Short Term and Long Term

Everyone has short term and long term problems. Some problems are big. Some problems are small. When they happen to us at the wrong time, all of the problems seem big.

We would always like to have a permanent solution to any kind of problem.

In life, most problems are short term. The results of the problem might not matter 30 minutes from now, so don't stress it too much. Even if the problem is going to matter a few days from now, ask yourself how much the problem is going to matter a few months from now or even a few years from now. If it is not going to matter, again don't sweat it out. It is still a short term issue.

When you do get a long term problem, you may give yourself 5 seconds to succumb to it. After the 5 seconds are up, the problem no longer has any power over you. It is time to provide a solution and become stronger because you did not let the problem get the better of you in the long term.

In short, don't stress the small stuff. Life is too short and valuable to waste it worrying about short term issues.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. It might be what they need to take their mind off a short term problem.

Know What You've Got While You Have It

There is a saying that goes something like this: You don't know what you've got until it's gone.

Wouldn't life be much more grand if we appreciated what we have when we have it, rather than thinking about how great something was after we lose it?

Be thankful for what you have. Appreciate what you have. Love the ones you're with. Don't take your friends and family for granted.

Know what you have right now. Enjoy what you have right now, as well as tomorrow and for as long as you do have it.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. You don't know how long you will have the opportunity.

Shining Star

When you were in grade school and you accomplished a task, chances are your teacher gave you a star on a board for the good work.

Gold stars were always my favorite, but it was always cool to get a star. Every time I got one, the harder I wanted to work in order to get another one.

As adults, we still strive to get the brass ring at the end of the task. Sometimes it is rewarding to just get an atta-boy or atta-girl for doing a great job. It shows that our co-workers appreciate our work.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness, even if it is just recognizing them for a job well done for the day. It could be the shining star they need for the day.

Be Someone's Blessing

Be someone's blessing? How can I be someone's blessing when I am in need of so many blessings myself?

If you need something good to happen for you, do something good for someone else. It does not have to be anything big; it can be as simple as holding the door open for someone behind you - it does not matter if you like the person or not, or even if you know the person.

When you get up in the morning, try thinking about what you can do for someone else rather than what someone else can do for you. If you find the dishes in the sink from the previous night, just think how appreciative your significant other will be if the dishwasher is emptied and the dirty dishes are put in the dishwasher.

Some people have the financial means to bless people, while others have to let their actions be their blessing to people.

When you are doing good things for other people, good things will happen to you. You might ask when and what? The only answer I have is you can't out give God and His timing is perfect.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. You are not limited to one random act of kindness in your lifetime or even in a day. Your kindness is the blessing that someone needs today.

Things to Do While I Am Alive

Do you have a list of things to do why you are still alive? Some people call it things to do before I die, but I try to stay optimistic.

Some of the things I would like to do:

• See the Grand Canyon
• Go to Alaska
• Learn to play the piano
• See the pyramids in Egypt
• Perform random acts of kindness
  

Having things to look forward to make it a little easier to handle the challenging days.

If you have a list already, try to do one of the things on your list soon. If you don't have a list, what are you waiting for? Make one.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. You might be able to add a tick to your checklist.

Envision Good Things ...

Good things happen to people who want good things to happen.

When you envision good things that reflects in your attitude and your aura. When you are positive, good things are sure to follow.

If good things are not happening right here and now, don't worry, they will in due time.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. Good things happen to those who make good things happen.

What You Can Control

Life would be a lot simpler if we could control everything. Unfortunately the world does not work that way.

We can control a great number of things and I will touch on a few that directly involve ourselves.

You can't control how someone is going to react to something you say, but you can control what you say to the person.

You can't control someone from trying to provoke you, but you can control how you react to the person.

You can't control how your kids are going to react to a parental demand, but you can continue to be a good parent to you child(ren) no matter what.

You can't control the amount of time you are given, but you can make the most of it.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. This too is something you can control.

Coopetition

The chief operation officer (COO) of my employer used the word coopetition to describe the relationship that we will have with some of our partners since our acquisition completed.

Coopetition, in short, is working with a competitor to achieve a goal. Not a bad concept for the world. Sort of goes along with the cliché, Can't we all just get along?

A company's purpose is to make money, so it is not reasonable to expect all companies to work together, but it is reassuring that differences can be put aside to reach a common goal for both companies.

If Apple and Microsoft can do it, almost any company should be able to it as well. Just a little something to think about.

Buddies

Yesterday was a good day. I got to see my buddy Dori. I have not seen her in eons as she is a remote employee who works out of Kansas. I never know when she is going to be in town or when she is going to come back, so I make sure I greet her with a hug. Dori is a truly a good person and I want to make sure that she knows that I know that she is and that I appreciate her.

Dori is one of the few remaining people left from my original group when I got hired. The others that still remain are Tad, Grandpa Mike, Stephen and Becky. Most of you are probably saying So what? You still work with 5 people. Big deal. My response is ... it is pretty big deal when you work for the same company for almost 7 years. In the high tech sector where it is more common to spend more time at work than you do with your family, your work family of buddies are an important part of your life. Appreciate them. Respect them. Give them your best.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness - even if it is for one of your buddies.

Live a Great Big Life

One of my favorite movies in Big Fish. In short it is the story of a dying man and the fabulous tales he spins about his life. The man actually lives larger than the tales he tales, even though his son has a hard time listening to the stories for the umteenth time.

God has a grand plan for everyone and it is to live a large, impacting life. Now large is relative. Sometimes it is fine to big a large fish in a small bowl. While other times there is nothing wrong with being a small fish in the ocean and making your own nitch.

The best way to live a great big life is by making someone's day and performing a random act of kindness. Whenever you do something nice for someone else, you are living big in their eyes.

The Secret of Success

Persistence ...

Most people don't fail ... they just quit trying.

You must learn to love the process of what you are doing.

If you love what you do you you can find a way to succeed.

Learn to have fun in what you do.

When you are having fun doing what you do, your mind and body work well.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. Keep trying until you are successful.

It's All About Attitude

Attitude makes a difference.

My wife and I watched the movie Facing the Giants with some friends from church last night. Talk about delivering a message about how a good attitude can make a difference in your life - wow!

The movie uses high school football as it's medium to deliver its primary message that nothing is impossible with God. Football attracts the guys and a good story line attracts the gals. It is out on DVD and is a good watch for the entire family.

Besides it primary message, it stresses that with a good attitude, you will be able to accomplish a great deal. If you don't think you can do something, you are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy and you will fail.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness with a positive attitude. It could be the nudge that someone needs to do the same.

Family Values

When you are a parent, you are always on stage in front of your kids. Every action you make and every word you say around your kids is recorded in your kids memories to be played back at any given time; these are going to be the values you instill in your kids. Actions speak louder than words. Just to make sure that you got what you just read, what ever you do your kids are going to do. Whatever you say your kids are going to say.

This being said, you better be on your best behavior unless you want to be a do as I say, not as I do parent. I am a bigger fan of teaching your kids good family values and living the family values you teach - if you are going to talk the talk, you had better walk the walk.

I just started reading the book Little Family, Big Values based on the Roloff family from the television series Little People, Big World on TLC. There is nothing wrong with getting mind stimulation from a hard covered book, even if is old-fashioned for the 21st century. So far, so good on the read. I will blog with my complete review later when I have finished reading the book.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. If your kids are around, they will be watching; IMHO, this is one of the best family values you can instill in your kids.

Team Work

Team work is important in getting through life. There are very few things in life that can be accomplished completely on your own; being a hermit is one lifestyle that does come to mind that does not require teamwork.

Even Michael Jordan needed a supporting cast before he won a world championship. If you are going to have a winning team, then you need to have a leader that can delegate work to the team and trust that they will get it done. Teams can be made up of specialists for all tasks, or generalists that can do everything pretty well, or a combination of specialists and generalists.

Teamwork requires support and training. The team, either as a group or a specified member, must help new members out and get them up to speed as quickly and efficiently as possible. The benefits of a well trained team member well outweigh the short term financial and time costs it takes to get the team member up to speed. Be understanding and supportive when the person asks for clarification. Positive reinforcement goes along ways.

United we stand. Divided we fall.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. You never know when that person will be on your team.

Attack Each Day with Enthusiasm

Yesterday is but a memory.

Today is a new day ladies and gentlemen. This does not mean that you need to forget about yesterday. It just means that you should not live in yesterday. Live for today.

Attack each day with enthusiasm and energy. Give it your best. If you try to re-live or change what happened yesterday, you are going to miss out on all the good things that are going to happen today.

Make someone's day today and perform a random act of kindness. Do it with enthusiasm. Your kind act might be what that person needs to get them started today.

thermostats and thermometers

Are you a thermostat or are you a thermometer?

Thermometers reflect the current temperature of the enviroment, while thermostats recognize the termperature and adjust it if necessary.

Again I ask, are you a thermostat? Or are you a thermometer?

If you are a thermometer, then you reflect the attitude of the room no matter what the attitude is. If people are happy, you are happy. But if the attitude in the room is angry or sad, then you are angry or sad.

On the other hand, if you are a thermostat and the attitude of the room is happy, you reflect the happiness and no adjustment is needed. But if the attitude of the room is angry or sad, you are the happy point and adjust the attitude of the room.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. You just might be the thermostat that someone needs today.

Smile

One of my favorite sayings is Smile and make people wonder what you are up to. Smiles are contagious.

Most people do not want to hang around sad, angry and/or grumpy people all the time. They would much rather be around happy-go-lucky people.

How many people want what a happy person has versus the number of people that want what a sad and angry person has?

Remember that you always represent someone or something all the time. At the very least, you represent yourself and family name. You quite often represent your company or group. And you need to remember that you always represent God. The easiest way to put on a good representation for any of the above is by putting a smile on your face. Most people don't remember the majority of what you say, but they will remember the feeling you left them with at the end of whatever it was you were saying. If you delivered your Pulitzer-prize winning message with a negative tone and frown on your face, people will remember the negative aura but not the real message. However, if you deliver a simple message with a positive attitude and a smile on your face, they will remember that they had a pleasant experience during your presentation and are more likely to remember more. You, your family, your job, your group and God deserve your very best. Again, the easiest way to deliver your best is to start with a smile on your face.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. Remember to do it with a smile; the person will get even more out of your kindness.

When Good People Do Good Things

I have a couple of buddies, Judy and Scott, who in-and-of themselves are good people. Now they are proving again that they are good people.

Both are participating in events to try to find a cure. They have different causes: Judy is walking to try to find a cure for breast cancer on her 3-day walk. Scott is walking to try to find a cure for diabetes on his walk.

Most of you know the old saying, "actions speak louder than words." For those of you who know my buddies, you know that they are seldom short on words. Both are again making their actions speak very loudly.

Hardly anyone has the finances to single handedly wipe out a disease, but together we can do just about anything.

If you have a cause that you already trying to help, good for you. If you know of one that you just have not made the time to help - consider this your nudge. It will definitely make someone's day as an act of kindness - random or not.

Sunsets

Weather-wise, yesterday was a rather bizarre day. The morning started off with rain and then the sun came out for a very short amount of time, then it started raining again. Then it was just very overcast. If you live in the Pacific northwest, you are asking yourself "why is this so bizarre, it happens all the time." I am glad you asked; the bizarre part was the very cool sunset that I saw on my way home.

There was a section of the sky right in the middle of some black clouds that the sunset was just incredible. The pinks, reds, purples and oranges were some magnificent that no picture or photo could have done it justice. You had to be there to experience it yourself because it was not there very long. Just as it was disappearing, a rainbow showed across the black clouds. It was as if the rainbow borrowed some of the color from the sunset.

I think the reason that I enjoyed it so much was because it was framed by the black storm clouds and then the rainbow showed across the blackness. It was probably the second best thing I saw all day - only behind seeing my wife's loving face when I got home.

Again, the sunset did not last very long, but the quality of the sunset was something to marvel. Remember, it is not always quantity that it matters - it is often the quality. Enjoy the small things in life.

Bumps in the Road

Happy Friday everyone ... we made it to the end of another week. That which did not kill us only made us stronger.

Bumps in the road make the trip more interesting, rather than a nuisance. Each week is a journey. How boring would work be if everything went exactly the way it should. Part of reason that I enjoy my job so is due to some of the "bumps" that I find; albeit I am a quality assurance engineer. Granted, I might be a bit weird, but I am not crazy - I do like things to go relatively smoothly. I just try to look at the challenges as just that, a challenge, not some insurmountable roadblock.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. It just might be what the person needs to help smooth out their little bump in the road.

My Day Was Made

My daughter made my day last night for no reason other than she wanted to do it. She gave me a photo album whose cover looks like a basketball. She wanted me to have a place that I could organize my pictures of the girl's basketball team from last season.

Sometimes it is the little things that can turn a good day into a great day or a so-so day into a good day. Yesterday was a good day that turned great.

Teenagers nowadays, as well as when we were teenagers, generally think the world revolves around them. I am very happy that my daughter is just about done with her teenage years. She is growing into a very fine young lady who is learning that it truly is better to give than receive. Don't take your kids for granted. You don't want them to take you for granted.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. It could make your kid's or parent's day a great day.

Green Lights

Today was a green light day.

On my way to work, I think there are about 12 lights that I encounter during my trip. I only had one red light. I'll take that as a good omen for a good day.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. Not everyone starts the day as a green light day, but you can turn it into one for them.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Last week I think I mentioned that I broke my ankle; a broken ankle means I don't get to play basketball for several weeks. It does not mean that I am not involved in basketball while I recuperate.

I got a call from one of the kids yesterday asking if I was going to have the gym open for basketball. I find it rather invigorating to find kids who want to play basketball as much as I do.

The high school decided to open the gym this spring so both the girls and boys could play and keep in shape for next season. We had enough girls come to play that we were able to get the girls in a weekend tournament.

Even though I am unable to play, I enjoy helping others get better at their game. I can still put my best foot forward figuratively, even if I cannot do it literally.

Make someone's day and perform a random act of kindness. Don't forget to put your best foot forward when you do it.