(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.
(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.
(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)
(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.
“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.
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)
(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
(Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay)
Motivated?
What motivates you?
I would guess things quite different from what motivates me
The drive I seek comes from things I have seen
Some good, some bad
Some fair, some foul
The secret here is to use them all
Never let the opinion of others sway your desire
To reach the pinnacle you aspire
Continue to work to meet and exceed your goals
Remind the doubters that you are in control
Dreams will become reality soon enough
Got to keep working because life can be rough
Find your motivation, live your dreams
A motivated life is a wonderful sight to be seen
Knowledge
The series of daily challenges presented
Provides a template to view
How to conquer the challenges?
It is all up to you
Life provides many opportunities to grow
The direction you chose, only you will know
Continue to strive through the growing process
Knowing that you hold the key to it all
The knowledge you gain
Helps to move your journey forward
And makes the challenges easier to maintain
Note: All original verses by the author.
(Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay)
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them”.
(Maya Angelou)
Control the controllable is one of my favorite sayings. Do not remember where I heard it first, but it has been a way of thinking for many years. Try to leverage this saying when things appear difficult and I need to remind myself to trust the process.
I shared the saying in a LinkedIn post back in April and was pleasantly surprised with the number of views (900+), reactions (20+) and comments the post garnered. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we view normal and it can be easy to get overwhelmed with everything happening around us.
Dictionary.com defines control as the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.
Control the controllable can serve as a positive mantra to help tackle difficult times and situations.
Take care of yourself
Taking care of yourself can be done in many ways. For some this may mean ensuring you make time to exercise. For others this can be done by eating a healthier diet. This combination is a critical aspect of controlling how you function daily. A key component some of us may have forgotten until now is the mental and emotional elements in your life. COVID-19 has made us view life differently and reveals the importance of mental health. The ability to seek and find clarity should be at the forefront of taking care of yourself.
Take care of others
Who are YOUR tree branches? Make sure you reach out to them to help them navigate this new way of life. Most people will tell you they are doing okay but keep checking on them. They will appreciate the effort and it helps you keep your tree growing. You can also reach out to people who are not tree branches; make someone’s day and become a mentor to help move them forward and provide some guidance.
Continue to practice physical distancing
The government and news agencies penned the term social distancing. Believe this connotation has been a problem from day 1. Most people had never heard of this term prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and it may have confused some. I like the term physical distancing because it says right in the title to stay away from others. We have got enamored with social media and everything that comes with it—think a lot of people could not understand what was really being asked of them when told to practice social distancing. Regardless how you address the term, physical distancing is something we have some level of control.
Create personal outlets
Look for personal and creative outlets to leverage the things you can control. The Walk into the Future blog has become a major way for me to express a creative side I really did not know existed. I get excited researching topics and then challenging myself to create an article someone else may want to read. Have no idea if anyone is really reading this stuff but I keep plugging away because it is something I control.
Running and weightlifting are other outlets I utilized to control the controllable for myself. Journaling outside of my work on the Walk into the Future blog has a calming effect for me. Most times when writing in my journal I can generate work and life ideas to implement later. Handwriting content in the journal also makes me slow done a bit and really think through what I want to write down. Always recommend journaling to anyone who will listen to me because it is an excellent outlet to express thoughts—try it! 😊
Reggae and the beach are other outlets I have available to me daily.
Open your eyes and your mind to see your outlets!
“The control center of your life is your attitude”.
(Anonymous)
Live, love and laugh
Life can be a compilation of good and bad. Let’s focus on the good and leverage the positive energy this mindset brings. Live daily, love often and laugh always! (I just made that up). 😊
What daily things are within your control? How do you maintain this control? Thanks!
“The moment you give up, is the moment you let someone else win.”
(Kobe Bryant)
(Image by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto from Pixabay)
Decided to share a few verses from my poetry collection! Yes, I write poetry! 😊
The Poetry of Life
The poetry of life moves me forward
Towards the things that bring
The happiness I need
To fulfill these huge dreams that I dream
Reaching out to help the next man
Create and work towards a plan
That makes the world a better place
And one that stands to improve your stake in the race
Let the poetry of life flow
And discover the glow
Of the poetic peace of living the life designed for you
The Joint
The poet knows
The time and place to let the words flow
To get the point across
To those who read the words composed
Waxing a poetic and majestic flow
Is the goal the wordsmith is looking for
How we get there is not the important point
Putting the words together
That makes you think, smile and act
Now, that’s the joint!
(Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay)
“A year from now, you will wish you had started today”.
(Karen Lamb)
Dictionary.com defines an anniversary as the yearly recurrence of the date of a past event and the celebration or commemoration of such a date.
The first Walk into the Future article was posted on this site on 6/18/2018. The true anniversary date for me is 4/14/2018—let me explain why I say this.
I sat on the beach at St. George Island (SGI) on 4/14/2018 with the idea of deciding which direction I wanted to pursue moving forward. The Walk into the Future concept was not on my radar but needed the beach atmosphere to help with a huge decision.
So, I sat on the beach on this prophetic day with my beach towel, cooler of beer, reggae, pen, and paper to figure this thing called life out (Prince reference).
I have used the concept of a pros/cons list in the past to help with major decisions and my goal on this day was to identify pro/con items to inform the decision I needed to make. Dr. Henry Cloud identifies successful people do not hang on to bad stuff for long in his book 9 Things you Simply Must do in Love and Life. The only way to label something as bad is to take a true look at it without emotion, hence the pros/cons list for me.
I finally admitted I spent too much time determining if I should stay in my old role. The interactions I had with students, employers, faculty, staff, and community members still appealed to me but there was always something daily to eliminate my joy. Turns out it was too much negative workplace energy. This is not a complaint just a stated fact from my perspective—negative energy can and will wear you down over time.
Fast forward to the list and the decision was obvious! There were 5 pros and 15 cons. I tried to manufacture some additional pros just to see if I could even this process out a bit, but this was the final tally. The 15 cons were present EVERY day and only 3 pros were daily items. I was amused when I saw the disparity of my two lists. I subconsciously knew this to be true but never wrote it out to examine more in-depth. Sadly, none of the cons listed were fixable—not one.
I laughed when I was able to view the list for the insight in front of me. So, on 4/14/2018 the Walk into the Future journey began after I made the decision it was time to move on from what I was doing. The work and making a difference daily were not the problem it was the negative energy—the opposite of the Irie mindset I seek in life. Dr. Cloud has another principle he calls Pull the Tooth. I decided to pull the tooth and Walk into the Future after I finished my beer and listened to a few more Bob Marley songs.
I decided to write this post after looking in my journal and coming across the page with my pros/cons list. Just happened to be 2 years to the date I wrote the items and wanted to share with my readers I just had an anniversary.
So, happy anniversary to the Walk into the Future blog. Here is to a few more years of writing, sharing adventures and making a difference in the world. Thanks for walking with me!
What tooth do YOU need to pull? How could the pros/cons list help with your decision?
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing”.
(Walt Disney)
Walk Into the Future 