Posts Tagged ‘work’

I don’t like to use my blog to vent too often, but I have a pet peeve — and it has to do with pulling up to a traffic light and having children walk up to my car asking for money to support their trip to “the championship game”.  What bothers me is not that I can’t reach into my pocket and give $2 or reach into my ashtray and dump all my loose change in their bucket; what irks me is the effect that I think this type of practice will create for these impressionable minds.

Perhaps I’m reading too deep into this. I do not mean to say that children should not feel inclined to ask for help from their community – what I’m more concerned of is that the adults who are leading children to these intersections are teaching children to ask for a handout, rather than teaching them how to earn their means to their desired goal.

Why can’t the team invite me to one of the local games and charge a small admission? Maybe they can hold a concession stand or offer car washes? I just don’t like the idea of giving children a bucket and sending them to every car stalled at a traffic light – not when there’s a more life-teaching way to help them earn money for the team.

As a little league girls softball coach for the past three years, I would never consider sending my girls out to ask for money to help us get to our tournament. I would meet with the parents and come up with ways to earn funding. Of course I would put those little girls to work, but make no mistake they would clearly see that we are all talented, skilled and innovative enough to earn the funding we need – for whatever purpose.

Although, I may still decide to help the occassional child that strolls by my car wearing a jersey and holding a bucket for contributions,  I think I will hold a conversation with that coach or parent that is usually off to the side on their cell phone, sitting in some foldable recreation chair.

Should I ask them for a few bucks so I can get to my destination?  It would be interesting to hear their response.

I spoke with a long time friend today – a very ambitious entrepreneur.  In fact, he’s so accomplished, in his 36 years of living, he’s yet to hold a full time job. In all of his adult life, he’s been about owning and building his own business. I on the other hand have held a few full time communications positions, have achieved success in my work and with my writing and continue to see areas of growth and opportunity – as does he.

We talked about our different paths and how much more in life we wanted to achieve.  Both of us complimented each other on our accomplishments and our drive to do more, but the interesting point of the conversation occured when we started to compare notes. We were talking about the thing that made us somewhat the same and we found out what it was – we isolated ourselves from mainstream mess.  Bot of us could not tell you who won artist of the year on the BET music awards, we don’t know what season or episode any of the popular reality TV series is in and we don’t listen to the radio – hardly ever. (Okay, I listen to christian or spiritual radio when taking my girls to school – but most of the time, I’m listening to a podcast on a particular work-related or goal-related topic, or I’m thinking about next steps in pursuit of my life goal.

Everyday should have some time carved out to fill up on something to help build you to the next level.  If you’re not careful, someone or something will take that time or you’ll give it up to add some nonsense or busy work to your life. Trust me, if you’re listening, watching, or working to or for someone else – its because they’ve taken the time to build themselves to the level whereby you are interested or locked into giving them your attention.

Is Atlanta Housewives really that interesting?  The next time you decide to give :30 minutes, an hour or a few minutes to that sitcom, reality show or song – explore whether or not you’re replacing that time with something that will one day help you get to the point where others are listening to what you have to say or watch what you’re doing.

Turn the TV off.  Think when you drive. Write up that goal and work towards it – even if its little by little.

Don’t miss the mess!

I’m on this thing now where I see life’s purpose is to manage distractions. No one gets to simply do what they want.  Life is going to find a way to blow you a kiss — or kick your butt.  And each time you respond either takes you closer or further away from your quest. It really is that simple. 

With this new knowledge, I have been really watching my TV time and even my time on Facebook. I admit it is taking some practice, but boy am I getting some things done. Take today at work for example – I’m focused, knocking out assignments.  I’m on a total roll and then I start getting email forwards, one was pretty funny. 

Then I get phone calls, personal and work-related all taking me off my planned course. In the middle of working, I start handling an impromptu assignment.  This is precisely why when it’s time to leave I have like 18 outlook windows open, six Word documents, two excel spreadsheets and several Web pages open. 

Well, today I kept shutting them down.  Asking my colleagues to set up meetings, asking my family to allow me to call them back and really getting things done. I think I’ve finally gotten control over my distractions.  Finally!!! It’s on now!  I’ll finish my media inquiries about  my book tonight, but first let me respond to these Mafia Wars grenade cocktails I just received.

Yesterday, I spent the better part of the day digging and shoveling.  I pushed cars, I played with the children and toted a few chairs and cones to empty side street parking spaces as if they were extensions of my personal driveway. Despite it being Sunday, my usual rest day – I WORKED!!!  I remember a while ago I read an article that said, if you’re working up a sweat in the snow, stop immediately and go inside. It talked about the body trying to cool itself off – despite the weather being at a close to freezing point.

I knew better.  But I kept saying, I want to get all the work done before the Superbowl so that I can rest and relax then. 

Well, today I woke up with a sore throat.  I was working from home (because I never got the cars actually out), but as time progressed today, I felt my sore throat become a headache, chills, and the weakest spell I’ve had in a long time. And I can’t believe, I actually considered taking the polar bear plunge this year with some co-workers.  I probably would have had a seizure.

So now what? We have a new storm heading our way tomorrow, I’m weaker than a rag doll in the wind and my heavy work went for nothing, my car still is in the same place and will probably be buried again.

I’m not angry.  I’m not even dissapointed.  I gained a lesson in this. When things are really out of your control, all your effort to push, and shovel and grind and grunt and struggle is pointless. Instead try to enjoy it, medidate, pray and rest in knowing while its okay to work towards a goal, you should not risk your health (both physical and mental) for some trivial pursuit.

You won’t be able to enjoy it anyway.  And isn’t that the point?

ACM

Quick question – if you could have one thing, right now, whatever you wanted – what would it be? Wealth, happiness, health, love?  Now what if I told you, you could have it but in exchange for something you already have – specifically something you have plenty of and its not good for you anyway. Would you freely exchange it?  When you think about it, it seems obivous that we would jump at the chance, but the truth is we have that offer every day and don’t take it.

You want love, give up your pride – you have too much of it and its keeping real love from finding you.

You want health, give up your lifestyle - you don’t exercise, you eat whatever is most  convenient.

You want wealth, stop spending so much – read, study, build an expertise in something, which you can sell. You have way too much free time on your hand – most of it you waste.

I say you, but really its me. It’s A.C. Moore.  There, I admitted it. Now, excuse me while I bring this blog to a close. I need to figure wout what I can give up. 

ACM