I need to preface my comments by stating that I am not allowed to vote in the US, because I am still a permanent resident.
It will be interesting tonight to see if there is any substance to the message of hope. I am going to watch, because I still think it is amazing that 75,000 people will show up to here a politician speak.
The Clinton's seem to have done their part and Biden told everyone why they should not vote for McCain. Tonight we will find out if there is a reason to vote for Obama. I am still interested to see if he makes it all the way whether or not Washington will allow him to drive real change. Also interested to know how he is going pay for all of the change. Higher taxes?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Mexico
Spent the last week in Mexico visiting a plant we own and one we might buy. Though there are parts of Mexico that are beautiful and make for great vacation spots, there is still an insane poverty issue. Fully loaded labor costs are only $3.50 to perhaps $5 for factory workers. Some only get just over $2. As long as that continues families will risk everything, including their lives as they head north in search of a better life.
I am not sure what the answer is, but it is easy to understand why so many want to live in the States. If you were responsible for a family in Mexico, as a father what would you do?
I am not sure what the answer is, but it is easy to understand why so many want to live in the States. If you were responsible for a family in Mexico, as a father what would you do?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Difficult People
Need to define difficult people after receiving an email on the last post.
Our lives are a journey and along the way all different kinds of people intersect our journey. At those points of convergence some simply pass through, while others join us on the journey. Some walk for a short period of time and others will walk with us to the end. This aspect of the journey makes it interesting.
What types of people are allowed to join your journey? It is easy to let those that we like join us, but occasionally we are confronted with people that we find difficult. Life never seems easy around them. It is easy to hold this type of person at arms length or even reject them as too difficult and not worth the effort.
A few years ago I had an epiphany: I am someone else's difficult person.
I now realize that when I perceive someone as difficult there is something in me that needs to change or be adjusted. People who make it their mission to be difficult don't hang around and quickly move on. There are those where they move from being difficult to being agents of change. Those people are to be valued as they drive necessary change in our lives.
Our lives are a journey and along the way all different kinds of people intersect our journey. At those points of convergence some simply pass through, while others join us on the journey. Some walk for a short period of time and others will walk with us to the end. This aspect of the journey makes it interesting.
What types of people are allowed to join your journey? It is easy to let those that we like join us, but occasionally we are confronted with people that we find difficult. Life never seems easy around them. It is easy to hold this type of person at arms length or even reject them as too difficult and not worth the effort.
A few years ago I had an epiphany: I am someone else's difficult person.
I now realize that when I perceive someone as difficult there is something in me that needs to change or be adjusted. People who make it their mission to be difficult don't hang around and quickly move on. There are those where they move from being difficult to being agents of change. Those people are to be valued as they drive necessary change in our lives.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Organizational Constraint
An organization is constrained by the by it's leader and the passion of that leader. I have been learning this at work. The key is to build great teams. To surround yourself with great people. People who will challenge you. People who have a different perspective. People of passion and great thinking.
The team you build will define the quality of our output.
The failure of many organizations is to become dependent on a single leader who is surrounded by people who are easily lead and influenced. Build a great team. Hire some difficult people.
The team you build will define the quality of our output.
The failure of many organizations is to become dependent on a single leader who is surrounded by people who are easily lead and influenced. Build a great team. Hire some difficult people.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Art... Really?
GENEVA (AFP) - A giant inflatable dog turd by American artist Paul McCarthy blew away from an exhibition in the garden of a Swiss museum, bringing down a power line and breaking a greenhouse window before it landed again, the museum said Monday.
The art work, titled "Complex S(expletive..)", is the size of a house. The wind carried it 200 metres (yards) from the Paul Klee Centre in Berne before it fell back to Earth in the grounds of a children's home, said museum director Juri Steiner.
The inflatable turd broke the window at the children's home when it blew away on the night of July 31, Steiner said. The art work has a safety system which normally makes it deflate when there is a storm, but this did not work when it blew away.
This story made me smile on two accounts. Firstly, is this really art? A large inflatable dog turd? The size of house? What kind of dog does this artist own that inspired him to create this. Secondly, can you imagine the laughter at the children's home? Not hard to work out the topic of conversation at the dinner table that night.
The art work, titled "Complex S(expletive..)", is the size of a house. The wind carried it 200 metres (yards) from the Paul Klee Centre in Berne before it fell back to Earth in the grounds of a children's home, said museum director Juri Steiner.
The inflatable turd broke the window at the children's home when it blew away on the night of July 31, Steiner said. The art work has a safety system which normally makes it deflate when there is a storm, but this did not work when it blew away.
This story made me smile on two accounts. Firstly, is this really art? A large inflatable dog turd? The size of house? What kind of dog does this artist own that inspired him to create this. Secondly, can you imagine the laughter at the children's home? Not hard to work out the topic of conversation at the dinner table that night.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Obama & Hope
When was the last time a politician filled stadiums with people desperate to hear their message? The Obama phenomena is quite remarkable. The upcoming Democrat convention is testament to that. All of the other speakers address the convention attendees at the Denver Conference Center, but Obama makes his speech in the local pro sports stadium to make sure they can get everyone in. A crowd of 200,000 plus showed up in Germany. He filled the Compaq Arena in Houston. The list goes on.
What is this message of hope that has transfixed a nation and a watching world? Great question that is really hard to answer. The message of hope does not appear to have a lot of substance. Even if it had substance, are we really to believe the Washington insiders would allow him to drive change?
What is remarkable to me is that his message of hope is touching something within the folks of this nation and beyond. People are fed up with same old. They are looking for change. Against the background of economic uncertainty people need the assurance of something hoped for. That a better day is coming or is around the corner.
My question is: where is the church in all of this? If the rhetoric and words of a politician can inspire hope, where are the true dealers of hope? Where are those who have received an eternal message of hope that drives real change?
Calling all dealers of hope: time to step up.
What is this message of hope that has transfixed a nation and a watching world? Great question that is really hard to answer. The message of hope does not appear to have a lot of substance. Even if it had substance, are we really to believe the Washington insiders would allow him to drive change?
What is remarkable to me is that his message of hope is touching something within the folks of this nation and beyond. People are fed up with same old. They are looking for change. Against the background of economic uncertainty people need the assurance of something hoped for. That a better day is coming or is around the corner.
My question is: where is the church in all of this? If the rhetoric and words of a politician can inspire hope, where are the true dealers of hope? Where are those who have received an eternal message of hope that drives real change?
Calling all dealers of hope: time to step up.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Disobedience
Two postings in the same day. Wow. I will end up like my great friend Roger Blackmore if I am not careful.
The John Edwards situation brought home to me that it is also true that people are waiting on the other side of our disobedience. His wife, family and friends are devastated and feel betrayed. His admission of guilt was very lame. Was I the only one to wonder where his contrite spirit was? He played the whole thing in my opinion as if it was not that big a deal. Ask those on the other side of our disobedience if it is not a big deal.
Don't want to sit in judgement on this, because we are all capable of this, but maybe a focus on the folks waiting on the other side of our disobedience might be enough to sober us up. Understanding the pain that will be caused is enough to override the selfish drive for immediate pleasure. Is it really that good? Really worth putting everything on the line for.
Any way, people are waiting on the other side of our disobedience.
The John Edwards situation brought home to me that it is also true that people are waiting on the other side of our disobedience. His wife, family and friends are devastated and feel betrayed. His admission of guilt was very lame. Was I the only one to wonder where his contrite spirit was? He played the whole thing in my opinion as if it was not that big a deal. Ask those on the other side of our disobedience if it is not a big deal.
Don't want to sit in judgement on this, because we are all capable of this, but maybe a focus on the folks waiting on the other side of our disobedience might be enough to sober us up. Understanding the pain that will be caused is enough to override the selfish drive for immediate pleasure. Is it really that good? Really worth putting everything on the line for.
Any way, people are waiting on the other side of our disobedience.
Obedience
People are waiting on the other side of our obedience. I have been thinking about this a lot over the last two weeks. If I can only commit to my life being made up of a large number of small actions, I think I would have an easier time serving. Too often I get caught up with the notion of waiting for that significant opportunity. While I am doing that many opportunities are passing me by. People have points of convergence with my journey every day. There are many small opportunities for me to act on. It is quite a sobering thought to think about people waiting on the other side of my obedience. Maybe I need to think less and act more.
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