“Demonstrates an unwavering resolve to do whatever must be done to produce the best long-term results, no matter how difficult.” - Jim Collins
The statement above comes from Good to Great by Jim Collins. Not having read the book however this statement stands out. Eac hof us know leaders when we see them. There are managers, executives, bosses and leaders. It is the leader who will take us by the hand and safely move us into promising unknowns. The leader watches the horizon and by instinct or experience warns us of dangers and opportunties. The leader instills within us confidence and a desire to walk the path together.
How then do we raise leaders? Some leaders are simply born, but nurtured by principle focused protectors. Leaders are disciplined; they become the offspring of those who privately chastise with care and are publicly recognized for their good works. The leader is mindful of the weakest among them and nurtures and grows the tiniest. The leader sees potential in everyone; they are most successful when they reveal this to others.
These are lessons I have learned while observing leaders not the slippery words of snake oil salesman.
On this planet there is a dimension of time and space that define our existance. There is a postal code that defines a general area and an address that identifies the location of a home or business. These facts exist to give indisputable order to life and enable us to interact meaningfully with each other.
There are also laws that define nature. It is impossible for any one of us to say with any value of truth that the sun does not give warmth and light to our lives. We may call these facts natural facts as we can neither full understand their reality nor refute their validity. Natural facts are no respecter of race, gender or experience - they have the same results on all of us. Gravity is an example of a natural fact. Regardless of these natural facts there are those who will by their cunning or antagonism cause some to doubt natural facts. They attempt to raise suspicion, postulate mythologies and hypothesize falsehoods to replace natural facts.
Identifying these natural facts should be the primary pursuit of our lives. Our pursuit of these should uplift, enliven and bring balance and order to the chaos and pain inherent with a life in drift. As we seek these facts they become easier to identify. First, we examine a factual morsel, or tidbit of possibility. Second, we examine the effects this has when we attempt to incorporate this fact in our life. Third, when we discover how this fact effects us, brings order, proves sustainable we decide how this fact is good and we embrace and keep it as a part of who we are else we discard this. Finally, we continue seeking natural facts by repeating this process.
It is necessary that as we learn, discover and collect natural facts that we continue incorporating these in every part of our life. We seek out those who share our experience or have found facts we have yet to discover. We also must remain willing to share our understanding with others who seek or would otherwise be harmed if they act contrary to natural facts. In this way our experience will soothe the chaos, prevent the sorrow and salve the wounded - in essence we advocate and learn.
What do you know? What natural fact or facts have you incorporated in your life? Do you use these as maps in your life or trinkets on the mantle of your existence? Do you hide your discoveries or hoarde them as a mountain hermit? Do you share these with others or keep them safe afraid of how others might react? Do you advocate the natural facts that have meaning in your life? Do you stand for something?
Each year the 19 September marks International Talk Like a Pirate Day. This year I noticed a great deal of attempts but poor performance among those who be wishing to speak like a pirate. I have found an excellent lesson for those who be wishing to speak pirate-ese.
Practice through the year and prepare ye’self for next year’s Talk Like a Pirate Day 2009
I enjoy sharing my faith. Some people know it and others suspect it, I am sure a few are surprised when they discover I am a member of the LDS Church, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - yes a Mormon! I am never good with going up to someone out of the blue and telling them about my beliefs. Instead, I am better at explaining what and why I believe the truths the way I do. Quite frankly I think I can explain about as much as anyone may want to know in very simple terms.
There is a topic that many people who are not members of the LDS Church can’t understand: What is the difference between an LDS Church and LDS Temple?
This is an excellent question. The difference is that an LDS church, chapel or meetinghouse (they are all the same thing) is where regular weekly worship and activities are conducted. A local congregation (sometimes more) will use this church as a place to worship or Sunday, have activities throughout the week and conduct administrative meetings. Everyone is welcome to attend meetings in a meetinghouse without invitation.
An LDS Temple is a special building where ordinance are performed that help members make and keep covenants with God. Members who decide to live according to the commandments the Lord teaches through His prophets are permitted to attend and worship within the Temple. In many cases a member may just arrive to worship at any time throughout the week. Some smaller Temples request that members make appointments to ensure space is available. The same ordinances are performed in each temple throughout the world.
Below is a video that helps describe and show the grandeur of a temple whether it be in Africa, Asia, Europe or the Americas. The outside architecture is a reflection of the importance of the lessons learned inside and the respect we show for these Houses of the Lord.
My little girl is growing up. This week she is getting ready to go to school. This will be Audrey’s first year in public school. A part of her growing up is evidenced by an event that happened this week. She finally qualified for a library card in the public library. Both her brothers have had theirs for a couple of years but Audrey had to wait. Finally on Wednesday when Audrey went to the library she and her mother filled out the paperwork so that Audrey could receive her library card.
I am only worried that today it is a library card, tomorrow a driver’s license and then a credit card. Why can’t we just bottle their cuteness at age 5?
The human mind is interesting. Case in point - my wife. She has a 25th High School reunion in the Philippines the last couple weeks of February 2009. Not only has she been actively participating in the discussion, watching the planning and making financial contributions but even plans on going. (Duh, of course!) Or not, but then again she says she will go and then decides she won’t. Heaven forbid I should suggest she go - then I am accused of holding this over head for the future. (This one I don’t understand.)
I found out early that if I asked to come (apparently other spouses are) then ‘We have no money for this.‘ (This would not break us at all.) That really means ‘Listen, I am going to see my high school crushes and old friends and I don’t want you there.‘ I figured that out early on and sometimes only bring it up to jab at her. I am fine with that - if she comes back home afterward - all is good no harm - no foul.
Regardless, the human mind deals with so many things: thoughts, fears, emotions and memories that a lot goes on during the thought process. As we think we ought to consider that what is said or otherwise expressed is only the surface of a deeper process that make up our personalities.
Regardless if you do get a chance to speak with her tell her ‘Imelda, you should go to your High School reunion next year - it is good for you.‘ Careful though.
Attention all men, for one moment put down the remote, push aside that frosty cold drink. I think I have figured out what a woman expects in a husband. Perfection - nothing less. I will never claim to understand why a woman thinks the way she does, just understand we men are always wrong. Here is a list I have compiled through research and personal experience:
1) A woman marries expecting the perfect husband. Sure she deserves one, but this is not their fault - it is ours. We fall in love and want this poor girl to think we are worth their time - for life. Stop trying - we only disappoint and make these women miserable; which in turn . . . makes us - well you know.
2) Learn the difference between loads of laundry. Sure, most of your wardrobe is denim, cotton polyester, and - ok that is it. Colors that match go together - for men. Women have wools, cottons, silks (dry clean pile guys), polyesters, nylon, dacron, whites, light color, colors that bleed, hand-wash, line dry, low heat tumble, cold water, hot water, febreeze, never bleach, woolite, second rinse, soak overnight, etc. You can see why we should never do the laundry - and there is our problem. . . ‘we never help out around the house’. Here is a clue throw it in the dry clean pile and take it to the cleaner - it will cost you a fortune, but so will alimony.
3) Kitchen - Once you step on this battlefield you’ve lost already. It is not her place, but she is there. You can try to cook, but innately deep down inside no matter if it is good or not - you’re an idiot - she hates you and will smile and say thank you. If you ever cook a meal, she will bring it up for the rest of your life (she will out live you) that you don’t do it any more. Don’t forget - clean the dishes - even though you will do it all wrong.
4) Her Safety Is Our Number One Concern - rarely does she understand when you are walking through the mall (not your choice I know) if you eye follows some other woman she thinks you are looking. Don’t try to explain - we know it is that President’s-Body-Guard security sweep we do for her. You could try to explain but she doesn’t want to think you care that much for her. Just keep with the shrug and surprised look.
5) If you did do things correctly, she married wrong - This one is hard to understand, but work with me here. She is perfect, she never faults, and is always the one who solves others problems. You are her problem project for life - she is here to save you from living in your mother’s basement for life (she’s brought it up hasn’t she). If you did not constantly make mistakes she would have nothing to talk about with her girlfiends (not misspelled). Her family might not have someone ill to speak of if you weren’t the jerk she makes you out to be. Instead everyone lauds your wife the Patron Saint of A Screwed Up Husband.
6) Kids - Oi Vey! You were half of that recipe - live with it.
Solution: You should not try to change, the effort is futile. If you do what she asks she will say you are patronizing her. If you continue to be the lazy, no-good-for-nothing louse she calls you, she feels better that she can save you from your mother’s basement.
I have enjoyed bicycle riding since my earliest childhood memories. The feeling of freedom while bicycling is like no other. The first time I was able to distance myself from my parents’ watch was while riding bicycles with my friends as a 5 year old. My first unofficial date my friend and I rode our bicycles to the movies to meet up with a group of girls we met at a dance. About a year before serving a mission in the Philippines I took a week long bicycle ride along the central coast of California camping on the rode side along the way. I feel alive on a bicycle.
I have found (quite possibly by coincidence) that when I begin and maintain a regular riding routine I undergo major life shifts. Case in point before moving from California I found a route I would ride nearly 5 times per week. In Virginia before we purchased our home I created a route where I would ride a couple of times each week. Tonight, I think I have found my new route - with an eye towards change.
I need change, I want change. I want to shake up the cobwebs of my life and live. I am tired of the grind of daily burdens - I have a mind that is aching to explode with new ideas but is hampered but the tiny fishbowl in which I feel enclosed. No one need fear of drastic alterations - just a change in perspective.
I’ve had no choice but to be patient throughout my life. Often we think if I just do what I am suppose to I should receive the things I want. In many cases this happens - we participate in shaping our future. Other times we are stymied in corners where nothing we seem to do changes our situation. One such example was after I finished college. I was living in California with my young family. We wanted so much more than (admittedly) the nice things we already had. We thought our righteous desires for a new job and another home out of California were withheld for no understandable reason. Almost two years later I was offered a very favorable job in Virginia allowing us to move to one of the most beautiful locations on earth.
Why are we forced to be patient? Does anything come from patience? Neal A Maxwell says this about patience. “There is also a dimension of patience which links it to a special reverence for life. Patience is a willingness, in a sense, to watch the unfolding purposes of God with a sense of wonder and awe—rather than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance.“
If it is our intent to call upon God for gifts, blessings, privileges or those things we think we deserve we should plan to be humble enough to wait for His reply. Since He has said anything we ask for in faith that is right will be granted, patience is the price we must pay.
If we are defined by our choices; here is me:
1) I enjoy calculating craziness. I like to think of doing crazy things - I only carry out a few.
2) I enjoy music from late 80’s, 90’s and modern alternative music. Check out my YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/pdoneTechGuy
3) I am amazed with electronic gadgets, settings, and all technology which share life, thoughts, and activity on the internet.
4) I am as young as I think. Sometimes I am 18 others I am 84.
5) I have fun being alone on long walks, bike rides or road trips.
6) Most of all I like imaginative, intellectual conversation.
The statement above comes from Good to Great by Jim Collins. Not having read the book however this statement stands out. Eac hof us know leaders when we see them. There are managers, executives, bosses and leaders. It is the leader who will take us by the hand and safely move us into promising unknowns. The leader watches the horizon and by instinct or experience warns us of dangers and opportunties. The leader instills within us confidence and a desire to walk the path together.
The human mind is interesting. Case in point - my wife. She has a 25th High School reunion in the Philippines the last couple weeks of February 2009. Not only has she been actively participating in the discussion, watching the planning and making financial contributions but even plans on going. (Duh, of course!) Or not, but then again she says she will go and then decides she won’t. Heaven forbid I should suggest she go - then I am accused of holding this over head for the future. (This one I don’t understand.)
I am fine with that - if she comes back home afterward - all is good no harm - no foul.
I have enjoyed bicycle riding since my earliest childhood memories. The feeling of freedom while bicycling is like no other. The first time I was able to distance myself from my parents’ watch was while riding bicycles with my friends as a 5 year old. My first unofficial date my friend and I rode our bicycles to the movies to meet up with a group of girls we met at a dance. About a year before serving a mission in the Philippines I took a week long bicycle ride along the central coast of California camping on the rode side along the way. I feel alive on a bicycle.
I’ve had no choice but to be patient throughout my life. Often we think if I just do what I am suppose to I should receive the things I want. In many cases this happens - we participate in shaping our future. Other times we are stymied in corners where nothing we seem to do changes our situation. One such example was after I finished college. I was living in California with my young family. We wanted so much more than (admittedly) the nice things we already had. We thought our righteous desires for a new job and another home out of California were withheld for no understandable reason. Almost two years later I was offered a very favorable job in Virginia allowing us to move to one of the most beautiful locations on earth.
If we are defined by our choices; here is me: