Don’t give a cent to any of these causes if they ask for your support:
1. Fight Homelessness In Hamilton
2. (“FTMFOBF”) Find The Missing Farmers Of Bev Farms
3. Drivers For a 35mph speed limit on 128
4. Salem Witches For More Free Trials
5. The PETA fishing division of Gloucester
If you had to describe your life as a cereal, would it be name brand or generic?
Walking through the cold cereal aisle, you typically have two choices: Frosted Mini-Wheats or something like, “Bite-Sized Frosted Wheat”. Or maybe the iconic “Cheerios”, versus the lesser known, “Tasty O’s”. How about, Golden Grahams facing off with, “Golden Squares”?
If you notice, most of the knock-offs just mimic the the title of the known brand. Rather than blaze a trail of their own, they prefer to ride on the coattails (or box flaps?) of their popular predecessor. The generics bank on shoppers recognizing their cereal based on what the name brand has accomplished.
Ok, let’s be honest. I have some generics in my cabinet right now. In my opinion, they are quite tasty (“Oh’s”).
But obviously, I’m not writing about the quality or taste of a generic cereal. I’m asking you a pointed question–do you settle for generic life or are you breaking new ground?
Generics wait for someone else to act. If the name brand finds success, they will follow. Generics are chameleons that try to blend in as much as possible with their surroundings. Their objective isn’t to stand out. In fact, they dress themselves in the same colors and fashion as the name brand.
Next time you eat a bowl of cereal, ask yourself, “Am I living my life hoping to be confused with someone else?”
I love to surf. I’m not talking about “Google-ing” random facts or parousing Facebook pics either.
I’m talking about harnessing the energy of an entire ocean beneath your feet; feeling the rush as a breaking wave chases you across the shoreline; shouting, “kowabunga” before exiting the ride with a back-flip.
Ok, all of the above except the last one.
If you are like most people, you are thinking: “Surfing? Yeah! I want to learn!”
Really?
Are you sure about that?
To be fair, most people honestly do believe that they will be shredding waves after 30 minutes of practice. They are convinced that the real work is just getting a tight beach body beforehand, so that they look good surfing 
The truth is, after 30 minutes, most people realize that surfing comes down to more than hard abs and flowery board shorts. They find that it’s actually…hard work.
Who knew that so much effort went into timing a wave just right? Nobody told me that it was so hard to change from a laying-on-stomach position to an athletic stance, whilst dodging angry locals.
If you can get past the rash, sore arms, bruises from the board, sand in your suit, and countless failed attempts, you will join the ranks of many who report that surfing just makes their life better.
There’s a lot of stuff in life that looks super fun. But more often than not, we underestimate the work that it will take to reach that point of enjoyment:
Relationships: Everyone wants a mushy romance; no one is fully prepared to work hard to reach genuine intimacy and unconditional love.
Starting a business: Ever dream of being your own boss? Yep. Looks good and feels good. Especially after a long week having worked for someone that you swear inspired the “Michael Scott” character. But are you ready to fail a lot and perhaps look foolish to your friends and family?
Working in the arts: Raise your hand if you ever wanted to be a famous singer/actress/painter. Ok, you can all put your hands down now. Many people dream of living out their artistic passion, but don’t expect to face the ruthless rejection from mainstream-whoever.
Before you think I’m trying to dash your hopes and dreams, answer this: What do surfing, relationships, starting a business, and working in the arts all have in common? There are people doing each one successfully.
Just because you don’t foresee how difficult the road will be, please do not quit. In the end, it’s always worth it.
So my question to you is, how badly do you want to surf? How far are you willing to go? You can and will, but what are you willing to sacrifice?
And most importantly, will you find satisfaction in the process?
Have you ever been scammed? I mean, completely duped by someone who made a promise and then just took your money?
I have. Afterward, you feel naive and dull. You feel invaded financially and intellectually.
I’ve thought, “How did I miss it?” Was it greed? Ignorance?
The more I think about it, the better I feel.
What?
That’s right. I’m almost proud of being scammed. I realize that it wasn’t greed, ignorance or naivete. I had erred in favor of optimism and an appetite for risk. It just so happened that mean people angled themselves to take advantage of my position.
I know what you’re thinking: “We have to be wise”. You’re right. We have to be alert to the fact that mean people will steal your money and your grandmother’s money without batting an eye. But if that same “wisdom” prevents you from dreaming, taking risks, or optimistically trying something new, then I question if it’s wisdom at all.
Consider whether or not your “wisdom” leads you to play it safe and avoid risk. Cynicism kills creativity and dulls hope. Some of the wisest people I know are the ones who get hurt by taking risks, but it’s recovering from their failure that makes them wiser in the end.
Take more risks today. Do your research, count the costs, and then live a little. If you get burned, who cares. The land of opportunity is only opportunistic for those who are willing to get bruised along the way!
Optimism and risk-taking allow us to love more deeply, live more creatively, and celebrate more enthusiastically.
If you’ve been scammed, warn others about the trap, but don’t lose your momentum; magnify your optimism and appetite for risk.
Ok, this is somewhat of an emergency post just to prove a point.
This has nothing to do with the backyard economy.
This has everything to do with a show that my wife lures me into watching each Tuesday night. That’s right, the Bachelorette.
Here’s my position. I’ve found an uncanny resemblance among two of the current suitors that I can’t get over until I have some support.
Craig “the dangerous tool” M.
Hugh Jackman (a.k.a wolverine)
ok please tell me you see it???
Next:
Craig “i bad mouth everyone” R.
Toby Flenderson (from the office)
Ok I admit. The second one isn’t as striking (especially in this photo matchup), but you have to see the resemblance.
The problem is, I can’t pay attention to the show when all I can think about is a depressed HR rep or a man with 12 inch claws.
Your feedback is appreciated.
You’re not alone if you’ve felt paralyzed by major world issues. It’s easy to get excited by charismatic individuals who can rally a crowd, but when it actually comes down to eliminating AIDS or world hunger, what power do we really have?
Instead of action, we “wait on the world to change
Hit it John
It’s not hard to sympathize with a cause. It is hard to imagine how our actions can have any measurable impact.
Today, I saw one of the best bumper stickers ever. It read: “Think Globally, Act Locally”. I hate to say it, but that bumper sticker is actually worth tailgating for the read.
In fact, I think that phrase could solve some of the world’s fiercest issues.
The local acts of everyday people are what snowball into change. No major movement has ever started without a grassroots initiative.
It’s the same principle in nature. Anything of stature starts with a single seed.
I’m not trying to go all tree-hugger on you. I’m just trying to point out the fact that we have more power than we think. If you allow yourself to be disturbed by the world’s needs, you’ll find a measure of hope knowing that change is possible when it starts in the backyard.
That’s why we’re crazy enough to believe that we can “stick it to a recession”. By shopping locally and giving generously, we are renovating the backyard economy and little by little, re-shaping the nation’s economic landscape.
Allow me to re-phrase the aforementioned bumper sticker, which has the power to solve world hunger issues and others in its league:
“Think big picture, shake what your momma gave you, and do it in your backyard.”
That’s right. You have something to contribute. You have a place to contribute. Once enough people believe that, things start to change. Politics, environment, economy, social justice, take your pick. This principle applies across the board.
Nobody rolls out of bed thinking, “how can I waste my life today?” Maybe if we started to ask that question, it would show us how to make it count!
If there is one thing we can all learn from the 10% national unemployment rate, it’s that there is no such thing as “job security”. So why do we make life-long compromises on the basis of a vapor called job security? Our bright passions dim darker each year until they fade to black like the proverbial sunset. Everyone has to do something they don’t like for awhile. No pain no gain. But one sure way to waste your life is to spend it entirely on something you hate, in exchange for a false sense of security.
The biggest shame isn’t to avoid dreaming. It’s much worse to have a million dollar idea and never try it. We thrive on inspirational stories of success, we love talking to others about our ideas, but rarely do we go for it with concrete steps.
When you look back over your life, it could be filled with regrets of never trying anything, or it could be marked by laughter at failed attempts, and if you persevere, satisfaction at the your own successes.
You’ve heard the news, we are known as the “me” generation. Experts say that we’ve grown up with “helicopter parents” catering to our every need. Public speakers reference the Apple “i” marketing campaign with a smug chuckle as if they were first to make the comparison.
Employers say that the “me” generation needs a lot of hand-holding and affirmation.
I say, they’re probably right.
At the same time we are captivated by social justice issues more than our elder counterparts. Ironic? A bit.
The pursuit of social justice points a “me” generation in the right direction. In the midst of our egotistical clamoring, there is a deep search for meaning which comes out when we focus on something other than ourselves. One way to kill the spice of life is to make everything about you.
If you have any other ways to waste your life, let me know. I want to avoid them like the plague. Sometimes making your life count means asking the hard questions about how it’s being wasted!
This is no secret. I’m not going to tell you anything you don’t already know. I am going to reinforce something that has been stored in your memory since you were old enough to count money. Starting a savings is one of the most important acts a person can do. But even though everyone knows we should be saving, the current national savings rate is just over 3%. That means for every dollar the average American makes only about 3 cents ends up in a savings account. Pretty sobering if you ask me. How do you match up? Where can you start saving money? I am here to remind you that there are two ways to tackle that feat.
1. Earn the same. Spend less: Novel I know, but there is truth here.
2. Spend the same. Earn more: Is it time to consider a second job? Ask yourself: If I could start a business what business would it be? Now go and start it.
I recently saw a statistic that claimed 43% of Americans spend more than they earn each year. We have created a spending epidemic. The Jones’ will always have better things, plastic won’t ever feel like money, and spending now won’t change your desire to give your kids everything you didn’t have when you were growing up. Instead of ignoring these truths, let’s embrace this humble reality. The power to change the world lies in the actions of individuals.
When you have to spend, find the best deals. If you can’t cut your spending, become an entrepreneur. But keep in mind, all new adventures are even that much more memorable and lasting when we bring someone else along. Grab your friends. Grab your family. Together we can transform our backyard economy and start a savings epidemic.
“3 Easy Steps To Be A Millionaire”
“The life you’ve always wanted…in 5 years or less”
“Make millions in real estate”
If you’ve ever watched T.V. past 10pm, it’s likely that you’ve seen one of these offers flash across the screen during a 14 minute infomerical. They all run in the same format: Guy with a flashy suit sits across from another guy with a flashy suit, both sip coffee in front of the fake skyline of a major U.S. city. First guy with a flashy suit starts to talk about his past life: eating rice and beans, neck deep in debt, running the rat race at a 9-5 job with a crusty boss looking over his shoulder.
But then, almost out of the blue, he stumbles upon a formula for success! Overnight, every financial and emotional problem disappears and he commands an effortless stream of cash flow.
In fact, the cash flow coming from his solution is so effortless, he doesn’t need money anymore. The whole reason he compiled the program is to share his secrets with the public…I mean, with whoever pays $199 for the 5-DVD teaching set.
It’s not that I don’t believe in taking risks. I’m an entrepreneur and love the rush of a new idea just as much, if not more than the next guy. It’s not that I don’t believe you can make a ton of money in real estate or with shiny sharp knives, I’ve seen it done. I think what appears ludicrous about the late night guru is that he implies a guarantee of success to anyone who uses his program. We look at the success stories of 5 people and forget about the 5,000 who tried it and failed…miserably.
The truth is, the guru is successful. But he got to that point by persevering…many times and with many failed ideas. Throughout that process he uncovered his personal strengths and weaknesses. He learned to surround himself with people who complement those characteristics, and perhaps most importantly, he didn’t stop trying.
We love gurus because they demonstrate that our dreams and goals can be achieved. They are bottled up cans of inspiration juice.
We hate gurus because they make it sound easier than it really is and they often leave out the most important ingredient of all: perseverance.
After sorting through the snake oil, we can learn to appreciate the advice of experts in any field. But as soon as we believe that one plan will accelerate us into a world of success without hard work and discipline, we are probably about to lose some money on a late night guru.
I laugh now whenever I see a “no roller blading” sign.
Angry store owners across the nation once mass produced signs that prohibited this sacred sport. While its twin brother, the “no skateboarding” sign, has remained relevant for the 21st century, who really cares anymore about prohibiting the once popular roller blade?
I remember my first pair.
Those neon green wheels hypnotized my 10 year-old eyes and seduced me into untold hours of blading on black top. The “stopper” on the back didn’t seem to offer much functionality, but it did provide a great sense of false security when approaching hills.
The most overlooked feature of the roller blade in my opinion was the removable “sock” liner. So comfy, yet…protective!
In honor of the now obsolete “no roller blading” sign. I’ve compiled a short list of other signs, which, had they been mass produced in the 90′s, would now look awkward hanging up in our 21st century establishments.
1. No metal, yin-yang pog slammers allowed
2. This is a two button overall zone
3. Boom boxes on shoulders will be confiscated
4. Chlorine in your Super Soaker could be hazardous to your health
5. Macarena dancers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law
6. Please submit all necessary forms in a fractal Trapper Keeper
7. Pick up after your Giga-pet
8. No grunge plaid, no doc martens, no service
9. Bowl cuts are for lovers
10. We take beanie babies in exchange for dot com stocks
It’s always fun to look back at what made us go crazy “back then”, but it makes you wonder…what will I be laughing about in 15 years?
Let me hear what you’ve got for 90′s signs!
