Earlier this week I watched a documentary called How to Become a Tyrant, and it included rulers like Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Joseph Stalin, and Muammar Gaddafi. The episode I watched provided some scripts followed by these power-hungry dictators, such as act as if you are a man of the people.
I recently watched the documentary, 7 Yards, which details the heroic story of Chris Norton. At the age 18, Chris suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury with only a 3% chance of survival.
However, not only did Chris survive, but he was also able to walk across the stage with his fiancé for his college diploma.
While watching a recent newscast, I heard an executive from a pharmaceutical company state that he is more interested in cooperation rather than compliance.
There is a lot to unpack with this comment, so let’s try to keep it simple.
I’m writing this blog around 8:30 am on a Saturday morning, and my day is coming along well.
Through our parish, I participate in a men’s bible study program called That Man Is You (TMIY), and we meet on Saturday mornings at 6:30 a.m.
I have decided to make this time commitment a priority in my life. Yes … it’s a little early for a weekend, but the benefits of the program far outweigh an extra hour or two of sleep.
During the last few weeks, I rode with my 18-year-old son as he practiced the drive to St. Mary’s University. We are delighted he decided to attend his studies here in San Antonio. However, the school is about 26 miles from our home, and he needs to drive on highways to get there.
So … yes … as parents, we are a bit nervous.
I recently had a phone conversation with a friend. After a few minutes of hearing me talk about the many personal and business tasks on my list, he provided advice he had learned many years ago.
“It sounds like you are overwhelmed, and the fact is you can only do so much at one time. Therefore, my recommendation is that you decide what you wish to take off the shelf today. It’s true that you have some immediate deadlines, and they will take priority. However, you will feel much better and have more control if you make the decision regarding what to do and when to do it.”
While reading news of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, I came across the story of Eliud Kipchoge. In 2019, the Kenyan long-distance runner ran the marathon distance of 26.2 miles in 1:59:40, which remarkably broke the magical 2-hour barrier.
As is my custom when I hear unbelievable success stories, I did a little more research. Interestingly, Kipchoge was raised by a single mother, who was a teacher. Because he lived in a remote area in Kenya, he attended school by running the two miles each day.
I recently met with a retired businessman who I contact often for advice. It’s safe to refer to him as a mentor who has provided a ton of guidance for many years.
I would first like to share that seeking advice from others was not easy for me in my younger years. I used to think all the answers needed to come from me. I knew my career and business better than anyone, so it would be a waste of time to ask others for their ideas and direction.
On a recent flight from Chicago to my home in San Antonio, I sat next a gentleman in his late 40s. I landed a first-class seat because of flying United Airlines frequently.
When the flight attendant asked for our drinks, I ordered a white wine, while the man next to me was happy with an iced water. After a few minutes, he and I struck-up a conversation, and I jokingly asked why he decided against an alcoholic drink.
While preparing for a class, I watched a TED Talk on idea generation, and there were many innovative points shared by the presenter.
Chaos Creates Ideas
At one point during the talk, the speaker noted that the business community prefers protection over connection. For example, when a new idea or technology is created, there is a rush to the patent office.
We must protect what we created!
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