Why detachment brings regret....

Upon the passing of a professional acquaintance become friend I passed on the obituary to another peer in the financial education world, his comments:I, too was stunned by the passing of Joe. Through his press release, I am reminded of the many things we don't know about the people with whom we interact on a regular basis. For example, I did not know that Joe graduated from the University of Georgia, my Alma mater. I did not know that Joe was a native of Georgia, my home state. I did not know that Joe had done a degree in Journalism at UGA,as I did. I did not know that he had worked for so-and-so, an old colleague of mine, against whom I had managed a congressional campaign for a loosing opponent back in 1976. Joe and I had so many apparent connections and I never knew of a one of them. What fun we could have had talking about those connections! It just shows how important it is to truly "connect" with our various business and social associates. Otherwise, we may never experience the unique pleasures to be found with our fellow travelers.
Peace be with you, my friend.....

My grandfathers' advise on how to deal with fear....

These were part of the contents in a letter sent by my maternal grandfather, Andres Arce, from Costa Rica, on my fear of performing in public (guitar was our common bond). I was probably 15-16 at the time living in Linconton, he was already in his mid-70's, of course the letter is in Spanish so the countour of the phrasing may seem odd.

.... in order to play before the public, or wherever the opportunity presents itself. In this manner you begin to erode the fear or anxiety (this is very pertinent to public speaking). These discomforts we all have, but when we are well prepared and launch into action, all fear disappears; as Gd is in all things and with faith and effort we never fail with him. Forward and never a backwards step, as you are starting to live your life and have your entire future before you. Remember, the world belongs to those that are audacious, thus you must not give importance to failure, as there are no infallible human beings. That is why constancy is the mother of success. Do not forget this! With all my love and affection, Andres

Forgive, yes - Forget?.......

If you are of a certain age you may remember a WWII movie starring Audie Murphy, my Dad's hero, "TO HELL AND BACK". Hombre, 2008 was HELL and mostly now back, but not so sure even now.....See prior post on my brother Roberto's double lung transplant and eventual 8 month hospital vacation fighting for his life; then my 24 yr. old son assaulted and stabbed in Wilmington by a crack-head - the miracle is that they are both in good shape. The bad news is that my nerves are shot to "Hell". It started w/ an anxiety attack when Roberto was a few days out of surgery and then became darkness about the time Thomas was attacked.

Winston Churchill would call it the "Black dog" and shoo it away with scotch; me I just keep pushing that 1 hr. drive to and back from DC and the 11 hours in between - three years now - toughest assignment of my life. There was a time when I thought of myself as a change-agent,and invincible - very clear on my purpose; then I encountered the mother of all organizational challenges. I just transpired through one of those lifetime events: late Oct/Nov I was visited by the "Black Dog" and he would not leave, not fun sleeping 2 hours a night for a month plus - the mind begins to do things....I found people who were protecting me and I also found some that wanted to annihilate me; glad to forgive, tough to forget. I am myself again, mostly, ready to take us up in 2009 - 25 yrs. riding this horse, I plan on charging into the mass and laying waste and destruction on the competition, but first things first.....I hate to tell you this, but not everyone wants you or your team to succeed, not your fault how they feel, just a reality on the darker side of the envious, the small, the irrelevant. Funny how most people choose their lot through their behaviors - we know this as the leadership model, people will not act inconsistent with their beliefs, then a result is produced, and sometimes it is a negative result - pity.


In the final analysis, your attitude determines your effectiveness in everything, every time! LGL