Veg Out Day

It's the day after Christmas. The holiday season's been great, big fun. Much motion. Traveled to, and fro. Busy. Spent wonderful time with family and friends. Hugged, laughed, and cherished. Drank and ate way too much. Been active. I'm tired. In need of rest and relaxation: some R&R.

Today's way slow compared to recent. That happens, right: crazy, super busy ... followed by crazy, super slow. And that's not a bad thing. Sometimes in life, we have to quiet things down; recharge, meditate, chill, veg-out. So while the English might call the day after Christmas Boxing Day, I think I'm going to call this Veg Out Day. You with me? But no need to answer - because like any well behaved vegetable, you don't have to.

Just lay there, and veg.

Veg Out Day is Good.

The Need For (Parentheticals)

If you think about it (it's good to think), parentheticals are the straw that stirs the good drink of understanding (and who doesn't like to understand, let alone enjoy a good drink). Without parentheticals, everything would just be too spread-sheetish; linear; flat; dot-connected-to-dot; black/white; monotone; unexplainable; hear-what-I-say-not-what-I-mean; sound-bite/bumper-sticker dimensions; just-the-facts Joe Fridays; clean, straight. (In other words: boring; lacking; frustrating).

On the contrary (life is full of contradictions), we live in a world that's all about color; bumps; curves; loops; round-abouts; dipsy-do's; messiness; the-need-for-read-between-the-lines-explanations; Power Points; be-that-as-it-mays; on-the-other-hands; what-ifs; diversity; Socratic dialogue; subtleties; interpretations (well, you get the picture: it's a box of chocolates thing: and that's all I gots ta say 'bout that, Forest).

So let's embrace, appreciate and promote the actual (well) written and (well) spoken words, facts, and matter-of-facts (especially when they are accurate and clear). But lets also celebrate the need for parentheticals (because words alone aren't always meaningful). Good parentheticals (as opposed to many of my previous parentheticals) - can help explain a lot of (what-the-heck?) things that need more (in-depth) explaining.

Parentheticals are Good. (Parenthetically speaking ;)

Self-Control

We've all been reading about the aggressive, protesting, disaffected youth in Greece who are causing incredible unrest and damage through violence, rioting, bombing, and a lot of ugly behavior. It's bad. Now this mess is spreading across the rest of Europe - where most recently young adults in Italy, Spain, Denmark and France have also started to riot, burn cars, attack banks, and again, cause lots of expensive damage - physically and emotionally.

So what's the deal!?

Well, the thing is, they're really peeved about soaring unemployment, globalization, economic turmoil, and too much Abba on the radio. Indeed, times are tough all around, and it's making lots of folks angry, all around. And what's the potential of that type of violent behavior happening here in the U.S.? Given all the bad stuff taking place on our own island, all we need is our young adults rioting in the streets. NOT! (Insert personal opinion here: by electing Barack Obama, I think that's helped quell that potential, at least for now.)

Unfortunately, I personally don't have a quick or easy remedy for what ails us, as the problems are big, deep and wide. (But how do you eat an elephant? Bite by bite.) While we individually can't solve this situation, we can individually do a better job of taking care of what we can control: our own emotions, understanding, perspective, attitude, aptitude and mindfulness. Sure, those "intangibles" won't put a paycheck in the bank, gas in your tank, or food on the table per se. But it will help. If we can't control what we can't control, let's control what we can.

Ourselves.

Oh yea, and maybe, just maybe, every young adult - throughout the world for that matter - should read the super-cool, award-winning, hip-happenin, best-selling book Pocket PorchLights (excuse the absolutely shameless plug). After all, it was written to help young adults succeed at work and life, while at the same time, helping their friends, families, employers and communities enjoy more happiness, compassion, and success. That's its cause. But to achieve that success, on both an individual and collective basis, than each of us has to personally take action. As the saying goes: there may not be an "i" in team, but there's an "m" and an "e."

And you can't have self-control, without the self.

Self-Control is Good.

Path to Prosperity

Happy holidays. Hope you and yours are doing great.

Regardless of your situation, I’m sure lots of us would like things to be better, in one way or another. Times are challenging. For sure. And even if things are okay for you, there’s still uneasiness given the dynamics of today. The uncertainty of tomorrow is bothersome, to say the least.

That said, the importance, now more than ever, of continuous learning and self-development, helping others, and generating prosperity as best we can, is tantamount. Sure, times are crazy. And no doubt, there's so much going on in the world and our lives that we can't control. Be that as it may, we do control (assuming you're a functioning adult) what we do personally.

In any given day, regardless of what's going on, we can choose to learn more, work more, strive more, be more, love more, help more: you get the picture. While hope and faith are great - we must also do, act, live, work, support, aid, nourish, persevere, and accomplish. And only by appreciating all of those collective responsibilities and mandates, and embracing the importance of them all - can we achieve prosperity of wallet, mind, body, family, soul, and life.

It's a package deal.

Prosperity is Good.

Happiness is Contagious? (Who Knew?)

Can you believe that it took a 20 year study to "scientifically" confirm that happiness is contagious. But I don't think that's a news flash, do you? Do we really need a 20 year study, which tracked more than 4,700 people, and its subsequent report published in a British medical journal, to tell us that one smile can influence another smile.

Being nice and happy is not only good for you, but good for others. No duh, right. Now granted, I appreciate that common sense is not so common - but still - it's a no duh, right. Oh yea, in a parallel no-duh ... it really does turn out that misery loves company: that's now a fact as well. Oh goody. Now, while I jest at this study, one thing that I did get from it is this important data point: That happiness spreads outward by three degrees - i.e. to the friends of friends of friends. And that happiness spreads more consistently and more quickly than unhappiness.

Science has spoken. And it says: Don't be a grump, be happy.

And pass the happiness on.

Happiness is Good.

Want to Make God Laugh?

Then tell Him your plans ;)

My priest shared that one with us on a recent church retreat, and I thought it appropriate given all of the uncertainty in the world today. Sure, its important to do everything we can to plan, prepare and be ready for all of the challenges, opportunities and unknowns that life has in store for us.

We also have to leave room for the reality that we can never totally control or anticipate life's various bumps, bruises, disruptions, and sadly, pain and heartache (and that's why in business and life we have contingency plans, insurance and wills, right?). So on this day of Thanksgiving (yes, I'm writing this when I should be getting ready to gorge myself on good food, but more important, feast on the love of family and friends) - lets give thanks for what we have now; what we know now; what we are doing now, and what we will know, do and have in the future.

At the same time, the fact that we don't know what we don't know, and that we can't control what we cant control - is (as the overused expression goes) what it is. In effect, that give and take, and the fact that we have to be responsible and prepare - but also groove on ambiguity, uncertainty and compromise - just means that we're alive.

We're here.

We're doing.

We're living.

For that, let's be thankful.

Thankful living is good.

Think Armamentarium - Not Armageddon

By the looks of things today ... given the glum economy, dysfunctional world order, political divisiveness, the banking and auto industry meltdown , The Colts at 6-4, and my personal biggest bummer being my eyes, formerly a boastful 20/20, now tanking on me (I hear that happens after 40) ... why, you'd think ... we're on the verge ... of ... (gasp) Armageddon. Well, hopefully not really, but you get my point.

"Where's the Ghost Busters when you need them."

But seriously, what's with all heaviness, confusion, paranoia, challenges and uncertainty? Can you say D-R-A-G! The even sadder reality though, is that almost all of us, literally 99.9999999% of the individual you's and me's in the world, have absolutely no ability to personally effect (or affect for that matter), on a macro level, the national, let alone global, predicament that exists throughout the world today. We are but pawns on the chess board of life (got that one from the old TV show Kung Fu; ahhso grasshappa).

If we can't control Armageddon, we can control our own "armamentarium."

What's armamentarium you ask? Well, it's the aggregate of equipment, methods, and techniques available to one for carrying out one's duties. In other words, its how we personally comport ourselves, to do what we have to do, in order to: smile, laugh, listen, learn, sing, dance, work, love, live, support our families, and yes - especially today, to persevere. While we can't just wave a magic wand and make the stuff that we can't control better (unless you know Harry Potter) - we can, for the most part, control ourselves. Now, more than ever - we need to strive to be the best and most complete that we can be, appreciating of course that we'll never be perfect or be able to do everything we want, or be everything we should be.

Be that as it may, each of us needs to rally our armamentarium.

Celebrate it.

Promote it.

Embrace it.

Armamentarium is Good.

Semantics and Interpretations

Semantics and interpretations are important.

We should always be mindful of our choice of words to ensure that the right semantics and the right interpretations are achieved, especially when using words that are relatively similar. And no, I'm not talking about that George Gershwin song that emphasizes the different pronunciations of the letter A in the words tomato and potato. You know the one: “You say tomato, and I say tomato. You say potato, and I say potato: potato … potato … tomato … tomato … let’s call the whole thing off.” (But I got you singing it though, didn't I?)

No, what I'm talking about are the use of words that seem similar, but are semantically and interpretively distinct. And the two biggest words that I can think of in this light, are the words "respond" and "react." Are they the same, and do they mean the same thing? Maybe? Somewhat? Kindasorta? Well, look at it this was: Reaction tends to be negative - response positive.

Think about it: We respond (well) to happy news, good times, good change, the right medication, pleasant surprises, our favorite team winning, love, affection, etc., etc., etc.. As long as it's positive, we respond. On the other hand, we react (not so well) to unhappy news, bad times, bad change, the wrong medication, unwanted surprises, our favorite team losing, meanness, pain, loss, etc., etc., etc., - and will always react, as long as it's negative.

Here's a thought: What if we challenged ourselves to respond, when nature tells us to react? For example, instead of reacting (poorly) to bad news, bad times, unwanted change, meanness, hostility, etc. - we respond with the right Perspective, Attitude, Aptitude and Mindfulness. (That's called PAAM, and PAAM is really important when it comes to achieving success at work, and life). Sure, it's hard to always respond, especially given all the negatives and dynamics in life. But what if we tried to do it anyhow? If given the choice, and the ability - do you want to respond, or do you want to react?

I think we know the answer.

To respond is good. To react is bad.

Listen Up!

Yesterday, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to several hundred high school students, and almost one hundred K-12 teachers. And while this was hopefully a positive, meaningful and edu-taining experience for the audience (he writes humbly ;), it was extremely impactful to me. You see, I wrote Pocket PorchLights (http://www.pocketporchlights.com/) to help young adults succeed at business and life - while at the same time, helping their teachers, employers and families enjoy more happiness, compassion, and success.

That's the cause.

And when I get the chance to talk about the book's purpose on stage, in front of hundreds of people, and see them inspired and appreciative of this purpose (he writes humbly again ;), well, it makes me happy. Not only that, but it recharges my proverbial batteries.

It does.

You see, work and life are incredibly hectic. And we don't get enough time to have good talks, but more important, to do good listening. And while I'm doing most of the talking at these events - I am listening: to their eyes; their expressions; their body language; and yes, even their minds, and their hearts. In a word, I listen to their VIBE. (Now go on and feel free to start singing the Beach Boys song Good Vibrations; I know you want to.)

With that in thinking in mind, allow me to be pose this philosophical suggestion (kind of like my main man stoic philosopher, Epictetus): We need to listen, even when nothing is said.

Listening is good.

Thanks to our Veterans and Armed Forces

In honor of Veterans Day, let's thank our valiant men and woman who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

Though its been said before, and will be said again, all of us in the United States of America (and many other countries for that matter), owe our liberties and freedom to their courage, servitude, and sacrifices. And in continuous honor of our military men and woman (above and beyond doing so on just one day of the year) - lets respect their service by NOT using military jargon and war analogies to describe business.

Business isn’t war. And business people aren’t soldiers.

War is war. Soldiers can get hurt, and can die.

That’s wrong and disrespectful.

Disrespectful is bad.

Keep it Real

At the begining of my book Pocket PorchLights - I quote two sections from Dr. Seuss' book, The Lorax - to help set the stage for my book's primary purpose: to help young adults succeed at work and life, while living balanced, compassionate, family-centric lives. That's the cause. (By the way, I've probably read that book over 100 times to my kids when they were younger, so it has even more meaning to me as a dad and a business man.)

The words and intentions that I use from Dr. Seuss to start my book are: "BUT ... business is business! And business must grow regardless of crummies in tummies, you know." (And in follow-up) "UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." The point here is to ensure that as we develop ourselves as people (which is a never-ending, life-long process, right?), and as we journey through a life that requires us to work, pay our bills, and get along with other people (good ones and bad ones) - we should do so with compassion, and hopefully, as good people who care, love, and support our families and friends - and who can deal with the challenges, and opportunities, that life inevitably offers.

It's a package deal.

If we want to THRIVE at work and life - we have to continuously embrace reality, along with a real appreciation of what it takes to succeed in business and life: including the good, the bad, and everything in between.

So keep it real.

Be real.

And live with reality.

Reality is good.

Let's Get It Started - Yeah

What do you get when thousands of people - from all over the world - come together, and give their own definition of THRIVE, as both a word, and an acronym? You get "THRIVE” - an inspirational new book dedicated to helping all of us be more successful at work, and life.

If you would like to help with this collaborative manifesto, and give your personal definition of THRIVE, as a word and an acronym - than email your definitions to scott@thrivingit.com. Please keep in mind (the lawyers make me do this) that your submission, and all of its words and ideas - may be used directly or indirectly, with or without your consent. And that you may, or may not, be contacted after your email submission. Also, no last names will be used if your material is chosen; first names only.

Finally, there will be no direct monetary compensation, to you specifically, for your words or ideas. That said, it should feel pretty good knowing that your thoughtful input could positively impact lots of people, for generations to come. AND … that at the appropriate time, given appropriate readership activity - a significant portion of all net proceeds from book sales will go to The PorchLight Foundation, a new not-for-profit to be established, and dedicated, to helping under-resourced young adults succeed at business and life. 

So please take your time, have fun and give it your best effort.

Best is good!