Kiss of Truth

Unemployment rates in the nation are above 7.6%! That is the highest since the early 70’s. That means that nearly eight out of every 100 people are out of work. That is an astounding number! Each and every day there are more reports of layoffs from the biggest – and seemingly most secure and solid – companies in the United States. And the number of unemployed continues to grow at an alarming pace. And like all accidents and life-changing events, it is not real until it happens to you! It is unwise to believe a layoff cannot happen to you. Be prepared by being proactive in making yourself more valuable to your employer; consider these ten ways to increase the likelihood of keeping your job:

February 9th, 2009 | Tags: challenge, change, education, Flexibility, giving, goals, idea, interests, job loss, job security, keeing your job, keep your job, Motivation, nation, plan, protection, respect, responsibility, success, thought, unemployed, unemployment, value | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Leave a comment

What they should do that makes sense today is what they should have done in past years that would have made sense! Imagine an American car company in the 1970’s or even the 1980’s deciding to copy the best aspects of Japanese production methods while simultaneously taking the absolute lead in researching, developing, and producing alternative fueled vehicles and hybrids! Imagine that same company launching a media marketing / advertising strategy that produced emotional campaigns to explain to the American public what they are doing and why. Imagine that these ads played on the American consumer’s sense of patriotic American product purchasing and exciting innovation, coupled with voicing a deep concern for the future of our planet and future generations. Wow. I imagine that such a company would be kicking-butt right now. Or, perhaps it would have spurred the other car companies to follow suit! Okay…is it too late to try this? I don’t know for sure, but I hope not.

December 4th, 2008 | Tags: American Automakers, anger, auto industry, auto industry bailout, auto workers, bail out, bailout, business, change, depression, Emotions, future, greed, hope, invest, philosophy, politics, productive, responsibility, risk, value | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Comments (1)

For the thirty-plus years of my adult life I have watched, read, and learned – albeit somewhat passively – about our national and world economy, the politics of big business, the exclusive world of money, and how it all fits together to affect each of us. But a few days ago, while watching more economic bad news on the television, my teen looked at me with an inquisitive voice and said: “I don’t understand…if all this is based on confidence, perception of value, and speculation…why are we in this mess and how does it all fit together? Can’t we just print more money?” Oh boy, thought I, where do I start? Explaining the complicated components of the economy – in fact the world of money – and why we are in a recession and our economy is failing is not such a simple task.

November 24th, 2008 | Tags: business, confidence, economy, environment, fear, foundation, greed, hope, ignorance, money, nation, perception, politics, recession, responsibility, success, thought, value | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Comments (1)

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

Most have heard the saying: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Within reason – given proper balance – this statement is absolutely true. Undoubtedly, to venture is to risk. Intrinsically, risk carries with it some degree of fear (of the unknown). When we allow fear to guide our actions, however, we venture less and gain less. Risk is scary indeed, but it gets easier over time; the balance of risk demands practice. To gain takes risk with a degree of balance; the balance piece is discussed momentarily.

October 30th, 2008 | Tags: balance, confidence, economy, fear, perception, plan, risk, success, value | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development | Comments (1)

Perhaps survival and selfishness go hand in hand; ultimately survival is an activity of the individual. In my opinion we have come “too far”. Humans have made the earth smaller and more “comfortable”, and yet precarious, spooky, and hollow to one degree or another.

October 13th, 2008 | Tags: change, integrity, principle, soul, technology, value | Category: Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment