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Vacations notes from afar
By Charles Martin | July 9, 2009
The vacation came and went and here we are. We can talk about the great happenings and such but just check my tweet record and you’ll see the great pics of the little gents and nicely wifey.
Moreover, it was a short respite to refresh. To reset. Check the oil. Turn the motor to hum for a bit while we take note. The other world is still out there. The maitais are still great.
One thing I can say without hesitation is that, when I look in all directions — high, low, and in between — everyone has problems. But I want to call them challenges and adjustments instead.
The world is a new place indeed. The people I know that have jobs have new things in their back pocket like new expenses created by their government. Some of the others I know that have jobs, have nothing to show for their hard work except some nice emails from the boss 11 months ago and their bosses are running for the hills to stay alive. Those of us that have jobs, a little to show, but no interest in letting it continue, want more.
Right before I left, I attended @danielpink’s keynote on Motivation at @dwellondesign. It’s great. I took a look at the Keynote (the presentation software) that I borrowed from Dan and it’s really amazing and certainly true. I don’t have worldwide permission to show it to you but I (or Dan) will have it out soon. Basic premise is that we are all driven by the INTRINSIC, not the EXTRINSIC. In other words, our bodies and souls are fed by doing the right, complete, and just thing. This is true in business as well as general life. His findings will all be examined in a new book to come out soon. I urge you to run and get it. The better results like Google and Zappos rule the day. Those folks don’t fill office elevators with bad corporate vibe.
This was a message that I brought with me on the plane and took hold of over the course of my trip. It’s that, thanks to a new economy and forced actions by unbridled and scared parties (read: banks), we are making new choices. It’s awesome really. I hate the pain of a new dentist, but boy you sure look great when the pearlie whites are finished. I’m in this deep but I’m winning the battles and will win the war. Sure, it’s hard, but fun at the same time.
That’s really the only tack we can take right now. Every bastard (and I’ve spoken to everyone in my wallet) in the banking system is not interested in you anymore. Their drugs are dried up so now they are just back to selling to the few that can afford it. The rest of us are modifying and adjusting. Some of us are buying cool, but smaller, less bells and whistlesee cars. Some of us are putting more time into volunteer work. Some of us are adjusting our outlooks and minding the store.
I urge you to not let your small window of adjustment go by. If you have a modification to do on a mortgage or if you have a credit card with a rate over 10%, then get on a plan and get it down.
If you need help, drop me a line. I do mods for people I like for free. Maybe I’ll like you.
In the meantime, get ready for some great news from the Hothead in the coming moths. My charity effort Runforcollege.com and some side fun @ Bigflap.com are going to rock your world.
Topics: Greats in business, Mind and Planet, World Travels | No Comments »