Peace
Found peace today
Realized it was with me all along
Had to look deep inside to realize I control my peace
When things look bleak…seek peace
When times get hard…find peace
Look deep inside your soul and peace you will find
Tag: Calvin Williams
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Walking with a face mask
“Wear a mask, it saves lives”!
(Calvin Williams)
Decided to tackle the concept of people not wearing face masks or coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoped the concept of Americans doing the right thing to help minimize the pandemic would eventually kick in but it appears to be hopeless.
I searched for a clever quote I could use to start this post but did not find what I was looking for. Thought about it for a bit and then just created my own quote to signify my thoughts on this subject. Wear a mask, it saves lives!!!
It is beyond weird to hear and see Americans on TV exclaim how it is their right to not comply with a health initiative during a PANDEMIC. They seem to think wearing a mask to protect themselves and others is an infringement on their freedom. I do not get this mindset and honestly think the world is doomed with adults saying these things out loud. Even worse, these folks are not joking when they state it is their right to not wear a face mask. Not wearing a mask to protect themselves and people around them is the right they are demanding! What a great country!
Fairly sure most of the people saying these things have NEVER served in the armed forces to fight for the rights they want to hide behind—just venting, thanks!
We are seeing a trend where younger people are diagnosed with COVID-19 at a faster pace than some experts expected. This appears to be because people in the 20 – 35-year-old range do not have a fear of the virus. They are more likely to continue to hang out in large groups without physical distancing and of course, no masks. I will not disparage everyone in this group because I know my tree branches are following proper protocols. My point for this group is they are getting each other sick and then bringing the virus home to parents, grandparents, and roommates.
This cycle ensures the virus continues to spread and endangers more lives. Wearing a mask may not save everyone from contracting the virus but it can help slow the spread. I watch Dr. Fauci on TV almost beg people to follow the CDC guidelines because he knows this thing is getting out of control fast. Hopefully, we will come to our senses as a nation and get back to basics to eliminate the spread of COVID-19. Oh yeah, masks can help with this! A simple two-week period of masks and physical distancing may save thousands of lives. Never imagined this pandemic would be worse in September than it was in April when I was terrified to move to Fort Pierce. It is almost like the virus is just a normal part of life now—sad!
I am doing my part to keep the face mask industry growing. I visit ETSY.com on a regular basis looking for new face mask styles to add to my growing collection. Never thought of face masks as an accessory but I keep finding new and fun ways to express myself with face coverings. This process feels like dressing up to me and I have joked about having a bandito look when I have my face masks on. Maybe we should tell the people who get upset when asked to wear a face mask to visit ETSY.com and find a mask to express their frustration WHILE wearing a mask. I am sure they can find a way to express themselves and still comply by wearing a mask. Guess I do not understand why wearing a mask is such a hassle for these people. Masks are light weight, easy to wear and can be worn to accessorize your daily outfits. 😊
Help me spread the word—masks can save lives and get us back closer to normal!
“If you do not like wearing a face mask, you are really not going to like a ventilator”.
(Anonymous work colleague)
Track Florida’s daily numbers here: https://fdoh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/8d0de33f260d444c852a615dc7837c86
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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
(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
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Hire character, train skill
(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)
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Melbourne beach weekend
“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)
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Poetic Fridays
(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.
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Irie vibes–control the controllable
(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)
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Poetic Fridays
(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!
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Zoom into the Future
(Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay)
“When in doubt, zoom out”.
(Reggie Watts)
I like starting Walk into the Future articles with a quote to inspire my thought process and get me going. Well, the quote above is the best I could find with zoom in it but has nothing really to do with this article. Forgive me but thought it was funny and had the appropriate word (zoom) I needed to move forward.
The last several months have been productive, exciting, and frustrating (COVID-19) but progress has been made daily. The Zoom application has become a popular way for the workforce to keep making positive things happen considering the COVID-19 pandemic. More people are using this platform to ensure daily operations and tasks are completed in this new way to go to work.
Zoom interview
My first foray using the Zoom application came back in February when I was introduced to it for a first-round interview. I have used Skype to interview for past positions and to interview candidates for openings on my team. Did not know much about Zoom but found the process a lot more seamless than the Skype application. Simply receive an email with a link, click on the link at the appropriate time and you are meeting with the folks on the distant end. Zoom provides the capability to host multiple people in multiple locations so this appears to make getting a team together to interview candidates a bit easier than Skype. I am sure there are still uses for the Skype platform but thought Zoom took pressure off me as the candidates since I did not have to test my computer/software as in the past.
Zoom team meeting
Leveraged my newfound appreciation for Zoom by hosting my first team meeting with my new team at Indian River State College prior to starting work. Again, COVID-19 has most organizations working remotely to avoid large meetings and practicing physical distancing. I wanted to get a head start on teambuilding prior to moving to Fort Pierce and Zoom was the perfect application. We were able to host 10 people in 5 different locations (physical distancing) and build a team foundation to help us find ways to ensure students, faculty/staff and employers continue to receive world class customer service. I have talked with tree branches who are using Zoom but found it to be an even better platform than described.
Zoom work process (onboarding, team meetings, teambuilding)
Realize there are several who will read this article who have been using Zoom for a while. I am just getting my feet wet and see so many useful ways to use this platform even after we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff on satellite campuses can continue to participate in meetings, workshops, and teambuilding activities without having to drive to the main campus. There will be times when they need/want to be present, but Zoom can save time and driving to and from the main campus. Also, see the benefits of conducting one-on-one sessions with distant students, employers, and staff. Just getting my thoughts together but I am sure I will leverage Zoom to find ways to ensure our students have the best employment opportunities available. Zoom appears to be setting the pace for a new world order! Stay tuned as I will continue to share how I am zooming into the future. 😊
How does your organization use the Zoom platform? Do you have tricks of the trade you can share? Thanks!
NOTE: Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Blackboard Collaborate are three platforms I am actively using at work. The three platforms are easy to navigate and provides similar functionality.
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Pivot into the Future
“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be”.
(Maya Angelou)
The Walk into the Future blog and my parallel journey began on May 21, 2018.
Did not know how much my mindset and writing style had changed over the past two years until I started looking back at the archive articles. Happy to see improvement in my article design, verbiage, visual appearance, and storytelling abilities. Never want to think I am in the same place when I started especially with Walk into the Future as the blog title. Still got more things to learn to ensure my content grabs a reader’s attention and attracts new readers to the blog. Will leverage new techniques, visual presentations, guest bloggers and concepts to stay fresh in the blog world.
Five examples I highlighted for a Walk into the Future were:
- Take that vacation you have been putting off
- Decide to create your own blog to document your walk into the future
- Make time for family and friends (again)
- Discover new talents you may have or wanted to explore
- Live life the way you want to
Did not keep a running tab of how well I was doing in these areas but happy to report I have repeatedly checked off each item listed above, multiple times. My initial vision for my Walk into the Future was basic but I have been able to grow through personal development and gravitating to things I enjoy.
Sounds simple enough but the concept of generating content for the blog has been a life course on: continuous learning, networking, research, leadership development, mentoring, storytelling, public speaking, traveling, training, running, marketing, cold calling, selling, patience, blogging, blog design, Word Press, podcasts and the art of pivoting.
I identified everyone should be prepared to pivot as needed in a previous post about overcoming fears. There are times a fundamental change in approach is needed to get what you want (quoting myself here).
Throwback article:
2020 Pivot
The Walk into the Future blog has been a fantastic incubator for my time, thoughts, and actions.
I was presented with multiple opportunities to join forces with others based on the growth mindset I have gained from Walking into the Future. I have been extremely selective on who I work with and what projects I decide to add to my portfolio. No more Big Gulps for me!
Happy to report my Walk into the Future has relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida. I will create new tree branches as the Director of Career and Transfer Services at Indian River State College. I was able to leverage my past work experiences AND my Walk into the Future topics, adventures, and growth during the interview process. The ability to relay real-world examples on how I interact with others, my mission to make a positive impact and desire to be a People Builder were leveraged to show impact I will have at Indian River State College.
This pivot creates a larger audience for Inspiration Man and allows me to keep my Walk into the Future moving forward. Excited for the new adventures, location, beaches, tree branches, thoughts, actions, energy, and blog articles.
The Walk into the Future journey continues, just from a new location. I am sure I will write most of my future articles from the beach with an ice-cold drink close by. 😊
The Walk into the Future production process has generated a roadmap for two new projects I am working on in 2020. The first project will be to develop several Walk into the Future leadership articles into a concise eBook titled, The Voice of a Leader.
The second project will be to develop an on-line Authentic Leadership course to help learners understand the leadership model and the variables needed to become an authentic leader (self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, relational transparency, and balanced processing).
These projects are exciting to me since I will get to learn how to create an eBook and build/design an on-line course people would be interested in. More to come as I get smart on both platforms. The eBook will come first since I have got the content at my fingertips, just need to organize, and reformat—sounds easy enough, huh?
Interesting fact (to me)
I view life as a daily adventure and continue to seek ways to make a difference in this world.
One area I explored was teaching psychology courses since I do have a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Seemed simple enough but a funny thing happened on my Walk into the Future. I applied to the local community college to teach General Psychology as an adjunct professor. Repeat, an adjunct professor! Never heard back from them even after reaching out to people in the department via LinkedIn and direct email. Ironically, if they had leveraged my talents in the classroom, I may have missed this amazing pivot opportunity. Things happen for a reason—Irie!
Tree branches will still receive text messages, emails, and LinkedIn articles from me. You have all been a major part of my journey and look forward to expanding our reach—just from another location. Walking, smiling and inspiring into the future!
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity”.
(Amelia Earhart)
(Summer 2020 project wall)
Walk Into the Future 