Walk Into the Future

Author: WalkintotheFuture

  • Rock the 2020 vote

    Rock the 2020 vote

    (Image by amberzen from Pixabay) 

    “Bad officials are elected by citizens who do not vote”

    (George Jean Nathan)

    November 3, 2020 is coming! 

    There is no stopping the calendar from flipping to this monumental date in our nation’s history.  11/3/2020 will be here sooner than you imagine. Not trying to scare you but this is a date you must be ready for.  I will not tell you who and how to vote but vote you must. 

    With as much turmoil we have lived through in 2020, voting should seem like a regular activity.  Not downplaying the risks involved with going to a polling location during a pandemic but voting must become a priority for all Americans.  There is still time to request a mail in ballot if needed but make sure you plan to get out and vote.

    58.1% of the voting-eligible population voted in 2016.  You can see some citizens took the night off in November 2016 and simply did not vote.

    Not here to condemn anyone but I never imagined the results from the 2016 presidential election would go the way they did.  Shocked would be an understatement of how I felt the next morning when I woke up and discovered a reality PERSON (not star) was the new president.  The disappointment I felt was numbing on that fateful day.

    Now the pain I feel is a nation crumbling without credible leadership to help us get out of the pandemic, improve race relations, or become a world leader again.  Maybe the new slogan should be:  Make America a World Leader Again!  That would be a fantastic start to getting this country back on a path where we are not being laughed at by other countries.

    I digress a bit—forgive me! 

    There are 54 days left before the national election.  There is still time for you to register to vote and while you are at it, please get your family and friends to register too.  This would be an outstanding time to start a voting drive in your city or town.  This can be done while maintaining physical distancing.  We need people to get out and vote during this election cycle.  Will not say who you should vote for but vote you must.  Too many people have been beaten, threaten, bullied, and killed for the right to vote.  This is our time to exercise our rights and vote for candidates to represent us all. 

    No more wishing for change in America, we must demand it.  Voting provides an opportunity for your voice to be heard—do not be silenced this November.  I do not want to be surprised again this cycle—thanks! 😊

    Have you registered to vote yet?  Who can you help with the registration process?  What are you waiting on?  Let’s rock the 2020 vote!

    https://registertovoteflorida.gov/eligibilityreactive

    https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

    About National Voter Registration Day
    (Get out and vote! Help your friends and family register–there’s still time!)

    “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violet tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it”.

                                                                        (John Lewis)

    https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/post-election-2016/voter-turnout

  • Poetic Fridays

    Poetry album

    (Image by Lolame from Pixabay)

    Why wax poetic?

    Why wax poetic?

    Waxing poetic allows me to find the flow

    I need to make it through the day

    This process provides the therapy, don’t you know?

    You cannot get if you pay

    Why the need you might say?

    Thoughts, sounds, lights

    Are all around

    They color life for us all to see

    The poetry provides my outline, the margins I need

    To continue to color within the lines

    Without the lines you have abstracts

    And confusion

    So, do you see?

    Waxing poetic is just for me

    “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings:  it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility”.

    (William Wadsworth)

  • Black Wall Street

    hostility-sculpture-in-tulsa-3910356_1920

    Hostility Sculpture in Tulsa, Oklahoma

    (Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay)

    “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

    (Dr. Martin Luther King)

    My first introduction to Black Wall Street came when I served as a panelist for a Florida State University (FSU) Black Student Union (BSU) program.  The students invited me to enhance their professional development program, but I got a history lesson I did not expect or know I needed.

    I love working with college students because they bring a passion for subjects they are interested in and that passion keeps them curious and intent on growing daily. My role on the panel was to help BSU students understand how to present themselves when networking for future career opportunities.  We got that process going and had a good question and answer session with lots of input from the students in attendance.

    One of the students present asked the moderator why the activities for the week was labeled Black Wall Street?  The response is where my education on the subject began.

    The BSU leaders saw Black History Month as the perfect time to educate its members and guests on important periods, i.e., The Harlem Renaissance, Black Wall Street, Black Excellence and Black Power.  I was familiar with each of the periods identified for the month except Black Wall Street.  I assumed this was BSU’s way to show members how to build financial freedom and eventually make their way to Wall Street (NYC).  I was wrong and totally missed the boat on the meaning of Black Wall Street.

    The BSU leadership wanted to show members how financial freedom could be gained by following the blueprint laid out by the founders of the true Black Wall Street in Greenwood, Oklahoma (Tulsa).  I had never heard of Black Wall Street, Greenwood, Oklahoma or the massacre that happened there in the early 1920’s.  My students were more than happy to fill me in on another history lesson I never received during my formal education programs—this seems to be a common theme with American history.

    The concept a black town in Oklahoma was self-sufficient in the 1920’s seemed unreal at first but decided to learn more after talking with students.  I consider myself a lifelong learner and this was another educational journey I needed to fully see the great things that happened on Black Wall Street prior to the massacre.

    O.W. Gurley was a prominent figure who relocated to the Greenwood district and purchased land which then could only be sold to people of color.  This was Gurley’s vision to establish a place for the black population.  Most of his businesses were frequented by black migrants fleeing the oppression of the Mississippi delta.  Gurley worked with others to pool their financial resources and support the thriving businesses being developed in Greenwood.  The residents of Black Wall Street were doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. The success of the black residents of Greenwood played a role in the 1921 massacre because of the jealousy of their white neighbors in nearby Tulsa.

    My Black Wall Street education increased my knowledge of this important period of Black History and led me to dig deeper on the actual massacre.  The news program, 60 Minutes did a report on Black Wall Street and the massacre a few years ago.  This led to additional investigations and a team has been formed to find and excavate hidden graves to bring closure for descendants of the massacre victims.  This painful piece of American history continues to garner interest and my hope is we never experience something like this again.

    Learn more about what happened in Greenwood here:

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2020/06/18/the-bezos-of-black-wall-street-tulsa-race-riots-1921/#65183f08f321

    60 Minutes program on Greenwood, Oklahoma:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8t8PW-OkA

    “History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own”.

    (Michelle Obama)

     

  • Black Lives Matter Role Call

    justice-2755765_1920

    (Image by CQF-avocat from Pixabay)

    “Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything.   They just cry over their condition.  But when they get angry, they bring about a change.”

    (Malcolm X.)

    Guess it is time to get angry again.  Day after day we read of another black person being killed in America for no reason other than being black.  Terribly sad to keep writing this same line month after month after month.  We cannot go a month without another instance of police killing or shooting someone black simply because they are black.

    American politicians condemn OTHER countries for violating the human rights of their citizens but have nothing to say when black people are brutalized in America.  The Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un receives the wrath of the American political system when he imprisons his citizens for no cause but police killing a black person in America gets nothing.  Weird world, huh?

    Chinese troops storm Tiananmen Square in 1989 and killed over 300 Chinese citizens and three weeks later the U.S. CONGRESS votes to impose economic sanctions on the Peoples Republic of China.  The Chinese government brutalized Chinese citizens and the U.S. government was so appalled that we imposed sanctions and condemned the Chinese government.  Police killing black people in America gets nothing.

    Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen is attacked, beaten, killed, and dismembered by officials of the Saudi Arabian government at the consulate in Turkey.  Multiple senators and congress members swiftly condemned this act and DEMANDED the Saudi government do something.  Black man gets shot in the back SEVEN times in Wisconsin gets nothing.

    Citizens of Hong Kong protest for human rights against the Chinese government and the United States government passes the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on 27 November 2019.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1838/text.  Americans march daily for police reform, human rights, equal treatment and to stop the senseless killing of black people—no Human Rights and Democracy Act for the death of black Americans.  Would say that is a double standard but it is more joke than anything else.

    Marching, praying, and voting have not ignited the change needed in America.  Maybe Malcolm X. was right all the time—we need our day in court at the United Nations to put America on trial for neglect of citizens.  The daily videos of black people being beaten, brutalized, and killed would present an open and shut case in a court of law.

    My court argument would be:

    • How do you defend a cop’s knee on a black man’s neck (George Floyd) for 8 minutes and 46 seconds?
    • How do you defend Louisville cops with a no knock warrant shooting a black women (Breonna Taylor) who was in the BED?
    • How do you defend three Georgia overzealous citizens who run down, trap and then kill a black man (Ahmaud Arbery) out for a jog?
    • How do you defend a Kenosha, Wisconsin police officer who shot a black man (Jacob Blake) 7 times in the BACK in front of his kids?
    • How do you plead America?

    Verdict:  guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty. 

    The defense rests, being black in America is an exhausting experience.

    Please vote—thank you!

     “We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary”.

    (Malcolm X.)

  • Poetic Fridays

    Time

    (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

    Time

    Watching Time

    Tick Tock, Tick Tock

    Time slowly moves on,

    You must use it wisely

    Express yourself

    Let your thoughts flow,

    Inform all who do not know

    Share life lessons learned

    With this you cannot go wrong

    Note:  All original verses by the author.

  • Always remember Rosewood, Florida

    Justice

    (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

    “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

    (Nelson Mandela)

    Happy to see the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement continue to draw attention to racial injustices.  The momentum gained after the George Floyd murder continues to lead people worldwide to protest injustices.  It feels real this time, but I thought that after Rodney King, Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, and Michael Brown.  Too many instances where black people are killed, and the justice system does not provide justice.  Not trying to be cute with words here but most of these examples were seen on video just like George Floyd but no justice for black victims could be found.

    Would like to say these are just isolated examples and America really treats black people well.  Yep, we all know that would be a huge lie and I could not say that with a straight face anyway.  America’s majority has treated people of color horribly and then try to convince us everything is okay.  It is not and has not been okay for a long time.

    Decided to go back in history and introduce Walk into the Future readers to Rosewood, Florida.  Most people have never heard about Rosewood or the horror the black families endured there.  It does not get the same press as the Black Wall Street massacre but is closer to home for me.

    Sadly, I did not learn about Rosewood until the 1997 movie directed by John Singleton was released.  I grew up in Florida and never heard a word about the massacre in a history or civics class.  Rosewood is less than a two-hour drive from my hometown Jasper, Florida so it is equally shocking how close this type of mob/Klan activity was to my family.

    I watched the movie and remember thinking this happened right down the street from my hometown.  How is it possible I did not know about this?  How could an entire town get wiped off the face of the earth and nobody said a word?  This appears to be the American way.  We condemn other countries and regimes for their atrocities and then hide ours from the public.

    The movie stirred me to visit Rosewood in 1997 so I could see the place for myself.  Sadly, the only substantial thing to identify Rosewood is a placard to let you know you are in the place where the town of Rosewood use to be.  There are a few buildings there now but most of the things in the area are incorporated to Cedar Key, Florida.  Felt weird being at the site of a massacre of black people but believe this was an important lesson to never forget the past so these things do not repeat.  Like what is happening now; we cannot just let these injustices occur without responding in kind.

    The BLM movement is here to stay, and we will need to remain vigilant to ensure human rights are respected for all.  Keep learning and growing tree branches—we need you to make this a better world!

    Learn more about Rosewood, Florida here:  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/03/rosewood-florida-massacre-racial-violence-reparations

    “The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society”.

    (John Lewis)

    Repost from August 20, 2020.

  • Hire character, train skill

    Hire Character

    (Image by Ziglar.com)

    “Good character improves every aspect of a person’s life”.

    (John C. Maxwell)

    Inspirations for Walk into the Future articles come to me from multiple sources.  I generate most of the topics based on things I am doing or interested in.  I continually ask my friends and tree branches to send me suggestions then work to develop their input into an article for others to learn from.

    This post is unique because it has taken years to get to a place where I can develop this topic.  My extra inspiration came from one of my closet friends when she texted me a picture that said Hire character, train skill.  Believe it or not but I have been saying and using these words over the years when I need to hire someone to join my team.  Just never developed it out to highlight the importance of this concept.

    The hiring processing is an ongoing concept for me.  I learned a long time ago to anticipate future openings and have adequate bench players (basketball term) available.  My first action is to create a professional development program to enhance current team members’ knowledge, so they are promotion ready.  A lot of organizations state they hire from within, but this is impossible if you are not actively training your staff.  My goal has always been to prepare staff to take over for me if I am not there.  This has led to staff being attractive to other organizations and I am thrilled to serve as a professional reference for my folks if they need it.  Happy to report 5 out of 11 members from my Florida State University Employer Relations team held Director or Associate Director titles for the 2019 – 2020 academic year.  Immensely proud of my crew and the great things they are getting done.  They are all high character people and wanted to learn daily.  They were also quick to apply their new knowledge within the work environment.

    My second action is to build relationships with people in my industry through networking and conference attendance.  This allows me to identify people who will fit within my team structure if I have an opening.  I offer direct mentorship to these folks to help them grow their careers at their current locations.  I make a point to let a select few know I would like them to work on my team if an opening exists.  Please note, some of these people may not be looking or interested in the current location but it helps to put out feelers before there is a need to hire someone. Again, character is a major part of this outreach effort.

    My third action is to never eliminate someone simply because their background and experiences may not line up perfectly with the job description.  Nothing I have done professionally is rocket science and someone with the right character can be trained for the work I perform.  The character of the hire should enhance the overall performance of the team and bring some unique talents to make us better.  It helps to bring in someone who has diverse thoughts, background, and experiences so we can learn from them as well.  Maintaining a solid organizational training program provides the foundation needed to bring someone in with less on paper experience and gets them up to speed on the operational pace needed for success.  I would rather invest the time to train someone with the character needed for success than bring in someone with paper skills, no integrity, teamwork, or ability to make the team better.  I have seen these folks destroy the team dynamic and it takes a long time to recover. Energy vampires!

    I cannot say I have gotten this process right 100% of the time but I have more successful character hires than not.  I continue to learn and evolve my hiring practices but hire for character, train for skill remains the foundation for me.

    Look at the current national leadership model to understand the importance of character in the work environment!  The lack of character can destroy organizations from within.

    What is your hiring philosophy?  How has it evolved over the years?  Thanks!

    “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow.  The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing”.

    (Abraham Lincoln)

  • Poetic Fridays

    Life is great

    (Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay)

     

    Hope

    Hope springs eternal as

    I search the distant landscape

    The path I choose will determine my fate

    The goal is to win the daily grind

    Which path will I take?

    Determination sets the course as the search continues

    Multiple options, multiple venues

    Working towards the important things in life

    Without trying the only thing left is strife

    Life could be so nice

    Eliminate the hunger and take away all wars,

    Break down all color barriers and bring equal rights to all.

    People living in unison, all getting along.

    This would make the world a better place for you and for me.

    Maybe one day kids can play together and have some fun.

    No war, no hunger, no racial wall.

    Life could be so nice.

  • Melbourne beach weekend

    Melbourne Beach

    “To escape and sit quietly on the beach—that’s my idea of paradise”.

    (Emily Wiskstead)

    My Walk into the Future continues to provide unlimited adventures for me daily.

    The beach is a major adventure for me, and some would say my happy place.  Love to sit on the beach to relax, read and just enjoy the sound of the waves.  My move to Fort Pierce puts me closer to beaches and I try to take advantage of this proximity as much as possible.

    One of my favorite places to sit on the beach happens to be Melbourne, Florida.  There are multiple beach towns in this area but the one I prefer is Indialantic Beach.  Small area but it provides the best beach experience for me.

    Made the 55-minute trek north on I-95 last weekend for a day at the beach.  Did not realize it has been 3 years since I have been in the Melbourne area.  A lot of my beach travel while in Tallahassee was a drive over to Jacksonville or Neptune beaches.  Love that area too and it was a shorter drive than venturing all the way down to Melbourne.  Decided to take a day trip and get back to an area I love to visit and hangout.

    Outlet mall

    COVID-19 has caused a lot of life disruptions.  One of these for me was not being able to get to outlet malls.  I know my outlet mall shopping is not a huge deal considering the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I had to drive by the Vero Beach outlet mall on my way to Melbourne.  Many of the stores were still closed when I visited but was able to get some nice deals at the Van Heusen store.  Yes, I wore a mask while shopping.

    The Van Heusen outlet store had some great mark downs and I may have purchased more than I need.  The in-store prices are a lot less than what they were selling for on-line. I have never been a fan of buying clothes on-line since different brands have their own unique cuts.  My normal size in one store does not translate all the time to another.  Buying pants online is a major headache for me since I need clothes for an athletic body. Also, needed to restock my work wardrobe since I have a day job again. 😊

    Patrick AFB

    Always make a point to visit Patrick Air Force Base when I am in Melbourne.  Did not need anything but it always feels like going home when I am on the base.  Spent 20 years in the Air Force and love being back on the base.  Ended up just rambling around the Base Exchange and Commissary looking around and enjoying being back around the Air Force family.  Got a few things but nothing major at either stop.

    Crowne Plaza

    The major attraction for me to visit the Indialantic beach is the Crowne Plaza hotel.  Yes, I went up for a day trip, but the Crowne Plaza has a huge beach deck with a Tiki vibe and outside bar.

    They allow beachgoers to utilize the deck, bar, and restrooms without being a hotel guest.  Always thought that was a great feature and it keeps people coming back.  I bring my own water and beer but routinely get a cold tropical drink (or two) at the bar.  They have a great food menu so really do not need to go anywhere else once you get there.

    There is live music most Saturdays and Sundays and that draws a decent crowd too.  I normally walk further down the beach to get away from crowds but the music travels well.  My day on the beach was spent reading, listening to music, and taking a bunch a naps.  Nothing strenuous but wanted to visit the beach and relax—mission accomplished.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=crowne+plaza+melbourne+fl+pictures&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS857US857&sxsrf=ALeKk00P5m-KQpG-NeMjKPXrrjOmlJlDWg:1590778740929&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM%253A%252C28LbZ-YA3Bc7sM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSIiMzmjPA7dY62D4InWst3DNgkgg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiMiJPO4NnpAhUJT98KHSVwAMgQ9QEwAnoECAoQDg#imgrc=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM:

    Took the scenic route back to Fort Pierce on A1A.  Normally go I-95 but did not have to rush back so took in the sights and enjoyed the views.  Will try to get to Melbourne monthly for a beach getaway—may stay overnight next time since there are a lot of new shopping options in the area.  Always looking for a good deal! 😊

    What is your favorite beach or place?  When will you visit again?

     

    “The waves on the sea help me get back to me”.

    (Jill Davis)

  • Walking into the Future with no backup plan

    Make Things Happen

    (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

    “There’s no reason to have a plan B because it distracts from plan A”.

    (Will Smith)

    I routinely listen to the Fox Sports 1 (FS1) daily show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd to get caught up on sports commentary and for a few laughs.  Dude can be hilarious with some of his takes on sporting events, teams, and individual players.  Some people do not like him because he has a dry sense of humor, but he does a good job researching topics before introducing them on his show.

    He recently started discussing the concept of successful people not having a plan B which routinely led them to success.  He leverages examples of athletes, business people, and sports personalities who took a risk on themselves without having an escape clause (plan B).  He asks in his high pitch voice:  you think Bill Gates had a plan B?  What about Steve Jobs?  You think I (Colin Cowherd) had a plan B before I picked up and moved from New York to Los Angeles?  No, no and no!

    His point being is creating a plan B allows for less than max efforts towards plan A.  Never thought of this process in a similar way but believe my Walk into the Future mirrors his words in several ways.

    One of my overarching goals on this walk was to never compromise my principles when it comes to work.  There were times I could have gone to a plan B and took another role that did not fit where I wanted to be, but I created the Walk into the Future mindset for a reason.  Some people could not understand why I would not rush back into the traditional world of work but had to stick to the plan–find things so I could make a difference in life daily.

    I kept my focus on areas where I knew I could thrive, make a difference, and enjoy the process daily.  Discovered additional talents I had because of the focus on plan A only.  Research, writing blog articles, mentoring, and conducting speaking engagements served as my professional development incubator over the past two years.

    While some people thought I was hanging out I was working on my craft to find additional ways to make a difference.  No limitations were present because I was free to create what Walk into the Future meant to me.  I look back at my first blog articles and can see the progression I have made over the past two years.  My research and writing process have improved and continue to get better daily

    I put unlimited time, effort and thoughts into this plan and refused to get distracted.  I understand everyone cannot just walk away from their professional lives but being an Air Force retiree provides me with income to continue to do things like being a running tourist.

    Please note I am not comparing myself to Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Colin Cowherd—they all have a lot more money than me, but the no plan B mindset is similar.

    Saw an opportunity in Fort Pierce, Florida and decided to go all in—no plan B.  The excitement and potential for the new role was vetted without an emotional approach and launched me forward.  Never looked back or sideways once committed to this new chapter.  My plan A continues to work for me!

    Moving forward and Walking into the Future! 😊

    What is your plan A?  How do you ensure your focus remains on plan A?

    “There is no plan B for passion”.

    (Chris Gardner)

     Great article from Jeff Haden:  https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/why-remarkably-successful-people-dont-make-backup-plans.html