Doing the Right Stuff

“It’s important to take the time to see what people really need rather than just taking them some brownies.” -  Elayne Pearson

Doing the Right Stuff

Elayne and I were standing near a huge barbeque grill after a long night of cooking and serving food to our neighbors.  We served about 450 hamburgers and hot dogs to hundreds of men, women and children; many of whom were dressed in colorful costumes.

But, one costume was black and exceptionally tall; we estimated that this Grim Reaper was standing about nine feet tall!  It hovered and walked.  It talked and entertained.  The children ran under its tree branch arms as if they were dancing under a deciduous tree in the cool October evening.  And, as our night came to a close we still had not discovered the identity of this disguised character.

As Elayne was talking with me, I thought of how much this unidentified Grim Reaper was the perfect example of what she was describing.  Our annual October Neighborhood Gathering is designed to get all of us together so we can reconnect and look each other in the eyes without the impediments of windows and electronic devices.  It allows us to get to know each other better; to find out what’s happening in the lives of those we share our town with.

Many times we live with and around people for years without really getting to know and understand anything about them.  Their identity remains a mystery.  As we talked about what more we could do strengthen our community Elayne said, “It’s important to take the time to see what people really need rather than just giving them some brownies.”  

There are people living around us who are struggling to care for their children, who are jobless, and have debilitating illness.  If we don’t know who they are and what they’re facing they live alone.  If they live alone then they aren’t living as part of our community.  To make them part of our community we need to embrace them and as we embrace them, something magical happens to all of us.

The magic appears to us in the form of the disappearance of perceived separation between individuals.  It creates compassion; a sense of well being that swells in our hearts.  Heartfelt gratitude then grows, from the fulfilling friendships we enjoy, and we become part of something larger than ourselves.  We become a real community that wants to be more giving, kind and more willing to be forgiving and loving.  When that happens it is much easier to do more of the right stuff.

Doing the right stuff is something each one of us can do.  It doesn’t take a lot of money.  It is simply accomplished by opening our eyes and taking small steps to open our hearts.  Open hearts allow us to work together to solve the pressing problems our friends and communities are facing.  Now is the time for us to mobilize as individuals.  Now is the time to reach out.  None of us need permission to go out and do good; to do the right stuff.  So, let’s go out and give of ourselves today.

The 3% Solution

“You know how to do it!”

-      Dr. David Remington

The 3% Solution

I could visualize what my friend Dave was describing to me. “I have two huge stacks of text books by the side of my bed.  They’re the most current ones I can find.  I devour them every night!”  You’d never guess that a person closing in on sixty would be talking to me about text books with such passion; especially since he is not a professor or a teacher at a school.  He’s an orthodontist and dentist.

We were talking in his office and I asked him how he was always on the cutting edge of his profession.   He has amazed me with his use of the newest technologies and techniques.

“When the economy began to crash in 2007 I knew I had to make changes in my practice to survive.” He said.  “I took all my savings and reinvested them into my business.  I took courses from the best in the field and purchased new equipment so I could give my patients the best care possible.”

My eyes began to wander around the room as we talked.  I saw pictures of him with other doctors in different circumstances.  I asked him about the photos I saw.  “How did you get to be friends and collogues with such an august group of doctors?”

“You know how to do it,” he replied.  “I do research about training opportunities from the leaders in my field and then I contact them and take their courses.  Most of them are at least one week in length.”

“How can you afford to take the time off to do that?” I asked. 

“I can’t afford not to!” He answered.  “When I started down this road it took me a great deal of time to sort through all of the sales materials and get to understand who the best people and the real experts are.  Then I found out that the courses they offered were real hard to get in to.  They sold out fast!”

“Then I noticed that the people at the top of my field all know each other and they hang out together.  I had to demonstrate that I was one of them.  Once I did that it became easy.  It’s made me excited about my profession again and I love to learn more and more about it.  It means a lot to me to be able to help my patients in ways that very few others are able to!”

I looked seriously at him and asked, “So, you’re telling me that the best investment you’ve ever made is in yourself?”

“Yes!” He said.  “I’m busier than ever before during a time when lots of people in my field are struggling to survive.  Anyone can do what I’ve done in whatever field they work in.”

I listened carefully to what he was telling me.  I knew you’d want to know this important information so I’m sharing it with you.  Dave has shown me that what matters most in professional life is continual investment in yourself so you can be stay on the cutting edge.  Find out who the best in your field are and learn from them.  Make sure you surround yourself with this group of top producing people so you will be continually inspired by their vision and work.  Finally, give your knowledge and expertise to your clients freely so they’ll be able to benefit from your skills and competency. 

You’ve heard the 80-20 rule, but in my profession it’s now a 97-3 rule.  3% of the people make 97% of all the money!   If you follow these steps as revealed by Dave you’ll get the same type of strong business he enjoys!  You’ll be part of that 3% and have an inspiring professional life!  I know you can do it!  Start today.

A high school football game.

Two Missed Kicks

There were bright lights acting as the sun above that were making it possible to play a football game at night.  It was as close to a perfect temperature as it could possibly be.  The competition was also close to perfect.  It was the first and second place teams, in the high school region, playing each other.  One team was playing to keep their position as first.  The second team was playing to create a tie for first place.

The stands were filled by the time I arrived.  The West side was filled with people wearing the red of their school colors.  The East side was filled with people wearing the blue of their school colors.  I was sitting on the East side.  Noise was rising up all around me and it was echoed right back from the other side.  It got louder as the game progressed and came to a climax during the last three minutes of the contest.

The leading team had a slight, one point edge and was on defense as the clocked clicked down to 2:59.  As the time remaining declined, so did the yardage to a possible score.  People were screaming everywhere.  They were urging their team to victory.  And then, with only eight or so seconds left in the game, the red team’s field goal kicker began to jog onto the field.

The ball was hiked to the holder.  The kicker struck the ball with his foot.  The crowd on the West cheered wildly believing that the kick would be good.  Then, suddenly the crowd on the East erupted in untamed glee as they watched the referee signal that the kick was missed.  But, there was a penalty flag flying through the air and everyone watched as it hit the turf!

We watched the referee pick up the ball and begin to march, his death march from my perspective, fifteen yards closer to the goal.  The players lined up again.  One side hoped for a three or six point outcome and the other side hoped for the score to remain the same.  But, there were two lives that would be forever changed.

The Kick rose from the turf upon impact from the kicker.  All of the fans held their breath.  The players stood as statues with their gaze fixed on the ball and the goal.  The ball passed the goal, but didn’t yield any points.  The people around me were thrilled and relieved.  Their team was victorious!

While merry clamor was occurring all around me my attention and eyes were riveted to one boy still standing on the field.  I watched as his head lowered toward the ground and he walked alone toward his team huddled together at the side lines.  My heart went out to him because I knew he would face personal turmoil as a result of his failure to secure victory for his fellows.  He had no chance to redeem himself, the game was over.

The stands began to empty.  The parking lot was filled with lights heading toward home.  I stayed and watched.

The boy sat on his helmet with his head in his hands at the South end of the field.  He was alone in his grief.  At least that’s what I thought.

I began to walk the long distance toward him hoping to ease his torment.  But I wasn’t fast enough to reach him before two police officers left their posts and soon stood at his side.  They were speaking to him in kind, reassuring tones.  I couldn’t hear their words but I could see their smiles.  I could see the boy’s head lift in response.  I could see his countenance lighten with gratitude.   I don’t know if the officers knew the boy.  That didn’t matter.  The thing that mattered was that when they saw someone in need, they stepped up and offered a hand of relief.

There are people in need of relief all around us.  Sometimes they are alone in the middle of a packed stadium.  Sometimes they are shut up in their homes.  In order to see them we need only to open our eyes and see through the people or the walls that separate them from us.  Everyone matters and what we do to help each other matters. 

Reach out to someone today.  It will change both of your lives.

Seeing Life's Best at Your Worst

“I can see the blessings I keep receiving.”

Scott Bodell

Seeing Life’s Best at Your Worst

My friend Scott has a horrible neural disease.  He was describing it for me one time and I could hardly believe my ears as he spoke of “lightning strikes” across his brain and how it incapacitated him when they were storming through his head.  He has good days and bad days.  Unfortunately his bad days are becoming more numerous as the months march on.

I know this is the case, so sometimes when I’m driving past his house I feel the need to just stop in to see him and find out what I can do to help.  As we sit and visit I always learn a lot about weighty subjects such as charity, courage and gratitude.  This week was no exception as I sat on his couch across from him.

As soon as I sat down one of his little dogs jumped up into my lap and asked to be petted.  When she does so I like to pretend I don’t know what she wants.  When I do, she sits up on her haunches, tilts her head back and then lets it fall to my chest; it is a clear demonstration of her desire.  She’s like all of us.  She just wants to be recognized, be happy and feel good.

As I stroked her head, Scott and I talked about some of his current trials.  We talked in great detail about the current events in his life.  As we talked, I soon watched Scott sit up a little straighter and lift his head a little higher.  His eyes began to sparkle.  His mouth stopped moving for a moment and then he said, “You know, when I look carefully at everything that has been happening I can see the blessings I keep receiving!  Even when I’m having real difficult trials I’m still blessed!”

He finished talking and I saw him drop his head to rest it on the back to his chair.  For that moment he knew that he wasn’t alone in the universe.  He could see that he was being recognized.  He was happy and felt good.

I was feeling good as well.  Scott showed me that even during the stormiest periods of life good things still happen.  We just need to look for the good and accept it with gratitude.  When good comes during a personal tempest it is all the sweeter because we recognize it as the treasure it truly is.  The mark of good character, proven over time, is if you can see the best life has been giving you when you’re at your worst.