Month: January 2017

Footprints in the sand & wiping the mud off at the door.

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I saw a post on Facebook today that really spoke to me and a little part of what I hope to accomplish with this blog.  It really got me thinking down a number of different avenues and is something that I thought I might want to talk about.

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I’m in no position to preach to anyone about anything.  You be you and I’ll be me.  If you want to rant about politics, that’s your right.  If you want to profess your love of one religion or another, go for it.  Who am I to disagree?

I challenge you to look back at the footprints you have left, digital or otherwise.

The thing that struck a chord with me has been a internal dialogue concerning leaving a legacy.  I obviously want to leave a lasting legacy on my children and family.  Long after I am gone, they will know who I am and what I stood for.  But above and beyond that (and somewhat the stimulus for this project), I have to look at what is my legacy in this world?

How are people going to remember me?

Ugh, deep thoughts hurt.  

We get one trip around this world and what can one do (what SHOULD one do) to make it a better place?  I keep coming back to the thought hat Words matter.  Our actions matter.  How can we make the biggest difference in our legacy?  (drum roll please)  By ensuring the next generation doesn’t forget how to be kind.  That’s it.  That’s my big thought for the day.

I see daily examples of grown adults throwing hate at another person, or group of people, for their beliefs, thoughts, opinions or ideas, or just throwing negativity into this world, reaching out to be heard.  And don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of things to dislike in this world.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Everyone has their positives and negatives.  Everyone has thing to dislike.  Looking at it from a business perspective, dwelling in these negatives though seems counter intuitive to a successful life.

Study after study proves the ill effects of a negative mindset.  Here are just a few that I’ve read lately:

http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/complaining-rewires-your-brain-for-negativity-science-says.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/positive-thinking_b_3512202.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/19/violent-media-anxiety_n_6671732.html

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/positively-negative#.WHZPdrGZPBI

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As a business owner, if I only look at the negatives…If I concentrate on the bad business deals, the slights by business partners, the perceived downsides of others in the industry, the presumed negatives associated… then my business would be consumed by the negative and would fail.  Successful businesses are built around the positive.  Hope, for example.   Why should life be any different?

So back to the question at hand.  How does one ensure that they are on a positive track.   Words are important.  “Our lives move in the direction of our strongest thoughts.”  Again, I challenge you to look back at the footprints you have left.   Are they footprints that will be known for the love and kindness that you left in this world?

 

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sounds like good advice to me

 

Finding personal peace in a world of chaos…

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Can we have an honest conversation in our first week here together?  One week in, and I’m already unsure of what to say.  I spent the past week asking myself, what is important enough to write, or what would someone actually read?

But I can be honest with you right?  Who cares?  This is about my journey, not for anyone reading it, so here goes.  If it helps others, then all the better.
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Odysseus Society?

/ Wells4Warriors / 4 Comments

So what’s with the Odysseus Society?

I honestly am not sure why I gravitate towards it, but I liked the name.  Yes, it is a faint nod to my hometown (Google it and if you’re from Kansas, you’ll get what I mean).   But, let’s be honest, more than anything, the website was available.

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just a stock image for no particular reason

Ok, maybe there was a bit more thought in it than that.  It started a while back when talking with some very intelligent friends about occasionally getting together to brainstorm business ideas.  I like to put a label on things, and had just read some articles on the ancients and literature.  The thought of Odysseus’s Journey rang a bell.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not an advocate of Odysseus as a whole.  According to Homer, the guy got into some messes and made some decisions that I wouldn’t advise.  As you will find about my writing, I don’t advocate anything really.  I’m not here to beat people down with political opinions from any side.  There are plenty of other posts that will tell you why “Right is Right” or “Left is Best”.   Again, I don’t have energy for that kind of negativity.  I just want to throw ideas and maybe start a conversation, or possibly just get you thinking.

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Odysseus is famous for his brilliance and versatility.  Traits that I felt the world could use more of.  There are a lot of people that have the traits, but their focus is not that which would maximize their potential.
What Odysseus is most famous for is his Odyssey or as I like to call it, his Journey.  And we are all on a journey aren’t we?  from point A to point B.  From birth to death.  Life is a Journey and all we can do is strive to make the best of it.

 

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Dude did have a sweet beard.

A bit about Odysseus in case you want to do some research on your own.

 

As I was contemplating sharing my ideas online, I came back to this concept.  A society of people using cunning and versatility to ensure the success of their own personal journey.  I want this platform to share with you the adventures and experiences from my own Journey and hopefully encourage you on yours.

 

 

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Trying Something New

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I have a tendency to over-think.  There it is.  It’s out there for all to see.  Oh, you knew that already?  I suppose if you know me, this isn’t a huge surprise.

Early in 2016, I was over-thinking about a wide range of things, and decided to try a self-imposed limit on social media.  Don’t get me wrong, I checked in occasionally, and read many of your inspirational & well-meaning posts.   I tried to continue my habit of reading articles on business, management and the like.  I also read many many posts filled with hostility for one person, party, group, or another, and it frankly reinforced my decision that the internet (among other sources of information) was nothing but an overwhelming source of negativity.   Right, wrong, or otherwise.

I was reinforced recently by a quote:

It started me on a train of over-thinking once again.  What is the old adage?  “You reap what you sow.”  I am not here to admonish.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion and far be it from me to ever step on someone’s right to free speech.  I just feel, that dwelling on the negative and on things that can’t be changed does nothing for yourself, your family, your friends, or society at large.  As I sit here and over-think, I have to believe there is room for more positive and/or helpful content.  And so here I am.

I don’t likely have any major insights or life-changing advice.   What I do have is a desire to make this world a better place for my family and friends.  And so, as we begin 2017, I wanted to warn you ahead of time.  I am going to try to post a lot.  I honestly may not have a whole lot to say personally, but I am going to share quotes as they move me.  I am going to pass along articles that I think are helpful, either personally or professionally.  I’m going to ask questions in the hopes that you ask them of yourselves.  I want to generate conversations.  There maybe some nonsense and hopefully a whole lot of humor.  And more than anything, I want to encourage you to be positive, to start that business you’ve always wanted to do, or to make that change you’ve always needed to make.

I don’t quite know what this all will be.  I’m not sure that anything I say will matter, but in today’s world of perceived negativity, I want to help throw at least a little bit of positivity into the mix.  If you’ve found yourself here reading this, thank you for joining me on this journey.