Don't Forget to Remember: A Ripple Becomes a Whirlpool

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

A Ripple Becomes a Whirlpool

Over the past few weeks we have unveiled 4 parts of the Human Development strategy know as Don't Forget to Remember:

Part One: Foundation
Part Two: Deconstruction
Part Three: Re-Composition
Part Four: Unzip Your Soul

... Today we will tie this strategy together.

On May 11th of 2009, I wrote my first blog post thanks to the advising of my friend Darwin Stephenson. I remember hitting "publish", seeing my words on the lap top screen and feeling slightly guilty that I was allowed to share my unedited opinion with the world. I have since published 485 posts on a variety of topics. I've been on a few list of outstanding bloggers but I don't attempt to bring traffic for the purpose of selling anything.

The world is full of hacks and the blogosphere is one of their favorite rest stops. I just enjoy writing about the life I live. I hope my 10 loyal readers have derived some benefit from the grammatically challenged words I've written.

If nothing else, my kids will have a 10 year public journal to reference. I love you Sam & Marley!

I know what it is like to be young and frustrated. I know what it is like to work for people who do not appreciate their employees. I've had so many trials and tribulations in my 20 years in corporate America.... then one day, I decided to do something about it.

For the first 10 years of my career I complained with the enthusiasm of 1,000 men. I loved the company I worked for, I worked 12 hour days and I never stopped thinking about how to improve the organization. But, I couldn't get out of my own way.

When I was at a crossroads in my career there were a few people who were perceptive enough to recognize my motivation.... there were far more people who lined up to tell me what I was doing wrong.

At the peak of my personal and professional frustration, I listened to the album A Grand Don't Come for Free by The Streets. The album concludes with a song called Empty Cans. In this final chapter of the greatest concept album of our time, our narrator plays pessimist and provocateur in two separate breaths. The conclusion.....

YOU control your perception and attitude.... this is determinant of frustration vs. bliss.

Your Fate is Yours to Decide

I stopped blaming other people for my failures, I stopped worrying about being over-looked and I came to realize that life can be unfair (and that's what makes it worth living). The edges got softer and I took control of my success!

People are criticized for their ambition every day... mostly by people who's inability to adapt forces them to halt progress to protect their post.

With success comes comfort. You finally get to breath when you have achieved. It is extremely difficult to get to this stage in one's career. When you get there.... don't allow yourself to get too comfortable.

There are people with extraordinary ideas who will never get recognized for them.

There are idiots who are propped up as leaders through bureaucracy and politics. Don't kiss their asses!