive on this earth. The gift of giving. May you be blessed with a renewed spirit of giving both now in the Holiday Season and throughout the New Year 2012.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Over the last few years of definitely the most significant economic crisis of my lifetime I have learned first hand how to budget my time, money and resources in such a way where I can honestly say there are very few things that I don't already have that I really need. Health? Check. Beautiful and wonderful wife? Check. Three great kids? Check. A business that I love with all of my heart and can't wait to get to every morning (even though it might have been more fun when we were making more money)? Check! People that I love to work with and that challenge me to be a better person? Check. I could go on but you get the point. So what was it I was saying I really needed? How about you?
I don't mean to be ignorant or irresponsible. I definitely recognize that many people this Holiday are out of work and there is great need all around us that is waiting to be met by those of us who are blessed with so much. I can never do enough but I must do my part - and so must you. The holidays are a great time to count our blessings and share our blessings with others and a lot of people do just that. It's easy to donate time and money to wonderful organizations that help people enjoy the holidays a little bit more.
A couple of years ago my wife and I took our kids on Christmas morning to help feed homeless people a hot prepared meal and to pass out some coats, socks and other daily necessities. Without the generosity of the church and the volunteers that Christmas morning the people we served would have had no other means to enjoy the food and necessities that were provided that day. Christmas to them would have been just another day like every other day.
As we helped to serve the hundreds of people that came through the doors that chilly morning I was struck by the fact that we were practically tripping over the other volunteers that came out that morning. What a wonderful thing that so many people would give up a few hours of their Christmas morning and early afternoon to help those less fortunate. I also couldn't help but think as I looked out over the throng of volunteers, I wonder how many of these people will be back here on January 25th, February 25th and every other month of the year?
Like I said, if we allow ourselves to consider how much need there is around us we can easily become overwhelmed and feel as though our minute contributions don't matter. I'm sure if we're honest a lot of us would have to admit that's what holds us back. What if, however everyone had that attitude and there was no one to lend a hand? Thank goodness, that's not the case. So my challenge to all of you is to do something - anything! Don't worry about the outcome and don't look for or expect any rewards. I can't tell you what to do or how to do it but I can promise you this from my own experiences. When you get outside of yourself in this way it's a little scary - and totally invigorating!
Once you take the first step the ones following get easier as you move along. By the time you're finished you will be filled with a feeling that I cannot explain but can only recommend. Along the way, you will see things that will inspire you and things that will break your heart. Most importantly, you will see that we are all created alike and each of us has a lot more in common than we have things that separate us. Most importantly, you'll find the greatest gift you can receive on this earth. The gift of giving. May you be blessed with a renewed spirit of giving both now in the Holiday Season and throughout the New Year 2012.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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