The Reverse New Year's Resolution.

About this time last year, I read a great article by my favorite motivational speaker, Marshall Goldsmith. I hung on to the article planning to share it with my sales team just before everyone left for the year. I hope it also makes a decent year end blog post.

Making a Resolution that Matters. Below are a my crib notes.

I want you to imagine that you're 95 years old. The 95-year-old you understands what was really important and what wasn't, what mattered and what didn't, what counted and what didn't really count. What advice would this wise "old you" have for the "you" who is reading this page?

Take a few seconds and answer this question on two levels: personal and professional. Jot down a few words that capture what the old you would be saying to the younger you that is here today.

My suggestion is simple. Just do whatever you wrote down. Make that your resolution for this year and next.

The wise old you has finally realized that the next promotion, the next achievement, or the corner office really won't change your world that much. Many older people say they were so wrapped up in looking for what they didn't have that they seldom appreciated what they did have.

So (this year) do the reverse New Year's resolution. Don't look ahead. Look behind. Know that you need to be happy now, to enjoy your friends and family, to follow your dreams. This is good advice for everyone who wants a fulfilling career. It's also great advice for everyone who wants to live a meaningful life.

Happy New Year!

and they pay us too

I really enjoy what I do. It is great to meet new clients and find solutions to their problems. The constant change always keeps me on my toes. In telecom, they say "If you don't like the way things are.... give it a day. Things are bound to change." I been able to learn from all the different "characters" who have worked with me. But, the thing that really makes it all worth while is the Big Sale.

Today, we caught a whopper. The account's monthly revenue is nearly twice the size of our next biggest account. "I firmly believe that any rep's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that they hold dear, is that moment when they have worked their heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted at the end of the month — over quota." Today, I couldn't agree more.

To make things even better... While we were celebrating, I got a call telling me there were Go Peds in the parking lot. What a concept, telecom reps on wheels!

Texas Kid with Tarkio Roots

Beckett wasn't born in Tarkio but he'll get there as fast as he can. Here's his new favorite shirt.

Savanna's Knock Out Gift

Last night, the last of our holiday guests arrived for what is off to be an eventful Christmas celebration. We started out, as nearly all of our get togethers do, with food and highly competitive games. Just as we were all about to head out on the town, Dad and I caused more commotion than Santa on Christmas morning.

We were pushing and shoving each other waiting for everyone to get their things together. Vanita called it but not in time, "Guys quit it! Savanna is right behind you!" Nanoseconds later Savanna caught a HARD elbow to the right eye. I felt terrible and pretty scared at the same time. The girls went into panic mode.


We rushed to the hospital. The nurses were wonderful. Stitches were avoided. And best of all, we found out Savanna was one tough little girl. Your first shiner! Merry Christmas, Savanna.

Saturday Night Live

Each of the last two weeks SNL has hit home runs with two of the better skits I've seen from them in years.

The first a Digital Short on the new movie The Chronicles of Narnia.

The second is a great play on a wonderful sales moive, Glengarry Glen Ross. This time Alec Baldwin is an elf in Always Be Cobbling.

Holiday Lights and a Year End Review

I thought I would pass along two great links from one of my favorite bloggers, Brad Feld.

First, a JibJab 2-0-5 year end round-up from George W. Bush.

Next, Christmas Lights you love to see and hear but wouldn't want on your neighbors house.

How 60,000 stamps cost me $2

I woke up this morning with a long list of things to do. One of which was to get our Christmas cards stuffed, stamped, addressed and out the door.

Lacking only stamps, I made a early trip to the post office to purchase a roll. Once at the store, I was told they were out of 2005 stamps and would have to pay the 2006 rate of $.39 per stamp. Being me, I had to know how this could have happened so I asked "How did this happen?"

"We had an extra 60,000 Christmas stamps delivered yesterday morning and by end of day they were gone." If the smaller of two post offices in little Mansfield (Pop. 37,018) sold that many stamps in one day, can you image how many stamps are being stuck across the US this weekend?

Quite a few.

Nice Header

Many thanks go out to D Lee for helping me to customize my "Header."

Here are a few things I learned along the way. It certainly could have been user error, but the software currently loaded on my desktop was no help on the project. Don't bother with HP Image Zone or Photo Flair, neither could merge photos or add text.

So I ventured out to my favorite "shareware" site, Tucows. These guys have it all for every operating system, games, security, web, business, education and luckily photos. I downloaded Adesign without any hassle, and can use it at no cost for the first 50 photo enhancements. It worked perfectly.

Secondly, if you are a blogger.... Don't save changes to your template before testing to see if they work. Nothing like trying to remember all the changes to you made before you clicked save. Anyway all was corrected and I hope you like the new look.

By the way, the picture is fiber optic cable not fireworks. Fiber Optics, the "brianwork" of the internet.

Dueling Presents

It looks like we are going to have a duel this Christmas.

Two and half weeks before the big day and gifts started to arrive at our door. While it is always better to give than receive, Vanita and I could never keep up with the number of gifts Savanna receives each Christmas. In addition to being the only Grandchild on either side of our family; friends, neighbors, cousins, aunts, uncles, and all the "Greats" find something wonderful for her each year. We truly are fortunate.

Savanna's gifts reached record heights two years ago. With the addition of Beckett, I can't wait to see what the tree looks like this Christmas morning.


Gigi, Apa, Grandma, Auntie M and Uncle Dave will all be here. We probably need a bigger tree.

Holiday Wishes!!!

Each morning I arrange a set of blocks to wish residents and visitors to our house a:

MERRY
CHRISTMAS

and each evening I return home to see Savanna has her own message to display:

CMERRYS HRISTMA to all and to all a good night!

Girls are better than boys.

We were back at the house no more than 30 minutes when little Beck needed a diaper change. I headed upstairs to the changing table with BP. I did my best to have everything ready BEFORE actually starting the process.

I got out a new diaper and opened it. Pulled two wipes from the tub plus an alcohol swab for his belly button. All ready.


I unbutton his "onesie", pulled apart the diaper and grabbed a wipe to begin cleaning. The moment the cold wipe hit his bottom, "old faithful" of pee erupted in front of me. It went on his leg, the changing table, the wall, my shirt and his new lamp shade. It was impressive. I'm sure it was shooting 4 to 5 feet in the air at its peak. I was laughing, Beck was screaming and Vanita was just confused. She kept asking, "What's wrong, What's wrong!"

He sure has an intresting way of showing what he doesn't like.