Just Do It!

 I am sure you have seen the commercials with these slogans. I see people daily with these or some variation on their workout gear at the gym. The problem is, I don't see many people in their professional and private lives push past complacency. It's easy to get comfortable, to feel that everything is good and to be satisfied, and yes, probably complacent. You owe it to yourself, to your family and to your profession to be the best that you can be. If not, your fire for life fizzles, your drive at work slows and you eventually wake up and ask, "Where did the time go?"

I know that change is uncomfortable. Tony Robbins tells us "Trust me, the ups and downs, the stomach flips, they're worth it. The world doesn't need more comfortable bystanders, drifting on autopilot. We desperately need you at your best, giving this world your best work."

I speak with many of you on a regular basis. Please remember this during our next conversation. You'll be glad that you did!

Do you read frequently?

I am partially through reading The Polish Officer, a novel about Europe pre WWII.  I often read historical fiction desiring to learn more about different times and challenges faced by others.  While the characters and their personal circumstances are creations I have found many of the books to be factual in a historical context.  Additionally I read books about business, books to learn or improve skills and biographies and autobiographies about significant historical figures and modern day heroes that have overcome extreme adversity or impacted the history of our country in a positive way.  

Like most, I wasn't an avid reader as a child.  I enjoyed outdoor activities far more and had my fill of reading in school.  I picked up my reading habit early in my professional career as I traveled extensively for business.  It was a great way to stay occupied while on planes, in airports or hotel rooms.  It permitted me to improve skills, learn new things and expand my base of reference regarding my personal life and thoughts.

Getting back to The Polish Officer, this paints a picture about real life challenges in Poland in the late 1930s as Poland was occupied by German and Russian armies.  Ordinary families had their lives greatly disrupted, wealth was confiscated, family members enslaved or murdered.  It's a great reminder of the value or our freedoms and a vivid reminder about how great we have it today.  

Remember the old TV commercials for "Reading is FUNdamental?"  If you aren't a regular consumer of books, give it a try.  You'll be glad that you did.  

Awe Struck!

For years this was the view from my living room and deck.  I woke up in the morning and found myself counting my blessings and returned home after work with the same joy.  Did I deserve such beauty?  

It's been several years since we downsized and our view is nowhere near as spectacular.  I keep this photo as the wallpaper on my phone as a reminder of the beauty of life.  Now when I look at it I think of all of the fullness in my life.  A loving wife and daughter, the blessings of good friends, a job that I enjoy, the companionship of my dogs and more.  God has given me grace and beauty that I do not deserve and this serves as a daily reminder.  

I am not always as grateful as I should be.  I let things that go wrong or are unexpected throw me for a loop and lose my focus on what is important.  When I view this picture of God's creation and remember James 1:12 ("Blessed is the one who preservers under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those that love him.") I suddenly realize what I should be thankful for.  

Are you focused on gratitude? It changes your perspective every time that you remind yourself.  

What are you going to do?

I know that I have posted about this in the past.  The demand to hire qualified talent is like nothing that I have seen.  Companies are struggling for months, leaving positions open, and not finding the people that they need.

I speak to engineers daily recruiting them for these openings.  I have to say that I am always surprised by the lack of professional curiosity.  I hear most often that "I am happy."  I have to question if it is happiness or complacency.  Nice people work everywhere.  If you are working on a project there will be projects elsewhere.  Your current project will be taken well care of by your company.  The fact is that no matter how happy you are, how well cared for you may be from your employer, that today another company will listen to you carefully and create a package that will far exceed what you are currently receiving.  

Were you in the industry in 2008-2013?  If so, you have to realize that things aren't always like they are now.  Raises were minimal if not non-existent.  Companies were forced to make staff reductions.  It didn't necessarily matter if you were happy, if you had been loyal or anything else.  There wasn't work for those with less experience and those with more experience were too expensive.  Those market forces will reappear.  In the meantime you owe it to yourself and your family to maximize your potential and earnings while the market is competitive.  

What Stops You?

I've been a bit of a procrastinator this week.  I always intend to work out 2 mornings during the week in addition to Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday.  I reset my alarm for later each morning when it went off at 5 AM.   Today I finally forced myself up and went to the gym and I am glad that I did.  I feel terrific! 

Recently a friend broke down and went to the doctor as he was feeling horrible. He was very concerned that he had a heart issue.  After extensive testing he learned that his heart was healthy but his Diabetes was very high.  He knew that he was Diabetic, takes medicine daily but pays no attention to what he eats.  What stopped him?

In both cases it is a level of contentment and a lack of pain severe enough to cause action.  We all do it if we are honest.  I see it regularly in my business.  Here is an example.  I helped an executive find a new position after 20 years with her current firm.  She wasn't looking, had no interest in change but eventually I convinced her to hear what one of my clients might be able to provide.  This was over 2 years ago and she would tell you it was the best thing she has ever done.  Why did she wait so long?  She was content.  

The takeaway here is to not allow your contentment or limiting beliefs hold you back.  Be open minded, explore and most importantly believe that you can do more.  

"Do the uncomfortable.  Become comfortable with these acts.  Prove to yourself that your limiting beliefs die a quick death if you will simply do what you feel uncomfortable."  Darren Rowse

 

We All Belong!

 9/11/2001.  So tragic.  So many lost.  I know you will see a multitude of tributes over the next few days.  This won't be one that you'll see elsewhere.  

I always see or hear "We will never forget!"  What does that mean?  What lessons have we learned?  How were we changed?  I am not talking as a collective.  I am asking you to question yourself. 

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11/2001 we witnessed the best of the USA.  Volunteers poured into NYC to assist in the rescue area.  On the day of the attacks we watched brave men & women rush into buildings to rescue others when ordinary people would have run the other way.  Pride of being an American was at an all time high.  Race, national origin, religion, ethnicity played no factor and we were at our best. 

Let's be clear, 9/11 was an attack because evil people hate our way of life.  We saw that at the time but have since forgotten.  We don't place the same value on our way of life as we did following 9/11.  The same types of evil people have tried a different attack and it's results are more devastating.  The tactic being used is to divide and conquer.  They are winning this battle.  Groups are being identified as evil, not because of their actions but because of their skin color.  I can't imagine why anyone would consider teaching a child that they have what they have due to privilege.  I can't imagine teaching a child that they have odds stacked against them due to their skin color.  Children are to be nurtured, loved, made to feel secure; not to be made ashamed or bitter.  If we want to help the disadvantaged among us to succeed we must reinforce their self esteem, help them gain skills and stop the destruction of the nuclear family.  

Further, the tactic of identity separation is destructive.  Anything that drives us further apart is counter productive & we are allowing that to happen.  On 9/11 and shortly after we first identified as Americans regardless of our other "identities."  Those that hate us for our way of life have succeeded in further dividing us with this approach.  I am not an American first but I am a Man of God, a husband, father, and an American that is proud of his Italian heritage.  Our heritage, religion, politics and more can be celebrated, remembered and lived while recognizing that the freedom provided in the USA allows us to do so.  That is why most of our ancestors came here and why this is the greatest nation in the history of the Earth.  

My lesson from 9/11 is that evil exists and is a force more powerful than I recognized.  It continues to attack and we are failing to see it.  Most importantly I learned that WE ALL BELONG to this great nation that we call the United States.  Let's not be divided.  

Join me in praying for those that we lost on 9/11, that they are with our Lord and that one day their loved ones will be happily reunited with them and experience the love & peace that they lost that day.  Join me in praying that all of our children feel loved, secure and nurtured & that we find ways to better help all of them maximize their potential.  Let's also pray for a recognition that as Americans that we are Brothers and Sisters with more in common than we recognize and that we learn to love others that we don't understand or that we disagree with as God would have us to love them.  

This Bible verse stuck with me after the sacrifices of our First Responders on 9/11.  John 15:12-13 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  Let's work daily to expand the numbers of those that we consider friends to include those that we differ with and to be blind to those differences much like the brave men and women that rushed into the Twin Towers and Pentagon to save others on 9/11.

Breaking News

Do you watch the news or follow the news on websites or apps?  I'm betting most of you do.  Have you ever considered the effect that has on you?  I have and it has caused me to try to limit consumption.  Occasionally I realize that I am paying more attention than I should.  Today was one of those days.  

Like most days I woke up to a warm smile and hug from my wife.  My dogs were excited to see me.  I got up, shaved, showered and moved to the living room to catch up with the news.  Covid surging, violent crime, hateful politics, homelessness, government mandates, power shortages.  Often I find some joy in catching up with my favorite baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Nope, we are in last place and among the worst teams in Major League Baseball.  We lost last night and the stadium looked deserted.  I got dressed for work and hit the road. 

Starting off I thought about how lucky that I am.  I have a wife and daughter that love me.  Dogs that bring me joy.  A house in a nice community and much more.  Traffic was heavy near the high school that I pass on the way to the freeway.  I saw groups of young men and women happily enjoying each other's company while walking to school.  At a crosswalk a young man carrying his shoulder pads jogged across the street on his way to class and probably football practice later.  Once on the freeway traffic was heavy as well with hundreds of my neighbors on their way to work.  I wonder, how is their day starting off?  Are they feeling as thankful as I am?  I hope so.  Finally, I arrive at work and my boss/friend's familiar truck is already here.  I recognize how lucky I am to be healthy and able to work, to work with a friend and do something that I enjoy.  

So today's breaking news?  Life is grand!  Enjoy every minute!

What if ...

What if your were taking care of a family member diagnosed with ALS?  What if a dear friend was about to undergo surgery to remove their stomach due to stomach cancer?  What if a friend that hadn't been feeling well for quite some time finally sees the doctor to learn that he/she had a heart attack at some point and needs bypass surgery?  What if a close friend and his wife were diagnosed with Covid?  What if you personally were just told that you have prostate cancer or were undergoing treatment?  

You see, the friends with stomach cancer, heart disease and Covid are all friends of mine that are fighting these severe ailments currently.  They and their families are each impacted severely.   I myself was diagnosed with prostate cancer and recently finished treatment with a good prognosis.  My wife and daughter were equally burdened.  Why do I tell you about these things?  

I learned long ago that I should learn a lesson through everything that I encounter, good or bad.  Over the last few days I have been searching for the lesson in all of this and I believe it is this:  it's about loving others.  We encounter people daily, at the store, bank, at work, friends, barbers, waiters and waitresses and more.  Imagine if they are dealing with any 1 of the issues that I noted above or one or more of any others like job loss, divorce, addiction of a loved one, etc.  It would probably explain a poor attitude, bad service or many other things.  You might be experiencing some of these same worries and not realize how you are being perceived by others because of your circumstances.  

What I pledge is to be a better neighbor, friend, customer, etc; not be judgmental so quickly, smile more easily and remember that everyone faces daunting situations throughout their lives.  My responsibility it to walk in love and display respect, honor and care for others while understanding that I can't possibly know the challenges that others face.