UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club

So there are few things from my past that happened in high school or college that I still find important today.  One of those things is the Men's Glee Club.  You can laugh about it and make light of it, but it's a group that has and will continue to have a lot of value to me.  The friends that I made, and experiences that I had due to this group.  The brotherhood was very important to me in those years in college (all 4 1/2 of them :)) but also still maintenance importance today.  I am not one to live in my past (the good and the bad) but you do need to remember where you come from and what got you where you are today.

Holiday Season

Yup it is finally here!  The time of friends, family and FOOD!  It is my favorite time of year.  It gives me a reason to stop by my clients (most of whom are my friends) to reflect on the past year and discuss what the next year will bring.  It is a great time to share memories while getting ready for what the next year will bring.  I love this time of year being in sales.

Vegas Baby

A few days in Las Vegas and my batteries are recharged (much needed).  What do you do when you need help to power your engine?  Some people like to go to a cabin on a lake and relax, some might go to the ocean and sit on a beach (both very nice options) but for me the ultimate is Vegas.  I don't gamble much and keep the drinking under control, but the vibe I get from the people is intoxicating.  I don't like big crowds (really dislike New York) but the people in Vegas are different.  The excitement and energy is almost overwhelming.  I love to visit and could do it maybe two to three times a year (for a max of about three days) but couldn't live there.  It is a perfect fix when my energy is getting low.

I'm not one to get ticked off and tell everyone about it, but when bad customer service happens time after time, I get a little short tempered.  For close to 2 years I have been working with Mediacom to get my cable to work.  They have done everything to even reburying cable from the box.  Today they were supposed to show up again.  The appointment was for 1:00.  I waited until 1:30 to call.  I was told that they had scheduled it for 10 (most of you know I live by my calendar and don't mix things up often), tried to call me (there are no missed calls nor voicemail) and left.  Now I am being told it could be another couple of weeks till they can make it back.  Now do I stay with Mediacom and deal with this more, or do I finally cut bait?  How can a company be so bad at customer service for so long?  Why is it so difficult???  The sad thing is, how many other people are having this same experience.
#mediacomcustomerservice

Vacation Time

Just got back from a vacation with the family.  While I can't say there wasn't fighting (between kids and even between my wife and I) it was a great time!  We got to experience a lot of new things, see a lot of cool sights, and try a lot of new foods.  The best part was just being together (even with the fighting).  These are the times that make the hard work and long hours worth it.  Don't forget to take that time (and at least disconnect for some of the time you are gone) because pretty soon they won't want us around any more - then you will have all the time in the world for that smartphone...

Customer Service

Is it a lost skill?  Is it the holy grail?

I think it is one of the secrets of life.  I take it back to the golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated.  Is that too hard?  Are we too lazy to do it?  Or do we just not care?

Think what a great world this would be if we just followed this simple rule?

Let's all try doing it for a week and see what happens...

Summer

Summer is here and it's time for everyone's routine to get completely screwed up.  Between kids going to Kids Club and having time to swim everyday, to it not getting dark till much later at night (and messing up everyone's sleep routine), to throwing off the morning routine because everyone is tired (because they didn't go to sleep at their normal time), summer isn't as fun as I remember it.  At the same time there is playing baseball with the boy, riding bikes with the daughter no the family golf outings.  I understand now why winter is the time for hibernation.

Birthdays

Wow 46 years.  On one hand it sounds like forever, and the other it seems like it was the blink of an eye.  I always consider it another successful year when I am still married to my loving wife, have kids that love me, have an incredible family, and think that I have friends that would bail me out of jail at 2 am without asking too many questions.
Really what more is there to life?

Sales Wall

Have you ever hit one?  I do about once a quarter.  I have tried ignoring, breaking though, and a bunch of other things.  The best solution I came up with?  Give yourself about a day or two to relax, refocus, have a little fun.  By changing your mind set it will help get you ready for what's next, while also allowing you to recharge a little.
This works for me - but doesn't work for everyone.
Try some thing and find out what works.
Just know that you will deal with them, they are coming, so be prepared...

Low Battery

Do you take time out of your life and slow down?

When was the last time you did it?

Did you include your family?

You need to recharge your batteries every so often (you know when you need it) and then sometimes you need to take it with your family.  

There is no such thing as a balanced life anymore, it is an integrated life.  Make sure you live it that way.

Well it's time to recharge my battery!

Rat Race

Do you ever just want to check out mentally for little.  I was sick earlier this week and now playing catch up.  I do love what I do, but at the same time I like trying new things.  I think a lot of this builds off of being in the office WAY too much this week.

Change

There are few things in life that are sure things: death, taxes & change.
Change is something that is very difficult for everyone - not just the person going through it, but those around  him also.  Why is that?  Because change signifies the unknown, and what is worst than not knowing.
I don't seek it out but I do understand that it is going to happen.  Good or bad - it really depends on how you approach it (in and of itself change is neither).  To me the first step is to accept it (it's going to happen anyway no matter how much kicking and screaming we do).  Our minds always create the worst outcome that could possibly happen (and USUALLY the one that doesn't).  Go for the ride and have fun with it.  Life is too short to be stuck in a rut forever.
Oh well - here comes another change so I have to go...

Relationships

What's the more important relationship in your life?  You spouse (should be way up there), kids (love them always, but may not always like them), friends, parents, siblings?  The list go long for a long time but to me the most important is the one you have with yourself.  That inner voice.  My grandfather Durward (taught me a lot about sales as I grew up) told me you can talk to yourself, just don't have an argument in public :).  Do you always talk down to yourself and beat yourself up?  Why.  You should be honest with yourself, but also be your biggest fan.  If you aren't why should anyone else be.  There is a fine line between having a big ego and being confident, but if it were up to me (and it is) I would always error on the side of it being too much.  Deep down were are all awesome and great and deserving - isn't it about time you believed it???