Depth Perception ©

Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your profession - Isaac Watts

It’s easy to follow the crowd. Easy to conform to the status quo to avoid persecution. Some would even say it’s prudent to go along to get along, even when the status quo is against every principle you were raised on. The only problem with going along to get along is that somebody usually has to compromise his or her beliefs. Usually the easiest route is the road of least resistance. The unfortunate thing is that the road of least resistance is also the road of complacency and stagnation. Sure, we all would like to go through this life with no problems, no enemies, no loss, and no disappointments where everybody loves everybody and wants nothing but the best for their fellow man/ woman. Unfortunately… this is not the type of world that we live in. We live in a world that seems to celebrate the use of underhanded tactics to succeed. A world where the more conniving you can be to achieve your goal the shrewder you are considered to be. People don’t celebrate people’s successes anymore. This is even true of a lot of people claiming to be Children of the Most High God in church EVERY Sunday runnin’ laps and walkin’ pews.  Don’t get it twisted. There aren’t any perfect people. There is no perfect church. As my Bishop always says if you ever do find the perfect church, don’t join it… because you are gonna mess it up.

That being said, there is a marked difference between being imperfect and being outright malicious towards an individual purposely because they have achieved a certain level of success. I personally am grateful when I see the next person succeed. Mainly because I understand that there were undoubtedly some dues paid by that person to get where they are or to obtain what they have. If people would spend more time on improving themselves instead of tearing down the next man/ woman, this world would be a much better place. But then again, without haters where on Earth would we get our motivation?  I know my haters motivate me every single day. I would not be the person I am today without two things… The Love of God and the sincerest efforts on the part of my haters to steal my joy. God’s love sustains me, emboldens me, protects me, drives me and nourishes my soul. I could not make it one day without it. As for the latter, don’t be deceived. I have had my days where I wanted to absolutely refuse to roll with WWJD. I have run across people in my life who have gone out of their way to try and steal my joy. The thing that has allowed me to forgive (and partially forget) people’s misdeeds and indiscretions towards me is the fact that I have not always been where I needed to be when it comes being the man that God has mandated me to be. I have fallen short. I am no saint. However in this author’s humble opinion, the thing that separates saints from sinners is a sincere effort to live according to the word of God in every aspect of your life. As I always say, God honors effort.

Now for those of you who don’t believe as I do I ask that you humor me for a moment. Everyone has the right to believe (or not) in whatever they wish to. Nevertheless, I honestly believe that in order for an individual to live a fruitful and  satisfying life, one’s life  must exemplify certain characteristics. Consistency, balance and stability, organization and structure, integrity, discipline, knowledge of self (knowing who and Whose you are),  self respect, self love, compassion, empathy,  a healthy amount of reasonable common sense , and last but certainly not least a strong spiritual connection to the One (who or whatever that may represent for the individual). Now granted, I’m not saying that one can’t find happiness void of any of these characteristics, but experience has taught me that life is a lot less chaotic and a lot sweeter when any combination of these characteristics are present.

I personally have a pedigree of radicalism. It is in my blood. My Pops was never the go along to get along type. He never met an unethical situation that he didn’t jump on with both feet. He believed that individuals should be held account able for their actions. That actions have consequences and that if you were willing to perform the act you should be willing to accept the consequences without complaint or regret. I once heard that the true mark of integrity is being willing to do the right thing, even when no one is looking. Today it seems that it is considered uncool to show honor and nobility when dealing with your fellow man. People’s kindness is taken for weakness and it seems that people aren’t satisfied unless there is some sort of strife that exists in the environment. Some people are so messy that their day doesn’t go right unless they are running somebody down and spreading gossip. Yet it is these very people that can dish it out but can’t take it. Let somebody slander them in any way and that person is going to have an all out war on their hands. Yet when you call them out for slandering you unjustly, they go out of their way to play the victim and paint you as the villain. I say you get what you give in this life. If you go around sowing bad seed, your harvest will be extremely unpleasant . Rest assured, in this life you definitely reap what you sow. That’s why it is extremely important  and essential that you consistently sow good seed.

Inconsistency is a major pet peeve of mine. The one thing that I honestly can’t stand (something that I am asking the Lord to help me with) is fickle and indecisive people. I absolutely can’t stand sometimesy people, man. Goodness! Honestly, I don’t even know how they live with themselves. Now granted, everyone has changes in mood. We are emotional creatures by nature. But what disturbs me is some people’s lack of self-control. Case in point, the people that speak to you on Monday like you’re the best of friends, roll their eyes at you on Tuesday like you they can’t stand you, frown at you on Wednesday and Thursday  like you have done them wrong…but then are back speaking to you again like absolutely nothing is wrong on Friday. Frankly, these kinds of people concern me. Are you that out of touch with your emotions that you can’t see how ridiculous you are behaving. Now if someone has done something to you that warrants that type of behavior then by all means…get your scowl on if that’s what you do. But to behave that way and no one has actually done anything to you? That’s disturbing. A person’s character is on display big time under circumstances such as this and as Maya Angelou so eloquently put it, when somebody shows you who they truly are… believe them. So many of us get caught up in believing in a person’s potential without truly understanding the person. So many of us are so superficial that we refuse to believe the truth about an individual, even when it is on full display for all to see. Unfortunately, I have found myself counted in that number numerous times. I have wanted more for people than they wanted or could have even imagined for themselves. I have gotten caught up in placing my trust in someone’s “representative”, never truly testing the person’s character. I entitled this entry Depth Perception for that very reason.

Mosby’s Medical Dictionary defines Perception as the conscious recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli that serve as a basis for understanding, learning, and knowing or for motivating a particular action or reaction. Wikipedia defines Depth Perception as the visual ability to perceive the world in three dimensions (3D) and the distance of an object. In terms of evaluating an individual’s character, Depth Perception refers to assessing one’s moral fiber by viewing it from a number of varying angles and points of view.  It is extremely important to look beyond the surface of any person, place,  thing, situation, or circumstance to insure that you have a complete understanding of it before forming an opinion or perspective on it. Many a reputation has been tarnished, friendship destroyed, relationship ended due to the parties involved forming the wrong opinion based on having an improper perception of the actual facts. There is a quote circulating that says that perception is reality. I only partially agree with that statement. An individual’s perception is indeed their reality. The unfortunate thing is that some people’s idea of “reality “ is sometimes skewed negatively by their own personal beliefs. The key is to remain objective and unbiased. Now I am not delusional by any means. I understand that the more personal the situation happens to be, the more one’s emotions come into play. There are times when logic and rational thinking takes a backseat to our feelings and emotions. However, a truly mature  and emotionally stable person learns over time how to balance the two. Notice I said over time….. this by no means is an overnight process and trust before you leave this life your resolve will be tested more times that you will ever be able to count. Nonetheless, the more your resolve is tested the better your individual depth perception.

Now let me pose the following question…..


How deep are you?

In my humble opinion, one’s depth is not determined by the size of their tangible possessions (a home, a vehicle, their entourage, the number of letter behind their name, etc). One’s depth is not determined by the size of their vocabulary or perceived intellect. Depth deals with how in touch one is with their soul. Some of this world’s greatest minds understood what it meant to stay in touch with their soul:

True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.
Albert Einstein

Be careless in your dress if you will, but keep a tidy soul.
Mark Twain

A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.
Mohandas Gandhi

Even the word of God refers to the importance of keeping your soul and heart free of strife:

Keep your Heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life - Proverbs 4:23

It appears that in today’s society,  persons in touch with their emotions or individuals that speak from the heart are often times viewed as arrogant or sensational when their sentiments don’t line up with the status quo or the current modus operandi. As one matures, the opinion of others regarding the way that they live their lives begins to matter less and less. However, if a person isn’t careful, they could spend their entire lives trying to live up to the expectations of others instead of living their lives according to the expectations that they set for themselves. We are to live our lives to the fullest. Void of regret whenever possible. Being truly in touch with one’s soul allows them to do exactly what they want to do, when they want to do it and be absolutely fine with the result albeit positive or negative. For from our successes come promotion and fulfillment while our failures provide us with valuable lessons. Besides… failures are nothing more than delayed successes.

How deep are you?

Deep as the world’s deepest oceans or your city’s shallowest pond? This was a question posed to me by a close friend of mine. The wonderful thing about this analogy is that it speaks to so many things. Deep oceans allow for several types of aquatic life to coexist. Some never ever interact because of the ocean’s depth and vastness allowing for the relatively peaceful coexistence of the ecosystem. Meanwhile, ponds are pretty shallow, are extremely congested, causing a pretty chaotic coexistence of the ecosystem and the potential for the pond to dry up if the conditions surrounding it become unfavorable. Oceans are in constant motion and flow continuously avoiding stagnation while ponds because of their lack of motion become torpid and sour. Our spirits and souls act in similar ways. Challenging ourselves keep us in a constant state of progression and growth while inactivity breeds complacency and general lack of ambition. Now while complacency is not a bad thing,  it was never meant to keep us permanently rooted to any one person, place or thing unless it’s one’s final destination. I look at a state of complacency as a brief rest stop on the way to your goals and objectives. Sure you are to stop and enjoy the fruits of your labor,  but not at the expense of reaching your intended goal or fulfilling your purpose. This is where discipline comes into play. Discipline allows you to rest but not quit. Discipline forces you onward when everything in you and around you wants you to give up or quit. Discipline is an essential component of depth perception simply because the depth of your resolve and your determination establishes exactly how far you are willing to go to reach your objective.

So I leave you with yet another quote (As you have probably figured out by now… I love quotes. There is so much wisdom in the words of our ancestors and those that have come before us):

Everything you see or hear or experience in any way at all is specific to you. You create a universe by perceiving it, so everything in the universe you perceive is specific to you – Douglas Adams

Make sure that your perception of reality is one that leaves those of us fortunate enough to share in it all the better for having done so. Insure that the depth of your perception does more than just skim the surface. Dig deep. Put forth the proper amount of effort to insure that your perception’s contribution serves as a basis for understanding, learning,  knowing or for motivating a particular positive action or reaction. Then and only then can you be assured that you are viewing things from the right perspective and that your point of view is as close to actual reality as it can possibly be.

Collateral Damage ©

I claim that human mind or human society is not divided into watertight compartments called social, political and religious. All act and react upon one another - Mohandas Gandhi 

Here we go again…

You know the sad thing about what’s going on in Washington on the hill right now is that no one there seems to understand the severity of what’s happening in America right now. The hopelessness that’s brewing. The scarcity of employment and the ever looming spectre of joblessness and unemployment for those of us blessed enough to be employed at the moment. The political posturing, Partisan shenanigans, lack of concern for what’s truly important to the American People by the elected officials on the hill and outright disrespect for the Office of the President of the United States has led to a serious lack of confidence in the people of this great nation’s ability to trust the political process that was implemented over two hundred years ago. It seems that the title politician is now synonymous with a used car salesman. Their interest in what’s important to their constituents lasts about as long as it takes for them to cast their vote. After the voter has cast their vote they’re on their own. Don't believe me? Drive off the lot without a warranty and see just how concerned that car salesman is going to be with that check engine light that pops on about a block from the lot.

Now I’m not saying all politicians or used car salespeople can’t be trusted.  I mean after all it is the car salesman's job to cater to your immediate need and appeal to your vanity. It is the consumer's responsibility to do their research and ask for what they want. Voting is (or should be) a totally different experience. I should be able to cast my vote for the individual that I feel is capable of doing the job he has been elected for. I should be able to rest easily knowing that the person I have cast my vote for truly has my best interest at heart. It seems as long as I have been able to cast a ballot, I have been voting for the lesser of two evils. As my grandmother always used to say, the devil that you know is better than the devil that you don’t know. The political system in America today in my opinion does not even remotely resemble the one our founding fathers implemented all those years ago. Or maybe it does. I mean after all when the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States was written, men still owned slaves (that’s a whole ‘nother entry in and of itself).  But in theory, they meant well I guess and I’m sure as somewhat misguided as some of them were, I’m sure they could have never imagined their vision for the American Political process would deteriorate in to what it has become. The way our elected officials are going about addressing the American people’s concerns is deplorable. You want to talk about Class Warfare? Let’s talk about the highest level unemployment in this nation in decades. Let’s talk about a disproportionate number of Americans without access to quality healthcare. Let’s talk about an alarming number of Americans having to choose between putting food on their table and putting petro in the ride. Let’s talk about Seniors in danger of losing SSA and Medicare benefits that they have worked long and hard for. Let’s talk about a mediocre education system that does nothing to prepare today’s youth for the 21^st Century. Let’s talk about a criminal justice system that put’s an innocent man to death on what has been considered by some of the nation’s top legal analysts to be at best circumstantial evidence.


Couple all of these factors with the fact that there are only certain segments of the American populace that have a voice in Washington and you have all the elements of Class Warfare but not in the way that today’s American Millionaire population would have you believe. Let them tell it, the Buffet Rule is going to all but have them in the poor house, living under a bridge and eating Ramen Noodles. Heaven forbid if they aren’t able to take that annual vacation to Martha’s Vineyard with the fam this year or buy that new Roles Royce Ghost to tool around town in. I mean after all, a six or seven figure income doesn’t go as far as it used to these days *eyes rolling*.  Not to mention all those government bailouts have to be paid back you know. Oh yeah! Guess who is footing the bill for that? The American Taxpayer. Meanwhile, the rich get richer running around violating hotel housekeepers stuffing their money in Swiss accounts whiles the poor.. well they become nothing more than Collateral Damage.


Einstein’s definition of Insanity - Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result – has never had more relevancy that it does right now. It explains the current landscape of American politics perfectly. Those of us that choose to excercise our right to vote are pretty much forced to continue voting for individuals of questionable character and integrity hoping that “this time” things will be different. Unfortunately, a great many of today’s “leaders” suffer from a serious lack of character, discipline and integrity. It is these character flaws that seem to keep them from doing what we the people have elected them to do. It seems they are too busy posting lewd photos of themselves on twitter, eating $16 muffins and dodging constituent’s phone calls. One of the unfortunate results of our elected official’s behavior on the hill and in the halls of congress is that it is beginning to make our nation the laughing stock of the international community. Pretty soon what little international clout we currently have is going to quickly disappear and it is at that point that we are going to begin to see increased attacks on our livelihood from not just domestic threats but international ones as well. In my humble opinion, our international superiority complex has made us extremely vulnerable. Our complacency as the world’s preeminent superpower has given us the idea that this great nation of ours status in the international community is safe and sound. Unfortunately, this could not be any further from the truth. Our involvement in international conflicts that all in all don’t concern us coupled with the fact that we can’t even take care of our own domestic issues has somewhat decreased our great nation’s credibility in the international community. I mean after all, how in the world can we try to help establish democracy in a third world nation when our own elected officials can’t even agree to disagree to come to some type of solution for the good of our nation. Our infrastructure is falling apart. Unemployment is at an all time high. The list goes on and on. Yet the United States of America is supposed to be a shining beacon of freedom and is supposed to be setting the example internationally for democracy at it’s finest. As of late I would be hard pressed to say that that is actually the case. Don’t get me wrong. I love my country.  My father bled for this country.  I am a responsible citizen. I believe in the principles that the founding fathers of this nation sought to instill into the moral fiber of it. I still believe in the American Dream. I am just tired of being exploited by politicians. Sick and tired of them making the American people promises to get elected and then never following through on  those promises.  Enough is enough. It is time for some responsible leadership in Washington. It is time for those in positions of authority to be held accountable for their lack of concern for the critical issues plaguing the citizens of this great nation.

I heard a senator describe Washington, D.C. as an island just off the coast of reality. A Senator said this. Which leads one to believe that there are at least a few indviduals in Washington trying to do what is in the best interest of the American People. I don’t believe that all politicians are crooked. There truly are some that are trying to make a difference. I do honestly believe that there are some politicians that have the American people’s best interest at heart. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that they are sadly and hopelessly outnumbered. The vote - as powerful as it may be – actually has no true power if there aren’t any candidates truly worthy of it.

I remember having to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning before my day started when I was in elementary school….

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. “

Who remembers having to recite this everyday before starting the day’s activities in school? Ok… I’m telling my age. Nonetheless, these are powerful words. If only they had a place on today’s political landscape and in today’s society in general...

One nation - Learning to appreciate one another’s differences regardless of skin color, class, ethnicity or ideals.

Under God - Well, this one ought to be simple for those of us that believe in God. Now we have crusades being waged by people trying to remove God’s image and Christian values away from everything Americana (Prayer from schools, God’s name or Christian images from municipal and federal buildings, money, etc.). Which actually puzzles me because this nation’s founding fathers sought to weave God’s presence in to the very moral fiber of it.

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all – Unfortunately, we still have quite a ways to go on this principle. However, I will say that we have come a long way in this area. Nevertheless, the journey for total equality regardless of race, creed or color is far from complete.  All you have to do is turn on the news to get a reminder of just how far we’ve come and just how far we have yet to go.

I penned an entry entitled A Letter to The Government in which I outlined a number of questions I would ask if ever afforded the opportunity to visit the Nation’s Capital and speak with our nation's leaders. After witnessing their handling of the President’s attempt to right the wrongs of the past three administrations (Yep ....  I’m including the Clinton Administration, too) my faith in our political process has been a bit shaken. Due to the  constant political posturing surrounding the passage of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Health Care Reform bill A.K.A "Obamacare", the raising of the Debt Ceiling, as well as the pending battle surrounding the Jobs bill and a number of other legislation vital to correcting the crisis looming on the horizon for this nation, that list of questions and concerns has gotten considerably longer. I hope that the individuals that we have elected to represent us will understand that the American Public is tired of the petty squabbling going on on the hill.  It is my hope that the current climate of Partisan Warfare in Washington can be resolved quickly, judiciously and with the least of amount of collateral damage. 

  

Know Your Worth ©

When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves – Confucius

What are you worth? Are you a Dime or a Diamond? A Prince or a Pauper? What is your self- valuation? Do you price yourself far above market value or are you a Penny Stock? These are extremely important questions for us to ponder as we go through this life because the way you value yourself all but determines how others see you. Only those people who truly love you and have the utmost concern for your welfare will ever see more in you than you see in yourself.

For the purposes of today’s entry I wish to explore the importance of establishing a healthy sense of self-worth.  American Psychologist Wayne Dyer said it best…… Self-worth comes from one thing - thinking that you are worthy. Am I worthy of …….? Just fill in the blank. Whatever your answer to the question is  it is more than likely what is standing in the way of your obtaining whatever it is. Is it love, is it money, is it good health, is it respect, is it that promotion, is it that friend, is it the man or woman of your dreams, is it a new start, or is it forgiveness for a past indiscretion?  Regardless of your answer to your question, it depends solely on your sense of self- worth.  If you don’t believe that you are worthy of possessing any of these things then you won’t ever have them. It’s that simple. For you see, in my humble opinion your drive is directly connected to your sense of worth. If you don’t believe that you deserve life’s best, you won’t strive to obtain it.  Trust me, I have dwelled in the doldrums of low self-esteem and self-worth until what I frequently refer to as my Spiritual Rehabilitation occured (Check out some of my earlier entries for the details).

I personally have allowed certain things to occur in my life that were a direct result of my feelings of unworthiness. At one point in my life (a very low point I may add) I truly believed that I was unworthy of love, unworthy of life’s best …… unworthy of life. For the longest I would ask God to die. Then one day the most profound thought came to me ..... instead of asking God to die, why not ask Him for a better way to live. My faith in God provided me with the ability to discover my true worth. My issue was that I was seeking affirmation from the wrong sources. As my Bishop always says:  stop taking your problems to other people with problems, take you problems to the Answer. People can be extremely judgmental, fickle, and if suffering from an identity crisis of their own can be easily swayed by other people’s opinion of you.

Now this next bit of information I have elected to share may come as a surprise to some and a confirmation for other. Those of you that truly know me already know these things and have supported me through it all and for that and so so much more I thank Almighty God for placing you in my life (You know who you are).

I have had a life long battle with depression. It is only by God’s grace and mercy that I am even writing this entry right now. Almighty God has spared my life more times than I even dare to recall. God must truly have something special planned for my life. Something that is going to bring Him and His Kingdom honor and glory through my testimony. Nonetheless, whenever I feel like giving up or whenever I feel like quitting I am reminded of God’s goodness towards me. Death does not frighten me. I guess that’s why I at one point in my life vacillated so much between wanting to live and wishing to die. Neither death nor the fear of it holds any power over me. That being said, there are so many ways in which one can experience death. There are an endless number of variations and scenarios. There is even the ability to experience death while yet living which in my humble opinion is actually worse than a mortal death. To stave off death’s allure, I have fought long and hard to retain hope in the midst of hopelessness. I have tried to work on becoming the man God wants me to become which I must say has proven to be more challenging that I thought it would be. Then again, no one ever told me that it would be easy. Yet in spite of life’s ups and downs I have done all that I can to instill hope in others, only at times to have my intentions misinterpreted and turned against me. I have had the very people that have professed “mad love” for me turn around and mistreat me in ways my enemies never have. Betrayal by someone you love and care for to me is worse than death. As far as people’s misinterpretation of my good intentions, there’s a line in Christopher Nolan’s epic film “The Dark Knight” that says it best:

“You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

It is what it is…. The nature of the beast. You can’t be everything for everybody. Everybody is not going to like you. Especially if you are standing on principles that they despise or don’t necessarily agree with. The days of agreeing to disagree are all but a thing of the past. Everybody nowadays has to be “right”….. Even if they are dead wrong. Nonetheless, mortal death (physical death) is to me merely the trading of one realm of existence for another. Although the physical body in which our spirit dwells deteriorates and eventually is returned to the dust from which it came, our spirit lives forever. It is a journey that we must all make. It’s a natural part of man’s existence. You live……You die. It’s the living part I haven’t quite figured out yet.

What is my purpose? Why am I here? Who can I trust and why should I trust them? Who do I love? Why do I love them? Who genuinely loves me and why? These are only a few of the questions I ask myself as I try to find my way. I have yet to really receive a clear-cut response to these inquiries, but I’m sure that before I die they will all be answered. For you see, my faith dictates that I trust even when things around me make absolutely no sense whatsoever. My faith demands loyalty in spite of circumstance. My faith requires me to love even if that love is not fully reciprocated. You see, that’s the way that Almighty God loves me. Unequivocally and unconditionally. Now granted, God’s love for me is perfect….. Mine far from it.


But I digress...

The key to discovering one’s self -worth begins with a clear understanding what having a healthy sense of self-worth and self-esteem means. Self-love is about as simplistic as I can put it. You have to start within. For you cannot expect anyone on Earth to love you if you don’t truly love yourself. When you truly love yourself, people’s negative opinions of you don’t matter. When you truly love yourself, you will never allow anyone to disrespect you in any way, shape, form or fashion. When you truly love yourself, you will devote so much time to improving yourself that you will not have any time to criticize others. When you truly love yourself, you will not allow the trivial matters of this world to ever steal your joy. When you truly love yourself you will allow yourself to make mistakes understanding that it is not the end of the world as long as you “learn the lesson”. Besides nobody’s perfect…. When you truly learn to love yourself, you will become so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind becoming too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. The Optimist creed is my watchword. Now I am by no means saying that I have got it all together. I find myself vacillating between (although not as much as in the past) joy and pain. As long as we live we are going to experience our fair share of both. The key is to insure that your good days outnumber your bad days and to count your blessings and not the troubles. Always remember that somebody, somewhere on this little blue marble of ours that we call home has it far worse than you do and would love to have your life. You may not always be able to control what happens in your life but you can control how you respond to it. Your mindset or thought processes determines your response. So much of one’s self-worth is determined by their mindset and their thought processes.


The mind is a powerful tool. The proper mindset can mean the difference between an experience being enjoyable or being unbearable. The proper mindset can also mean the difference in becoming involved with something voluntarily or involuntarily. There are times when an individual who suffers from low self-esteem or a low sense of self worth will allow themselves to get pulled into situations just for the sake of pleasing someone even if it’s against their better judgment. The unfortunate thing is that the very individual or group that they call themselves trying to impress could actually care less whether or not the individual complies with what they are asking of them because they have no true concern for what is in the person's best interest. They are more than likely a predator and unfortunately the individual has become their prey. Individuals with low self-esteem and little to no idea of what they are truly worth make for easy prey and can be easily spotted. They are typically always competing to be the center of attention, they are typically always in the midst of some sort of confusion or dysfunction, they only find happiness in other people’s discomfort or misery and they almost always surround themselves with people who’s outlook on life is mostly always bleak and pessimistic. As the old saying goes, misery loves company.


Now please don’t misconstrue or misinterpret what I’m saying. Doubt creeps up on us all from time to time. There are times when uncertainty can cause one to question their ability, their place in this world and even their value. However, those of us that have faith in both their abilities and the Supreme Being that has granted us salvation understand that even though we don’t always make the right decisions or fall short of the mark (As we all have whether we choose to admit it or not), that doing so does not lower our value. As a matter of fact it actually increases it. The true measure of one’s value is not in what they own, or who they are dating, or where they work, or what they drive, the clothes on their back or even where they reside. The ultimate indicator of whether or not an individual has a healthy sense of self-worth is if they are able to remain true to themselves and to what they believe, even in the face of criticism and isolation. There are times when being true to one ’s self and one’s moral code means that they will have to travel the road less traveled … and travel it alone. However, once you discover just how much of a gift that your presence is to this world (yeah… I’m talking to you) and what your true value is (not what someone else thinks your value is or should be) you will never settle for less than what you truly deserve in this life ever again.

Anger Management ©

Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details, and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure - Gary Ryan Blair

You’re angry.

You’re extremely upset.

 Somebody has done you wrong (or so you think).

Now what?

What happens next is extremely important. One word at the wrong time in the wrong context can mean the difference between a simple apology and dire damage control. I personally have never been good at either. That’s why I don’t stay mad at people or hold grudges long because it’s counterproductive. I seek to lead a fruitful life and detest waste. Being mean and spiteful is a wasted opportunity to show someone forgiveness and to express love one to another as the Creator has mandated us to. He also states in His Word that He wants us to lead fruitful and productive lives. Holding on to pain and anguish caused by the misdeed of another is the easiest way to stunt your “growth” and/ or could cause you to miss out on something truly special.

Now don’t get it twisted… Anger is an emotion. Wikipedia defines Anger as an automatic response to ill treatment. It is the way a person indicates he or she will not tolerate certain types of behavior. It is a feedback mechanism in which an unpleasant stimulus is met with an unpleasant response.You are a human being and you are going to experience anger on a variety of different levels. The key is to not allow the anger, the hurt, or the resentment towards whoever has wronged you or you feel has wronged you consume you. No one is saying don’t get mad…. I’m just saying verify the source of the anger and make the anger work for you. Channel it. Holding grudges and plotting revenge only empowers the person who has hurt you. Then there is the remote chance that the person you are upset with for causing you pain is not even aware of it (Which in my humble opinion is the case most of the time when it comes to male to female interactions). This is where an excellent and open line of communication is essential to maintaining a peaceful coexistance. Nobody knows what’s on your mind unless you tell them (Unless you’re Dionne Warwick, Miss Cleo or a Jedi). I’d be the first to admit that even though I myself am extremely attentive to the needs of those that are around me and especially of the ones I love and care about I get blindsided by the occasional negative reaction to something that I have done or said that was purely innocent with no malicious intent behind it.

Individuals are so emotionally fragile now. I don’t know if it’s because of the state of affairs in the world today which appears to be in a state of degradation and decay. The list of possible reasons is endless: People’s moral standard (or lack thereof), classism, sexism, racism, a departure from tried and true values that have spanned generations, the current state of resources the world over (the Trillion dollar deficit here in the US, the loom of a financial system collapse in Europe, etc), genocide in different regions around the world, the unprecedented number of natural disasters all over the world, the way individuals are raised or some variation of any of the aforementioned factors to name but only a few. Nevertheless, whatever the cause of the fragility may be, we are in my opinion (the humblest of opinions) are in a state of emergency. We have endangered the survival of the moral and virtuous citizen. I only say this because once upon a time you were rarely ever faced with having to choose between your core beliefs and the status quo in order to survive. You were free to live your life the way you wanted live it as long as your indulgences didn’t interfere with the livelihood of your neighbor or fellow man/woman. Now there is no respect of persons or property. People are no longer “staying in their lane”. Lifestyles intersect more now than they have in years because of the ease of direct access to people’s lives. Social Media, Camera and Video Phones, Reality TV shows, Bloggers, Cameras practically on every building or street corner make our lives more accessible than ever before. If you are around my age or older, our parents did not have to worry about a third of the things we as adults and those of you that are parents have to worry about these days. This ease of accessibility to our very livelihood at any given time is yet another source causing us all to be somewhat emotionally on edge.

Now I must admit that I have not always been the most mild mannered and even tempered person. I have had my share of BFFs (Big Fat Fits as my friend Shauna calls them). I have been guilty of reading more into someone’s actions that they even intended for me to. I have taken out anger directed towards someone else on someone unnecessarily. I have said things in anger that I wish I could take back.  Unfortunately once you say something it’s out there and if the words are harsh enough no manner of apology or no amount of effort can immediately deescalate the situation. It’s in those instances when time proves to be the best mediator. Emotions have had time to subside and with the sting of the words expressed not as potent, reconciliation and forgiveness is a possibility. However, forgiving does not necessarily mean forgetting.  Especially if the wound is too deep. Sometimes the only thing that keeps people from being hurt in the same way again is remembering what it felt like when a person that they hold in high regard causes them discomfort or personal pain. And believe you me…. There is no violation in this world worse than a personal one. One that only you understand. One that no amount of pep talks, biblical scriptures or catch phrases will help you overcome immediately. The kind of pain that can only be healed by allowing the pain to run its course and the total forgiveness of the perpetrator. Only then can you move on and go forward with the life you were intended to live. Not one second before. Trust me… I am speaking from experience. No grudge – no matter how serious the violation – is worth you living the rest of your life in a holding pattern of anguish and frustration because of pride. Let it go. Whatever it is. Trust me… the people you’re pissed at have gone on with their lives and probably haven’t even given you a second thought since whatever has you're miffed about occurred. They aren’t wasting their time dwelling on the issue and neither should you. I said in one of my earlier entries that time - not Money - is actually the most valuable commodity an individual has in this life. Money you can earn back, but time once lost is gone forever. Forgiveness is as much for you as it is for the person being forgiven. Forgiveness allows you to move on. To recapture lost time, one of the most precious of things in this universe. Once we all truly learn that the simplest things are truly the most important ones, we will all truly maintain a better quality of life. We will learn to live in harmony with one another and we will truly learn to appreciate one another’s differences. But until then I’m content with trying to live the most productive and fruitful life that I possibly can. Hopefully by doing that, I can improve the next person’s quality of life by either directly or indirectly helping them to see that at the end of all things life is all about choices. That the Creator blessed us all with free will and the ability think for ourselves. To be rational even when there is absolutely no reason to be. I say this because to forgive someone in today’s society is considered to be abnormal in some circles. Revenge is the dish of the day and as the old saying goes it is a dish better served cold. I personally think that’s taking the easy way out. It takes more energy to hate someone than it does to love them. The problem comes in when the person that you show love to gives you nothing but hate in return. By no means are we to be emotional doormats. We are to love people “where they are” because at the end of the day, nobody’s perfect. But you are by no means to jeopardize your livelihood or the livelihood of those you love to try to make peace with someone who absolutely is dead set on going to war with you. You try to appeal to the good in them. If there is none there….. respond accordingly.

With that said, the way that we respond to an offense is dependent upon one’s level of maturity. I personally have reached a point in my life where I can no longer tolerate unnecessary strife. Causing problems for the sake of causing problems or reacting to every little thing someone does to me whether it be accidental or intentional. As you mature (and for the record, maturity is not just about how old you are)certain things become trivial. What used to set me off into the stratosphere when I was 25 doesn’t even register as a blip on my emotional radar now that I’m in my thirties. That’s because as I have gotten older, I better understand and appreciate the consequences to my actions whether they are pleasant or not. For when the dust settles I’m better , stronger and wiser from what has occurred.  Now granted this sort of awareness doesn’t come overnight. But ask yourself , where has all that rage and anger gotten you? What exactly do you hope to achieve by sowing seeds of negativity? If you’re truly honest with yourself, the answer will more than likely be nothing good or of any kind of substance.

So I implore you today to let it go. Whatever the transgression. Forgive. If it’s within your heart and within the slimmest of possibilities to do so, forget. However, some wounds run deeper than others. Only you know the severity of the damage that’s been done. Nevertheless, try. God honors effort and rewards obedience. No…. it won’t be easy. No…. the person probably won’t even realize or even appreciate what you are doing. That doesn’t even matter. You aren’t really doing it for them. You are doing it for yourself. For only by forgiving and forgetting can you hope to find true peace and absolute serenity.

Light Bulb Moments ©

I’m stuck with who I am…. But I can be man enough to iron out the creases

Sam Worthington

As I go through this life there is one indisputable theme that keeps reemerging for me. That for some people their number one priority in this world is themselves and that everyone else is expendable. All that matters to these people are their beliefs of what is right and to hell with what effect their actions, choices or decisions may have on the individuals around them. People today throw the words “friend” and “love” around like a Frisbee in the park on the Fourth of July. Carelessly spouting these terms off with little to no meaning or genuineness behind them.

As for me, I never use them unless I absolutely mean them. Affairs of the heart are nothing to be taken lightly. Love is the quintessential expression of loyalty and faithfulness and should truly come with no strings attached. If anyone states that they love you because of….. I would really take a closer look at the relationship. We should love one another just because that’s what Almighty God wants us to do, not for some ulterior motive or due to some flight of fancy. For those of us that love without thought or regard for our own feelings; this is a cold, cruel world. I believe that we have unfortunately become a society that views truly loving someone as weakness or some type of mental condition in need a behavioral health care. When in fact those of us that love unconditionally are the sane ones. The ones that know who we are and Whose we are and live life as our Heavenly Father intends for us to. My faith dictates that I love everyone, even if that love isn’t reciprocated. Now that DOES NOT mean that I will be anyone’s doormat or emotional punching bag. Jesus Christ was the only perfect man to walk this Earth and even he got irritated enough to turn over a table or two. Nevertheless, His example is the one I have been raised to follow. His is the ultimate story of betrayal. I guess one of the many things that I have taken from the story of Jesus’ final days on this Earth is that you can’t put anything past anybody. One of his beloved disciples betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. The very people that he came to Earth to give his life for, the very people that that welcomed him with praise and thanksgiving were the very ones when it was all said and done called for his death. Now if the people that had the most to benefit from the Son Of God would do that to Him, who am I to expect anything less….or better from the people around me.

Now please understand that this not me saying that people aren’t to be trusted or to not trust anybody. I’m just merely saying to be extremely careful of who you trust. Especially who you trust with the things that are most precious to you. I am simply saying  don’t place lofty expectations on people that don’t even have for them for themselves. Some people think that just because they have a conversation with someone that they are their friend or that they can trust them with their most intimate of secrets. This is just simply not true. A lot of times people place high expectations and see unrealistic potential in people that they have respect for or they become fond of. Sometimes the person meets or even exceeds their expectations while at other times the person may leave you disappointed and even heartbroken. Ahhh such is life. Life is all about choices and living with the consequences of those choices. Once upon a time I sadly counted myself amongst these individuals, which leads me to my next point……

There are two kinds of people in this world, there are givers and there are takers. Givers … authentic givers … are benevolent because it’s just in them to be that way. They give without a second’s hesitation and most of the time will give you the shirt off of their backs without expecting anything in return. Then you have the takers. Takers are individuals that think only of themselves. Takers are individuals whose only thoughts and concerns are for their own best interest. Their feelings are the only ones that matter and the interesting thing about individuals that are takers, is that they can’t quite seem to understand that they are being egotistical or self centered. Here is an example of what I mean….

Giver: Hey I just bought a new TV and don’t have any need for the one I have now. Do you want it?

Taker: What kind of TV is it?

Giver: It’s a 32 inch TV

Taker: Is it a HD TV?

Giver: Yes

Taker: Plasma or LCD

Giver: LCD

Taker: What brand is it?

Giver: Do you want the TV or not?

Taker: I guess…

Giver: Ok, cool

Taker: So you gonna bring it to me?

 Yes, I have had this conversation with someone in case you’re wondering. Instead of being cool with the fact that they are getting an HDTV for nothing, they want to give me the third degree about the rig like I work for Geek Squad. Now I don’t mind you asking basic questions about the set, but this person knows how I get down. I take care of my stuff. So the fact that you are  interrogating me about this free TV that I could easily sell and make some cheese off of it left me a little salty. Needless to say I ended up giving the TV to someone else…someone more appreciative of the fact that they were able to get a “like new” HD TV set for ”the free”. My point is that you can truly miss out on a blessing “looking a gift horse in the mouth” as my dad used to say. Takers do this on the regular. Instead of being appreciative they choose to cling to their delusional sense of entitlement like someone owes them something. Here’s a little advice for those individuals that have a “taker” mentality ….. No one owes you anything. God gives us all free will. If someone does something for you, it’s more than likely because they want to, not because they have to. Then there are those individuals that swear that they are givers but only do so when it’s something in it for them. They may as well be takers.

The truly sad thing is that the world that we live in today glorifies the taker. Being benevolent is now seen as a sign of gullibility in some circles. Givers are regularly taken advantage of if they aren’t careful which in and of itself is a sad commentary on the state of today’s human condition. Once upon a time, people had a genuine sense of compassion for their fellow man/ woman. People would readily help a total stranger in their time of need without a moment’s hesitation. Our communities were safer because neighbors looked out for one another. Our schools were calmer because teacher’s hands weren’t tied by red tape and a lack of parent participation in the lives of their children. Our streets were less crime ridded and cleaner because everyone took pride in taking care of their community. I blame a lot of society’s issues on the ease of accessibility to things that once were thought to be out of reach or unattainable… a new home, nice vehicles, six figures or better compensation for playing a child’s game, attendance to the university or school of your choice, etc. This is especially true for “my people”. The “struggle” once kept us humble, appreciative, and benevolent. Our history once kept us grounded, responsible,  obligated and driven. Sadly I have found that as I get older and view the generation that comes behind me, I fear that they have lost sight of both their ancestrial history and all too often take for granted the resources readily at their disposal. They have no clue of what sacrifices were made by our ancestors to allow them to have an equal opportunity to chase their dreams and become who they truly want or were meant to be. In my humble opinion I believe that if they truly understood what it feels like to be sprayed with water hoses, had dogs sicced on them, been spit on, beaten, berated, denied access to resources deemed public, saw their friends and loved ones hanging from trees or ever had a cross burned in their yard they would have a greater appreciation for every single thing that they have been blessed with ….. as I do. I mean the list of atrocities our ancestors had to endure in the pursuit of equality is endless. All because they wanted to be treated like everyone else and given an equal opportunity to chase the American Dream that so many other races and creeds have been allotted.  I heard the stories and firsthand accounts from friends and family members that experienced all of these things. I have seen the historical news footage. There is no way that I will ever take the blessings and opportunities that my ancestors have bled, sweated and died for for granted. Unfortunately “generation next” does and it is extremely disheartening.

Disheartening because of the blatant disrespect that I see young people of all races, creeds and colors show towards their elders. When I was a child – even as a young adult  - there was just an unspoken code of conduct. You respected anyone your senior. Your behavior changed around your elders. You behaved in a respectable manner when you found yourself around adults. Not now …. and I blame the parents. Children are impressionable and if your child is a hellion, all you have to do is look in the mirror. Kids emulate what they see. Kids especially emulate what they hear their parents say and what they see their parents and guardians do because they are the adults that they spend the majority of their time with. Parents and guardians are the blueprint for their children’s behavior. That being said…..if you want to change the behavior of your child… take a good look at what you say and do around them. Trust me it has a very profound effect on them. Now me personally… I don’t have any children. But I was a child once so I know a little something about parent’s behavior profoundly affecting a child. My dating habits are a result of the way I saw my father treat women. I’m domesticated because I saw my mother keep a clean home. I’m assertive because of the way I saw my father deal with people. My outlook on relationships is the way that it is because of the way I have seen the adult couples in my life interact with one another. Now granted I was blessed to be surrounded by some phenomenal adults when I was a child. My “old soul” comes from hanging around adults and staying in “grown folks” business all the time when I was a child. I matured extremely fast (to my detriment at times because in certain circles I didn’t “fit in”). First job at 14, paying bills at 16, carrying the household at 17… all of this made me responsible and focused when others my age were out sewing their “wild oats” as the old folks used to say. I have a new outlook on that word “old” too…. But that’s another entry for another time.

My light bulb moment ….

Let’s see ….. my Light Bulb Moment was the first time I realized that life’s most valuable commodity isn’t money …. it’s time. You see money can be replaced. However, once time is lost it’s gone forever. No matter what you do, no matter what you say and no matter how bad you want someone to understand that you have their best interest at heart, people are going to believe what they want to believe…. Even if that belief is absolutely untrue and unfounded. However, that is their God given right. We have all been blessed with free will and discernment – albeit spiritual or otherwise. To me a Light Bulb Moment represents a space in time when something happened that forever altered your consciousness. So as for me, I have decided to stop frustrating myself trying to convince people that I am not their enemy. Time is now an extremely precious commodity to me and I am no longer going to waste anymore of mine on people unworthy of it.

Light Bulb Moments are liberating and extremely therapeutic. They represent a paradigm shift in thought and consciousness. Once experienced, they all but force you to view a situation, place, person, etc. differently. If you embrace that moment and fully immerse yourself in the opportunity to see something for what it truly is… you will most definitely be the better for it. Now understand that Light Bulb Moments are not for the faint of heart. They are rooted in realism. They shatter glass houses. They leave you emotionally vulnerable. They eradicate all falsehoods and expose all untruths. If you don’t think you ready for any of these things …. A Light Bulb Moment is going to be horrible assault on your senses. Another issue with Light Bulb moments are that they’re random and you are  likely to experience one at the most inopportune of moments. Some can make you smile and some rip you right down to the core of your very soul and will break you down if you let it. Nevertheless whatever the reaction, whatever the emotion… let it run its course. Emotions and feelings are indicators that you are alive. You should never allow anyone to make you feel like your feelings are unnatural or wrong. You’re human. You are unique. There is not another person like you anywhere on this planet or any other one for that matter. The only opinion that truly matters is the opinion that you have of yourself. The wonderful thing – for better or for worse – about Light Bulb Moments is that they are specific to the individual experiencing them and rooted in emotion so free your mind and open you heart to them. For when it’s all said and done,  your life will truly be the better for having experienced them.

A Soldier’s Story©

Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a Warrior - Karl Von Clausewitz

Since the beginning of time there has been war. From the earliest days of recorded history until present day news headlines the world over, we have all been witness to war and all of the harm that comes from it. I am not a pacifist by any means. Even the Word of God says that there is a time and place to everything under the sun (Ecclesiastes Chapter 3). However, this does not justify the fact that the wars of late have been borderline senseless ones and a great many of our brave servicemen and servicewomen have been thrust into conflicts the world over on the whims of politicians that reside comfortably in their plush offices in our Nation's capital.

US Foreign policy as of late has pretty much made a police force (and occasional Assassination Squad) out of the US Military. As evidenced by the summary execution of Osama Bin Laden or even the capture and execution of Saddam Hussein. Our brave men and women of the Armed Services have protected this nation’s values valiantly and some have paid the ultimate price for us to enjoy the liberties that we so very often take for granted.  However, soldiers are forced to obey orders that sometimes tarnish the reputation of the United States by the use of questionable gestapo tactics (Can anyone say Gitmo?). The members of our military have even at times been forced to regulate its own citizens in times of Civil unrest; from the WWI Veteran’s Bonus Army Protests of 1932 in Washington D.C. to the Civil Rights Demonstrations of the Sixties in the South.

Now don’t get it twisted. The brave men and women of our Armed Services deserve our utmost respect and should always be regarded with the highest esteem and admiration. Their job at times can be a thankless one. Regardless of how you feel about America’s foreign policy and the wars that our nation arbitrarily finds itself in from time to time, the soldiers that sacrifice their livihood and place themselves in harm’s way every single day deserve our utmost gratitude and respect.

Now with that said, let me change gears for just a moment.

The one thing I have come to realize as I have lived this very interesting life of mine is that war is not just waged on battlefields or in mountain ranges or on plains half a world away. We all go to war everyday in one way or another and sometimes we don’t even have to leave the comforts of our own home. As a matter of fact, some of us only have to look within ourselves to find a conflict of astounding and astonishing proportions. The unfortunate but inevitable fact about a war or conflict of any kind is that there are and always will be casualties.

I know all too well about loss….especially loss for the “greater good”. Sometimes it is necessary for one to put their feelings and desires aside for the greater good of furthering a cause, saving or restoring a relationship, saving a life, etc. I have had to do this for each of the aforementioned scenarios. As I look back on the consequences and fallout of my actions I sometimes question if it was all worth it. Sometimes the answer has been a resounding no and if I had it to do over again I probably would not have made the sacrifice. In other instances, I would do it again in a heartbeat because my sacrifice bore good fruit and had positive results. Nevertheless, when it’s all said and done life is all about choices and all choices take you somewhere….bold choices take you where you are destined to be. It takes courage to embark on a mission with the odds stacked against you.  It takes a tremendous amount of audacity to set sail for an unknown destination on nothing but a vision and God’s promise to work everything out for your good if you stay faithful.

Perseverance is one of the qualities that I have always admired about trailblazers and those individuals that stand up for their beliefs. Trust me, standing for truth while those around you would rather roll with untruths and deceitfulness is not for the faint of heart.  It is more than a notion to follow the path less traveled. On the other hand if doing the right thing and living justly were easy, it would be the norm in today's society and not the exception.  It is this author's humble opinion that the number one goal of everyone that walks this planet should be to leave any environment that they enter in better shape than when they entered it. To be light where darkness exists. To stamp out untruths and injustice with every single resource that they have at their disposal. The great philosopher Confucius said it best:

“Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”

Over the course of my life I have had to face and overcome so many hardships and have nearly lost my life on a couple occasions because of recklessness and impulsiveness. Yet in spite of all that has happened to me I have obtained so many characteristics that I never would have learned had I not “been through the storm”. Now I am not a meteorologist or anything of the sort, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are more “storms” on the horizon. Whenever you attempt to lead a life of tranquility and positivity you are bound to meet opposition. Nevertheless, with each tempest I grow stronger, wiser, more resolute, and more patient no matter what storms may arise. My father would always tell me that the number one characteristic of a great soldier is adaptability - the ability to acclimatize one’s self to whatever their environment becomes. Now I personally have not served a single day in the Military. Nonetheless I am a soldier. Waging spiritual warfare against those who dare to oppose my pursuit of peace and serenity for myself and all of those that I hold near and dear. For as the Word of God says, the weapons of my warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor 10:4). I don’t go around picking the fight but best believe if you bring one my way I will never back down for if I don’t defend myself or the people and things I treasure no one else will.

Now by no stretch of the imagination am I under the impression that this soldier’s story is any different than a Million other people’s story on this little blue marble….nonetheless it is mine. Regardless of the similarities of individuals’ trials and tribulations, the thing that differentiates one person’s destiny from another is how they respond or react to the obstacles that life places in their path. Your story I’m sure has had its share of ups and downs. However, if you happen to be one of those fortunate individuals that have led a charmed life and haven’t had to endure any of the aforementioned seasons that I have referred to in this entry or anything remotely similar to them then all I can say is that is a wonderful thing….. and to just keep on living. Adversity is not a respecter of persons.

 As for me.... the will to press on in spite of disappointments and setbacks, the drive to do what people tell me I can’t do, the ability to persevere in the face of adversity, the faith to believe that a delay from the Most High is not a denial are all chapters in this soldier’s story. Glory be to God that its end remains unwritten. Nevertheless, for now I confidently press on ….. most definitely looking forward to what the end will be. Consequently, if at the end of this soldier’s story, my good days outnumber my bad days, if I have left a legacy of positivity, done my part to make this world that we live in a better place and have helped just one person to improve their quality life…. then my living will not have been in vain.

Grand Idea ©

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a theory on how organizations – whether you’re a fortune 500 company or a Mom and Pop shop in Butte, MT can increase organizational effectiveness, customer satisfaction, shareholder or company net profits. Become a more efficient; procedurally sound company that truly cares about the well being of its customers as well as its employees and not just how much money upper level management, company ownership, company stockholders and business owners can pocket.


Why? 


Simple. If there weren’t any customers there would be no company. If there weren’t any one to take the orders, fill the scripts, take the calls, make the calls no one else wants to make, handle the client and customer escalations, train the employees, etc, etc ... there would be no company. Happy customers equals faithful return customers. Happy employees means loyal and productive employees.
Now you may be reading this wondering, " What does this have to do with increasing overall company profitability"? 


Be patient please... I’m getting to that.


Now granted, company shareholder and overall company profitability should be a goal to strive for within any publicly traded company. I mean when its all said and done, companies are in business to make money. However, making money at the expense of not providing a quality product and not maintaining satisfactory employee morale is unacceptable. It shows the company in a very unfavorable light. It makes said company appear monopolistic and displays them as an unethical organization that lacks integrity (i.e. - the constant legal issues and covert investigations that besiege these companies and organizations year after year).


Now….. I know what  Upper Level Executives or even a Low Level Authoritative figures may say  - I have heard more than my desired share of corporate speak .... ahem..."There are going to be times when you aren’t happy about the way we do things around here, You can't make everyone happy. An organization can not survive without shareholder profitability", Embrace change (mostly for change’s sake which is counter productive), and so on. Ok I get it. I think… Nevertheless so many companies leave "money on the table" by mismanaging resources, alienating skilled labor with questionable processes and procedures, allowing unethical behavior to go unchecked and taking their "frontline" personnel for granted. Sure you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet... but making an omelet with rotten eggs is sure to spoil your entire meal.


There are a number of Business and Organizations that are in a unique position and that have the potential to be an innovators for how companies in their respective industries efficiently balances their responsibility of meeting shareholder and market expectations while providing customer satisfaction and making their employees feel as though their contributions – no matter how minimal – are truly appreciated. The resources are there. The personnel are there. The plans are there. All that’s needed is for the leadership within these business and organizations to take the initiative to implement and execute the plans, tap the resources and utilize the proper personnel.


The number one thing I have noticed throughout my employment history (I have been working since the age of 13 years old) is that there are serious gaps in communication within a great many of the organizations that I have had the pleasure to work for. Regardless of the size of the Business (I have held jobs in both the public and private sector), leadership within these organizations unfortunately have regularly been detached from what’s happening within their business due to a lack of communication effectiveness within the organization. There has been and still appears to be a disturbing trend amongst leadership and upper level management within these businesses and organizations of being reactive instead of proactive. Now granted you can’t plan for EVERY emergency but there is no excuse for suffering unnecessary losses and unnecessarily withstanding assaults to your reputation as an industry leader when there are capable individuals at every turn providing you with accurate warnings well in advance. Reputation is the cornerstone of power.  Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.  In order to be successful in any industry you have to make your reputation unassailable and always be alert to potential attacks so that you can thwart them before they happen.  Unfortunately, because of an inability to communicate effectively between departments, a business or organization’s service to their customers can be adversely effected. As alluded to earlier, unhappy customers equals poor company performance ratings. You can only sweep dirt under the rug so long before the evidence starts forming and once your company performance begins to suffer shareholders will jump ship quick. As volatile as the market has been over the last decade, that’s the last thing any publicly traded company needs.


The concept that I think that a lot of people in leadership fail to comprehend is that productivity is a reflection of leadership. Poor productivity, poor leadership. It’s honestly that simple. A great many companies’ bottom lines are suffering from the lack of effective leadership at various levels within them. Leadership come with great responsibility and should never be taken lightly. To be an effective leader you have to have the pulse of your direct reports and their work environment. I personally believe that in order to be an effective leader you have to be a “people person”. I never understand how people who lack any kind of personality end up in positions where they have to interact and relate regularly people. I mean I know how they get their gigs. It’s all in who you know and not necessarily what you know. But hey, as I always say …. No since in hating the player, hate the game. But if you’re anything like me you don’t stop at hating the game…. You do your damnedest to change it.


My bad… I had a moment.


Now it’s not only the companies that find themselves “in the red”  that suffer from poor leadership. The successful businesses and organizations are the major culprits and repeat offenders of rewarding incompetence. They suffer the worse from the “if it’s broke don’t fix because we are making money hand over fist” mentality which can completely destroy employee morale within them. Don’t get it twisted employee morale can make or break a company regardless of how high you rank on the Fortune 500 listing. My earlier statement warrants repeating here, happy employees means loyal and productive employees. Loyal productive employees come to work when they are sick, stay late and work mad overtime even when they are salaried and go that extra mile to provide exceptional customer service every chance they get because they understand that they are ambassadors of the company of which they are employed. Trust …. A companies every interaction with the public is severely scrutinized. The question that the leadership of these companies should really be asking themselves is “how much money are we losing due to ineffective, questionable and unethical organizational practices, processes, and procedures.” I personally have seen companies practically throw away millions of dollars unnecessarily because of these ineffective policies and procedures. The sad thing is that the solution to these breaches in profitability are usually less financially in the long run that the millions that go out the door annually because either someone in leadership or upper level management is inept or simply chooses to ignore the problem.


 Either way, the true victim is the consumer. People spend their hard earned money on a company’s product and they should get nothing but that business’ or organization’s best. Sadly, this is not always the case. Hey! I have a grand idea! Why don’t Business and Organizational leaders do more to recognize what’s really important; their customer’s satisfaction, their employees’ quality of life, their stockholders opinions (all of their stockholders). Why don’t businesses and organizations concentrate on more than “staying in the black” and focus more on improving the employee morale within their ranks by showcasing their integrity and maintaining ethical behavior at the various levels within them. Time has come to lay that age old adage “ do as I say not as I do” to rest. True leaders, effective leaders lead by example.  Stop being so reactive and focus more on proactively heading off issues before the become major problems. It’s easier to extinguish a brush fire than it is to put out a forest fire. Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point.  You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. You never truly solve an issue by approaching it haphazardly.


Now I’m no expert on organizational effectiveness but I have seen my share of companies and organzations fail. What they all had in common was that they did not listen to sound wisdom when it was provided to them. The ending is everything.  Successful business and organizations plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse their hard work and give their competition a leg up.  By planning to the end, an organization will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and they will know when to stop. A great many business and organizations just lack of a better phrase try to “do too much” instead of focusing on what initially brought them success. Hard work, fundamentally sound process and procedures, and the five P’s (Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance).


Hey, Business and Organization leaders….I have a Grand Idea. Get back to the basics. It’s a lot more profitable than you think it is.