What Are You Aiming For?

Originally uploaded by Tiago Lima.

"I didn't aim at anything except good music." ~ Waylon Jennings

What are you aiming for? To be the greatest? To succeed at all costs? To always be the winner? To always be on top? To be the most popular? To have the most followers? To have the most readers? To make the most money?

Here are some suggestions. These are just suggestions. You can take them or leave them. Aim to be consistently good. Aim to create useful things. Aim to help others. Aim to produce valuable content. Aim to take some pride in your work. Aim to be meaningful. Aim to create and build relationships. Aim to start a conversation.

All those other things really don't matter in the grand scheme of things.

You're Still Just Cutting The Grass

Mowing
Originally uploaded by snapify

Edwin Budding used a scythe like everyone else if he wanted his yard looking nice. It was the tool that was widely available for those who wanted to cut their grass in the early 19th century. One day, while working at a textile factory Edwin noticed a machine with a rotating blade that would sheer the nap of the cloth that was passing through it. This observation led to the invention of a mechanical lawn mower that has been improved on time and again throughout the past century and a half. The scythe cut the grass, but the lawn mower cut the grass quicker.

Much has been made throughout these series of tubes and elsewhere about social media of late. You know, Twitter, Facebook, and Twitter. Oprah is on board. Ashton Kutcher is on board. Your mom isn't far behind.

The Internet and social media specifically is an excellent tool for community building, forming organizations, or just organizing your next outing with friends. That's just it, though. Too many are foaming at the mouth over these tools. As if they're doing something other tools have not. The book is a tool that got humans away from those annoying scrolls. The phone is a tool that made everyone seem a little closer. The typewriter is a tool that made it a little easier to get your ideas in print.

We're constantly creating tools, improving tools, and utilizing tools. In the end, we're not doing anything different than what humans have ever done. Building communities, forming organizations, and organizing our next outing with friends.

What's my point? We're still just cutting the grass. We're just doing it a little quicker.

Foto Finish Friday

redchair, originally uploaded by isofoto.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

Visionary Leaders vs. Functional Leaders

The Return Home, originally uploaded by aknacer.

My friend, Steve recently had some excellent things to say about what he termed visionary leaders vs. functional leaders. He says it much better than I, so with his permission, here are his exact words:

• In all organizations you have visionary leaders and functional leaders. Functional leaders are the people who work up in the system and know how to get the job done. Visionary leaders are the risk takers. They are the ones leading the way, casting a bigger direction, vision, dream, challenge, etc. for the entire group. The problem with so many organizations is that they have functional leaders in visionary leadership positions. Functional leaders will promote those who operate on their level, while visionary leaders will develop the potential in their staff. Visionary leaders can motivate and inspire people to accept the challenge, to follow them to the next level, to think out of the box, and so on.

Where does your organization stand? Could there be some changes?

Thinking Out Loud

Sitting On Edge
Originally uploaded by drewmaniac

Just thinking out loud over here. Some entirely random musings.

• What happens when a customer asks for a service you cannot provide? Do you satisfy them by recommending a competitor who can? Maybe you should consider it. I learned this lesson very early when the flooring store I worked for out of high school would consistently point the customer they could not satisfy in the direction of someone who could. You aren't sending them elsewhere because you cannot satisfy them. You're satisfying them by helping them when you could not.
  
• How do you know when to quit?
  
• You know a nation is in trouble when the government shrugs at real problems and the populace watches American Idol.
  
• When all else fails, blog.
  
• Decide today to make someone's day. Do I really need to give you ideas?
  
• Sometimes fears hold us back. I could go on and on about why they shouldn't, but Leo gives us solutions to the problem in his guide to beating the fears holding us back.
• I know we all want forward motion, but sometimes it's good to slow down or even stop for a moment.
  
• Too many little things distract us. Try to stay focused bigger picture.

What are you thinking about?

No Time Crowd

One Thirty
Originally uploaded by Fixed Image

This excellent post by Havi Brooks on people who say they have no time for social networking got me to thinking about the no time crowd.

You know who they are. They're the ones who can't seem to find time for many things. They're busier than the rest of us. They have more going on. They're more stressed than you or I. They can't seem to catch up. They have a full plate. They just don't have enough time in the day.

Often the no time crowd has no time for:

• Family.
  
• Friends.
• Spiritual things.
  
• Improvement.
  
• A break.
  
• Living.
  
• Reading.
• Relationship building.
• Working out.
• Meaningful conversation.
• Staying in touch.
• Eat healthy.
• Stay organized.
• Clean.
  
• Change habits.

Of course, you're not part of the no time crowd. You make time for the more important things in life. You stop and take a breather when it is needed. You make time for your friends, family, and others that matter in your life. You take the time to read. You aren't part of the no time crowd.

Right?

You Can't Always Be The Hero

Originally uploaded by unicornfetus

"We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." ~ Will Rogers

Sometimes the best thing to do is to sit on the sideline and clap. To cheer others on. To encourage others to succeed. To be a part of the supporting cast. You can't always be the hero, no matter how much you would like to be.

Some people are better at playing the supporting role than others. Some do nothing but encourage others, teach others, and help others. Even though they may not always get the notoriety or praise a hero might, I believe many times they are the real heroes.

If you don't encourage others, make it a point to start. Share with others what you can. Teach others when you can. Choose to sit on the curb and clap.

You can't always be the hero. The trick is having the wisdom to know when to play the supporting role.

Foto Finish Friday

Bride and Balloons, originally uploaded by Extra Medium.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

Dream a Dream

Allister
Originally uploaded by Keaton Andrew

Sometimes the best talent comes from the most unlikely of places.

• It was 12 mostly uneducated, poor men who helped spread Christianity to “all the world”.
• It was a man born in a log cabin in Illinois that became the president the United States didn't know it needed.
• It was a 13 year old girl who received a diary for her birthday, who unwittingly put a face on and gave a story of the victims of a cruel Nazi regime.
  

Then there is Susan Boyle (go and watch this if you have not). Certainly her accomplishment is no where near the previous stories, but I think they all have one lesson in common. Society as a whole can be wrong. In less than four minutes, Susan reminded us of this.

Today people would scoff at Lincoln because he doesn't fit the part. Today people would scoff at the apostles because they were unlearned and poor. Today people would scoff at Anne because a diary written by a 13 year old would have a hard time being promoted by Oprah. Today people scoffed at Susan Boyle because she didn't fit pop culture's idea of a pop star.

Society (your friends, associates, and others) may scoff at your dream, your beliefs, even your talent but it doesn't mean society is right.

Auto Pilot

Volkswagen Beetle
Originally uploaded by drewmaniac

Are you on auto pilot?

I'm as guilty as anyone of this. I'll be moving along in life and then when I stop for a moment to look around I realize I've just been coasting. Somewhere along the way I've turned on the auto pilot and I've been going through the motions. It's the comfortable thing to do after all.

There is nothing wrong with some structure, rules, or goals in life that require focus and some commitment. That said, there are times when we could stand to venture off track a little. Explore a little. Learn something new. Turn off the auto pilot.

Turning off the auto pilot isn't as difficult as it may seem. Toss out the excuses we too often use like, "I'm too busy", "I've just always done it that way", or "I'm afraid" just to name a few. Stop and take a deep breath. Look around. Take action.

• Read a book that's outside your normal genre.
• Go home a different way and take note of the scenery.
  
• Take a walk someplace different.
  
• Explore.
  
• Look at a map. What nearby towns or cities have you never visited? Go there for the day.
• Try that hole in the wall restaurant you've always wondered about.
• Make a new friend on purpose.
• Learn a new (to you) sport. I did this with golf a few years back and I found a new sport that I loved.
  
• Take the day off.
  
• Find something at work that you don't know and learn it.
  
• Talk to someone you always see, but never really speak to for some reason.

Just doing one or a few of these things will cause you to turn off your auto pilot for a moment. What are some of your ideas? Why not turn off the auto pilot and begin?

Foto Finish Friday

westminster bridge, originally uploaded by buckaroo kid.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

What Is Twitter?

My Twitter Class of '08
Originally uploaded by mallix

What is Twitter?

I’m getting asked that question much more of late. It’s such a loaded question. I find myself struggling to give a consistent, clear answer. So, I've compiled a list of answers one could give when asked this question.

• Twitter is community.
• Twitter is revolution.
• Twitter is a marketing tool.
• Twitter is a PR tool.
• Twitter is communicating with friends.
• Twitter is a place to promote your concert, blog post, or photography.
• Twitter is breaking news.
• Twitter is a song.
• Twitter is networking.
• Twitter is a place for moms to share.
• Twitter is a relationship with your customers.
• Twitter is inspiration.
• Twitter is a good quote.
  
• Twitter is leading.
• Twitter is following.
• Twitter is politics and a way to campaign.
• Twitter is celebrity.
  
• Twitter is charity.
• Twitter is large corporations.
• Twitter is small business.
• Twitter is opportunity.
• Twitter is space travel training.
  
• Twitter is connection.

In short, Twitter is what you make it. It's a tool that can be used for many different things. All I can say is try it out, figure out how you want to use it, and have fun.

To Share or Not to Share

wendy
Originally uploaded by kevin russ

What do you share? When do you share? When should you share?

Some people share themselves. They share their stories. They share their personal lives. They share their troubles. They share their fears. They share their feelings, past regrets, and everything else in between. They share, share, share until you're pretty sure they've crossed that TMI line.

Admit it, sometimes it isn't just them. Sometimes you and I fall into this trap too.

Most people don't want to know about you until you've learned something about them. That's a hard pill to swallow for some. It's a basic rule of relationship building, yet so many have a hard time understanding the rule.

When you meet someone, ask them about themselves. Who they are, what they do, what are their accomplishments, etc. Already know something about them? If you like it, tell them. Show appreciation for what they are doing, who they are, or whatever else it is. Interact and most importantly listen. There will be plenty of time to share something about yourself in the future.

In the meantime, build a relationship, some trust, and quite possibly a friendship. Listen, interact, then share.

Foto Finish Friday

Redbird Fan, originally uploaded by jeremy.plemon.

The baseball season begins this Sunday! I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some baseball, apple pie, and warm weather. Play ball!

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

Just Say No To Bad Days

It's a bad day.
Originally uploaded by ~ielle

“Most of the time it was probably real bad being stuck down in a dungeon. But some days, when there was a bad storm outside, you'd look out your little window and think, 'Boy, I'm glad I'm not out in that.'" ~ Jack Handey (yeah, I just quoted Jack Handey and his Deep Thoughts)

This morning I got into my truck and headed toward work. I knew it was going to be a bad day. I usually wake a good hour before I have to leave, but this morning I had hit the snooze button a few times too many. I had no time to prepare for the day. Half way there I decided it wasn't going to be a bad day. It was going to be a challenging day. Things were going to be tough, but it didn't have to be bad.

Turns out the day wasn't bad at all. It was a bit challenging at times, but things for the most part fell into place much easier than I had anticipated.

We do that to ourselves often. We think and worry ourselves into a bad day. We shouldn't.

Instead of filling your mind with worry of what might be, why not take care of the things that are? It's a lesson I've had to learn as I've grown older and one I suspect many need to learn.

In today's environment of media frenzy over this crisis and that, it can be easy to get caught up in the panic. Don't. Be concerned about the things you can control and the things that are. Worrying about all the rest will only distract you. It is useless.

Just say no to bad days.

Related posts with some tips:

• Avoiding a Good Day
• Avoiding a Bad Day