Sorry Charlie

The other night, I watched with a wincing, teeth clenching fixation - a few of the infamous interviews with Charlie Sheen.  I wanted to look away (and should have), but couldn't.  It was like a crazy mix of pain and pleasure. Go figure. 

Speaking of crazy, all I can say is: WHOA!  That Sheen's a rambling, delusional, incoherent, arrogant, crazy jerk.  Sad.  Very sad.  Even sadder, on a more selfish level, is that I use to like him.  But now, seeing who he's become, I don't even want to watch his 2 1/2 Men TV show (which I dug), let alone two of my favorite movies, Wall Street and Platoon (well, maybe those can get back into rotation, but only after my wounds heal.) 

Seriously, I don't think I can stomach seeing him again, at least not without an acidic taste in my mouth.  Kinda like I can't stomach hard shell tacos anymore, thanks to a long ago night of extreme over-indulgence of them, which might have been slightly influenced by a Charlie Sheen like Tequila fest (minus the drugs and girls, of course).  But I rigress.       

On a more lighthearted note, his interview reminded me of the classic old-school Starkist "Sorry Charlie" commercial - which for those unknowing youngsters keeping score at home - was a big time popular TV commercial way back when.  The Cliff Note version is, that Charlie the Tuna thinks that just because he talks about having taste, means that he's actually tasty. But that's not the case.  Because he isn't tasty, and Starkist won't have him.  That's why you get the voice over saying "Sorry Charlie." 

Get it?  Got it?  Good! 

And just like Sheen yaps away that he is right; that he is great; that he is super uber fantastico man - don't make it so.  Nope.  Quite the opposite.  Interestingly enough however, this isn't the first time we've seen "Sheenesque" type crazy jerks.  Indeed, there's other obnoxiously full-of-it crazy jerks in all walks of life.  Oh yea, they're out there: knuckle headed crazy jerks, who talk a bunch of stupid smack, yet somehow have the audacity to think they're not crazy jerks.  More often than not, these types of blathering idiots seem to be mostly in professional sports, show business or corporate industry.  Although I've also seen a few regular Joes, who act like crazy jerks, as well.  Regardless of who, where, or when - its just not right.  

While I could continue to type away about how fantastically wrong deplorable crazy jerk behavior is (after all, this is sorta therapeutic, and way cheaper than an actual therapist), it's time to bring this one to a close.  Bummer, hun!?  So what's the moral here?  Simple:  Don't be a crazy jerk.  And don't hang out with crazy jerks.  Not cool, either way. 
           
Crazy Jerks Are Bad.

Can You Handle A Little PDC?

It's confession time.  And this one's a doozy.  Now, while I'm slighty kinda sorta embarrassed by this confession, it's not soo bad that my wife's kicking me out (at least not at this point), or that my kids will hide from me in shame (then again), or that I'll need to visit Father Kevin (heck, he's seen me enough, as it is). 

So you ask: what gives Abbott?  What's this uber confession that's got you so worked up, and yet apparently, so pressed to share!?

Fess up man, and get on with it!

Well, okay.  If you insist.  Here goes.

I gots a man crush on Tony Horton. You know, THE MAN behind the P90X workout program.  Yeah, I think he's cool.  After three full weeks of sweating/grunting/swearing to P90X - he's the current wind beneath my wings (cue Bette Midler).  Seriously, if not for Tony himself and how he does what he does the way he does it, there's no way I'd be doing what I'm doing.  Fact.  And for that very reason, I declare my public display of affection (PDA) for Tony and P90X. (We interrupt this program to state that this is not a paid endorsement by P90X; as if they'd subsidize a flub like me.  Disclaimer #2: don't expect me to look like he does in the picture.  Nope.  It's all about the health benefits (for now ;).)

More than just outing my PDA for Tony to hundreds of thousands of readers (riiight, as if) - the bigger point is to make a public display of commitment (PDC).  Think about it: I've now told everyone (well, one or two) that I've signed up to do the excruciatingly exhaustive 90 day P90X program.  So how can I back out now!  Can't.  Gotta get it done.  Anything short of finishing P90X, and this will be a very visible, pride swallowing, ego tripping, won't hear the end of it, my brothers will make me eat a big ugly nasty bug covered in dirt, type of humiliation.  Gulp!     

You know what though: bring it on!  Make it so!  The fact is, I did it, knowing it, and now you all know it, as well.  I ain't no dummy - for the most part; while I might have been born at night, I wasn't born last night (props to Kid Rock).  I knows what I did, and I'll hold me to.  I expect you to now hold me to it, as well.

So - how 'bout you?  What PDC do you want to do to help hold you to doing something new, or stop doing something you don't want to do?  Moreover, get the doing done.  For sure, you don't have put it out there on social media, let alone subject yourself to cracks about a man crush, like I did (please don't).  You can just keep it with your peeps.  Your call.  Either way, give it a go and put it out there.  It just might help. 

PDC is Good (if you can handle it).          

Lessons From Logan

Yesterday, our beloved dog Logan was sadly put to sleep.  After 15+ awesome years, it was just time for her to move on; discard her painful, achy, nonworking body - so that her beautiful soul could run again in heaven.  Through my tear filled eyes, I can see her now: zipping around fast as can be, running through streams, catching fish, chasing squirrels, playing with kids, licking faces and chomping on sticks.  She's bringing joy, getting well deserved belly rubs and having fun once again. I'm sure of it. 

The fact that she made it this long was fantastic, as Golden Retrievers have an average life span of about 10 years.  While her longevity was phenomenal and appreciated by family, friends and neighbors alike - I don't think it was a random coincidence, or luck. Nope. I think she was truly blessed (as are we, who loved her) because she was who she was.  And who she was can teach a lot of us humans about how to behave, and maybe even how to live longer, happier lives. It's true.

Check it out: If I did a mash-up of Logan's most wonderful and endearing qualities that we can learn from, it would go like this:

Attentive, happy, caring, kind, enthusiastic, careful, modest, playful, courteous, tender, fun, compassionate, protective, poised, accepting, unassuming, others-oriented, joyful, sensitive, smart and loving.  But make no mistake: while Logan would much rather wag her tail, cuddle and be petted - she would growl, bark and bite if the situation, or the person, warranted.  She was no fool, and she suffered no fools. 

Indeed, Logan was the complete package: friend, protector and confidant. Which leads me to think that if we humans could comport ourselves with half the characteristics that Logan had as a dog - the world would be a much better place.

Woof!

So run in peace Logan. 

We love you. 

We miss you. 

We honor you. 

Lessons From Logan Are Good.

Be A Sensor

If your career development plans include getting a promotion - let alone enjoying success with your current position - you're going to do what it takes to succeed, right?  Presumably then, you're going to have to do great at your current job, with the skills you have - while at the same time, learning/incorporating new skills. 

If this is your situation (please say yes ;) - than I'd like to suggest an important, yet often under appreciated skill, that you most definitely need to put on your list. And that's "sensing." In other words, you need to become a "sensor."

What's a sensor, you ask? Well, it's someone who can interpret, and moreover leverage, "soft data." A good sensor knows how to read body language, gauge the subtle clues, feel the vibe, sniff out the BS, observe the not-so-obvious, and detect the empirically undetectable.  Put another way: see the forest through the tress.  

Granted, being a good sensor is one part DNA; that's why they say common sense is not so common.  But make no mistake, you don't need to be a Jedi. It can be learned, honed, and toned through concerted effort and attention.  That said, be careful not to over use, as it can also be dangerous - especially if you let your "instincts" and so-called "street-smarts," get in the way of using real facts and figures.  After all, information still rules, and economics still wins.  And while perception might be reality, reality is still real (deep, hun.)    

So, when developing your talent repertoire, be sure to incorporate sensoring as a key component/attribute for your personal and professional success. 

Feel me?    

Sensoring Is Good.

You Mind?

We've all heard the expression "mind over matter," right?  And it's been said that “what we think, we become.”  Now, while those are both extreme over simplifications of what it actually takes to move from one stage to another, at work or life - they do compute, at least philosophically. 

In other words, we need to be genuinely mindful about who we are, and who we want to be; realizing that we’ll never actually get there, completely. After all, we’re a perpetual, never-ending work in progress.  So let's just embrace that reality, using it as motivation to continuously learn. And grow. 

Taken out of context, this mind myself first mindset might seem somewhat self-centered. At the very least, self-absorbed. Not so. The fact is, we can’t be good sons, daughters, parents, husbands, brothers, friends, neighbors, employees, or any of those without a sincere and genuine self-awareness.

Indeed, the more self-aware we are, the better we can be others-oriented.

But make no mistake: there’s a huge difference between self-aware, and selfish.  Abraham Lincoln said, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other thing.”  You think he was selfish, or self-aware?  Like most everyone, probably a bit of both - with the self-awareness far outweighing the selfish, like most everyone.               

Mindful Self-Awareness is Good.

Are You A SME?

Are you a SME? You know, a Subject Matter Expert? And not just some poser, make believe pretend SME - but an honest to goodness, no-doubt-about-it, genuinely verifiable SME? 

If you are a real SME - then awesome.  And if you're not a real SME, then figure out how to be one. Now! Before it's too late. Because SMEs are good, and needed - especially at work.  You see, every organization needs SMEs. Actually, they need lots of SMEs, and lots less Gs (that would stand for Generalists: folks that do a bunch of stuff, but have no real subject matter specialization).

Check it out: not only are SMEs more important, wanted and revered - but they typically make more money, as well. And who doesn't want more props and more coin? Not SMEs, that's who! 

Word of caution though: be careful not to come off as a "know-it-all." They're as bad as litter bugs, back seat drivers and itchy sweaters.  For those keeping score at home, the big differences between the two boils down to style, humility, professionalism and likability.  Moreover, you know it, when you see it.           

So - are you a SME? And if not, why not? And if why not indeed, then figure out what you would like to be a SME of, and make it happen.  It just takes time, effort and desire.  Which you have.  So go for it.  Even better, get it done and keep it going.  Because genuine SMEs are always learning about their subject (and/or related subjects) of expertise.  It's a journey.  And hopefully, an enjoyable and monetizeable one at that.    

SMEs Are Good.  ("Know-It-Alls" Are Bad)

Do Gooders

When (most of us) we were kids, it was never a badge of honor to be called a "do gooder".  Unless of course, you wanted to get beaten-up by the bad dooers.  And I for one, was never a fan of the do good effort, or the beatings.    

Then later - in corporate life - the term "do gooder" also had some pretty negative connotations, as it implied a few other not-so-cool labels like "brown noser" and "suck up". Again, not the kind of recognition one goes looking for, unless of course you really were one, or had a thing for getting taunted.  Once again, I shied away from both.   

That said - it's now time to debunk, defuse and dismiss the bad rap on "do gooders". In fact, it's time to make "do gooder" what it should be: a good thing. In other words, it's cool to do good. It is.  And it's not cool to taunt ... let alone give swirleys and/or wedgies ... to the do gooders.   (Especially at the office; HR really frowns on that kind of thing.)     

But seriously: you, me and the world needs more do gooders (sans the brown nosing and sucking up, of course). So let's turn that negative "do gooder" stigma upside down and inside out, and make do gooders ... do gooders.

After all, doing good, is doing good.   And it's way better, than doing bad.

Do Badders Are Bad.

Do Gooders Are Good.