Sometimes You Gotta Do It Yourself

I've been working in a small company for the past two years, serving in various roles. During my experience, I have learned numerous lessons of running and operating a small business. One of these is applicable in small business, enterprise companies, and life itself.

The majority of people in the world are followers. I think the 80/20 rule applies here. All of us have been followers in one area of our lives at some point. I am a follower of a specific religion. I follow fashion, to a point. I follow sports teams. I follow a couple hundred people on twitter. All these people and things I follow are telling me something. Some tell me how to dress. Some try to tell me how to think. Others tell me who to start in my fantasy football league. We all need people to tell us what to do at some point or another.

There's another part of life this leader and follower model fits as well; the workplace. Small businesses are a great way to get to know people. You learn who are the talkers, the walkers, and everyone in between. You meet people's kids, you know what they're doing on the weekend, and you learn about their eating habits. Some of this is unnecessary, while some is very revealing.

A number of years ago, while I was still in school, I worked as a sales rep for Apple Computer, Inc. I pretty much got the job because my older brother already worked there. While there he told me to pay attention to an observation he made when moved into management. He said most people have to be told what to do on a daily basis. Explaining further he described how most employees needed specific direction on how to perform specific tasks, how to get to work, when to arrive and leave, what their goals should be, and endless other instructions on how to do their job. He then described another group, which is much different.

The second group is composed of the leaders, the doers. They need very little instruction. In fact, if they are given too much instruction they feel smothered and their production is hampered. This is the small business owner and successful manager, in a small, mid, or enterprise size company alike.

I've progressed during my last two years, and have found that progression to come only as a result of the effort I put forward, which nobody else asked of me. I initiated it. I planned it. I executed it. I may have had a great idea but in the end it is likely to fall by the wayside unless I execute it. Sometimes you just gotta do it yourself.

Trust Is Natural

Four months ago I had the most beautiful gift in the world delivered to me, my daughter Aspen. She is amazing. It's been such a learning experience watching her grow and develop as a human and individual. One recent observation I had was so simple, yet so profound. She trusts everyone.

She unconditionally and lovingly trusts me and everyone around her. She knows no different. She has never been lied to, deceived, misunderstood, manipulated, or exploited. She has no fear of getting hurt, being burned, falling from heights, or drowning. She has perfect trust.

I can't help but think how this applies to my own life. I don't trust everyone. Sometimes I don't trust myself. It's refreshing to know we are all born trusting and loving everyone equal. Lack of trust, hate, racism, prejudice and deception are all learned traits. They are not natural for us to act upon. They are not natural for us to consider. No wonder Christ prompted us to be more like children.

Matthew 18:2-6

"...came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the agreatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

VMA Awards

I don't usually watch things like Award shows, especially if they are on MTV, so I missed the Kanye West debacle last night. Apparently he thought it would be a good idea to interrupt a sweetheart like Taylor Swift to voice his opinion that Beyonce should have won the award, right in the middle of her acceptance speech. What an idiot.

Not that I care all that much, or respect him in the first place due to his racist, biased, and selfish point of view on most everything in life, but this man is a role model to millions of kids weather he realizes it or not. MTV should ban him from all future events and stop playing his videos on air.

Remembering September 11, 2001

On the 8th anniversary of the attacks on the US, it's difficult to not remember those events and what I was doing that day. I was sitting at home in California, having just moved home from a two year religious mission in Ohio. It was my first morning home. I flipped on the TV for the first time in two years and found the same stunning news on every channel. I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched people's existence change before me on national TV. Only in retrospect can I, from my perspective thousands of miles away, really consider the significance of what took place that day. The real horror experienced by millions. The first hand recount of what people felt, saw, survived, and didn't survive. It's amazing to consider what so many people went through that day.

I also remember the effect that day had on what seemed the entire world. It didn't seem like such a big place anymore. People pulled together and offered whatever they could. The guy at the stop light next to me seemed to be a little more patient. We weren't afraid to mention deity in our routine conversations. God was closer than ever to all of us. It's sad that our society has to endure such a horrific experience to return us to a religious perspective.

Someday I am sure I will be relating my thoughts of this experience to my daughter as she grows older and learns about September 11, 2001 in history books. I'm thankful for her and the family I have. I'm fortunate enough to say I didn't lose anybody close to me that day. For all those that did, my heart goes out to you. Let us not forget.

My baby is Four Months Old!!!

She's gettin big, to me at least. Four months old today. She's more and more fun every day.

Are we really getting government health care?

I didn't watch Obama's speech last night. I have to admit, I kind of wish I would have. Turns out there was a little old school rebellion going on from inside the capital hill chamber. I think it's been a long time since a President has experienced something like Obama did last night. Rep. Wilson's lie yell sparked something of an interest with me. I don't necessarialy agree with someone interruupting the President in the middle of the speech to call him a liar, but this is a little more of what this country needs. This is what the President himself has been asking for. This is why we are a democratic society.

I don't know how many times I have been at home listening to the President speek and felt so strongly for, or against, one of his tennents that I vocalized it as if the TV would listen. How many people in America would have done something similar if they had the chance? I appreciate it because I think that one act represents what America is really about. In many countries throughout the world Rep. Wilson would have been put in prision and shot today for his contempt in the presence of the ruling authority. All he really had to do today was say he was sorry, which he did, and we are on our way. I appreciate that about our society.

So are we really getting government sponsored healthcare? I fear this. When the government regulated the airlines, or any other industry, we learned the hard way that too much government created problems that almost killed all the players in the industry. I agree some type of reform is needed, but let's not get to over zealous about it. The more hands off the better.

Vegas for 30

Went to Vegas for Labor Day weekend. Always lots of different kinds of people in Vegas. Thanks to those who came to celebrate with me. Thanks to BYU for beating the Sooners. That was a nice present. Now it's back to work, real life, and making money the easy way.