Happy 2012, my friends!

I had a full-page rant written about the meaning of “Happy New Year” and how New Year’s resolutions, though well intentioned, are poor substitutes for setting real goals and putting a plan into action. I pulled the plug on that piece because I realized that it would be much more beneficial if I encouraged you to keep your eyes on the prize. We often talk about taking careful and calculated aim, but how much of an emphasis are we putting on actually firing? Granted, there are times when it’s best to hold, but how often do we allow circumstances to derail us? It seems we have come to accept failure as a destination, instead of seeing it for what it is – a test, a challenge to see what we’re made of. Most times, failure is just a pot hole in the road. Rarely does it actually turn out to be a washed out road.

I have been studying my 16 month old son Toby as he has been learning to walk. It is flat-out fascinating to see the joy in his face as he realizes how much more he can be and do as a walker. I know he would’ve found success on two feet with or without our encouragement, but I honestly believe he learned more quickly because we were all rooting him on. The spills he takes may slow him down, but I believe that nowhere in his mind does the thought of quitting exist. He has fallen and been knocked down numerous times, but his resolve never wavers. Whether it is a quest for a toy, a snack or our affections, Toby always has his eyes on the prize. His will is so strong that when he can’t get what he wants, he melts down because he doesn’t always understand why not. But babies are wired to keep their eyes on the prize no matter what it requires of them. They learn that success is simply a string of failures.

So, what’s our reason for giving up at the first sign of hitting a bump in the road? Self-preservation? Are we really doing ourselves a favor by avoiding pain and struggle? Maybe in the short-term, but long-term it cripples us to possibility and can even deaden our souls.

Are you familiar with the experiment where they put fleas in a jar and then put the lid on? The fleas try to jump out, but keep hitting the lid. I heard that after a period of time you can remove the lid from the jar and do you know what happens? The fleas don’t jump out. No, though they keep jumping, but they stop just short of the where the lid goes. So, do the fleas succeed because they keep jumping and don’t get hurt? Well, I say no. Though they don’t give up jumping, when the prize (getting out of the jar) is at hand, they don’t seize it. Are we so conditioned to be busy that we wouldn’t recognize success if it came and bit us on the nose?

Success is resolving to continually fail until we reach the prize. Is it fun? Not always. Is it rewarding? Remember Toby? If you’re ready to embrace a string of failures this year, I applaud you. You will get there. Just make sure to surround yourself with people who will root you on each step of the way and dust you off when you fall. And when you succeed, you will share the fruit – and it will taste mighty sweet.

Photo credit: sammydavisdog

The following is a bee-autiful example of freeing up others to live out their full potential. It was originally posted by Dan Couglin of the Coughlin Company. I’ve got nothing to add except tumultuous applause!! (They really like that part).

In an interview in the October 27, 2003, USA Today, Lorin Maazel,

music director of the New York Philharmonic, said:

“In rehearsal a lot of conductors mess up by stopping to say

something, but when they start again it sounds exactly as it did

before. If you want to make a difference, never say anything

that’s not going to make a difference.

Emotion is what it’s all about. Music making without emotion

and passion is nothing. Fine orchestras respect themselves

and have a great sense of mission and esprit de corps. They’re

trying to do their best. Nobody’s perfect. I’m never looking for

a perfect performance. I’m looking for an impassioned performance.

I know that no one wants to do anything but his best. If

he doesn’t, I don’t frown and complain. Don’t demand perfection.

Demand passion.”

Essentially, Maazel allows his performers the opportunity to regain

themselves, free themselves of what is getting in the way, and

allow their passion to surface again. He realizes the motivation is already

within these individuals. He doesn’t try to motivate people. He

creates an environment where motivated people succeed.

Photo credit: Miss Britt

"In case I forgot to thank you...!"

“The key to a joy filled life is a heart filled with gratitude.” 

There’s an old expression that goes “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. I gotta admit, around this time of year it would be hard for me to find any flaws in that kind of logic. But it’s quite different to have a TUMMY filled with Thanksgiving than to have a heart filled with thanksgiving. You know, all that turkey, stuffing (the irony of THAT dish), rolls (with, honey of course), punkin pie and a host of other delectables.

As with so many other Holidays, other than having different symbols, the weather changes and the food recipes involved, lately they all seem to run together. Don’t get me wrong. There are so many things I love about getting together with family for a great meal prepared by loving hands. But lately there’s been something missing. Or maybe I’m just a shmoe. Actually, I think that’s it. I’m a shmoe.

Most things I’ve read gloss over the history of the Thanksgiving holiday and urge us to count our many blessings. While I could not agree more, I would add that we should make our thanks personal and specific. If you’re like me you tend to take the good things in life for granted. Heck, sometimes I’m ashamed of the lack of gratitude I show to the people who mean the most to me. What a lunkhead! Yeah, I’m sure at times I act like the playground toddler who only cares about his shiny new yellow Sponge Bob bouncy ball.

But when I actually make the time to quiet my thoughts long enough to start listing the true riches in my life, it overwhelms me. There are so many who have so much less than I do. And let’s not forget to be thankful for opportunity. Yes, opportunity. Because we live in a free country (a special shout out and thanks to our heroes in uniform), we get to affect the world in a positive way. That’s a gift we should not waste. You feel me?

So, for the record I would like to offer my thanks to those of you who have added to the many blessings in my life. Your generosity, whether given in small or large proportions, has built me up when I have been down. So, really, this is a tribute to you, with my deepest and most heartfelt thanks! I hope your Thanksgiving is the best EVER! May you eat, pray, love (no, I didn’t see the movie) aaaaaaand be near a couch or loveseat when the tryptophan kicks in.

“Acquiring more without possessing an equal measure of gratitude is just dumb.” – Buzz Marketeer

Photo credit: Opencage.info

Okay , so I know you’ve been eyein’ my cape. It IS pretty cool, isn’t it? That velvety, deep purple and silky orange sheen, flowing in the gentle breeze. Just beckoning to ride the lightning. Now, I don’t mean to be selfish, but….you can’t have it. You’ll have to get your own. Take it easy now. Don’t throw a shoe at me. Heck, purple and orange probably aren’t your colors anyway. Not everyone can pull it off. No offense.

All right. I’m just funnin’ with ya. You might want nothing to do with my cape or any other cape, right? It’s too weird. Too dorky. Just plain stupid.  Hey, nobody can REALLY fly anyway. But what if you could? Then maybe? “Well, yeah” you might say, “but that’s not gonna happen!”

So, the idea of having super powers does have some appeal to you? But traipsing around in a cape is for little kids, actors, nerds and losers. But what’s the point of being a caped crusader who can’t fly? Well, the real caped crusader can’t fly. In fact, Batman doesn’t have any super powers at all. He’s got all that super cool gadgetry, but he’s a mere mortal just like you and me. So how come Batman is not dismissed as a super hero? What gives? And what about the Green Hornet? He’s in the same boat. Is HE a super hero?

So, if it doesn’t take the ability to fly, punch through walls or shoot webs to be a super hero, what DOES it take? What’s their common thread? Well, they are all willing to stand against evil to protect the weak. There is that. And come to think of it, doesn’t it take more guts to do that WITHOUT special powers? That is, to be willing to risk something, even life and limb for the sake of another. Isn’t that what true heroism is?

Movie Spoiler Alert: If you happened to see the newest Thor movie you’ll see a perfect example of this at work. Because of a prideful and foolish act, Thor has his powers stripped from him and his father casts him out of their kingdom, down to Earth. Thor seriously wrestles with it in the beginning. But eventually he steps up and puts his own life on the line to save Earth and his newfound love from the clutches of his evil step-brother.

Where am I going with all this? I’m just tryin’ to make a point. Or rather, raise a question. If courage to perform selfless acts is all it takes to be a super hero, then what are you waiting for?  Your cape awaits. Pick a color and go suit up. Then repeat after me. “Spandex is my friend. Spandex is my friend.” If you say it enough times maybe you’ll start believing it. It didn’t really work for me, but it might for you. Just make sure you steer clear purple and orange. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself.

Of course this doesn’t have to be a literal act. You don’t really need a cape to reach out to someone who needs a sandwich, a smile or an encouraging word. And you don’t even need compassion. All you need is do is act, but it’s good and right. But if you should ever need to offer cover to a streaker or shelter to an Ewok, you’ll wish you had a cape like mine. Just sayin’.

In closing, I hope you’ll join me in taking the time to thank someone who’s takin’ it on the chin for you, past or present. Maybe mom or dad, bro or sis, Gram or Gramps, a teacher, mentor or boss. And let’s not forget the men and women in law enforcement and public safety. And with Veteran’s Day upon us, if you know or know of a man or woman in uniform, why not take a moment to tip your hat to them and thank them for their willingness to catch a bullet for you? It would likely mean the world to them.

Photo credit: I wish I knew, so I could thank them…and give ‘em a ‘lil spelling lesson

I’m sure some of you have read that according to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway. Because bees don’t care what
humans think is impossible. Heh. I like that.

But this is not exactly true. I guess in recent years scientists, using high-speed cameras, have found that a bee’s wings function similar to the way helicopter blades rotate, but even more complex. Fascinating! There’s even a video illustrating this amazing “technology” at work in nature.

The point remains that people are quick to tell us what’s impossible, even when the proof is literally staring them in the face. Hey, I do it too. Guilty!

So, let me ask you. Are you letting other humans dictate what’s possible for you…Or are you embracing your inner “bee” and “flying” in the face of opposition? I can’t think of any better examples of how to live with purpose and power than in nature. It’s easy for our little pollen packing pals to get airborne without thinking twice. They’re designed that way. So what’s our excuse? Why is it hard to shake off our doubts about finding and following the flight plan for our own lives? Ugh!

Too often I get caught up in over thinking stuff. What, you too? Have you ever heard of “analysis paralysis”? Well, I’ve got it bad…and that ain’t good! I used to think that perfectionism was cool, but now I’m totally convinced it’s a curse. Yeah, I’m all for holding to a high standard…to aim for excellence. But what happens when we don’t get all our ducks in a row and our stars are all misaligned? Well, my tendency is to go into a holding pattern until everything is perfect. But that never happens. Tsk! And, for me the result is that nothing gets done. I call it “getting ready to get ready”. I actually heard that when I was in an MLM years ago. I did get SOMETHING useful out of that experience.

So, let me encourage you. When the naysayers invade your world and tell you it can’t be done or that you’re gonna fail – kick ‘em in the…. How about just ignoring them and keeping your distance. Just show them. I know, it won’t be easy at first. But you will be doing yourself a HUGE favor by seeking out wisdom from someone who has already done what you endeavor to do. It’s critical to listen to folks like that because they understand how important risk AND failure is to success. We can learn a lot about success by studying failure. It’s so apparent and immediate in sports. Like in football, if you keep getting flattened every time you run up the middle, try running to the outside next time. It’s not rocket science in football or in life. But I believe that when we stop worrying about other people’s opinions and just do it, we can move mountains. So stop bumbling around. Just believe and live!

Photo Credit: left-hand