Happy Birthday Daughter

Do You Feel Lucky Punk? A Thought on Luck.

Luck doesn't exist. I'm  not a believer in luck in the sense of it being some externally provided leg-up - any fool would succeed with it - contribution to life.  What I do believe in are two very real experiences: Opportunity and Preparation, and if you combine these two you will get something that looks remarkably like LUCK.

Preparation - hard and regular work to develop ability and wisdom. Time practicing, studying and experiencing life-on-life's terms can make us ready for success.  We become able - to mow a lawn in a speedy and immaculate manner (ok so not a real complicated skill, but work with me here).

Opportunity - the availability of a space (time and place) to use one's skills to be successful.  We have a chance - the neighbor  asks us to mow the lawn hours before they return from vacation and have a large party (again, a bit simplified, but you get the idea)

When opportunity meets preparation - as 'luck' would have it you are able to mow the lawn beautifully and subsequently, the head of rapidly growing gardening company attends the party and decides to hire you to train his 100+ member crews - for a nice salary (I know - but it could happen).  Some would say you got lucky - I say opportunity met preparation.

I'm not really saying I don't believe in LUCK - I'm saying we can view it differently. Do you feel lucky, Punk? Well, do you?

In Between

dusk and flickering 

candles. 

sensations of 

in between

gentle caresses

the last scent

yesterday's 

cookies, baked 

and eaten. 

in between

a leaf falling 

upward, riding on 

the breeze 

summer's heat

in between

silent breath

your voice 

pausing between 

words

measured with 

care

in between

the end

the beginning

the alpha

the omega

the dream

the reality

we can't live here 

for more than

a moment

in between

Dusting Off An Old Saying

Do you ever hear someone cut loose with an old saying or figure of speech that brings a blast from the past?

I heard a man say to a colleague last week, "Your getting a little long in the tooth for that." I haven't heard that one in a long while.

Do you know what "long in the tooth" refers to? No fair searching Google - ok, go ahead - I won't tell. 

To Tweet or Not to Tweet - 5 Tips

Twitter is a rapidly growing platform. I enjoy using Twitter both personally (@WilliamsKim) and professionally (@BEMinteractive). A recent Tweet from (@PracticalWisdom) about tweeting in a meeting got me thinking: As more people value Twitter for communication and information sharing, when is it ok to Tweet in a meeting and when should we refrain?

I'll share a personal prejudice and then 5 tips for your consideration. I'm over 50, so my educational era (error?) is one that preceded much of the technology that we enjoy today. I was exposed to classrooms, lectures and presentations when the speaker was due unwavering attention. To talk, shuffle papers, or read something other than handouts/outlines was disrespectful. I'm accustom to something akin to lofty respect for those who stand before you to teach, inspire and guide. Multitasking electronic communication - even electronic note taking - fractures this paradigm.  I've experimented with tweeting in a variety of settings and had some useful and some embarrassing (that's another post) results. So, what of tweeting during meetings and other gatherings?

 I think there are certain environments that are more appropriate than others for tweeting. Here some suggested guidelines:

1. Consider the setting. If it is a Tweet-Up event, then a certain amount of twitter activity is expected. However, don't assume that everything is up for grabs. There may be moments when someone is presenting or speaking and needs you attention. If you are meeting with your boss, tweeting about the conversation might be a bit much.

2. Ask the Speaker/Leader. If an event has a formal speaker scheduled, ask about their preference regarding tweeting.

3. When in doubt don't tweet. You can always make notes to tweet or blog/tweet about later.

4. Consider your followers. If you are a 3-4 tweet a day person, you can alarm your followers if you start sending 10-20 meeting notes or quote snippets out while attending a 1 hour Tweet-Up.

5. Determine your goal for the event. If you are there to promote or share information "real-time" via Social then your use of Twitter is helpful. However, if you are attending to learn something new, there is some research that seems to indicate that electronic multi-tasking (especially via twitter) may interfere with your ability to hear and retain complex information. 

Flight

Flight

Flight is best when

The sky is blue

Your course is clear

The Wind is gentle

and

Friends are at your side

Ordinary Man vs Happy Idiot

A few weeks back while mowing the lawn I concluded that everyone should want to be me.

Here's the scene. I'm pushing  the mower across the front lawn in 90+ degree heat, drenched with sweat, listening to some iPod music - exhausted - it occurs to me that I have a modest life. I have a modest home and car both with loans. I'm doing my own lawn work. I'm short, have arthritis, am going bald and I'm over 1/2 a century old. But here's the kicker - I'm deeply happy.

From the outside looking in you might miss it, but I have a wonderful, enjoyable, modest, ordinary life. More of my days are about peace, laughter, satisfaction and joy than not. Yes, I've concluded everyone should want to be me.

Of course, it could be I was permanently affected by the heat and am now just a "happy idiot." I like it.