Yesterday, Senator Arlen Specter announced that he is leaving the Republican Party and joining the Democrat Party. One might ask "how does someone all of the sudden decide 'Okay, yesterday I believed in this set of principles and today I believe the complete opposite?'" (note that I use the word "principles" VERY loosely). It's kind of like converting from Catholicism to Judaism. However, in this case the conversion has nothing to do with beliefs. It's all about power, and Specter admitted it himself. He cited a poll that shows his chances of winning the 2010 primary were "bleak." This isn't an ideological change, it's not a change of heart and it's certainly not about making the United States a better nation. It's power retention. Plain and simple.
Unfortunately, I think that this reigns true for most of our elected representatives - Republican and Democrat. Political expediency and power trump doing what is right for the country most of the time when it comes to the folks in Washington D.C. They don't care about "moving the country forward" or what's "best for this nation." It's all about popularity, pandering to the masses and giving the media some good sound bytes to get your name in front of people. Do you really trust ANYTHING that comes out of Washington? How is it that we so quickly forget that [insert any politician's name here] is saying "X" today but said the complete opposite the week prior. Because no one in this nation is allowed to suffer or fail any longer, everyone wants immediate action on every issue, and as a result, we focus on whatever our elected representatives are saying in that moment. If we like what they say then we keep 'em in office. However, how often do we actually track follow-through? How often do we take note of their words and say to ourselves "okay, let's see if this actually happens"?
Have you ever been betrayed by a friend before? Anyone ever broken a promise that they made to you? I would be willing to bet that there's no way that most people can say no to either of these questions. So do this.... think about the last time that a friend or colleague pissed you off by not following through on a promise or task. Apply whatever you are feeling right now to everyone in Washington. Let's get pissed, kick them all out of office and find some replacements who have spines and principles.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Hidden Talents
A friend showed me this video last night, and it got me thinking about how many people out there have the potential to be really good at something but they just don't work hard enough or don't try.
The first minute or two of the video shows Danny MacAskill making multiple attempts to ride his bike across the top of a 6' tall fence. First of all, who even thinks of that?!? It's dangerous (he runs the risk of being impaled by the fence posts), and some would consider it just plain stupid. MacAskill, however, doesn't see it that way. He saw an opportunity. How many people out there back down from endeavors that are infinitely less risky but pose much more reward than 2.5 million views on YouTube? How many business ideas have faded from the brains of perfectly competent individuals who are simply too afraid to step out into the unknown and explore their potential. Personally, I have let hundreds of ideas or opportunities slip by me because I was "too afraid to ask" or didn't believe in myself enough. I beat myself up every time it happens, but then I continue to do it. I think it's a combination of fear of failure, perfectionism to a fault and not knowing where to start. Lately I have realized that everything starts with something small. You have to crawl before you can walk. I'm not just going to wake up overnight and suddenly have my own company with 50 employees. Instead I'm breaking it down into little steps. I get overwhelmed by the thought of the main idea and the ideal end result, and I want it all immediately. That's not the way it works though. What about you? Is there something you have the potential to be great at? Something you just haven't had the courage to try? Something you are intimidated by? I have some things on my mind that I am going to start pursuing. I have nothing to lose and neither do you. I'd love to hear your ideas and aspirations.
The first minute or two of the video shows Danny MacAskill making multiple attempts to ride his bike across the top of a 6' tall fence. First of all, who even thinks of that?!? It's dangerous (he runs the risk of being impaled by the fence posts), and some would consider it just plain stupid. MacAskill, however, doesn't see it that way. He saw an opportunity. How many people out there back down from endeavors that are infinitely less risky but pose much more reward than 2.5 million views on YouTube? How many business ideas have faded from the brains of perfectly competent individuals who are simply too afraid to step out into the unknown and explore their potential. Personally, I have let hundreds of ideas or opportunities slip by me because I was "too afraid to ask" or didn't believe in myself enough. I beat myself up every time it happens, but then I continue to do it. I think it's a combination of fear of failure, perfectionism to a fault and not knowing where to start. Lately I have realized that everything starts with something small. You have to crawl before you can walk. I'm not just going to wake up overnight and suddenly have my own company with 50 employees. Instead I'm breaking it down into little steps. I get overwhelmed by the thought of the main idea and the ideal end result, and I want it all immediately. That's not the way it works though. What about you? Is there something you have the potential to be great at? Something you just haven't had the courage to try? Something you are intimidated by? I have some things on my mind that I am going to start pursuing. I have nothing to lose and neither do you. I'd love to hear your ideas and aspirations.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
More connected than you think
My girlfriend and her roommates are currently in a debacle with their landlord. The house that they are living in has been foreclosed on and is set to be auctioned off on May 5th. They found out via the letters from the bank's lawyers that have been sent to the house. Their landlord never told them, and when they called her she was nothing but evasive. To make matters worse, their water got cut off yesterday, because the landlord hasn't been paying the bill. They decided it's time to talk to a lawyer.
I'm naturally a connector - I like getting people in touch with other people where both parties benefit. I love helping people. Most people don't have this come naturally to them though. I decided I'd help the girls out and see if I could find them a good lawyer. It didn't take me long to think of a good friend of my father's. He and his wife are well-connected attorneys in the Atlanta area. I called him and within a few hours he left me a message with the names of four lawyers who are well versed in landlord-tenant matters. And the girls had their lawyer.
This whole process took four hours. I have only seen my dad's friend a handful of times in the past few years, but he was more than willing too help me out. This got me thinking..... networking is WAY easier than people realize. Most people are pretty well connected, but they just don't know it and/or they are afraid to ask for a favor. Try this.... make a list of all of your friends and your parents' friends. Then create a column next to it with their jobs/industries. If you need an accountant, your friends might not be accountants but they most certainly work in a company who has one. That accountant probably knows other accountants and voila, you have your accountant. Humans are usually naturally inclined to help others. If you're hesitant about asking for a favor then turn it around. What if someone asked you? You would probably want to help, right? Read Keith Ferrazzi's book, Never Eat Alone, and you'll be set for all of the networking that you'll ever need to do. As far as I'm concerned, there is no better guide to networking. Ferrazzi makes it fun, interesting and he takes all of the fear out of it. It just takes a little effort, usually not much. When you do put the effort into it, the rewards are usually great.
I'm naturally a connector - I like getting people in touch with other people where both parties benefit. I love helping people. Most people don't have this come naturally to them though. I decided I'd help the girls out and see if I could find them a good lawyer. It didn't take me long to think of a good friend of my father's. He and his wife are well-connected attorneys in the Atlanta area. I called him and within a few hours he left me a message with the names of four lawyers who are well versed in landlord-tenant matters. And the girls had their lawyer.
This whole process took four hours. I have only seen my dad's friend a handful of times in the past few years, but he was more than willing too help me out. This got me thinking..... networking is WAY easier than people realize. Most people are pretty well connected, but they just don't know it and/or they are afraid to ask for a favor. Try this.... make a list of all of your friends and your parents' friends. Then create a column next to it with their jobs/industries. If you need an accountant, your friends might not be accountants but they most certainly work in a company who has one. That accountant probably knows other accountants and voila, you have your accountant. Humans are usually naturally inclined to help others. If you're hesitant about asking for a favor then turn it around. What if someone asked you? You would probably want to help, right? Read Keith Ferrazzi's book, Never Eat Alone, and you'll be set for all of the networking that you'll ever need to do. As far as I'm concerned, there is no better guide to networking. Ferrazzi makes it fun, interesting and he takes all of the fear out of it. It just takes a little effort, usually not much. When you do put the effort into it, the rewards are usually great.
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