tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89951055029486838882024-03-12T20:43:32.410-04:00Geoff Steck's Catalyst CollectionIdeas
For Your Information & Inspiration
including "Thank Goodness It's Monday"Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-17019303501186585562022-03-07T06:00:00.023-05:002022-03-07T06:00:00.201-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #465<p> <a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2011/02/hop-to-it.html" style="color: #993200; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Klaatu Barada Nikto</i></span></a></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">YOUR CHOICE IS SIMPLE ...<br />THE DECISION RESTS WITH YOU</span></span></b></span></h2><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;">"Geoff, did you invite the Martians over for a drink *again*?" </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face="Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #050505;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face="Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That's a social media inquiry my friend Bill sent me, kinda out of the blue, about the same time last week the Russian attack on the Ukranian </span></span><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">nuclear plant was making headlines. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaUyjjvO-OwuKIofjwTZLGs-t1oOdgDuF0x_nwVanVVlyBW9UGDuwQtdXzN49Kcrv4V1uzOrKLg4l0iEEW0I34g3dSW5KvflcP6Xh4bTf4TMiRrIzTnPH__SmMiq0PdQX6sW2xuh4H9D9bZ5__dN3LsjbJh66Lq0VKFlf_rpuklv83CPVBli5lziQgew=s300" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="300" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaUyjjvO-OwuKIofjwTZLGs-t1oOdgDuF0x_nwVanVVlyBW9UGDuwQtdXzN49Kcrv4V1uzOrKLg4l0iEEW0I34g3dSW5KvflcP6Xh4bTf4TMiRrIzTnPH__SmMiq0PdQX6sW2xuh4H9D9bZ5__dN3LsjbJh66Lq0VKFlf_rpuklv83CPVBli5lziQgew" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Bill's post included an image that brought<br />this one of Gort immediately <br />top of mind.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Just quite why, I'm</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> not sure. </span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And it really doesn't much matter.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Initially I took it as a bit of fun. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">But it also felt as if it required more than an LOL emoji response. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And that sent me down the path I'm going to share with you now.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My head went straightaway to the 1951 S/F classic movie --</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><i>The Day the Earth Stood Still</i></span></h2><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The film is based on a 1940 Harry Bates short story, <i>Farewell to the Master</i>.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In my duck-and-cover kidhood that was one scary movie</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">... with great effects (Frank Lloyd Wright contributed to the spacecraft's design) </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">... a groundbreaking musical score by Bernard Herrmann (lots of electrified strings, two theremins and Hammond organs) </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">... a cast that seemed very relatable (including Sam Jaffee as a singularly brilliant scientist who looked a lot like Albert Einstein) </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> delivering dialog that, by and large, wasn't too sappy (more on that momentarily) </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">... and a political, humanitarian, quasi-religious message that was probably a bit beyond my fully conscious level of understanding at the time</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-- all of which was powerfully impressive to me then -- and still.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, about the dialog: </span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“</span><b style="font-size: large;"><i>Klaatu barada nikto</i></b><span style="font-size: medium;">” -- this Monday's subhead above -- is a phrase that originated in the film. And, per some authorities, it rates as</span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> "one of the most famous commands in science fiction" and "the most famous phrase ever spoken by an extraterrestrial."</span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555;"><b>Don't know it?</b> </span></span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial;">Fair </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial;">enough</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial;">. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But maybe you should. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">One wag has called it a "safeword." <br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A glib translation might be understood as </span></span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"</span><i style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Klaatu says, 'Don't do it!'</b></i><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Huh?</b><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> The humanoid alien protagonist of the film, Klaatu (Michael Rennie), instructs Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) that if any harm befalls him, she must say the phrase to the essentially indestructible robot Gort, pictured above (Lockard Martin).</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Of course, that becomes necessary. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">She struggles to deliver the instruction. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In response Gort sets out, saves</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> Klaatu, as well as</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> temporarily refraining from destroying the Earth.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>But wait. There's more. <i>Much more</i>. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The crux of the film is less about visitors from alien worlds being an enemy which must be destroyed as it is about actual human beings, both then and unrepented even now, being their own worst enemy. </span></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> has a pretty objective and quick-reading storyline recap. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Still, in some fairness, to truly appreciate it, you've really got to see how this all plays out on the silver screen. And maybe it helps to have been a kid in the '50s.</span></div><div><b style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>TGIM Takeaway</i>:</b><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><i style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Day the Earth Stood Still</i><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> speaks to the present condition of humanity, perhaps even more than when it first came out.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">To oversimplify grossly, Klaatu and Gort have arrived as emissaries from far off to let the Earth know the worlds that they represent have recognized this "own worst enemy" failing in themselves. Thus, those civilizations have devised a corrective remedy. So far, it's worked effectively for those distant worlds. And they are going to share it.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Spoiler alert!</b> I'm going to jump us to the end and show you --</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASsNtti1XZs" target="_blank">Klaatu's cautionary speech as the film wraps up</a> </span><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9phuyRknPw" target="_blank">And here's Klaatu's big finish </a><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION: </b></span><b style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>We still don't seem to get it. </i></b><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Seventy-one years after the movie's release --</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Whether it's the confrontation of actual hot war between nations --</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />... or unwillingness to effectively address global climate change</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">... or bewilderment at the challenge of invisible-yet-pandemic deadly viral outbreak</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">... or the unremitting inability to recognize </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">the connectedness of humanity </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">in faces or convictions or traditions unlike our own</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">-- politicians, world leaders, just plain folks, can't figure out how to cooperate for the common good.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;">So, my <b><i>TGIM</i></b> friends let me spell it out for </span>you: </span></div><div><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #555555;">"The</span> Universe
grows smaller every day -- and the threat of aggression by any group --
anywhere -- can no longer be tolerated. There must be security
for all -- or no one is secure... This does not mean giving up any freedom
except the freedom to act irresponsibly."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our choice is simple. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The decision rests with us.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Geoff Steck</span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br /><a href="mailto:tgimguy@hotmail.com">tgimguy@gmail.com</a></span></div></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-77147549976275182352022-02-28T06:00:00.001-05:002022-03-06T17:58:21.400-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #464<p> <a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2011/02/hop-to-it.html" style="color: #993200; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Considering The News of the World</i></span></a></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">GUIDANCE WORTH HEEDING<br /></span></span></b><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">FROM VOICES OF EXPERIENCE </span></span></b></span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-variant-caps: small-caps;">Here we're about Information and Inspiration. </span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222;">At least that's what it indicates in the <i>Catalyst Collection/Thank Goodness It's Monday</i> template that surrounds this blogpost, right?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">But at this point in a conflict that should not be happening in the Ukraine, there are obstacles to providing timely and objective content and insight.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTPA49BDy2YzUbGuyXrpz2cxnSeAsliMVq43YMEhCgc1x-P6HQDsB1NGAcA_M76fm0242psngUoPpm-UHLRSDH7wkwooDDUdBUebB9hBqkpuOS9q6Vo7OLrUUSAP5FPHXAq3sj4Ka_a16EHUMRRPDjLMITLZeQ-ChGcpyiU1YEA6drLXgOaK5L8s3PGw=s700" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTPA49BDy2YzUbGuyXrpz2cxnSeAsliMVq43YMEhCgc1x-P6HQDsB1NGAcA_M76fm0242psngUoPpm-UHLRSDH7wkwooDDUdBUebB9hBqkpuOS9q6Vo7OLrUUSAP5FPHXAq3sj4Ka_a16EHUMRRPDjLMITLZeQ-ChGcpyiU1YEA6drLXgOaK5L8s3PGw=w295-h192" width="295" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><b>What then to do and say here?</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222;"><i>TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222;"> Seek wisdom from</span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222;"> some experts. And thus strive to gain understanding. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Not necessarily experts in today's geopolitical goings on, or advocates of positions pro or con about governance in the 21st Century. Those folk lack the leveling factor of discovered outcomes over historic time.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Rather, let's turn to the voices of experience from eras past and look for the wisdom gained by their interaction with the similar challenges in their day. </span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And let's add just one more caveat to the ideas we'll consider. No overt arguing from an unyielding militaristic standard. Otherwise, we'll end up ill-advised by the likes of --</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span><b>Adolf Hitler</b> -- "Mankind has grown great in eternal struggles, and only in eternal peace does it perish." (<i>Mein Kampf</i>, 1924) </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span>O</span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span>r --</span></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Louis XV</b><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span> -- "</span></span><i style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Ultima ratio regum.</i><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span>" Circa 1735 the French King ordered this phrase engraved on his cannon. It translates as: "The last argument of kings." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span>Or --</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span><b>Catherine II </b>-- "The only way to save our empire from the encroachment of the people is to engage in war, and thus substitute national passions for social aspirations."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span><b><i>TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b><span style="color: #222222;"> </span>Consider instead, both now and in the eventful days ahead, the counsel of such as --<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"><b>Karl von Clausewitz</b> -- "War ... is an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfill our will."</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"><b>Lenin</b> -- "War is part of a whole. That whole is politics. (This observation was a marginal note in his copy of Clausewitz' <i>On War</i>.)</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Alexis de Tocqueville </b>-- "There are two things which will always be very difficult for a democratic nation: to start a war and to end it." (The French social philosopher made that observation in his 1840 masterwork <i>Democracy in America</i>. He added: "All those who seek to destroy the freedom of the democratic nations must know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish this. This is the very first axiom of their science.")</span></span></div><div><br /></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="color: #222222;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Winston Churchill</b> -- "</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfdf9; color: #333333;">Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events."</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="background-color: #fdfdf9; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="background-color: #fdfdf9; color: #333333;"><b>Germaine Greer</b> -- "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">War is the admission of defeat in the face of conflicting interests: by war the issue is left to chance, and the tacit assumption that the best man will win is not at all justified. It might equally be argued that the worst, the most unscrupulous man will win, although history will continue the absurd game by finding him after all the best man."</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fdfdf9; color: #333333;"><b>Douglas MacArthur</b> -- "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">I know war as few other men now living know it, and nothing to me is more revolting. I have long advocated its complete abolition, as its very destructiveness on both friend and foe has rendered it useless as a means of settling international disputes." (In an address to Congress in 1951.)</span><span style="background-color: #fdfdf9; color: #333333;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fdfdf9; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fdfdf9; color: #333333;"><b>George Washington</b> -- "</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;">My first wish is, to see this plague to Mankind banished from the Earth; & the Sons & daughters of this World employed in more pleasing & innocent amusements than in preparing implements, & exercising them for the destruction of the human race. Rather than quarrel [about] territory, let the poor, the needy, & oppressed of the Earth; and those who want Land, resort to the fertile plains of our Western Country, to the second Land of promise, & there dwell in peace, fulfilling the first & great Commandment.” (In a letter to David Humphreys, July of 1785.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Benjamin Franklin</b> -- "There never was a good war or a bad peace." (In a letter to John Quincy, September 1783.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Theodore C. Sorensen</b> -- "We have contingency plans for war, but none for peace." (Appearing on <i>The Today Show</i> in November 1989.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Ruth Benedict</b> -- "If we justify war, it is because all peoples always justify the traits of which they find themselves possessed, not because war will bear an objective examination of its merits." (A US anthropologist, she propounded that view in Chapter 1 of her 1934 book <i>Patterns of Culture</i>.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Karl Kraus</b> -- "War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost." (The author was an Austrian satirist commenting in 1917.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Jeannette Rankin</b> -- "You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake." (In 1916, four years before the Nineteenth Amendment guaranteed the right of women to vote, Rankin became the first woman elected to the US Congress, representing Montana.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Enough for now.</b> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Well, nearly enough.</b> Admittedly this list is cherry-picked and biased in my doubtless opinionated attempt to make an unbiased presentation that virtually any reader might ponder and be influenced by. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;">That's the way a "catalyst" is supposed to function and that was my sincere intent. And if the attempt has fallen short, I beg to default to the wisdom of two legendary poets of the era of "the war to end all wars" (which, of course, what we now designate as World War One did not).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>W. B. Yeats</b> -- "I think it better that in times like these</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"> A poet's mouth be silent, for in truth<br /> We have no gift to set a statesman right."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;">The Irish poet and playwright penned those lines under the title <i>On Being Asked for a War Poem</i>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;">And in a similar vein --</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><b>T. S. Eliot </b>-- "War is not a life: it is a situation.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"> One which may neither be ignore nor accepted."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;">This was the Anglo-American poet and critics observation in a piece entitled <i>A Note on War Poetry</i>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i>Pax.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br /><a href="mailto:tgimguy@hotmail.com">tgimguy@gmail.com</a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><p></p>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-17847451820105430102022-02-21T06:00:00.073-05:002022-02-21T06:00:00.221-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #463<p> <a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2011/02/hop-to-it.html" style="color: #993200; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Presidents Day 2022</i></span></a></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4407727587285517161" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520.034px;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">WHAT ARE WE CELEBRATING ...</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">COMMEMORATING ...</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">OBSERVING ...</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">THIS PRESIDENTS DAY?</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; float: right; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIuSxNVPHtPvVGu31c80K1NkRyNOZZl_EVj1WFCMnSYe4xLXw811n2eQrQi4mcWJQykIuReEgvt0-uWWWU7Ltj5PkP_yrtyDr7vWbD_8rphPx4ekCNWYyt14-2cR8ym8K-KiKGjiRgoBl/s1600/Mount+Rushmore+tweaked.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #993200; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIuSxNVPHtPvVGu31c80K1NkRyNOZZl_EVj1WFCMnSYe4xLXw811n2eQrQi4mcWJQykIuReEgvt0-uWWWU7Ltj5PkP_yrtyDr7vWbD_8rphPx4ekCNWYyt14-2cR8ym8K-KiKGjiRgoBl/w375-h230/Mount+Rushmore+tweaked.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.32px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Presidential Portraits</span><br /></span><span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mount Rushmore National Monument</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">P</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">residents, nominally, right?</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">B</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ut what the heck does that really mean?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And what are we supposed to do about it -- other than shop for mattress bargains? (Does the emphasis on mattress sales come out of the “George Washington slept here” tradition?)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>The answer:</b> It’s complicated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>In a nutshell:</b> Presidents Day (or President's Day, or Presidents’ Day – the official holiday has no apostrophe but... you choose) is the bungled attempt of the federal government – encouraged, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">some say</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, by travel professionals – in 1968 to implement a Monday Holidays Act.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Essentially the day is what had been a date-specific Washington’s Birthday observance ... with heavy overtones of also February-born Lincoln ... and now, in some parts of the vast country, flavored with more than a passing jingoistic acknowledgement of any other Presidential notable with local roots or devoted following. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">But hold on a <i>TGIM</i> minute.</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"> What if Presidents Day is not about a man or men (so far) but <i>a concept of leadership</i>?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>TGIM</i> Takeaway:</b> Then, just maybe, we all have something to celebrate.<br /><br /><b>Consider this: </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">While we traditionally imagine George Washington nobly turning down the opportunity to become King of America, the facts are, even before the lead-the-new-nation opportunity arose for General Washington, the individual who presided over the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary period and under the Articles of Confederation had the title </span><i style="font-family: Arial;">President of the United States in Congress Assembled</i><span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggowsDpSZ-7Pdk2w_G6voMCDb6Eo-divHbuFYlwNuDgHCOdSKekMrm3_InHGYm04YozGaVkpZpqvv7gk34fmzNCVXVNnXloAUeUa_giLE54DvPyIPyJ3AnbK3ui6Z8SETGS-5Mijc8iXD-DL41gmqT8zVHUGITjDhCfRReEeqQleGYveRwYvLW2QJAgw=s2400" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1894" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggowsDpSZ-7Pdk2w_G6voMCDb6Eo-divHbuFYlwNuDgHCOdSKekMrm3_InHGYm04YozGaVkpZpqvv7gk34fmzNCVXVNnXloAUeUa_giLE54DvPyIPyJ3AnbK3ui6Z8SETGS-5Mijc8iXD-DL41gmqT8zVHUGITjDhCfRReEeqQleGYveRwYvLW2QJAgw=w228-h290" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; text-align: left;">Etching of John Hanson<br />based on a portrait<br />by Charles Wilson Peale</span><br /><span style="color: #202122; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa;"> that was painted from life<br />in 1781–1782</span><br /><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; white-space: nowrap;">the time of his "Presidency"<br /><br /></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">The first was John Hanson. <br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>And guess what:</b> That was often shortened to <i>President of the United States.</i> </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">That job, however, conveyed very little distinct executive power.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With the 1788 ratification of the Constitution, a separate Executive Branch was created.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>At its head:</b> <i>The President of the United States</i> – straightforward and without qualification or limitation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Now we’re talking “Executive Power.”</b> And compared to the “President of Congress” designation, even this presidential title was a major understatement of the actual role empowered to the office by the Constitution. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>But ...</b> <b><i>BIG BUT ...</i></b> even at that, the deliberate choice of words can be understood as a purposeful effort by the Founding Fathers to prevent the head-of-state position from becoming monarchial, with the accompanying potential for abuse of such power.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A president's executive authority under the Constitution, <i>tempered by the checks and balances of the Judicial and Legislative branches of the federal government</i>, was designed to solve several political problems faced by the young nation and to anticipate future challenges, while still preventing the rise of an autocrat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So today – Presidents Day 2022, when people around the world still valiantly strive for what American citizens enjoyed for over two centuries, let’s celebrate, commemorate and observe the Founders’ <b><i>IDEA of a </i></b><i><b>presidency</b>,</i> as well as the worthy individuals who filled the presidential position and continued to shape the job and the republic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> Assume your “Glorious Burden.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">That’s what the presidency has been called. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As we consider an</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial;"> office that many would seek to hold but, to date, only 46 have achieved, we should be committed to learning all we can about what characteristics have made the greatest of those office holders great and what flaws have hampered the achievements of those who stumbled on their way.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"><i>TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> Take an oath to use your “Executive Power” wisely, justly and democratically. Become the commander in chief … head of state … principal diplomat … and political leader of the constituents who elect to put their faith and trust in you.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As you do, be guided and inspired by the best efforts and successes of the 46 individuals (6 living) who -- often in their unique way -- represented that they were caring for our fragile democracy and steering us safely.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And even if you can’t name them all in numerical order ... or don't need a new mattress ... and/or don’t celebrate, commemorate or observe any particular Presidents Day ritual --</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><br /></b></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">Enjoy the day</b><span style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">.</span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: 400; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: 400; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Englewood, NJ 0763</span><span style="font-family: arial;">1</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: 400; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com">tgimguy@gmail.com</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: 400; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></span></span></strong></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><strong style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S. </b><span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="color: black; font-weight: 400; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">George Washington wrote that sentiment in a letter to Henry Laurens, dated January 31, 1778.</span></span></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></strong></div></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-44077275872855171612022-02-14T06:00:00.007-05:002022-02-19T19:53:26.451-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #462<p><a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2011/02/hop-to-it.html" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Valentine's Day 2022</i></span></a></p><p><strong style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">She Tells Her Love While Half Asleep</span></strong></p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzdjKvarxq9rwNYFcuQoDaFDbhVLlbpiULPHaVxi1dYOelSQ0Dn2d-SpfpMKLXjiA6YGLQPpV4iV5EUMkYmZTwXplJT6WZZ-cTcN-PCLNao_ZE3smSAel0jWW0DtNM1NiE2lqC2dxhj8F/s1600/Robert_Graves.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzdjKvarxq9rwNYFcuQoDaFDbhVLlbpiULPHaVxi1dYOelSQ0Dn2d-SpfpMKLXjiA6YGLQPpV4iV5EUMkYmZTwXplJT6WZZ-cTcN-PCLNao_ZE3smSAel0jWW0DtNM1NiE2lqC2dxhj8F/s1600/Robert_Graves.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Robert Graves</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">(1895-1985)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She tells her love while half asleep,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the dark hours,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With half-words whispered low;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As Earth stirs in her winter sleep</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And puts out grass and flowers</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the snow;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the falling snow.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Many scholars contend that this is the “best” love poem by poet, novelist, mythographer, critic & historian Robert Graves (1895–1985). </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">As a Graves fan I’m not sure I agree. But it seems quite appropriate for the "Spring has not yet fully arrived in the great Northeast" February observance of Valentine’s Day.</span><div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Enjoy celebrating.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br /><a href="mailto:tgimguy@hotmail.com">tgimguy@hotmail.com</a></span></div></span></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-83192110397124617002022-02-07T06:00:00.039-05:002022-02-07T08:38:06.900-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #461<h1 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2011/02/hop-to-it.html" style="color: #993200; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;"><i>Go ahead. </i></a><a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2011/02/hop-to-it.html" style="color: #993200; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;"><i>Call me a Momma's Boy ...</i></a></h1><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"> <b><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">TODAY IS YOUR DAY<br /></span></span></b><b><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">AND MINE</span></span></b></h2><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This day, 101 years ago, my Mother was born </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in Falmouth, England</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So, I hope you don't mind but, this </span><b style="font-family: Arial;"><i>TGIM</i></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> will be a bit more personal than most. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Go ahead. Call me a Momma’s Boy.</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I trust I’m not, of course, in the derisive sense of that phrase. But I do try to adhere to the mindset she meant to pass along.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">While there are likely countless growing-up lessons my Mother espoused and lived that might shape your thinking as they have mine, I'll spare you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I will, however, take this opportunity to share this Betty Steck (1921-2004) Daily Discipline.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She left a typewritten copy of the following words with her important family documents. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">While they are not original to her, she called them “</span><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The creed by which I try to live”</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">and noted,</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You will find these words over my kitchen sink where I read them at the beginning of each day.”</i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvPxC3-zUmMDsxRqZbVPzwHfXSRuxjWDk2QT0eXsrcCdY__YhJrY74flezJy2bRJgK5ZieU8fbtiPBiHozQNhyjjWD3YdBosXMts2t9lYzQyfPyOQeJwlJDY-oWHQBmXRJOy6hZu9CfbU-n9h5vll9yC3jrHbZJBReKJoFTDE4XOOOaAeJVQRgdcnFGg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvPxC3-zUmMDsxRqZbVPzwHfXSRuxjWDk2QT0eXsrcCdY__YhJrY74flezJy2bRJgK5ZieU8fbtiPBiHozQNhyjjWD3YdBosXMts2t9lYzQyfPyOQeJwlJDY-oWHQBmXRJOy6hZu9CfbU-n9h5vll9yC3jrHbZJBReKJoFTDE4XOOOaAeJVQRgdcnFGg=w517-h389" width="517" /></a></div><br /><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The image above is the postcard-sized reproduction I had made of Betty’s kitchen-sink reminder and distributed at her memorial service. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This one hangs over my computer screen, thus the fuzzy photo and the hint of yellow wallpaper border.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Another is on my dresser where the content of my pockets goes every evening and where it’s gathered at the start of each day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So there’s barely a day when I don’t bump hard into a tangible reminder of what I hope I have adapted as a lifelong behavior.</span></div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> CHALLENGE:</b> Got a “creed” by which you try to live?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’m sure you do.</b> So how about this –</span></div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> Share it. For starters, post it up on social media with a little bit of explanation if necessary. Let me know – post a comment here, share via <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Facebook</i> or<i> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LinkedIn</span></i><i style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or some such</span><i style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, </i>or just shoot it to me straight at the <a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com" style="font-style: normal;">tgimguy@gmail.com</a> e-mail, or whatever -- so I can see and share in it if it’s not likely I’d catch a glimpse of it in passing.</span></div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now is the time.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Go play your part.</b></span></div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Seize your unique day.</span></div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve already started with mine.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br /><a href="mailto:tgimguy@hotmail.com">tgimguy@hotmail.com</a></span></div></span></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-5048444923801793762022-01-31T06:00:00.005-05:002022-01-31T06:00:00.209-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #460<p> <a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2011/02/hop-to-it.html" style="color: #993200; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tyger Tyger, Burning Bright!</a></p><div class="post-header" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1107003108106874117" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520.034px;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A RED ENVELOPE FOR YOU</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">-- AND SOME POETRY</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Welcome to The Year of The Tiger. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 15.4px;">You may know that, based on an ancient system of astronomy and astrology, the 15-day festival that marks the so-called Chinese New Year begins </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">tomorrow.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">You may also recognize some of the traditions that will be observed over the days ahead to welcome good luck and happiness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Not surprisingly, many are customs that would fit in any cultural context at the beginning of a New Year. People dress in finery to represent contentment and wealth. Homes are scrubbed clean. Rooms are decorated for the holiday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Other traditions are unique.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> The room decorations are paper lanterns and flower blossoms. Walls are adorned with the Chinese characters -- </span><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic";">恭喜</span><span style="font-family: MingLiU;">发财</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">-- is one simplified form – roughly equivalent to “Happy New Year” and transliterated in some places as <i>Gung hay fa choy</i> in Cantonese.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">In places lacking restrictive pandemic protocols Dragon-dance parades may snake along streets with clashing cymbals and firecrackers exploding to ward off evil spirits. Children and single, unemployed adults look forward to receiving red envelopes stuffed with cash from elders.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Some years ago, as the “elder” co-creator (with Eric Taylor) of a program we boldly called the<a href="http://www.empowermentgroup.com/" style="color: #993200; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><b><i>Best Year Ever Program!</i></b> I feel obliged to commemorate any “New Year” observance and tie it to our message that –</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anytime is the right time to begin <b>Your <i>Best Year Ever!</i></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">So, although you may not be a child or unemployed single, here’s --</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1107003108106874117" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; text-align: start; width: 520.034px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">A Red Envelope for you. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrsn28QFTkMX37RDxHZ8HCrvU6ogMPHyQEVm-wGoLxscrWdw7dw8VgFF3of_cfHhgd44UP9kduH3gk6FH8MNbH6T1mekpjV12qU918KAPzckV9-AlUN-20qCTAMDCCKKcPy0QP6A1QpKmaarPPAeuHDC77fggmoc2ryIrpBoyGxF-4BXif5Q6D5kZNxA=s390" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrsn28QFTkMX37RDxHZ8HCrvU6ogMPHyQEVm-wGoLxscrWdw7dw8VgFF3of_cfHhgd44UP9kduH3gk6FH8MNbH6T1mekpjV12qU918KAPzckV9-AlUN-20qCTAMDCCKKcPy0QP6A1QpKmaarPPAeuHDC77fggmoc2ryIrpBoyGxF-4BXif5Q6D5kZNxA=w265-h320" width="265" /></a></div></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Sorry, no cash.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> (Awwww!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">But in the spirit of these blog posts and </span><b style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><i>TGIM</i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> messages, I believe that “Sharing An Idea” is a time-proven strategy that’s –</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">More valuable than money.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> Think of it this way: If I have a dollar and you have a dollar, and we give our dollar to one another, we each still have only a dollar. But --</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">And it’s a <i>Big</i> BUT:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> If I give you an idea, and you give me an idea, then we each have two ideas that we can contemplate … be inspired by … work on with our individual talents … and craft into something even greater than the original inspiration.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">So let’s get back to this idea of astrology and universal truths and</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> my idea of the moment for you --</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">According to the astrological aspects of the holiday, babies born in a Year of the Tiger are expected to have the following traits:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">"They are courageous and energetic, love a challenge or competition and are prepared to take risks. They are hungry for excitement and crave attention. They can be rebellious, short-tempered and outspoken, preferring to give order rather than take them, which often leads to conflict."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Were you born in a Year of the Tiger?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> You probably don’t know. But you also probably felt that some of the characteristics – especially the positive ones – fit you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Now for me, almost any astrological stuff is –</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Beyond understanding.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> Yet I often look at my horoscope in the ink-on-paper newspaper. And I read the transmitted wisdom with the fascinated knowledge that there is guidance to be gleaned in the cryptic messages (although that it is celestial and unwavering and universal is highly suspect to me).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I figure, at the least, horoscopes are well-intended advice. I’m certainly open to that. And that leads me, at this auspicious new beginning of the Year of the Tiger, to this –</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><i>TGIM</i> Takeaway: <i>“We are wiser than we know.” </i></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Ralph Waldo Emerson said that in 1841.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">How does that relate to today?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> We all would want the positive characteristics of those born in a Year of the Tiger and the other 11 Chinese astrological animal signs. And who wouldn’t want to embody the best parts of Libra, Scorpio, etc., etc.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">YEAR-OF-THE-TIGER</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> ACTION IDEA</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">: If we’re wise enough to know what characteristics are desirable, then we should be wise enough to set our own course in raising our skills in those areas in order that we might become all that we might become.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Our fate is not in the stars.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> The future is in our own hands. Self-improvement is the precursor to all improvement. Start today. We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work. There’s never been a more auspicious time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Gung hay fa choy!</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> Get started on <b>Your <i>Best Year Ever!</i></b> NOW.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Englewood, NJ 07631</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com" style="color: #993200; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">P.S.</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> About that "Tyger Tyger ..." side head at the top of today's post. Seem familiar? </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's from </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">one of the most anthologized English language poems out there,</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> William Blake's "The Tyger" p</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ublished in 1794 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">as part of his <i>Songs of Experience</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i> </i>collection.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Perhaps it's also personally informative then to compare the Chinese Zodiac tiger characteristics to Blake's quite western, mystical, romantic take</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> on the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">struggle of humanity based on the concept of the contrary nature of things,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB1b0d5IpDYEIBVD7vViEbGi2RkKmxalnWvhq6zxPUFaUg9JFX6NmRDmjd-GLMS6LxmZBk1GSMOz4Pc0-dCGYrSmu8qjoEuEBzSVGwXE_Q8kkTjL472SoP44eQkYpektT5dUisa66yN_St5UcHfTGSFxKBIS2NbBtu1m7Fhgzml4IKq8UZtJBMJyrRfw=s1343" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="798" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB1b0d5IpDYEIBVD7vViEbGi2RkKmxalnWvhq6zxPUFaUg9JFX6NmRDmjd-GLMS6LxmZBk1GSMOz4Pc0-dCGYrSmu8qjoEuEBzSVGwXE_Q8kkTjL472SoP44eQkYpektT5dUisa66yN_St5UcHfTGSFxKBIS2NbBtu1m7Fhgzml4IKq8UZtJBMJyrRfw=w381-h640" width="381" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.32px;">Copy A of Blake's original printing of </span><i style="background-color: #f8f9fa; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.32px;">The Tyger</i><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.32px;">, 1794. <br />Copy A is held by the British Museum.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div></div></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-21328615797785970372022-01-24T06:00:00.018-05:002022-01-24T06:00:00.277-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #459<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">HOW TO GET OTHERS </span></span></b></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><p style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TO LEVEL WITH YOU</span></span></b></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Monarchs of old </span>often punished bearers of bad news, making it crystal clear just who was in charge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeAe5gRiUOT91qk6v0-Nvh19NIpm0qOh5OwXjTtgYcmv5kwOPBN0CTk5eTSYci8ntngLaMYo3oInmu9u2AxrA7d8q2y8pzxq4Og4RWXBfdpsLptC9zD84WxfLABGw6KGOXDcoJJiY-BtMi52afxXFvTdO7YmCtYqpcAmLdxdr_tX9uo3jVbKTiPFGWPg=s1000" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="707" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeAe5gRiUOT91qk6v0-Nvh19NIpm0qOh5OwXjTtgYcmv5kwOPBN0CTk5eTSYci8ntngLaMYo3oInmu9u2AxrA7d8q2y8pzxq4Og4RWXBfdpsLptC9zD84WxfLABGw6KGOXDcoJJiY-BtMi52afxXFvTdO7YmCtYqpcAmLdxdr_tX9uo3jVbKTiPFGWPg=w176-h233" width="176" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As a result, these despots and dictators made decisions based on incomplete or distorted information, a fact that contributed to many military defeats and the crumbling of empires.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Welcome to the 21<sup>st</sup> Century:</b> Of course in our enlightened era, we know that the long-term outcome of a “shoot the messenger” strategy is not a more frank and forthright information exchange but, rather, withholding or revising of unpleasant truths.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So – in the “leadership” roles we’ve achieved as managers, or family heads or community leaders and such – we’re more benevolent than those kickin’-it-old-school kings and commissars, right?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why then do we too often discover, after the fact, that we’ve taken action based on received information that’s distorted, inaccurate, and sketchy?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Why didn’t people level with us?</b> The only way to get accurate information from people is to realize why they hesitate to give it, and act accordingly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> It’s just like in those “days of old.” People fail to level with other people out of fear. Not like “off with her head” kind of fear but, nonetheless, fear ultimately connected to the psychology of survival.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you’ve got any power, people are fearful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Yes, of you pussycat.</b> In all probability few <b><i>TGIM</i></b> readers have the fearful power to imprison or hurt people physically. We may even believe we’re perceived as gentle as a kitten.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>But we all have power to wield.</b> If you have “boss” status at work, at home or anywhere in the world at large, others recognize you might punish them in any of a thousand subtle and not-so-subtle ways.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maybe you could fire them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Or pass them over for promotion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Or ground them or withhold their allowance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">People certainly don’t want to lose their livelihood or be on anyone’s blacklist.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>They don’t even want mild disapproval.</b> They fear – and “fear” is an accurate assessment of the dread feeling they experience – even a sharp remark; even from someone held in high esteem.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Need more proof?</b> Think about what you feel when you find yourself in an inferior position.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>TGIM</i> Takeaway:</b> <i>People want to please.</i> (Don’t you?) So, even when they would really like you, and maybe even mean to level with you, they frame their answers in terms of --</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">“What does she (or he) want to hear?”</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The two-part antidote to this truth-distorting situation:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>First:</b> Realize that the fear factor isn’t likely to go away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Arial;">Then:</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Skirt it gingerly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">To judge whether you are being properly informed by others, ask yourself a few questions:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><ul style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0in 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px 2.5em;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Do people stop talking or change the subject when you begin to speak?</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Do they give you information only when you ask for it?</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Are they reluctant to talk with you at all?</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Do people who must deal directly with you keep “lower-level” personnel away from you.</span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A “Yes” answer to any of these can be a sign that you’re getting something less than the whole truth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Watch this: </b>Sometimes individuals who recognize they aren’t getting the straight dope react by grasping for information in a way that makes matters worse. They may alienate their informants by cross-examining them. They may also create truth-twisting suspicion and conflict by inviting people to inform on one another.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b> Eliminate the fear factor. Or mitigate it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Here are a handful of Get-To-The-Truth Tactics that help do that:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Truth Tactic <i>#1:</i></b> Make a point of talking with people informally – not just when you want to learn something, but as a matter of habit. Chat, exchange small talk, remove the barriers that say, “I’m the boss; you’d better watch what you say.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Truth Tactic <i>#2:</i></b> Be accessible to people at all levels. Executives who talk only to the next lower level of management tend to isolate themselves in a bubble of unreality. Accessible execs gain the perspective of a wider range of views.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Case in point:</i> In my ancient days in retailing I knew a VP of Operations who, virtually every morning, walked in through the basement receiving area and up through nine selling floors and support areas to his executive office, engaging with staff along the way. At lunchtime, if he was going out, he reversed the process; otherwise he routinely ate in the company cafeteria. And, at the end of most days, he walked down again through each floor a half hour before closing and was available at the bank of elevators until most everyone had gone home. <i>Outcome:</i> There was rarely an operational “surprise” in his years of service.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Truth Tactic<i> #3:</i></b> A useful way to skirt the fear of reprisal is to reward people no matter what they tell you, positive or negative. Don’t be one of those people who asks for comments or suggestions and then gets defensive. The people they engage soon learn to keep mum. Say, “Thanks for telling me that,” even if it’s the last thing in the world you want to hear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In a similar line:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Truth Tactic <i>#4:</i></b> Be aware of how you sound when you ask for information. Through your wording, tone of voice, even gestures, you can unintentionally prejudice the answer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>And not just in a threatening, repressive way:</b> If you ask with an expectant smile, “How do you like this idea?” you’ll probably come away thinking people love the idea when, perhaps, they are only trying to please.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>A better way to gather information:</b> Ask your question in terms of, “Which idea do you prefer, A , B or C?” striving to not indicate your preference.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Truth Tactic <i>#5:</i></b> When probing for information, realize that people are reluctant to be too negative. So you hear only the positive. They know from experience that even well-intentioned criticism can bring a backlash.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>“It’s all good,” isn’t good.</b> Be clear that you want to hear it all. When asking for comments, specify that you also want to be filled in on the minuses, especially if all you’re hearing are positives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Case in point:</i> A division president asked several people if they liked a recent reorganization. He got kudos all around. Then he asked if they noticed anything that “could be better.” He got many more candid and useful comments.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>So level with me.</b> Did this <b><i>TGIM</i></b> meet your expectations? Can you recommend ways you think it might have been made better? Have you insights to add?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Please feel free to share your thoughts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I look forward to learning from you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><address w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631</span></address></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">201-569-5373</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com" style="color: #993200; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>P.S. </b><i>“The best test of truth is the power of thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market.”</i> Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) said that in his 1919 decision in <i><span lang="EN">Abrams v. United States</span></i> – which also immortalized the phrase <i>“clear and present danger.”</i></span></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-12610587897969329862022-01-17T07:00:00.022-05:002022-01-17T07:00:00.220-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #458<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LIVE THE DREAM IN 2022?</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(OR HAS IT BECOME AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM?)</span></span></b></p><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Martin Luther King Jr.</span> said: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3qgT8gitpLsuZdLg47d_7alQwnnTnFiBaE63J_N_xUVdbPjCOMameLPjEm7_W5qqXRW8HtvhHB6X_7NObfE82tQMhcOcVv6VdR_-ASlptp3I-ki_C_WNR3f9zbphmz20fg1H7Y1FCQx8oP7UgKPp2a3bSaZaV-buvIl-rEsiyDT0fTHbK9STMOdYn7g=s1080" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3qgT8gitpLsuZdLg47d_7alQwnnTnFiBaE63J_N_xUVdbPjCOMameLPjEm7_W5qqXRW8HtvhHB6X_7NObfE82tQMhcOcVv6VdR_-ASlptp3I-ki_C_WNR3f9zbphmz20fg1H7Y1FCQx8oP7UgKPp2a3bSaZaV-buvIl-rEsiyDT0fTHbK9STMOdYn7g=w232-h232" width="232" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"ML" as he was known<br />in his seminarian years<br />1948-1951</span></h4></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Life's most persistent and urgent question is:</i> <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'What are you doing for others?'</i></b>"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Today marks yet another Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating this Federal Holiday marking the January birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was first observed as such in 1986.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This third-Monday-in-January milestone is a striking opportunity to consider anew how we live the dream in 2022 as well as honor Dr. King’s legacy in these tumultuous times.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There’s a now-often-overlooked "extra" reason why:</b> In 1994, Congress made the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> the only federal holiday also designated as a National Day of Service. (There's a</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Corporation for National and Community Service charged with leading this effort.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Because of Dr. King’s dedication to human rights and a better society, the holiday was envisioned to become known as –</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A day <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">on</i>, not a day <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">off.</i>”</b> And people were encouraged to perform acts that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As such this governmental national “call to service” initiative intended to encourage Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems; to </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">empower us individually and collectively to devise and implement solutions to social challenges and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So how's that seem to be working out?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Not so well in these wearying 21st Century days, right?</b> Clearly much work lies before us if we are to realize this governmentally endorsed actuation of Dr. King’s dream. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And, perhaps presciently, MLK Jr. seems to have anticipated this unfortunate reality and formed an observation still painful to recollect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1967 he spoke these words: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>"[This year] finds us a rather bewildered human race. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>We have neither peace within, not peace without. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Everywhere, paralyzing fears harrow people by day and haunt them by night. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Our world is sick ... Everywhere we turn we see its ominous possibilities."</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>But wait. <i>There's more.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Before we fall into despair, let's also acknowledge the highly instructive follow-on observation to Dr. King's "ominous" analysis. He continued:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>"And yet, my friends, </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>the hope for peace and goodwill toward men can no longer be dismissed </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>as a kind of pious dream of some utopian. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>If we do not have goodwill toward men in this world, </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>we will destroy ourselves by the misuse of our own instruments and our own power."</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM/MLK Jr. </i>ACTION IDEA:</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> You likely know the following observation, the most famous part of the 1967 message I'm sharing above. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">As Dr. King concluded</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> --</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">“We must learn to live together as brothers</span></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> or perish together as fools.”</span></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Everyone should live the dream in 2022. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Just as MLK Jr. set big goals and focused relentlessly on results, we need sustained citizen action to address today’s social challenges.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Even in the current civilian breach, this National Day of Service should remind us we are the inheritors of his intent.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> For starters, the ongoing day-on dedication of frontline health and service workers in the face of Covid and cultural challenges is a bright reminder of how the capabilities we all possess might be best applied for the greater good.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM/MLK Jr. </i></b><b style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IDEA IN </b><b style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ACTION:</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">As we understand it in this day and age -- newly shaped in ways MLK Jr. could, perhaps, have barely conceived in 1967 -- we must behave as we imagine he would have us behave.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And in doing so, is it trite to suggest that we, too, shall overcome?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think not.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">MLK Jr.’s charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, in this nation and around the world. His speeches, lectures and writing stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. Many of his great thoughts, compellingly expressed, live on today.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Among my favorites:</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I can never be what I ought to be </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">until you are what you ought to be. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is the interrelated structure of reality.”</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Already feel you do your part?</b> Then -- </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy -- </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">share a dream, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">quote, story, experience of your own</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Share it today.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br /></span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-40592975751109143252022-01-10T06:30:00.024-05:002022-01-10T06:30:00.233-05:00<p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://geoffsteck.blogspot.com/2014/01/thank-goodness-its-monday-442.html" style="color: #993200; text-decoration-line: none;">Thank Goodness It's Monday #4</a>57</h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7121788525476130312" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: #fff9ee; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520.034px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">RESOLUTIONS ALONE ARE BUPKIS</span></span></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">(OH, AND WELCOME TO 2022)</span></b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“Bupkis”</span> – if, by chance, you’re not familiar with the word – is a dictionary-accepted English language word more often spoken than written.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: left; width: 208px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydmSicmHshxS4uL3_LdkyMbHLYTaqftvBO9l99jk6W6f5AYtKlLbph8UPCMEGVwNw7nsxTwxEet6DgV6499bEThP4f_VLsXjvl28ZAWJg5KMMm2slKhmx5Tm0w8G52dD4wAxPaM3Uc76q/s1600/Goats+1.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #993200; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydmSicmHshxS4uL3_LdkyMbHLYTaqftvBO9l99jk6W6f5AYtKlLbph8UPCMEGVwNw7nsxTwxEet6DgV6499bEThP4f_VLsXjvl28ZAWJg5KMMm2slKhmx5Tm0w8G52dD4wAxPaM3Uc76q/w181-h177/Goats+1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="181" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.32px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The etymology of "bupkis"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> -- if you care to delve deeper --</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">finds the origins in a Yiddish phrase</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">concerning goat droppings.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">It’s defined as <i>“absolutely nothing; nothing of value, significance, or substance.”</i> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">It’s use in today’s <b><i>TGIM</i></b> headline is to both attract your attention and to emphasize an important idea that, I hope, will help us all better keep our newly made resolutions and achieve our 2022 goals as we persue them in these early days of the year.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">So let’s get started:</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> On New Year's Eve a decade or so past a fellow celebrator said to me –</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“This year I’m not making resolutions,</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">but finding solutions.”</span></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>Hmmm.</i></b> <b>Interesting idea.</b> And on reflection, I agree.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, exactly what the shorthand “no resolutions/solutions” meant for him was not revealed in our passing exchange.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>But we can figure out the spirit of it. </b>And we can apply the intent we figure out to any of the fast-lapsing resolutions we may have made just a week ago. If we let them stand simply as</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> stand-alone expressions of intent, the outcome’s bound to be discouraging and disappointing.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Goals – like final destinations </b><b>–</b><b> are for planning.</b> And eventually a well-designed system will be the prime mover in accomplishing what you desire most fervently.</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Arial;"><i>TGIM</i> Takeaway:</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> As my New-Year’s-Eve reveling friend suggested, it’s the solution-creating process we devise and act on that will have the most impact on our goal-achievement outcome.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Correctly assessing your ability and commitment is the starting point. Having a system and routinely reviewing, evaluating, tweaking and finely honing that is what matters in the long run. Then committing to that process is what makes the difference.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"><i>TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"> In 2022 -- rather than fretting about big, life-changing goals -- we can keep things simple and reduce stress by focusing on the daily process and sticking to a well-thought-out schedule plotted with an honest assessment of our ability and commitment to sticking to it.</span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">By focusing on the practice and step-by-step performance instead of the big end result, you can enjoy the present moment and improve at the same time. It’s in the assessment and forecasting and development and scheduling and preparing and setting up and execution and adapting to change that we make progress.</span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t_GJ_EHTNj8C3w33UixH8FOH_yakq14RzwGkgOwu4-q4BU9G3BlaEGMkQ0qtsiuPgNLbVN-h43iOtpO8JOOSmF7y7ci1nxQgsN2x_Z3yoOk1xivVjcHW7P1YXN9Qw-2eRX5b1LytN4CC/s1600/Garfield+awesome+strip+2013-12-31.jpg" style="color: #993200; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t_GJ_EHTNj8C3w33UixH8FOH_yakq14RzwGkgOwu4-q4BU9G3BlaEGMkQ0qtsiuPgNLbVN-h43iOtpO8JOOSmF7y7ci1nxQgsN2x_Z3yoOk1xivVjcHW7P1YXN9Qw-2eRX5b1LytN4CC/s640/Garfield+awesome+strip+2013-12-31.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.32px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Although we can agree you, too, are awesome --</span></span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">please dig deeper than </span><a href="http://garfield.com/comic/2013-12-31" style="color: #993200; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Garfield </span></a><span style="font-size: small;">does in this year-end Jim Davis strip.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">So are you buying this argument?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Are you ready for some solution-finding input?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Here’s some perhaps-fresh insight:</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>1. Individuals change best when the motivation comes from within rather from the outside.</i></b> For example, perhaps you think, “There’s not much I can do about my career until we get back to an office setting and my boss shapes up and does something.” Or you might say, “Things would be different for me if only my spouse were to behave differently.”</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In these cases you are relying on an external force to make change happen. But as any mentor worth his or her salt should be quick to point out, “Nothing will change until you change.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The truth is, you are 100% responsible for you! Any questions?</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>2022 ACTION IDEA:</b> Take responsibility. Rely on yourself. Set your own priorities. Change occurs more effectively when you say, in essence, “Things must be changed and I am the one who must initiate the change. I must, in fact, change myself first. There are things only I can do which will have the desired payoff for me.” Motivate yourself by getting excited about your goal quest.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>2. Individuals change best when their objectives are specific.</i></b> Maybe this is stating the obvious but let’s be clear: We do more when we have a purposeful direction. Once we have a specific goal, we see change occurring more readily.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Why?</b> Because specific objectives permit us to seek specific feedback on how we’re doing. General objectives such as “I want to get ahead” or “I want to be somebody” keep you from knowing whether you’re succeeding or failing because they set no goal criterion.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>2022 ACTION IDEA:</b> Putting performance measurements, time limits, real milestones and actual rewards in each goal makes it specific and easier to determine whether it’s being achieved or not. And knowing that a desired change is taking place can feed your personal satisfaction.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>3. Individuals change best when there is personal commitment.</i></b> “Oh, I’m committed to making the changes necessary to reach my goals” you tell yourself.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>But face it:</b> It’s more difficult to change in a vacuum. It helps to have feedback.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>2022 ACTION IDEA:</b> Tell others. Share your hopes, your dreams and your goals. Other people will be glad to give you feedback, support and ideas. And the more specific you are in detailing your aspirations, the more specific and informative that feedback can be. And by making the commitment “public,” you become more emotionally involved and that also helps you stick to it.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>4. Individuals change best when changes are timely and gradual</i>.</b> While the idea that revolutionary change comes dramatically in a flash of brilliance is appealing, life seldom happens like that.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Change takes time.</b> Individual change takes patience and time. Achieving the kind of 2022 goals I hope you set in recent days won’t be finished tomorrow. (If it is I’d like to hear about it.)</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>2022 ACTION IDEA:</b> Be patient. Most changes require a series of events to occur in some evolving way. Granted, we can help some or all of those events to occur, but even then the magnitude and complexity of achieving great goals demand shifts in attitude, values, policies and procedures – and that takes time and careful planning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>There’s more … <i>much more.</i></b> Obviously. Whole books been written, entire careers have been build upon goal-setting and outcome-achieving strategies.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>But that’s plenty enough for right now.</b> My short-term <b><i>TGIM</i></b> goal for today was to put in your hands some proven-in-action solutions you might implement immediately to keep your 2022 Resolution/Goals process on track.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope you found them, at least, worthy of consideration</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">– <b>NOT bupkis</b>.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />Chief Catalyst<br />Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com" style="color: #993200; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">P.S.</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> “</span></span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">“A good system shortens the road to the goal” </i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">That old-timey publisher of motivational and inspirational wisdom in his </span></span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;">Success</i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> magazine, Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924) propounded that bit of rousing opinion.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span></div></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-21722380645019751402022-01-03T16:11:00.000-05:002022-01-03T16:11:38.640-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #456<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">IT'S BEEN A WHILE</span></span></b></p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This first Monday </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">of the New Year of 2022 seems to me a good time to revive this old blog. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">There's certainly been no shortage of thoughtful and thoughtless input across digital media platforms since I last seriously posted here more than a half-dozen years ago. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">And I've certainly raised my voice and also held my tongue (and nose) in many of those places in the interim. Likewise, in the best tradition of recycling, I've resurrected, revised and re-shared not a few thoughts originally aired here. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But as I reflect now, all that airing and sharing feels a bit out-in-the-ether and impermanent. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So I've a mind to recommit to this space and process and, with some good fortune, see if I can use it and the process to both focus my thinking and support the original stated premise of this endeavor namely to provide "ideas for your information & inspiration" that might serve as a catalyst to create outcomes beneficial to the days ahead. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">And thus, we begin anew with a bit of philosophizing, seasonally appropriate and evergreen:</span></span></div><div><h3 style="background-color: #f0f2f5; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">"What we call the beginning is often the end. </span></b></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And to make an end is to make a beginning. </span></b></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The end is where we start from."</span></b></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;">Poet T.S. Eliot, (1888-1965) made that clear in</span><i style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"> "Little Gidding,”</i><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"> the fourth and final poem of his <i>Four Quartets.</i></span></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400;"><i><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">A penny for the old man.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></i></span></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">And onward we go into 2022.</span></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Persist.</span></span></div></h3></div></div>Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com5Englewood, NJ 07631, USA40.8928771 -73.972638112.582643263821154 -109.1288881 69.203110936178845 -38.8163881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-63281213419531429672014-12-24T03:00:00.000-05:002014-12-24T14:58:10.879-05:00What the Dickens?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BAH! HUMBUG! </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">OR </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“THE CAROL PHILOSOPHY”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The modern idea </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">of how to observe the Christmas season has its roots in the mind of one man:</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvsdERB441osi4lgODSZaTVEa16_QU1rXflwDUWLfljLR1Sb5rsopkjOtKWepkeWh67j4koulZ3PcRESjeP_suqnI0WPLFpDpJiDp0BhIvmU4j926Px-MYMOTmUaGPU_G5dmz-Lh0laMl/s1600/Charles+Dickens+in+1842+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvsdERB441osi4lgODSZaTVEa16_QU1rXflwDUWLfljLR1Sb5rsopkjOtKWepkeWh67j4koulZ3PcRESjeP_suqnI0WPLFpDpJiDp0BhIvmU4j926Px-MYMOTmUaGPU_G5dmz-Lh0laMl/s200/Charles+Dickens+in+1842+sketch.jpg" height="200" width="144" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sketch of Charles Dickens</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">made in 1842</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">on an American tour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">(That's his sister, Fanny, on the lower left)</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Charles Dickens. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But I bet the story’s not quite as cut-and-dried as you think. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So I’m going to give you a little capsule literary history and in the telling try to uncover a useful <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yuletide Takeaway</b> or two that you can re-gift in the best spirit of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For starters, at the core, we’re talking USA-style Christmas with the most plentiful points of reference to Great Britain, OK? So first –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ghost of Christmas Past:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Long past. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Recall those Thanksgiving Puritan pilgrims we celebrated last month? For a bunch or reasons they and their kin were not much for observing Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In fact they were quite “Bah! Humbug!” about the celebrate-Christmas concept. And that was the beginning of the end of the pre-Puritan kind of Yuletide days of elaborate feasting and pageantry and royal splendor that we might imagine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Old big-scale pomp-filled religious traditions gradually faded into history and Christmas became a quiet celebration in individual homes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fast forward and by the Age of Dickens the Industrial Revolution contributed further erosion of plum pudding, mince pie, evergreens, mistletoe and such.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Work!” was the motto of the time.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Christmas was essentially another work day. The poor were too oppressed to celebrate. And those who were well off did not want to “waste” the time and money. (Sense the beginnings of a story here?)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">However –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The socially conscious Charles Dickens believed that Christmas could be otherwise enlightening. He felt that the spirit of the season did something positive for him personally and so he set about using his power with the written word to do the same for the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">His first attempt, in 1835, in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bell’s Life</i> magazine in London, was called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Christmas Dinner.”</i> This short sketch described the conviviality of a family forgiving and forgetting the past as it gathers around the Christmas table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dickens’ next story on the subject will sound even more familiar: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cliff-Note synopsis:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Unpleasant, cranky guy is annoyed by other people’s cheerfulness on Christmas Eve … is taken by supernatural beings to view scenes of family happiness and good … this convinces him to reform when he awakens the next day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s called (get ready to be surprised)–<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton. </span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s an incidental part of the more notable whole of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pickwick Papers</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Seven more years pass.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Dickens has many successes but, by 1843, he had somewhat fallen out of public favor as a writer. Not as good with money as he was with words, his financial situation had become troublesome for him. His social consciousness had him in an ongoing turmoil about the plight of the poor. He spent much time and effort making speeches appealing for aid to the working class. Then --<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In October 1843, while he walked the streets, an idea came to him. He modeled it on “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Goblins …”</i> and embellished it with details from his own life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA_TvM8MP2ZgNbYrEACFKw3Lf8H5XZ0-XoNhLG_1U-hf6cp68TxW9oTqWlFXvlbVf4Aw7wD799qbWUc85h-6qir2mEbV3_5df0X2S5Cxe8hQtqn18uFoBrw0g-pGF-bLSLM9pBC0AgllE/s1600/Charles+Dickens+Christmas+Carol+Title+page+First+edition+1843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA_TvM8MP2ZgNbYrEACFKw3Lf8H5XZ0-XoNhLG_1U-hf6cp68TxW9oTqWlFXvlbVf4Aw7wD799qbWUc85h-6qir2mEbV3_5df0X2S5Cxe8hQtqn18uFoBrw0g-pGF-bLSLM9pBC0AgllE/s320/Charles+Dickens+Christmas+Carol+Title+page+First+edition+1843.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1843 First Edition</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title page</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Illustrations by John Leech</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">By the second week of November, he completed his story – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas </i>– and took it to his publisher. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Because he wanted it to be top quality, he worked on the design of the book, the paper and binding himself. He selected the illustrator. He arranged having the illustrations hand-tinted – all the while striving to keep the price as low as possible so it could be affordable for the audience he intended to influence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A few days before Christmas the new little book appeared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Financially it was not a success.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Although it sold well, he made very little from its initial sale because he succeeded too well in delivering quality at a bargain price. (True first editions are currently valued in the $10,000+ range.) Cheaply made pirate editions sold on both sides of the Atlantic also kept him from earning his due. Even when he sued one unethical publisher and won his case, Dickens suffered because the publisher’s bankruptcy left him with no settlement and yet he had court costs to pay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It took Charles Dickens some time to realize just how completely he had succeeded although he had not made much money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He wrote other Christmas books, one each year. In 1844 he wrote <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Chimes</i> and observed, “I believe I have written a tremendous book, and knocked the Carol out of the field.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wrong, wrong, wrong.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Next to the Nativity itself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Christmas Carol</i> remains the best-known and best-loved (it’s never been out of print) Christmas story of all in all manner of retelling – movies, stage plays, opera, musicals, cartoons, skits and spoofs, and modernized and futurized versions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Scrooge” has entered the vernacular as a synonym for “miser.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future have haunted us all, regardless of religious affiliation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The spirit of the season has bloomed again as a time to think of one’s fellow man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yuletide Takeaway: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">As in most of his writing about the season, Dickens is not particularly concerned with the religious nature of the holiday but with – <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The cheerfulness and good feeling between people.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Christmas Carol</i> is the ultimate embodiment of what Dickens himself called – <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carol’</i> Philosophy:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Christmastime was “a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of other people below them as if they were really fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dickens gets the last word.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Here it is, from the penultimate paragraph of the book: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">No humbug.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Intending to do it all and more ... be better than my word ... and have laugher in my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">8 Depot Square</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373</span><br />
<a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">P.S. </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">“... and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-640307179423781732014-10-03T14:46:00.002-04:002014-10-04T15:10:39.858-04:00Erev Yom Kippur 5775<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WE THE PEOPLE …</i>”</span></span></b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tonight, </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">in one of those curious intersections<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> </span></span>that happens with traditions
keyed to lunar calendars, all-important-to-Muslims rites and rituals
involving the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca, fall at the same as Yom Kippur, the
most solemn Jewish Day of Atonement.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s unusual that’s
for sure.</b> The coinciding Day of Arafat when pilgrims to Mecca will be at
Mount Arafat atoning for their sins and misdeeds and the Yom Kippur activities
with biblical links to the time of Moses will not happen again for many
decades.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yet the Hajj/Yom Kippur traditions and observances of these
oft-times-at-odds “children of Abraham” are remarkably parallel.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The “children of
Abraham” connection is the key, of course.</b> As I understand it, the core
reason Muslims desire to make their pilgrimage is to honor the Patriarch
Abraham, the very same Patriarch Jews honor and revere.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">(It’s not clear to me
why a corresponding annual atonement/repentance observance isn’t extant in the
Christian extension of the family. But I’d speculate that Easter time is
closely connected with some elements and the largely secular New Year’s Eve
with its resolutions and such is also in play.) </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">More to the immediate date and point:</b>
The Jewish and Muslim communities worship the essentially same deity. They
acknowledge and honor many of the same prophets. Many of the dietary
restrictions are held in common. The underlying mindset in rituals of atonement
and invocation to that deity for forgiveness and mercy are strikingly similar.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So what?</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Most of you probably realize I’m not an especially religious
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some who know me more intimately
are kind enough to deem my view “spiritual” at times. If pressed I might allow
that I think many of my opinions in this region could align with positions I
conclude the Founding Fathers of the United States articulated as “Nature’s
God.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I hope to claim some status as a
trying-to-remain-impartial outside observer.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And here’s my
observation:</b> There’s self-evident truth in today’s particular alignment of
traditions. No matter the source or depth of your beliefs, the underlying
concepts of –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Spiritual introspection</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Retrospection</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Seeking pardon </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Granting remission or
forgiveness </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Atonement, and </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Resolving and vowing to go
forward anew. </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">-- have legitimacy and power.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tradition-observant Jews repeat a “confession” several times
during the observance of Yom Kippur cataloguing fifty-six categories of “sin.”</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And here’s what’s particularly interesting to me about that
and apt to our day and age: </span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The confession is recited as a collective “we”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">– not an individual “I.”</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This tradition is one of sharing each other’s transgressions
plus acknowledging general responsibility for the misdeeds of mankind.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TAKEAWAY:</b> We
might be well served if the secular <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We the people …”</i></b> could apply
ourselves to ways to come together to do that now.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq4k7Ze5AbxrzZ4ChdTG1kJpnoeJkk5wJgBaRUcetuo7JOz7VW1oJWN1rz5RVRIgrIOZf_WizDnuz08_qRHVSgDpxfYGLALo-JQHLHoj99cYzKW_KeFkXUwUTlHZ2Kxs6Au2a9w_dBLMD/s1600/mosaic+menorah+with+shofar+6th+C..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq4k7Ze5AbxrzZ4ChdTG1kJpnoeJkk5wJgBaRUcetuo7JOz7VW1oJWN1rz5RVRIgrIOZf_WizDnuz08_qRHVSgDpxfYGLALo-JQHLHoj99cYzKW_KeFkXUwUTlHZ2Kxs6Au2a9w_dBLMD/s1600/mosaic+menorah+with+shofar+6th+C..jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosaic floor with seven-branched <span style="font-style: italic;">menorah</span> plus other Jewish ritual objects. <br />
The latter are, from right to left: <br />
a <span style="font-style: italic;">shofar </span>[ram's horn used on the Rosh haShanah holiday];<br />
an incense shovel as used in the Temple; <br />
an <span style="font-style: italic;">etrog</span> [citron in English], a citrus fruit used on the Sukkot holiday;<br />
what appears to be a <span style="font-style: italic;">lulav</span>, a palm frond, also used on the Sukkot holiday. <br />
The Greek inscription says "Praise for the People." <br />
The mosaic is dated to the 6th century.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sound the shofar. </b>In
ancient Palestine the ram’s horn trumpet was used to signal danger, convene the
populace, call for defense, announce a holiday. May you – each and all, without
regard to the particulars of our philosophical viewpoints – be inscribed and
sealed for a good year.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-5500781655878787982014-04-07T07:00:00.000-04:002014-04-07T07:00:11.816-04:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #455<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I say that too often, </span>I think. It’s become
a go-to phrase for me that slips too easily and mindlessly into the
conversation.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Time off for good
behavior”</b> is usually deployed by me when someone indicates that they’re not
going to do something … or that they’re going to do something “entertaining”
rather than workaday routine … or that they’re actually giving themselves just
that – time off that they feel/know they’ve deservedly earned.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With a common-usage link to the idea of incarceration for
some kind of wrongdoing, I guess it’s got a bit of a snarky tone to it.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One reading:</b> It’s
as if I’m implying the break-taker is maybe not quite as deserving as they
think they are; as if by doing what’s expected of them they’ve gained some
privilege.</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">College student off for a
spring-break fling? “Ah, been a tough semester, huh?” sez Geoff. “Time off
for good behavior.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Networking buddy who asks
me to sub at morning breakfast while she heads out for her industry’s
annual Las Vegas gathering? “Happy to do it,” sez I. “Enjoy your time off
for good behavior.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Working spouse neighbors
who give you the heads up that they’re taking their kids to the Florida
theme park experience. Yup. Imagining the air travel and transportation
and standing in lines with kids in tow, I drop the phrase again.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But you know what?</b>
That’s unfair. Judgmental. And just plain wrong (most of the time).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s suddenly obvious to me that, even if dispensed with a
smile and expressed with interest in the time-off plans, this note of
disapproving approval is rooted perhaps in some bit of envy, or jealousy or
desire to be on the partaking side of the equation versus being stuck here in
the daily humdrum.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> You deserve a break today. Not to give too
much to that old McDonald’s sales pitch, everyone who makes an honest effort,
no matter how small or immediately effective, has earned some respite.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ideally, we all do.</b>
And a brief fast-food-sized interlude in the daily routine is just a beginning.
Even the dominant guideline of the religious beliefs of many remarks that, on
the seventh day, the creator of the world we dwell in rested.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That ought to be a good clue to guide our own behavior.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">From a more secular and
pragmatic view:</b> No doubt our human batteries need to be routinely and
regularly recharged.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hardworking English banker, politician, naturalist and
archaeologist John Lubbock (1834-1913) certainly knew that.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Although his scientific work was an avocation, Lubbock discovered
the first fossil remains of musk-ox in England (1855), and undertook
archaeological work identifying prehistoric cultures. As a naturalist and
friend and advocate of Charles Darwin, he studied insect vision and color
sense. He published a number of books on natural history and primitive man. He
coined the terms Neolithic and Paleolithic.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1870, he became a member of Parliament. The legislation
he initiated included the Bank Holidays Act (1871) and the Ancient Monuments
Act (1882) and the Shop Hours Act (1886). He became 1st Baron Avebury when he
was made a peer in 1900.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And, in addition to his work/ life example, he gave us many
useful guidelines for living, such as this nicely depicted one from the 1920
collection in the<em> Volume of Contentment</em>
we’ve been featuring:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwVkXQUgGnpqUh2OBCiNj4pxO_3L2HKdDSCSOXuvsBq2Mxq_OUUSqh6UWkIisNmoNj9N384QFnm0CevSFxt65gibE9tiBbjrQJMVpDTeQzdl5t_XI3iVAVIwhbL09uTGjAHeGSi-kM0tJ/s1600/Rest+is+not+idleness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwVkXQUgGnpqUh2OBCiNj4pxO_3L2HKdDSCSOXuvsBq2Mxq_OUUSqh6UWkIisNmoNj9N384QFnm0CevSFxt65gibE9tiBbjrQJMVpDTeQzdl5t_XI3iVAVIwhbL09uTGjAHeGSi-kM0tJ/s1600/Rest+is+not+idleness.jpg" height="640" width="441" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In a similar spirit Lord Avebury also shared these thoughts:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“A
day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work.”</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Happiness
is a thing to be practiced, like the violin.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“If
we are ever in doubt what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we
shall wish on the morrow that we had done.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“We
often hear of people breaking down from overwork, but in nine cases out of ten
they are really suffering from worry or anxiety.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“In
truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not
really the time but the will that is wanting.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Our
ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and
true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“When
we have done our best, we should wait the result in peace.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Your
character will be what you yourself choose to make it.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And speaking of
character:</b> Here’s my personal Spring Break –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b> I apologize to those I have pestered with
my “Time off for good behavior” glibness. To have had your effort at all
belittled is unfair. I really do wish you happy interludes to your routine.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now I think I’ll give myself some time off for good
behavior.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Back soon.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And speaking nearly directly to the
incarceration premise of “Time off for good behavior,” Lubbock said: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The whole value of solitude depends upon
oneself; it may be a sanctuary or a prison, a haven of repose or a place of
punishment, a heaven or a hell, as we ourselves make it.”</i></span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-20746017245648179862014-03-31T07:00:00.000-04:002014-03-31T07:33:54.843-04:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #454<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">WHAT’S WRITTEN ON YOUR HEART?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It’s been a lot of Mondays </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(454 divided by 52 = a
bit short of a decade)</span> since these weekly messages began their routine
appearance as part of a multi-platform program created with my buddy Eric
Taylor and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.empowermentgroup.com/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The EmpowermentGroup</span></a></i></b>.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Our first connection</b>
had been at a public event perhaps a year or two prior.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After that we spent some time assessing each other, trying
to figure out just what the connection was between an older, words-on-paper, pass-along
business soft-skills, jacket & tie guy (that was me at the time) and, dare
I say, a brash, young, great-on-the-platform, hyper-energized, fit and trim people-motivator
like Eric (often decked out in preferred-at-the-time Tony Robbins look).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To cut to the chase:</b>
In those ancient days of business “courting” we discovered much in common and
that our complementary talents played nicely and well together. A mutual
acquaintance noted once we were like Lennon and McCartney, which I always took
as a compliment (although I’ve never been sure who’s who in that equation).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The grandest production of those days became, as I have
suggested above, a multi-media program conceived as and modestly tagged, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How to Have Your<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Best Year Ever</i></b>. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">BYE</i></b> elements consisted of
ballroom-filling half-day presentations, CDs and DVDs, ring binders filled with
stuff from all the productions and more, e-delivery of content (before the idea
of an “e-book” had seriously entered the equation), and weekly outreach, free
of charge and low on promo, to anyone who would have us in their e-mail box.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fast forward to 2014:</b>
The world has spun on its axis and made its circuit around the sun many, many
times since <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM #1</i></b>. The road has been winding and sometimes challenging.
Other paths have crossed ours and we’ve investigated them in our own way. And
through it all –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The journey has been
interesting, enlightening, rewarding.</b> We’ve met good and stimulating people
who challenged us. And, I like to believe, on all sides of those “meetings” we’ve
all come away better for the experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So that gets us to today’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> headline.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s a reference to a source, mentor, guru – you pick the
description -- and a touch point that Eric and I, as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Best Year Ever</i></b> kind of guys, found we had in common in the early going.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ralph Waldo Emerson</b>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s been my custom in over two score-and-then-some years of writing for a
business audience to pepper my editorial input with what I deem worthwhile and
actionable quotations from noteworthy individuals. When I did this in an early
exchange with Eric, his response (as I recall it) was the equivalent of –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I
love Ralph Waldo Emerson!”</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OK, maybe not
literally that</b>. But close enough to win me over inasmuch as I, too, “love”
the eminently sensible and quotable RWE.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have little doubt this moment was influential in cementing
our “You know, I think I can work with this guy” decision and has informed our
relationship in the years since.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So … </b>In its way this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM
#454</i></b> post brings things full circle.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Visually it’s from the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Volume of Contentment</i></b> we’ve been
sharing much of this month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> Takeaway:</b> Thoughtfully, philosophical and realistically
it’s precisely the kind of “How to have your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Best Year Ever</i></b>” guidance
guys who “love Ralph Waldo Emerson” can heartily endorse:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL6Dgi3rhru8DjA9b8KanJ9Hhi8fFUDxF9tsAjJykQk4ulN75VE1joazOyvenVSRIWMXXP7QhMFI_fbZKowa43kbXt2OjjVwEVnNsj-nrmX9zYFvTdYf95M3szuBkbGWXJry_V5tgHkIl/s1600/Emerson+Write+it+on+your+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL6Dgi3rhru8DjA9b8KanJ9Hhi8fFUDxF9tsAjJykQk4ulN75VE1joazOyvenVSRIWMXXP7QhMFI_fbZKowa43kbXt2OjjVwEVnNsj-nrmX9zYFvTdYf95M3szuBkbGWXJry_V5tgHkIl/s1600/Emerson+Write+it+on+your+heart.jpg" height="640" width="417" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION: </b>Write it on your heart this Monday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And Tuesday … </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And Wednesday …</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And …</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Every Day of this, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Best Year Ever</i></b>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">P.S.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"I am going into an unknown future, but
I'm still all here, and still while there's life, there's hope."</i> John
Lennon (October 9, 1940- December 8, 1980) said that, prophetically in December
of 1980. </span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-79916468730161992592014-03-24T07:00:00.000-04:002014-03-24T07:00:07.874-04:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #453<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TODAY IS YOUR DAY</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">AND MINE</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">David Starr Jordan </span><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN;">(1851-1931), </span>credited
among such notables as Ruskin, Goethe and Emerson in our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Volume of Contentment, </i>was a new name to me. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But as I’ve learned –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The oversight is
mine.</b> Impressive-to-me biographical material about him abounds online.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The in-a-nutshell
synopsis goes like this:</b> David Starr Jordan was a leading ichthyologist,
educator, peace activist, president of Indiana University, and was handpicked
by Leland Stanford to become the founding president of Stanford University.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There’s more, of
course.</b> Much more. You can check it out in all its diversity, too. But
before you click away, let’s look at our page:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWeLG6OxOTfgn0OQJY3LaOgy8jZe8y2j3jJ2OFn-3_C_9bvC1fTb5tZ4GXxg71n7Qo4zSNpSccdamNJltvsq44A5eZWh7mxU5eoUBpWiatXZG0Z3O0nQOE3szwcWrxhvXlBpK58Ui9lnF/s1600/Today+is+your+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWeLG6OxOTfgn0OQJY3LaOgy8jZe8y2j3jJ2OFn-3_C_9bvC1fTb5tZ4GXxg71n7Qo4zSNpSccdamNJltvsq44A5eZWh7mxU5eoUBpWiatXZG0Z3O0nQOE3szwcWrxhvXlBpK58Ui9lnF/s1600/Today+is+your+day.jpg" height="640" width="417" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why this selection
now?</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One reason: </b>Because
it strikes a particularly personal chord in me.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The words run parallel to an approach to life that was
passed along by my mother who died a decade or so ago. And while it’s likely no
one would have asked her to start up their namesake university she, in striving
to “play her part” as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Volume of
Contentment</i> frames Jordan’s creed, was pretty effective at living her days
from her perspective as well.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I’d like to take this opportunity to also share this
Betty Steck (1921-2004) Daily Discipline with you.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">She left a typewritten copy of the following words with her
important family documents. While they are not original to her, she called them
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The creed by which I try to live”</i>
and noted, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You will find these words
over my kitchen sink where I read them at the beginning of each day.”</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabzVp_Ko5q3py8U5qgAbYZM1zqT4aHphrw5sR5s57I0fyxr0_G67VHJyk9AIqNmFhbraiToFTgXqyPzvwqcc6B2LJeSj46EewdneKp0FKtjOX5Nedu5ipFUMXGQ5Ndc_VaxDeHdqqkkjH/s1600/Betty's+Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabzVp_Ko5q3py8U5qgAbYZM1zqT4aHphrw5sR5s57I0fyxr0_G67VHJyk9AIqNmFhbraiToFTgXqyPzvwqcc6B2LJeSj46EewdneKp0FKtjOX5Nedu5ipFUMXGQ5Ndc_VaxDeHdqqkkjH/s1600/Betty's+Postcard.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">See the similarities in these approaches to the day and,
more broadly, to life? </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Go ahead, call me a
Momma’s Boy.</b> I trust I’m not, of course, in the derisive sense of that
phrase. But I do try to adhere to the mindset she meant to pass along.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The image above is the postcard-sized reproduction I had
made of Betty’s kitchen-sink post up and distributed at her memorial service. This
one hangs over my computer screen, thus the fuzzy photo and the hint of yellow wallpaper
border.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another is on my dresser where the content of my pockets
goes every evening and where it’s gathered at the start of each day. So there’s
barely a day when I don’t bump hard into a tangible reminder of what I hope I
have adapted as a lifelong behavior.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> CHALLENGE:</b> Got a “creed” by which you try to live?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’m sure you do.</b>
So how about this –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> Share it. For starters, post it up on social
media with a little bit of explanation if necessary. Let us know – via “friend”
request if Eric and I are not already connected with you on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Facebook</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LinkedIn</i> or whatever -- so we can see and share in it if it’s not
likely we’d catch a glimpse of it in passing.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now is the time.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Go play your part.</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Seize your unique day.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve already started with mine.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got a small bundle of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Today
is mine”</i></b> postcards left and I’d be honored to share them (supply
permitting) with anyone who reaches out and tells me a physical address to
which to snail mail it. Just put <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Today is mine”</i></b> in your subject line
or on an envelope containing something with your postal address and send the
info to me at either of the AP&M addresses above. That will start things
rolling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-203345803127304462014-03-17T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-17T00:00:05.993-04:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #452<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">AN ALMOST-IRISH “BLESSING” <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY</span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Johann Wolfgang von Goethe</span><span lang="EN" style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (1749-1832) </span>isn’t
the most “Irish” name to invoke as the official day of St. Paddy pride and
celebration rolls around.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Still, as every at-least-once-a-year connector to the old
sod – from President O’Bama to me – knows:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Today’s the day when everyone’s allowed the honor of being Irish.</span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> continues to share the wisdom
and inspiration from <em>A Volume of
Contentment</em> from 1920, it seemed fitting to pick a page with a message
particularly appropriate to the St. Paddy’s Day as well as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thank
Goodness It’s Monday</i></b> spirit.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkMjQHLgxeJ_JLe6eiPoTrSxsaeU0PdRria2LqsgJ5Pxy_QX_mOqjFdvUfonpsj5C7l7tTlpjzSRqRtJbIY9B_TX187BGvcj7_MTVBkCaujzbUmIdUdMCQ9FifMzhX2kGR1W3dy6Kegs7/s1600/IMG00585-20140306-1351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkMjQHLgxeJ_JLe6eiPoTrSxsaeU0PdRria2LqsgJ5Pxy_QX_mOqjFdvUfonpsj5C7l7tTlpjzSRqRtJbIY9B_TX187BGvcj7_MTVBkCaujzbUmIdUdMCQ9FifMzhX2kGR1W3dy6Kegs7/s1600/IMG00585-20140306-1351.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">What better then than a thought about “blessings” and “being
blessed” in life?</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A blessing</b> can be
defined as the infusion of something with a kind of holiness or spiritual
redemption. It can also refer to the bestowing of such a, well, blessing. Stated
more prosaically, the idea of giving or receiving a blessing is about sharing
and conveying one's hope or approval.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wikipedia tells us:</b>
The modern English language “bless” probably comes from the Middle Ages term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blessen</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier still, language experts say, it all
traces back to variations in the Anglo-Saxon pagan period meaning “to make
sacred or holy by a sacrificial custom.” And those origins are rooted in
Germanic paganism; a word meaning “to mark with blood.”</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A St. Pat’s
connection:</b> The modern meaning of the term may have been influenced in
translations of the Bible into Old English during the process of
Christianization to translate the Latin term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">benedīcere</i> meaning to “speak well of,” resulting in meanings such
as to “praise” or “extol” or “to speak of or to wish well.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wearin’ o the green.</b>
What makes a blessing “Irish” then is not necessarily much more than the
nationality of the blesser/blessed or, perhaps, being delivered/received on St.
Patrick’s Day, the date itself giving the blessing Irish Power.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And with Germanic origins for the idea of blessing, Goethe’s
got enough bonus cred to make the “Irish Blessing” cut today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxk7xGg2zT0IuXk8LelRwAc36DJp-QSD947DRDPlkjEfayG-nnB1DXRCPzmawZolueD17BqUcHgOvUDhTTmd2A-S-mlejNYSoZj-B94VhZpZUq8f5399-7csdSj1j3LEEgJ2l0BIHTvLr/s1600/Goethe+life+blessed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxk7xGg2zT0IuXk8LelRwAc36DJp-QSD947DRDPlkjEfayG-nnB1DXRCPzmawZolueD17BqUcHgOvUDhTTmd2A-S-mlejNYSoZj-B94VhZpZUq8f5399-7csdSj1j3LEEgJ2l0BIHTvLr/s1600/Goethe+life+blessed.jpg" height="640" width="403" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Honorary Irishman or not, Goethe led –</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A blessed life.</b> He
was the originator of many ideas which later became widespread. Certainly, by
his standard, he thought himself blessed -- liking many, many things and doing
them so well his activities, accomplishments and legacy across many disciplines
are acknowledged and endure worldwide.</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He was a politician,
nobleman, and military tactician. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As a scientific thinker he
shared a theory of colors and early work on evolution and linguistics. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He was fascinated by
mineralogy, and the mineral goethite (iron oxide) is named after him. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He produced volumes of
poetry, essays, criticism and drama.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Writing fiction he
produced what is considered by many the world’s first “bestseller (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sorrows of Young Werther</i>) as
well as poetry and drama. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">His non-fiction writings,
most of which are philosophical and aphoristic in nature, spurred the
development of many seeking greater truth and insight.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Clearly Goethe’s sense of inquiry, wonder and enthusiasm for
many of the things he both “had to do” and “liked to do” filled his days and
life with pleasure and sped him on to his many accomplishments.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, with our Goethe excerpt in mind, here’s an evergreen <strong><em>TGIM</em> </strong>--</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em>ST. PATRICK'S DAY</em> CHALLENGE: </b>When I look at my daily or weekly “To Do” list,
do I like what I have to do? When I step back and look at the big picture of my
life, am I doing what I like to do?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On a day of celebration like St. Pat’s it may be easy to
spot a bunch of fun things that qualify as “like to do.” But every part of
every day can’t be green beer (or green bagels; what’s up with that?)
shamrocks, and jolly greetings.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM </i>ACTION IDEA:</b> Follow Goethe’s personal example and quotable
wisdom to make yourself worthy and ready for the blessings you give and get
today. Stretch yourself to find the things you really like to do. Then do them.
Build your skills until accomplishing even the most difficult parts of what you
do are pleasantly challenging and “likeable.”</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then perhaps you’ll reap the substance of the classic (and
authentic) Irish Blessing:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Go
n-eírí an bóthar leat.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">May the road rise with you.</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope you’re liking what we’re doing and sharing here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m liking doing it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click, cut, copy, share this version of
Goethe’s ideal of a blessed life if it appeals to you. And let us know what you
think of it, either way.</span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-10986315530334941052014-03-10T07:00:00.000-04:002014-03-10T10:46:07.541-04:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #451<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">WISDOM FOR SHARING FROM</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“A VOLUME OF
CONTENTMENT”</span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCZgTXUlapV37nsWjEoOsRmCPmhRtGRZZOmYmttesWzf8SmADCwy9ur0JcHQpgT_SbP80Od95UchRa58z-TaUNkLy595yRijIIMNWHuFETVWDNbmXrYoDmZ7KGzL0I6pUxEBMrB94hKnQ/s1600/IMG00585-20140306-1351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCZgTXUlapV37nsWjEoOsRmCPmhRtGRZZOmYmttesWzf8SmADCwy9ur0JcHQpgT_SbP80Od95UchRa58z-TaUNkLy595yRijIIMNWHuFETVWDNbmXrYoDmZ7KGzL0I6pUxEBMrB94hKnQ/s1600/IMG00585-20140306-1351.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">In 1920 </span>the
Dodge Publishing Co., headquartered at 53-55 Fifth Avenue, New York published a
compilation of wisdom gathered from noted authors.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Founded in San Francisco 1895 as Dodge Book and Stationary
Co. it moved to New York in 1898 and thrived for a brief time as a calendar and
gift book publisher.</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This tidy little volume -- entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Volume of Contentment</i> -- acknowledges that its origins were in
the company’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Calendar of Contentment</i>.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">How that calendar was presented, we don’t know.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here however each selection stands alone on its page, laid
out, decorated and rendered in art-nouveau-trending-to-art deco style and
unique calligraphic type.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The contented
content?</b> Words of thoughtfulness, wisdom, insight, and understanding
sourced from thinkers we still hold in high esteem today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One thing that particularly strikes me in our 21<sup>st</sup>
Century digitally connected world of the now-disappeared Dodge Publishing’s future,
is just how much this ink-on-paper assemblage resembles in spirit, intent and
presentation the kind of stuff folks of a certain mindset – many <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b>
readers, for example – share by e-means in outreach like this and via social
media.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So …</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let’s give it a try. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">From
this Monday to the end of the end of March <strong><em>TGIM</em></strong> will pull a page from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Volume of Contentment</i> into our world.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> The opening shot seems particularly on point
for a winter-weary-creeping-toward-the-promise-of-Spring Monday.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I hope it’s uplifting after a lose-an-hour,
turn-the-clocks-forward weekend. And it’s source is prolific writer,
draughtsman, watercolorist, social thinker, philanthropist and art critic who
would, no doubt, have something to say about this representation of his words
and ideas, John Ruskin (1819-1900).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIBXDPxeiy9xaYzG2J6904dINh7kRrw5rEfpvuicZm65WoHMNPalqJ_TL-mIrlmHB9sDwqMACyjIDDJ8HJYDUeRWUXl8F-TxKLjwJjx70ceeiiBV9h4ykQns3u8RD3nhOSs2jJHAVV3PN/s1600/John+Ruskin+for+TGIM+%23451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIBXDPxeiy9xaYzG2J6904dINh7kRrw5rEfpvuicZm65WoHMNPalqJ_TL-mIrlmHB9sDwqMACyjIDDJ8HJYDUeRWUXl8F-TxKLjwJjx70ceeiiBV9h4ykQns3u8RD3nhOSs2jJHAVV3PN/s1600/John+Ruskin+for+TGIM+%23451.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION: </b>Click, cut, copy, share if it appeals to
you. And let us know what you think of it, either way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Looking forward.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-70150185305794127612014-03-03T07:00:00.000-05:002014-03-03T07:00:12.455-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #450<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdybI9fm_k4uZzisvZTDYmJ7OR4H8NzFd4FeVyqpVfvUBYU6lx6dfUX57NqqrXcA2jCbei-1B6o1l2MM1jjBtzClzzE2PoEJH_k5SG8ZCk6XlubiBUtHG8vNbOybAZgP9SQEvnlBuKhB6g/s1600/Criticism+NVP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdybI9fm_k4uZzisvZTDYmJ7OR4H8NzFd4FeVyqpVfvUBYU6lx6dfUX57NqqrXcA2jCbei-1B6o1l2MM1jjBtzClzzE2PoEJH_k5SG8ZCk6XlubiBUtHG8vNbOybAZgP9SQEvnlBuKhB6g/s1600/Criticism+NVP.jpg" height="227" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">HOW TO MAKE CRITICISM</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">MORE CONSTRUCTIVE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Understand this from
the start: </span>This <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> message IS NOT about doling out
criticism in a constructive way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It IS about being on the receiving end of critical information.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, although I’ll be doing some doling, if you’re not open
to getting a little guidance about getting a little guidance, well …</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’m not quite sure
what to tell you. </b>Obviously, I’d suggest you read on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">No doubt there are a number of folks out there all too ready
to inform you with their biased view about what they think you should be doing
about fill-in-the-blank.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And yeah, more than a few of them are jerks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But I don’t mean for
that to be the case here. </b>I merely want to share a framework I’ve found
useful for getting the best from situations where we’re getting input that’s
well intended and meant to be helpful.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So if you’re prepared to continue, let’s.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> CHALLENGE:</b> Nobody likes to be on the receiving end of negative
feedback. (That’s what criticism is, isn’t it?) But sometimes you just have to
hear it. And in those cases, it’s probably wise to try to manage yourself in a
way that allows you to use the situation to your advantage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let’s set up a hypothetical to which we can all probably
relate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s performance
review time.</b> And after some warm-up remarks from your reviewer – presumably
your boss – some of that negative stuff begins to be aired.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> Fight the knee-jerk urge to return fire with
fire. Take the high road by not making it confrontational at this point. Decide
that you will sit back and take it in.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here’s why:</b> In
such situations your best first defense against criticism is likely to be no
defense at all. Especially if what you’re hearing is surprising.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Clearly you’re not, and can’t be, in control when it’s
apparent that the boss has a solidly established mindset … and talking points …
and, perhaps, something more in mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
criticism feels like “news” to you, you do not have any advantage.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> Don’t attempt to battle back from a
disadvantaged position. Save your defense – your explanation, clarification,
justification, even your legitimate outrage – for later when you have an
understanding of the full context of the critical evaluation and when it might
do you some good.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If the process is at all fair you’ll get a chance to
respond; you’ll even be expected and invited to.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Button your lip until
then.</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And as you maintain your composure –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Appear to listen.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Even better: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Actually listen.</i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And when you hear what you hear, and you sense there’s some signal
that you’re expected to participate and respond –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do it.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But
do it wisely.</i></b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Eventually you want any exchange of views to be on
neutral ground. So your primary reaction at this critical early juncture should
be a straightforward validation of that you’re hearing the “wisdom” that’s
being shared. So --</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Say just that.</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I hear you”</i> is certainly a factual
statement that does not in any way erode your ability to put forward counter
arguments when it’s the right time for you to make your case.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Granted, coldly delivered those three words alone may convey
a bit of antagonism on your part. So you might try to warm or sweeten the tone
by modifying the phrasing of your rejoinder to something such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I think I get where you’re coming from” </i>or<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “I believe I understand what you’re saying.”</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And if you have a sense that there is a compelling
underlying argument in the criticism you’re hearing, this might be a good time
to lay some groundwork for your defense -- without yet launching into it.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA: </b>Try expanding your validating responses by
sharing your newly achieved insight.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b> Responding with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I see what you mean; I do get long-winded and caught up in the weeds”</i>
(Did I really just say that?) is a validating response that wins you points. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Why?</b> Because it’s
hard for your critical reviewer to stay irritated when you’ve let them know you
heard what was said and know what was meant (although, you’ll note, you did not
concede it’s a fatal flaw).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“OK,” you say. “In my best ‘validating’ mode I’ll allow that
this is fine as far as it goes. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">But it does not address that –</span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The criticism may not be
valid, and</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Even if it is (valid),
it’s going to make me feel bad and defensive, and</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I want to have my say!”</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Of course none of
this is easy to take.</b> But at this stage the most productive mindset is
probably to tell yourself that criticism is a sign that you have potential and
that your critics are well intended.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the scheme of things, the more you matter, the more the
mentors who care about your success will try to polish your assets and file
away your rough edges. So, especially if your critical review comes with input
about what must happen next –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Give it time to soak
in.</b> As keen as we all might be to jump to our own defense and share our self-justifying
point of view, the immediate response should probably be limited to
acknowledging that reality.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b> In the instant when you’re expected to
react aloud, keep your own counsel. Buy yourself time to calm everything down, clear
the air and make well-considered decisions, comments and commitments. Maybe do
it like this:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Well, this has been a
bit surprising and certainly informs my thinking,”</i> you might concede when
the review has run its course and it’s you who now must say something.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You’ve given me a lot
to consider and it’s important to me, as it is to you, that I take it to heart
and determine just how I can use your feedback most productively. So I’d like
to take a break and do that now. And then, can we review how we’ll go forward? Shall
we set a mutually convenient follow-up in a day or two?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Then keep your
pledge. </b>Go out and rage, sulk, seek other opinions, consider, contemplate,
calculate and whatever else (within the law) feels right.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As you go through your process, try to maintain or regain
some objectivity and then evaluate and use the feedback productively by asking
yourself:</span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What part of this criticism
is true?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Have I heard any or all of
this before? </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What would I have to give
up if I changed?</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With the answers to these questions clearly in mind, return
for your Round #2 and make your views and plans for the future known.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I know you’ll do the right thing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Criticism
… makes very little dent upon me, unless I think there is some real
justification and something should be done.”</i> First Lady, diplomat and
outspoken public servant and social activist Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) shared
that in 1936.</span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-91419403181353649982014-02-24T07:00:00.000-05:002014-02-24T07:49:15.053-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #449<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">STRIVE FOR PERFECTION</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">... BUT ACCEPT LESS</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Coming away</span>
from the 2014 Winter Olympics I’ll note that, while all the gold, silver and
bronze medals were awarded, no athlete achieved a “perfect” score or performance.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">As usual.</b> Truth is,
even in that world of dedicated, skilled and well-drilled elite performers, the
perfect performance is in the neighborhood of as statistically unlikely as your
Power Ball Lottery odds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>In other words:</strong> L-O-N-G. <em>Very,</em> <strong><em>very</em></strong> <strong><em>L-O-N-G</em></strong>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Now let’s be clear.</b>
This observation doesn’t at all mean I think we should not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">strive</i> for perfection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We should.</b>
“Striving” is important and necessary for success, no doubt. But in doing so we
must be prepared to be less than perfect (and allow the same for others).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And since the Sochi winter games are now in the record books
and many of us are weary of the burdens of winter weather, let’s turn elsewhere
for our baseline (literally) point of reference for today’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b>
message.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Great American Game.</b>
Another baseball spring training season is newly underway, complete with highly
compensated elite players hell bent on achieving record-breaking performances.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Aside from pitching
“perfect” games:</b> One of the most amazing and yet little-appreciated records
in big league baseball is the one for a player handling the most
"chances" in a row without making an error.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDvuFeFAFeDYWbo5BjLp259Fqjo3vOAAf3WqYy7x6KkBpyNSvColyi567F7LFeOAh4sxA9ZQYr7oBpaxx4et7LLOXeTqILAucH2peCIn-KdTZq3ESb44twukOYr9Of9d5-UPyZ6bT-5Xy/s1600/Stuffy+McInnis+1914CrackerJack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDvuFeFAFeDYWbo5BjLp259Fqjo3vOAAf3WqYy7x6KkBpyNSvColyi567F7LFeOAh4sxA9ZQYr7oBpaxx4et7LLOXeTqILAucH2peCIn-KdTZq3ESb44twukOYr9Of9d5-UPyZ6bT-5Xy/s1600/Stuffy+McInnis+1914CrackerJack.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>John Phalen "Stuffy" McInnis (1890-1960)</strong> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">was a first
baseman and manager </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">in Major League Baseball. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">McInnis gained his nickname as a
youngster </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">in the Boston suburban leagues, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">where his spectacular playing</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">brought
shouts of "That's the stuff, kid".<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For years the record was held by Stuffy McInnis -- an
especially solid -- you might even say "cracker jack" -- defensive player.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And talk about
perfect:</b> In 1921 and 1922, McInnis handled 1700 consecutive chances --1700
throws, pop-ups and grounders -- without making an error.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But do you even know
his name?</b> In the game as a player and coach for decades, until only
recently<strong><em>*</em></strong> our guy Stuffy held major league fielding records for first basemen
over one season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">*In April 27, 2008, Kevin Youkilis established a
new major league record for first basemen when he fielded his 1,701st
consecutive chance without an error, passing the old mark set by McInnis. Youlilis’
streak was snapped at 238 games --2,002 fielding attempts -- on June 7, 2008.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Interesting trivia, but what's the point? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Well, one point is:</b>
Who (besides me) talks about Stuffy McInnis these days?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">While laudable, perfection isn’t necessarily the stuff that
legends are made of -- not in baseball, and perhaps not often in the
"real" world.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Outside the rarified space elite athletes occupy, most of us
don’t have the need or time or wherewithal to laser focus our efforts so
intently.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> Beware perfectionism. You’re falling into
perfectionism when you keep working on a task long after the point where extra
effort adds meaningful value.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Your live-your-life thinking must be to know that there is a
point for most things in the workaday world where the effort you put in is more
than good enough to fulfill your obligation.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b> Stop there.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And no “gold
plating.”</b> You’re probably familiar with that concept. It differs somewhat
from the chore-like persistent drive of perfectionism in that it probably
pleases you to be going that extra mile … putting in more and more time making
whatever it is bright and shiny – more bright and shiny than anyone else cares
about. Stop now.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But … <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But …</i> </b>What if I goof? Slip up? Make
an error?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You can still get the
Gold. </b>Or Silver. Or Bronze. Or recognition for having been at the big show.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Successful people know that, while mistakes may be painful --</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>They are also instructive.</strong> (That's one reason such people are successful.) They
possess the spark and courage to take action where others hesitate. And when
they do commit an error, they don't chalk it up as a complete loss. They try to
learn something from it that will sharpen their judgment the next time around.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> TAKEAWAY:</b> If -- actually, WHEN -- you or others make a
mistake, don't compound the error. Assess the situation calmly and decide what corrective
action is needed. To minimize the damage, if nothing else can be done, a wise course
is simply to inform everyone affected. Avoid covering up. Curb the tendency to
look for a scapegoat.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once things are under control, don't continue to place
emphasis on the mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Concentrate
instead on what you will do in the future to see that it doesn't happen again
-- to you or anyone else.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's great to strive for an Olympic “Perfect 10” or Stuffy
McInnis-level failure-proof performance.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But not at the
expense of progress. </b>Have the courage to try new ideas and don't discourage
others by being overly critical of reasonable efforts that don’t work.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Swing for the fences and don't worry about batting 1.000.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now this seems like a perfectly good place to end today’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxQLfBjK2T5s0_Rf4-bQI22EmKFQCHK_oqxtLbpLjYIna3vcssSScLx_p8oMSPGiuurc53piWlHqreciYer5cHZ7q-Xp4EfMIwciTK32o2ueKwaK6kUG9pUyxYY3Xevv5Xj1Yb7cV1NT9/s1600/Leonard+Cohen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxQLfBjK2T5s0_Rf4-bQI22EmKFQCHK_oqxtLbpLjYIna3vcssSScLx_p8oMSPGiuurc53piWlHqreciYer5cHZ7q-Xp4EfMIwciTK32o2ueKwaK6kUG9pUyxYY3Xevv5Xj1Yb7cV1NT9/s1600/Leonard+Cohen.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In a 1992 interview
Leonard Cohen said </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">about his “imperfect offering” of <em>Anthem:</em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>"There's not
a line in it that I couldn't defend... </em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>I delayed its birth for so long because
</em></span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">it wasn't right or appropriate or true </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">or it was too easy </span></span></em><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>or the ideas were too
fast or too fuss, </em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>but the way it is now it deserves to be born."</em></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S. </b><em>Ring the bell that still can ring,</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Forget your perfect offering.</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>There is a crack in everything.</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>That’s how the light gets in.</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen makes that
observation in the lyrics of his song “Anthem” which, curiously, he says took
him something like ten years of writing and refining to get to a point he was
willing to record it.</span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-86409362813284348512014-02-17T07:00:00.000-05:002014-02-17T07:00:02.720-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #448<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">CAN YOU NAME THE U.S. PRESIDENTS?</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">IN ORDER?</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">I can’t<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">.<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span>Probably
will never be able to. Even with a visual aid.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVDSYg1TMYcn-AA01WzYSl1ej-vHlThFn0xrFWoVwBH6zu2YPQeF3_Ahpmtm6LBDpqEYGVac47wuwyTTlJZEHgPN4UmRkvCeqIjpVI_vkItZp0u_ZSWxVngCjfGlMgwy6vhyphenhyphenn9jnBWNag/s1600/Presidents+in+order+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVDSYg1TMYcn-AA01WzYSl1ej-vHlThFn0xrFWoVwBH6zu2YPQeF3_Ahpmtm6LBDpqEYGVac47wuwyTTlJZEHgPN4UmRkvCeqIjpVI_vkItZp0u_ZSWxVngCjfGlMgwy6vhyphenhyphenn9jnBWNag/s1600/Presidents+in+order+2.jpg" height="186" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Who held the job before the guy who was before Lincoln? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Who replaced Ulysses Grant? Who followed Woodrow Wilson?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(The end of this post fills in the blanks.)</span></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But on this Presidents Day 2014 it feels like something
that, perhaps, a patriotic citizen ought to be able to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Of course I do know someone who, even more than simply
knowing the Presidents in order, uses the appeal of that bit of memory mastery
to demonstrate the potential of, and train others in feats of, monumental mental
dexterity.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now if I could only remember his name …</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Just joking.</b> Of
course I know it. He’s two-time USA Memory Champion -- </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://ronwhitetraining.com/" target="_blank">Ron White.</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">You may know him as well
from numerous television appearances.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or perhaps you met him live and in person at programs I was
involved with some years ago, produced locally by my friend Eric Taylor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And in that regard, while I do not embody much of what Ron
preaches and practices, those among you who know Eric personally may recognize
that Eric did learn from the master and has achieved a level of proficiency,
particularly in the discipline of name retention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But before this turns into an advertorial …</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let’s get back to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> Presidents Day theme.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At those ‘live and in-person” events, after sharing his
refined-for-the-21<sup>st</sup> Century version of the 2500-year-old Roman
“loci” structured memory training and development strategy, Ron used physical
cues in the hotel ballroom where the training was taking place to aid the
attendees in recalling the Presidents, in order. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, by and large –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It worked.</b> After
a drill or two, folks who were initially challenged (me, too) were pointing at
objects in the room and calling out –</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">George Washington,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">John Adams,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thomas Jefferson,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">James Madison,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">James Monroe,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">John Quincy Adams,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Andrew Jackson,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Martin Van Buren,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">and so on …</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Impressive, right?</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well … </i></b>You’ll note that at the outset of this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b>
I allowed that I could not replicate the Presidents-in-order listing feat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you might, quite correctly, conclude that
perhaps –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m not so enamored
of the idea.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Before I get down to why, I do want to say I don’t demean
the ability to do this kind of memorization. There’s a place for it and
usefulness to it, I’m sure. But it’s something I just can’t get enthralled
with.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In fairness, I do wish I had the personal horsepower to
incorporate the basics of face/name recall into my repertoire. It’s difficult
to argue with the legendary Dale Carnegie Principle #6 from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How to Win Friends and Influence People</i>:</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Remember that a person’s name</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">is to that person</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">the sweetest and most important
sound</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">in any language.”</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And, when I have a “the face is familiar, but I just can’t
get the name” moment, I hang my head in shame when I recall Ron’s admonition, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My
dog remembers your face, right? And he’s never once gotten a name right.”</i></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bow, Oww. </b>But
about the idea underlying the application of these memory hooks …</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I stand with Albert
Einstein</b>. (See TGIM #447. Seems I’ve stuck on Uncle Albert these days.)
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Point is:</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In response to a reporter’s
query admitted not knowing the speed of sound,</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Einstein
is alleged to have expressed the view –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I never commit to memory</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">anything that can easily be
looked up in a book."</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Truth in quoting:</b>
The more accurate citation of that sentiment, dating back to the New York Times
in the 1920s and alluded to by scholarly <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Einstein biographers ever since is:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“[I do not] carry such
information in my mind</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">since it is readily available in
books.</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">...The value of a college
education</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">is not the learning of many facts
</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but the training of the mind to
think.”</i></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AH-HA!</i> Moment: </b>I know the first version of the quote because
I’ve heard it enough times to have it “memorized” albeit perhaps somewhat
imperfectly.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AH-HA!</i> Moment in Action:</b> I get to share the more accurate
version and get to use it to support my position because I’ve tried heartily to
train my mind to question and challenge and think. And then I took the time and
trouble to dig down through the search engine layers (somewhat the equivalent
of reference books in our wired world) to find trustworthy, vetted, authoritative
sources with citations.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> PRESIDENTS DAY TAKEAWAY: </b>We err greatly when we mistake
rote learning and accumulating “facts” for gathering knowledge and wisdom and reaching
for understanding.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Consider:</b> No
doubt the Presidential giants who come easily to mind on this day embodied the
always-be-learning ethos.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Surely they had a remarkable command of much factual
information. But they didn’t let it sit idly in their heads or parrot it back
as the unyielding answer to challenges that confronted them. They explored what
they knew … added to that knowledge … adjusted their thinking for the
circumstances of the moment … gathered input and counsel from others and were
open-minded in evaluating it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> On this Presidents Day, rather than fret
about whether we can pass the POTUS-listing test, we might consider it our
patriotic duty to take an oath to resolve to be more Presidential in our
thinking – emulating the best who held the office (whomever and whatever that
means to you; no doubt your list doesn’t match mine).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hail to the Chief. </span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And hail and farewell for today to you.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKBhL5EsXRPoxGoifeGh_H4n6j8MBaNoYkTCREGdcITY3IcLYNJpN-rc48i4T_2d_LEMVOah9e5YSuUJNH9Hl25wqu5SlnqVwgi3RjT_TXHEZr0HRsCkecp0MateM71x2vW6bti4d1UIK/s1600/Presidents+in+order+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKBhL5EsXRPoxGoifeGh_H4n6j8MBaNoYkTCREGdcITY3IcLYNJpN-rc48i4T_2d_LEMVOah9e5YSuUJNH9Hl25wqu5SlnqVwgi3RjT_TXHEZr0HRsCkecp0MateM71x2vW6bti4d1UIK/s1600/Presidents+in+order+1.jpg" height="65" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They may all be giants.</b> Of course you
have an opinion about who are/were the Best Presidents and Worst Presidents.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We all do.</b> And over
the years there have been repeated attempts to gather the objective opinion of
historians and political scientists to rank POTUS office holders, focusing on
presidential achievements, leadership qualities, failures and faults.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the spirit of this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> message I encourage you
investigate on your own, if you wish. But as you proceed I’ll share a
cautionary observation voiced by John F. Kennedy (who, these days, ranks in the
top 20 but seldom in the top 10).</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1962, speaking to David H. Donald, noted biographer of Abraham
Lincoln, Kennedy voiced dissatisfaction and resentment with historians who had
rated some of his predecessors. Kennedy said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"No one has a right to grade a President—even poor James
Buchanan—who has not sat in his chair, examined the mail and information that
came across his desk, and learned why he made his decisions."</i></span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-74621874993884677842014-02-10T07:00:00.000-05:002014-02-10T07:00:09.845-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #447<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">IT’S TIME TO “BUT…” IN</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">AND CHALLENGE</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">SOME TIME-MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Wasn’t one of your
2014 resolutions </span>to get<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> </span>more
value from your time?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ2dJ1sAR_mv8uK3Zi78ku6tjep468bXuDK3ELz8uxDzttAQUGnsFuGuuj6b6L7k7IWB7kb34PT8Ur4WwGbdg0XYAM3WUjPXR_9Fu5BRp_0i0BeJxP8Tu7UJ2gqRyA-TNwQq3YW8M6Huw/s1600/Einstein_Head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ2dJ1sAR_mv8uK3Zi78ku6tjep468bXuDK3ELz8uxDzttAQUGnsFuGuuj6b6L7k7IWB7kb34PT8Ur4WwGbdg0XYAM3WUjPXR_9Fu5BRp_0i0BeJxP8Tu7UJ2gqRyA-TNwQq3YW8M6Huw/s1600/Einstein_Head.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Albert Einstein told us, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>“All of science is
nothing more than </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>the refinement of everyday thinking.”</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Today <em><strong>TGIM</strong></em> takes its cue from Uncle Albert </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(see especially #3, below)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good!</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I can save a big hunk of our time from the get-go and
simply make the observation that, if we would start by applying some of the
better time management principles that we’ve read and heard about from the
beginning of time, we might have a solid foundation to build on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Or maybe not.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here’s a big catch:</b>
We’re all human, and with that “humanness” comes fallibility.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And a great deal of the “classic” time management advice
doesn’t seem to take that into account. It doesn’t allow room to be reasonable
with our expectations for ourselves or others.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Human beings are not automatons – mindless, emotionless
mechanical beings who perfectly carry out every task or order like clockwork.
And we don’t perform at our best when we’re treated that way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So let’s invest the rest of our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> time together today reviewing
and challenging golden-oldie time management thinking and investigating some
strategic alternatives.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Time Challenge #1:</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Fast
action pays off</span></i></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’re reminded time and again that it’s important to be
decisive … keep meetings short … keep the ball rolling. Doing things quickly
supposedly saves time.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But …</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let me tell you a story: An executive in one of our client
firms, desperate to do all these things, trained himself to be as brief as
possible in meetings and abruptly cut through discussions with curt remarks
like, “Get to the point” and “What’s your problem?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By doing so he apparently saved time. But, as it turned out,
he and his coworkers often had differing ideas of what had been decided and
what would be done after a particular meeting.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Result:</b> Fast
action can slow results. Because of miscommunication, resolutions would
inevitably become garbled and confused down the line. In the end the exec would
spend twice the time that had been “saved” straightening out the mess.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ACTION IDEA:</b> Be
clear about being clear. Stay alert for times when rushing the decision-making
process might backfire. Be more intent on reaching sound decisions than with
quickly dispatching meetings and the like. Take a little extra time, even when
you’re sure you’ve reached the end and everyone concurs, to recap -- and hear
others recap -- for the benefit of all, “Who will do what, when.”</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Time Challenge #2:</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Priority
vs. Interest</span></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Many time-management experts place great emphasis on doing
things in order of priority. And, as a rule we would all agree it makes sense.
Between watering the garden or putting out a raging fire, the right “priority”
choice for the person with a hose in their hand is clear.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But …</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes it’s better for people to do what they’re
psychologically ready to do, even if it’s not the highest priority item. People
are more interested in doing better, and therefore actually do better, when
they’re able to follow their own “normal” routines rather than always being or
feeling forced to do things strictly in some prioritized order of importance.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ACTION IDEA: </b>All
things being equal (or almost equal), don’t force priorities onto the daily
routine. Do what’s most interesting when it attracts you.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Added point:</b> If
you have the power to lay out the agenda for others, allow them as much
set-your-own-order leeway as possible, unless you can give them a compelling,
high-priority reason to do otherwise.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">TGIM</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Time
Challenge #3:</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Efficiency
isn’t always “efficient”</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stopwatch toting time/motion study champions – the so-called
efficiency experts – extol doing things in the most time-economic manner
possible.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But …</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes doing things a little less efficiently is far more
enjoyable and more beneficial in the long run.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let’s take another
“meeting” example:</b> One exec we know could easily cut the time he spends in
meetings, probably by half. But he usually doesn’t want to. He enjoys talking
and listening. Although it seems less efficient, he feels he gets a more
nuanced sense of what’s going on with his staff and in his company and that
he’s a better leader and decision maker for that.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Added benefit:</b>
His employees like the relaxed atmosphere too. And without “this meeting will
end in a half-hour, precisely” pressure, they feel free to raise issues that might
otherwise go unaddressed.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ACTION IDEA:</b>
Enjoy your time. And use more of your time for the things you enjoy. As Albert
Einstein pointed out –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s relative.</b> He
actually said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Put your hand on a hot
stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an
hour and it seems like a minute.”</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I may not comprehend the math and the physics of Einstein’s
Theories of General and Special Relativity but that the “hot stove/pretty girl”
stuff makes sense to me.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Takeaway:</b> Good
time management principles are not immutable Laws of the Universe that apply
equally to every situation and every person. As a group we are all so varied
that few prescriptions can cover everyone at all times. So, in the quest to
maximize the value of your time, realize that principles are neither absolute
nor infallible and apply them with common sense and tact.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The only true test is to find what works for you over time.
Experiment, then – providing it doesn’t waste the time of the others you
interact with -- go with what works for you.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So now it’s time to
test that Einstein wisdom.</b> I’ve no doubt about the stove part, so I’ll skip
that.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s on to part two.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I believe that misconceptions about oneself
that one does not correct where possible act as a bad magic.”</i> Poet, critic
and essayist Laura Riding (1901 – 1991) shared that observation. </span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-83103198069790143632014-02-03T07:00:00.000-05:002014-02-03T07:00:12.019-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #446<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A LUCKY RED ENVELOPE FOR YOU</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(AND AT LEAST
ONE IDEA</span></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">MORE VALUABLE
THAN $$$)</span></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYe5YVSFHroYnEGhCETE3zX4q2-UVzMBWLlH4kFNc8FIa3H1ycAgfROeGr69S8YVVWwPvj-G-jBnXc7TSv0tbH-ZFpuT5nXOmTg-eMKcrbIQbqn63-G3ErDFg5vH6GxNnMt2XAkHeD7NW/s1600/Year+of+the+Horse+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYe5YVSFHroYnEGhCETE3zX4q2-UVzMBWLlH4kFNc8FIa3H1ycAgfROeGr69S8YVVWwPvj-G-jBnXc7TSv0tbH-ZFpuT5nXOmTg-eMKcrbIQbqn63-G3ErDFg5vH6GxNnMt2XAkHeD7NW/s1600/Year+of+the+Horse+1.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sculpture of Chinese zodiac Horse</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in a park </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zhejiang Province</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">China</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Welcome to the Year of
the Horse.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You may know that, based on an ancient system of astronomy
and astrology, last Friday -- give or take a few hours depending where in the
world you were/are -- the so-called Chinese New Year began.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So called? </b>This
New Year observance is determined by a lunar calendar. In China, the
festivities are known as Spring Festival (</span><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">春節</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">) or Lunar New Year (</span><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">農曆新年</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">).
From late January to mid-February, Korea, Vietnam, Japan and other countries also
celebrate Lunar New Year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or maybe you know because you clicked through on the
seasonal Google Doodle.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">No matter how you come by the information, the Lunar Year
ahead (year 4712) is designated the Year of the Horse -- particularly the
Wooden Horse, incorporating a traditional Lunar New Year designated “element” into
the mix.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You may also recognize some of the traditions that will be
observed over the stretch of 15 days of ceremony and celebration to attract and
welcome good luck and happiness.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not surprisingly, many are customs that would fit in any
cultural context at the beginning of a new year.</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">People dress in finery to
represent contentment and wealth. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Homes are scrubbed clean. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rooms are decorated for
the holiday.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Other traditions are
unique.</b></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The room decorations are
paper lanterns and flower blossoms. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Walls are adorned with the
Chinese characters for “Happy New Year” – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gung hay fa choy</i> in Cantonese. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dragon-dance parades snake
along streets with clashing cymbals and firecrackers exploding to ward off
evil spirits.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And --</span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Children and single,
unemployed adults look forward to receiving red envelopes stuffed with
cash from elders.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As the “elder” co-creator with my friend Eric Taylor of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Best
Year Ever Program!</i></b> some years (both lunar and solar) ago, I sort of feel
obliged to commemorate any “New Year” observance and tie it to our message that
–</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Any time is the right time</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">to begin <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Best Year Ever!</i></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, although you may not be a child or an unemployed single,
here’s –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A Red Envelope for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4xvh7mHoisCUEw3zHFqqJQD1zQdtSFsPkq_lKRFTK2j1cmxqQ30mm18soRwDYMs7qJwaiTXAapE588E5o7GWVo5Tx7Slze0nwFAjPN-7FurYuTJqAtQrXBpECUBCg0xwte51a-C8siSi/s1600/Year+of+the+Horse+Lucky+Money+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4xvh7mHoisCUEw3zHFqqJQD1zQdtSFsPkq_lKRFTK2j1cmxqQ30mm18soRwDYMs7qJwaiTXAapE588E5o7GWVo5Tx7Slze0nwFAjPN-7FurYuTJqAtQrXBpECUBCg0xwte51a-C8siSi/s1600/Year+of+the+Horse+Lucky+Money+2.jpg" height="329" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Sorry, no actual cash.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">(Awwww …)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;">But in the spirit of all these <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> messages, I believe
that “sharing an idea” is a time-proven strategy that’s –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">More valuable than
money.</b></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Think of it this way:</b>
If I have a dollar and you have a dollar, and we give our dollar to one
another, we each still have only a dollar.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But, and it’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Big</i> BUT:</b> If I give you an idea, and
you give me an idea, then we each have two ideas that we can contemplate, be
inspired by, work on with our individual talents and craft into something even
greater than the original inspiration.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, having “horsed around” with that concept some, let’s get
back to this idea of astrology and universal truths.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">According to the astrological aspects of the holiday, babies
born in a Year of Horse are expected to have the following traits:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Strengths</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">People born in a Year of the Horse
have ingenious communicating techniques and in their community they always want
to be in the limelight. They are clever, kind to others, and like to join in a
venture career. Although they sometimes talk too much, they are cheerful,
perceptive, talented, earthy but stubborn. They like entertainment and large
crowds. They are popular among friends, active at work and refuse to be
reconciled to failure, although their endeavor cannot last indefinitely.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Weaknesses</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">They cannot bear too much
constraint. However their interest may be only superficial and lacking real
substance. They are usually impatient and hot blooded about everything other
than their daily work. They are independent and rarely listen to advice.
Failure may result in pessimism. They usually have strong endurance but with
bad temper. Flamboyant by nature, they are wasteful since they are not good
with matters of finance due to a lack of budgetary efficiency. Some of those
who are born in the horse like to move in glamorous circles while pursuing high
profile careers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They tend to interfere
in many things and frequently fail to finish projects of their own.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Were you born in a
Year of the Horse?</b> You probably don’t know. But you also probably felt that
some of the characteristics – especially the positive ones – fit you. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now for me, almost any astrological stuff is –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Beyond understanding.</b>
Yet, as I’ve confessed before, I do look at my horoscope in the newspaper. I’ve
got the daily Libra prognostication popping up on my computer home page.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I read them with the fascinated knowledge that there is
guidance to be gleaned in the cryptic messages (although that it is celestial
and unwavering universal is highly suspect to me).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of the Horse <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> Takeaway:</b> I figure, at the
least, horoscopes are well-intended advice. I’m certainly open to that. So that
leads me, at the auspicious new beginning of the Year of the Horse, to this –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> Takeaway: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We are wiser
than we know.” </i></b>Ralph Waldo Emerson said that some solar years ago in
1841.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How does that relate
to this New Year 4712?</b> We all would want the positive characteristics of
those born in a Year of the Horse as well as the Water Snake (last year’s creature
designation) or the Dog (my Chinese astrology birth year; I looked it up) and
the other nine Chinese astrological animal signs.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And who wouldn’t want to embody the best parts of Libra,
Scorpio, etc., etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA</b>: If we’re wise enough to know what
characteristics are desirable, then we should be wise enough to set our own
course in raising our skills in those areas in order that we might become all that
we might become.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Our fate is not in
the stars.</b> The future is in our own hands. Self-improvement is the
precursor to all improvement. So --</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Quit horsin’ around.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gung hay fa choy!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get started on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Best Year Ever!</i></b> NOW.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The horse, the horse! The symbol of surging
potency and power of movement, of action, in man.”</i> British author D. H.
Lawrence (1885 -1930) made that observation in 1931 (which was a lunar calendar
Year of the Sheep.)</span></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-42488888405235886072014-01-28T12:57:00.001-05:002014-01-28T12:57:17.721-05:00His life flows on in endless song ....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">PETE SEEGER TELLS US</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">HOW TO MOVE FORWARD<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">A great hero</span> of
mine died yesterday at age 94.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNQI4OoeAYeG5vPDFRPSeUc8thvfkHjpP5Y-sLYcfEZwU1g5HkFof6N9pTFZa88LJmlJsw9DNbdpdPLImB0kt-0KIfAgppB9ZR1DgDrDHq2l6qTUs6QeJtnX73KsmI8KKkI6BCG_umGkD/s1600/Pete+Seeger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNQI4OoeAYeG5vPDFRPSeUc8thvfkHjpP5Y-sLYcfEZwU1g5HkFof6N9pTFZa88LJmlJsw9DNbdpdPLImB0kt-0KIfAgppB9ZR1DgDrDHq2l6qTUs6QeJtnX73KsmI8KKkI6BCG_umGkD/s1600/Pete+Seeger.png" height="320" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="248" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pete Seeger</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>(May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014)</strong></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve cited him numerous times in print and in my electronic
ramblings and undoubtedly will continue to do so.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He was, and his legacy remains, a national treasure.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He felt and thought deeply, lived a caring and principled
life, spoke his heart and considerable mind, and acted when he perceived
injustice.</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> If you do not know much
about Pete, I urge you to discover more. The process will make you better
for it.</span></div>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you appreciated him at
any level, you’ll follow his wisdom and join in a sing along of the songs
he created and promoted, many of which you know although folks at large
may not link them to Pete.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>As for me: </strong>Two Pete tunes in particular will be going ‘round
in my head today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I think that they, as much as anything Pete wrote or
popularized, embody the legacy he would have us pursue to honor and commemorate
him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The first one’s typical Pete who, recognizing its popular 19<sup>th</sup>
Century Russian roots, turned the “Ode to Joy” melody from Beethoven’s Ninth
Symphony back into a banjo tune, worked out some short lyrics, partnered with
another activist/song writer Don West, and created –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">RUSSIAN SONG/ODE TO JOY</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Build the road of peace before us,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Build it wide and deep and long</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Speed the slow, remind the eager,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Help the weak and guide the strong.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">None shall push aside another</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">None shall let another fall</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Work beside me, sisters and
brothers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All for one and one for all.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Joy, Joy sisters and brothers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All for one and one for all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You can listen and sing along at 1:20 here: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HOIyqXIc8Q" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pete's "Ode To Joy"</span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The other song I would have you know today Pete explained
originated this way:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“In 1958 I sang at the funeral of John McManus, co-editor of
the radical newsweekly, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Guardian</i>,
and regretted that I had no song worthy of the occasion. So this got written.”</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TO MY OLD BROWN EARTH</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To my old brown earth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And to my old blue sky</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'll now give these last few
molecules of "I."</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And you who sing,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKiL1N2acBLTWPO7egXY9MCBcYU2o0Q0tvktY3JJnGcQBMXzii9zHPpShLnkhK2l8yzC_aTGaWoHvByfj_KNhaD55VYu8AHhfz_gfqPsVGBVrm1k8uANfiNPBbRJQhehmpBVSQYkb5cfS/s1600/Pete's+banjo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKiL1N2acBLTWPO7egXY9MCBcYU2o0Q0tvktY3JJnGcQBMXzii9zHPpShLnkhK2l8yzC_aTGaWoHvByfj_KNhaD55VYu8AHhfz_gfqPsVGBVrm1k8uANfiNPBbRJQhehmpBVSQYkb5cfS/s1600/Pete's+banjo.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pete's Banjo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And you who stand nearby,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I do charge you not to cry.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Guard well our human chain,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Watch well you keep it strong,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As long as sun will shine.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And this our home,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Keep pure and sweet and green,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For now I'm yours</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And you are also </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mine.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Listen and sing along here: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><span id="goog_319746070"></span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4YwKPOgz5o" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"To My Old Brown Earth"</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Surround hate</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Force it to surrender</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-2320894610865048802014-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:002014-01-27T11:08:36.954-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #445<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">SUPER BOWL XLVIII:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">THE REST STOP, THE TROPHY</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">AND THE MAN</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">The Vince Lombardi
Trophy</span> is awarded each year to the winning team of the National </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Football
League's championship game, the Super Bowl.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzmNGHWw2n_jH2D5EOYoV43FBPxGjnSDVjhFLX8AWu9X6uVvSIW_rJYVMbH5eaWOapVU4_uljFTJqcqJilkbku775EMwGrO8u030cJ0-OflHo0oTE-9SiB0LQSzFJ_sU2Y7nhlsjAiQ0f/s1600/Vince+Lombardi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzmNGHWw2n_jH2D5EOYoV43FBPxGjnSDVjhFLX8AWu9X6uVvSIW_rJYVMbH5eaWOapVU4_uljFTJqcqJilkbku775EMwGrO8u030cJ0-OflHo0oTE-9SiB0LQSzFJ_sU2Y7nhlsjAiQ0f/s1600/Vince+Lombardi.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The trophy is named in
honor of legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So is the rest stop on the
New Jersey Turnpike nearest to the stadium where (weather permitting) Super
Bowl XLVIII will be played Sunday, February 2, 2014.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And so is a bit of
streetscape nearby my company’s World Headquarters in Englewood, NJ.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">From our conference room windows we can gaze across our
little Depot Square Park, over the tracks and past the repurposed sort-of-Victorian-looking
railroad station, at the spires of St. Cecilia Catholic Church which, for
years, also offered the community a parochial high school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last June it got some special signage designating it “Vince
Lombardi Way.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Lombardi coaching
legend began there.</b> In 1939, Vince Lombardi accepted his first
football-related job as an assistant coach at St. Cecilia’s.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At age 26, he also taught Latin, chemistry, and physics for
an annual salary of under $1700. And, the local story goes, as a bachelor he
shared a boarding house room across the street from the school with the St.
Cecilia’s head coach at the time, his old college football teammate from across-the-Hudson-River
Fordham University, Andy Palau.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, although I’m only a moderately enthusiastic or
knowledgeable fan of professional football –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m a Vince Lombardi Fan by geographic proxy.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And also – being in the thick of the self-improvement,
motivation, inspiration business – I can spout any number of bits of –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Legendary Lombardi Wisdom</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You probably can, too --</span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Winning
isn't everything, it's the only thing.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Winning
isn't everything, but the will to win is everything.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Winning
is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a
while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all
the time.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Winners
never quit and quitters never win.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“If it
doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Show
me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“If
you can accept losing, you can't win.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“We
didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“It's
not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“The
only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“If
you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.”</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Whew!</b> Tough talk,
right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And while such fire-up-the-team-with-a-blowtorch locker room
mentality might be effectively applied to a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i></b> message in
anticipation of northern climes, open stadium Super Bowl XLVIII –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Time has passed and attitudes have evolved in the 100+ years
since Lombardi’s birth and nearly half century after his death. So I’m not so
sure I’m completely comfortable in our 21<sup>st</sup> Century with its
old-school, leather-helmeted toughness.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But …</b> But there
is a perhaps-surprising Lombardi quote I’ve found insightful from the
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn-born, Jersey-boy-by proxy, Green Bay, Wisconsin tundra-tough
coach.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lombardi also said:</b>
<em>“Mental toughness is humility, simplicity, spartanism, and one other … love. I
don’t necessarily have to like my associates but as a man, I must love them.”</em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And he continued –</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Love is loyalty; love is teamwork.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Love respects the dignity of the individual.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Heart and power is the strength of your cooperation.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interesting, right?</b>
A statement about love, obviously rooted in the man’s football coaching
fundamentals, and indicative of the kind of devotion he inspired and how he
made that happen.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kinda tough love, no
doubt.</b> No pink cherubs or lovey-dovey poetic sentiments <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">per se</i>. But an insightful and
insight-filled statement from a gruff tough guy who also never left any doubt
about his intelligence, dignity and integrity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The kind of guy they name
trophies after.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> SUPER BOWL XLVIII TAKEAWAY:</b> In this season of hyped up and
over-commercialized enthusiasm for an event that, when it’s over, will not
likely have changed the course of our business, family or community lives, isn’t
it a pleasant surprise to find a simply stated universal standard that we might
all be well advised to live by.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> If we approached every day like we look
forward to Super Bowl Game Day, how exciting might every day be? If we worked
at our relationships with the single-mindedness that Lombardi brought to his
devotion to football, perhaps we, like Lombardi, would never suffer a “losing
season.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One final note about
Lombardi’s personal relationships:</b> He was preoccupied with football and his
family life in particular had exceedingly stormy passages Still, he lived his
“love is loyalty” philosophy. Vince Lombardi is buried next to Marie, his wife
since his St. Cecilia coaching days, in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown
Township, New Jersey.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Good luck to you and
your team on Sunday.</b> Perhaps I’ll see you in the traffic jam at the Vince
Lombardi Service Area, mile marker 111 on the Eastern Spur of the NJ Turnpike near
Exit 16W.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> More New
Jersey/Lombardi Trophy/Super Bowl connections:</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RLeVktm-0oagoX5xI919OcVhZwNPJQbEflkbziesn4hB807kJgQTqolO5MDciKoNZAUKp-HSYhRyJFKKIyCcvYMho8Ve3nBOFaUiuTt_9rzG6YjACebtTNZMcIsl3EYzf-foRjg6uxuS/s1600/Vince+Lombardi+Trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RLeVktm-0oagoX5xI919OcVhZwNPJQbEflkbziesn4hB807kJgQTqolO5MDciKoNZAUKp-HSYhRyJFKKIyCcvYMho8Ve3nBOFaUiuTt_9rzG6YjACebtTNZMcIsl3EYzf-foRjg6uxuS/s1600/Vince+Lombardi+Trophy.jpg" height="400" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The made-in-Newark-NJ</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">(and now on exhibition there)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">original</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Vince Lombardi Trophy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1966, during a lunch with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle,
Tiffany & Co. vice president Oscar Riedner made a sketch on a cocktail
napkin of what would become the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The original trophy was
produced by Tiffany & Co. in Newark, New Jersey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s back here NOW – for a limited time --
at my favorite </span><a href="http://www.newarkmuseum.org/SilverAndGold.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">Newark Museum.</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Others have since been handcrafted by the company in
Parsippany, New Jersey. The trophy was first awarded to the Green Bay Packers
in 1967 (Lombardi’s last year as head coach) when the Super Bowl's official
designation was the AFL-NFL World Championship Game.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Initially inscribed with the words "World Professional
Football Championship," it was officially renamed in 1970 in memory of
Lombardi after his sudden death from cancer and to commemorate his time as a
defensive coordinator with the New York (ahem, now “at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>home” in New Jersey) Giants. In 1971, it was
presented for the first time as the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl V.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A new Lombardi Trophy is made every year and the winning
team maintains permanent possession of that trophy, unlike many other team
championship trophies.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One notable exception: The first “Lombardi” Trophy for Super
Bowl V. It was won by the then-Baltimore Colts and the city of Baltimore
retained that trophy as part of the legal settlement after the Colts' move to
Indianapolis, Indiana in 1984.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The contemporary seven-pound, 22-inch-tall trophies
are cast entirely of sterling silver and have an extrinsic value of more than
$25,000 each. After the on-field post-game presentation, the trophy is sent
back to Tiffany & Co. to be engraved with the date and final score of the
game, as well as the winning team's roster.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995105502948683888.post-20380451640057052382014-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:002014-01-20T07:23:05.671-05:00Thank Goodness It's Monday #444<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">WE ARE BOUND</span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">AND WE ARE BOUND</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Not so long ago </span>I
was allowed the honor of delivering the first toast at the wedding of two good
friends – Julie and Gerry.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And since each was (and is) fond of both using words
effectively and playing games, that gave me the opportunity to stand at the
microphone with the wedding band behind me and recall a bit of verbal sparring that
would occasionally take place when friends and family gathered.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For example --</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The challenge:</b>
Think of a word that can mean the opposite of itself; a word with two generally
accepted meanings that contradict each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One easy-to-think-of one comes from slang usage.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cool</i></b> – definition: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Frosty.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“She was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cool</i> to
the idea.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Vs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cool</i></b> – definition: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hot!</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Wow! She was a really, really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cool</i> chick.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or how about:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fast </i></b>– Moving rapidly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fast track</i>.” “You
got here <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fast</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Vs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or the opposite “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fast”</i></b> that is, fixed in position:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Hold <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fast</i>, help
is on the way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And one more:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Original</i></b> – something creative or new.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“That’s an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">original</i>
idea.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Vs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Original</i></b> in the sense of plain or unchanged, as in</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">original</i> flavor.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Got it?</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Good.</b> So did the
wedding guests although, by this time they were wondering where this all was
heading.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You too?</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, it actually relates to today’s Martin Luther King
observance and gives us an appropriate-to-the-day <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> Takeaway</b> or two to
consider.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’ll start by defining our terms.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contronyms: </b>That’s
what these self-contradicting words are called.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And, as I got around to making the toast, there’s one, I
said, that was particularly appropriate for the couple and their wedding day:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BOUND</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bound</i> </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">together.</i> Two
people who have found each other, and know each other and love each other and
choose to be interlocked, secure, united. Two families, joined. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bound</i>.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And the opposite meaning.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Be in motion.</b>
Move toward something. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bound away</i></b> for new, shared
experiences. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bound off</i></b> for a new life, together.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Toast:</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“To Julie and Gerry </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">– today <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bound</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bound </i>–</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bounded</i>, as in ‘surrounded,’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">with all the love and
support of your family and friends.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Awwww</i></b>. OK. So as I stepped away from the mike the lead singer
in the wedding band inquired –</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Do you know that James Taylor song?”</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I do.</b> And in
retrospect it’s obvious that it influenced my thinking and toast. And it’s the
glue that connects us to this Monday as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a leads us
any <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i>
Takeaways</b>.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I’ll now inquire of you --</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">YOU</i> know that James Taylor song? </span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shed A Little Light.</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>The singer/songwriter was obviously
inspired by MLK Jr. and, in 1991, on the album <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New Moon Shine</i>, recorded this original song that both honors and
pays forward the principles that guided the hero we celebrate today.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here’s a particularly-worth-knowing part of the lyrics:</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7-nXAzWPUGJuxsP1kZU8oQp4a9WVU9gJ9t4VyQ9B6uWCG-a8QZQmC8aRRElDja-lsVcR6vJIHSPhAnvHCDUmWP34pdD_RVU7RpixowvhuonRik9uqkMKhoaMP7ef-m8_Zj2HllxJBEvl/s1600/MLK+Jr.+memorial+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7-nXAzWPUGJuxsP1kZU8oQp4a9WVU9gJ9t4VyQ9B6uWCG-a8QZQmC8aRRElDja-lsVcR6vJIHSPhAnvHCDUmWP34pdD_RVU7RpixowvhuonRik9uqkMKhoaMP7ef-m8_Zj2HllxJBEvl/s1600/MLK+Jr.+memorial+2.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let us turn our thoughts today</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To Martin Luther King</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And recognize that there are ties
between us</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All men and women</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Living on the earth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ties of hope and love</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Of sister and brotherhood</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That we are bound together</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In our desire to see the world
become</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A place in which our children</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Can grow free and strong</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are bound together</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By the task that stands before us</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And the road that lies ahead</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bound</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And we are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bound</i> …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Listen up:</b> That’s just part of it. You can take under
4 minutes and hear James Taylor sing one version the whole thing </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOMUIhQCm10" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> Challenge:</b> What do you think about its message?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> Takeaway:</b> On the national holiday in the United States
that commemorates the birthday of the late Martin Luther King Jr., it’s
tempting to let his eloquence speak for itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There’s a world of wisdom in Dr. King’s writings and
speeches that we can apply in the pursuit of improving ourselves and others; in
our business and personal relationships and our efforts on the behalf of our
communities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But it’s also useful to realize how MLK Jr. inspired others when
alive and continues to influence and inspire far beyond the limited frame of
the Civil Rights Movement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And the best parts of the man and his influence also speak
to our individual obligation to all in the human family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was pleasantly surprised to realize how, at some level,
the spirit of what we as a people now honor with a national holiday moved into
popular song and worked its way into a wedding toast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> ACTION IDEA:</b> In the land of self-improvement and personal
empowerment I regularly occupy, we’re strong advocates of modeling the behavior
of all-time greats. We often talk about carefully selecting your heroes and
mentors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TGIM</i> IDEA IN ACTION:</b> Choose wisely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once again, in 2014, we are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bound</i> and we are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bound</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sisters and brothers, I hope you are as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geoff Steck<br />
Chief Catalyst<br />
Alexander Publishing & Marketing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8 Depot Square</st1:address></st1:street></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Englewood, NJ 07631<br />
201-569-5373<br />
</span><a href="mailto:tgimguy@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">tgimguy@gmail.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.S.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Darkness
cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and
toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.... The
chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars – must
be broken, or we will be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. </i>MLK
Jr. said that in his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Strength To
Love</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Though the body sleeps the heart will never rest.</span></div>
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Geoff Steckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896567146397796020noreply@blogger.com0