Kiss of Truth

Yesterday the Boston police arrested a “seemingly normal, ideal guy” who was a Boston University medical student, calling him a predator: the Craigslist stalker. Philip Markoff, a young man not even 30 years old, has been charged with identifying women on Craigslist who advertised massage services, going to their hotel room, binding them, and robbing them. One of these victims was murdered, and Philip Markoff has now been formally charged with that crime too! By all accounts of friends and associates, the news of Markoff’s arrest came as a huge, totally surprising event.

April 21st, 2009 | Tags: interests, love, protection, service, thought | Category: Mental Preparation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I marvel at the ignorant stupidity of that intelligent species called mankind. There seems a duality in every corner of the reality of the human condition. We have recorded history and enjoy the wisdom of hindsight, yet we ignore our hard-learned lessons and repeat every mistake; we tend to know what is right, yet we do not always choose it; we can put on a military uniform, enter into combat, kill dozens of other humans, destroying their homes and families, then come home in that same day, stroke the cat, display the gentleness of sensitive understanding to our loved ones, and get on our knees and pray, believing we have done God’s work. We can justify any behavior, yet some actions are punished while others commit the same crimes and are not. We profess happiness in a mal-contented existence. And, for every “composer” in the world, there is a “decomposer”. No, I do not excuse myself. I am guilty by association, yet remain obligated by unspoken forces to participate in the fabric of society. To tear this cloth, attack the status quo relentlessly, or divorce myself entirely – even if it may be ultimately correct in the scheme of the cosmos – is a sin, punishable by such terms as “crazy”, “lunatic”, “outcast”, whacko”, or “recluse”. I am continually amazed, yet never shocked and surprised. I ride the last car of the coaster, resisting the g-forces, trying each day not to practice hypocrisy, and I watch… speaking only now and again.

March 19th, 2009 | Tags: balance, business, change, destructive, econodude, economy, fear, frustrated, future, giving, hope, ignorance, intelligence, invest, love, nation, prayer, success, technology, thought, unemployed, unemployment, war | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Leave a comment

I have been “unemployed” (hey, I still work very hard!) for months and so our family faces the holidays with absolutely no funds. Many millions have recently lost a job, or remain unemployed. Many millions have faced or are facing home foreclosure. Businesses are suffering or failing. The stock market has plummeted. Our economic status is depressing at best. We all know the score. It may indeed be an unusual holiday season for millions of Americans. In spite of our hardships, with some effort we can seek to have a successful holiday season. Here are a few suggestions.

December 3rd, 2008 | Tags: business, Christmas, depression, economic crash, economic hardship, economy, ful holiday, giving, hard times, Holiday Season, holidays, hope, love, success, tough times | Category: Flexibility, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Uncategorized | Comments (2)

Since the day that Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 1960 games in Rome, ProtectionDude has been a big fan of boxing. Aside from the entertainment value and the will-against-will allure of pugilism, there are many lessons to be learned from the sport. There is fitness conditioning, mental preparation and emotional strength; there is the business side of the professional; there is the hard-learned skill and physical toughness; there is proactive action and there is…PROTECTION! In fact, the last thing spoken to the fighter before the first-round bell rings is: “…protect yourself at all times.”

November 5th, 2008 | Tags: balance, business, Emotions, love, protection, success, value | Category: Mental Preparation, Motivation | Leave a comment

What was I going to do now? I was deeply disappointed and discouraged. But I also knew that successful people never give up!

Successful people are flexible! Successful people regroup, seek alternatives, and move positively forward. Successful people are tenacious. In fact, the only thing that successful people are not flexible about is giving up, giving in, or quitting!

October 31st, 2008 | Tags: balance, business, challenge, change, Flexibility, goals, idea, love, owner, plan, productive, service, success | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Leave a comment

Only days ago there was a story that made national news (on Good Morning America) about a woman who bought a distress property (a foreclosed home) and returned it to the previous owner who is a single mother that could not afford the mortgage and lost the home. Although informal arrangements might be made for the single mom to make payments, as she is able, the overall act is one of highly commendable selflessness. Of equal interest to me is the fact that the story is worthy of national news. Yes, it is a touching, heart-warming story, but why is it so? The reason is because it is never done! It is out of the norm, highly unusual, and might even be viewed as a “foolish act” (of selflessness). Obviously the buyer of the home had the financial resources, and it made sense to her to take such action. I wish that this were not unusual and that this story would therefore not be newsworthy.

October 29th, 2008 | Tags: anger, balance, business, fear, foundation, goals, greed, ignorance, intelligence, love, Motivation, nation, owner, productive, responsibility, sloth, success | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Leave a comment

One is tempted to claim that inactivity or lack of action is the direct enemy of consistent action; that may sound obvious. Yet lack of action or inactivity is merely a symptom of a deeper problem. When the real enemy is treated, inactivity is replaced with motivation and achievement.

October 28th, 2008 | Tags: addiction, change, depression, destructive, fear, goals, ignorance, love, Motivation, sloth, success | Category: Consistent Action, Mental Preparation, Motivation | Leave a comment

Citizens the world over – for the most part – spend so much time “doing” that there is not sufficient time built in for “enjoying” (life). I know, it is not as if there were many choices in the matter; we all must do what is necessary to survive (and perhaps prosper?). At some point, however, there must be a compromise between “building a quality life” and “enjoying a quality of life”.

October 21st, 2008 | Tags: business, challenge, change, enjoying life, enjoyment, goals, love, Motivation, success | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Leave a comment

I was once angry at the world for all the chaos, turmoil, hatred and crime that I observed. It was easy to remain that way for years, but I came to learn the truth about being motivated by anger.

October 20th, 2008 | Tags: anger, athletes, confidence, Emotions, fear, goals, love, Motivation, perception, success | Category: Mental Preparation, Motivation | Leave a comment